Ever since I moved to California, I've had to make some lifestyle changes. Not going out as much, dressing appropriately to weather differences, and saving more money. One notable area is that I do not regularly go the dentist.
Now before you all freak out about how nasty my teeth must be like, fear not. I have always prided myself on my dental hygiene. As a matter of fact, I've never had a cavity nor needed braces in my entire life! I brush and floss religiously (in a good way). After all, I always believed that maintaining the positivity of your smile is like taking care of your reputation.
Back on point, as I was done whitening my teeth with some strips, I decided to actual brush my teeth last night in front of the mirror. I prefer to multi-task, and so I usually make my bed or check my email as I brush my teeth to conserve time and energy as I prepare for bed. Well, the sight wasn't that pretty. When I opened my mouth, all I could see is the yellow in my teeth! Man, I mean it looked like there were small chunks of raw butter on top of my teeth. I became extremely self conscious because, again, I thought of my teeth to have a disarmingly healthy shade of white. I was wrong.
Why am I blogging about this phenomenon? I felt super convicted that many of us Christians today pride ourselves in how well we compare our "teeth" in relation to our appearance. Mainly, we feel as if our teeth is white enough to go out. But when it comes to the truth and we do our daily washing, we fail to realize how inadequately dirty we truly are.
Now I am not trying to demoralize the genuine efforts of Christians who attempt to change and purify themselves, but what totally convicted me was my next thought: Why do we even brush our teeth? (For some, this question doesn't even pop in their mind as they don't adapt this habit into their daily routine!). The simple answer is to keep our teeth healthy. If that's the case, why am I so worked up about how "white" my teeth appear?
And that's the grandiose question: if ultimately what matters is our spiritual health of our relationship with God, why do we care so much about appearing so holy and righteous in front of others? Why do we bother putting up so many rituals to look composed and gathered?
It's because the fear of man has seized the church everywhere today. Not dressing formally (i.e. wearing hats, sandals, etc.), tattoos, piercings in odd places--the list is endless on how we judge others. There is also spiritual judging such as the religious scrutiny of others' church attendance or discipline.
Let us set aside these "whitening" practices and focus on what truly keeps our spiritual "teeth" healthy: the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12), active prayer (1 Thess 5:17), fiery evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20), and a passionate love for God (Psalm 27:4).
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
4 Ways to Enter His Presence
Psalm 15 [NIV] (BibleGateway.com)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
------
I've been convicted more and more of how I am so quick to leave God's presence. I don't mean viewing His presence as a place, such as a worship service or even my devotion time. I'm talking about walking WITH the presence of God. Treating it as a coat of blessing, as it says in Psalm 56.
Just imagine: everywhere you go, the presence of God follows you. My goodness. What power. You will never stumble (v5), you will experience joy and favor unending (Psalm 68), and signs and wonders follow you (Pretty much most of the chapters in Acts)! This is just a short list of the countless promises of God. If you've encountered the presence, then you know what I'm talking about. If not, that's okay--keep searching for it!
So I ask myself, how may I keep God's presence on me? Well, I must first be able to enter His presence, shouldn't I? How am I supposed to carry it as a mantle if I cannot even access it in the first place?
Here are some ways:
1. (v2) Righteousness
We must get in an attitude of constant repentance to cleanse ourselves. Christians today are so easily offended when they are corrected by other brothers/sisters. I'm not encouraging false repentance, such as stating "FINE! SORRY! Goodness." and storm away frustrated. Repentance is not about whether we are right or wrong; rather it is about your heart. We forget that when we pray for God to help improve our character to become more godly, he sends us other people to do it.
2. (v3) Compassion
Simply put, if we protected other people's integrity and well-being, the church would be a place where people would want to go. After all, who loves being slandered by insults and hurt by others? On the other hand, I don't want Christians to be fake. Being honest with each other is not trying to harm them, but there is a time, place, and manner to do so. Continuing off my previous point, let us be slow to speak and quick to repent. I do not want us to become passive, however. To summarize: when it comes to talking, as it says in James 3, use your discernment and tame your tongue. All words--whether its rejection, neutral statements, or affirmation--have power.
3. (v4) Fear of the Lord
I could spend all day on this topic. One of the main reasons we don't have power as Christians because we do not fear God. At conferences, retreats, and conventions, I often see way too many overeager Christians who make ambitious covenants and promises to God. Purity, radical lifestyles, and life commitments are often the big sharks here. It is no fault to the pastor/speaker, the worship team, and the church itself, but to our own recklessness in how we deal with sin. We love to dine with angels and demons. Sometimes, even simultaneously. We do not honor that fear of the Lord. Read more on Charles Finney if you're interested on this subject. It's powerful stuff.
4. (v5) Extravagant Generosity
Christianity was based upon the principles of giving. Think about the most well known verses, such as John 3:16. For God loved the world that he gave. Jesus too gave his life. Yes, in verse 5, it is talking about monetary giving. But the context of David's psalms are always a reflection upon life. We must give our lives without "interest" (usury), meaning we should not expect anything in return! Wow! And the best part is this: we must do cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7. Ohhhhhhh boy. This is what gets most Christians right here. Many times me and my friends see homeless people and we often attempt to AVOID them. When by chance they grab our attention, we reluctantly pull some change out and give it to them. I want to challenge ourselves to look deeper into what we give and to do it with joy. Jesus did not sacrifice himself with a frown and a whining voice. He did it, with all his heart, cheerfully.
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
------
I've been convicted more and more of how I am so quick to leave God's presence. I don't mean viewing His presence as a place, such as a worship service or even my devotion time. I'm talking about walking WITH the presence of God. Treating it as a coat of blessing, as it says in Psalm 56.
Just imagine: everywhere you go, the presence of God follows you. My goodness. What power. You will never stumble (v5), you will experience joy and favor unending (Psalm 68), and signs and wonders follow you (Pretty much most of the chapters in Acts)! This is just a short list of the countless promises of God. If you've encountered the presence, then you know what I'm talking about. If not, that's okay--keep searching for it!
So I ask myself, how may I keep God's presence on me? Well, I must first be able to enter His presence, shouldn't I? How am I supposed to carry it as a mantle if I cannot even access it in the first place?
Here are some ways:
1. (v2) Righteousness
We must get in an attitude of constant repentance to cleanse ourselves. Christians today are so easily offended when they are corrected by other brothers/sisters. I'm not encouraging false repentance, such as stating "FINE! SORRY! Goodness." and storm away frustrated. Repentance is not about whether we are right or wrong; rather it is about your heart. We forget that when we pray for God to help improve our character to become more godly, he sends us other people to do it.
2. (v3) Compassion
Simply put, if we protected other people's integrity and well-being, the church would be a place where people would want to go. After all, who loves being slandered by insults and hurt by others? On the other hand, I don't want Christians to be fake. Being honest with each other is not trying to harm them, but there is a time, place, and manner to do so. Continuing off my previous point, let us be slow to speak and quick to repent. I do not want us to become passive, however. To summarize: when it comes to talking, as it says in James 3, use your discernment and tame your tongue. All words--whether its rejection, neutral statements, or affirmation--have power.
3. (v4) Fear of the Lord
I could spend all day on this topic. One of the main reasons we don't have power as Christians because we do not fear God. At conferences, retreats, and conventions, I often see way too many overeager Christians who make ambitious covenants and promises to God. Purity, radical lifestyles, and life commitments are often the big sharks here. It is no fault to the pastor/speaker, the worship team, and the church itself, but to our own recklessness in how we deal with sin. We love to dine with angels and demons. Sometimes, even simultaneously. We do not honor that fear of the Lord. Read more on Charles Finney if you're interested on this subject. It's powerful stuff.
4. (v5) Extravagant Generosity
Christianity was based upon the principles of giving. Think about the most well known verses, such as John 3:16. For God loved the world that he gave. Jesus too gave his life. Yes, in verse 5, it is talking about monetary giving. But the context of David's psalms are always a reflection upon life. We must give our lives without "interest" (usury), meaning we should not expect anything in return! Wow! And the best part is this: we must do cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7. Ohhhhhhh boy. This is what gets most Christians right here. Many times me and my friends see homeless people and we often attempt to AVOID them. When by chance they grab our attention, we reluctantly pull some change out and give it to them. I want to challenge ourselves to look deeper into what we give and to do it with joy. Jesus did not sacrifice himself with a frown and a whining voice. He did it, with all his heart, cheerfully.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Perfection
In his book, "The 7 Longings of the Human Heart," Mike Bickle writes that as members of the human race, it is natural for us to want to be great.
Let's be real here--I have never met one person who truthfully admitted that they DESIRE to be awful in every area of life. Some clever folk might try to say, "Well, Dan, I don't mind being weak in everything so that the strength of Christ shines through me." While this statement is a great way to be profound and impress your local bible study buddies, the truth is that God wants you to love yourself as well! Why do you think Jesus also stated "Love your neighbor [as] yourself." He doesn't want you to serve others, yet suffer from low self-esteem. Read Psalms 139 if you want more proof.
Wow! And here we are, sulking in an attempt to display a false form of humility so that people would not think we are proud. While we can deceive man, we cannot deceive the Lord. He knows our intentions and ambitions.
Anyhow, now that we have established that we should enjoy how we're created in the image of God, I would like to make another point: we as humans only have one life to live. To live for ourselves is simply against the commandments of the Bible (Matthew 28:19-20, Micah 6:8, James 2:15-17, the list goes on). Thus, we must live for more than our own wishes and continually to improve our character. Cool. But as we all know, writing down all those New Year's resolutions seem overwhelmingly difficult. What then shall we do? As the economist says, we simplify and isolate. We must have one simple goal and focus on that one vision. One aspiration.
No, I'm not promoting IHOP-KC's One Thing conferences.
Rather, our goal, as Christians, is to bear the resemblance and likeness of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
However, back to the analogy of the New Year's Resolutions, it seems far too naive to simply put "Be a better person in 20xx" to replace every resolution on the list. After all, we're asked to not just be better citizens, friends, and family members, but we're asked, as it says in Matthew 5 to be perfect because Jesus is perfect.
Perfection?! But nobody's perfect! Is God setting us up for failure?
Not quite.
In the Greek translation, perfectus is not defined to be without flaw. Alternatively, it means "a finishing" or, to be more grammatically sound, "finished." Furthermore, the word has various contextual implications, such as:
- to be complete with all requisite parts
- to be so good that nothing can be compared as better
- to attain its purpose
Great Scott!! This whole time, we have been under the impression that every move we make has God angered on his mighty throne in heaven because we're not like his perfect son, Jesus. Nonsense! Jesus was stating in Matthew that we have to become COMPLETE like Him. God wants for us to achieve our destiny (attain purpose) by obtaining all the characteristics (requisite parts). As in says in James 1, God simply seeks for us to become mature, so that we're lacking nothing.
The amazing thing is that above all else, God delights in us so much for who we are. He understands that its a process! That's why God calls upon us to wait upon Him, because the procedure of abiding takes time. Even when we accomplish the greatest feat of human history or become the scum of the earth, Jesus thinks that there's no one better than you!
Let's be real here--I have never met one person who truthfully admitted that they DESIRE to be awful in every area of life. Some clever folk might try to say, "Well, Dan, I don't mind being weak in everything so that the strength of Christ shines through me." While this statement is a great way to be profound and impress your local bible study buddies, the truth is that God wants you to love yourself as well! Why do you think Jesus also stated "Love your neighbor [as] yourself." He doesn't want you to serve others, yet suffer from low self-esteem. Read Psalms 139 if you want more proof.
Wow! And here we are, sulking in an attempt to display a false form of humility so that people would not think we are proud. While we can deceive man, we cannot deceive the Lord. He knows our intentions and ambitions.
Anyhow, now that we have established that we should enjoy how we're created in the image of God, I would like to make another point: we as humans only have one life to live. To live for ourselves is simply against the commandments of the Bible (Matthew 28:19-20, Micah 6:8, James 2:15-17, the list goes on). Thus, we must live for more than our own wishes and continually to improve our character. Cool. But as we all know, writing down all those New Year's resolutions seem overwhelmingly difficult. What then shall we do? As the economist says, we simplify and isolate. We must have one simple goal and focus on that one vision. One aspiration.
No, I'm not promoting IHOP-KC's One Thing conferences.
Rather, our goal, as Christians, is to bear the resemblance and likeness of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
However, back to the analogy of the New Year's Resolutions, it seems far too naive to simply put "Be a better person in 20xx" to replace every resolution on the list. After all, we're asked to not just be better citizens, friends, and family members, but we're asked, as it says in Matthew 5 to be perfect because Jesus is perfect.
Perfection?! But nobody's perfect! Is God setting us up for failure?
Not quite.
In the Greek translation, perfectus is not defined to be without flaw. Alternatively, it means "a finishing" or, to be more grammatically sound, "finished." Furthermore, the word has various contextual implications, such as:
- to be complete with all requisite parts
- to be so good that nothing can be compared as better
- to attain its purpose
Great Scott!! This whole time, we have been under the impression that every move we make has God angered on his mighty throne in heaven because we're not like his perfect son, Jesus. Nonsense! Jesus was stating in Matthew that we have to become COMPLETE like Him. God wants for us to achieve our destiny (attain purpose) by obtaining all the characteristics (requisite parts). As in says in James 1, God simply seeks for us to become mature, so that we're lacking nothing.
The amazing thing is that above all else, God delights in us so much for who we are. He understands that its a process! That's why God calls upon us to wait upon Him, because the procedure of abiding takes time. Even when we accomplish the greatest feat of human history or become the scum of the earth, Jesus thinks that there's no one better than you!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Our Goal
As summer is drawing to its last lap of its pleasure-filled race, I would like to comment simply what the Lord has been doing showing to me and what has been happening. I'll begin just what has been happening this week.
On Monday, I got my wisdom teeth pulled out, which was quite painful process despite the numbing and dissolvable stitches. I was require to eat only soft things, such as congie, boiled eggs, dried pork, and TV Dinners. Nevertheless, I thank God for how he healed and is continuing to heal my swollen mouth. When you break a bone, or in my situation, lose the ability to chew with your ferocious molers, isn't there a result of great inefficiency? The same is related to the Body of Christ. As we see in 1 Corinthians 12, the body of believers is the body of Christ, called to be "the fullness of him(Jesus) who fills everything in every way"(Eph. 1:23). We are to be instruments of righteousness, used by the Master to be Good Samaritans and servants of hospitality and love that fight for justice and freedom. Recently, I discovered the truth regarding slavery in our world, and the horrible degree of it. They say that there are more slaves in the world then in any point of history(exoduscry.com for more information). As servants of Jesus, we are called to "love our neighbors as ourselves". Let us strive to meet this, through prayer and action. Let us be committed to have regard for the weak, for in return there will be blessings(Psalm 41:1). Tonight, a rainy yet pleasant night, at JoyWok, Pastor Banji(I believe that is how you spell it) came and shared about how in his high school years, he was captivated and awed at Jesus, of his magnificent mercy and glorious grace. We can follow his example, to strive to fix our eyes on Him, that ultimately, our lives will truly reflect God's glory as we desperately reach out to a lost and dying world.
On Monday, I got my wisdom teeth pulled out, which was quite painful process despite the numbing and dissolvable stitches. I was require to eat only soft things, such as congie, boiled eggs, dried pork, and TV Dinners. Nevertheless, I thank God for how he healed and is continuing to heal my swollen mouth. When you break a bone, or in my situation, lose the ability to chew with your ferocious molers, isn't there a result of great inefficiency? The same is related to the Body of Christ. As we see in 1 Corinthians 12, the body of believers is the body of Christ, called to be "the fullness of him(Jesus) who fills everything in every way"(Eph. 1:23). We are to be instruments of righteousness, used by the Master to be Good Samaritans and servants of hospitality and love that fight for justice and freedom. Recently, I discovered the truth regarding slavery in our world, and the horrible degree of it. They say that there are more slaves in the world then in any point of history(exoduscry.com for more information). As servants of Jesus, we are called to "love our neighbors as ourselves". Let us strive to meet this, through prayer and action. Let us be committed to have regard for the weak, for in return there will be blessings(Psalm 41:1). Tonight, a rainy yet pleasant night, at JoyWok, Pastor Banji(I believe that is how you spell it) came and shared about how in his high school years, he was captivated and awed at Jesus, of his magnificent mercy and glorious grace. We can follow his example, to strive to fix our eyes on Him, that ultimately, our lives will truly reflect God's glory as we desperately reach out to a lost and dying world.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
What happens from here on?
As summer draws to a close and the new school year is creeping upon us, there are thousands of young people all over the nation wondering to themselves, "Well, this summer has been great, but how can I keep the fire going once I start going back to school?"
This question comes up for me nearly every year around the same time and I felt as if I could share some insight. Fortunately enough, our youth website has been able to post up the most recent messages!
Some people might wonder why we should bother listening to audio clips (especially when its over 30 minutes long) rather than read. The answer is this: The universe, assuming you believe in the creation of the world through God, was spoken into existence. Not read, formulated, or materialized through supersonic combustion, but orated by the words of God himself. There are power in words and there is something about having an audible voice declaring words rather than listening to your mind speak it over yourself. Don't get me wrong--I'm not trying to toot my own horn. I'm rather stating that there is a different way, not a better way, to have a blog message posted.
Keep it going - Dan Chou (08-09-2009)
Quick points:
1. Don't have the appearance without the substance
- Imitation of traditions and rituals without understanding leaves to dryness
- Also leads to constant comparison/envy
2. Shed the old wineskin, receive the new one
- Conferences, retreats, and other summer activities are great, but only temporary
- Having a "quick fix" to patch up your problems will only make matters worse!
3. Fresh impartation can only go into fresh containers.
- Spoiled containers (think dirty milk carton) will only spoil the contents
- Similarly, if all you gain is more fresh understanding/revelation, but never change, it simply spoils and becomes useless, while poisoning others!
4. Ways to obtain the new wineskin
- Galations 2:20! Crucify your flesh. Pick up your cross.
- What does that mean? Deny yourself and that fleshly desire.
Last notes:
- Message was drawn out of Mark 2
- Raging waters is a water amusement park that our youth went to the following week, incase you wondering about the preface.
- I am still learning my flaws and weaknesses, but I hope you can overlook them; and to not become offended by how it was said, but instead to look at what's been said.
- For future resources and messages, click here.
Blessings.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Monday Tuesday and Wednesday
8/17/09 Monday
Last Monday, I was able to hang out with my sister the whole day. We went to see the doctor for a checkup and afterward went to Costco to buy a gargantuan sized pack of premium protein powder, which when mixed with your favorite liquid becomes a nutritious creamy vanilla thick shake; however, sometimes the powder does not fully dissolve. Nevertheless, I deeply enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my family at home. We later then had dinner, which consisted of a soft wrap burrito stuffed with spiced ground meat mixed with mozzarella cheese and fresh-tasting oregano. That was what it tasted like in my mouth. Soft mouth-watering golden mangoes which were extremely delighting came next! I am so thankful to God for the family he has given me and I give him all the praise for all that He has done. After pondering on this topic, I came to these conclusions. A family most of the times consist of a mom, dad, and two children. In particularly in a home scenario, unity is very important, and it is the same with the Body of Christ(1 Cor. 12:25). In Ephesians 4 it talks about to keeping the unity of the Spirit. Why not commence the tranquil environment God calls us to maintain filled with joyful and caring relationships at home?
8/18/09 Tuesday
The towering hospital stood there, on Madison Avenue at 100th Street, where we sent my sister to Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. My mom drove about 1 hour and 15 minutes to arrive at the swarming metropolis, where we stopped and entered the magnificent university and treatment center. Doctors were blatantly recognized due to their white coats and scholarly sophisticated walking. There was a uncountable number of them on the streets that if you were a giant looking from a bird's eye view, the place would appear to be a strange anthill because the bugs were no longer black and brown, but brightly white, but MD degrees. After examining the Grey's Anatomy environment there, we headed to Flushing to eat lunch and to get my hair cut. Returning to the apartment, I had the chance to read Proverbs 13:13-14: "He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." Here, it emphasizes the importance of being quick to listen which allows us obey commands and instruction, in particularly from the wise. The teaching of the wise will definitely benefit me, leading us towards the One who is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Yet, I feel listening to even your parents' most intricate directions is vital and rewarding. When an individual gets their mom the hot tea with no sugar but a touch of cinnamon just as she asked, his consideration shines in comparison to a person getting their mom a cold cup of tea when his mom wanted one that was warm. Overall, the lesson is to set our hearts first on obeying God's Word, all of it, whether we like it or not, from honoring our parents(Exodus 20) to being quick to listen(James 1).
Last Monday, I was able to hang out with my sister the whole day. We went to see the doctor for a checkup and afterward went to Costco to buy a gargantuan sized pack of premium protein powder, which when mixed with your favorite liquid becomes a nutritious creamy vanilla thick shake; however, sometimes the powder does not fully dissolve. Nevertheless, I deeply enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my family at home. We later then had dinner, which consisted of a soft wrap burrito stuffed with spiced ground meat mixed with mozzarella cheese and fresh-tasting oregano. That was what it tasted like in my mouth. Soft mouth-watering golden mangoes which were extremely delighting came next! I am so thankful to God for the family he has given me and I give him all the praise for all that He has done. After pondering on this topic, I came to these conclusions. A family most of the times consist of a mom, dad, and two children. In particularly in a home scenario, unity is very important, and it is the same with the Body of Christ(1 Cor. 12:25). In Ephesians 4 it talks about to keeping the unity of the Spirit. Why not commence the tranquil environment God calls us to maintain filled with joyful and caring relationships at home?
8/18/09 Tuesday
The towering hospital stood there, on Madison Avenue at 100th Street, where we sent my sister to Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. My mom drove about 1 hour and 15 minutes to arrive at the swarming metropolis, where we stopped and entered the magnificent university and treatment center. Doctors were blatantly recognized due to their white coats and scholarly sophisticated walking. There was a uncountable number of them on the streets that if you were a giant looking from a bird's eye view, the place would appear to be a strange anthill because the bugs were no longer black and brown, but brightly white, but MD degrees. After examining the Grey's Anatomy environment there, we headed to Flushing to eat lunch and to get my hair cut. Returning to the apartment, I had the chance to read Proverbs 13:13-14: "He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." Here, it emphasizes the importance of being quick to listen which allows us obey commands and instruction, in particularly from the wise. The teaching of the wise will definitely benefit me, leading us towards the One who is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Yet, I feel listening to even your parents' most intricate directions is vital and rewarding. When an individual gets their mom the hot tea with no sugar but a touch of cinnamon just as she asked, his consideration shines in comparison to a person getting their mom a cold cup of tea when his mom wanted one that was warm. Overall, the lesson is to set our hearts first on obeying God's Word, all of it, whether we like it or not, from honoring our parents(Exodus 20) to being quick to listen(James 1).
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Returning Back to America
The Boeing 747 stood there magnificently, like a mighty warrior preparing for battle. The Eva plane had stripes of forest green, gargantuan wings, and many circular windows. The plane began to taxi, gently and slowly, similar to an elder young woman named Auntie Rose driving a 1967 rusty Chevy truck. However, this truck suddenly turned into a 2010 300 horsepower Corvette, racing down the track, and then lifting from the ground with extraordinary force. After 14 hours and 10 minutes, my plane arrived in Newark airport.
I(Richard)left Taiwan on August 12, at 6:30 PM and arrived in America on August 12, at 9:45 PM. That day that I left Taiwan, I treasured every moment that I had with my dad. I woke up that partly cloudy morning practicing Chinese characters. There was much persistence and diligence needed to accomplish the characters I desired to copy, and afterward my dad and I took my luggage and headed to an all you can eat sea food buffet, which may sound absurd, especially since we were carrying two luggages which both feel like there is a car in each of them. We put the bags on the side of the restaurant, and began enjoying our last feast before I headed to Taiwan. I soon left the admirable nation Taiwan and went back home, where I continued on my academic studies. On Friday night, I attended a Summer Festival, which was hosted by JoyWok! There, people from the Herald Gospel Camp mission gave testimonies, regarding how the Lord moved there. I was deeply touched to see how God's grace was sufficient for them, that despite the team's weaknesses and uncomfortable environment, some rebellious kids, during the alter call, a majority of the kids came up to respond. God was truly with them, in a remarkable way.
Chinese is an amazing language, and I'm trying to finish a year's course in the summer, so I can jump to Chinese 3. I spent today, Saturday, mostly doing homework and exercising. Yet, right now I want to exercise my faith. As God's people, we are called to love, and have compassion on people(Luke 9). There was a catastrophic typhoon that hit Taiwan, and I urge myself along with others that we should pray for the victims. May God fill them in this troubling hour with light, hope, truth, and comfort.
I(Richard)left Taiwan on August 12, at 6:30 PM and arrived in America on August 12, at 9:45 PM. That day that I left Taiwan, I treasured every moment that I had with my dad. I woke up that partly cloudy morning practicing Chinese characters. There was much persistence and diligence needed to accomplish the characters I desired to copy, and afterward my dad and I took my luggage and headed to an all you can eat sea food buffet, which may sound absurd, especially since we were carrying two luggages which both feel like there is a car in each of them. We put the bags on the side of the restaurant, and began enjoying our last feast before I headed to Taiwan. I soon left the admirable nation Taiwan and went back home, where I continued on my academic studies. On Friday night, I attended a Summer Festival, which was hosted by JoyWok! There, people from the Herald Gospel Camp mission gave testimonies, regarding how the Lord moved there. I was deeply touched to see how God's grace was sufficient for them, that despite the team's weaknesses and uncomfortable environment, some rebellious kids, during the alter call, a majority of the kids came up to respond. God was truly with them, in a remarkable way.
Chinese is an amazing language, and I'm trying to finish a year's course in the summer, so I can jump to Chinese 3. I spent today, Saturday, mostly doing homework and exercising. Yet, right now I want to exercise my faith. As God's people, we are called to love, and have compassion on people(Luke 9). There was a catastrophic typhoon that hit Taiwan, and I urge myself along with others that we should pray for the victims. May God fill them in this troubling hour with light, hope, truth, and comfort.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Day Before I Leave Taiwan
The Bible says in Proverbs that when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Since wisdom comes from the Lord, and the Lord calls us to be "give thanks in all circumstances", I will overflow with what I am so honored to have. I am in particulary very grateful for having the opportunity to spend around 6 weeks in Taiwan. The nation has a fantasticly clean and innovative subway station and a great Body of Christian believers. Today, after I did some SAT work, my dad and I ate at the church with the pastor, his family, and some of their friends. The pastor's wife told us that she, her son, and some other members of the church are going to southern Taiwan to help with the typhoon disaster. They say that the damage there is similar to the damage done by hurricane Katrina. Knowing that the group going to southern Taiwan, a place of grief, chaos, and disaster, will face dangerous situations, we came together to pray for the team going along for one another. Overall, I am very appreciative for all that God has provided and I hope that I would continue to grow in his humility and love.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Doing What is Right
The previous post I mentioned about Tracy and Elsa, my Taiwan co-workers whom I worked with during SEC. I learned a lot from their lives through serving the Lord with them. Tracy, a spectacular singer and musician, set an example for me to further develop my gifts and talents for the glory of God. During our talent show for our group 3, she played the piano for the background music, which added a great amount of suspence and anticipation. She sang "The Lord's Prayer" for our skit, and helped with worship by singing. Her enthusiasm, honesty, and love for God and people has challenged me to become more like Christ in the ways of his meekness and compassion. Elsa's love and humility also set an example in my life. She would often lead prayers before meals and explain the directions of the games with oflowering joy and energy. Her kindness and servant heart was noticed by me, and surely by others as well. During lunch and dinner, Tracy and Elsa would get drinks for everyone in our group, definetly deomnstrating a 1 Tim. 4:12 attitude, which calls young people to set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. God states in his Word in Proverbs that doing what is right and just is more acceptable than sacrifice. Let us learn from his Word and from the lives of men of woman of God to obey and follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
Regarding to what I did today, my dad and I went to National Taiwan University Hospital to pick up his medicine. Afterwards we ate lunch and returned home where I worked on SAT. did some excercise, read my bible, and some other things. It is late now, but I hope to post more later. God bless!
Regarding to what I did today, my dad and I went to National Taiwan University Hospital to pick up his medicine. Afterwards we ate lunch and returned home where I worked on SAT. did some excercise, read my bible, and some other things. It is late now, but I hope to post more later. God bless!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Our Reward
If you had the opportunity to sit down with President Obama over a cup of coffee for one hour and simply have a conversation with him, would tell the President of the United States that you are too busy and do not have time for him? Never! With immense delight and anticipation, you would make that appointment with him a priority in your schedule. Likewise, in your Christian life, you should make your time with the Lord Almighty a priority, "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For He spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm"(Psalm 33:4-6;9). While praying today, God really impressed on my heart truly how magnificent, glorious, sovereign, and awesome He is, in particularly His words and commands. Through reading the Bible, we have the opportunity to receive councel from the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning in the End. Let us not be like the exiles of Israel who forsook the Lord by intermarrying with the nations around them, which God commanded them not to do(Ezra 9:11-12); but let us be a holy people of God, consecrated for the Lord's purposes and earneslty seeking Him. Through setting aside time everyday to pray and diligently seek God's Word, we can step by step grow closer in living a life fully pleasing Him. After all, He is our God, our King, our Savior, our Reward.
Stepping aside to what I did today, I began my day going to church in the morning with special guests Tracy, Elsa, Eric, Eric, and Ann, co-workers and students from SEC(Summer English Camp). They took the MRT subway to meet up with me. The service was very powerful, which included a testimony, and a message on Luke 15 regarding the prodigal son and how we should come to our senses and offer our lives to God, our Abba Father. Afterwards, my dad and I took Tracy, Eric, Eric, Elsa, and Ann back to the subway station, where they returned home. I went to play some guitar at the church, and then came back home, to work on SAT math. I did my daily excercise routine, had some oysters for dinner along with litchi, and now here I am writing this blog. I have to conclude this post now for I have to go to sleep soon. God bless and take care! =)
Stepping aside to what I did today, I began my day going to church in the morning with special guests Tracy, Elsa, Eric, Eric, and Ann, co-workers and students from SEC(Summer English Camp). They took the MRT subway to meet up with me. The service was very powerful, which included a testimony, and a message on Luke 15 regarding the prodigal son and how we should come to our senses and offer our lives to God, our Abba Father. Afterwards, my dad and I took Tracy, Eric, Eric, Elsa, and Ann back to the subway station, where they returned home. I went to play some guitar at the church, and then came back home, to work on SAT math. I did my daily excercise routine, had some oysters for dinner along with litchi, and now here I am writing this blog. I have to conclude this post now for I have to go to sleep soon. God bless and take care! =)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
8/8/09 Father's Day in Taiwan
Waking up today, after doing devotions, my dad took me to go eat shao bing you tiao( bread ), soy milk, and xiao long tan bao. On the xiao long tan bao, we put thin strips of ginger on top of it which provided a fresh original whole taste, delightful to my tastebuds and healthy for my body. Afterwards, we returned home and I worked on SAT math. On one Math section, the longer one, which consists of 20 questions and provides only 25 minutes to complete, I received a full score, finishing all the questions and getting none of them wrong. I was extremely delighted when I finished grading it, because it was the first time I got a perfect score on one section of the SAT. As I did more math problems, and figured out where I made my mistakes, I gradually began to improve and the material commenced to appear easier to me. The phrase "Practice makes perfection" does have truth in it. My heart overflows with thanksgiving for my dad's love in teaching me math and the time that I am able to spend with him: "O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever"(Psalm 30:12). During the evening, we went to the Youth Fellowship at our local church. The pastor preached about the wonder of the Word of God, regarding all its completed prophecies and astounishing unity. Continuing with the topic of God's Word, one essential truth the Bible teaches us to "Delight yourself in the LORD"(Psalm 37:4). Jeremy Taylor said "God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy." After reading Desiring God, written by John Piper, I discovered this key kiblical concept of pursuing joy in God. I will try to write omre about this later. Overall, that is an overview of my day. God bless!
Friday, August 7, 2009
8/7/09
With a great mass of rain and winds of tremendous speed, the typhoon hit Taiwan today with great strength and might. Motorcycles were flipped over, trees were pulled, and light poles fell, at the feet of the fearsome storm. As a result, I stayed home today, doing SAT math. I was quite busy today, despite not having the opportunity to leave home. I was occupied with doing my 130 pushups, 240 situps,my daily reading of the Bible, writing down a Proverb a day, watching Taiwan televion, eating mouth-watering litchi, almost as sweet as honey, with its smooth tangibility, chowing down popoyya( i think that is how you spell it), ba la(fruit), fish, shrimp, beans, and red bean soup with smooth milk, which is rich in calcium and nutrition. Regarding nutrition for my soul, I read Psalm 29 today, which describes God's glory and power. John Piper's book "Desire God" speaks that God's purpose throughout human kind is to glorify and magnify Himself, for He truly is the essence of truth and security. I was reminded today of His strength, for "The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temply all cry, "Glory!"(Psalm 29:9). Therefore, my heart's respond to God garganteous splendor is "Glory!".
Thursday, August 6, 2009
蘇澳 Trip ( Shu Owh ) [ East-coast Taiwan]
I think that east coast New Jersey is pretty pretty, with the Big Apple and home to countless of world renown sports teams, it is an enjoyable place to visit. However, what do you think eastcoast Taiwan is like? Today, I went to Shu Owh, eastcoast Taiwan, to sight see. The train ride was more than 2 hours each way; therefore, I spent about 5 hours on a train today. Nevertheless, the trip was very meaningful because of the time I was able to spend with my dad and the majestic views we saw such as the Pacific Ocean. The ocean was grumpy today, like an old frightening man who lives in a house on a high mountain who did not eat his breakfast. You know what that means. Uproar and anger. Likewise, the ocean was rough due to to the coming hurricane. The hurricane is considered a middle level strenghted typhoon, with a 250km diameter, a length that is able to cover the entire Taiwan. As I right this blog, it is raining and forecasters predict that the edge of the hurricane will approximately touch land by midnight. This hurricane and the intensity of it is similar to Paul's intensity and fervor for Israel to be saved: "BROTHERS, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Isrealites is that they may be saved"(Romans 10:1). Moving to the subject of the Word of God, one interesting observation from the book of Romans is to see that Paul was even audacious enough to say the he could[important word] wish that he was cut off from Christ for the sake of the Israelites. As we are amazed at Paul's love for the Israelites, I believe that we too should cultivate a similar heart for them, one like Jesus'. Therefore, my challenge is that for a week, you can pray that God may bring salvation to Israel.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
"Just Do It"
The hare was sprinting confidently during the race, so assured that he was going to win that he decided to take a break, underestimating the tortus' ability and determination to finish the race. After 15 minutes, the hare wake up, not knowing that it was too late, the tortus just finished the 2 kilometer race. In order to complete a race, one needs determination, fitness, and passion. Today, I felt like today was a race. I previously wanted to jam with my friend Luke, and hopefully lead a couple of English songs at his church(I'm still in Taiwan). Nevertheless, my dad objected, and told me to focus on my studies. I was very unwilling; however, I submitted and spent the day checking my SAT practice test that I completed yesterday and working on math problems. My dad said that is key to concentrate and study diligently in order to become a successful student. I still have a lot to learn regarding this dogma, yet I felt today I took a step towards applying it to my life. It took much will effort and perseverance; however, I hope that through hard work God will be glorified through my studies and that (maybe I'll attend Princeton).
"Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians)
"Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians)
Monday, August 3, 2009
What has been happening in Taiwan...
6/1/09 Saturday
Waking up, I did mathematics. Then I ate lunch, which was pretty good. Afterwads, I took a practice SAT reasoning test for the first time ( It was pretty challenging and straining). Nevertheless, it felt good to be occupied with work and to know that I was being challenged in my intelligence.
8/2/09 Soul Warming Fuzzy Sunday
There is a Proverb speaking that what every man desires is unfailing love, and I personally believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, called to be the vessels of God which overflow with cheerful red blood cells of love. I am so thankiful of the church nearby, called The Way( I should take a picture of it and then post it sometime). The Lord has answered my prayer for my dad to have a Spirit-filled biblical church to attend. The hospitality and love of the church overwhelms me to declare with joy the personal grace that God has provided: "I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds"(Psalm 26:6-7)
The church is about a 5 minute walking distance from where I live. Walking there at 10:00AM on a bright Sunday morning was a delightful experience, for the sky was as blue as a sky blue Crayola crayon. Entering, you soon experience a warm atmosphere of acceptance and kindness. The Pastor, a congenial funny man, Pastor John, opens the service with a Scripture reading, and then leads worship. The worship band consists of a piano, drums, violin, and guitar. It is very upbeat and powerful, where the congregation is deeply engaged in praising God. After the service, my dad and I attended a Father's fellowship. We ate small snack at a French restuarant, and there had a time of reflection. I deeply enjoyed the company of the brothers and sisters there, along with the time I was able to spend with my dad.
8/3/09
Went to Wen Hua Univerisity, to do math and SAT. Afterwads, ordered glasses. Yep.
Waking up, I did mathematics. Then I ate lunch, which was pretty good. Afterwads, I took a practice SAT reasoning test for the first time ( It was pretty challenging and straining). Nevertheless, it felt good to be occupied with work and to know that I was being challenged in my intelligence.
8/2/09 Soul Warming Fuzzy Sunday
There is a Proverb speaking that what every man desires is unfailing love, and I personally believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, called to be the vessels of God which overflow with cheerful red blood cells of love. I am so thankiful of the church nearby, called The Way( I should take a picture of it and then post it sometime). The Lord has answered my prayer for my dad to have a Spirit-filled biblical church to attend. The hospitality and love of the church overwhelms me to declare with joy the personal grace that God has provided: "I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds"(Psalm 26:6-7)
The church is about a 5 minute walking distance from where I live. Walking there at 10:00AM on a bright Sunday morning was a delightful experience, for the sky was as blue as a sky blue Crayola crayon. Entering, you soon experience a warm atmosphere of acceptance and kindness. The Pastor, a congenial funny man, Pastor John, opens the service with a Scripture reading, and then leads worship. The worship band consists of a piano, drums, violin, and guitar. It is very upbeat and powerful, where the congregation is deeply engaged in praising God. After the service, my dad and I attended a Father's fellowship. We ate small snack at a French restuarant, and there had a time of reflection. I deeply enjoyed the company of the brothers and sisters there, along with the time I was able to spend with my dad.
8/3/09
Went to Wen Hua Univerisity, to do math and SAT. Afterwads, ordered glasses. Yep.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Taiwan 7/28 Tuesday
Would it not be fantasting and extremely refreshing to sleep 9 hours a night for a couple of days? Well, that has been happening since I have been in Taiwan, Yesterday, the 28th of July, my schedule was set for learning chemistry, algebra, and physics. My dad, who enjoys teaching, plans on establishing a more solid foundation in my education through guiding me in chemistry, algebra, and physics material. The work and learning has challenged me be more diciplined and diligent. The character to develop better time mangement is difficult; nevertheless, my mother said it is essential to have that skill. The Bible says that there are benefits when one pursues discipline: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid"(Proverbs 12:1). When one loves knowledge, it is inevitable for him to grow in knowledge. Similar to if an individual loves cake. My sister loves cheesecake; hence, if you put a mouth-watering New York smooth creamy irresistablely delicous strawbeary cheese cake in front of her, she is bound to eat it. Likewise, if an individual love knowledge, he will grow in knowledge, whether in the knowledge of God, or in the knowledge of the proper techniques of brushing your teeth. After eating breakfast yesterday, I took took my teeth to the "carwash" a.k.a bathroom. There, I gave it a scrub using invigorating teeth body shampoo. My dad and I then made our way to The University of Continuing Education. There I listened to a powerful sermon from ihop.org, regarding taking a stand of compassion against child prostitution. AFterwards, we went to go eat dinner, and later we went to the park to go excercise at a nearby middle school, which has a basketball court and track. Overall, that was my day, I hope you enjoyed learning about what I did and the lessons I learned. :)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Taiwan!! Journal.
The church in Taiwan heavily focuses on "lee bai", or attending Sunday Worship. Yesterday, I was praying for the Lord to provide my dad ( I am currently spending time with my dad ｎｏｗ） ａｎｄ Ｉ ａ ｂｉｂｌｉｃａｌ Ｓｐｉｒｉｔ ｆｉｌｌｅｄ ｃｈｕｒｃｈ ｔｏ ａｔｔｅｎｄ． Ｗｈｉｌｅ ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ ｄｏｗｎ ｔｈｅ ｒｏａｄ， ｍｙ ｄａｄ ｐｏｉｎｔｅｄ ｏｕｔ ａ ｎｅａｒｂｙ ｃｈｕｒｃｈ， ａｎｄ ｇｕｅｓｓ ｗｈａｔ， ｔｈａｔ ｅｘａｃｔ ｔｉｍｅ， ｔｈｅ ｙｏｕｔｈ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ ｗａｓ ｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ． Ｍｙ ｄａｄ ａｎｄ Ｉ ｗｅｎｔ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ， ａｎｄ ｗｅ ｅｎｊｏｙｅｄ ｉｔ ｖｅｒｙ ｍｕｃｈ． Ｔｈｅ Ｐａｓｔｏｒ ｓｐｏｋｅ ｏｎ Ｍａｔｔｈｅｗ ４， ｒｅｇａｒｄｉｎｇ Ｊｅｓｕｓ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｄｅｓｅｒｔ， ａｎｄ ｉｔ ｂｒｏｕｇｈｔ ｎｅｗ ｉｎｓｉｇｈｔ ｔｏ ｍｙ ｅｙｅｓ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒ ｏｆ Ｊｅｓｕｓ ａｎｄ ｈｏｗ ｔｏ ｄｅａｌ ｗｉｔｈ ｔｅｍｐｔａｔｉｏｎ． Ｔｏｄａｙ， Ｓｕｎｄａｙ， ｗｅ ｗｅｎｔ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｓｈｉｐ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｗａｓ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ． Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ｗｏｒｓｈｉｐ， ｔｈｅｙ ｒｅａｄ ａ Ｐｓａｌｍ， ａｎｄ ｗｈｉｌｅ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｎｇｅｇｒａｔｉｏｎ ｐｒａｉｓｅｓ， Ｉ ｒｅａｌｌｙ ｆｅｅｌ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｅ ｎａｍｅ ｏｆ Ｊｅｓｕｓ ｉｓ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｌｉｆｔｅｄ ｈｉｇｈｅｒ． Ａｆｔｅｒｗａｒｄ ｔｈｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ， Ｉwas able to hang out with the Pastor's son, Luke, who is a pretty cool drummer. I hope to return and maybe sometime jam with him. Nevertheless, ｓｉｎｃｅ my dad established a disciplined schedule in my summer, to learn chemistry, physics, and math; therefore, Ｉ ｒｅｔｕｒｎｅｄ ｈｏｍｅ． Ｔｈａｔ ｗａｓ ｂａｓｉｃａｌｌｙ ｔｈｅ ｈｉｇｈｌｉｇｈｔ ｏｆ ｍｙ ｄａｄ ｔｈｏｕｇｈ． Ｍｏｒｅ ｗｉｌｌ ｂｅ ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ ｐｏｓｔｅｄ． Ｇｏｄ ｂｌｅｓｓ！
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Taiwan Summer English Camp Mission
Hello everyone, this is Richard and I am in Taiwan!
These past two weeks I volunteered in the Summer English Camp at Yuan Ze University. We did the same camp for two weeks, and in total there were about 250 students, about 125 per week. The first week has gradually molded and shaped me to become more of a servant, similar to Jesus. He says in Matthew 20:28 that He "did not come to be served, but to serve". On the day I arrived at the campsite, Pastor Yao preached on this topic and humility, and how His people are to be completely humble and gentle as we learn from Christ's example of his meekness and gentleness. Throughout the camp, the American co-workers taught English, performed skits which had lessons on character, led small group, built relationships with the kids, led games and worship, and other tasks. In all of the joyful and strenuous work, much lessons were applied and memories made. On Sunday, there is a talent show, where the parents of the kids come and see their children perform. My group, group 3, performed a skit teaching the lesson that a major character trait in a Christian is love. The exhilerating and amusing skit begins with a bank robbery. As climaxing background piano music resounds in the ears of the captivated audience, criminals enter the bank and demand money. The workers at the bank, which are Christians, begin to pray. Their noises of pleading with God reaches the level that results in the criminals mercilessly killing the Christians. Where the criminals begin to have a spark of relief and delight because they are almost complete with their shameful task, police arrive at the scene and shoot them down. They also die, and the scene then turns to hell...dun..dun..dun! The criminals have ended up in hell, where they begin to grow hungry. They find food and chopsticks; nevertheless, the chopsticks are too long. Attempting to feed their aching stomachs, which is as empty as a balloon, they use the chopsticks to pick up food and try to put the food into their own mouths to selfishly satisfy their own personal needs yet facing the conclusion that they cannot eat because the chopsticks are too long. Upset and in deep pity, they ask the devil to allow them to gaze at the wonders of heaven. They see in heaven the Christian bank workers, yet, when they grew hungry, they did not use the extremely long chopsticks to feed themselves, but one another, impressing on the hearts of the criminals the love and kindness of Christians. Although this is not the most biblically based skit in the world, the lesson is that the body of Christ is to be selflessly and joyfully loving one another. Let us act to fufill 1 John 4:11-12: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." With God's love overflowing like a glorious and abundantful fountain, the light of Christ overcomes the darkness which so depresses and entraps the lives of many. Yesterday, I received news that one of the girls that attended the camp began to go to church again. During the alter call on the second week, there was a great responce with floods of young people coming up. One of my goals for the summer is to continue to keep them in my prayers, pleading with the Lord to "turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word"(Psalm 119:37).
These past two weeks I volunteered in the Summer English Camp at Yuan Ze University. We did the same camp for two weeks, and in total there were about 250 students, about 125 per week. The first week has gradually molded and shaped me to become more of a servant, similar to Jesus. He says in Matthew 20:28 that He "did not come to be served, but to serve". On the day I arrived at the campsite, Pastor Yao preached on this topic and humility, and how His people are to be completely humble and gentle as we learn from Christ's example of his meekness and gentleness. Throughout the camp, the American co-workers taught English, performed skits which had lessons on character, led small group, built relationships with the kids, led games and worship, and other tasks. In all of the joyful and strenuous work, much lessons were applied and memories made. On Sunday, there is a talent show, where the parents of the kids come and see their children perform. My group, group 3, performed a skit teaching the lesson that a major character trait in a Christian is love. The exhilerating and amusing skit begins with a bank robbery. As climaxing background piano music resounds in the ears of the captivated audience, criminals enter the bank and demand money. The workers at the bank, which are Christians, begin to pray. Their noises of pleading with God reaches the level that results in the criminals mercilessly killing the Christians. Where the criminals begin to have a spark of relief and delight because they are almost complete with their shameful task, police arrive at the scene and shoot them down. They also die, and the scene then turns to hell...dun..dun..dun! The criminals have ended up in hell, where they begin to grow hungry. They find food and chopsticks; nevertheless, the chopsticks are too long. Attempting to feed their aching stomachs, which is as empty as a balloon, they use the chopsticks to pick up food and try to put the food into their own mouths to selfishly satisfy their own personal needs yet facing the conclusion that they cannot eat because the chopsticks are too long. Upset and in deep pity, they ask the devil to allow them to gaze at the wonders of heaven. They see in heaven the Christian bank workers, yet, when they grew hungry, they did not use the extremely long chopsticks to feed themselves, but one another, impressing on the hearts of the criminals the love and kindness of Christians. Although this is not the most biblically based skit in the world, the lesson is that the body of Christ is to be selflessly and joyfully loving one another. Let us act to fufill 1 John 4:11-12: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." With God's love overflowing like a glorious and abundantful fountain, the light of Christ overcomes the darkness which so depresses and entraps the lives of many. Yesterday, I received news that one of the girls that attended the camp began to go to church again. During the alter call on the second week, there was a great responce with floods of young people coming up. One of my goals for the summer is to continue to keep them in my prayers, pleading with the Lord to "turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word"(Psalm 119:37).
Friday, July 10, 2009
Shake Them Snakes
Today, as I was reading my morning devotion, a word just burned on my heart deeply about conquering sin and trials/temptations.
Taken from BibleGateway.com
Acts 28 (New Living Translation)
1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.
Isn't it fascinating how the passage made it sound so simple? Paul was building a fire, a viper (in other translations) came up and wrapped around him, and Paul shook him off into the fire like a bad habit. It took 3 plain verses to describe what happened, but I can imagine that it would be the defining moment for many people's lives today:
Imagine going camping with some of your best buddies, both saved and non-saved. You drive 4 hours up to Lake Tahoe and finally unpack the truck after the grueling trip with multiple stops for bathroom and food. You tell your friends to start pitching the tent while you grab some wood for the dinner fire. Zack (just made the name up) comes with you. Lo and behold, there's no wood around so you travel deep with your hatchet to get some. You two get lost. An hour goes by and you finally return with some kindling and a good night's supply of logs/branches. Zack gathers the rest of the guys who were waiting on the firewood and tell them to circle around for the glorious fire moment. As you light the match (or lighter, if you're not as hardcore), you feel something smooth and uneasy on your leg. Its squirmy. A worm? You look down and you see the end of its tail crawl up behind your back so you can't see. Its a rattlesnake. Nope, its a viper. It opens your mouth to attack you. Your entire biology class from 7th grade is flashing before your eyes and you wish you kept yourself awake to learn how to combat snakes. What do you do?
This is somewhat how I imagined the situation was for Paul (this is also how I read the Bible). Paul simply SHOOK off the snake! He didn't panic, he didn't worry, and he didn't even fear the snake. He merely took the snake and tossed it into the fire! That is extreme!
And that's one of the biggest problems in the church today. We make a big deal out of everything, don't we? Grades drop, friendships are broken, girls/boys are chasing us, and families fall apart--Yes, those things are indeed tempting and extremely painful to go through. Yet, why are we so easily discouraged or impressed by the works of the devil? One or two things go wrong in our lives and we begin to justify backsliding or sinking away from our Christian walk. This is crucial, especially because people will look and start analyzing you, just like the islanders did. They might say you deserve it, they might pity or sympathize with you, or they may simply stare and watch. They can't help you so why bother with what others say?
Yes, the snake/trial/temptation is poisonous; yes, the hurt will be there once the event or action has occurred; yes, it's easy to talk about and hard to live out; but the poison will only spread and affect you if you allow yourself to be bitten. A mosquito cannot sting you if you do not give it a chance to land on you.
Next time the snakes come onto you, show no intimidation.
Shake them snakes off and into the fire.
Taken from BibleGateway.com
Acts 28 (New Living Translation)
Paul on the Island of Malta
1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
-----Isn't it fascinating how the passage made it sound so simple? Paul was building a fire, a viper (in other translations) came up and wrapped around him, and Paul shook him off into the fire like a bad habit. It took 3 plain verses to describe what happened, but I can imagine that it would be the defining moment for many people's lives today:
Imagine going camping with some of your best buddies, both saved and non-saved. You drive 4 hours up to Lake Tahoe and finally unpack the truck after the grueling trip with multiple stops for bathroom and food. You tell your friends to start pitching the tent while you grab some wood for the dinner fire. Zack (just made the name up) comes with you. Lo and behold, there's no wood around so you travel deep with your hatchet to get some. You two get lost. An hour goes by and you finally return with some kindling and a good night's supply of logs/branches. Zack gathers the rest of the guys who were waiting on the firewood and tell them to circle around for the glorious fire moment. As you light the match (or lighter, if you're not as hardcore), you feel something smooth and uneasy on your leg. Its squirmy. A worm? You look down and you see the end of its tail crawl up behind your back so you can't see. Its a rattlesnake. Nope, its a viper. It opens your mouth to attack you. Your entire biology class from 7th grade is flashing before your eyes and you wish you kept yourself awake to learn how to combat snakes. What do you do?
This is somewhat how I imagined the situation was for Paul (this is also how I read the Bible). Paul simply SHOOK off the snake! He didn't panic, he didn't worry, and he didn't even fear the snake. He merely took the snake and tossed it into the fire! That is extreme!
And that's one of the biggest problems in the church today. We make a big deal out of everything, don't we? Grades drop, friendships are broken, girls/boys are chasing us, and families fall apart--Yes, those things are indeed tempting and extremely painful to go through. Yet, why are we so easily discouraged or impressed by the works of the devil? One or two things go wrong in our lives and we begin to justify backsliding or sinking away from our Christian walk. This is crucial, especially because people will look and start analyzing you, just like the islanders did. They might say you deserve it, they might pity or sympathize with you, or they may simply stare and watch. They can't help you so why bother with what others say?
Yes, the snake/trial/temptation is poisonous; yes, the hurt will be there once the event or action has occurred; yes, it's easy to talk about and hard to live out; but the poison will only spread and affect you if you allow yourself to be bitten. A mosquito cannot sting you if you do not give it a chance to land on you.
Next time the snakes come onto you, show no intimidation.
Shake them snakes off and into the fire.
Monday, June 15, 2009
God's Desire
3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Main Idea: Christ's passion is for the lost.
We see in the Book of Acts how the Lord empowered the disciples with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. Peter, Paul, and many other apostles experienced awesome displays of God's goodness and power, such as the healing of the blind and the raising the dead(Located in Book of Acts) which resulted in thousands saved and people being added to the Body of Christ daily. If this is what the Lord did back then, we know that he can still do it today. With so many lost and looking for purpose and truth in society today, us Christians can be the heroes in their lives and share the liberating Gospel of Christ Jesus. We know that the Lord answers prayers, and through crying out to Him according to His will, He will be faithful and will do exceeding more than what we can ask for. Amen!
Challenge: Get together with 2 or 3 Christian friends to pray for the lost.
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Main Idea: Christ's passion is for the lost.
We see in the Book of Acts how the Lord empowered the disciples with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. Peter, Paul, and many other apostles experienced awesome displays of God's goodness and power, such as the healing of the blind and the raising the dead(Located in Book of Acts) which resulted in thousands saved and people being added to the Body of Christ daily. If this is what the Lord did back then, we know that he can still do it today. With so many lost and looking for purpose and truth in society today, us Christians can be the heroes in their lives and share the liberating Gospel of Christ Jesus. We know that the Lord answers prayers, and through crying out to Him according to His will, He will be faithful and will do exceeding more than what we can ask for. Amen!
Challenge: Get together with 2 or 3 Christian friends to pray for the lost.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Psalm 119:149 "Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws. "
Living According to God's Way: Prayer and Evangelism
Proverbs 14:27 - "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death."
Acts 3:1-6 "1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
While waiting on God today, these versus above impressed on my heart. It reminded me of a saying, that much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power. We see that in Acts 3 that there was a time of prayer. One can conclude that the early church was a church of prayer, and as a result, they were a powerful church, where thousands were coming to Christ and people were being saved daily. It says in Luke that 11:9 that when we ask, it will be given to use, explaining the power we have in asking God. Something key in living according to God's trustworthy laws is being his witness( we are called to do the Great Commission Matthew 28). In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us, and we will be His witness in all the earth. How does the Holy Spirit fill us up? Luke 11:13 gives us the answer, that the Father will give generously the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Therefore, let us pray in reverence of God, let us seek God, and let us see His Kingdom come and His will be done.
Proverbs 14:27 - "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death."
Acts 3:1-6 "1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
While waiting on God today, these versus above impressed on my heart. It reminded me of a saying, that much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power. We see that in Acts 3 that there was a time of prayer. One can conclude that the early church was a church of prayer, and as a result, they were a powerful church, where thousands were coming to Christ and people were being saved daily. It says in Luke that 11:9 that when we ask, it will be given to use, explaining the power we have in asking God. Something key in living according to God's trustworthy laws is being his witness( we are called to do the Great Commission Matthew 28). In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us, and we will be His witness in all the earth. How does the Holy Spirit fill us up? Luke 11:13 gives us the answer, that the Father will give generously the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Therefore, let us pray in reverence of God, let us seek God, and let us see His Kingdom come and His will be done.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Need for Prayer
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:1-2
Main Idea: Prayer is essential.
While praying today, I really felt God impress this message on my heart. Today, John Heald, MCCC youth pastor, preached on being a living sacrifice to God, holy and pleasing to God, from Romans 12:1-2. I thought about that today, and I really felt that in order to please God, to be consecrated to Him, we must obey Him. Jesus wept when He saw Jerusalem fail to recognize what would bring them peace( what would bring them peace is Jesus, the Prince of Peace) [ Luke 19 ]. In the same way, Jesus weeps over those who do not know Him, those who fail to recognize that peace comes from God. As Christians, our purpose in life is to bring God pleasure; therefore, we are to pray for God the Father to bring the lost to Jesus, where they will be able to come to know His truth, as it says in John 6:44, because this certainly will bring God pleasure, "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"(1 Timothy 2:4).
So my challenge for you, make it your prayer, believing that it will happen, for God to bring people to Jesus, where they can truly find peace.
John 6:44
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:1-2
Main Idea: Prayer is essential.
While praying today, I really felt God impress this message on my heart. Today, John Heald, MCCC youth pastor, preached on being a living sacrifice to God, holy and pleasing to God, from Romans 12:1-2. I thought about that today, and I really felt that in order to please God, to be consecrated to Him, we must obey Him. Jesus wept when He saw Jerusalem fail to recognize what would bring them peace( what would bring them peace is Jesus, the Prince of Peace) [ Luke 19 ]. In the same way, Jesus weeps over those who do not know Him, those who fail to recognize that peace comes from God. As Christians, our purpose in life is to bring God pleasure; therefore, we are to pray for God the Father to bring the lost to Jesus, where they will be able to come to know His truth, as it says in John 6:44, because this certainly will bring God pleasure, "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"(1 Timothy 2:4).
So my challenge for you, make it your prayer, believing that it will happen, for God to bring people to Jesus, where they can truly find peace.
Friday, May 15, 2009
No Condemnation
I was reading and meditating upon Romans 8 for the past week or so, and every time I re-read it, I become extremely pumped up. I didn't know why I got so excited at the time, but I have had some time to reflect upon it and decided 'twas time to blog about it.
-----
Romans 8 - NLT
(taken from BibleGateway.com)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the powera]">[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed youb]">[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.c]">[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
There is no condemnation. None! All the things you've done--lying to your parents, cheating on a test for school, stealing a dollar or two from your friend for lunch money, sleeping around with your boy/girl friend, watching porn, getting into fights, letting your anger get out of control, swearing your head off, etc. (the list could go on forever)--it's done! It is over with. There's no reason why we should feel condemned for it.
We condemn ourselves/each other. One of the biggest reasons why Christians backslide away from their faith is because of the condemnation they give themselves once they sin. Once we commit these sins, we often say to ourselves, "Oh, I can't worship God after I just did that" or something along those lines. Even worse, people judge and condemn others for their actions, be it good or bad. Too often, it is the Christian body that becomes the source of criticism as if we do not sin ourselves. Jesus never told a sinner to get out of the church. Not once. Instead, he said, "Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone." Wow.
However, sin has lost its control! This is a lie from the enemy! Once you repent of the law and accept the blood of the Lamb, you're redeemed. The enemy can't rightfully touch you. So how can he get you? By whispering in your ear all the bad things you have done in the past, in the present, and even in the future. Listen, there's no condemnation, period. Even for sins that are going to happen without you knowing. Proverbs even says, "the righteous man falls 7 times...[so shall he] gets up 7 times." The Bible does not judge our righteousness for being perfect, but for coming to Jesus just as we are.
Follow the Spirit, not the sin. The irony of the whole [self-]condemnation ordeal is that many times we choose to listen to the spirits behind the sin instead of God. As if the evil spirits know us better than the Creator of the Universe and the world. He knows us by name, the number of hairs on our head, and knows the number of days in our lives. So when he says that he loves us, he welcomes us back with open arms, and he has sent his Son to come and break the bondage of Death, why do we allow it to rule us?
-----
Man just typing this out is getting me pumped. Due to time restraints, I will have to elaborate on other verses in Romans 8 somewhere down the road.
Stay vigiliant!
-----
Romans 8 - NLT
(taken from BibleGateway.com)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the powera]">[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed youb]">[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.c]">[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
There is no condemnation. None! All the things you've done--lying to your parents, cheating on a test for school, stealing a dollar or two from your friend for lunch money, sleeping around with your boy/girl friend, watching porn, getting into fights, letting your anger get out of control, swearing your head off, etc. (the list could go on forever)--it's done! It is over with. There's no reason why we should feel condemned for it.
We condemn ourselves/each other. One of the biggest reasons why Christians backslide away from their faith is because of the condemnation they give themselves once they sin. Once we commit these sins, we often say to ourselves, "Oh, I can't worship God after I just did that" or something along those lines. Even worse, people judge and condemn others for their actions, be it good or bad. Too often, it is the Christian body that becomes the source of criticism as if we do not sin ourselves. Jesus never told a sinner to get out of the church. Not once. Instead, he said, "Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone." Wow.
However, sin has lost its control! This is a lie from the enemy! Once you repent of the law and accept the blood of the Lamb, you're redeemed. The enemy can't rightfully touch you. So how can he get you? By whispering in your ear all the bad things you have done in the past, in the present, and even in the future. Listen, there's no condemnation, period. Even for sins that are going to happen without you knowing. Proverbs even says, "the righteous man falls 7 times...[so shall he] gets up 7 times." The Bible does not judge our righteousness for being perfect, but for coming to Jesus just as we are.
Follow the Spirit, not the sin. The irony of the whole [self-]condemnation ordeal is that many times we choose to listen to the spirits behind the sin instead of God. As if the evil spirits know us better than the Creator of the Universe and the world. He knows us by name, the number of hairs on our head, and knows the number of days in our lives. So when he says that he loves us, he welcomes us back with open arms, and he has sent his Son to come and break the bondage of Death, why do we allow it to rule us?
-----
Man just typing this out is getting me pumped. Due to time restraints, I will have to elaborate on other verses in Romans 8 somewhere down the road.
Stay vigiliant!
Monday, April 20, 2009
God is love
"16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)
"God is love." (1 John 4:16)
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)
20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)
Main Idea: God is love, therefore, we also are to love.
Jesus demonstrated the fullness of His love through washing His disciples feet. He loved us so much, that we was willing to humble himself, and serve the disciples, doing a task that not even slaves did. In the body, along with in the world, we are to love people. We are to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers, and to treat others as we would desire them to treat us. Let us be the Body, let us be believers that love, for we know, that out of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest(1 Corinthians 14).
Challenge: Love a brother today. Ask him how he is? See how his day is? Pray for him.
"God is love." (1 John 4:16)
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)
20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)
Main Idea: God is love, therefore, we also are to love.
Jesus demonstrated the fullness of His love through washing His disciples feet. He loved us so much, that we was willing to humble himself, and serve the disciples, doing a task that not even slaves did. In the body, along with in the world, we are to love people. We are to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers, and to treat others as we would desire them to treat us. Let us be the Body, let us be believers that love, for we know, that out of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest(1 Corinthians 14).
Challenge: Love a brother today. Ask him how he is? See how his day is? Pray for him.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Waiting on God
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8)
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Main Point: Waiting upon God is essential in your life.
Recently I(Richard) felt in my life a little rollarcoastery, where my spiritual life is up and down, up one week and down another, up one day, and down another. Yet, this verse just struck my heart, and I realized that it is when I wait on God, God will renew my strength. I prayed today to God is that I'll be like King David, that I one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Main Point: Waiting upon God is essential in your life.
Recently I(Richard) felt in my life a little rollarcoastery, where my spiritual life is up and down, up one week and down another, up one day, and down another. Yet, this verse just struck my heart, and I realized that it is when I wait on God, God will renew my strength. I prayed today to God is that I'll be like King David, that I one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What are you meditating on?
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
(Joshua 1:8 NIV)
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:15-16)
Main Point: Meditating on God's Word is key to a successful Christian walk.
As said on previous posts, God's Word is absolutely vital in our Christian walks. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we should make every effort to be sure that we are walking according to His Word. That is where meditation comes in. Meditation may sound like a mystical weird word; nevertheless, it is very simple and practical. It is to simply engage in thought or reflection. It speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to train ourselves to be godly. Pondering and thinking thoroughly on God's Word, seeking understanding and insight, is a great step in training oneself in godliness. We are to be doers of the Word, and not simply hearers, as it says in James 1:22. Let us fill our minds and hearts with God's Word, letting it overflow our in our lives. Let this be the prayer of our hearts.
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
Psalm 119:25-27
Challenge: Meditate on a specific scripture passage this week, seeking God to mold you in becoming more like Him. Ask for understanding, ask for His ways, and He will answer.
(Joshua 1:8 NIV)
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:15-16)
Main Point: Meditating on God's Word is key to a successful Christian walk.
As said on previous posts, God's Word is absolutely vital in our Christian walks. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we should make every effort to be sure that we are walking according to His Word. That is where meditation comes in. Meditation may sound like a mystical weird word; nevertheless, it is very simple and practical. It is to simply engage in thought or reflection. It speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to train ourselves to be godly. Pondering and thinking thoroughly on God's Word, seeking understanding and insight, is a great step in training oneself in godliness. We are to be doers of the Word, and not simply hearers, as it says in James 1:22. Let us fill our minds and hearts with God's Word, letting it overflow our in our lives. Let this be the prayer of our hearts.
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
Psalm 119:25-27
Challenge: Meditate on a specific scripture passage this week, seeking God to mold you in becoming more like Him. Ask for understanding, ask for His ways, and He will answer.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Understandings of a Human
I was reading Proverbs 30 today (in part because I attempt to read a Proverb a day in hopes of gaining more wisdom) and the chapter spoke deeply to the roots of my heart. I will break it down by parts.
Source: Bible Gateway
Translation: NLT (I love NIV and NKJV, but NLT rocks)
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30
The Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.[a]
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.[b]
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!
Isn't it amazing how God is using an honest man, completely useless and broken before the Lord, to prophesy about Jesus?! Look at verse 4--this man, Agur, comes before God in anguish and pain about his lack of humanly understanding, is the only man in ALL of Proverbs to reference the Son of God! This is truly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 1, where he says God will use the weak to shame the wise.
If you are reading this and you are one of those Christians who tends to think that you do not know or understand much of the Bible, CONGRATULATIONS! You may very well be used to prophesy or declare the Word of God! I reflect upon all the times I have poked fun at my friends or acquaintances for lack of common sense, but why have I prided myself into making others seem foolish?
5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
The Word of the Lord cannot be tarnished or changed. As it says in Hebrews, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I realized that as a preacher, not only can you not alter what God has planned to say, but you HAVE to say what's on God's mind. This is scary! What if people will get offended by what God has to say? I have no choice, and neither do you because the Word of the Lord is not declared through simply preaching, but word of mouth, such as sharing the Gospel with friends, family, and strangers. I have been rebuked by the Lord through many ways: other people's messages, my authorities, my friends and accountability partners, through a series of unfortunate events.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Here is an often asked ice-breaker: What would you do if you had a million dollars? However, my question right back is, "Why would I want a million dollars?" Surely, there is nothing in this world I can buy that will satisfy me! An iPod will only get outdated by another iPod, and a 2009 car will be trumped by its 2010 successor. Lord, I just pray for satisfaction with my finances, not an abundance; only give me the abundance if you want to bless me to bless others.
I will continue verse 10 to 19 sometime in another post.
--dan
Source: Bible Gateway
Translation: NLT (I love NIV and NKJV, but NLT rocks)
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30
The Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.[a]
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.[b]
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!
Isn't it amazing how God is using an honest man, completely useless and broken before the Lord, to prophesy about Jesus?! Look at verse 4--this man, Agur, comes before God in anguish and pain about his lack of humanly understanding, is the only man in ALL of Proverbs to reference the Son of God! This is truly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 1, where he says God will use the weak to shame the wise.
If you are reading this and you are one of those Christians who tends to think that you do not know or understand much of the Bible, CONGRATULATIONS! You may very well be used to prophesy or declare the Word of God! I reflect upon all the times I have poked fun at my friends or acquaintances for lack of common sense, but why have I prided myself into making others seem foolish?
5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
The Word of the Lord cannot be tarnished or changed. As it says in Hebrews, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I realized that as a preacher, not only can you not alter what God has planned to say, but you HAVE to say what's on God's mind. This is scary! What if people will get offended by what God has to say? I have no choice, and neither do you because the Word of the Lord is not declared through simply preaching, but word of mouth, such as sharing the Gospel with friends, family, and strangers. I have been rebuked by the Lord through many ways: other people's messages, my authorities, my friends and accountability partners, through a series of unfortunate events.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Here is an often asked ice-breaker: What would you do if you had a million dollars? However, my question right back is, "Why would I want a million dollars?" Surely, there is nothing in this world I can buy that will satisfy me! An iPod will only get outdated by another iPod, and a 2009 car will be trumped by its 2010 successor. Lord, I just pray for satisfaction with my finances, not an abundance; only give me the abundance if you want to bless me to bless others.
I will continue verse 10 to 19 sometime in another post.
--dan
Sunday, March 22, 2009
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." (Isaiah 62:9)
It speaks here of putting watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, which can figuratively represent the Church. Watchmen are those that are in watch with God. Whether it's meditating on the Word of God, focusing your thoughts on Him, or praying, it is being awake with the Lord, spending time with Jesus. Jesus speaks could we not keep watch with Him for one hour. (Mark 14) We learn that we should strive to call on God and give ourselves no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem(church) and makes her the praise of the earth. Keep on praying, and see God make His Church shine brighter than ever, lighting this dark world in grace and truth.
I) Remain in Him
II) Live a Life in watching for God ( Keep watch for an hour a day )
III) Focus on prayer
IV) Pray the Word of God ->
It speaks here of putting watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, which can figuratively represent the Church. Watchmen are those that are in watch with God. Whether it's meditating on the Word of God, focusing your thoughts on Him, or praying, it is being awake with the Lord, spending time with Jesus. Jesus speaks could we not keep watch with Him for one hour. (Mark 14) We learn that we should strive to call on God and give ourselves no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem(church) and makes her the praise of the earth. Keep on praying, and see God make His Church shine brighter than ever, lighting this dark world in grace and truth.
I) Remain in Him
II) Live a Life in watching for God ( Keep watch for an hour a day )
III) Focus on prayer
IV) Pray the Word of God ->
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Testimony of the goodness of God
Over the years in my life, I now marvel God’s work in my life. He has changed me in such a deep and amazing way, bringing me to a fresh understanding of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and growing through God’s Word. By his great love and mercy, the Lord has saved me, “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”(Ephesians 2:8-9). To be honest, it has been difficult in my journey as a Christian, but one thing I understand, that God is constant, being true to His word.
Growing up as a child, I loved playing video games. They were my heart’s desire. From fifth grade, I began playing, where hours would be wasted over purposeless actions. Video games became my safe haven, where I would look for comfort and entertainment. I would be completely mindless and at times neglect my own duties in school and at home for them. Trapped also in pornography at a young age, I was living the life as one “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world”(Ephesians 2:12). In sixth grade, I earnestly desired to fit in. There were many cool crowds, and I felt that if I was in that group of people, my identity would be established, with good friends I am capable of relying on. Nevertheless, many times however, I was hurt by my friends. No matter how much I tried to fit in, I still did not feel satisfied with hope and purpose. Church was not something important to me; neither was God. However, during these years from 4th-6th grade, the Lord has been planting many seeds to prepare the time where I would turn my life over to my Savior.
That day in my life where I became saved was the turning point of my life. A pastor had been preaching there for quite a while, and stirring hunger for God in my soul as well as others. I felt the Holy Spirit convict me of my sinful lifestyle, and I knew that if I did not change, I would most likely go to hell. I knew I had said the prayer to invite Jesus into my heart as a child; nevertheless, I did not truly believe for I did not bring my life into complete submission to God. However, that day I did. I asked Him to come into my life, by my Lord and Savior, and to reign over me. From that day, I began to live my life for Jesus.
One thing I am most grateful for is the follow-up after. The youth director, as well as many other godly men and women turned to disciple and train me on how to live a life pleasing to God. That summer, Wendy, my youth director, told me to consider going to Brooklyn for missions. I prayed about it, and I felt the Lord confirmed that I should go. Before going, many of us would pray and seek God’s face. I learned to receive God’s healing, seek His face, and grow deeper with Him. Sharing my faith was not something I was an expert on, however, applying it changed my life.
Many struggles continued to arise after the missions; nonetheless, God was faithful, for He is always faithful, and brought me through. One thing I learned is to have a godly mentor to teach and guide you in knowing God more. In the Summer of 2009, I went to Asia to do missions and attend a conference. I was amazed and the Lord deeply challenged me in my character, passion, and how I do ministry. The Lord has molded me, broke me, and stretched me to teach, pray, and have compassion for those that are especially lost and weak.
Once a lost sinner, by His grace, I am now a child of God. Day by day by His mercy, I am able to walk in His ways, and I give Him all the glory.
Growing up as a child, I loved playing video games. They were my heart’s desire. From fifth grade, I began playing, where hours would be wasted over purposeless actions. Video games became my safe haven, where I would look for comfort and entertainment. I would be completely mindless and at times neglect my own duties in school and at home for them. Trapped also in pornography at a young age, I was living the life as one “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world”(Ephesians 2:12). In sixth grade, I earnestly desired to fit in. There were many cool crowds, and I felt that if I was in that group of people, my identity would be established, with good friends I am capable of relying on. Nevertheless, many times however, I was hurt by my friends. No matter how much I tried to fit in, I still did not feel satisfied with hope and purpose. Church was not something important to me; neither was God. However, during these years from 4th-6th grade, the Lord has been planting many seeds to prepare the time where I would turn my life over to my Savior.
That day in my life where I became saved was the turning point of my life. A pastor had been preaching there for quite a while, and stirring hunger for God in my soul as well as others. I felt the Holy Spirit convict me of my sinful lifestyle, and I knew that if I did not change, I would most likely go to hell. I knew I had said the prayer to invite Jesus into my heart as a child; nevertheless, I did not truly believe for I did not bring my life into complete submission to God. However, that day I did. I asked Him to come into my life, by my Lord and Savior, and to reign over me. From that day, I began to live my life for Jesus.
One thing I am most grateful for is the follow-up after. The youth director, as well as many other godly men and women turned to disciple and train me on how to live a life pleasing to God. That summer, Wendy, my youth director, told me to consider going to Brooklyn for missions. I prayed about it, and I felt the Lord confirmed that I should go. Before going, many of us would pray and seek God’s face. I learned to receive God’s healing, seek His face, and grow deeper with Him. Sharing my faith was not something I was an expert on, however, applying it changed my life.
Many struggles continued to arise after the missions; nonetheless, God was faithful, for He is always faithful, and brought me through. One thing I learned is to have a godly mentor to teach and guide you in knowing God more. In the Summer of 2009, I went to Asia to do missions and attend a conference. I was amazed and the Lord deeply challenged me in my character, passion, and how I do ministry. The Lord has molded me, broke me, and stretched me to teach, pray, and have compassion for those that are especially lost and weak.
Once a lost sinner, by His grace, I am now a child of God. Day by day by His mercy, I am able to walk in His ways, and I give Him all the glory.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Word of God and its importance
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13
The Word of God is our standard for truth. It speaks in this passage that God's word penetrates and even divides soul and spirit. The Lord knows what is man( John 2:25), and because of this, He gives us the Word of God to discern what is what in our lives. Many times for me I have different emotions and different feelings, not quite understanding whether to follow them or not; nevertheless, God's word is "lamp to my feet"(Psalm 119:105) and will guide me into His ways for His word is inspired by Him(2 Timothy 3:16).
My challenge is that we will live lives of obedience to His word and His spirit.
1) Memorize Bible passages
2) Talk about Bible passages
3) Share about His word
4) Apply His word
God will guide us in His will for He is our Shepherd(Psalm 23:1), and it begins with His word.
Hebrews 4:12-13
The Word of God is our standard for truth. It speaks in this passage that God's word penetrates and even divides soul and spirit. The Lord knows what is man( John 2:25), and because of this, He gives us the Word of God to discern what is what in our lives. Many times for me I have different emotions and different feelings, not quite understanding whether to follow them or not; nevertheless, God's word is "lamp to my feet"(Psalm 119:105) and will guide me into His ways for His word is inspired by Him(2 Timothy 3:16).
My challenge is that we will live lives of obedience to His word and His spirit.
1) Memorize Bible passages
2) Talk about Bible passages
3) Share about His word
4) Apply His word
God will guide us in His will for He is our Shepherd(Psalm 23:1), and it begins with His word.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Today is the day.
"for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations."
Isaiah 56:7
During prayer meeting today, the Lord spoke many things in my heart. We're going to have prayer meetings now at FCA(Bible Club at shcool) and short prayers all around in life. This is my challenge for my life, and for my world. God has called us to be compassionate for the crowds. Jesus himself went to the crowd and had compassion on them. The Lord is challanging me to truly have compassion for my classmates, crying out to God for their souls.
Applications
1) Pray and cry out to God at FCA, and for FCA.
a. Pray for a deeper compassion and care
2) Act in deep compassion and love.
a house of prayer for all nations."
Isaiah 56:7
During prayer meeting today, the Lord spoke many things in my heart. We're going to have prayer meetings now at FCA(Bible Club at shcool) and short prayers all around in life. This is my challenge for my life, and for my world. God has called us to be compassionate for the crowds. Jesus himself went to the crowd and had compassion on them. The Lord is challanging me to truly have compassion for my classmates, crying out to God for their souls.
Applications
1) Pray and cry out to God at FCA, and for FCA.
a. Pray for a deeper compassion and care
2) Act in deep compassion and love.
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