Scriptures: “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” (Matthew 21:1-3)
It was the Palm Sunday yesterday. As my pastor preached from the passage above, I couldn’t help noticing that, for this triumphal entry into Jerusalem, our Lord had in mind a donkey and a colt for His ride into town. The same event was also recorded in the book of Luke where this colt was described as “which no one has ever ridden.” (Luke 19:30) I wonder why? Why a colt, especially one that “no one has ever ridden”? Aren’t donkeys known for their stubbornness? Later in verse 4, Matthew told us that “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet” (Matthew 21:4) and this amazed me.
This amazed me because, for such an important occasion in His ministries, the Lord said He needed them to fulfill the prophecy by Prophet Zachariah. One would think that, with the stubbornness of donkeys, this young colt which had never been ridden would definitely need to be taught / trained in order to be useful in some ways. But, to our Lord, that’s not the case at all. Just the way it was would be good enough for Him. This got me to think, if the Lord could use a colt for such a significant occasion, how much more can He use you and me?
All too often when I tried to invite people to serve in one capacity or another in the church, I was given an answer like: “I don’t know anything about it.” Or “I am not good at it.” And I wonder if this is true. After all, who knows how to do anything at birth?
I have been greatly inspired by the testimony of one of our elders in the church. When she was first called to serve, she admitted that she did not know anything about how to go about any church ministry. But she was willing to learn. So, she took time to join the caring team to visit brothers and sisters in various situations. She observed how the pastor and the co-workers administer to the people they visited and later became a source of great comfort and encouragement to everyone in the church.
When she was assigned the responsibility to oversee the financial operation of the church, though lacking any financial training, she invited people with that background to help her learn and manage that part of the church operation. Her sensitivity to details and determination to be a godly steward of all that entrusted to her made her one of the best controller in our church. More than that, she took time to attend any seminars, conference and workshops whenever she could so she might be equipped to share the good news of our Lord Jesus whenever an opportunity presented itself.
I saw in this godly sister an example of servanthood. It really wasn’t about what we can or have. It was really all about what we will, both in learning and in serving. I want to be like her. I know I can be at times stubborn; I know I can be at times foolish (or more often than I would want to admit); I know I can be at times blind. But what an honor it would be to carry the glorious King on my shoulder into town?
I am convinced that, today more than ever, our Lord King wants to ride on our shoulders to go into our towns, our celebrations, our houses, and our hearts. It really doesn’t matter who we are or what we are. It matters that He needs us; it matters that we can be useful in His Kingdom.
I prayerfully hope that, on this Palm Sunday, our Lord can call you and me into services so He may once again enter and rule in our communities, our homes and our lives as we submit to Him for His purpose!
Prayer Requests:
1. For every willing heart to mightily used in this dark and desperate generation
2. For every unwilling heart to be touched and motivated for His glory
Prayer:
Father God, as we sing and shout "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" to our Lord Jesus to celebrate the coming of our King Jesus for our salvations, we ask for Your help to make us humble and willing servants as we learn from His humble examples so He may enter and transform our lives and realize the Kingdom of God in our midst. We humbly pray in the glorious name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
What Kind of Jesus Are We Sharing?
Scripture: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". (Matthew 5:16)
This will probably be one of the most controversial blogs I've ever written because despite all of us calling ourselves Christian, I am learning that Christians across the nation disagree with what is right, what is wrong, what is sin, and what is not. Some Christians believe in abortion and gay rights, while others are emphatically against these issues.
As you read this, I'm not trying to get anyone to change their point of view, and I'm not telling you whether you are right or wrong. The spirit in which I write my blogs is to share with you my own personal observations, my struggles and life experiences, always to encourage and build up the body. I like to give cause for contemplation, as well as sharing with you my own uncertainty about issues. So it is never my intention to create division or dissension.
A few things have recently inspired me to write this blog. One is a book I'm reading where a teenaged boy is badgered, bullied and called names so much throughout his life, that when they begin to question his sexuality he begins to wonder to himself: "Do they see something I don't? Maybe I am and don't know it ..."
I also bring up this topic because I live in California and it's a huge deal here as our court system is fighting between giving homosexuals the right to marry or not. As a Christian, I'm against the idea of giving them the right to marry. Don't get me wrong: I don't feel any animosity towards homosexuals, nor do I feel they deserve any unjust treatment. However, I don't agree with their lifestyle - any more than a drug addict, an alcoholic or a kleptomaniac. My belief is not an act or attitude of hostility, but it's what I believe God has written in the bible that has shaped my opinion.
Conversely, it also breaks my heart to see people professing Christianity carrying picket signs in the street with "God hates (derogatory name)". Signs stating homosexuals are going to hell, all the while shouting within an angry mob all because they are "right" and homosexuals are "wrong." They are quick to throw up the scripture in Leviticus that states homosexuality is "an abomination in the eyes of God".
My heart grieves, as I'm sure God's does as well - at this representation of Who God is. What kind of God do these people serve, I wonder? What is their view of our Almighty Savior, Rescuer, Healer, Counselor? What kind of witness is this? What kind of loving example of Jesus Christ are they spreading? I Peter 3:15-16 states clearly, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
I also find it hurtful that there are many, many "abominations" listed in the bible, but people like to throw this one out as some kind of "proof" of God's "hatred" for certain kinds of sinners and sin. As one example, Proverbs 6:16-19 says "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers." Yet you don't see angry mobs holding picket signs and screaming about THESE daily abominations, do you?
All non believers need to be shown the light; gently, lovingly, the way Jesus came and walked with the sinners. Where in the bible did Christ ever spread His Father's word with disdain towards those he was addressing? We must never forget that sin is a condition of the heart that every human being without Christ has within them. Sin is not a curse or a scourge that needs to be driven out of people. God has given us all hope for a future with Him through repentance, and as ambassadors of Christ, we have no right to browbeat those who don't know Him yet. After all, Jesus ate with the sinners, broke bread with them, showed them His Father's love by example. He never attacked them.
If I were to attempt to coax a stray dog into my home, would I come towards it yelling, stamping my feet, banging pots and pans and shouting angrily, "Dog!! You are so lost and hopeless!! Get over here dog, right now!!!! Get into my house or you will DIE out here!!"
What message would I be giving the dog about what kind of OWNER I would be? How is that drawing him in, gaining his trust, showing him love and tenderness? We live in a hurting world. Non believers often come from hurt places and certainly they aren't going to come to the Lord through anger and disdain, shouts and pickets with horrible messages emblazoned on them. What kind of God is being represented to them, and why would they want to serve Him?
I know so many who have been hurt by religion, and their view of God has been so distorted and twisted, causing them to turn away from any idea of a good God. We live in a hurting and wounded world. We live in a world of "stray dogs" who have been betrayed by those who were supposed to take care of them and protect them. How are we going to pull non believers out of the world and into the kingdom? Do we take them by force? Were YOU taken by force? Are we going to picket their homes, chase them down the street, shouting angrily at them? We aren't given license to terrorize non believers, regardless of WHAT their "sin issue" is. What kind of Christians would any of us be if we were terrorized into serving God?
It's my own personal experience that most of the gay people I know - and I have acquaintances and family members who are - have been deeply wounded, sexually, emotionally and/or physically abused, or harshly labeled in childhood so consistently, they start to believe they are whatever names kids call them. They are so empty and wounded inside and need love so badly they will look for any semblance of love, affection and attention in any shape or form it comes, and often, in their own desperation, they find it in ways that are sinful to us - but sadly, comforting to them.
Gay. What a strange dichotomy, for though "gay" used to me mean "happy, cheerful or joyous", most of the gay individuals I know or have met have been the most miserable and unhappy people I know, hiding behind alcoholism and drug addiction. It breaks my heart, because their addiction and state of mind comes from a place of unresolved, deep wounding.
I know Christians who believe homosexuality is a born trait. To be honest, my own opinion is still out on that. Some people are born with missing limbs, club feet, heroin addiction, mental illnesses and down syndrome. Is sexual identity not a mental and physiological condition someone can be born with? The jury is still out and I am merely posing the question. I have no answer. I bet every reader has his or her own unique opinion.
What I do know is this - we are to love those around us and show God's love and mercy to those who are walking in darkness. We need to be the best ambassadors of our loving Christ we can be!
Prayer request: For believers among us to have more compassion towards those we have a difficult time in understanding why they live, think and behave as they do.
Prayer: Father, we live in a tough world. We ask you to open our eyes to those who need to be shown your love and mercy more by our tender actions than by any kind of shaming, judging or convincing words. Show us how to be your ambassadors, teach us to win souls by using gentleness and respect towards others. Draw each of us close to you as we interact with those in so much need in the world. Amen
This will probably be one of the most controversial blogs I've ever written because despite all of us calling ourselves Christian, I am learning that Christians across the nation disagree with what is right, what is wrong, what is sin, and what is not. Some Christians believe in abortion and gay rights, while others are emphatically against these issues.
As you read this, I'm not trying to get anyone to change their point of view, and I'm not telling you whether you are right or wrong. The spirit in which I write my blogs is to share with you my own personal observations, my struggles and life experiences, always to encourage and build up the body. I like to give cause for contemplation, as well as sharing with you my own uncertainty about issues. So it is never my intention to create division or dissension.
A few things have recently inspired me to write this blog. One is a book I'm reading where a teenaged boy is badgered, bullied and called names so much throughout his life, that when they begin to question his sexuality he begins to wonder to himself: "Do they see something I don't? Maybe I am and don't know it ..."
I also bring up this topic because I live in California and it's a huge deal here as our court system is fighting between giving homosexuals the right to marry or not. As a Christian, I'm against the idea of giving them the right to marry. Don't get me wrong: I don't feel any animosity towards homosexuals, nor do I feel they deserve any unjust treatment. However, I don't agree with their lifestyle - any more than a drug addict, an alcoholic or a kleptomaniac. My belief is not an act or attitude of hostility, but it's what I believe God has written in the bible that has shaped my opinion.
Conversely, it also breaks my heart to see people professing Christianity carrying picket signs in the street with "God hates (derogatory name)". Signs stating homosexuals are going to hell, all the while shouting within an angry mob all because they are "right" and homosexuals are "wrong." They are quick to throw up the scripture in Leviticus that states homosexuality is "an abomination in the eyes of God".
My heart grieves, as I'm sure God's does as well - at this representation of Who God is. What kind of God do these people serve, I wonder? What is their view of our Almighty Savior, Rescuer, Healer, Counselor? What kind of witness is this? What kind of loving example of Jesus Christ are they spreading? I Peter 3:15-16 states clearly, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
I also find it hurtful that there are many, many "abominations" listed in the bible, but people like to throw this one out as some kind of "proof" of God's "hatred" for certain kinds of sinners and sin. As one example, Proverbs 6:16-19 says "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers." Yet you don't see angry mobs holding picket signs and screaming about THESE daily abominations, do you?
All non believers need to be shown the light; gently, lovingly, the way Jesus came and walked with the sinners. Where in the bible did Christ ever spread His Father's word with disdain towards those he was addressing? We must never forget that sin is a condition of the heart that every human being without Christ has within them. Sin is not a curse or a scourge that needs to be driven out of people. God has given us all hope for a future with Him through repentance, and as ambassadors of Christ, we have no right to browbeat those who don't know Him yet. After all, Jesus ate with the sinners, broke bread with them, showed them His Father's love by example. He never attacked them.
If I were to attempt to coax a stray dog into my home, would I come towards it yelling, stamping my feet, banging pots and pans and shouting angrily, "Dog!! You are so lost and hopeless!! Get over here dog, right now!!!! Get into my house or you will DIE out here!!"
What message would I be giving the dog about what kind of OWNER I would be? How is that drawing him in, gaining his trust, showing him love and tenderness? We live in a hurting world. Non believers often come from hurt places and certainly they aren't going to come to the Lord through anger and disdain, shouts and pickets with horrible messages emblazoned on them. What kind of God is being represented to them, and why would they want to serve Him?
I know so many who have been hurt by religion, and their view of God has been so distorted and twisted, causing them to turn away from any idea of a good God. We live in a hurting and wounded world. We live in a world of "stray dogs" who have been betrayed by those who were supposed to take care of them and protect them. How are we going to pull non believers out of the world and into the kingdom? Do we take them by force? Were YOU taken by force? Are we going to picket their homes, chase them down the street, shouting angrily at them? We aren't given license to terrorize non believers, regardless of WHAT their "sin issue" is. What kind of Christians would any of us be if we were terrorized into serving God?
It's my own personal experience that most of the gay people I know - and I have acquaintances and family members who are - have been deeply wounded, sexually, emotionally and/or physically abused, or harshly labeled in childhood so consistently, they start to believe they are whatever names kids call them. They are so empty and wounded inside and need love so badly they will look for any semblance of love, affection and attention in any shape or form it comes, and often, in their own desperation, they find it in ways that are sinful to us - but sadly, comforting to them.
Gay. What a strange dichotomy, for though "gay" used to me mean "happy, cheerful or joyous", most of the gay individuals I know or have met have been the most miserable and unhappy people I know, hiding behind alcoholism and drug addiction. It breaks my heart, because their addiction and state of mind comes from a place of unresolved, deep wounding.
I know Christians who believe homosexuality is a born trait. To be honest, my own opinion is still out on that. Some people are born with missing limbs, club feet, heroin addiction, mental illnesses and down syndrome. Is sexual identity not a mental and physiological condition someone can be born with? The jury is still out and I am merely posing the question. I have no answer. I bet every reader has his or her own unique opinion.
What I do know is this - we are to love those around us and show God's love and mercy to those who are walking in darkness. We need to be the best ambassadors of our loving Christ we can be!
Prayer request: For believers among us to have more compassion towards those we have a difficult time in understanding why they live, think and behave as they do.
Prayer: Father, we live in a tough world. We ask you to open our eyes to those who need to be shown your love and mercy more by our tender actions than by any kind of shaming, judging or convincing words. Show us how to be your ambassadors, teach us to win souls by using gentleness and respect towards others. Draw each of us close to you as we interact with those in so much need in the world. Amen
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Time for Everything
Scriptures: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
This morning, when I got in the internet, there on the home page, I found a couple of photos: one showing the closing ceremony of 2010 Winter Olympic and the other showing the devastation caused by the 8.8 earthquake in Chili. What an inharmonious scene! I think it actually made me feel uncomfortable then. How do we handle the emotion of joy and celebration and the emotion of sad and lost all at the same time? What could possibly bring them into one accord?
Please understand that I am not trying to downplay the significance of either event. These are both real events that took place within a 24 hour timeframe. I don’t have a problem facing this reality that both existed. But I wrestle with my own feelings as I look at them because, on the one hand, I want to give thanks to our Lord for His great gifts to the athletes through their accomplishments, many of them came with inspirational stories. For example, the Canadian Figure Skater, Ms. Joannie Rochette, lost her Mom just two days before the competition began. But, she skated to success and won a medal for Canada. How did she pull herself together for such a tough competition? It’s amazing and admirable!
When I looked at the other event which also came with many amazing stories, my heart went out to those lost and displaced people. News had it many lootings took place and, at the same time, many brave souls rose to the occasion. One story had it that, when the earthquake hit and brought down their 13 story apartment, a man and his daughter were on the 13th floor. They went and stood in the door frame of their bathroom. But the damage to the building was so great that the entire apartment collapsed and both the man and his daughter fell to the ground with the building. The amazing thing was neither of them was seriously hurt. He first made arrangements for his daughter and then went back to help the firefighter to rescue other residents of his apartment. How did he do that? Wasn’t he traumatized by the earthquake? I don’t know how he did it. But he is a hero to me!
The presence of these two events together reminded me of something Charles Dickens said in his book, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of the times … it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us …” I suppose life is full of this type of contrast, now or back in Dickens’ generation. Yet, how do I cope with the mixed feeling within?
As I pondered more on the amazing stories told, I realized that the Canadian figure skater and the man in Chili share something in common. Good or bad, they both face their circumstances with dignity. Good or bad, they both responded to their challenges with total commitment and with everything they’ve got.
Joannie might have lost her mother, but she did not lose the special gifts and the sense of mission given to her. The man in Chili might have lost everything he had in that apartment, but he still had his clear thinking, loving heart for others, and physical strength. In both circumstances, they took everything they’ve got and made the best use of them. More than that, they took ownership of the circumstance they were in. The result, they both rose to the occasion laid before them and came out as hero.
So what about my mixed feeling? Maybe that’s where I got lost because I shouldn’t be focusing on my feeling. The real issue is how I am going to respond to the circumstance, my circumstance, not others’ circumstances and what have I got that I can respond to the circumstance I am in with.
Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot … He had made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11) Yes, there’s time for everything, for joy and for sadness. But, Bible tells us that God “made everything BEAUTIFUL in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) God seems to be telling me that the timing for each event / activity in life was meant to bring out something beautiful to give Him glory. If that’s the case, then be it “the best of times” or “the worst of times”, let’s respond to each circumstance God place before us with everything He has given us so as to make it the time for His glory!
Prayer Requests:
For those victims of earthquake in Haiti and Chili
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Lord of all. As we go through each of day in life, as You’ve given us, help us to live each one of them with sensitivity and willingness to testify for your love and grace through humility and actions. As far away as we are from those victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters, please move us to passionate giving so through our giving and sharing, Your love and salvation may be visibly and tangibly shared with them because we pray in the loving name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!
This morning, when I got in the internet, there on the home page, I found a couple of photos: one showing the closing ceremony of 2010 Winter Olympic and the other showing the devastation caused by the 8.8 earthquake in Chili. What an inharmonious scene! I think it actually made me feel uncomfortable then. How do we handle the emotion of joy and celebration and the emotion of sad and lost all at the same time? What could possibly bring them into one accord?
Please understand that I am not trying to downplay the significance of either event. These are both real events that took place within a 24 hour timeframe. I don’t have a problem facing this reality that both existed. But I wrestle with my own feelings as I look at them because, on the one hand, I want to give thanks to our Lord for His great gifts to the athletes through their accomplishments, many of them came with inspirational stories. For example, the Canadian Figure Skater, Ms. Joannie Rochette, lost her Mom just two days before the competition began. But, she skated to success and won a medal for Canada. How did she pull herself together for such a tough competition? It’s amazing and admirable!
When I looked at the other event which also came with many amazing stories, my heart went out to those lost and displaced people. News had it many lootings took place and, at the same time, many brave souls rose to the occasion. One story had it that, when the earthquake hit and brought down their 13 story apartment, a man and his daughter were on the 13th floor. They went and stood in the door frame of their bathroom. But the damage to the building was so great that the entire apartment collapsed and both the man and his daughter fell to the ground with the building. The amazing thing was neither of them was seriously hurt. He first made arrangements for his daughter and then went back to help the firefighter to rescue other residents of his apartment. How did he do that? Wasn’t he traumatized by the earthquake? I don’t know how he did it. But he is a hero to me!
The presence of these two events together reminded me of something Charles Dickens said in his book, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of the times … it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us …” I suppose life is full of this type of contrast, now or back in Dickens’ generation. Yet, how do I cope with the mixed feeling within?
As I pondered more on the amazing stories told, I realized that the Canadian figure skater and the man in Chili share something in common. Good or bad, they both face their circumstances with dignity. Good or bad, they both responded to their challenges with total commitment and with everything they’ve got.
Joannie might have lost her mother, but she did not lose the special gifts and the sense of mission given to her. The man in Chili might have lost everything he had in that apartment, but he still had his clear thinking, loving heart for others, and physical strength. In both circumstances, they took everything they’ve got and made the best use of them. More than that, they took ownership of the circumstance they were in. The result, they both rose to the occasion laid before them and came out as hero.
So what about my mixed feeling? Maybe that’s where I got lost because I shouldn’t be focusing on my feeling. The real issue is how I am going to respond to the circumstance, my circumstance, not others’ circumstances and what have I got that I can respond to the circumstance I am in with.
Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot … He had made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11) Yes, there’s time for everything, for joy and for sadness. But, Bible tells us that God “made everything BEAUTIFUL in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) God seems to be telling me that the timing for each event / activity in life was meant to bring out something beautiful to give Him glory. If that’s the case, then be it “the best of times” or “the worst of times”, let’s respond to each circumstance God place before us with everything He has given us so as to make it the time for His glory!
Prayer Requests:
For those victims of earthquake in Haiti and Chili
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Lord of all. As we go through each of day in life, as You’ve given us, help us to live each one of them with sensitivity and willingness to testify for your love and grace through humility and actions. As far away as we are from those victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters, please move us to passionate giving so through our giving and sharing, Your love and salvation may be visibly and tangibly shared with them because we pray in the loving name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!
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