Let everyone has his / her bad day

I have added a new blog in my list of Blogs. The blog is called Life is Journal - Self-help for Lazy People. In his blog, Allen Galbraith posted comments, self-help and stories from Ireland. I have always been fascinated without Ireland.

In one of his recent post, I didn't understand the meaning of the topic until I read the content and it makes a lot of sense to me. Let People Have a Bad Day sounds like a vengeful thing to do. I now have a better insight into life. I am not the only one who can have a bad day.

Jesus understands this well. He even go as far as to tell us to love our enemies. We should be ashamed. Sometimes we don't even love our friends.

Copied ... Does God hate China?

Please read on here.

A faithful man ...

1. can only be tested through time
2. has 'stickability'
3. is an overcomer of negative emotions
4. lives a life of integrity
5. keeps his word
6. is patient
7. is committed

These are the seven (7) attributes of a faithful man as shared by Pastor Reynold in CBC SEA Park yesterday (25/05/2008.)

Speaking on Remaining Faithful, he discussed three attitudes

1. Look Inward - Thanksgiving
2. Look Outward - Service
3. Look Upward - Stand Firm

Pastor and his team is on the way to India now. My wife and son are on the way to Johor Baru for the holidays. I will be alone at home. While I will miss them tremendously, I get more time to think. Perhaps I will finish my Q&A on Ruth this week.

Pray and Praise!

For those who appreciate Twitter, take a look at this.

We the Church. You can send prayer request and praises in a twitterish manner.

China earthquake, what I read

Here are some of the things I read.

3 million tents are needed.

A survey shows that 98.6% of people in China are happy with their government's rescue effort.

A grandpa wanted to send his grandchild to safety. He could not make it to the first helicopter. When a 2nd helicopter arrived, he waved his broadsword all the way to the helicopter to a stunned crew and place his grandchild in their hands, asking them to bring him to safety and feed him. He then retreated.

A handicapped beggar who moved around with his hands donated twice to the relief fund.

A policewoman left her own child to the care of her parents to breastfeed the earthquake victims.

A man wrote on his hands that he owed someone RMB3000. He has given up hope and wanted his family to repay his debts for him. He was rescued. Recounting his experience, he mentioned he was relieved when he put down the IOU on his hands. That was the only thing he has not done.

The Japanese rescue team returned home to a hero's welcome. But they were not the least happy. They were called home for fear of aftershocks. But they resigned because they could not save lives.

The Tangshan earthquake survivors drove 1,200 miles (1,931.2128 km) to send goods for the relief of their fellow countrymen who suffered the same fate.

A mother was found on all fours in a worshiping position when rubble around her was cleared. Her body was crushed. But this frail body was later found to be stronger than it seemed. Rescuers found a baby of 3 to 4 months fast asleep underneath. A mobile phone was found with the following message left by the mother to her child - "If you survive, remember that I love you."

The truth, goodness and beauty of humanity shine brightly in this earthquake. The media showed but a bit of them. Indeed man is created in the image of God. He is compassionate. He loves and he cares.

Let's not wait for disaster to strike before we start to consider loving the people around us.

It is also our responsibility as child of God / ambassadors of Christ / co-worker of God to bring people to Him and to reconcile them with God.

In the light of this, is there anything we cannot put down? Do we still hold any grudges? We need to let go. We need to forgive so that we can be set free by God.

He asked us to love.

Free Books!

Take a look at this blog. I bumped into it.

I am going to add it to my links.

plough books. - over 80 books (in English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Russian, Hebrew and Arabic) for download.

Some titles include:
Why Can't We Get Along? - Josef Ben Eliezer
Why Forgive? - Johann Christoph Arnold
Sex, God and Marriage - Johann Christoph Arnold
The Awakening - Freidrich Zuendel (about spiritual warfare)

Here's an introduction.
Plough seeks to inform, encourage, and challenge a wide range of thinkers and seekers on a variety of topics. Plough is the publishing house of a community movement of families and single people whose common basis is faith in Jesus. All the same, we acknowledge God’s working in all people, no matter their background or creed, who strive for justice, peace, love, and joy.

These books have changed our lives and we would like to share them with you!

The Story of Jesus Christ

I bumped into this.

The Story of Jesus Christ

It's nice.

Enjoy!

What's worship to you?

I bumped into this and read it with interest.

I Want the Word "Worship" Back

Posted by Scott Hill

Have you noticed how many words we have lost over the past several decades. It seems like all the good words have been hijacked by everyone except the people who actually epitomize the word. "Fundamentalist" means either a turban wearing, dynamite strapped, terrorist ready to kill all Westerners at will or a "Christian" who is so into political action he has lost the real heart of the Gospel. "Reformed" now means someone who believes the doctrines of grace regardless of their confessional position. "Relevant" means doing whatever possible to not offend someone with your preaching no matter how much bible is lacking in the sermon. "Contextualizaton"... you know where I am going with that one.

These words are gone and personally while I would like to have a few of them back but none of them are biblical words, so I am sure we will replace them with something. We either replace them or spend about 2 hours trying to explain to someone what we believe every time we meet someone new. "I am reformed, but by that I mean... or Sure we need to be relevant if by that you mean... I feel like that in lots of conversations lately and I am sure you do too.

Recently I have a real desire to take the word worship back. You know the one that the CCM industry took in the 80's and made synonymous with raised hands, dancing feet, clapping and yes (insert dramatic pause) music. I find myself frustrated more and more with the fact that no matter how many books are written and no matter how many times I hear worship defined as: The English word "worship" comes from two Old English words: weorth, which means "worth," and scipeship, which means something like shape or "quality." We can see the Old English blah blah blah. The term remains relegated to a 40 minute segment of music every week, or what we do in our car when we play the new WOW Worship CD.

At times I want to throw my hands up and say "forget it I can't compete", but this issue is too important to the life of the church to not go down swinging. I ran across a fantastic example of this yesterday while trying to find a way to get a free copy of Bob Kauflin's new book Worship Matters. Following links I ended up at a blog called flowerdust on a post called Keeping Your Mouth Shut 'what are some things you feel you can't say in church". Some of the comments were funny, some frightening, but one comment that epitomized what has happened to the concept of NT worship is posted below. This is what a guy named Kyle posted as his "what I can't say in church" comment.

I currently feel NO connection to God when I pray or read the bible. [side note: my only current connection to Him spiritually seems to be through worship] http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com

I don't know who Kyle is and I am not just picking on him. I actually feel for a guy in the positions he is currently in, but the comment above is the downside of this new unbiblical concept of NT worship. How can a guy not feel any connection to God when he prays directly to God or when he reads God's own revelation to us, but somehow feels close to God when he "worships"/listens to music or sings. I have been in positions where I felt like the heavens were silent when I prayed and like scripture was just words on a page. I can empathize with this guy. But to say I only feel God when I worship in my opinion doesn't add up.

This concept of worship doesn't carry over into the new covenant. According to Hebrews Christ brought an end to religion. He brought an end to high priest, no more holy places, no more atoning sacrifices. We no longer have to go to a temple to meet with God. We now have a perfect Priest, a perfect sacrifice, and perfect access to God through Jesus Christ. As believers we are now priest who have the Spirit of Almighty God dwelling in us. Do we need special ceremonies to meet with God? Do we need special times of "worship" to feel close to God? What took place on the cross changed everything. Because of the cross our lives should be worship. Worship is not just showing up on Sunday and singing and praising with all our might. Worship is not getting quiet in our bedroom and meditating on the latest Chris Tomlin CD. If can't worship when you pray or read scripture then you are not worshiping when you listen to music or sing. You just think you are.

Why? Because worship is about a life sold out to Jesus Christ. It means submitting to Him and giving Him our undivided allegiance. It means serving Him daily. It means being obedient to His will in all things. If you are not doing these things then I don't care how much you sing and shout and lift your hands on a Sunday morning you are not worshiping. Worship is what you do during the week more than it is what you did on Sunday. Worship is not a feeling or an emotion it is an attitude of obedience. When you approach worship as an opportunity to feel something it becomes something you get not something you give, and that is not worship. Give you life to Christ and completely obey his will for your life. Then you are worshiping.

I have a choice

I thought of skipping a few meals
so I could give more to the Myanmar cyclone victims
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
They don't get to choose when they get to eat or not.

I wanted to put off changing my bedsheet
since it's still quite clear and comfortable
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
They don't get to choose where they sleep.

I didn't bother to bury the hatchet (no, not on the chest of somebody)
because I don't think it matters
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
Their family / friends / neighbours are no more.

I thought of letting others do what needs to be done
thinking that if they like to do it, let them
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
They are left with themselves.

I thought of loving others just the same will do
since there will be another day
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
Their loved ones have left them.

I thought of loving God just the same
and that I will love Him more when the time comes
then I realize I have a choice, they don't.
They NEED God now.

I pray that we will love God and love people when we have a choice. Don't let calamity fall before we turn to him. Don't let tragedy strike before we pour out our love long held within our heart.

Please give all you can in the church on the coming Sunday (19 May 2008.) And keep praying ...

20080510 Work Toward Reconciliation

Joseph Reconciled – Pastor Malcolm Atkinson

One way to read the Bible and try to identify is to imagine if we are there, how we would respond. Every character in the Bible is flesh and blood. No one is perfect. Each has his own weaknesses.

Joseph's life has a lot of ups and downs but God was in his life. He was thrown in a pit. He was taken out. He was sold as a slave. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. He was promoted. Potiphar's wife seduced him. (It's dangerous to have longing eyes contact with the opposite sex. If it's not a right relationship, we should run away.) He was framed and put to prison. Joseph honoured his master's marriage but his master didn't believe him. Joseph worked hard for the master. But his boss didn't even want to listen to him. In the prison the baker and the cupbearer shared their dreams and Joseph interpreted them. Joseph called the cupbearer his friend. He helped him when he needed him. But when he needed him to come through, his friend forgot him. When this happened to us, we may stop believing people. This is a defense mechanism to prevent us from getting hurt again.

Pharaoh had two dreams and no one could interpret them. The cupbearer remembered the Hebrew slave who was a convicted for attempted rape who interpreted his dreams. It was God's plan to bless and protect the nation so they can bless others. That's how God work. He blesses us so we could bless others.

Sometimes when we are overlooked by man, God never overlooks us. God will cause all the right people to see you at the right time and connect all the dots. That's why we work unto the Lord in whatever we do.

Pharaoh put him in charge of the important tasks of managing the grains. Joseph recognized his brothers who came to buy grains. He wanted to see if they have changed. He noticed their hearts were changed. We are normally hurt the most by those who are close to us. We take them for granted. We want to love people while keeping a distance.

When everyone walked away from the leper, Jesus asked 'Where?' He could have healed him with a prayer but he chose to touch him.

Gen 45:1-5 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. (2) And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. (3) And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. (4) So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (5) And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

I. Forgiveness Frees You

Joseph's problems started when his brothers sold him as a slave. A slave is normally stripped so the potential buyer can check out his body to ensure there is no blemish. He spent 13 years away from his family. He could have used his position to get even with Potiphar and the cupbearer. He didn't. Now that he saw the source of all his problems and suffering, he decided to reconcile with them. As a Christian, we are given a ministry of reconciliation. We are all ambassadors of Christ.

When two parties are at odds with one another, forgiveness needs to take place first. (Jesse got this immediately before Pastor Mal mentioned it.) With the shedding of blood we have forgiveness and then reconciliation and then eternal life with our Father. We need to forgive.

Forgiveness is hard.

Mat 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" (22) Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Peter probably thought he was being generous because the Jews believe they only needed to forgive three times. Jesus answered based on grace. We cannot come to the people with the law but with the grace. 1 Cor 13 love doesn't keep an account of misdeeds. When we choose our own ways, God's way cannot operate.

1Co 13:5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, (MSG)

We cannot afford not to forgive. It's a luxury we cannot afford.

What are you holding on to? Whatever you hold on to, you bring into your present and you set your future.

II. Forgiveness frees God

In Gen 39 we see the LORD was with Joseph (v2) and he prospered. But while Joseph was in prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison (vv20-21) The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (v23).

When we have conflict with anybody, the best thing to do is not to convince the other person to accept our position. We pray for the other person – not to accept our view but to show both parties the truth. When we choose to forgive and cling to God, we release God to work in our life. Don't try to force our way. As long as we are going in the correct direction, we may do things in different ways.

III. Forgiveness frees the one who offended you

Joseph asked his brothers to come near to him. Even if the person who offended us don't ask for forgiveness, we must choose to forgive them.

When we make a choice to follow God (to forgive), the feelings may still linger on. We want to live in the now and present, not the 'should have' or 'could have.' If we choose not to live in regret, then God will enter our NOW and he will help us to shape our FUTURE. Healing takes place when we just walk in the fruit of the spirit and by just extending our hospitality / acceptance.

Pastor Mal shared his own testimony on how he was dealt unjustly but by the grace of God chose to forgive and to cling on to God. God opened doors for him and provided for him.

The Mercy of God sent …

The Love of God to satisfy …

The Justice of God so that ...

The Grace of God can give us eternal life. (not sure about this last line.)

Cut the power ...

... and see if we can still worship.

I read this with interest. Sometimes I think we are spoiled. Too hot cannot, can you turn down the temperature and make the fan blow harder? Too cold cannot, can you switch off the air con (I think this is the most common form of distraction in a worship, more so than children.) Can you make the words larger / bolder / clearer? The chair is too hard for me. The music is too loud. I don't / only like the songs from this group.

I am reminded of what I read in Matt Redman's book. One day he decided not to sing songs in worship. What? No songs in worship? There must be a church bylaw against it. But the congregation worshipped that day.

I understand that the 300+ participants (295 registered with more walk-in participants) of Telling Your Heart to Beat Again moved to DUMC when there was a power failure. I also understand the power came back shorthly after they left.

If I have my way, I will engineered a totally unplugged worship service. No air-conditioned. No electronic music instruments. No projection. No mics. Ha. Can we still worship?

Enjoy the article.

The Thin Edge has a reflection on how much our church services rely on technology:

This past Sunday in Wales, a group of elders gathered at their church building to pray. The ancient stone chapel had been without heating since a group of construction workers shut off the gas supply to the building earlier in the week, then forgot to turn it back on for the weekend. It was judged to be too cold for the morning worship service—scheduled two hours later—so the local telephone lines began blazing with elders contacting members of the church leadership team, who contacted small group leaders, who contacted everyone within their house group. It was decided to meet at an older (and smaller, but warmer) chapel building nearby. I’m not sure if the elders got to pray or not.

Unfortunately, this change of venue caught a lot of people by surprise: especially the church’s musicians, sound engineers, computer operators and the preacher. His entire message was developed as a laptop-based, visually-oriented PowerPoint presentation. Upon arrival at the old building, it was abuzz with people frantically running wires and junction boxes and speakers and a massive sound board so that the keyboard, instruments, singers, and the preacher could be heard in a room that only measured eighteen hundred square feet.

Some of the greatest movements of God happened long before the discovery of electricity, much less the arrival of computer geniuses like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. While I certainly don’t advocate wearing camel’s hair and eating wild locusts and honey, I have to wonder how many worship gatherings this coming Sunday would fall flat if some natural disaster shut down the national grids of electric power in megawatt-hungry church buildings around the globe.

Personally, I kind of like it when things go wrong during worship services. It thrusts our fallibility to the forefront, which is always humbling.

Do you have any great “technological failures in church” stories you’d like to share? What do you think of our reliance on technology? And probably most importantly is this question from The Thin Edge: “Are we more sensitive to the loss of electricity than the presence of the Holy Spirit in our meetings?”

Other thoughts?

20080504 Acknowledge Broken Relationship 2

This is from the 2nd English service by Pastor Richard Toh.

Gen 39 to 40– Joseph's Humiliation

Gen 41 – Joseph's Exaltation

Gen 42 to 45 – Joseph's Brethen

What is the bigger picture in the story of Joseph?

God looked for people to build a nation of his own people. Adam and Eve failed. Noah failed. God chose Abraham and promised to make a nation of his descendants. God has always told his people to avoid Egypt. Now, God wanted to bring his people into Egypt.

1. Issue of inter-marriage with the locals thereby polluting the race, affecting the purity of Yahweh worship. (Judah and Tamar) Contrast with Esau in Gen 36.
   
2. Jacob's sons made too many enemies (killed all the sons of Shechem) thereby preventing a sustaining population growth. God
   
3. God needed a "safety spot."
   
   1. Egyptians do not like shepherds.
      
   2. Egyptians had no ties with unclean people
      
   3. Different religions
      

A typical company is focused on the bottom line. This is normal but it may break relationship. In the last 10 years, there are many books on servant leadership, some not even from Christians. One such book, Built to Last, the author argues that a company cannot just focus on results or relationship but on BOTH results and relationship.

Some may argue that if we focus on building good relationship then we will get good results. However, if we focus too much on relationship, we may have good relationship and we may end up with cliques.

Process On Mending a Broken Relationship

1. Let God Decide When and How (Gen 42:1-6)

There were seven (7) years of plenty and famine has begun for perhaps six months to a year already. Jacob sent his ten (10) sons to buy grain in Egypt for there was a famine in the Canaan. Joseph is now about 37 to 38 years old (30 when he met Pharaoh and seven years of plenty has passed.)

1. Neither party plans to meet – God forced arrangement
   
   1. Perfect Timing – unless God does something, we do not want to do anything
      

      Did Joseph have a plan to see his father? Perhaps when he was incarcerated, he could not do anything. But now he was exalted. He could have asked permission from the Pharaoh to visit his family. But he didn't. Neither did his brothers thought of going to Egypt to look for their brother.
      

   2. Unique Circumstances – the famine
      

      Family members normally reconcile during critical moments, like in a wake service, when someone is ill, etc. Why wait until something happened?
      

2. God first deals with us (v 1, 6)
   
   1. Why stare at one another?
      

      The guilt lived with them. In the famine, they looked at one another as thought they could not think or they had no answer. They had money.
      

   2. They bowed faced down (humble.)
      

      They are in their 40's.
      

2. Test For Authenticity (Gen 42:7-21a)

1. Joseph recognized them, remembered his dream and decided to call them spies (x4) Are they ready for authentic relationship? Joseph didn't ask but because of guilt, they told everything. They said they are honest people but they are not. If they were, Jacob would not have asked Joseph to watch them. Do not have a habit of telling lies. Lies come for the Father of Lies. If we tell lies, then we are doing the work of the evil one.
   
2. They claimed as honest people from one family.
   
3. Joseph needed time for new strategy – kept them in prison for 3 days and then released them on one condition.
   

3. Listen to their Confession (Gen 42:21-24a)

1. Joseph's brethren remembered their faults – guilty, turning a deaf ear to the plea of mercy of their brother, their own flesh and blood.
   
2. They reckoned that they deserved the bad treatment. Relationship mending begins with repentance.
   
3. Joseph for the first time knew Reuben was OK and used Simeon as collateral. It was not a unanimous decision to sell him. Joseph wept. Judah suggested to sell Joseph.
   

4. Allow People Time to Work through the Process (Gen 42:25-38)

1. Joseph provided grain for his family and waited to see Benjamin.
   
2. Jacob pined for Joseph, moaned for Simeon and feared for the lost of Benjamin.
   
3. Joseph's brethren in dilemma – If they say in Canaan, they may die of hunger and Simeon may die too. If they take Benjamin to Egypt, Jacob may die. Relationship mending calls for tough decisions. Joseph was ready. He wanted to see if his brothers are ready.
   

Did Joseph know his family was going to Egypt? Did he know what he went through was part of God's work? Was it in his heart to see his family again?

Today we have the Holy Spirit in us. We are transformed by the Holy Spirit. We can mend relationship with our family and friends. We must take the trouble. God has his own perfect timing. God will engineer the perfect situation. In an Asian family, especially a big one, it's easier to have many broken relationships. We need God to bring us together.

20080504 Acknowledge Broken Relationship 正视破裂的关系

This is taken from the Mandarin service. Elder Jimmy spent a large portion of time sharing what he learned about marriage from the MMI course.

We need to acknowledge the broken relationship in our life and find ways to mend them.

In Genesis 42, we continue to read about Joseph's story. He became the prime minister of Egypt. He was responsible to sell grains. He recognized his brothers but pretended he did not. He spoke harshly to them. He also remembered his two dreams. He now saw 10 brothers bowing to him.

Joseph had an opportunity to avenge himself. But he wanted to take the opportunity mend his broken relationship with his brothers.

When there is a broken relationship, we need to acknowledge it, admit our mistakes and forgive.

Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him because Jacob loved him more. There is a generational gap between the parents and children today. The older generation thinks we should not verbalize our love. The family today finds it hard to say I love you, I'm sorry and thank you.

Children are impatient with parents. Parents give in the all the children's request. This may result in a broken relationship.

Husband and wife have the same problems. The divorce rate is high. Divorce is not an option for Christians. If we are to love others like ourselves, why are there still problems?

In Gen, we see that God created Adam in his own image. Eve is created from Adam's rib. Man and woman complement one another. When man falls, lots of problems arise. There is a communication breakdown. Another cause is the couple not clear with their respective responsibilities. The husband is the encourager. The wife wants to listen to the husband. The wife is the supporter of the husband. The husband needs the respect and support of the wife. The husband is the lead the family. He is the leader but not the king. He should use his authority in love and give security to the family. Wife is normally more spiritual. She should be the helpmate. The original Hebrew for helpmate is to surround.

1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The husband is to provide. The wife is to manage the household.

The husband is the prayer warrior. He is to protect the family lead the family in spiritual warfare. The wife is the intercessor in the family.

Hudson Taaylor and John Wesley both grew up in praying families.

If we do not take responsible for our own things, the burden will fall on the other or it will be neglected.

When we noticed a broken relationship, we need to take the first step towards reconciliation. Joseph might want to know if his brothers had changed.

We need to forgive, i.e. to forget the debts unconditionally. In Matthew, we learn that if we forgive others, we will be forgiven by God. We ask God to help us.

Sometimes, we ask God to forgive us but we refuse to let go of something someone did to us.