阿中, you ROCK!

Found this image on MSN... reminded me of 阿中! YEAH MAN!! =P (by Dokin)

hey, Dokin, COOL JOB! :p Alpha, gave u another one... u only need one more now! (by Alice)

Into the centre

From Karen:

Due to Friday nights commitments to Awana, I have not attended regular Friday night fellowship meetings since September. Last Friday night, Awana has not started yet for the new year. During dinner, I struggled inside whether to attend the meeting or not. My struggles was based on my sentiments of being too tired. Moreover, I was afraid that a critiquing voice would be going on and on as I listen to John's big plans for the year.

I ended up attending the fellowship meeting. I was glad I went. Being amongst brothers and sisters, whom I've known over two or more years, was very comforting. This was the case despite I did not talk that much with anyone. This year's theme for John is CIRCLE. This somehow bring back memories of kindergarten or grade school. The teacher always in a long dress would stand in the middle of circle. All of the little children would surround her in a perfect circle. We would listen tentiatively as she give us instructions on what to do next. Or we would play duck duck goose.

We sat in a semi-circle last week...haha....If I am to be metaphoric, perhaps some of us were further to the centre while some were closer. In a perfect circle, we would all be of equal distance to the centre. At our circle, there stands Christ, our Teacher. As we grow together in Christ, we get closer and closer to Him. If we are to grow, there's always more space to fit one more person in. Each person would have to sit closer together. There would be less personal space for each of us. Yet, it would be a more circle with stronger walls. There would be less chance of the devilish winds blowing into the centre and claiming Our flame.

By the way, I hated being picked goose when I was kid. I was never a fast runner. In this life, we would often feel like an outsider. A goose among ducks. You might feel threanted at work. You might feel no one understands your worries. You might feel like you're sticking out like a sore thumb among able digits. Well, Christ could not even move His hands on the cross. I hope the John circle will help you fight against the thorns of life.

Evangelize or Fossilize

Hehehe, another daily devotion from Pastor Greg Laurie I like and would like to share with you all ^_^

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Evangelize or Fossilize

The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

— Proverbs 11:25

Have you ever noticed that when you start talking about one of God's qualities, by the time you have finished the conversation, you find yourself enjoying and appreciating that very quality even more? You start telling people how wonderful Jesus is, and by the time you are finished, you are in awe of Him too.

You will sometimes hear people say, "I am so spiritually dry, even though I have been going to church and studying the Bible." My questions to the person making such a statement would be: When is the last time you shared your faith with someone? When is the last time you got into a dialogue with someone about what you believe? When is the last time you reached out to someone who was really hurting?

It is an amazing thing, but as you give out, God gives to you. There is something very interesting about the Christian life, the dynamic of truth that God puts in the lives of His people. The more you give it out, the more God gives to you. The more you keep it to yourself, the less impact it has on your life. When you are sharing the gospel with someone and telling them about what God has done for you, it just comes alive. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).

If you generously give out your faith to others, God will replenish your supply. But if you hoard your faith and rarely share it with other people, then you will find yourself stagnating spiritually. Here is your choice: Evangelize or fossilize.

Faithful

I came across this Daily devotional from Pastor Greg Laurie's Devotional and would just wanna share with you all.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Faithful

His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

— John 2:5

When David was called by God to be king, he was out watching sheep, just being faithful. The day David killed Goliath, he didn't wake up that morning and hear God say, "David, today you are going to the valley of Elah. There will be a giant Philistine named Goliath, and you will kill him with a stone." No, David was taking food to his brothers, just being faithful on an errand for his dad. It was a little thing, but he was faithful.

What was Gideon doing when God called him? He was hiding from his enemies. He was terrified. But God saw his potential, and the next thing Gideon knew, he was leading his troops into battle.

And what was Elisha doing when Elijah called him to carry on the work? He was out plowing in the field.

Even Moses was watching sheep when God called him to deliver the Israelites.

Then there was Daniel, who was so faithful to the Lord that his enemies could not find one thing wrong with him. They had to make up lies about him so that he would be sentenced to death.

My point is this: They were faithfully doing what God had set before them. They weren't running around, looking for big things to do. They were simply doing the little things.

Sometimes, we have great ideas of what God will do. But we have to wait on Him. What are your dreams right now? Maybe you want to do something for God, but you think it will never happen. Maybe it will. Maybe it even will surpass your wildest dreams. Just be faithful to do what God has set before you right now.

Gossip and Rumors

One day, the great philosopher Socrates came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"


Socrates replied, "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a triple filter test to filter what you're going to say."


The first filter is TRUTH. "Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" The man replied, "No, actually I just heard about it."


The second filter is GOODNESS. "Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?" The man replied, "No, on the contrary..."


Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something bad about him, even though you are not certain it's true?"


The third filter is USEFULNESS. Socrates asked, "Is what you are about to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?" The man replied, "No, not really."


Socrates concluded, "If what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful, why tell it to me at all?" The man was embarassed, ashamed and felt defeated.


...... Keep this profound wisdom in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat gossip or a rumor ......

---HE WHO GOSSIPS TO YOU WILL GOSSIP OF YOU---

Hebrews 6

I'm reading Hebrews 6, and in it Paul teaches to "go forward" instead of staying at the foundations of our belief.

I find it interesting to see this in the early churches.

You can sometimes see this attitude in us (and Chinese Christians) too --- of staying at the "foundation" of the gospel. The result is our faith becomes disconnected and our lives are useless to God.

God permitting, let us go on to maturity.

Alternative Trinity: I, Me, and Myself.

Interesting clips from Alan Yu's blog.
They are funny and something for us to think about how we worship.

Summer Camp - HOW BAND

Just wanted to share a HOW Band Group photo that I came across when I was browsing through my photos... :D

But God says

"This retreat isn't over until I say it is over."




"I will unite you and bring glory to my name anywhere, at any time."

Summer camp today

Booklet cover.

It feels like I'm back to the time in Victoria, going to a camp with your best mates.
Wake up in the morning, eat with them, praise God with them, cry with them.

W.W.J.D.?

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?....

That is the question, Brothers and Sisters. I don't know how many of you listen to Praise FM, but I recently came across an "advertisement". To me, it was more of a "REALITY-CHECK".

I don't exactly recall the entire details of this mini-story, but it goes something like this....

A woman gets pulled over by a police officer. She was upset that the police officer pulled her over because she was "cut-off" by another driver. The police officer asked to see her license and vehicle registration. She was even more upset because the officer pulled her over instead of the other driver, and is now asking to see her IDs etc. Once she provided the documents, the police officer was surprised that the vehicle belonged to her. The dialogue goes something like this...

Police: "Oh, this vehicle belongs to you ma'am."

Woman: "Of course this car belongs to me. I don't understand why you pulled me over in the first place! It was that jerk that cut me off!"

Police: "I'm sorry ma'am, but I see that you have a "WWJD" and "JESUS" sticker on the back of your car. You were cursing at the other driver, so I thought this car was stolen."

The story ends...

In summary, Brothers and Sisters.... "What would Jesus do?" I'll admit that at times, I can be very impatient and carry a "zero-tolerance" attitude dealing with slow drivers or crazy drivers. This mini-story came to me as a HUGE reality check! Although I do not have a "Jesus" sticker on the back of my car, I know that deep down as a Christian, I shouldn't be doing things like this.

Brothers and Sisters... how are you going to change your driving patterns today?

What's in your dream...

I went back to Ascalade (last last job) these days to work on photography project, I met many old friends and I praise God that I can visit the office again in my life. All the smell, fake ceiling, cubical, not-so-active environment:P....

I've also heard that the office manager of Ascalade pass away yesterday due to cancer, he's a well known guy in the office. During his last days, he accepted Christ and got baptized. Brian told me that fews days ago while he was sleeping in great pain his wife saw him smiled/laughed. I think that was an expression when a person get face to face with God.

We who have a healthy body often feel scared/sad/worry when we Zzzzz^^

Psalm 30
1 I give you all the credit, God— you got me out of that mess,
you didn't let my foes gloat.

2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help
and you put me together.
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life
when I was down-and-out.

4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
Thank him to his face!
He gets angry once in a while, but across
a lifetime there is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out
give way to days of laughter.

Quiet Time

Ah Liang is at a quiet retreat right now and till Tue. There would no computer, tv, etc...for a few days but a quiet time with Him. I guess it's hard to find this kind of quiet time in my daily life or in liang's >> he just can't keep himself away from the computer...haha, just like what I'm doing right now.

Actually, I really want to have some quiet time with Him, but it seems that I can't help myself...I'm always occupied myself with smthg else a lot of time...bad time mgmt..I guess it's my bad habits... my priority..

May be I should do something like this (quite retreat)too

5

今晚有機會駕車經過 No. 5 Road。
我突然有個奇想:

有些時候我們會沾沾自喜﹐覺得 "嘩﹐教會好 warm" ﹐
"培靈會/abc 聚會 證明大溫有很多基督徒啊! 我們真勁!"

這是真實嗎?

It is so sobering to drive down Number 5.

chorus Hallelujah

Last nite, it's our first choir practice for the song "chorus Hallelujah" for the upcoming Easter. This is my first time to sing with so many bros & sis in choir (round 50 ppl, normally it's around 10 -15)I think it's the first time for our church too. As our choir leader said, ppl may worry that there would be less audiences than usual.......but oh yes, our real audience is up there, our Almighty God.

When we put 4 parts altogether…Amazing! Let’s image when we’re in heaven and singing to our Lord “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns” I'm so glad to be part of this, singing to our Lord.
This is a difficult & very challenging piece for us (my skill is not good and I’m not even sure if I could reach some keys~.~), by faith, we’re giving it a try. I was so tired after the practise last nite but very joyful. Please pray for our practices & heart in offering this song to our Lord.

Sharing

I almost hit someone when I was driving on my way home last nite…*.* I’m so shocked & scared at that moment…THANKS GOD, it didn’t happen & no one was hurt!
I was talking with Ah Liang another day about driving and car accidents. I’m thankful that God protects me and I wasn’t involved in any car accident (excluding those small ones^.^) since I’ve got my driver’s license, and I said don’t worry God will look after me when I was driving. Well, this time, it once again reminds me it’s God’s grace that I’m safe & healthy.

Fellowship

I can't help but think that we need prayer --- lots and lots and lots of prayer.

When I look around in my fellowship, I thank God for giving me such a welcoming, caring, respectful, fun and unique bunch of brothers and sisters.
Yet at the same time it's apparent that we have so many needs. When we look around in the fellowship, it seems that we are all dealing with some tough things: Job changes, career aspirations, marriage, developing relationships, health, the well-being of family, church life, moving homes, Christian service, difficulties at work....

We need love, guidance, peace, and strength. We need encouragement... But we can't get any of these things from ourselves. We recognize the need to have these things, and we wish dearly for our brothers and sisters to get it, yet we don't know how to give it to them.

As January ends, and as we move on from this topic of "Relationship between Brothers and Sisters", let's remember to keep this in our prayers, put our fellowship into His hands, and also ask that He teach us how to support one another.

May God be our strength.

願我心歸祢 – 詹維明

今夜，我又不能入睡。我想起我與祢的關係，這些日子我讀經無味；對付曰常生活的瑣事沒有靠祢；對將來的策劃沒有與祢商紂；對人沒有愛心…… 這種麻木的感覺並非一朝一夕，而是很久很久的事了。主，我已失去愛祢的心。

當我還是初信，我十分抓住祢的應許。凡事藉着禱告祈求和感謝，將所要的告訴祢。現在，也許经驗多了，也許對祢的信靠減少了。我沒有凡事交託給祢。我要憑自己的经驗和知識去解決自己的問題。祢在我心中的首位已讓給「我自己」。我的事要自己來處理，自己來對付。結果，我失去了「神所賜出人意外的平安」。大事瑣事，擔當不起，惟有求助安眠藥、鎮靜劑。

我曾像孩童存純一清潔的心倚靠祢。渴慕祢的話語。如今，世上的學問成了我的目標：有了學士我要碩士；有了碩士我更要博士學位。羅素、沙特、加繆、卡夫加...... 我把他們的學說充滿心懷。主，祢的話語，成了另一个學說，我忘了祢的話是我「腳前的燈，路上的光。」我忘了祢的話是「兩刃的利劍」，能把魔鬼擊倒。

離開學校進入社會，我经歷一連串的「適應」，漸漸的，功名成了我的目標。我要得別人的稱讚。我希望能繼續在事業上發展、發展，以達到在「數人之下，多人之上」的地位。我的標竿與保羅「向着耶穌」的標竿相差得多麽遠！

從前我每日跪下懇切的為教會工作，鄰舍靈魂以乃自己的前途禱告。如今我讀聖经禱告，閉上眼便想起入息稅表格未填；面臨的假期怎樣安排；明天上班如何應付各事；辦公室的門似乎忘記反瑣 …… 主，我實在為太多的事憂慮煩擾，沒有安靜去聽那微小的声音。

我曾深愛別人的靈魂，我曾遵守「傳福音給萬民聽」的吩咐。如今，我雖不以福音為恥，却忘了傳福音之貴。我對別人的需要不理不應。因為「我」比別人更重要。「我」自己的問題多着。那有時間來理會祢?

我嘲笑自己過去太愚味，只一心一意嚮往屬天的事。我是人，為何不能享受世人所有的? 我追求，我加入，但心靈中空虛的深淵却愈來愈深。飲酒宴樂不能替代基督。惟有祢能使我滿足。

我知道自己變了，我竭力找回起初的愛心。我瘋狂的參加各种聚會和教會工作。我要重新建立自己的靈命。但，我所得的只是「忙」，裡面仍是空的。我盡力去助人、去愛人，但我裡面却沒有愛。我看過「賓虛」。那些人對主堅信不疑的態度引起我的妒忌和羨慕。我多渴望能抓得住主！我曾親自嚐過天恩的滋味，並知道它的美善。這些經歷如今都到那裡了?
外面風雨交加，我仍不能入睡。我漸漸領悟到一件事: 「我」；太强盛，我用自己的智慧工作與愛心來追求祢的平安，却忽略了「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己。」主，這句話是我熟悉的，但多年來已漸漸忘記，我渴望心中有平安，但忘了交託；忘了「那進入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工。」主，今夜我求祢讓我能再與祢立約。我不求別的，只求祢除去我自己的掙扎，除去我的計劃，加我愛心，愛祢的心。求祢的靈繼續用說不出來的歎息為我禱告，叫我由今夜起重新經歷到自己的消滅，祢的真實。我憑自己沒有力量愛祢，但祢能幫助，祢能賜給我愛祢的心。我願安靜等候。我願除去憂悶、煩躁，仰望祢。主，我願將我的心再一次歸給祢。從今以後，願我的眼目喜悅祢的道路。主，這是我多年來首次誠實的禱告。求祢答允。願祢使我在祢裡面重新得力。

Copyright © 詹維明 All rights reserved

The meaning of Fellowship

To you, what is the meaning of fellowship? To God, what is His meaning of fellowship?

There is a Pastor called Jack Hayford once described fellowship as "Fellowship has to do with a mutuality in all parts of your life, you bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. You pay for one another, you love one another, you help one another when there is material needed, you weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. It's growing in an association with people who are moving in the same pathway you are and sharing with each other in your times of victory or need or your times of trial or triumph. It's growing in relationship."

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. " Hebrews 10:24-25

Good Ground

I am a subscriber of the Harvest Ministries daily devotional from Pastor Greg, and I just wanna share with you today's devotional since it matches quite well with our JF theme.

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:23

Believers who produce spiritual fruit are not like the seeds sown on the wayside that Jesus spoke of in the Parable of the Sower. These symbolize people who never seem to grasp the Word of God. Nor are they like the seed sown on rocky soil, representing those who are rootless, allowing emotions to overpower obedience. Nor are they like the seed sown among thorns, signifying those who hear God's Word and plan to keep it, but gradually let worldly pursuits choke it out.

True believers hear God's Word and keep it. They respond decisively and promptly to what God shows them. They hear the message, internalize it, and make visible changes in their lives.

Outward changes don't save us, but if we really are saved, there will be changes. Works don't save us, but if we really are saved, there will be works. And if there are no changes in our lives outwardly, then there have been no real changes inwardly.

Have there been changes in your life? By "changes," I don't mean having a number of Bibles in your house in various colors to coordinate with different outfits. Nor do I mean having a bumper sticker with a Christian slogan on your car. Nor do I mean having a collection of church bulletins. What I do mean are changes to the extent that someone could look at your life and recognize you are a Christian.

If people were to look at your life today, what would they see? Would they see evidence of Jesus Christ living inside of you? Or, would they see the same old you? The choice is up to you.