Gift

Pride and arrogance

servanthood

not recognition of others

to serve means, allow God to work in you to accomplish His will

and.. practice humbleness.

Why game!?

Read this today and I wanna share:

6. Our kids should play to have fun, not to win.
Garbage. Taking winning and losing out of sports is like taking the rainbow out of skittles. We need to let kids win and lose because they're going to deal with the emotions that come from succeeding and failing all through their lives, and sports are a great place for them to become familiar with them.

Why sports? Because it's only a game, but the lessons we learn in athletics are universal. Kids need to win because they need to learn how to succeed with grace and humility. So 10 years down the road when they get that coveted promotion over an equally qualified coworker, they handle themselves with class. Similarly, they need to learn how to fail with respect and dignity. They need to be able to put disappoint and rejection in proper perspective for the times later in life when they lose something more than just a game.

Besides, if we didn't keep score at our kids' games, what would we have to yell about from the sidelines?

from http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2008/12/451-7-sports-myths-christians-like-part.html

被感動

星期六的音樂會，很感動。好想好似一個小歌迷般揮手，但，我還是靜靜的坐。

鎚心的痛。

耶穌哭了。

神讓你在那裏跌倒，就在那裏把你扶起。

敢於經歷，才會經歷得到，才會成長。

神呀，好深。但係好得。多謝你。

First day of work

tired. what else can i say?

i look back how i arrive into this position. it is just amazing.

If i wasn't a polymer chemist, this company probably wouldn't have hired me!

If i wasn't "sor sor dei" applied for graduate school right after my BSc, and
if there wasn't an opening at my ex-supervisor's lab, i wouldn't have had the chance to become a polymer chemist.

If i wasn't tired of the technician job and wanted to search for job opportunities in hk, i wouldn't have gone to graduate school.

If i wasn't tired of studying, i wouldn't have had the chance to find a job related to polymer science.

If i did well in computer science courses in my 2nd year, i wouldn't have given up cs and major in chemistry.

If my F.6 teacher didn't make chemistry so easy for me, i wouldn't have done chemistry.

If there wasn't God, how would my life be? how would I view my life?

God's function 1

Someone told me that he's been busy with God's function lately.

That gives me some thoughts on what exactly God's function is.

What do you think?

I chose you

Wow! I am just so touched and excited after reading a chapter today.

This book is so cool because it's all white:



The second edition is also cool because it's all dark with four different images.


p.134

God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things.

I have been told that I need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me.

I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that God has faith in me.

The rabbi thinks we can be like him.

祈禱會

前兩天我在想自己許久沒有祈禱祈到哭了，是否沒有什麼值得我懇切去禱告？是否我和神的關係不好？

其實每天我和honey也有一起祈禱，多是為了身邊朋友和自己最immediate的需要禱告，總有點像人求平安符：事業順利，家宅平安似的！

今天由於honey上司身在外地，honey便負責週六早上的祈禱會。
我倆也緊張到一早醒來，連早餐也吃了，是一份豐富的菠蘿油和滑滑腸粉。

靜靜等待了，結果我和honey一起祈禱。

今天不同的地方，是我們也為到社會，國家，教會，事奉的地方，是一個不太自我的祈禱。
我不是說我們要扮大方不為自己祈禱。

但，

想起近日香港有人對聖經的批評，我的心很痛，淚水便湧出來。

想起青年人的需要，求神復興，淚水又滴下來。

想起自己的虧欠，又哭了。

原來，我仍是會被神的靈觸動的，只要把眼睛放遠一點，放高一點，便可以了。

我們祈禱時點的爉燭，熔得很美
淚水乾了，這些爉卻見證著我們在神面前的祈禱

點解要屬靈

dear bible

這幾天靈修到瑪拉基書，我差不多把整本聖經完完整整看了三次！
我堅持無論幾悶，也得用心去看，還要自己看英文版去更明白內容。
我差一點興奮到把箴言改寫成一個現代常用語版本！
好開心，但更慚愧的，是當你給我一個小測，問我呢章講咩，個篇表達什麼意思時，我又答你唔到。
就好似我的化學咁，唔用個飯就唔記得。

這個舊約旅程差不多陪我渡過了整個博士學位的生涯！
當初決定留在加拿大，繼續讀博士學位，接受神給予的挑戰，就是看到以色列人出紅海，入迦南。
係要走一條長時間的路㗎，不過神話會睇住我。
一答應繼續上，難關便一個一個擁過來。
但感謝神，一直派不同的天使扶持我。
而我知道神更想我學會的是單單倚靠祂。
想到此刻，突然間好感動。

蓄勢 之 仗劍人間

不知你看了Jubilization未？

還記得我當日參與後，最扎心的是當講員問我們願意將自己的生命押注在神的話語上嗎？

好深，好難。說得對，是我們的不熟，不信，不用。

不熟：記得曾經有朋友見到我本聖經其他textbook還薄，她問我一定看了許多次吧！？
不信：你當聖經是故事？生活的建議？抑或最高的權威？
不用：你知道耶穌會咁做，但你會否跟住做？

要明白，懂得如何揮灑自如這一把寶劍（聖經），談何容易？

你幾時肯去練劍？又能練到人劍合一？

可以不去到呢個地步嗎？

世界是不會因為你而停下來，魔鬼是不會見你唔掂而不攻擊你。

你要有一個proactive的人生，是不能坐以待斃。

點解要屬靈？是因為神愛我們，我們要打一場屬靈的仗！

好感動啊！

今天牧者的訊息好感人。
以色列人，面對埃及士兵的攻撃，背對紅海，正是前無去路，後有追兵之際，
摩西便對他們說：

不要懼怕，只管站著，留心上帝的拯救。

我覺得好貼身，因為：

面對論文的死期日漸迫近，加上還有許許多多要完成，

我真的好驚！情緒嚴重失控！
不要懼怕

我真是好亂！只管不停地做！
只管站著

我安靜不下！什麼也看不見！
留心上帝的拯救

或許只有在安靜中，才能聽到神對摩西說：

往前走，下到海中

爭戰的是耶和華，他不會讓自己的名受辱，擔心什麼呢？

God himself or His gifts?

Quote from "Our Journey" on Jan 19, 2007:

"The lack of feeling does not always indicate that we are wrong. It may be that Christ would teach us to distinguish between love and the emotion of love, between joy and the rapture of joy, between peace and the sense of peace. Or perhaps He may desire to ascertain whether we cling to Him for Himself or for His gifts."

Have been praying for God's guidance and know how to write my thesis.
feel like "taking advantage of God" after reading this article.
well.. guess i should refocus on God Himself...

high standard 1

聽說，聖經的英文程度已由五十年前的中學程度降至小學程度。


I went to a church service on Christmas day.
The power point presentation was scary.
delay, wrong slide.
I thought it may be the first time they did "power point".
But nope, it wasn't.
It was because it was prepared in the very last minute and was not controlled properly by a professional.
Because of a "teen" who run away from the job.
either he forgot, or he just ditched them.


Although a group of guys do not have the voice of Il Divo, and I understand it's not a performance but to worship God, I was still horrified when they present a hymn.
I wonder... how much time did they spend on the practice?
I wonder... and I don't believe that there's no technician who knows how to control the microphone and volume so that no single voice will be over the others.
It sounded and looked like it's a single person's performance


I questioned.
How could that happen in such a big church, full of people with different talents.
Some replied that there's always mistakes.
Some said, it wasn't like that last year.
Some thought, the young teens are just not reliable.
Some even said, well, we should be understanding and embrace the fault with God's love, i.e. 用愛心互相包容


wow... 搬出神的愛，說得我像無愛心，只在挑別人的剌

怎麼神叫我們要「交付忠心可託付的人」時，我們有沒有好好去選擇和訓練？

我們對一些一年一度「敬拜神」的節目，又有幾重視？

像我爸爸說，是「柴娃娃」去完成？抑或用心去排練？

試問若果你是新來賓，每年只在那天上敎會，看見這些事發生，會用愛心包容嗎？

若果你是神，你會滿意嗎？甚至Okay?

我們口口聲聲說要將最好的獻給神，這就是最好了？

說要「竭力進到完全的地步」，我們是站在一個甚麼的位置？

既然神這麼愛我們，難度我們就求其交貨去回應神的愛？

我們作基督徒，標準和要求是這麼低嗎？

happy feet

終於看了happy feet.
主角不能唱歌卻懂得跳hip-hop，因而引來同族的排擠。
最後因為它的特異工能，才拯救了全族。
這讓我想起聖經內去西羅亞池洗眼的瞎子。
縱然你天生異類,但神要在你身上彰顯祂的榮耀。

今日，神又可以在我身上彰顯祂的榮耀嗎？

learning from book of John

約 翰 福 音 12:42-43
雖 然 如 此 ， 官 長 中 卻 有 好 些 信 他 的 ， 只 因 法 利 賽 人 的 緣 故 ， 就 不 承 認 ， 恐 怕 被 趕 出 會 堂 。
這 是 因 他 們 愛 人 的 榮 耀 過 於 愛 神 的 榮 耀 。

i felt such a pity.
and i pray that i won't turn into a person like them.

a touching evening

testimony.
offering.
three examples.
more than half filled.

plan little as sand.
hope for a stone.
faith builds it up to a mountain.
love moves my heart.

for the name of God.
His glorious image.
belong to Him, return to Him.
not just earthly treasures, but my all.
not a sacrifice, but a blessing.
your heart... to God.
joy.

calling

talked to my bestest best friend kk tonight.
i shared w/ her very briefly abt the vision of koinonia.
she understood and didn't questioned.
i was so happy...
she didn't get it.
kk asked me, y not? God called different servant to serve Him in a different way!
true... and suddenly remembered the verses that our pastor talked abt this morning...

歌林多前書 1:21-24

世人憑自己的智慧，既不認識神，神就樂意用人所當作愚拙的道理，拯救那些信的人；這就是神的智慧了。
猶太人是要神蹟，希利尼人是求智慧，
我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督，在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；
但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人、希利尼人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。

some people can understand and will participate because God has also called them.
some people don't coz they don't hear God's calling.

{a worthy walk}

we r talking abt discipleship... how u walk in a manner worthy of the calling.

from "Our Journey" by James macdonald

Ephesians 4:1-7 (English Standard Version)
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Why do you think the Christian life is described so often as a walk? Five times in Ephesians 4-5, we're given instructions on how to live in pedestrian terms:

"Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (4:1).

"You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do" (4:17).

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" (5:2).

"Walk as children of light" (5:8).

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise" (5:15).

Walking is all about measured progress; it's one foot in front of the other. The Christian life is like that. It takes a lot of days of decisive actions to make progress in becoming the person God wants you to be. You advance one step at a time, bit by bit, in little increments. Freedom doesn't come all at once. Growth doesn't come all at once. Victory and change do not come all at once. Success in Christian life is measured, not in your arrival time, but by the progress you make, day by day.

In addition, Ephesians also talks about the quality of your walk. Are you walking like Christ? Read Ephesians 4:1 again: "I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

Walk worthy. Worthy carries with it the idea of a balanced scale. The Lord Jesus Christ has named you and claimed you as His child; put that fact on one side of a scale. On the other side, pile all the details about your daily life - your motivations, habits, attitudes, and speech. If the scale balances, your walk is worthy. If we looked a little closer at those instructions from Ephesians 4-5, we could say:

"You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do"
I'm changing - I don't do or say what I used to.

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us"
I'm unselfishishly loving the people in my life.

"Walk as children of light"
I'm guarding my thoughts and my steps so they reflect Christ.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise"
I'm progressively making wiser choices.

I echo Paul when he says, "I beg you to have a walk that is worthy of the Lord." I plead with you - as you would plead with me - that our lives would balace out on God's scale. When we think about our Lord Jesus Christ, who He is and what He has done for us, any sacrifice would besmall for the sake of His great glory. Walk worthy of His calling.

{you and God}

a lesson i've learned and is stil learning...

from "Our Journey" by Crawford W. Loritts

Have you ever felt abandoned, as if you were all alone? One minister was accused of an awful sin, and circumstantial evidence strongly indicated that he was guilty. Although he continued to declare his innocence, few believed him. Day by day, his reputation and credibility were being eroded, but he held on to the fact that he and God would vindicate him. To make a long story short, God did vindicate him in a wonderful way, and people who had accepted the unfounded accusations were embarrassed.

This all points to the fact that there are those rare times in our lives when all we have is God and God alone. He sometimes allows us to be in isolated circumstances and trials to prove His sufficiency, to let us know and experience: "I'm all you really need."

I'm not saying that we don't need other people. We do need a support system. God has raised up the body of Christ to encourage one another, to build each other up, and to help us walk through the valleys of life. But as I read through the Bible and look to my own experiences and the experiences of others, there are those moments when God says, "I don't want other people around you. I want you to face this heat and to look to me and me alone to get you through it." Sometimes we tend to rely more on our man-made support systems than we do on God.

In 2 Timothy 4:16-18, Paul tells us what to do when we're isolated. first, don't cave in to bitterness and an unforgiving spirit. Second, allow God to strengthen you. Run to Him. He has everything you need. Third, trust Him to deliver you. God can redeem the situation.

We need the support of others, but ultimately, God is enough.

2 Timothy 4:16-18 (The Message)

16-18 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter—the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!

Seeking: Father, my sufficiency is in You alone. Thank you for the trials that press me to your heart. You are all that I need.

communication workshop v

a big thank to the recorder and uploader...

you can find the workshop's sermon here

hope u won't miss this again!