Inspiration

After all these years, this quote still inspire me...

"He is showing us the plan for a Christian church that is much more than an association of congenial friends to listen once a week to an intellectual discourse and musical entertainment and carry on by proxy a mechanism of Christian work; but rather a church that can be at once the mother and home of every form of help and blessing which Jesus came to give to lost and suffering men, the birthplace and the home of souls, the fountain of healing and cleansing, the sheltering home for the orphan and distressed, the school for the culture and training of God's children, the armory where they are equipped for the battle of the Lord and the army which fights those battles in His name. Such a center of population in this sad and sinful world!"

A. B Simpson, A Larger Christian Life p. 153.

This is taken from A. B. Simpson, the founder of my denomination, The Christian & Missionary Alliance.

I am so thankful for someone put what the church should be in words many years ago.   I read this few years ago.  Now coming back, where I am standing right now and where I am being led, this quote just make sense!

Second Time

"How come you ain't like this when I was at MCAC?"

This was Pastor Nelson's reference a few years ago when we went to visit him.  He was my former pastor.  He was in my church when I first went to MCAC.  He said that after he realized how much we have grown.

There were many great times and tough times.  He baptised me.  I led fellowship and was asking him for help when the fellowship fell apart.  He nominated me to become a deacon and join the English Ministry Committee. A position which looking back I was wholly unprepared for.  Despite being a new Christian, he invested his time and energy into me.  Not just me, he gave generously in discipling others in my church.

If you know Pastor Nelson, you will know he has a way of saying things. 

The reference I just made he said it in a funny and sarcastic way.  Yet he is very wise as the statement has profound wisdom in it.

Earlier this year, we had a split with the previous English Pastor.  He was dismissed.  A bunch of people left the church and started a new church.  Some left the church and go to another church.  I hope no one stop following Christ because of this.

Right now, it is still a painful and sensitive matter.  I have no doubt that no one really win from this situation.  Satan is clearly the winner. [Hindsight: I mean to add that Satan might won the battle...but he won't win the war.]  Everyone's relationship is change, hurt, damange in one way or another.  

By God's Grace, we hired a new English pastor in the recent months.   This new pastor reminded me a lot about Pastor Nelson.

I am still serving as a deacon in my church.  Through the past few years, there were many ups and downs.  Those moments where I wanted to quit and leave the church.  It will be so much easier..isn't it.  When things go south, I throw up my hands and go. So easy.  

Yet I stay.  I stayed because from what I read the Bible, the church is a spiritual family. We are all children of God.  I am a sinner as much as the brother next to me.  Even if they hurt me or wrong me, I still have to extend forgiveness and grace (because this is the same forgiveness and grace God has bestowed upon me!).

I don't leave my own flesh and blood family.  I don't abandon my spiritual family.  God called me to stay and so I stay.

...

As I reminisce about what Pastor Nelson said, I feel like right now this is a second time around.  The first time I was too new and not serious enough to know what I was doing.  I really didn't care that much.  I sometimes do feel bad.  Because Pastor Nelson is almost heading this ministry by himself.  A one man army. 

After serving and overseeing a congregation, it is tough.  It is tough because there are so many needs.  It is tough because I realize I have so much limitations.  

But this doesn't matter.  

Now I want to give more and pour more into the church.   This is my second time around.  This time I will make it worth it.  We should try, try again.  

I was sharing with a brother tonight that when I was training for Ironman, it ain't about whether I worried about training too much.  Rather I prioritize my life to train as much as  possible.

Ministry is just like that.  Sometimes we might talk about, 'oh I spend too much time in the church.'  Now it is more like, 'how can I pour more time and effort into the church.'

Side note: This ain't a workaholic mentally.  I valued rest just as much!

I alway say that a passionate person is not balance to the norm.  They are always off balance.  

Right now I see the ministries I am involved in ain't just some mundane programs that needed to be run. They are  an opportunity to create more disciples and to encourage one another to strive for Christ.   There is hope and joy in serving even despite the most 'unfortunate' times.

When the church was at a low point earlier this year, I make a promise that this will be a pinnacle point where I can grow from.  So some day when I look back I can see this situation as an opportunity to strengthen my faith, not weaken it.

AMEN!


On my Facebook description..I wrote...

I enjoy a passion filled life..not a balance life.

Let's pour on the fire...

Belonging and Community

Recent events brought back memories a few years ago.  These memories are painful reminders. They are key points on my definition of a Christian community (or the Church).

This memory is similar to the post, Fall Short.

I can still remember those times in Junior High and Highschool when I do dumb things to feel like I belong.  I remembered in Grade 9 I stole somoene's calculator and gave it to a friend because he wanted it. 

To be accepted.  To have friends appreciate you for who you are.  It is a good thing.  You feel secure.  You don't feel the world is out to get you.  Life is very different when you have no one to trust or rely on.  Instead of joy, life becomes a bully that push you around from one day to the next.

Another gentleman, Frank, came into the Young Career Fellowship when I was leading.  He was a bit off.  Despite that, we tried and welcomed him.  Frank was particular. He rarely talk.  The type that hang out in the background.

After every fellowship event, he would often ask if people wanted to go to Bubble Tea.

A while later, Frank decided to accept Christ.  We go through the basics with him.  Who Jesus is, why we believe in what we believe as Christians, interviewed by the elders.  Frank was a smoker.  He was told that during the interview that after accepting Christ, he had to give up that habit.  He agreed.

I still remembered the day he got baptist.  As with every baptism, there was joy and happiness.

A few weeks later, Frank started to act a bit strange.  It was more difficult speaking to him.  He would be with you in person but his mind seemed to be wandering off.  He started to smoke again.  An elder told me to talk to him.  So I did.

By my immaturity, I condemned to stop because it was bad for him to represent Christ in this manner.  After either of us raised our voice, he reluctantly agreed.

...

Things continued to deteriorate.  Frank also seemed to have some mental issues.  Sometimes talking to him is like he wasn't there.  His mind alway wandered off.

He would only show up after prayer meeting or fellowship and just wanted to hang out.  By now I was tired. And no one wanted to either.  Frank slowly came to church and fellowship less and less.

I still remember those times when I tried to ask other brothers and sisters to hang out with him.  Perhaps I am not good at being a leader.  But it is so hard to tell people, hey can you be this person's friend?  Maybe because Frank's particular personality.   Or my assumption that no one thinks is worth the time to contribute.  Frank was quite generous in his ways. He would offer his home for us to go watch movie.

...

With the busy-ness of life.  With programs and church events.  I spent less time with Frank.  He attended my church less.  I don't even know when was the last time I saw him in person.

Last week, a brother was sharing how someone he knew might have a personality disorder.  I immediately remembered Andrew.  It is amazing how memories forgotten can bring back like an open wound. Had I know then what I experience now, holding back tears, I told my friend if I had to do it all over again, I would give all my money to Andrew.  Every dollar.

This afternoon  I was chatting with another brother about church and conversion.  Frank popped up in my head.

This is what I said...


me: i still remember frank
he got baptize
then he just disappeared
i think he got baptize b/c he wanted to be accepted.

Friend: aww man =(

me: if you think that's sad?
  I don't know if it is even more sad
  the fact that he didn't feel connected
  as a community should 
   ...a community that welcome the lost
   the whole point is not to convert them
   ok u are saved and move on
  to be a Christian as far as i can tell
 it is to follow Christ and reflect through our Christian commutniy aka church.



I still think after all these years, Frank came to church because he wanted to feel like he belong.

And this pains me because that's precisely what Jesus came to do. He came to restore those who are on the out back to Him.  That's why the blind, the sick, the poor, the leper, the tax collector, the sinners...all those that are socially excluded flocked to Him.  And He welcomed them.

I don't think Frank asked for much.  Sometimes a simple friendship can mean so much more.   And it probably cost the most.   Especially in a lifestyle of running around, got things to do, plans to make, and endless errands.  AKA My life is too busy for Frank.  And there is always that tendency to say, 'well that's Frank's problem. It ain't mine.  I have my own problem to deal with.'

hmm...

What about Acts 2 Church when the brothers and sisters take care of each other? Or in Philippians when Paul wrote to look after each other interest? Or in First Corinthians when Paul wrote that if one member suffers, the rest suffers as well? Or James condemning those who pray and should physically take care of his brothers as well?

We should always remember that being a Christian ain't just a game to tell people the right answer to the four spiritual question as fast as possible. It ain't all about making sure that if someone die they end up in heaven.

Having the right answers is important.  Without the love of grace from above showing in physical ways.  The right answers just feel hollow.

Jesus preached that the Kingdom of Heaven is coming. He told everyone He would be the one that fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 61.  And His News is the Good News. He comes to restore broken relationships, to heal the sick, to bring comfort to the needy.

The church is a reflection of this Kingdom. A Kingdom where those that are excluded can come together and be united.  In the church, there is no boundary, as we are all children of God and all are saved through Christ.  All contend in One Spirit and in One Unity.  When one of us are lost, we all should feel a sense of lostness as well. We should always be generous and patience with others.  Because that's precisely how Jesus dealt with us.  Lots of grace and mercy.

Despite the 'pain' and despite all that happen....this is the Hope that I rely on.

A while ago, someone mentioned...

Oh I am glad so and so ain't weird.  Or else I don't want to hang out with them.

To which I reply....

If they are weird, no problem.  Send them to me, I will hang out with them.

Note: I emailed Frank earlier today to see if he wanted to hang out.  I have to always remember that the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Reconciliation.  Him I follow, this I do.

[Additional: The dream of the Christian Community is too irresistible to give up...even if at the present it is not working and it 'fails' over and over, we should always strive to live out the gospel as it is bestowed upon us with the best of our ability. Besides, the Spirit is working....(even at times we don't 'feel' it).]

Support and Encouragement

I am taking a 'break' from church stuff...hehe..sorta...

Maybe it is the part of me that just like to keep thinking and doing stuff.

Last night I was bouncing ideas with my youth elder about some ideas and it was very encouraging.  There is a few new initiatives I really want to try this coming September.  I can't wait.

The mission trip, going to St Jamestown, last week really energized me.  Though it was a lot of 'work' and effort, it was simply awesome to be used by God and for Him to open my and my team members' eyes....

As I was going for my usual easy bike ride down Mississauga Road, I reflected on what's happening at church, what's going on in my life and anything in between.

This will be a bit raw and real.  At the same time I am trying to be graceful at it.  This ain't a finger pointing post.  It ain't encouraging nor mature to do so.

Earlier this year a group of Christians and friends left my church from an incident...things are never the same.  The past few months I was living under a dark cloud.   There were periods when I couldn't think nor motivate to do anything.  The only thing to grab on to is that maybe tomorrow will be a better day.  Or at least today is done and over with.

Despite that, God is still actively working through the members of my church.  Someone once said that this is what God wanted.  It is a good thing. (If this is a good thing, why people are hurt, hurtful at one another and no sign of reconciliation?) Another wiser person told me this is a trial I am going through.  Just hang in there.

So I was riding and reflecting what God had shown me through this 'trial'.  The first question and question I often ask myself is....(and others asked me)...why don't you just leave?  Why stay here?

For those who know me, I always see church as a family. I don't bail on my folks when things go down. I don't do that with my church family. I don't disown my parents because they made a bad decision. I don't do that with my church family.

Part of it is that God called me to stay so I stay.  Can you imagine in Exodus when the people complained against Moses and he quit and went back to herding sheep?  There won't be much of a story.

And even if I go, where would I go?  Do I go shopping for another church?  Going back to the family model, that's like me shopping for another family.

What I recognize a lot more lately, especially after the St Jamestown Mission trip, is that God placed so much support and encouragement around me.  For example, with the mission trip, I worried on how to get the team to the subway station.  A few parents and members of the church pitched in to help out as drivers.  They did it with so much enthusiastic.    They had to get up early like at 5:30 am...or stayed up till 8 pm.  Totally out of their way.

I always whine about how I don't have a mentor.  Though that might be sorta true but I have a group of older (and wiser) Christian leaders who I can bounce idea of.  One is my professor at MacMaster Divinity College.  Another is a local pastor I am meeting tomorrow for coffee.  He is planting churches in my city.  I ain't even part of his flock and yet he still offered to meet up for coffee every 6 months or so.  I had my ex-English pastor .  I can name a few more....

The most important leader I have is the Holy Spirit.  When He speaks, everything else fades. Right now He is revealing me a side of the church which a few years ago I never experience it.  He is showing me some people that He is also molding.  This is super cool!

I am learning recently on how to extend grace.  There are still people in my church upset, hurt.  I really don't know what to do.  I was thinking about this when my English pastor used to be here.  To be honest, the same attitude toward the church were here back then as it is now.  Yet, he was so gentle.  He was always positive and encouraging.  Always laughing and joking.  Never bitter.  Never get angry or upset.  Then, that's how I should act as well.

A while ago, I told a friend, who was hurt from church, to focus on the sweet stuff and forget about the bitter taste.  I think I should eat my medicine as well.

There is a lot more going on than just being grumpy and be a stick in the mud.  I so want to do that.  Just throw my hands up in frustration.

The walls might be torn, the gate might be burnt.  But the King is moving and there is work to be done.  The Kingdom is coming and He is building it....I just want to join Him and see where this road will go...

2010 Church Retreat Videos

Took a few videos while I was at church retreat over the weekend...A nice getaway. I enjoyed the drive. I took a lot of side roads and enjoyed the finer Ontario landscape.




The audio is quiet. You need to turn up your speakers. This is a great video. Definitely worth it.

Seeing God at work among discouragement and bitterness

Last week, my church has Vocation Bible School for the kids.  It was a great outcome.  There were about 150 kids and 63 of them were non-believers.

Yesterday, we had a graduation.  The kids were to sing a song in front of everyone. I had the privilege of talking to the parents who never been to my church before.  

The children pastor told me to spend time with them.  I have no idea what to do.   I am not  very good as a host or entertain others.

We were sitting in one of the rooms having coffee and donuts when my children pastor dropped by and introduced me to everyone....

"This is Cliff and he has an amazing story.  He had a liver transplant when he was 11 and also did an Ironman.  Cliff, why don't you share them your story...."

I was embarrassed.  Talk about myself?  I laughed out loud....

Then I figured we have 30 min to kill and a great way to share my testimony I jumped into speaking mode and shared about my liver transplant, my drinking history, triathlon and meeting Jesus in my Ironman journey.

The parents were amazed.  They were engaged and asked me many questions....

Did the liver transplant help you train better?
What did you eat?

I concluded that all of this is nothing but short of a miracle.  

Later, I gave them a tour around the church and they asked questions about our Jumping Frogs program (a youth group that we have every Fri).  

During the presentation, my children pastor was sharing she had volutneers from 5 year old to over 80.  

My church, like many Chinese churches in Canada, have congregations based on different languages and dialects.  For us, we have a English, Mandarin and Cantonese congregations.  It is amazing to see so many different helpers from various congregations volunteer together. 

...

A while back I had a conversation with a sister about Chinese church.  She was quite bitter at how conservative the church was.  They weren't allow someone to play worship because the boy had long hair.  To her, she would never go back to a Chinese church.  She believed in multi cultural churches, just not Chinese churches. 

And to be honest, there were times when I am bitter about being in a Chinese church.

I am more missional.  I want to go out and serve the poor. My church seemed to be focus on just Chinese people. The church doesn't fit my needs...and to be even more negative...what a waste of time...

Bitter huh?

...

I went to a Chinese Alliance Church conference last year and attended a session on how to be more missional.  I was expecting some juicy info about creative ways to share the gospel that is relevant to the people in their culture context.

Instead, the speaker just said...'you have to work with the Chinese side'

At that time, I was hugely disappointed.  That was the answer?  It had nothing to do with being missional.

...

The parents I talked to yesterday, none of them were Chinese.  Yet, because of VBS, they come to a Chinese church for the first time.

And I had been thinking and frustrated at how are we going to invite our neighbors who when most of them are not Chinese.  Why would they come to a Chinese church?

I spoke to a father yesterday.  He, non-Chinese, enjoyed the VBS program.  He was impressed and mentioned how organize things were.  He is a single parent and told me how much struggle it is to afford days camp for his kid (8 yr old).  One week camp costs 700 dollars.  That's the equivalent of half a paycheck.  Single parent.  Many bills to pay.  It is so expensive. I am thankful that we have VBS to make it affordable for parents like him.

So God, in His way, in His Will, gave me an answer I never expect.  It is almost like He is saying..'Cliff, this is my church and this is my program.  Let me SHOW you what you think is impossible.'

God in all His Sovereign Ways, often speak the loudest in whispers and nudges.

...

I am growing fond of and feel blessed to be part of this multi congregational community which I call my church.

There are many in my church upset about how things are run.  They, and me, often feel this is a Chinese church run in a Chinese way and soon the culture will change and this church will no longer be necessary...

I wish I can share what I saw yesterday to others.  Multi congregation comes together to bring glorify to God through VBS.  Many different parts come together for one purpose (1 Corinthian 12 anyone??)

I don't know how to tell this to others.  I am more discourage in not because I don't share, it is because if I share, they will not listen. (I do understand I cannot control that...still it is discouraging.)

Those who are upset are still upset.
Those who don't feel this church will work continue to feel so.

And so here I stand...between two worlds.  One full of discouragement, bitterness, and negativity...and yet a world where God is slowly revealing His Will and His purpose.

...

A speaker once asked the question....'if the church is not here today, will the neighborhood misses it?'

Back then, without hesitation, I would say, no one will miss my church because we never reach out.

Oh...looking then and looking what I experienced yesterday.....how wrong I was.

God uses program like VBS to reach those who never been to my church.  The single father will surely suffers, if one day our church disappears.

And I am thank God for Him sharing this little bit of His Will to me today.

Though serving might have ups and downs.
Though people and myself can be bitter and upset at times.
Though the walls are down and ruins lay everywhere.

I still can see the Hope that God promises.

And this promise is the only light I lean on when the times are tough, when I am all alone, when darkness engulfs me.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9a

[More reflection..confession]

I know I am guilty of spending more time bashing the church than encouraging.  

Spend more time tearing it down than building it up.  

Spend more time talk about strategies and theories than seeking where God is working.

Glad to have God open my eyes to see where He is working....

Forgiving others

This week, my church is having Vacation Bible School (VBS).

The children pastor last night shared in Prayer meeting about some of the difficult kids that she had to work with.  She had great wisdom.  She already expect some kids would be trouble makers.

There were two kids who often get into fights.  She spoke to each of them.  Later the day, one of the kids went to the pastor afterward and told her that the other kid was fighting him.  The pastor asked him what did he do.  He told her he did nothing.  Instead he told the teacher to tell the other kid to 'not fight him'.

The children pastor later saw the two kids playing together.

....

It's funny how children can forgive so easily.   And yet as we grow up, we tend to hold grudges faster than we forgive.

Is it because of all the pain and suffer that lead us to harden our hearts?  To protect ourselves so we don't get hurt again?  To build a wall (and towers, and a moat, with dragons and monsters guarding....)

Or is there a part of us, much deeper and darker that we enjoy secretly seeing the demise of others as our own enjoyment.  Especially those who wrong us and 'rip' us off.

Quickly, it reminded me from a Tim Keller's sermon on forgiveness....

'this is how the world is like..you stand on your porch and they stand on theirs.  They cut you up and so you slice up a  piece of them.'

That's how the world works...

Source (http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/csl0138l.jpg)

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:13-26

...

More thoughts.

It is so hard to ask people to forgive one another.  Even Christians.  Especially Christians.  Perhaps we have lost sight that God forgive us first.  We feel like we deserve our statues and our rights.  He took away our debts.  We might sing it on Sun.  Read it in the Bible.  Do a devotion on it.

To live it.  When we encourage one another to do it, I find a lot of blank stares.  

• Well, this case is different....
• Jesus didn't really mean....
• What about God's truth and love for justice...
• You can't do that.  What if he did it again...
• We can't let this go...
• This is so unfair to us...

To dig deep and have the courage and faith to let things go.  It's tough.  

When I read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's quote on community....

I can no longer condemn or hate other Christians for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble they cause me..

...it is so encouraging.

A Christian community is like a family.  He is my brother or she is my sister. We are all adopted.  No matter how much they wrong us, they are still family. As Dietrich said, no matter how much trouble they cause me.

Even if they are not Christians, we are God's ambassadors to them.

..hehe I guess when Jesus says to love our enemies (Matthew 5), He really means it.

After all, Jesus did died for His enemies (Romans 5).

Hmm..I should remind myself..if I wrong someone I need to go and ask for forgiveness and I need to reconcile differences....

...

VBS is going well in my church.  150 kids.  I look forward on Sun when they will present to the parents and to the congregation. AMEN!

Encouragement

Encouragement often comes in small and unexpected form...

Today, during a gmail chat with a sister from my church. She said:

i really want our church to have a culture of mission

Bring tears to my eyes =D

Speaking of which...a few highschool kids from my church and a few other Alliance Churches went to Peru on a mission trip.  For more update, go here -> http://missionperu.ca/.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20 

Encouragement: See what He sees

[Email sent to my fellowship this morning]

Hi everyone,

In light of what's going on in church and what we talked about last night...

This morning I came across this blog post which i found rather encouraging...

The post was notes taken from a discussion in the Old Testament...

http://timchester.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/no-standstill-when-god-shows-you-reality/

Zechariah pulls back the curtain so that God’s people could see with his word what they could not see with their eyes

...

It would be reason enough to continue if all you see in a lifetime of ministry is one living stone because that living stone is a witness to the reality of God in the world and to the reality of his coming. This ought to be enough to get us temple-builders up in the morning.

...

Our view of God’s kingdom can become blinkered by what is going on in our patch. We can imagine that the church is in decline. We talk of living in a post-Christian era. This is de-motivating. We take on a bunker mentality.


We need to get excited about being part of God’s huge, worldwide project. Even if our part is slow-going, it is a privilege to be part of what God is doing.


There can be no standstill when God shows you reality. But we must let God’s word show us reality.

Hopefully you not only see what I see...but you see what HE sees :D

[I need to go back to OT and rediscover what Hope that our Lord promises :)]

What is a Missional Church?

Missional Church made simple!

Christmas Lunch...

"Where's everyone?" My pastor asked as I was setting chairs and the tables in the social hall.

I replied, "I do not know. They should be coming."

Yesterday was an unusual Saturday. My normal routine was to go to the Y, swim, then bike for a few hours. Instead, I found myself in my church's social hall.

My church was having a lunch potluck. A brother worked at a shelter and he invited a number of guests to join us. For the past few Christmas our congregation had a celebration. Last year it was a buffet.

I reflected on Luke 14 when Jesus told the Pharisees...."do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors....when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind..."

Jesus' words ring loudly in my heart. And so, this year around, we invited those who we don't normally hang out with.

As my pastor and I continued to set up the tables, more people showed up. First those who prepared food. Then a few university students. As more and more showed up, we pray before we get started.

My heart was already racing by then. My mind was some where else. I was thinking the next step and next item to do. Get the cooks, prepare the food, find out how much cultery we need, get the drivers here, designate pick up locations.....

We pause for a few min and prayed. I was in a lost for words.

And we were off. We pulled the drivers together. It turned out one of the sisters had a van and I don't have to rent a van (YAY!). We picked the people from various locations.

Soon the social hall of my church were filled with people. People who normally don't come to my church. Maybe they have never went to a church before. What's even more spectacular were seeing my church engaging with them. We invited them. We chatted with them. We shared a meal. We laughed and talked.

This Sun Service, my pastor read out a response by one of the guests. He mentioned how he enjoyed our company and how we treat him with sincerity and dignity. I was in tears. I stopped and said:

"This is how a church suppose to be."

Albert Benjamin Simpson, founder of Christian and Missionary Alliance, once said...

"..a church that can be ... home of every form of help and blessing which Jesus came to give to lost and suffering men..."

I do not have much to stay or response. I am still soaking in the moment. I am joyful that my church was able to stand against the sad and sinful world and shared a meal. I know that this ain't just the end. Rather a beginning. Where we can re-imagine what a church can and meant to be. May the Spirit use this to move people's heart. To move my congregation's heart so we see ourselves as the light of Mississauga and the surrounding. And the heart of the guests, that they find shelter, comfort, hope and strength through You.

Here's a response from one of the brother who partake with the lunch yesterday:

"My prayer is God will open our church more times to the people in shelters and bless those who have come to the church and regenerate their soul with the gift of salvation from the Lord, and use us effectively so they will see the Lord Jesus in us and humble us to serve them with the love of Jesus, and build meaningful relationship with them so they will know the Lord and increase their faith in the Lord Christ Jesus. AMEN!"

I couldn't say it any better.

It's good to be used. Especially when the I am use for things that will not be lost by rust or moths.

A life of outreach? Or an outreach life?

Sometimes I wonder what if I consider every day night as an outreach event.

Going to the YMCA to do a few miles repeat. Outreach event.

Going to work. Outreach event.

Going to Moe's to pick up a burrito. Outreach event.

I think sometimes when we think about outreach, we have to spend a lot of time and effort to prepare. Say print gospel tracts. Get this and that. It is almost like we have to switch mode.

I ain't to putting down on outreach event. I am just wondering. Let say my church does 2-3 Outreach event a year. What if we 'decentralize' and outreach everywhere and everyday? So instead of having 2-3 Outreach events a year, we can in theory have 365 mini outreach events a year.

To some, this might sound odd. To some (those who are missional) this might sound, 'duh..this is what you are suppose to do'

Sometimes it is worthwhile for church to focus on outreach events.

Tonight at the YMCA while I was taking a shower (note: it might be graphical :P but I just did a few miles repeat and I was drenched in sweat....I am sure my fellowship whom I attended afterwards glad I took a shower).

I was thinking about this? Is my church training the people to outreach on their own? Or are we training our people to be good at preparing events that outreach others? Are my church members equip to outreach/evangelism/share the gospel?

As I was thinking, one of the guy in the shower was chatting up on finding cheap places to park in downtown. I overheard and told him to park at Ryerson. We met up later in the locker room and talked some more. I got his name. He told me he comes to the Y regularly. Great. Me too. Next time I am going to ask him to come to my church's Xmas lunch.

Why think about outreach when I can be outreaching every day (and night).

What is a Church?

About to talk about what's a church at this week's fellowship. We were suppose to write two sentences about what we think church is.

I wrote one line.

A group of Spirit leaded people living and bringing Glory to God through obedience to Jesus' teaching.

I remembered A B Simpson, the founder of Christian and Missoinary Alliance, once said:

"He is showing us the plan for a Christian church that is much more than an association of congenial friends to listen once a week to an intellectual discourse and musical entertainment and carry on by proxy a mechanism of Christian work; but rather a church that can be at once the mother and home of every form of help and blessing which Jesus came to give to lost and suffering men, the birthplace and the home of souls, the fountain of healing and cleansing, the sheltering home for the orphan and distressed, the school for the culture and training of God's children, the armory where they are equipped for the battle of the Lord and the army which fights those battles in His name. Such a center of population in this sad and sinful world!"(A.B. Simpson, A Larger Christian Life. p. 153)

Source: Wikipedia

Now that's what church suppose to be :)

Giving Thanks - Church 20th Anniversary

Next Sun, my church will be celebrating our 20 years anniversary.

On the way back home tonight I was reflecting on things I am grateful and give praise for.

I give thanks to:

- for God working wonderfully in my church for 20 years. We started as a house church and with grace we grew to three congregations
- for the leaders. The elders and pastors who worked tirelessly for God's Kingdom and doing whatever possible to keep unity.
- to the congregation. My spiritual family who I can come and gather to worship on Sun
- to the teachers and anyone who is older than me (spiritually). Whom I can learn from and share life

Many thanks indeed. Even though most of the time I feel like I am more negative than positive. So where will I be next Sun? I will be rocking with my congregation as we celebrate the 20th anniversary.

Simply Awesome!

Would Jesus Twitter?

This is a post from Dave Gibbons in discussing about technology and Christianity.

You can read it here. I like the idea of a church with thousands of doors. Here he is talking about that we can start an experience of a church online and offline.

I love what the United Methodist Church denomination recently did. They recognized they needed to “rethink church” and just released their new website - 10thousanddoors.org and asked the question, “What if church wasn’t just a building, but thousands of doors? Each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church - and a journey that could change our world. Would you come?”

I think a lot of times churches just don’t know where to start. Start with what God’s given you. Just like you reach out and recruit worship leaders to help lead worship, reach out and recruit people to help with your online strategy and execution. Make an intential decision to invest — your time and resources. Just as you invest in physical spaces, invest in online spaces.

I like to take this point from a diff perspective. What if, each one of us, the brother and sister in a church, when we live and contact with those around us carry the church with us? Instead of a church as a building, it becomes a church as a group of people each carrying the church with them to every person they contact. This bring on a whole new meaning to bringing church to the people. Imagine a congregation of 100 people. This means a 100 little churches gather together and off extending God's Kingdom. Would this impact the community? I sure think so.

My response on Dave's post:

This is a great post. The internet reminds me of the Gutenberg press. As I recall, the first book that was printed was the Bible. The press itself have a huge change in cultural. Scribes are not longer needed and we can replicate literature and share knowledge in a way mankind has never seen before.

The internet is just like the Gutenberg press. We can bring the Gospel or share it in a whole way of context we can never dream of. Not only do we have the knowledge at our cell phone. We can be part of history and in making history (by uploading and taking images at real time etc.).

I too, think Jesus will use twitter and use facebook. He probably have prostitutes and sinners on His profile too.

Thanks for giving me a diff perspective on technology :).

If the family were a Church...

Picked this post from Roy McClung's blog.

We often think of church as a family. What if we think of family as a church....

Here's one possible scenario:

Two young men walked in the den where grandma was watching her "stories". They shuffled their feet, made small talk, but finally got down to business.

"Grandma, we've all talked about it, and we don't think you're doing your job the way you once did - the way we need you to," the first man started.

"What do you mean, son?" the older lady asked, trying to see the TV around the two men.

"Well, you can't cook or clean anymore. You don't tell us stories of the old days. We haven't heard any wisdom from you in a long time. You usually just watch television and sleep. We're going to have to let you go," the second man said.

Grandma hung her head. "I realize that I'm getting older and can't carry out my duties that I once did. Will you at least give me a few weeks to find a new family?"

"We'll give you two weeks and a good recommendation. I'm sure that God is calling you to a good older family out there somewhere," her son said.

You can read it here.

Thoughts on church, people, authenticity

It seems the best thought takes time to develop...last night a brother dropped by and I was trying to express my ideas...it was muddle. Not clear. Here's an email I sent to a brother earlier today:

I was reading a blog a while back... (http://untilallhaveheard1.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/the-letters-to-the-corinthians-by-william-barclay/)

It was talking about the order of a church and we may become too orderly. Like people expect to be served..

"It may well be that the church lost something when she delegated so much to the professional ministry and left so little to the ordinary church member; and it may well be that the blame lies not with the ministry for annexing those rights, but with the laity for abandoning them, because it is all too true that there are many church members whose attitude is that they think far more of what the church can do for them than of what they can do for the church, and who are very ready to criticize what is done but very unready to take any share in doing the church's work themselves."

...is funny about church of ppl and church of building..some ppl think the church is too sterile b/c of the walls and the way the church is set up...but if we are coming to the church of people, does it really matter what the 'physical building' we are in..i mean..we can be sitting in a basement or by the road or in a classroom..and it doesn't matter..after all we are a church of people right? :)

....now here is something to be scared of..what if the sterility of the church is not the building but of the people.....and I am not only talking about the leadership..but every member of the church.

...I am going to bring in one more idea, authenticity. We all strive authenticity. The truth is that we live in a superficial society. If authenticity (being real) is the way we all live and breathe everyday and the society we live in is superficial.

Does this mean that superficiality (to a certain extent) is our authenticity?!?!

This give me the creeps when I think perhaps my 'authenticity' is not as real as I would like to be....for there is a part of me that is 'fake' and superficial. This is the part that I need to give it to Christ and have Him transform and mold me...

What do you think? What does authenticity means to you? What does it mean to strive for authentic Christian living? How does authentic living looks like?