My King is moving

Today I attended BASIC Toronto's Conference call Heart Matters in the City. It is a youth worship conference to rally them to love the city as Jesus would.

Through the worship, all I can think about is Open Door and Mississauga.

I was listening to Reggie McNeal the other day. He was talking about the King is on the move and the church in AD 30 was trying to catch up.

Sometimes, when I sit still, I can tell you the King is moving. In quietness I can almost feel the Kingdom of God is coming down.

And I am move with different emotions. I am joyful because I can partake in seeing the Kingdom coming down. Jesus once said the sick will be heal and the lame can walk. I am joyful for my King who is mercy and full of love will rescue and free the oppress. And I cried to think of the many people who are in my city who have nothing but hope coming to Canada and struggling to make ends meet. I cried because of all the wealth we have, we are lonely. We still have people who are living on marginlize means. And I am angry. Sometimes I don't understand the gap between rich and poor are so wide. I don't understand why there is so much poverty. And sometimes how I am much weak and helpless in changing anything.

And beyond my weakness, I yearn for Christ to come. I desire Him to move among us. I want to experience the Kingdom coming down. I want others to feel the persence of the Kingdom. There is no greater joy then when the poor and the weary find rest upon our Lord. The mustard seed. The yeast in the dough. To be the guy who sell everything for the pearl.

Recently , I am reminded of the contract I signed with God. Let's go deep. Love our neighbours. Go crazy. For there is much at stake and my King is moving. So I better start following.

JMC 2009 - Day 2 - A few thoughts

Just finish second day at JMC. Very awesome. Feels like the Holy Spirit is directing and guiding me in a few direction. Very awesome...

It is getting late and tomorrow I got a big day to head to Peterborough and race Half Ironman on Sun. Before I go, there is a few thoughts I am impress upon...

i) The Art of Losing Myself

This morning worship we sang From The Inside Out by Hillsong....one of the lyrics is the art of losing myself. Since reading Dave Gibbon's blog post on things he and Eric McManus changed as they grew up. In Eric's response, in his 20s, he focused on himself and in his 30s he started to bring others up. I was thinking about my own self and the constant desire to do my own thing and voice my opinion. It became ever cleared that there is a lot of pride and self righteousness. The constant desire to prove my points and doing it my way. I have to learn as Dave said in the post to understand there is more than one way.

Also, to realize that as leaders (and myself), my role really is to serve others. Not to use the title as a authoritative and in the process choke other's growth and desire. But rather to help encourage and faciliate.

And in order to do that, I have to lose myself. Really, Cliff Tam, the individualistic side has to die (Mark 8:34-35). The me first, me always right, who do you think you are in telling me what to do, let me tell you what I think and how you are wrong mentality gotta go. There is no room for that in the pursuit of the Kingdom of God. Self deny and intention self-sacrifice for others...become quite strange and very attractive thoughts. Yet when it comes to serving others, and especially following Christ, this just make sense.

ii) The Poor

JMC had a number of workshops for English and Chinese. I was looking at the Chinese workshops and noticed there was one prepared by Joanne Beach on Establishing the Church Through Acts of Compassion. Since I know Joanne's husband, Lee Beach (my prof, a friend and came to speak at my church), I figure I sneak in the session. Here's a quote I picked up from the session:

We may need the poor more than they need us.

- Dave Collins, Former Director of Food for the Hungry

This just hits home. Until I spent time at Open Door, I do not realize I am actually rich. And how I self indulge at the expense of the others. Need to strive to live simpler and less self indulge. Where I spent my money is where my faith lies. More on that later..

iii) If Jesus is in Mississauga, where would He be?

That was the driving question I asked among a few brothers from my church. We always sing about God is in the City and we should reach out. During the morning service, I thought...where would Jesus be in Mississauga? Who would He talk to? Where would He live? Where would He hang out?

...good questions :o)...

JMC 2009 - Day 1

Today I had an opportunity to go to Joint Missionary Conference. It is organized by the Chinese Alliance Churches.

To keep it short...simply awesome..

I had a chance to speak with a pastor that is pastoring a church in a Muslim country. Wow to hear some of his experience is simply unbelievable.

He was sharing how many are being converted in Iran and they are learning from Chinese home churches in China....i was very touched to hear that in light of what's going on in Iran right now.

..there is a few more things....I was impressed with the thought that Chinese Christians are exiles among exiles (explain more on that later).

I am beat..and need rest ;o)