Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. I will be preaching at the Senior Fellowship in Chinatown. It has been a while that I did not share my ministry with the senior citizens in our church, who have been faithfully praying for our ministry. Pray that God will use me to be a blessing to them just like they have blessed me with their support.
Eugene Peterson pointed out a common problem that Christians would easily stumble upon – which is to portrait a wrong image of God in our culture. Satan is very smart to penetrate our culture and alter the image of God through the manipulation of mass media (T.V. and movies etc.). Unconsciously we accept the ideology or value system that Mass Media delivers. As a result we develop a wrong concept about who God really is.
It is wicked to tell a person that God is an angry tyrant storming through the heavens, out to get every trespasser and throw him into the lake of fire. It is wicked to tell a person that God is a senile grandfather dozing in a celestial rocking chair with only the shortest of attention spans for what is going on in the world. It is wicked to tell a person that God is a compulsively efficient and utterly humorless manager of a tightly run cosmos, obsessed with getting the highest productivity possible out of history and with absolutely no concern for persons apart from their usefulness.
If we believe that God is an angry tyrant, we are going to defensively avoid him if we can. If we believe that God is a senile grandfather, we are going to live carelessly and trivially with no sense of transcendent purpose. If we believe that God is an efficiency expert, we are going to live angry at being reduced to a function and never appreciated as a person.
It is wicked to tell a person a lie about God because, if we come to believe the wrong things about God, we will think the wrong things about ourselves, and we will live meanly or badly. Telling a person a lie about God distorts reality, perverts lire and damages all the processes of living. While we were in conference we were infiltrated by spies pretending to be Christians, who slipped in to find out just how free true Christians are. Their ulterior motive was to reduce us to their brand of servitude (Galatians 2:4, The Message).
That’s why I openly speak against Santa Clause as a celebrative figure of Christmas. Even though genuine Christians know that Santa Clause is only a man-make myth, unfortunately, people accept it as a portrait of God. God is like a Santa Clause who will reward children with gifts for their good behavior. Is it a true image of God? Yes, God is loving and kind like Santa Clause. He is a fair judge who will reward people for doing good. But God is more than that…and Christmas is not about this mythical figure. Christians need to know and tell who God really is. Amen.
Love you because God first loves us,
Lawrence
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Devotional 090810
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. The news of the senseless murder of 10 American medical missionaries kept surface in my mind as I drove to work. One of the missionaries has spent 30 years in Afghanistan serving the people in remote mountain region. They were motivated by the love of God, and were called to demonstrate the love of God in that country. Indeed, they pay the ultimate price of love – pour out their own lives for the people in Afghanistan. They followed the footstep of their Master with no regret. Do the people of Afghanistan deserve this kind of love? They don’t. Do we deserve this kind of love in Christ? We don’t. We thank God for these brothers and sisters who lived out a genuine Christian life, which is always costly and filled with compassion. This is the kind of core value that God wants to grow within us.
I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finished line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. . No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself (Corinthians 9:26-27). The marathon is one of the most strenuous athletic events in sport. The Boston Marathon attracts the best runners in the world. The winner is automatically placed among the great athletes of our time. In the spring of 1980, Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line. She had the laurel wreath placed on her head in a blaze of lights and cheering.
She was completely unknown in the world of running. An incredible feat! Her first race a victory in the prestigious Boston Marathon! Then someone noticed her legs—loose flesh, cellulite. Questions were asked. No one had seen her along the 26.2 mile course. The truth came out: she had jumped into the race during the last mile.
There was immediate and widespread interest in Rosie. Why would she do that when it was certain that she would be found out? Athletic performance cannot be faked. But she never admitted her fraud. She repeatedly said that she would run another marathon to validate her ability. Somehow she never did. People interviewed her, searching for a clue to her personality. One interviewer concluded lat she really believed that she had run the complete Boston Marathon and won. She was analyzed as a sociopath. She lied convincingly and naturally with no sense of conscience, no sense of reality in terms of right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable behavior. She appeared bright, normal and intelligent. But there was no moral sense to give coherence to her social actions.
In reading about Rosie I thought of all the people I know who want to get in on the finish but who cleverly arrange not to run the ace. They appear in church on Sunday wreathed in smiles, entering into the celebration, but there is no personal life that leads up to it or out from it. Occasionally they engage in spectacular acts of love and compassion in public. We are impressed, but surprised, for they were never known to do that before. Yet, you never know. Better give them the benefit of the doubt. Then it turns out to be a stunt: no personal involvement either precedes or follows the act. They are plausible and convincing. But in the end they do not run the race, believing through the tough times, praying through the lonely, angry, hurt hours. They have no sense for what is real in religion. The proper label for such a person is religiopath.
Jesus cautioned his followers to calculate the cost when they followed him after he had fed 5 thousands. We don’t just want the blessing of God without paying the price of obedience. You may fool all the people in your church with your religiosity, but you can never fool the Head of your church. You may enjoy the adoration of man, but you may not be able to stand the judgment of God. God knows the heart of all men. Let’s hold each other accountable to lead a godly and genuine Christian life, which is costly, compassionate and consistent.
Love with the risk of rejection,
Lawrence
Good morning. The news of the senseless murder of 10 American medical missionaries kept surface in my mind as I drove to work. One of the missionaries has spent 30 years in Afghanistan serving the people in remote mountain region. They were motivated by the love of God, and were called to demonstrate the love of God in that country. Indeed, they pay the ultimate price of love – pour out their own lives for the people in Afghanistan. They followed the footstep of their Master with no regret. Do the people of Afghanistan deserve this kind of love? They don’t. Do we deserve this kind of love in Christ? We don’t. We thank God for these brothers and sisters who lived out a genuine Christian life, which is always costly and filled with compassion. This is the kind of core value that God wants to grow within us.
I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finished line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. . No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself (Corinthians 9:26-27). The marathon is one of the most strenuous athletic events in sport. The Boston Marathon attracts the best runners in the world. The winner is automatically placed among the great athletes of our time. In the spring of 1980, Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line. She had the laurel wreath placed on her head in a blaze of lights and cheering.
She was completely unknown in the world of running. An incredible feat! Her first race a victory in the prestigious Boston Marathon! Then someone noticed her legs—loose flesh, cellulite. Questions were asked. No one had seen her along the 26.2 mile course. The truth came out: she had jumped into the race during the last mile.
There was immediate and widespread interest in Rosie. Why would she do that when it was certain that she would be found out? Athletic performance cannot be faked. But she never admitted her fraud. She repeatedly said that she would run another marathon to validate her ability. Somehow she never did. People interviewed her, searching for a clue to her personality. One interviewer concluded lat she really believed that she had run the complete Boston Marathon and won. She was analyzed as a sociopath. She lied convincingly and naturally with no sense of conscience, no sense of reality in terms of right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable behavior. She appeared bright, normal and intelligent. But there was no moral sense to give coherence to her social actions.
In reading about Rosie I thought of all the people I know who want to get in on the finish but who cleverly arrange not to run the ace. They appear in church on Sunday wreathed in smiles, entering into the celebration, but there is no personal life that leads up to it or out from it. Occasionally they engage in spectacular acts of love and compassion in public. We are impressed, but surprised, for they were never known to do that before. Yet, you never know. Better give them the benefit of the doubt. Then it turns out to be a stunt: no personal involvement either precedes or follows the act. They are plausible and convincing. But in the end they do not run the race, believing through the tough times, praying through the lonely, angry, hurt hours. They have no sense for what is real in religion. The proper label for such a person is religiopath.
Jesus cautioned his followers to calculate the cost when they followed him after he had fed 5 thousands. We don’t just want the blessing of God without paying the price of obedience. You may fool all the people in your church with your religiosity, but you can never fool the Head of your church. You may enjoy the adoration of man, but you may not be able to stand the judgment of God. God knows the heart of all men. Let’s hold each other accountable to lead a godly and genuine Christian life, which is costly, compassionate and consistent.
Love with the risk of rejection,
Lawrence
Friday, August 6, 2010
Devotional 060810
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. I am glad to be able to resume my writing mode for my homework. It is hard to focus your mind on a subject matter, when you are preoccupied by many different chores at home and at work, while your body was also adjusting to another time zone. By God’s grace, my mind is getting back to normal operation. Peterson’s devotional thought on the word “pastor” caught my attention. But it does not necessarily apply to clergy only. The spirit of his sharing could be applied to evaluate all kinds of role and identity in our culture today.
A healthy noun doesn’t need adjectives. Adjectives clutter a noun hat is robust. But if the noun is culture-damaged or culture-diseased, adjectives are necessary.
‘Pastor” used to be that kind of noun—energetic and virile. I e always loved the sound of the word. From an early age, the word called to mind a person who was passionate for God and compassionate with people. And even though the pastors I knew did not embody those characteristics, the word itself held its own against its exemplars. Today still, when people ask me what I want to be called, I always say, “Pastor.”
But when I observe the way the vocation of pastor is lived out in America and listen to the tone and context in which the word pastor is spoken, I realize that what I hear in the word and what others hear is very different. In general usage, the noun is weak, defined by parody and diluted by opportunism. The need for strengthening adjectives is critical.
I find I have to exercise this adjectival rehabilitation constantly, redefining by refusing the definitions of pastor that the culture hands me, and reformulating my life with the insights and images of Scripture. The culture treats me so amiably! It encourages me to maintain my orthodox creed; it commends me for my evangelical practice; it praises me for my singular devotion. All it asks is that I accept its definition of my work as an encourager of the cultures good will, as the priest who will sprinkle holy water on the culture’s good intentions. Many of these people are my friends. None, that I am aware of, is consciously malign.
But if I, even for a moment, accept my culture’s definition of me, I am rendered harmless. I can denounce evil and stupidity all I wish and will 1 be tolerated in my denunciations as a court jester is tolerated. I can organize their splendid goodwill and they will let me do it, since it is only for weekends. The essence of being a pastor begs for redefinition.
You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion (I Timothy 4:6-7a, The Message). I believe the noun “Christian” needs to be redefined too. Muslims perceive Christians as the kind of Americans that Hollywood movie portrait – immoral or amoral, violent and abusive, no respect for parents, seniors and god, sexually wild…They have no respect of Christians because to the devoted Muslims, Christians betray the teaching of Jesus or what he represents. The noun “Christian,” to some people, could imply religious hypocrite. Have mercy on us, O Lord. We need to take our faith and Christ’s teaching seriously, otherwise, we bring shame to name of “Christ.” God knows we are weak and imperfect. But it does not mean we surrender to our flesh and let Satan take over. Let’s hold each other accountable to stand firm. Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Eph 6:10-11).
Have a blessed weekend to rest in the Lord!
Love you in Christ,
Lawrence
Good morning. I am glad to be able to resume my writing mode for my homework. It is hard to focus your mind on a subject matter, when you are preoccupied by many different chores at home and at work, while your body was also adjusting to another time zone. By God’s grace, my mind is getting back to normal operation. Peterson’s devotional thought on the word “pastor” caught my attention. But it does not necessarily apply to clergy only. The spirit of his sharing could be applied to evaluate all kinds of role and identity in our culture today.
A healthy noun doesn’t need adjectives. Adjectives clutter a noun hat is robust. But if the noun is culture-damaged or culture-diseased, adjectives are necessary.
‘Pastor” used to be that kind of noun—energetic and virile. I e always loved the sound of the word. From an early age, the word called to mind a person who was passionate for God and compassionate with people. And even though the pastors I knew did not embody those characteristics, the word itself held its own against its exemplars. Today still, when people ask me what I want to be called, I always say, “Pastor.”
But when I observe the way the vocation of pastor is lived out in America and listen to the tone and context in which the word pastor is spoken, I realize that what I hear in the word and what others hear is very different. In general usage, the noun is weak, defined by parody and diluted by opportunism. The need for strengthening adjectives is critical.
I find I have to exercise this adjectival rehabilitation constantly, redefining by refusing the definitions of pastor that the culture hands me, and reformulating my life with the insights and images of Scripture. The culture treats me so amiably! It encourages me to maintain my orthodox creed; it commends me for my evangelical practice; it praises me for my singular devotion. All it asks is that I accept its definition of my work as an encourager of the cultures good will, as the priest who will sprinkle holy water on the culture’s good intentions. Many of these people are my friends. None, that I am aware of, is consciously malign.
But if I, even for a moment, accept my culture’s definition of me, I am rendered harmless. I can denounce evil and stupidity all I wish and will 1 be tolerated in my denunciations as a court jester is tolerated. I can organize their splendid goodwill and they will let me do it, since it is only for weekends. The essence of being a pastor begs for redefinition.
You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion (I Timothy 4:6-7a, The Message). I believe the noun “Christian” needs to be redefined too. Muslims perceive Christians as the kind of Americans that Hollywood movie portrait – immoral or amoral, violent and abusive, no respect for parents, seniors and god, sexually wild…They have no respect of Christians because to the devoted Muslims, Christians betray the teaching of Jesus or what he represents. The noun “Christian,” to some people, could imply religious hypocrite. Have mercy on us, O Lord. We need to take our faith and Christ’s teaching seriously, otherwise, we bring shame to name of “Christ.” God knows we are weak and imperfect. But it does not mean we surrender to our flesh and let Satan take over. Let’s hold each other accountable to stand firm. Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Eph 6:10-11).
Have a blessed weekend to rest in the Lord!
Love you in Christ,
Lawrence
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Devotional 050810
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. Sunshine is blocked by a heavy layer of fog, but nothing can block us from the love of the Son who is always available for us. We simply call upon the name of Christ; our sweet Holy Spirit will remind us that He abides in us at all time. This is the new life we have received from our Heavenly Father. This is the good news that we are experiencing each day.
Someone says, “Listen, God doesn’t have time for your little problems. He is busy in the Middle East right now. He has bigger fish to fry. If you want something for yourself, you better get it the best way you can: buy this product and you will be important; wear these clothes and everyone will realize how distinguished you are; read this book and the knowledge will set you a cut above the crowd. Take care of yourself “
That sounds good; we begin to respond and then we hear Paul’s indignant, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ.” Instinctively, immediately, we know that he is right. The only good news that will make a difference is that the living God personally addresses and mercifully forgives us. He sets things right at the center. That is what we need. What we want. We determine that we will not abandon the free life of the gospel and live in the fantasy dreams that others paint for us and then sell to us for a fee. We will live forgiven and in faith, not as a bloodsucker on others, but creatively for others. We will not mope or cringe or whine. We will praise and venture and make. Let the people who tell us those lies about God be cursed!
The personal dimension of the gospel is good news about ourselves. The reality of what is within us is every bit as important as the news from the political, industrial and scientific centers of the world. Even if world peace were an accomplished fact and the domestic economy stabilized to everyone’s satisfaction, we still must deal with ourselves.
No matter how nice a house we live in, no matter how well educated we become, no matter how secure we feel in job or family, no matter how well we manage to provide an appearance of competence and happiness, if we are filled with anxieties and guilt and hopelessness, we cannot make it. If we cannot escape the conviction that we are no good or have no meaning, that is bad news. We need a sense of integrity and purpose. We need to count, to mean something, to be important to somebody, to make a difference.
Paul said, “It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that” (Galatians 2:20b).
This is the kind of attitude we should enjoy our new life in Christ. It is a constant spiritual battle and temptation to save ourselves or proof ourselves to be capable like god. The more we attempt to do so, the more miserable our lives become. Stop trying to play god. Start surrendering to God and live for His Son.
Love you because His love abides in us,
Lawrence
Good morning. Sunshine is blocked by a heavy layer of fog, but nothing can block us from the love of the Son who is always available for us. We simply call upon the name of Christ; our sweet Holy Spirit will remind us that He abides in us at all time. This is the new life we have received from our Heavenly Father. This is the good news that we are experiencing each day.
Someone says, “Listen, God doesn’t have time for your little problems. He is busy in the Middle East right now. He has bigger fish to fry. If you want something for yourself, you better get it the best way you can: buy this product and you will be important; wear these clothes and everyone will realize how distinguished you are; read this book and the knowledge will set you a cut above the crowd. Take care of yourself “
That sounds good; we begin to respond and then we hear Paul’s indignant, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ.” Instinctively, immediately, we know that he is right. The only good news that will make a difference is that the living God personally addresses and mercifully forgives us. He sets things right at the center. That is what we need. What we want. We determine that we will not abandon the free life of the gospel and live in the fantasy dreams that others paint for us and then sell to us for a fee. We will live forgiven and in faith, not as a bloodsucker on others, but creatively for others. We will not mope or cringe or whine. We will praise and venture and make. Let the people who tell us those lies about God be cursed!
The personal dimension of the gospel is good news about ourselves. The reality of what is within us is every bit as important as the news from the political, industrial and scientific centers of the world. Even if world peace were an accomplished fact and the domestic economy stabilized to everyone’s satisfaction, we still must deal with ourselves.
No matter how nice a house we live in, no matter how well educated we become, no matter how secure we feel in job or family, no matter how well we manage to provide an appearance of competence and happiness, if we are filled with anxieties and guilt and hopelessness, we cannot make it. If we cannot escape the conviction that we are no good or have no meaning, that is bad news. We need a sense of integrity and purpose. We need to count, to mean something, to be important to somebody, to make a difference.
Paul said, “It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that” (Galatians 2:20b).
This is the kind of attitude we should enjoy our new life in Christ. It is a constant spiritual battle and temptation to save ourselves or proof ourselves to be capable like god. The more we attempt to do so, the more miserable our lives become. Stop trying to play god. Start surrendering to God and live for His Son.
Love you because His love abides in us,
Lawrence
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Devotional 040818
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. It has been a busy morning after prayer meeting – many emails and business decision to make before I can switch to my meditative mode. It does require a deliberate act to choose spending time in meditation or listening to God. We tend to react or to be driven by urgency around us, even when we have the liberty to choose how to use our break time. You can either use it to gossip or worship. I like the way Petersons explored the theme of freedom in his devotional. It could be over your head if you don’t pause and meditate. But if you follow him closely, you will enjoy the insights he shared.
It takes a certain bold courage to receive freedom. The free life is demanding life. Living in freedom is demanding and sometimes painful. If security is our highest priority, we will not want to live free. Erich Fromm’s book “Escape from Freedom” traces the elaborate attempts by which people avoid the freedom that is given to them, preferring to exist in the secure slaveries provided by totalitarian governments, or totalitarian habits, or totalitarian emotions, or totalitarian addictions.
In every generation great crowds of people mindlessly shuffle along with the herd and do nothing beyond providing statistics for sociological surveys. But also in every generation a few persons live intelligently and courageously in freedom. For these persons, the letter to the Galatians has often been the catalyst to the free life. At several critical times in history this letter, listened to by small groups of Christians, has shifted the direction of the age just enough to make the difference between a surge of new life and a drifting into decline.
When people have felt victimized by fear and oppression, it has been a means of setting them free. When many have been paralyzed by anxiety and apprehension, it has stimulated them to an energetic hope. When there has been widespread confusion and bickering and uncertainty about what life was, it has clarified and convinced people of exactly what it means to live openly and well, convinced them to the point of participation in the rescue by which God sets us free to live.
Paul’s greeting anticipates what we can expect: “grace . . . and peace.” Grace! Life is a gift. Peace! Life is whole. The two words declare that we are, fundamentally and finally, free to live. Life is what we are given, not what we salvage out of the ruins of home and culture. Life is an entirety into which we grow, not a fragment that we snatch on the run.
So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue (Galatians 1:3-4 The Message)
It is very demanding to exercise your fingers if you want to have freedom on playing piano, guitar or any music instruments. It is even more demanding if you want to have freedom in Christ. It is a spiritual battle that we are engaging daily. Satan will do whatever to enslave us in our animal instincts or sinful nature. In Christ we are no longer bond by sins. We are free. But our nature is still under the curse and bondage of sinful tendency. We need to constantly discipline or teach our soul to follow God’s way instead of our natural way. Have mercy on us, O Lord! Our nature tells us to take an easy way – live in the bondage of Satan: “Why bother to fight back?” Yet, Holy Spirit encourages us to walk in the light of God – enjoy a new free life in Christ. Choose freedom today!
Love you by this freedom in Christ,
Lawrence
Good morning. It has been a busy morning after prayer meeting – many emails and business decision to make before I can switch to my meditative mode. It does require a deliberate act to choose spending time in meditation or listening to God. We tend to react or to be driven by urgency around us, even when we have the liberty to choose how to use our break time. You can either use it to gossip or worship. I like the way Petersons explored the theme of freedom in his devotional. It could be over your head if you don’t pause and meditate. But if you follow him closely, you will enjoy the insights he shared.
It takes a certain bold courage to receive freedom. The free life is demanding life. Living in freedom is demanding and sometimes painful. If security is our highest priority, we will not want to live free. Erich Fromm’s book “Escape from Freedom” traces the elaborate attempts by which people avoid the freedom that is given to them, preferring to exist in the secure slaveries provided by totalitarian governments, or totalitarian habits, or totalitarian emotions, or totalitarian addictions.
In every generation great crowds of people mindlessly shuffle along with the herd and do nothing beyond providing statistics for sociological surveys. But also in every generation a few persons live intelligently and courageously in freedom. For these persons, the letter to the Galatians has often been the catalyst to the free life. At several critical times in history this letter, listened to by small groups of Christians, has shifted the direction of the age just enough to make the difference between a surge of new life and a drifting into decline.
When people have felt victimized by fear and oppression, it has been a means of setting them free. When many have been paralyzed by anxiety and apprehension, it has stimulated them to an energetic hope. When there has been widespread confusion and bickering and uncertainty about what life was, it has clarified and convinced people of exactly what it means to live openly and well, convinced them to the point of participation in the rescue by which God sets us free to live.
Paul’s greeting anticipates what we can expect: “grace . . . and peace.” Grace! Life is a gift. Peace! Life is whole. The two words declare that we are, fundamentally and finally, free to live. Life is what we are given, not what we salvage out of the ruins of home and culture. Life is an entirety into which we grow, not a fragment that we snatch on the run.
So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue (Galatians 1:3-4 The Message)
It is very demanding to exercise your fingers if you want to have freedom on playing piano, guitar or any music instruments. It is even more demanding if you want to have freedom in Christ. It is a spiritual battle that we are engaging daily. Satan will do whatever to enslave us in our animal instincts or sinful nature. In Christ we are no longer bond by sins. We are free. But our nature is still under the curse and bondage of sinful tendency. We need to constantly discipline or teach our soul to follow God’s way instead of our natural way. Have mercy on us, O Lord! Our nature tells us to take an easy way – live in the bondage of Satan: “Why bother to fight back?” Yet, Holy Spirit encourages us to walk in the light of God – enjoy a new free life in Christ. Choose freedom today!
Love you by this freedom in Christ,
Lawrence
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Devotional 030810
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. It is a blessing to have sunshine in Burlingame where I worked. I could not believe that I had to turn on my heater as I drove to work – a cold summer of San Francisco as usual. Gradually I recovered from jetlag and was able to resume my study at night. Praise the Lord! Please pray that I am able to focus on my home work after dinner. I attempted to finish all my course work within this year. Thus, I have to face the consequence of this decision (out of my free will) in the next couples of months, which is hard work after hard work… Trust that my Lord will give me sufficient grace to handle this challenge.
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you (Galatians 5:1). The world had seen succession of political and social revolutions that had featured the word freedom. Especially in the Western world, but hardly confined there, aspirations to freedom were very strong. But when I looked at the people I was living with in church – fairly affluent, well educated, and somewhat knowledgeable about the Christian faith – I realized how unfree they were. They were buying expensive security systems to protect their possessions from burglary. They overcome with anxieties in the face of economic depressions. They were pessimistic about the prospects for justice and peace in a world bristling with sophisticated weapons systems and nuclear devices. They were living huddle worried, defensive lives. I wanted to shout in objection: Don’t live that way! You are Christians! Our lives can be a growth into freedom instead of a withdrawal into anxious wariness.
Instead of shouting I returned to my regular round of work – preaching and teaching, visiting and counseling, praying and writing, encouraging and directing—but I was determined to seek ways in which I could awaken a hunger and thirst for the free life among people who had lost an appetite for it, and then, having awakened the appetite, to find the food and drink that would satisfy it. The more I did this, the more I became convinced that the experience of freedom in the life of faith is at the very heart of what it means to be human.
Freedom is not an abstraction, and it is not a thing. It is a gift and a skill. It is a gift that another provides; it is a skill that must be exercised by each person within the learned limits of reality. If we would understand freedom, we must be taught; if we would acquire freedom, we must be trained.
I found my best help in doing this in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Among the writers of Scripture, Paul is the specialist in matters of freedom: “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness” (Galatians 5:16-17 The Message)
The more I exercise the freedom I have in Christ, the more strength I acquire to deal with all kinds of oppositions or hardship in life. Depression or frustrations induced by relational issue can be overcome by exercising our freedom in Christ. If we build our security and joy solely on a relationship or a person, we are actually surrendering our freedom to the jurisdiction of this relationship or person. That’s why God forbids His people to worship any idols in the 10 Commandments. If we do, we will be disappointed and hurt badly through it. Don’t idolize your spouse or your boss – don’t give them the power to control your security and joy. They are not God. They cannot give you the ultimate peace and joy that you desire. Give yourself to God and worship Him alone. Amen!
Love you as fellow worshipper of Christ,
Lawrence
Good morning. It is a blessing to have sunshine in Burlingame where I worked. I could not believe that I had to turn on my heater as I drove to work – a cold summer of San Francisco as usual. Gradually I recovered from jetlag and was able to resume my study at night. Praise the Lord! Please pray that I am able to focus on my home work after dinner. I attempted to finish all my course work within this year. Thus, I have to face the consequence of this decision (out of my free will) in the next couples of months, which is hard work after hard work… Trust that my Lord will give me sufficient grace to handle this challenge.
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you (Galatians 5:1). The world had seen succession of political and social revolutions that had featured the word freedom. Especially in the Western world, but hardly confined there, aspirations to freedom were very strong. But when I looked at the people I was living with in church – fairly affluent, well educated, and somewhat knowledgeable about the Christian faith – I realized how unfree they were. They were buying expensive security systems to protect their possessions from burglary. They overcome with anxieties in the face of economic depressions. They were pessimistic about the prospects for justice and peace in a world bristling with sophisticated weapons systems and nuclear devices. They were living huddle worried, defensive lives. I wanted to shout in objection: Don’t live that way! You are Christians! Our lives can be a growth into freedom instead of a withdrawal into anxious wariness.
Instead of shouting I returned to my regular round of work – preaching and teaching, visiting and counseling, praying and writing, encouraging and directing—but I was determined to seek ways in which I could awaken a hunger and thirst for the free life among people who had lost an appetite for it, and then, having awakened the appetite, to find the food and drink that would satisfy it. The more I did this, the more I became convinced that the experience of freedom in the life of faith is at the very heart of what it means to be human.
Freedom is not an abstraction, and it is not a thing. It is a gift and a skill. It is a gift that another provides; it is a skill that must be exercised by each person within the learned limits of reality. If we would understand freedom, we must be taught; if we would acquire freedom, we must be trained.
I found my best help in doing this in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Among the writers of Scripture, Paul is the specialist in matters of freedom: “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness” (Galatians 5:16-17 The Message)
The more I exercise the freedom I have in Christ, the more strength I acquire to deal with all kinds of oppositions or hardship in life. Depression or frustrations induced by relational issue can be overcome by exercising our freedom in Christ. If we build our security and joy solely on a relationship or a person, we are actually surrendering our freedom to the jurisdiction of this relationship or person. That’s why God forbids His people to worship any idols in the 10 Commandments. If we do, we will be disappointed and hurt badly through it. Don’t idolize your spouse or your boss – don’t give them the power to control your security and joy. They are not God. They cannot give you the ultimate peace and joy that you desire. Give yourself to God and worship Him alone. Amen!
Love you as fellow worshipper of Christ,
Lawrence
Monday, August 2, 2010
Devotional 020810
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. I came back from China on Thursday but was fully occupied with answering emails and catching up with work. I don’t know why it took me longer to recover from my jetlag this time – it could be two Asian trips within two weeks that confused my body. But thanks for your prayer. I am feeling better today.
I was preaching in BACBC yesterday on Holistic Spirituality. Spirituality is not just a religious activity of our lives. It is a non-negotiable and personal part of life, which directs and empowers all the other elements of our lives. As we face hardship or pain in life, our spirituality puts us in direct link with our Creator God for help. And the Holy Spirit will mentor us through His very own presence. I like two Peterson’s devotional sharing about enemy and sin to be helpful reminders for myself:
If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and GOD will look after you (Proverbs 25:21-22). The last word on the enemies is with Jesus, who captured the Psalms: “Love your enemies and pray for them that persecute you.” But loving enemies presupposes that we know that they are there whether many or few, and have begun to identify them. Enemies, especially for those who live by faith, are a fact of life. If we don’t know we have them or who they are, we live in a dangerous naiveté, unguarded from the “virus that stalks in darkness” and “the destruction that wastes at noonday,” foolish when we pray “deliver us from evil.”
Our hate is used by God to bring the enemies of life and salvation to notice, and then involve us in active compassion for the victims. Once involved we find that while hate provides the necessary spark for ignition, it is the wrong fuel for the engines of judgment; only / love is adequate to sustain these passions.
But we must not imagine that loving and praying for our enemies in love is a strategy that will turn them into good friends. Love is the last thing that our enemies want from us and often acts as a goad to redoubled fury. Love requires vulnerability, forgiveness, and response; the enemies want power and control and dominion. The enemies that Jesus loved and prayed for killed him.
* * * * *
Sin is not what is wrong with our minds; it is the catastrophic disorder in which we find ourselves at odds with God. This is the human condition. The facts of this disorder are all around and within us, but we would prefer to forget them. To remember them is also to remember God, and to remember God is to have to live strenuously, vigorously, and in love. We have moments when we desire to dc this, but the moments don’t last long. We would rather play golf V would rather take another battery of tests at the hospital. We would rather take another course at the university. We keep looking for ways to improve our lives without dealing with God. But we can do it.
When we pray, we immerse ourselves in the living presence o God. When we pray the Psalms we pray through all the parts of our lives and our history and cover the ground of our intricate implication in sin. We acquire a colorful lexicon of words by which we recognize our detailed involvement in the race’s catastrophic separation from God: rebel, wanderer, lawless, evil-doer, guilty, liar, fool, corrupt, wicked. The seven “penitential psalms” (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) are the most famous for bringing us to this awareness but hardly a psalm goes by that does not bring another detail of our sin out of the shadows of our practiced forgetfulness.
I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights. On the flood of my tears, my mattress is soaked, soggy with tears (Psalm 6:6).
I hope they are helpful to you as you encounter life with God each day.
Love you in Christ,
Lawrence
Good morning. I came back from China on Thursday but was fully occupied with answering emails and catching up with work. I don’t know why it took me longer to recover from my jetlag this time – it could be two Asian trips within two weeks that confused my body. But thanks for your prayer. I am feeling better today.
I was preaching in BACBC yesterday on Holistic Spirituality. Spirituality is not just a religious activity of our lives. It is a non-negotiable and personal part of life, which directs and empowers all the other elements of our lives. As we face hardship or pain in life, our spirituality puts us in direct link with our Creator God for help. And the Holy Spirit will mentor us through His very own presence. I like two Peterson’s devotional sharing about enemy and sin to be helpful reminders for myself:
If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and GOD will look after you (Proverbs 25:21-22). The last word on the enemies is with Jesus, who captured the Psalms: “Love your enemies and pray for them that persecute you.” But loving enemies presupposes that we know that they are there whether many or few, and have begun to identify them. Enemies, especially for those who live by faith, are a fact of life. If we don’t know we have them or who they are, we live in a dangerous naiveté, unguarded from the “virus that stalks in darkness” and “the destruction that wastes at noonday,” foolish when we pray “deliver us from evil.”
Our hate is used by God to bring the enemies of life and salvation to notice, and then involve us in active compassion for the victims. Once involved we find that while hate provides the necessary spark for ignition, it is the wrong fuel for the engines of judgment; only / love is adequate to sustain these passions.
But we must not imagine that loving and praying for our enemies in love is a strategy that will turn them into good friends. Love is the last thing that our enemies want from us and often acts as a goad to redoubled fury. Love requires vulnerability, forgiveness, and response; the enemies want power and control and dominion. The enemies that Jesus loved and prayed for killed him.
* * * * *
Sin is not what is wrong with our minds; it is the catastrophic disorder in which we find ourselves at odds with God. This is the human condition. The facts of this disorder are all around and within us, but we would prefer to forget them. To remember them is also to remember God, and to remember God is to have to live strenuously, vigorously, and in love. We have moments when we desire to dc this, but the moments don’t last long. We would rather play golf V would rather take another battery of tests at the hospital. We would rather take another course at the university. We keep looking for ways to improve our lives without dealing with God. But we can do it.
When we pray, we immerse ourselves in the living presence o God. When we pray the Psalms we pray through all the parts of our lives and our history and cover the ground of our intricate implication in sin. We acquire a colorful lexicon of words by which we recognize our detailed involvement in the race’s catastrophic separation from God: rebel, wanderer, lawless, evil-doer, guilty, liar, fool, corrupt, wicked. The seven “penitential psalms” (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) are the most famous for bringing us to this awareness but hardly a psalm goes by that does not bring another detail of our sin out of the shadows of our practiced forgetfulness.
I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights. On the flood of my tears, my mattress is soaked, soggy with tears (Psalm 6:6).
I hope they are helpful to you as you encounter life with God each day.
Love you in Christ,
Lawrence
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