Response: 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly

Experiencing a local church that is almost like from the Church in the Book of Acts, even in the most unlikely places (Ch*na), is, well, the blessed experience ever.

I had a little friend who was 1.5 year-old. He sat quietly and attentively with his parents (sometimes), esp when his father (elder of the church) leads the message. They were teaching him already how to be in church since infancy.

"Train up a child the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I salute parents who join their children to worship, esp when the kids are "well-behaved".

I also grew up attending church with my parents for Sunday service. However, I had the freedom. I always made mischief running around the sanctuary, eating those communion flat bread chips after service, and always asking to go out to play. =P

Here are the 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly:

1. Children should not be removed from the main body for convenience sake. 
2. Children are a part of the Body of Christ.
3. Children need Godly examples of how to worship.
4. Children need to feel like they are a part of the church community.
5. Children who don’t feel like a part of the church community will leave church when they’re older.

Read the entire article here: http://www.churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-articles/261362-5-reasons-children-main-service-regularly.html

The Genesis Code

In God's frame of reference, dictating Moses to write Genesis, the world was made in six days. In our frame of reference at present (the universe expands), the world was made in 15.7 billion years. As the universe expands, time isn't constant. Ever heard from the news lately that the Earth moved a millisecond or so. And our world clock isn't the same: Travelling to from the other side of Earth may take two days, but those awaiting your arrival only wait for a day. - Astrophysics, Geophysics, & Genesis

The theory makes sense.

When Moses wrote Genesis, the events occurred in Genesis happened years before Moses. Therefore, Moses need Someone to help him write Genesis, and that Someone is of course, God Himself.

So when God told Moses what to write, the only source of information was God. Maybe the Earth was not made in 6 days, but according to God, it was six days. Knowing in our finite minds and being as small as a speck of dust compared to the expanding universe, time expands as well, which we think the Earth was made in 15.7 billion years. If we travel from Earth to the ends of the universe, and measure time by our own standards, time lengthens as well.

Time then is in God's control. "In God's time." Things we don't understand, things we hope to understand. Then we only have the Bible. Prayer, according to God's will. What is God's will but what is present in Scriptures.

The people behind the ideas of this movie were brilliant. To spread the news about Science defending the Creation, they need something that won't look boring like a documentary or seminar, that even the common people would watch without knowing they are being told the Truth.

Check this link that will direct you to the scene where this is being explained: https://youtu.be/kYtm1o1DQ0o?t=1h7m35s

Or watch it all.

Coming Off From China (Being Aspie/Different)

What has China taught me?

Being 'different' or diagnosed, even reverse culture shock, is no reason to excuse myself from being able to reach to others nor failings in relationships. I have issues socially and communication, understanding how others think and do in situations, especially how the world is. The reason for this is man's depravity. And the history and reason of man becoming corrupt in mind and heart (and any creature, be it physically or environmentally), goes all the way back to the Fall of the first man and woman.

We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:6

Knowing ourselves and with the help of psychology and psychiatry, it may be good, so we would NOT the ultimate good.
know how to understand ourselves and how compatible or incompatible we are with the world. Also to be able to know how to cope and adjust ourselves to this world that does not understand us. But it is

What then after knowing ourselves? Does this excuse us from who we truly are in God or excuse to follow His commands? No. With God's help and as our Hope, our weaknesses can become strengths.

People who feel 'different' from the rest, even those who call themselves Christians, excuse themselves because of inabilities (or inner desires). Even 'normal' people excuse themselves from doing God's work. Which should not be, because, however, the gospel of Jesus Christ can MAKE US NEW.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

It is not a sudden change, but it is gradual.

When I was in China, I almost forgot my inabilities/weaknesses. God was watching over me and helped me overcome my personal struggles. Reentry brought back the memory and living these struggles. The environment and people might be a factor, but knowing God was able to do in me I thought I could not, God can change anyone. No inability or disability can stop us from giving God the glory to praise His name and advance His Kingdom.

Dear Thirteen Year Old

I saw this video on Facebook about CBC Wiretap where people of all ages, young and old would say, "Dear x year old....Signed a x+y year old."

If I were to advice my younger self, I'd say:

Dear 13 year old,

You are now a young adult. Learn a lot about life, about social skills, basic living skills, everything, pray for and find a  mentor. Start contributing to society. Live as a young adult. Don't spend so much time or 100% of life in academics. You may be described as a kid, but don't let them make you stay young, take responsibility. You're a young adult who still depend on your parents. Don't worry. Time will come when you won't depend on them. Words like  "teens" "teenager" didn't appear until the 90's.

If you're reading this and not a 13 year old anymore, you're not too late. Read "Do Hard Things".

Signed,

A 27 year old, who is still learning about life and living in parents' house.

Embracing Reentry

Two and a half weeks after coming back home.

After depression, I'm facing to have found no direction (what to do, what job to take, should I work now or not yet, when can I leave and do cross-cultural missions again). Having a hard time in the ministries at church. Can't explain what I'm really going through. At times I want to 'stand up' and do something, and another times, just want to 'sit down' and do nothing.

Have been asked to play the piano in church and accept a job in computers, but I dare not. I'm pushing away what is known to be the old me. I don't want to go back to the old cycle of becoming frustrated and not liking what I'm doing. Seeking to do something that relates and develops to the new skills I learned overseas.

I have lost and left behind my old self in my former host country to take in the new self. Coming back, I'm misunderstood and still viewed as the old me. I wish people leave behind their old stereotype of me. The only ones that remains in me is the yearning to be equipped in ministry and know God and His Word, and the difficulty in communicating and interrelationships.

I long so much to leave this city I grew up in. I keep questioning God, why he brought me back when I was close to His greatness and my joy was great as well. Here, I face a lack of joy.

All I can really do is read books and hope to get to know God through those books. Also read books about education to know more about teaching. Besides this, I'm lost.

I am given the idea to start tutoring. Though I am still not confident to tutor because of my lack of experience and know-how-to-tutor, I, with fear, will try. I am afraid to fail others.

Need the Father to provide a way. He brought me back! Need Him to help me face this time of transitioning to whatever is next. Without Him, I am in fear, without a job, no direction, no support. However, where is He then?

Visionary Dreaming (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Reflection:
Joseph was a dreamer. He became proud for it.

Quote taken from: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2007/02/17/god-hates-visionary-dreaming/

Let Bitterness Cast Out

Two months after coming back from another country, I found my hometown still a pain. All problems and struggles I left were still present. Re-adjusting was hard after giving myself away in that country to know the people to minister to them.

Experiencing hardships and discomforts became a joy and comfort as I took part the struggles Jesus faced when He was on earth. However, coming back, everything was still the same, old hardships were still present and the struggle of a comfortable, convenient life with family and old friends became harder. I became too critical and more bitter.

I needed a community to help me re-adjust, a community to be serious with God together, a community to pray against this spiritual warfare, but every one were just too busy. But I understand they wouldn't understand my experiences. However, when I try to reach out for help, they "shrug" (looks like they don't want to be involved in my loss and grief after coming home).

Coming back to my old life was hard.

I came back but God became silent and Satan was winning. Where did I go wrong? Why do I respond with bitterness? Maybe I really am not angry at people, but angry at me. Maybe I am angry at people because I can do nothing much here. People are around for support. People are more concerned with their jobs and enjoying this life with temporary pleasures. While I am convicted of God's Word, broken to obey God's Word.

I became depressed recently. No reminder that God is still here or counsel to "read the Bible everyday," "don't look at the past but forward," "your parents will support you," "no one can help you but you alone" could help me overcome this low state. But when I accidentally came across the song, "Break Every Chain," there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, it struck. YES! THERE'S A POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN. I only needed a reminder of God's grace, of who Jesus is. And THERE'S AN ARMY, RISING UP TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN. God's army conquers against the enemy that binds these chains.

Then I must concentrate on Jesus, not people. Love people. To love people, I must talk to them about Jesus.

"We shouldn't love people in order to share our faith with them. Rather, we share our faith and ourselves with them in order to love them." ~Timothy Keller

Let this be my mission as I am back in my hometown, which I may be called to stay:

• If I am looking for a community that's Christ-centered and mission-minded, then I hope to make one.
• I hope to disciple my brother and his girl friend for they both are looking for deep relationship with God. Bringing them to a church, which can meet their spiritual needs.
• As for my home church, I pray you'd find the gospel a 'joyful burden' to accept and live.
• As for my parents, I pray you'd know the true God.
• I hope to find like-minded people to grow together, learn from each other, and make where we are our mission field.
• I also hope to build relationships, bringing them to places just to spend time together. (need money)

Father, bless this vision. Cast out my bitterness. May the power of Jesus' name break every chain. Amen