Where does the time go?

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I have a lot of things to be thankful. My birthday is coming up again. I feel really blessed since I am able to celebrate 3 birthdays in one month. In addition, my grandparents are still with me. Just to have life is a blessing.

We are to humble ourselves

God has been convicting me. I have been arrogant and thought I don't need to spend time with God. Today through my quiet time He reminded me once again that I am His and because I am His he will discipline me. He was telling me that I am close to being discipline severely. He reminded me the importance of humbling myself once again and spending time with Him so that His word would live in my life.

Grace upon Grace

I thank God for everything. I thank Him for giving me life especial when I was suppose to die at the age of 10. The doctors at that time thought there was no hope for me but God has extended my days. God has been gracious to me and has opened different doors for me. There is an opportunity for me to become the pastor's assistant.

I want to share one amazing thing. My dad wanted to celebrate mybirthday on Oct 14 but I didn't know about it so I setup my own birthday party. Therefore, when he e-mailed me about the celebration I told him I wasn't able to make it. I suggested Wednesday which is prayer meeting. At first I had struggles about not going to prayer meeting but God gave me peace about missing prayer meeting. I felt He was saying I should spend time with my dad since that is what I have been praying for. The amazing thing is my dad wrote me an e-mail and said let us have dinner on Oct 13 instead. Now I am able to spend time with my dad and be able to go to prayer meeting.

The Disappearing Church

Why is it many of the countries that started out to be "Christian" are no longer "Christian". For example, The country of Turkey was know as Asia Minor when the New Testament was being written. Paul had set up different churches there one of them being Ephesus. What happened? Through the Christian education course I took, I learned that part of the reason is we are not equipping our next generation to be soldiers for Christ nor we develop them to be greater than us. This is especially true in the Asian context. Asians are taught that we should transmit 90% of our knowledge and leave 10% so that we would not be replaced. However, that is not what Jesus did. He taught them to completely trust in Him since He and the Father are one. When they did so they would be able to do greater things than what Christ on Earth (John 14:11-12). Since the church is Christ's body, we need to follow Christ's teaching and example. When we take a look at Act 2:39-47 and Matt 28:18-20, we see that what Jesus commanded his disciples and how they followed them.

In Matt 28:18-19, Jesus instructors his disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that He had taught them. From this passage we learn part of the reason why the church is disappearing. A lot of times they are only focused on the first two parts of Christ's command. They have a lot of outreach events and people would be saved and would get baptized but not taught to observe everything that Jesus had taught. Even if they are, a lot of times they are not taught how to live out their faith. Therefore, faith becomes head knowledge and they do not see a need to go to church or to worship God. What makes things even worst is a lot of God's people are only fed on Sunday during Sunday service or Sunday School. Afterwards they are sent into the world to face people who are wolves in sheep clothing.

The early church took a different approach. The 12 apostle of Christ followed Matt 28:18-19 completely and the Lord kept adding to the church daily. They realized that they need to not only evangelize and baptize but also to disciple believers to be soldiers for Christ. Acts 2:42 describe how new converts were constantly devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, breaking of bread and praying. God saw the early church was the good and faithful servants described in the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30) so He increase their numbers. Because they had followed the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ completely, God was pleased and increased their numbers.

If the church is to survive the 21th Century, we need to follow the model of the early church and disciple our converts to follow all the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ so that they will be soldiers for Christ.

Back in Canada

It is nice to be back in Canada. It has been an eventful time in my life. I don`t think my grandparents are going live on this side of heaven much longer. They have changed a lot since I last saw them. In someways I am glad I didn`t know about their condition otherwise I would have came back much earlier and wouldn`t have been about to have the change I required.

I am looking forward to being in Canada but I am longing to go back ``home``. I don`t see Canada as my home on this side of heaven. I think it is God who has put this love for my mother country in my heart. There are a lot of problem in my mother country but when I think about the millions of people who do not worship the one true God it greives me. We were made to worship God and it causes me to stay awake at night to think about in the land that is called God`s land or island there are millions who do not worship the one true God but stick and stones or dust.

Being a church with mission and vision

In order to have a church with vision and mission, its members need to have vision and mission. The Bible is clear that a person is either influencing other people or he/she is being influenced. In order to do the former, a person needs to have goals since without a goal a person will person follow the desires of his/her heart and his/her desires which are self-seeking and meaningless (Eccl 2:8-9; Matt 16:26). It is not enough just to have a goal, a person need to set the right goal. According to Proverbs 29:18, the right goal comes from God. Since He does not directly speak to us anymore, we need to find a different method of search out the heart of God. Reading the Bible is a good way of seeking out God’s heart. As we become more and more familiar with His word, the more confident we are in having our desires be His desire.

Although there will be times where we will misread the Bible, we have this assurance: when we make decisions out of our love for Him, things will work out for good (Rom 8:28).God’s calling on is different for each individual but there are some general principals we able to follow. For example, we know that God’s heart is for us to repent so that none of us would perish (Jn 3:16; 2 Pet 3:9). A goal that helped people to repent before God so that they would not come to destruction would be a right goal. 1 Jn 5:14 give us this confidence that we are doing what is right when we are doing God’s will. Therefore, if we have goals that lines up with the principals laid out in Scripture, we would be blessed. When people who are called by God do His will, they will a right vision and mission for their life. A group of Christians who have the vision and mission will help the church be a church with vision and mission.

I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got for myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men--concubines very many. So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me and stood by me. (Eccl 2:8-9, Amplified)

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]? (Matt 16:26, Amplified)

Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. (Prov 29:18, Amplified)

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (Rom 8:28, Amplified)

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. (Jn
3:16, Amplified)

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9, Amplified)

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. (1 Jn 5:14, Amplified)

Schools are also a mission field

Ever since the beginning of man the human heart and mind has been a place for spiritual battle. Satan knows if he able to manipulate the heart and mind he is able to control whole person. In Gen 1:28-29, God educates humans on the way they are suppose to live but in Gen 3 we see Satan already fighting for the heart and mind. Since neither Adam nor Eva fully trust in God's word, Satan was able to win the battle. Ever since then humans have natural followed the desires of their heart which is self seeking and meaningless (Eccl 2:8-9; Prov 29:18b, NKJV). God knowing this fact sent His only begotten son, Christ Jesus, to redeem the heart and mind so that we can live the life God has intended humans to live. To have the freedom to live this way, humans need to be freed from the fear of punishment so Jesus Christ needed to first restore the human spirit, which has been dead and separated from God ever since the fall of man. When Jesus overcame death and the consequence of being separated from God, he gave this command to his followers,

"All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)." (Matt 28:18b-20, Amplified)

A lot of times church have emphasized verse 19 but forgot that Jesus' commandment also include verse 20. When Christians think about the Great commission we should not only think about evangelism but also education. If we associate the Great Commission with mission then schools are also missionary fields. Therefore, we should be praying for our teachers and supporting them like how we support missionaries.

My church just went to a country near the border of China for a mission trip to equip teachers and help students have a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having taken Christian Education for 10 days, I see a need to go back to help the teachers over there provide quality education. It is only through quality education people are able to have the skills to live the life God has intended.

Is there a problem with how we are education our children/students?

Is there a problem when there is only 3% of the population in Hong Kong "Christian"? I think so. Parents are paying good money so that their children could be equipped for life but this can only happen when their children come to saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If a person wanted to make use all the features in a particular cell phone, he/she would need to get in contact with the manufacturer to find out what the features are and how to use the phone. Having foresight the manufacture has already written a user manual so that by reading it people would know how to use its phone. The same is true for life. God has also left us a user manual, the Bible, so that we are able live life to its fullest. We know this fact because according to 2 Tim 3:17, the purpose of the Bible is equipping the man God to be thoroughly equipped for life.

Like the cell phone's user manual, there are certain prerequisite be the user is able to understand the user manual. For the Bible one need to be a man of God. What does it mean to be a man of God? When Adam and Eve sinned, they and their offspring became spiritual dead and hence separated from God. According to John 3:5-6 we need to be born again in order to be man of God. Therefore, teachers need to help students to be reborn so that their students can be men and of women of God.

If teachers are suppose to help students to know God, they would need to have a method. The user manual God has given to man is also a teacher's manual. 2 Tim 3:16 states this very clearly. God word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteous which are the duties of teachers. Therefore, if teachers study this manual they will know what and how to teach.

Studying God’s Word will give teachers the teaching method and curriculum they need to teach. Teachers will find out that they need to help their students become God’s children before their students can be fully equipped with the skills required to live life to its fullest which is the goal of teachers.

Are we exasperating our students/children?

According to the report done by Education Commission (EC), the reformed education system would have no-losers in the classroom. However, teachers in Hong Kong tend to assess and reward their students based on their achievement. For example, teacher rank their students and the top 3 students are only ones who get the praise of the teacher, which may cause the other students to feel like failures. Therefore, to truly create an environment that produces no-losers we need to change the way teachers assess and reward their students. Jesus Christ was the greatest educator. He was able to take 12 ordinary people and changed their lives in such a way that they spent their lives spreading the teachings of Christ. If we, as educators, follow Jesus’ teaching method, we would not only be achieving what the Education commission has set out in its report but also impact our students’ lives the way Jesus impacted his disciples. Hence, an important question to answer is how did Christ create such a dramatic change in these people's lives?

The Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 gives a glimpse into what Christ did with His disciple to create such a drastic change. In this parable, there is a master who was going on a journey but before he left, he entrusted his three servants with 5 talents, 2 talents and 1 talent respectively. On his return each servant presented the investment and the money they had gain. The servants who receive 5 and 2 talents presented 10 and 4 talents whereas the other servant just present the talent he was given.  The servants, who double their master's money, were praised for being a good and faithful servant; however, the other servant was rebuked for being wicked and lazy.  The master did not care about how much he had gain but the attitudes of his servants.    I believe Jesus did the same thing with His disciples. He praised them for their attitude and not the results of their work. In Mark 6:7-32, Jesus sent His disciples to tell people they should repent and on their return they report what they had done.  However, Jesus didn’t praise them at all but ask them to go to a secluded place and rest for while since there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

The Hong Kong students are motivated to get the A. However, traditionally an A emphasized student’s achievement but if we change the meaning of A to represent student’s attitude then we can have the whole class receiving As. We could have a letter grade follow by a number where the letter grade represents the student’s attitude and the number represents student’s performance (A – great attitude; B – average attitude; C – poor attitude; 1 – knows 80% or more of the material; 2 – knows 70% or more of the material; 3 – knows 60% or more of the material; 4- knows 50% or more of the material and 5 – knows less than 50% of the material). For example, a bright student will a poor attitude would get a C1 and a low achieving student who has a great attitude would get an A4.

With this system of grading we would not only be creating a class with no-losers but also training students to have an important life skill, which is also part of EC’s report on how the new Hong Kong’s education system should bring.
   

My Ultimate Goal in life and the way I live

What God will say:

²²After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'

~ Acts 13:22 (NASB)

When I appear before God's throne I would like Him to be able to say, "I HAVE FOUND ALBERT the son of Alexander, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.

What I will be able to be able to say about myself:

⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

~ 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB)

At my death bed I want to be able that I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

How I want to live my life each day:

²preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. ~ 2 Timothy 4:2

The way I want to live my life is to be ready in season and out of season; preach the word; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Praise God from whom all blessing flows

I have finally got my teaching certificate. Now comes the important question what is next. What bugs me the most now a days is not looking stupid while waiting for God's answers. Actually I'm at peace with the fact that I might need to move back to Canada for a time period until I am able to support myself. My prayer is I would return as an adult - able to plan, able to manage the resources God has given me (time, money, relationships).

Mission in Life

God has give this vision and mission. God has called me to the oasis in the desert of life. To give water to those whom are thirsty so that they will be thirsty no more. God has blessed by allowing to grow up in North America and to be able to learn His word so freely. Now He is calling me to be an oasis to my own people for He wants to lead them out of the desert and into the promise land. He his asking me to be his faithful bond servant and serve the people He is going to lead into the promise land.

The way life was meant to be

Dynamic living is living life filled with joy all the the time; free of fear and worry; continuely in the process of accomplishing God given goals and dreams; well adjusted in life's six major areas which includes home, business, social, phyiscal, mental, and spiritual.

Goals and dreams that have lasting value

I went to a leadership seminar and the speaker was saying that all we do will not have lasting value if we do not build it upon God's will. He went even further and said that the goals and dreams that we have that are not are not God given have no lasting value since the fruits of our dreams and goals will be tested by fire 1Cor 3:12-15. Only goals and dreams that are God given will produce fruit that are like gold, silver, and precious stones. This is because according to Prov 29:18 without God's living word in our life we would follow the desires of our heart and our desires which are self-seeking and meaningless (Eccl 2:8-9). This brings up the question how does one know if a goal or dream is God given. The basic test is does the goal or dream violates what God has already said in Scripture. The second test is what the motive behind the goal or dream. If it is self seeking then its not from God since Christ did not come into the world to seek his own glory but became a bond servant (Philip 2:5-11).

Dynamic Living

I went to a leadership conference and the speaker said that we are create to live life dynamically. His definition of dynamic living is:

dynamic living = (GGE + GGPS) * PSI
where GGE = God given equipment (talents, abilities, resources ...)
GGPS = God given principle of success
PSI = Personal self image

Something that Pastor John has told me is to go to the Scripture and check out if what people are from God or not from God so I will spend the next couple of weeks going through the Scriptures and test what the speaker says is biblical.

To achieve the goals and dreams below post I am:

1. reading this list and my identity in Christ list twice a day;
2. studying the Bible with Pastor John every Sunday;
3. mediating on God's word daily;
4. testing what people say against what the Bible says;
5. doing what God says; confessing and repenting when I see an area I haven't turned over to God;
6. spending 30 mins each day listening to and speaking Putonghua;
7. spending 15 mins each day studying Chinese characters for HSK advance level and PSC;
8. meeting my Chinese tutor twice a week;
9. exercising each day by doing baduanjin and tai chi;
10. eating according the Mediterranean diet;
11. using an iBook to create move clips which I use in my classroom;
12. ending my class with a proper close (i.e. feedback, follow up, extended tasks, linking class to theme);
13. giving constructive feedback to my students which they find helpful;
14. charting students progress;
15. understanding why students make the mistakes they do by getting them to write their reason for making the mistake;
16. reflecting and improving the way I teach and interact with my students.
17. keeping time well so I am able to cover what I have planned;
    
18. using formative assessment (getting students to self correct their mistake);
    
19. listening to my students both inside and outside the classroom;
20. making myself available to my students whenever they need my attention;
21. planning my class with my students' needs in mind;
22. giving clear instructions so my students know they need to do.
23. using the constructivist approach to help my student to construct linguistic knowledge of English and they are learning (i.e. what I have taught them they are able to use in their own life);
24. using wiki, blogs, online quiz such as quizlab.com to facilitate learning; and
25. meeting 5 people each day.

What I will be in a year if the Lord is willing

If the Lord is willing the following 10 things will be true of me in a year:

1. I know at least 3 books of the Bible (Titus, James, Jude) as well as Pastor John.
• I want Ps 119 to be true about me.
• How is this passage going to be true about me unless I know God's word inside and out.
2. I am a recipient of HSK Level 11 and PSC 一級甲等.
   • I want to apply 1Cor 9:19-22; Col 3:22-25 to my life.
   • God has called me the share the gospel with my own people.
   • How am I suppose to communicate with my own people unless I know the language and custom. In addition, in everything we do we are suppose to do it as if we are serving Christ Himself.
3. I am communicating both verbally and written with my own people about spiritual matters fluently.
• I want to apply 1Cor 9:19-22 to my life.
• God has called me the share the gospel with my own people.
4. I am able to give my dad $30,000 HKD for his 60th birthday.
   • I want to apply Ex 20:12;1Cor 9:19-22 in my life.
   • According to the Chinese customs the 60th birthday of a man (61st for a woman) is one of the most important birthdays. I want to honor him and tell him God is blessing me and now I am going to bless you by giving $30,000 HKD.
   • My dad can use this money in whatever way he wants to.
5. I am living within walking distance from my fellowship and church.
• I want to be like David and live in the temple of God Ps 27:4.
• Since I am not able live in the House of the LORD, the LORD has laid it on my heart to live within walking distance from the church.
6. I remember people's name and able to called them by their name.
   • I know Ps 139:1-6; Jn10:3 is true.
   • Since He knows everybody inside out. I want to know people inside and out. The most basic is knowing a person's name.
7. I have an excellent health according to EMC.
• 1Cor 3:15-16;Mt 25:14-30
• I am called to be a good steward. Also since my body is God's temple so I need to take proper care of it.
8. I have received my PGDE certificate.
• I want to apply 1Cor 9:19-22 to my life.
• The custom of the people I work with is they look upon degrees and certification with great value.
9. I am making $20,000/month so I have the right to date.
• Jn 14:1-4
• It was the custom of that time for the groom to prepare a place for the bride. Currently I am preparing myself for my bride. The area God is telling me to work on is the area of "financial stability".
10. I am a professional image consultant for myself.
    • I want to apply 1Cor 9:19-22 to my life.
    • I want to be presentable to people since the people I work with look at the outward appearance.

Identity in Christ

I came across Prov 27:6-7 and it says that we should not take bread from a selfish man since what he says doesn't match what is in his heart. This made me think that what I truly believe in my heart will affect the way I do things even though I might say something on the contrary. In addition, it caused me to see the importance of knowing my identity in Christ is. If my identity becomes something that I believe in the depths of my heart then my actions would reflect that identity.

Identity in Christ
MY RELATIONSHIP 1Jn 3:1,2 I'm a child of God - He is my Father Jn 15:15 I am Christ's friend 1Jn 4:7 I am born of God Rom 8:15 I have been adopted by God MY INHERITANCE Rom 8:17 I am an heir of God Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7 I am a joint heir with Christ Eph 1:3 I am blessed with every spiritual blessing Rom 9:8; Gal 3:14 I am a child of promise 2Pet 1:4 I've been given great promises MY TRANSFORMATION Eph 1:6-8 I'm redeemed and forgiven Rom 5:1 I've been justified made righteous Jn 5:24 I have eternal life Rom 6:1-6 I died with Christ to the power of sin Rom 8:1 I am free from condemnation 1Cor 2:12 I have received the Spirit of God 1Cor 2:16 I have been given the mind of Christ Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ 2Cor 5:17 I am a new creation Eph 2:5 I have been made alive with Christ Eph 2:10 I am God's workmanship Col 2:10 I have received fullness in Christ	MY POSITION Jn 15:1,5; Heb 3:1 I am connected to the true vine Rom 6:18,22 I'm a willing slave of righeousness 1Cor 3:16; 6:19 I am a temple of God 1Cor 6:17 I am one spirit with the Lord 1Cor 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body 2Cor 5:18 I am reconciled to God Eph 1:1; 1Cor 1:2; Phil 1:1 I am a saint Eph 2:19 I am a fellow citizen in God's kingdom Eph 2:13 I have been brought near to Christ Eph 4:24 I'm to be righteous and holy like God Eph 2:18 I have direct access to God Phil 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven Col 1:13 I've been rescued from Satan's domain Col 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God Col 3:12 I am chosen of God holy, beloved 1Thess 5:5 I am a child of light, not darkness Heb 3:14 I am a partaker of Christ 1Pet 2:5 I'm one of God's living stones 1Pet 2:9 I'm a member of a royal priesthood 1Pet 2:11 I'm to be a stranger to this world 1Pet 5:8 I'm an enemy of the devil MY CALLING Mt 5:13 I am to be salt on the earth Mt 5:14 I am to be light in the world Jn 15:16 I'm chosen and appointed to bear fruit Jn 14:12 I am called to do the works of Christ Mt 28:20 I am to do what Christ commanded His disciples Lk 10:19 I have been given spiritual authority Mk 16:17-20 Signs should accompany my work 2Cor 3:6 I am a minister of a new covenant 2Cor 5:18,19 I am a minister of reconciliation Col 3:4 I am to be an example of life in Christ Heb 3:1 I am a partaker of a heavenly calling
The above table is a modified version of The Believer's Identity in Christ by Don Rogers.

3 Test for Authentic Ministry

I heard a sermon on 3 test for authentic ministry and I would like to share it with you. You can get the mp3 version here.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Cor 4:2, NKJV)

Test 1 - renounced the hidden things of shame
Do you live a double life?
When we do we implicitly denial:
a) God's omniscience;
b) the Righteousness of God; and
c) the Justice of God.

Test 2 - not walking in craftiness
What deceptive means produce?
1) Serving of oneself and not God; and
2) Exploiting of people

Test 3 - nor handling the word of God deceitfully
3 truths:
1) No moral laws in the world can change the heart of men;
2) No circumstances can coerce the heart of men; and
3) No mystical experiences can satisfy the longings of men.

Only Christ can change the 3 truths. However, Christ has choosen to use us as vechile to touch people's lives. If we are truly going to reflect Christ, we need to live a life of holiness.

Being Servants of God

We are suppose to be servants of God. It is a life dedication. The only way to quit is if we pay the payment that it cost God to redeem us. Therefore, if we have truly been bought by God there is not out. We are to be His servant for life. Whatever the master tells us to do we are require to do. According to Eph 2:8-10 we have become redeem not because of something we have done are going to do but it is a free gift from God. Now that we have been redeem we need to the work the master has prepared. This work is to love mercy, act justly, and to walk humble before God. Micah 6:8