latria

Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25

2008-06-24T23:07:00.000-07:00

Title: To do the “right” thing (Matthew 1:18-25)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Since last week, we have begun a new series of sermons for the bilingual service that talk about specific passages from the four Gospels. We wish to look into different issues related to the Christian life when one is confronted by the Gospel and by the encounter with Jesus Christ. Today, we want to talk about Joseph. What happened to him when Jesus came into his life? What was his response? What can we learn from his struggles and his actions? This is our message for today.

Point 1: Joseph’s problem

To appreciate Joseph’s story, we need a clear understanding of Joseph’s background. We are given a very important key to that: Joseph was a righteous man. Now, those two words have tremendous implications on Joseph’s standing in the Jewish community. This label is given to someone who studies and observes the Jewish Bible. It means he obeys the Ten Commandments, the food laws and he attends the synagogue and celebrates the holy festivals. This is a desirable reputation of a man well-regarded by others as good and respectable. Joseph was a righteous man.

But Joseph’s identity and reputation were facing a crisis. He heard rumors that his fiancée Mary was pregnant before their marriage. An unwed mother came into his life. Young women who dabble with sexual relations before marriage were considered religiously second class. They are not righteous. This was definitely what everybody was whispering about Mary and her pregnancy. Yet, this person was the woman that he loved and whom he originally intended to marry. What is a righteous man to do? According to the Jewish law, he had a few choices.

If Mary had been seduced, then both Mary and the seducer were to be stoned to death. If Mary had been raped, then the rapist would be put to death. If no one confessed and the rapist was not found, then Mary had to drink some “waters of bitterness”[1]. If she died from the water, she would be guilty, if not, she would be innocent. There was another method, and quite a tricky one. Joseph could marry Mary, and then ask her parents to produce “tokens of virginity”[2]. If Mary was not a virgin, then no proof of virginity would be found on the wedding bed and she would be stoned. In the end, Joseph chose the way that kept his own good name and protected Mary the most, and that was to divorce her privately.[3] In this way, Joseph kept the law by not marrying a suspected fornicator and Mary was sheltered from a disgraceful public persecution. Most would have considered this a very noble act, and certainly it is so. But was just following the law really the right thing to do? What were to become of Mary and her child? Is what that is considered righteous to man also considered righteous to God?

Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. “Keep calm” the first explorer whispered. “Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run.” “Sure,” replied his companion. “You’ve read the book, and I’ve read the book. But has the lion read the book?”

Clearly, there is the obvious written word in the book, and there is also the actual situation. To do the ‘right’ thing involves more than just following the law, the written word. You need to know the entire reality. More importantly, you need to know the situation from the perspective of God, God’s reality.

Point 2: Conquering his fear

Clearly, Joseph was not seeing the entire reality, God’s reality. He saw the problem, his reputation as a righteous man at stake, and he did what he thought was enough according to the written word. But God made it clearer to him by sending an angel to enlighten him. The child in Mary, her conception was from the Holy Spirit. The son that will be born will save his people from their sins. This is done so as to fulfill the prophecy that God will be with his people. God is with us. Immanuel. If this was God’s reality, if this was God’s plan, then what was the right thing for Joseph to do? There are two parts to the right thing to do.

Firstly, Joseph was not to be afraid. This was the same command given to Mary as well. “Do not be afraid”. Mary was obviously fearful because she was going to be a mother. A mother without marriage. Teenage pregnancy and everything. We can understand why Mary needed the command. Why was Joseph was fearful? I’m always glad that we have Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, because it is so different from Luke’s version. He lets us appreciate the parallel side of the story, the father’s side, and frankly it deserves as much attention as what Mary had to go through.

I remember when my wife told me she was pregnant again. Sure there was joy, because we wanted two children. But all the “interesting” memories that I had buried away resurfaced again. Before birth, you face the many helpless moments between eccentric cravings and nausea. After birth, you have the sleepless nights to feed milk and change diapers. Nobody mentions the father’s side of the story, and we are supposed to take it like a man. Luke and the Roman Catholic Church are all about Mary’s wonderful act of motherhood. But, Matthew redeemed this for us by telling us the father’s sacrifice. I’m just kidding. The truth is that Joseph’s true fears went beyond these.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name will smell as sweet.”[4] This is a feminine point of view and indeed very true. It is the essence that counts, not the title or reputation that matters. But even until today, a man’s reputation defines who he is to the world. He is only as good and worthy as his namesake. In ancient times, a general would rather die in the battlefield than to stain his good name. Sure, Joseph could claim that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. But it would have convinced no one. And there was a real fear that if he married Mary and took her home, his righteous name would be gone forever. To do the right thing, Joseph needed to face and conquer his fear. What is fear?

During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?”

“Who said that?” roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.”[5]

Fear is what often immobilizes us from doing the right thing. And that is the first command to Joseph. “Do not be afraid”. Look beyond your own reality, your reputation, your name, your status before man. Understand God’s reality and his plans for mankind. Mary’s conception was of the Holy spirit, and Jesus the son will save God’s people from their sins. When God’s reality becomes clear to us, we must dispel all fears to do the right thing.

Point 3: Taking responsibility

The first part to doing the right thing is not to be afraid. The second part is to take responsibility. The second command to Joseph was to name the son Jesus. To name the child is to claim ownership. Joseph would be husband to Mary and father to Jesus. In naming Jesus, Joseph took up the responsibility of giving legitimacy to Mary and Jesus. He would naturally bear all the gossips and slanders that came along with Mary’s awkward situation. In thinking of this, I am reminded of a story I read in a popular blog Dooce.com.

“So I gave myself an enema and sat down on the bathroom floor to cry. Jon kept knocking on the door to see if I was okay and although I knew he meant well I was in so much pain that I wanted to dunk his head into the toilet. After almost ten minutes things started to happen. Enemas are supposed to work after just five minutes, but I had SEVEN WHOLE DAYS of stool softener and fiber lodged from my large intestine all the way up to my ears.

Every time I got up to sit on the toilet, however, things stopped working, and the only thing I could think to do was to get into the bathtub. Yes, the bathtub. The place where we washed our hair and innocent bodies. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't have a choice. Either I poop in the tub or I DIE FROM NOT POOPING.

In my hysteria I filled the tub with water thinking that it would calm me down, obviously not thinking about what things would look like after the "experience." And then it happened. You know. I had another baby in the bathtub, a floater the size of a men's size 13 clog. And then I gave birth to six or seven other babies, all floaters like their older brother.

I stood up and washed off almost passing out from the pain and exhaustion, and you know what? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU?

My husband toweled me off, helped me put my clothes back on, and then he did what no human being on this earth should ever have to do and HE CLEANED UP MY MESS. Not only did he see the mess, he physically transferred it from the bathtub to the garbage can outside and then scrubbed the tub with bleach. He says he can still remember being astonished by how much it seemed to weigh.

After that morning I've granted him a lot of things because people, he picked up my poop. And you have to ask yourself, would my partner pick up my poop? And if you think the answer is NO then JUST WHAT DOES IT MEAN to be a partner? ASK YOURSELF THAT.”[6]

This story etched into my memory like superglue and many times in my marriage I am reminded of this and what it means to be a partner. Today, I am relieved to tell you this story so that you share and bear this scary and yucky image together with me. To be a partner is to clean up all the mess. The only way to demonstrate that you are a partner is to take up the responsibility no matter how unpleasant it is. In thinking of what Joseph had to do, I immediately thought of this story. This kind of willingness and action is what I feel is doing the right thing. You first have to conquer your fears, and then you take up the responsibility.

“By focusing on Mary, Luke emphasizes the essential passivity of the human response to God’s action: “Let it be me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Matthew, on the other hand, by selecting Joseph as his leading actor, stresses the active component in the human response.”[7] Joseph had to do the right thing. He had to conquer his fears and take up the responsibility. In doing this, he showed that he is a true partner to Mary in bearing all the mess. And to us, it is a great witness of what it means to be a true partner to God.

Conclusion

Dr Henry Cloud has this interesting analogy of God’s Plan A and Plan B.[8] We often think that God’s Plan A is to do his own work directly, and his Plan B is to do his work through human beings. This is a wrong concept of how God works. There is only one plan of God, and he always works through human beings. We all want to be part of God’s plan, and we think it is all about glorious victories and wonderful successes. But today we see that smooth sailing, painless, effortless work is not God’s work. To be a true partner to God, to do the right thing, is to conquer our fears and to take up the responsibility. To be mentally ready and to actually go into the job and get messy and dirty. God’s work is with people, and ministry with people is like opening cans of worms. Immanuel! God is with Man! In Jesus, God shows his willingness to be part of mankind. To work with disciples and to die on the cross. Messy stuff indeed!

I know. We have our reputations and polished images to upkeep. We want to keep our well organized lives, our routines and carefully selected comfortable group of relationships. But there is more than just our reality. There is God’s reality. He has a plan to save people from their sins. He has started the project. It appears to be a messy one that will transform our identity, our lives and our usual concerns. Ministry with people living in sin, self-righteous people, people with low self-esteem, quarrelsome, people with great pain and suffering, all messy stuff indeed! But today, I give you this invitation to do the ‘right’ thing. Conquer your fears and take up the responsibility. Be part of this partnership with God. And you will find your true self in God. Immanuel! God with us! And God be in you too.

[1] See Number 5:11-31

[2] See Deuteronomy 22:13-21

[3] See Deuteronomy 24:1-4

[4] Juliet, from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594

[5] Today in the Word, July 13, 1993

[6] http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/04_15_2005.html

[7] Douglas R.A. Hare, Matthew, John Knox Press (1993), p8

[8] See Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Making small groups work, Zondervan (2003), p. 23-27

Questionable Content

2008-04-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

If you want to now what is going on in my life the past few days, check this out:
Questionable Content.

It is quite possibly the hippest and most engrossing online comics I have ever come across.

Normally I will be reading on non-stop, but I just came across a quote from that site that I must simply include here.

"Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past,
If that is true, then wisdom is knowing you'll be an idiot in the future,
And common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot NOW."

Cell group ice-breakers

2008-03-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

Which one is your favorite?

1. If you didn’t have to worry about making a living what would you most like to do for the rest of your life'

2. What is your earliest memory'

3. If you could live in any other time, past, present, future, what would it be and why'

4. What motivates you most to go to work each day: money or personal satisfaction? If money were not an issue, would you still keep your job'

5. If you knew that tomorrow would be the last full day of your life, how would you spend the day'

6. What is your most important goal in life right now? Will your life change in some way if that goal is reached? If so, how'

7. If the people who know you best were asked, would they say you tend to be mostly predictable or unpredictable? Why? Which of these traits do you most value in a friend? Do you tend to follow a set routine or do you often do the same things differently'

8. What social situations tend to make you most flustered and nervous? Why'

9. For $10,000 would you be willing to stand up spontaneously and sing The Star Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs in the middle of a church service'

10. What are three things you would like to accomplish in the next year'

11. If you were to move to a poor, primitive country, what three things would you most miss from your current life'

12. What is the biggest lie you’ve ever told? Why? What were the consequences, if any'

13. What three things do you believe without any doubts'

14. What is one of the books (other than the Bible) that has had the greatest influence on your life? Why'

15. If God would grant you any one request, what would it be'

16. “Activity that does not result in progress toward a goal is a waste of time.” Do you agree? Is it ever OK to waste time'

17. What would you say are your 5 greatest strengths? Weaknesses'

18. Under what circumstances do you feel most lonely? Least lonely? Why'

19. What do you look forward to most about growing old? Least'

20. What traits do you think are most important to instill in your children? Why'

21. If you could relive any part of your life, what would it be and why'

22. Have either of your parents either told you they were sorry or asked your forgiveness for something? How did it make you feel'

23. What is the most difficult choice you’ve had to make in your life up to this point? Why? What factors helped you make the choice?

24. you believe God has only one perfect mate for everyone'

25. A football coach once said, “We learn almost nothing in victory, but we learn much in defeat.” Do you agree or disagree. In your life, have you learned most from failures or successes'

26. What would you most like people to remember you for after you die? What would you like written on your tombstone'

27. What is the most dangerous thing you’d like to try doing? What keeps you from doing it'

28. What are the biggest questions you have about your relationship with God'

29. What are the five things you are most thankful for in your life right now'

30. Would you say that the focus of your life right now is more on the development of relationships or on the accomplishment of goals and objectives? What would you like to change about this focus, if anything'

31. During WWII German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Although the conspiracy failed and he was executed for making the effort, do you think Bonhoeffer was right in his attempts to kill Hitler? If you had been Bonhoeffer, would you have participated in this murder conspiracy? Why or why not'

32. What was the greatest peer pressure you felt as a teen? What is the greatest peer pressure you feel as an adult? How are you handling it'

33. As a child, when you got caught doing something wrong, which of the following were you most likely to do? Blame someone else, Deny that you did it, Run and hide, Take full responsibility and accept the consequences. What are you most likely to do now as an adult'

34. Do you think people would be surprised about your thought life? How often would you be embarrassed if others knew exactly what was on your mind? Do you think your thought life is better or worse than most of the people in your circle of friends? Why'

Source unknown

The best things in life is free

2008-03-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best thing I have ever came across.

Free top university scholarly lectures. This one is the best so far. It is the best Old Testament lessons I have ever "attended".

And I used a large part of it to teach my youths. Yes people, if you are not getting university education in your youth days, your education is shortchanging you. You may not understand all of it, but at least you are getting the real deal.

WoW30: Learn the very truth from the beginning, the unlearning later in life in not worth otherwise.

Official Jubilee Tossball Rules

2008-03-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Right now, I am getting everybody in church to sign up for the Jubilee Tossball League. My dream is to get everybody, young and old, to have some fun together. I think it is highly achievable because it is a simple game and yet competitive enough to those who are more athletic.

Rules:
Teams are made up of 5-7 players. 5 player teams consist players all aged 15-45, 7 player teams are all aged below 15 or above 45, while 6 player teams are 4-2 or 3-3 combinations of either age group.
There is no dribbling or running with the ball allowed. No contact allowed with the person holding the ball.
Players aged 15-45 must score from outside the red perimeter.
The team that scores more after 10 minutes of play wins.

Happy news

2008-03-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have recently sold my place at Bukit Panjang and bought a new place at Clementi. Both prices are about the same but the new location will be smaller and much older. The move is to get closer to church, my in-laws and my wife's work place. I think it is a worthy sacrifice for more time with the family instead of wasting it on the road.

Which brings me to the point about providence. We bought the new place in less than 3 days, and sold ours in less than a week. Coincidence? I think not.

The Seasons of Spirituality

2008-03-20T02:36:00.000-07:00

I am not prone to putting my sermons here, but this one is a submission to a Lent devotional collection and I would like to share it with my readers because it may just be the best one I've ever written.

撰写人：王晓晖牧师

经文：诗119：145-176

主题：属灵生活的四季

神的启示有时像充满活力，生气勃勃的夏日。绚丽夺目，叫人情不自禁地渴望，并追求那荣美。旧约时代，这荣美主要来自神所启示的律法。难怪诗人用了超过一百句话来赞美耶和华的律法。律法之所以吸引人是因为它表达了神对人的旨意。人感觉神十分接近。不但如此，律法透露着神性，叫人可以体会到什么是真理、什么是公义、什么是永恒。我们从神的法度、训词、典章和一切命令感染其中的生命力，因而不由自主地表达爱意。我们知道这律法可靠，它必带来丰盛的平安。

但奸恶的人却远离耶和华的律法。他们的逼迫使生活就像万物凋零的秋季。重重的苦难仿佛遍地的落叶，处处都是垂死的迹象。可能是领袖们无缘无故的迫害，叫生活倍感艰难。可能是诡诈人的包围，使人的情绪烦躁、厌倦。我们憎恨他们虚伪的面孔。像那无情不断来袭的秋风，抵挡我们的越来越多。不仅是外来的苦难，生活中也难免出现灵命衰退的时刻。当人们不遵守耶和华的话语的时候，他们的生命就开始枯萎。离开神的律法，就是离开生命的源头。艰辛难熬的时候，也是落叶归根的时候。

面对死亡的威胁，诗人转向唯一的依靠。诗人向神呼求。祷告的感觉有时很像寒冬腊月。那是艰苦，孤独的等待。我们求告神垂听我们的声音。我们求告神察看我们的困境。这是人最真实的一面。有如一层白雪遮盖了所有分心的事物，在祷告中我们坦荡荡，赤裸裸的面对神。诗人八次呼叫“耶和华啊！”。这是灵命生活面临苦难时必然的感叹声。是祈求耶和华伸张正义的哀号声。诗人凄美单纯的信靠，表露无疑。但冬天也是蓄势待发的时刻，坚定无悔的信心必换来春暖花开的一天。

祷告中所盼望的，是耶和华的拯救。就像春天给万物带来新希望，耶和华的手帮助我们。因为耶和华的温暖慈爱，我们得以存活。这是耶和华浩大的怜悯。这是信实的耶和华所立下的应许。迷失了路的亡羊，有耶和华这位大牧人寻找他们。只要我们不忘记他所给于我们的启示，神的律法，我们必回到生命的道路，什么都不能绊倒我们。

亲爱的弟兄姐妹，神最完整的启示就是耶稣基督。耶稣也成全了一切律法。耶稣的死里复活是耶和华赐给我们最彻底的拯救。耶稣璀璨的一生，是我们学习爱天父爱人的榜样。耶稣不畏强权地顺服天父的旨意，是我们低档恶势力的模范。耶稣跟天父亲密的关系，提醒我们不断向神祷告。耶稣就是那为我们舍命的大牧人。让我们继续倚靠耶稣，度过我们属灵的每个春夏秋冬。

祷告：诗23

操练：在圣灵的带领下，我愿意时时读经，更认识上帝的旨意。

Heaven's Grocery Store

2008-02-27T23:21:00.001-08:00

I was walking down life's pathway
Not so very long ago
When I looked up and saw a sign,
Heaven's Grocery Store.

I got a little closer
And the door swung open wide.
The next thing I knew
I was standing there inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My child, now shop with care.'

Everything a Christian needed
Was in that Grocery Store,
And what you couldn't carry out
You could come back next day for more.

Well, first I got some patience,
Love is in the same row.
Further down was understanding.
You need those everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom
And a bar or two of faith.
You couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
He was all over the place.

I didn't forget salvation
For salvation'that was free.
I wanted to get enough of that
To save both you and me.

There was meekness, longsuffering and gentleness
I saw these at a glance.
I knew I'd better get some.
I would never have a better chance.

I stopped to get some courage
To help me run life's race.
Then my basket was getting full
And I remembered I needed grace.

Then I started for the counter
To pay my grocery bill
I thought I had most everything
To do the Father's will.

And I saw prayer,
I just had to put that in.
I knew when I stepped outside the door,
I'd run right into sin.

Source Unknown

This comes to you via a miracle

2008-02-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

A miracle occurred in that I finished my sermon early. I am going to post this tip that I knew for a long time, and one that I find truly helpful.

Check this out.

I think it can be used for cell groups and other occasions as well.

WoW29: It only takes a few seconds to make a day better, and a day to make a year better. Do it!

Personal update

2008-02-05T00:07:00.000-08:00

On this very strange day, I have time. I hope you, my dear readers would talk to me.

Last year was a wonderful year of learning. It felt that I have lived through a decade and transformed into a man. I like myself and I believe in what I am doing. I could return to the Lord like this. Life is at a bittersweet moment that is just right.

Now, I just need more time, more life and more from God. I am not saying this because I am greedy, but truly it feels great to be really living.

I have a dream

2008-01-22T00:50:00.000-08:00

I am totally inspired by this. Let's all do it.

I have a dream.

I have a dream that the church will be in unity in support with one another, and in work and evangelism to the world.

I have a dream that we can accept one another in authenticity and serve the ministries with humility and joy.

I have a dream that we will enjoy learning, and yearn to express the truth with beauty and a compassionate heart.

I have a dream that we will all work together to bring back the lost, and to cherish what we have now.

Past it on, and leave a comment if you will.

WoW28: Sermon is about passion

2007-11-19T01:25:00.000-08:00

I recently rekindled this passion while preaching about 1st Corithians 12. It kind of reminded me what it means to give a message from the heart. This entry is a timely reminder to myself to never lose this fire. Preach the faith!

This sermon by William Willimon is one of the best I have ever read. It is passionate preaching indeed.

A wake and a funeral

2007-11-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to go searching for a message. But sometimes a message comes to you, as if from God. I just experienced such a moment with the wake and funeral of a beloved elderly sister in my zone.

2nd Tim 4:7-8
"7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing."
Intro
Many times when we see this passage, we think about the hardships of Paul as a missionary. But the importance is simply to "finish faithfully".
Point 1: The imagery of a Race. How it is important to finish honorably. And how hard it is given the trails and temptations, see vs 3-4.
Point 2: The imagery of the righteous Judge. We will be given a fair verdict for our deeds on earth.
Point 3: The imagery of the "appearing". This often refers to citizens awaiting a royal appearance. Feel the expectancy and waiting, and the joyful reception the follows.
Conclude: A rewarding life. To get your just prize for a life of worship.

Hebrews 11,12
Intro
A testimony about the subject matter (the dead) is also meant for the listeners (the living).
Point 1: The Christ that lived in the subject is also living in us. It is an eternal bond that makes us run the same race.
Point 2: The Witness. A life of faith. Living with an aim to shed temporal pain and pleasure for a reunion in eternity.
Point 3: The Cheerleader. The crowd of witnesses are cheering us on.
Conclude: We too must run this race for the joyous reunion in the heavenly place awaiting us.

WoW27: It is not the intensity or the competition that matters, true sportsmanship lies in finishing the race.

An update

2007-11-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have been busy but the tough parts are manageable now. I still have a script to complete by this week. But life has been good to me and I am loving the moment. What I learn from experience is that as long as the work is meaningful, tough is not a problem.

Here is a good story about the work of Wits and Wagers. I hope you like it too. Also, if you are a reader, please drop a comment once in a while.

A good true story to share

2007-10-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

For my millions of readers, this story is for you.

It is about going the extra mile to help somebody in need.

Closing a chapter

2007-10-18T01:19:00.000-07:00

The road was long and hard. But I have finally completed my selection of stuff to cover on philosophy. It wasn't easy, and half the time I couldn't understand what is going on. Nonetheless, it is a worthwhile endeavor.

I have some loose ends to cover, which is the rest of theological history beginning with the Oxford movement.

After that, I will be covering cell group leaders equipping next year. Sound like another fun trip is about to begin.

FFoB5: Cover your head because of the angels

2007-10-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest verses in the Bible is 1st Cor 11:10 "That's why a woman must have authority on her head, because of the angels." (Tom Wright's translation)

There are dispute over the meaning of authority and on the nature of the angels. My personal inclination is that the verse is trying to teach that women must have control over her head. She must not bow to any pressure to "liberate" her dressing to demonstrate her new found freedom in Christianity. Not only is the order of the church important, the angels (representing the created world) are watching whenever we worship.

WoW26: You cannot see enrichment, you can only feel it

2007-10-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

Out of curiousity, I researched on Uranium enrichment. One of the biggest shockers is how little difference in weight and appearance there is between enriched and non-enriched uranium. Yet, it is precisely the enrichment that makes a world of difference into the power of the uranium.

Such is the same for us to be enriched by Christ. The power is just not the same. The original uranium is transformed.

WoW25: It is not how much you eat, but what you eat that matters

2007-10-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

John 6:35-40

We know all about food. Junk food can only make you fat, but nutritious food strengthens the body. We need good food to grow. And that is why we don't give junk to babies, and also why we call mal-nutritious milk black-hearted milk. Because the baby cannot grow.

Jesus is the bread of life. Is your spiritual baby growing?

6 guys

2007-10-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

I have selected 6 guys. What do they have in common?

Jonathan Edwards
George Fox
Friedrich Schleiermacher
William Wilberforce
William Carey
Charles Wesley

They are all Christians from the period post 30 years war to pre WWII. They are the most outstanding contributors in the 6 fields I have laid out in Church History: leaders, mystics, theologians, activists, evangelists and artists.

WoW24: The inner world is bigger than the outer world

2007-10-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

There are many books that speak about the journey inwards. One of my favorite writers on this subject is Parker Palmer. One time, I had to buy a book for a friend leaving overseas. Since she is in education, I bought To Know as we are Known. Since it is a relatively thin book and not sealed, I flipped through its content. I was astounded by its content even though I had been rather familiar with Parker Palmer's thoughts. "Holistic knowing is deep self-knowledge that engages the person morally and spiritually with the life around oneself."

Let me end with a poem on loneliness from 李白：

月下独酌

花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。
举杯邀明月，对影成三人。
月既不解饮，影徒随我身。
暂伴月将影，行乐须及春。
我歌月徘徊，我舞影零乱。
醒时同交欢，醉后各分散。
永结无情游，相期邈云汉。

WoW23: Fame has little to do with Content. It is Publicity.

2007-10-08T02:14:00.000-07:00

李白has 2 famous poems about the resentment of lonely women. The one that is better written is
玉阶怨
玉阶生白露，夜久侵罗袜。
却下水晶帘，玲珑望秋月。
Literary scholars find this poem more profound in that in not mentioning any resentment at all, resentment is expressed.

However, to non-scholars, I believe the more famous poem is this one.
怨情
美人捲珠簾，深坐顰蛾眉。
但見淚痕濕，不知心恨谁。
Waiting
A lady fair rolls up a beaded curtain.
Sits lingeringly, with her fine brows knit.
The wet stains of her tears are apparent.
Against whom does she bear a resentment?

Why so? Because in the movie《方世玉》,the main lead's father 方德 recited this poem to his wife 苗翠花. Such is life, even of poems.

FFoB4: Poetry and Religion

2007-10-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

There is a close knitted relationship between poetry and religion. This is especially so with the OT prophets because poetry has incredible power to persuade. In speaking about God, the prophets thought it best to use more subtle forms of expressions. It is not only attractive, but arresting and shocking even.

"Poetry has the capacity both to speak about things that are very familiar, and to lead the imagination on to new ways of thinking and understanding. Poems do not give cut and dried meanings, but are often open to several interpretations. It is in this openness that the reader is invited to think about God." G McConville in Exploring the Old Testament v.4 Prophets

- NIV - (Isa 5:1-7)
1 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
3 "Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it."
7 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

With a simple imagery about a vineyard, powerful words about social justice, God's righteousness and His wrath is conveyed. Who is not moved?

In continuing on my series on Chinese Poetry, this is one which expresses thoughts on Buddhism. Note how in the last line, the poet is immersed into silence and nothingness.

常建：题破山寺后禅院
清晨入古寺，初日照高林。
曲径通幽处，禅房花木深。
山光悦鸟性，潭影空人心。
万籁此俱寂，惟馀钟磬音。

WoW22: Indirect communication hits harder

2007-10-05T02:21:00.000-07:00

There are many poems about war. Describing the misery it brings, and so on. But this one is by far the most compelling. It describes a lonely newly-wed wife. And her regret to send her husband to seek for honor in the battlefield.

王昌龄
闺中少妇不知愁，春日凝妆上翠楼；
忽见陌头杨柳色，悔叫夫婿见封侯。

WoW21: Stand on the shoulders of giants to see further

2007-10-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

The english equivalent is from Isaac Newton. But the truth is universal. To have a far and wide perspective, we need to go higher. And the way to do it is to learn from history and build your foundations on the wisdom of others.

王之涣
白日依山尽，黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。