Future

I heard a brother/sister saying that he/she cannot see his/her future in the church.  I cannot stop thinking about my own future too.  Frankly, this could be his/her personal relationship with God.
Every year, you can see devoted Christians suddenly disappear from the church.  Very unlikely you will know the reason behind.  How can we move forward despite seeing/hearing all these incidents?

A Christian who is afraid of ...

一個怕老婆的基督徒, 是否不符合上帝的心意. 好奇問一問, 和本人無關 ...
A Christian who is afraid of his wife, is this against God's will!?

Arguments

What is the best way to resolve arguments with brothers and sisters?  If I got insulted, I would walk away quietly.  I don't like to get into arguments because I am tired of it.  However, the bad feeling does not go away.  Any good suggestions?

Like or dislike

This week, someone mentioned the following during our conversation: "Many people don't like the Pastor of their church". I think what s/he really mean is: Compared to other brothers/sister in the Church, Pastor is less likable because Pastor is usually more serious. Not as fun in another word.

I don't really agree. I kind of like all the Pastors I know. Although some of them is very serious and not at joking, but I still like them. I think that's what a church leader suppose to be. We go to church because we want to worship our Lord and learn to be like Christ. That's the top priority. Of course having fun is a big plus!

P.S. "Someone", please correct me if I misunderstand your statement ...

2005恩典盘点

2005 Top Ten Grace 十大恩典 (tagged by 米迦)

#10 Thank you God for giving me the strength to go back school after a long break. Especially put me into an easy class with a lazy professor that never assign any homework.

#9 Last year I have a few technical publications as co-author. This was something I wish for a long time. Thank you God for giving me these presents.

#8 Thank you God to have my brother and nephew visiting me during the Christmas holiday, although they keep complaining the food in US ...

#7 Thank you God (and Felix) to give me an opportunity to write in Christian Q&A. I am not good at give sharing in front of a group of people ... 我怕羞.

#6 Thank you God for giving my wife a job nearby home. Now she can save 3 hour of commute time everyday ... and do more housework ...

#5 Thank you God for keeping my job, although I didn't do much useful stuff at work last year ... (don't forward this to my boss).

#4 My daughter was 1 year old in 2005. Thank you God for protecting her and her family.

#3 Thank you God for keeping good health for my parents.

#2 Last year was 10 year anniversary of dating my wife. Thank you God for having her in my life.

#1 Thanks God for not giving me up even though I did not go to church as much last year. This year my daughter is older so I should able to go to my favourite church more often.

Now just follow the game rule I need to pick 5 other lucky persons to write their 2005恩典盘点 (use this as blog subject):

Felix, Alvin, Henry, 5CM , and 結他手Tommy仔

Reference: 米迦網誌

Purpose Driven Life: a different opinion

The 1st time I heard of this book was in 2003. Then my fellowship used this book for bible study in 2004. I continue to hear other fellowships use this book. Nearly everyone Christian endorse this book.

But honestly, I read till day 8 then I stop reading it. There is only one reason: I don't quite like what the author writes. I do agree the central idea of this book, we are on earth to glorify God. But the author spend a lot of writing to tell us we can glorify God by doing our daily stuff right. Well, it make me think the author is just writing something to make us feel good. Reading this book make me to believe it isn't too hard to be a good Christian. But, can this writing really help me to become a better Christian, I have some doubt.

Well, the main purpose of this blog is not to criticize this book. The main purpose is for me to share a different opinion. I feel it is difficult to share non-mainstream religious opinion in Church, so I dare not to speak above comment in Church. Another example, I can't really speak anything negative about the U.S. President, 'cause nearly every main-stream Christian says he is good ... ...

Once Saved Always Saved

神保證人在得救的應許上，是「一次得著救恩便會永遠擁有這救恩」
Once Saved Always Saved

I have some doubt on this scripture. For example, a man truly admited his sin and believed in Jesus when he was young. Many years later he forgot about Jesus and Bible and go back to live his sinful life. When this guy die, will God accept his soul?

Some in my fellowship think so.
Some in my fellowship not so sure, think God will make the final decision based on his justice.

I just hope I can keep a honest faith with Jesus till the last day so I won't need to face this uncertainty.

Reading 1
Reading 2

Burn in Hell

The Bible says, for those don't accept Jesus Christ. When they die, they go to Hell, get burn by fire and suffer forever.

As a Christian, or just a normal human being, it is hard to even think about such punishment. It is too cruel isn't it. How could God apply such torture to HIS creatures? This leads me to think:
a) It is not really like that, the Bible just to scare you
b) It is true

If the answer is b), then I have these thought:
A) Ugh! It hurts.
B) Even the worst criminal don't get such punishment in this society. Is our punishment too light or God's punishment too heavy?
C) For those Christmas who are singing and dancing in Heaven. When they see their non-believer friends and relatives get burn, how could it be possible for them to still have joy up there?

Well, don't mean to question God's authority. HE has all the right. But I just feel the "get burn forever" situation not really making sense based on my limited understanding with Bible.

Munich

Another debatable movie I would like to watch. This movie touch a topic related Christianity to (the land of Israel). This also remind me a statement made by Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson recently, 'Punishment for dividing God's land'.

I think, every land in the Earth belongs too God. Why this specific "God's land" creates so much trouble for mankind. Is it really necessary for God's plan?

God's word

How can we distinguish God's word from our own desire?  We always hear some whisperings inside our heart but we are not sure where those words come from.

Merry Christmas

I heard it is not respectful to say Merry X'mas, because X isn't Christ. Also simply saying Happy Holiday isn't the best. So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Brokeback Mountain

I want to watch this movie. Is it bad for Christian to do so?

Setting rules

When a church sets a rule that is a combination of:
1. you don't like
2. you don't believe this rule reflect the true meaning of the Bible
3. this rule have a negative effect on your participation in church

What is the best way to approach this problem? Is changing church a recommended solution?

Off topic: 有感而發

當一個女人狠下心腸, 她會比男人更決絕. 不知聖經有否提及. (同我老婆無關.)

Contemporary vs Hymnal

What music should we use in worship? Is it a personal preference? Is it a trend and style?

Right or Wrong

I just realized that "Not all Bible translations are created equal". Do you know where "brothers and sisters" is used in the Bible?

Matthew 18:35
My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. (New American Standard Bible)

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart. (Today's New International Version)

That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[a] in your heart. (New Living Translation)

The newer Bibles are easier to read. At the same time, they are adding additional meanings to the words (eg brothers). What is right and what's not?

Wrong Questions

This morning I went to Sunday Worship. The pastor mentioned about a few question in a passage of the Bible. The questions were something like this:
Why Jesus is on on God's right hand side
Why don't we need to care about this or that
etc...

The pastor tried to solve these questions steps by steps, based on other reading in the Bible.

Now I look back some questions I posted in this Blog, I find a fundamental difference. The pastor is looking into the detail for the Bible. But my question seems to challenge how true the Bible is, or the moral of God.

I start to feel I am asking wrong questions ...

Off topic: 19 ways to stay young

Mr. H. sent out this Chinese article about 19 methods to stay young. Well, technically, it is impossible for anyone in Joshua Fellow to achieve all 19 methods. So take it easy.

Wars & Religion

I once invited R. to come to church. R. told me he felt a lot of wars nowadays are due to religious conflict (so I guess R. politely rejected my invitation). I said those were bad examples. Christianity itself doesn't suggest using wars to solve any problem. Is my statement correct!?

Jesus

Jesus knows our feelings because He's been to the world. However, he didn't get married. He didn't have children. How can he understand the problem of being a husband and father?