Moving rhythmically

I'm studying the Book of Ephesians these two weeks, using two English translations: the NIV and the Message.

The language of the latter of Paul's passage about Christ giving each of his believers spiritual gifts to build his church really comes so vividly:

...[Christ] handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ (mine emphasis).

Ephesians 4:7-13 (The Message)

The picture was furthermore imprinted in me when my piano accompaniment was totally out of sync with the song leader last night. We were simply doing the song in two different tempos for the most part. No, we didn't click. We were far, far from clicking.

It doesn't matter who's right and who's wrong. That was a joke! What I took to heart is how much more ridiculous, and even disastrous the picture would look that we claim to serve as one Body, when showing a total of disregard of how other fellow Christians operate. As part of the Body of Christ, it doesn't matter who's more advanced spiritually, who sees the bigger picture, who's liberal, who's more conservative, we coordinate, adjust, and bear with one another in love.

Paul in Ephesians doesn't say we move in the same pace. That would be quite boring. Rather, he says that we work to move "rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful." Now that's a beautiful picture, brothers and sisters!

I35W bridge collapse: how to pray?

In the church prayer meeting last night, our pastor broke the news to us and showed us some pictures on screen, and then asked us to pray in groups of two.

I didn't know how. I find help from John Piper's reflection. The bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River was within sight from the church he pastors. His family happened to read Luke 13:1-5 (a pre-selected passage) for devotion.

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

I'll leave it up to you to read Piper's thought. The comments from his readers are no less fascinating and thought-provoking.

I also learn how I can pray in response to the bridge collapse after reading Albert Mohler's article, in addition to Piper's reflection.

1. Pray that people wouldn't blame God for not saving those who died but would thank Him for sparing the lives of those who survive.
2. Christians and non-Christians are reminded through sudden calamities like this that "the ways and means of persons suddenly passing out of this world are indeed 'innumerable and inconceivable.'" Pray that we live everyday wisely and seize opportunities to do good.
3. Pray for those with loved ones directly involved in this tragedy.
4. Pray for the churches of Minneapolis to minister grace and truth amidst this tragedy and turmoil.

C.S. Lewis

It all began with the proposal to show "The Chronicles of Narnia -- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in a fellowship setting to invite our non-Christian friends to join. Someone, out of good intention & nature, raised the concern that the movie/book has been controversial among Christians. Then another person, also out of good intention and nature, mentioned that the author's other works display some "unorthodox Christian" or questionable thinking.

I quickly dismissed the concern, without verifying whether the assertions were true or what the controversies might be. C.S. Lewis's series of Chronicles of Narnia isn't meant to be studied as the Word of God, nor Lewis's hardcore theology. Does the series of Children stories embody his view of God and religious belief? Yes! There are intentional parallels between the Narnia stories and the Christian beliefs. Yet, they're still children stories, not theological monographs.

Most of the problems, I would say, were generated when people force theology into Lewis's works, or critique his Chronicles of Narnia as a theological discourse. If we find some spiritual enlightenment through the movie/book, great. If we think we've gained more understanding of the sinful nature of human, or the sacrificial love of God through the characters Edmund and Aslan, great. But when one insists to read it as something that it's not meant to be, one's digging a hole, an unnecessary one.

I like the distinction David Bruce made in the gospel tract that capitalizes on the Narnia story, "Although the story of Narnia has many similarities to the story of Jesus, there are also some differences. For example, Aslan sacrificed his life to save only Edmund. But Christ gave His life to save everyone. Aslan takes on the punishment for Edmund's sin so that Edmund can live. Christ came so that all might be free from sin and experience eternal life with God."

Now, to the second person's concern -- what if Lewis believed in the existence of purgatory or something "strange" to the orthodox Christians (which I have yet to verify). The fact that I find much of Lewis's writings inspiring doesn't mean I side with all his views. I don't have to agree with his "All" to appreciate his "Part."

Who can be free from error anyway, except God? John Calvin's and Martin Luther's theologies are not 100% impeccable. Only the Bible, the Word of God, can stand scrutiny. We don't confuse the Bible with the "study of it" through various angles/aspects. (By the way, isn't it what the word "theology" means, the study of "Theo"? Whose study? Man's! Man's prone to error. Ergo, these various brands of theology are not error-free.)

Then why refer to other sources? Why not just stick with the Bible? Why watch the Narnia movie? Why not just watch Jesus of Nazareth? These secondary sources could be the fragmented, human, yet valuable, understandings of God and of spiritual truth. We can learn about God and about the Word of God and its applications in others through the lenses of these intellectual treasures and journeys of other fellow pilgrims.

Ensor's Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart

It's about time to jot down my thought after reading this book.

As I shared in my small group last Friday, we all assume different roles as we relate to different people, and it's so important to know and act one's role. For example, in my small group, I'm a group member, and part of the role as a group member would be to support the decision of our group leader (and I mean when it's not too outrageous.) It would be chaotic if I assume the role of a leader when I'm not one! In my fellowship, I'm the "Service" officer. Although not many people outside my fellowship realize what the job responsibility entail, suffice to say if I assume the role of the President or of other posts while being "Service," I'll risk stepping on other people's toes. Of course, these are the general principle and there should be room for exceptional circumstances.

John Ensor states (in my opinion) his Christian, yet somewhat conservative, view of the roles of manhood and womanhood, something that I didn't pay too much attention in the past but find interesting now.

The chapter titles describe his view:

6. He Initiates ... She Responds
7. He Leads ... She Guides
8. He Works ... She Waits
9. He Protects ... She Welcomes Protection
10. He Abstains to Protect ... She, to Test
12. He Displays Integrity ... She, Inner Beauty
13. He Loves by Sacrificing ... She, by Submitting
14. He Seeks His Happiness in Hers ... She Seeks Hers in His
15. He is the Primary Provider for the Family ... She, the Primary Nurturer.

Whether I agree with Ensor's definition of biblical masculinity and femninity, the book makes me realize that the Creator makes distinction between the roles of man & of woman.

Something obvious to you? It takes me a book to get that!

Regressing

Lately I sense that I've become more ignorant of the current events & issues. I'm also reading fewer books with substance and absorbing things slower. Furthermore, it's gotten a bit difficult to express my thought as forceful and precisely in writing as before. In short, I'm turning into a bumpkin. I would think living afar from a good library (like the ones at UCLA) & living without cable TV does it. Yuck!

Memory problem

mom: The manager said she's going to raise my rent. (Mom's staying in a government subsidized building for seniors.)

me: That's not true. I spoke to the manager, and she has no plan to raise your rent. In fact, your rent has been reduced recently.

mom: No, she didn't tell you, but I know she's thinking about it. How am I going to pay the rent? I'll need to move. I'll throw this and that away and keep several bags.

me: No, mom. There's no rent increase. The rent here is very, very inexpensive, and we (me and my sister) will take care of it for you. You don't have to worry.

mom: Really, thanks so much. Then I stay here and won't move. I was so worried that I couldn't sleep at night. Now that I know you're taking care of things I don't worry anymore. I may finally sleep at night. Thank God.

We (mom & me, mom & sis) have repeated this same dialogue many times in the past week. Mom imagined and worried about her rent being increased, which isn't really happening. She's also forgetful so our explanation/assurance would serve her well only for as long as she can remember. When her memory falters, she'll worry about rent all over again; and thus we repeat the dialgoue.

This reminds me of ... myself. I too have serious memory problem before God. I would get anxious about things that aren't really happening. Even though the Bible tells me time and time again that the Lord will provide, the assurance would serve me well only for as long as I believe and can remember His Word.

Monica

阿矇, my good friend, sister-in-Christ, also 頂心杉 la.

Am I a quitter too?

Matt didn't come last week. As he faced a seemingly very huge difficulty, he wanted to quit learning piano.

Matt is 5 year old and he has studied piano with me, along with his older brother Billy, for almost 9 months now. He was learning to play a chord with his thumb, middle finger, and pinky. I knew playing the chord would be challenging but I thought he would get past it with some encouragement. As it turned out, it was so overwhelming for him that he thought that's the end.

Matt really thinks like a kid. He didn't know that he can do much more than playing a chord. In no time, he would find this such an easy task and laugh about it. He didn't know.

The experience of working with kids is often refreshing and enlightening. This incident got me thinking -- Am I often a quitter? When or over what little difficulty did I find overwhelming and insurmountable and want to quit? What didn't I know? In God's eyes, my problem wouldn't be any more difficult than playing a chord with the thumb, middle finger, and pinky.

Matt came to his piano lesson this morning.

Martha & Mary

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42

From time to time I hear church people use the character Mary to justify things. Lately, I heard someone say that she won't take up any post next year to serve at church because she wants to be "like Mary."

What of Mary was Jesus praising?
When Jesus commented that "Mary has chosen what is better," what did he mean? Did Jesus praise Mary for doing nothing? Not likely, as Jesus's definitely not telling us to be lazy. (Cf. Proverbs 6:6, "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" or Proverbs 6:9, "How long will you lie there, you sluggard?" Check also the parable of the ten virgins.)

Mary focused on Jesus and was totally enjoying His presence.

What's wrong with Martha?
In v.38, it says that Martha opened her home to Jesus. There's nothing wrong with that. The linking word "but" in v.40, however, is telling. Jesus's reply in v.41 states clearly of her problem -- being "worried and upset about many things." Martha lost her cool while doing good work. She saw much work to be done, she saw Mary's not helping, but one thing she didn't see -- she didn't see the reason of all her preparation, her Master. That was the problem.

What's the application?
How to fix the Martha syndrome? By doing nothing and then look at Jesus's picture? No! By just locking yourself in a monastery, praying and reading the Bible all day? No again! It's by constantly re-aligning our focus, drawing strength from Him as we immerse ourselves in life's often chaotic situations.

Stay focused on the Master as we serve Him diligently. When things get out of hand and chaotic, or when it seems unfair that we're doing more working than others, focus on Him. It's all about our relationship with Him.

Could Mary have worked hard on the preparation before Jesus arrived? Perhaps, perhaps not. We don't know. The passage, to me, is not about working hard or sitting still. It's about staying focused even in the midst of chaos.

"Doing nothing" doesn't necessarily draw us close to the feet of Jesus. Argh ... if you need to take a break or sabbatical, fine. No need to buttress your argument with Luke 10.

fun trip

Boeing, Seattle


Beaver Lake in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. (No beaver found).


Lavendar grows everywhere!


Queuing at Horseshoe Bay to take the ferry to Nanaimo, B.C.





Cider came with our bed & breakfast package in Nanaimo.


Fastforward - last stop right before flying back from Seattle.

The 8-day trip is one of the best ones I've had in years. Like many things in life, one makes the best out of what one's given. Things don't have to be perfect and yet can still be the best. I laughed hard in many occasions.  Great companions (human and non-human), great mix of programs and food, and last but not least, I don't know how much the trip cost yet!