Christ came to destroy sin

A Christmas message:

"Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7–8)

The issue in this context is sinning, not sickness or broken cars or messed up schedules. Jesus came into the world to help us stop sinning.


~ http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/the-son-of-god-appeared

Remembering Richard CK Lee

認識Richard是在宣教會恩召堂。聽我父親講過Richard怎樣開始返教會，他在葛培理香港佈道會中信主，經過聖經函授課程（郵寄方式）栽培後，就被介紹到他家附近的一所教會，恩召堂的舊址與Richard的家只相隔一條街。那時他在念中學，太久以前的事情了，記不清楚，推算我當時應該在讀小五或小六。

我父母親是這間地方教會的牧師和師母。我聽過他們私底下不只一次讚賞Richard對神有追求的心，他在恩召堂聚會沒多久就帶了有一群踢足球的朋友回教會，也帶了他的妹妹和他的鄰居參加團契。他們叫Richard做「驥仔」，這群人給團契帶來了活力和動力。後來他們很多沒有再參加教會聚會，差不多這個時候，「驥仔」又帶了他的中學同學返團契，一個一個的，這些同學又帶他們的朋友，弟妹返團契，福音營，非常開心。因為 Richard比我大，不能叫他「驥仔」，我就連名帶姓的叫他中文名字。

Richard不亂花錢、有禮貌、溫柔、聰明。中學以後，他往美國德州升學。其實我與家人在他往美國前已移民到美國羅省。我們保持通信聯絡，他常常問候我父母和姐姐的安好。他提過德州因為產油，學費便宜，所以他就選了一所當地出名的大學就讀。 大學期間，他好像來了羅省一、兩次探望我父母，也去了聖地牙哥探望在大學念書的我。記得我有些事情做得不對，他就私下對我講了一個比喻，間接指出我的錯處， 他沒有說任何話令我尷尬，只跟我講道理。

後來我們分別回到香港工作，然後又分別離開了香港。他婚後到比利時念書，而我回了美國再念書，有機會與父親去旅遊，也順道探望他與他太太Melody。我知道他倆很忙，但他們還是很有愛心地撥冗與我們相聚，又對長輩（我父親）很尊重和照顧。我去了他家一趟，看到Richard有一塊大概是3呎x 5呎的板塊，很有創意，他聰明地用 matrix 的方式展示寫了論文重點的索引卡片。

之後我們繼續生活在地球不同的角落，他太太會把禱告分享信寄來，我因此得知他們生活的點滴。最後一次見面，是幾年前我路經香港，與恩召堂的弟兄姊妹吃晚飯，他也來了，那時他已學成回港於大學任教。

認識了Richard 三十多年，他是我尊重和敬佩的主內兄長。讓我引用他於2007年, 寫下懷緬我父親的文字，在此跟他說再見：「如今您已經在我們主的懷抱裏，釋去了地上的勞苦，也從主裏得著您一生服事祂的賞賜。我們或許暫時哀傷，但再過不多的日子，我們必在榮耀裏與您相會。阿們。」

十年了

畢業後第一份的教職是2005年到距離60公哩 U of Redlands, 之後就是在家附近的Cal State U 教部份時間。算起來教了十年了, 要想想。

Battling one's unbelief with God's future grace

“Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you, with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, RSV).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  (Philippians 4:6, NASB)

"And my God will meet all you needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, NASB)

http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/god-shall-supply-all-your-needs

God's watching over mom

Mom had a stroke last week. The pictures were taken in front of her PCP's office the following week. She's still weak, but seemed to not have suffered.

Possibilities

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9)

下年時候向summer class 說 goodbye 嗎？怎樣去決定？

如果goodbye，又身體健康許可，God's willing，安徽要去嗎？

鋼琴，library job ，還有 其他方面 的 possibilities, 一切交托主。

「我」返黎了

很久已沒有用舊式CD player 聽歌。不知從何時起，若非與工作、事奉有關，不聽歌、不彈琴。

今日，d 閒情返來了，在CD機播的是角聲使團的振翅翱翔。 記得了，原來感覺係咁樣既。

遺憾 turns to 讚美

在我人生中算得上遺憾的事，去年發生了。前晚（年初二）記起這件事，心情、信心也就一直向下滑。。。

感謝神，年初三，教會分會有福音佈道會，講員對未信者呼召：『若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。』我覺得是神對我的安慰，立刻眼淚就湧出來。原本懷疑可能不會被神使用、特別是在傳福音的工作上，但無意中又被安排了在新春福音佈道會裡作司琴。感謝神釋了我的疑慮。

今早，年初四，靈修讀到的，好像神給我再三的提醒，祂已赦免我的罪、遺憾："I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake." (1 John 2:12)

感謝父神，YOU ARE GREAT.

TTP

「人若自潔、脫離卑賤的事、就必作貴重的器皿、成為聖潔、合乎主用、豫備行各樣的善事。」 　　~ 提摩太後書　2:21



2014年7月9日，我做完第一份lesson plan，羅馬書15：14－16：23。

Surely Goodness and Lovingkindness Shall Follow Me ...

Mom is a testament of Psalms 23:6, "Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life."  It's been a great and constant comfort to see God's providence for my mom in the past several years.  Mom and I weren't always on good terms, but God has amazingly turned things around in the last several years, and she is a blessing to me time and time again.

This is what I wrote on FB on the 25th of December,
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"I am incredibly touched to learn from mom's caregiver that mom sat quietly and put her two hands together and prayed to God today. I didn't know she still has that mental capacity to do that. Caregiver was so surprised that she called me to tell me about it. Yes, we know Jesus was likely not born on December 25th. But God can honor Himself and honor our celebration of Jesus' birth, and touch our hearts just the same. Thank you Jesus."
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I believe God must have prompted mom to pray to Him that day, as she has lost her sense of date/year since several years ago, and most of the time she doesn't seem to respond even when I pray for/with her.  I used to worry that mom wouldn't know to turn to God for strength and comfort as alzheimer disease progresses.  I don't anymore.  I see God's not limited by mom's illness; He can speak to mom whenever.  I used to feel bad about dad's coma in 2007; now I believe more than ever the sovereignty of God in it.  I used to worry about some dear friends because they seem to have chosen a path that's not of God's.  I will not worry, but pray with confidence because God is God and He is good.