An Effective Witness: Building Relationship #2                           

by Pastor Daniel

 

Last month we talked about the importance of building relationships with people.   I hope that we are working on this.  What we had gone through and how God has led us, I hope has made our hearts bigger for others and mindful of their needs.

 

As we work through these three elements, may we see ourselves impacting or touching others. 

v  I care about you. 

v  I appreciate you.

v  Tell me more about what you are doing.

 

This is from the caregiver perspective.  Likewise from the recipient, it works the same way.  They too have three very important questions that they are constantly asking of us:

v  Do you care for me?

v  Can you help me?

v  Can I trust you?

 

Jesus summarizes the greatest commandment as wholeheartedly loving God and fervently loving men.  It is only a concept.  We must make it applicable and “see-able” and “feel-able” in everyday lives.

How then does it take us to do that effectively?

Take the initiative: Be the first to make the move.

Malcolm Bane said, “If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you will end up not doing anything for anybody.”

 

The trouble with many of us is that we prefer to wait for others to make the first move.  We usually operate with this mentality.  “If he makes the first move, then I will respond.  Otherwise, we will continue to wait.”  Take the initiative.  Don’t wait.

 

It is time to reject such passivity and make the first move if we are to impact others and be a witness for Jesus effectively.  We must be people who connects with other people.  That is how we connect them to Christ ultimately.

 

We have a lot of captions on tee shirts and bumper stickers that tell us glaringly how people are longing for another’s concern and care.  Words like, “I need a hug!”, “My hug is priceless”, “Love is not put there (the heart) to stay, love isn’t love till you give it away.” and the list goes on.  The question is “Why are people not doing it?”  Maybe it is time for us as recipients of God’s love and grace, to say, “Let me make the first move.”

 

Would you step out of your comfort zone (be it your private space, familiar friends, people you know, etc) and make that first move?  Like Sam Walton who made a pledge called the “10 Foot Rule” said, “From this day forward, I solemnly promise and declare that everytime a customer comes within ten feet of me, I will smile, look him in the eye and greet him.”

Be Selfless: Make the point to give, not just receiving  

While it is true that naturally we are takers, God meant for us to give.  When God created everything, it gave and produced the desired results.  When God made the sun, it gave light and heat; when God made fruit trees, it gave forth fruit; when God made livestock, they gave eggs, milk and meat.  Everything that God touches gives.  What about us today? 

 

Man’s chief end is to live to glorify God in every way.  That would mean giving.  God called Abraham so that he could be a giver of blessings.  God called us today to be his children and servant, so that we could be channels of His blessings.  We are blessed to bless others.

 

To touch others then, we must be willing to give, sacrificing time, energy and money.  That takes patience, to slow down and to listen to the needs of others.  To put ourselves in the shoes of others.

 

How often we stop at a traffic light for example, and the moment the light turns green the driver behind you honks at you.  It makes you angry and upset.  You are tempted to probably get out of your car, walk to the driver behind you and say, “Why don’t you move my car while I sit in yours and honk the horn for you.” 

 

To give also involves loving the other.  It is putting another person’s interest at heart.  That again may be difficult because we are selfish by nature.  The moment we are born, it is all about us!  “If I like it, it is mine.  If it is in my hand, it is mine.  If I can take it from you, it is mine.  If I want it, it is mine.  If I say it is mine, it is MINE!”

 

It may sound like a child - it is in fact.  Paul says “When I was a child I think like a child but when I grow up I give up childish ways.”  Let us all grow then and grow out of our selfish ways, thus liberating us to live a victorious and fruit-bearing disciples.

 

CONCLUSION

As we are approaching two years as a church here, may we grow into significance.  As we move on, let us move out of ourselves.  At the end of the day, it is really not about myself.  It is about whom I have touched and to whom I have been a blessing.  That is significance and that is life.  May God continue to bless you as you seek to bless others.

 

一个有效的见证：建立关系(第二集) – 丘其威牧师撰写

 

上个月我们谈到与人建立关系的重要性。我希望我们都有在这方面努力。我更希望因着上帝的带领和我们自己的经历，我们会更关心别人。

 

当我们向别人说出以下三句话时，但愿我们可以影响或感动到他们：

• 我关心你
• 我赏识你
• 告诉我更多你所做的事

 

这是从关怀者的角度来看，若从受关怀者的角度来看也没有差别。他们也常常有很重要的问题要问我们：

• 你会关心我吗？
• 你会帮助我吗？
• 我可以相信你吗？

 

耶稣总结最大的诫命为全心地爱上帝，热诚地爱人。这只是一个观念。我们要实行出来，让别人在我们日常的生活中看得见也感受得到。

 

我们要怎样才能做得到呢？

 

采取主动：由你开始

Malcolm Bane说：“若你要等到你能为每一人做每一件事，而不是为某些人做某些事，那么结果就是你不会为任何人做任何事。”

 

问题是很多人都想先等别人开始。我们常想“若他开始了我就回应，不然的话我会继续等。”

 

如果我们要成为耶稣的见证人去影响别人，那么我们就不可以如此被动，而是应该积极采取主动。我们要与人保持联系，那么最终才能让他们和基督有联系。

 

很多T-恤上的图片和汽车保险杠粘贴的标签上都明显地告诉我们，人们是多么渴望得到别人的关心和关怀。这些标语包括：“我需要被拥抱！”， “我的拥抱是无价的”， “爱不是只放在心上的，爱不是爱直到你把它献出去”等等。问题是“为什么人都不去做呢？”或许是时候让我们这些领受上帝的爱和恩典的人说“让我踏出第一步！”

 

请问你肯离开你的舒适区（可能是你的私人空间，熟悉的朋友，你认识的人等等）而踏出第一步吗？就像曾许下“10尺规则”诺言的Sam Walton所说“从今日起，我郑重承诺并宣告每当有一位顾客走进我10尺之内的范围时我一定会微笑，注视他的双眼并迎接他。”

 

不自私：施比受更为有福

虽然我们的本性确实是只想多多领受，但上帝的意思是要我们多多付出。上帝创造的万物都是多多付出的。上帝创造太阳，太阳发出光和热。上帝创造果树，果树供给我们水果。上帝创造牲畜，它们供应蛋，奶和肉。上帝所造的每一件东西都多多付出。但是今天的我们又如何呢？

 

人类最终的目的就是在各方面都荣耀上帝。上帝呼召亚伯拉罕是要让他能够成为赐福者。今天上帝呼召我们成为祂的儿女与仆人，是要让我们能够成为上帝福分的管道。

 

要感动别人我们一定要甘心付出。我们要有耐心，慢慢聆听别人的需要，将心比心。

 

举个例子，你在交通灯前停车。灯一转绿，在你后面车的司机就按喇叭，这激怒了你。你很想下车对他说：“最好你去驾我的车，让我坐进你的车，对着你按喇叭！”

 

付出也包括彼此相爱。就是常常为别人着想。这或许也很难做到因为我们的本性是自私的。我们一出世就是这样！“只要我喜欢的就是我的。只要是在我手中的就是我的。只要我能从你得到的，就是我的。只要我要，就是我的。如果我说是我的，就是我的！”

 

听起来很幼稚 – 确实是。保罗说：“我作孩子的时候，心思像孩子，意念像孩子，既成了人，就把孩子的事丢弃了。” 让我们一起成长不再自私。

 

结论

我们的教会已成立两年了，我们要有意义的成长。我们向前迈进时，要放下自己。因为最终不只是关乎自己而已，而是关乎我们曾经帮助过谁，我曾经成了什么人的祝福。这才是最有意义的，这就是生命。当你努力去祝福别人时，愿上帝继续祝福你

 

 

An Effective Witness: Building Relationship

by Pastor Daniel

 

We are now in the 2^nd part of the year.  The first is over and there are less than five months before the year ends.  As such, we must begin to evaluate what we have done the past six months or so.  We do this all the time to keep track of what is happening in our lives.

 

As such, what about the church?  How has it been the first part of 2010?  How transformed have I been?  How much has God changed me?  How have I allowed God to do the work of transformation to become a better person today?

 

As we have stepped into the second half of the year, we ask yet another question - “How can I be an effective witness for Jesus Christ?”

 

God has shown to us and through our experience, witnessing comes through building of close relationships.  I praise God for the relationships we see built in our midst which became a tool to introduce Jesus into their lives.  This is because God is interested in people and relationships. From Genesis to Revelation, the fabric of biblical truth is woven with the thread of relationships: Prefect relationships in the Trinity; Broken relationship in Eden and Restored relationships in Christ.

 

Let us therefore work at building relationships.  Whichever way we look at life, the bottom line is relationships.  Remember that when Jesus grew, he grew in stature (physically) and in wisdom (intellectually), in favor with God (spiritually) and with men (socially).  Jesus is a person of relationships.  If that is the case, what can we learn from him?

 

“I care about you.”

To connect with anyone, this is fundamental.  It is about having interest in others first.  Theodore Roosevelt, the 26^th president of America said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  We heard this statement so many times.  What does that mean?  It simply means I am willing to step out of my world and enter into another’s world and say, “I care about you.”

 

Jesus walked along the road to Jericho and stopped to look up into a tree and said to a man whom he knew was there saying, “Zacchaeus, come down, I am coming to your house today.”  What a strange thing that happened to Zacchaeus that day.  Never would he imagine someone, especially a Jew would want to come to his house, let alone a well known, miracle working Jewish Rabbi.  That changed him.  He saw and felt that Jesus cared for him.

 

Many people in our midst have the feeling that they are fighting life’s battles alone.  They needed someone to come along and say, “I care about you.  How are you feeling?  How can I help relieve those pains?”

 

“I appreciate you.”

If we were to make a survey as to how people feel in general in their work, they would probably say that they are not appreciated.  Value is another element in one’s need.  Have you not noticed how a grumpy face at the bridge toll booth can turn into a smile when you said, “Thank you.”?, or to the cashier at Jusco who received more complaints about wrong pricing, wrong change, forgotten free gifts, and others.  Did we also notice what a simple “thank you” can do for him or her?   

 

Living in a complex culture today, we have forgotten little “favors” done for us.  Today, we complain more than we compliment.  The people who cross our paths want to be appreciated.  Their need is for appreciation and value.  Do we value people who are close to us?  Or have we already taken them for granted.  Remember your “thank you” the next time.

 

Jesus never overlooked that when a woman came to shed tears on his feet and wiped it dry with her long hair and finally completed that act with perfume.  She was criticized for what she did and only Jesus appreciated that and complimented her act of gratitude and faith.

 

I believe a community will be better connected with acts and words of appreciation expressed towards one another.  That is what the Bible says about honoring your brothers above yourself.

 

“Tell me more about what you are doing.”

The next bridge builder in relationship is getting ahead in the interest of others than yourself.  I believe in a pragmatic world today, we think of ourselves so much that we forget that there is someone in front of us. Many people around us feel that they are forgotten, even our own family members when we get so engrossed with our interests, our affairs, our concerns and our passions.  We left the other person out. 

 

Remember that Jesus was once very busy with Jairus, having to rush to his place because his daughter was very sick to the point of death.  But on his way there, he met a woman with a great need that many would have forgotten but Jesus did not.  He connected with her and singled her out to show that her concerns are important too.  Jesus could have continued on with his journey as the woman was already healed.  Why would he stop to start a conversation, much to the anxiety of Jairus?  Because there is another one with a need as well.

 

Conclusion

Let us be people connectors, people builders and fishers of people!  May God bless FCC to be a community of believers who are transformed and who are effective in her witness.

 

 

一个有效的见证：建立关系 – 丘其威牧师撰写

 

至于教会又如何呢？2010年的上半段教会过得怎么样？我改变了吗？ 我被神改造了多少？今天，我是否让神陶造自己成为一个更好的人？

 

在踏入2010年的下半段后，让我们问自己另一个问题：“我要如何为耶稣基督成为一个有效的证人？”

 

借着神的启示，与我们个人的体验，我们了解到一件事：见证须通过与人建立密切的关系才生效。我赞美神因看见在我们当中有人通过与人建立关系的管道而把耶稣带入他人的生命中。这是因为上帝对人与关系有极大的兴趣。从创世记到启示录，圣经的真理与关系就像丝线与布料般交织在一起。

 

我们可看见三位一体的完美关系；在伊甸园的破裂关系与在基督里的修复关系。

 

因此，让我们努力与人建立关系。无论我们如何看待生命，最终的底线总是关系。要记住当耶稣成长时，祂的身量与智慧并神和人喜爱它的心都一齐增长。耶稣是一个重视关系的人。若是如此，我们能从祂身上学习到什么？

 

“我关心你”

在与任何人联系时，这都是十分重要的。我们先要对别人产生兴趣。美国第26th 总统Theodore Roosevelt 曾经说过：“人们不在意你懂得多少，却在意你关心他们多少。”我们听过这话很多次。这句话是什么意思？它意指我愿意踏出我的世界去步入另一个世界并说：“我关心你。”

 

耶稣在行走去耶利哥城的路上时，祂停下来抬头看一棵树并对树上的人说：“撒该，快下来！今天我必住在你家里。”那天发生在撒该身上的事是何等奇异。他从来没有想过会有人，且是犹太人要去他的家，更何况这人是因行神迹而远近驰名的犹太拉比。这改变了他。他看见了，也感受到耶稣在关心他。

 

在我们当中，很多人都觉得自己在孤军作战。他们需要有人走近来说：“我关心你。你觉得怎样了？我如何能减轻你的痛楚？”

 

“我赏识你/（我肯定你）”

如果我们去做一个调查，看看普遍上的人们对自己工作的想法，很大可能性他们会说自己的表现不被赏识。价值感是另一个人们需要的元素。你曾察觉到吗？在高速公路的收费站时，你的一句“谢谢你”会使一张烦躁的脸孔顿时传为微笑。或者在Jusco的收银柜台，

THE QUEST FOR GODLINESS                     

a summary from FCC Family Camp

by Ps Daniel Yaw

 

“The Quest for Godliness” was the theme of the family camp 2010.  Why such a theme this year?  As leaders we have prayed over this matter and came to this conclusion that as God’s people in the process of transformation, affecting change and become a witness, there must be this continual quest.

 

With that in mind and spirit, the Lord has led us into inviting Pastor Ooi who was our theme speaker for the 3 days at Sungai Petani, Cinta Sayang Golf Resort.

 

What he shared was something so relevant and well packed in our understanding of godliness.  When we hear this word, “Godliness”, inevitably, we think only of our moral character.  As Christians we need to be as flawless as possible in our character.  However, when the Word was shared on the first night, many of our hearts were enlightened to see godliness as the original design for all man only to be disrupted by the entrance of sin resulting from the wrong choice of Adam and Eve.

 

God has not given us up yet.  God had in mind even before the foundation of this world to redeem mankind and to restore this original design in godliness.

 

HOLISTIC GODLINESS: THREE ESSENTIAL DYNAMICS OF GODLY FORMATION (TRANSFORMATION; REFORMATION)

 

With that, he brought us back to Genesis to see what God has in mind.  Basically it entails these three dynamics of godly formation, namely,

 

1. The Relational Dynamic: With God, Other Persons, and Creation

2. The Character Dynamic: Toward Holiness and Wholeness

3. The Vocational Dynamic: Discovering Purpose and Meaning

 

In the Relational Dynamic, man was created for relationship.  Man was in perfect union and communion with God.  When sin came into the world by disobedience, the first thing that took place was this disruption.  When God called Adam in the garden, instead of coming in all openness before God, Adam and Eve had to hide from God.

 

Ever since that day, man in general has been hiding from God.  But God has not given up on this relationship.  Today the work of redemption is to reconcile man to God.    The first thing has to do with peace with God.  We are reconciled to God and given the ministry of reconciliation, says the apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth.  We carry today the message of reconciliation.

 

In other words, in our search or quest for godliness, it begins with this relational dynamic - restoration of our relationship with God, followed by our relationship with fellowmen and creation.  It is all about relationships today.  Christianity is surely more than just a religion, it is about a relationship with God and with man.

 

Thus in our search for godliness, we pursue after this.  Jesus, when asked about the greatest commandment, summarized it by saying, “To love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your might... and to love your neighbour as yourself.”  That is the relational dynamic.  In I John 4:7, it says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and loves God.”

In the character dynamic, it is our character holiness.  God in saving the people of Israel says, “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:1) surely meant the character dynamic.  The whole focus of godliness is about the pursuit of holiness in our character.  It hangs on the promises of God in Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

 

The process we go through is what we called “being transformed” by the renewal of the mind, by the pattern of life after God’s kingdom, by the pursuit of inner godliness.  IN the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7, it is the kind of life to be lived on earth - the kingdom life.  A life of character conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.  Our quest is what the apostle Paul said that if we are in Christ, we are a new creation.  The old has passed and the new has come.

 

Finally in the vocational dynamic, it is about “doing the will of God”.  It is about discovering our spiritual gifts.  It is about knowing the great commission and the great commandment.  It is about recognizing one’s calling and one’s willing obedience to what God wants to do for us and through us.

 

Conclusion

Let us look at the example of Isaiah who had a high and lofty vision of God, whose glory filled the temple.  He had the knowledge of God’s holiness and a very close relationship with God.  He came into grip with himself and saw his unworthiness.  He was then touched and transformed by God.  That concluded with the response of his willingness to serve God and sent out to preach to His people.  That is a picture of godliness.

 

May FCC members be found in this journey - the quest for godliness.  To be people with a wholesome relationship with God and men, to be people whose character shines out Christ and to be people who is obedient to God.

 

敬虔的追求

信心教会家庭退休会主题信息的摘要 – 丘其威牧师

 

2010年的家庭退休会是在双溪大年的Cinta Sayang 渡假村举行，为期三天。主题是“敬虔的追求”。为什么会定这个主题呢？我和教会领袖们在为此事祷告后得到的结论是当上帝的子民在改变更新以成为美好见证的过程中应该持续地追求成为敬虔的人。随后上帝带领我们顺利地邀请到黄牧师为主题信息的讲员。

 

黄牧师的信息让我们对敬虔有更完整和贴切的了解。通常当我们听到“敬虔”这个词，就会联想到道德品格，以为基督徒应该尽量在品格上没有瑕疵。然而从第一个晚上的主题信息中，很多人被开启 – 原来敬虔就是照着上帝的形象被造的那个形象，后来因着亚当和夏娃错误的选择，罪就进入了世界，也就破坏了这个形象。然而上帝没有就此放弃，甚至在世界被造之前祂就已定意要救赎人类以修复这原有的敬虔形象。

 

全面的敬虔：形成敬虔的三个主要动态(改变，更新)

首先，黄牧师带我们回到创世纪去看上帝的想法，基本上概括成为敬虔的三个主要动态就是：

1.      关系的动态：与上帝，他人及一切受造之物

2.      品格的动态：迈向圣洁和完全

3.      使命的动态：发掘用途和意义

关系的动态：人类因关系而被造。人与上帝原有完美的联系和交流。当罪因人的不顺服而进入了世界，这种关系马上被破坏了。在园子里当上帝呼叫亚当时，他和夏娃不但没有坦诚地来到上帝的面前，反而躲避上帝。从那一天开始，人类普遍上躲避上帝，但是上帝并没有放弃这个关系。今天救赎的大工就是使人与上帝和好。首先就是要与上帝和睦。保罗在写给哥林多教会的书信中提到我们已经与上帝和好并被托付去完成使人与上帝和好的事工。今天我们要传讲的就是有关人与上帝和好的信息。

 

换句话说，敬虔的追求始于这一种关系的动态 – 修复我们和上帝的关系，接下来就是与其他人和一切受造之物的关系。这一切都是有关现今的关系。基督教不单只是宗教，而是有关与上帝和与他人的关系。所以要成为敬虔的人就要在这方面追求。

曾经有人问耶稣什么是最大的诫命，耶稣回答说：“你要尽心，尽性，尽意，尽力爱主 – 你的上帝…其实也相仿，就是要爱人如己。”这就是关系的动态。约一4:7记载说“亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认识神。”

 

品格的动态：这是有关我们品格上的圣洁，上帝对以色列人说：“你们要圣洁，因为我耶和华 – 你们的神是圣洁的。”(利19:1)祂指的就是品格的动态。敬虔着重于高尚品格的追求。这是根据上帝在罗8:29的应许。“因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法他儿子的模样，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。”

 

我们所经历的过程就是所谓的心意更新而变化，过着上帝国度的生活方式，竭力追求内在的敬虔。在马太福音的山上宝训中所提到的就是这种活在地下的天国生命，一个效法耶稣品格的生命。我们追求的新生命就是保罗所指的若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。

 

使命的动态：这是指遵行上帝的旨意，是有关发掘自己属灵的恩赐，认识大使命和最大的诫命。这也关系到要清楚上帝对我们个人的呼召。对一切上帝要为我们做的或要透过我们去做的事，我们是否愿意顺服上帝的旨意。

 

结论

最后让我们来看先知以赛亚的例子。他在异象中看到了至高无上的上帝。上帝的荣光遍满圣殿。他见识了上帝的圣洁并与上帝有很密切的关系，从发现了自己的卑微。他被上帝触摸并改造，他的反应就是甘心服事上帝乐意奉差遣去向上帝的子民传讲上帝的信息。这就是敬虔。

 

但愿信心教会的弟兄姐妹都会踏上追求敬虔的旅途。我们都能与上帝和人都保守美好的关系，有基督样式的品性，并凡事顺服上帝。

 

 

 

Will the Real Man stand up! 

by Pastor Daniel

This month we celebrate another special day for another component in the family - Fathers’ Day.  He is called the head of the house, the lover, the provider and the protector.  Sounds like he carries an awesome responsibility as well.  As Pastor David Kwok shared on Mothers’ Day, said, “The Father is the navigator in his boat of his family.”

 

As I think of fathers’ day, I think of the lessons on manhood that we are involved lately.  The need for father figure is a demand today.  If we are not careful, we are slowly losing it as portrayed in the media in sitcoms like “Everybody loves Raymond.”

 

Drawing from the thoughts of Robert Lewis, (author of Authentic Manhood), the world today needs men with a life of balance.  A real man is a balance of 4 expressions:

 

The Face of a King

This expression is the love of the right.  It is the face reflecting the righteous energy.  It is the very basis of a man’s principle with the desire to be right.  It there a crisis today on that issue?  Of course, with the lure of new age relativism where there is no longer absolute truth.  Truth is truth.  In the Bible you see that face reflected in King David when confronted by prophet Nathan about his secret adultery using a story.  When David heard that story, the love for right caused a surge of anger within him and pronounced death to the man who did such an evil deed.  When Nathan pointed his finger at him, “You are the man!”, it is the same face who in hearing the words of a righteous man did not excuse himself but merely said, “I have sinned.  You are right.  I have done wrong.”

 

It is a face characterized by strong convictions and courageous moral choices.  Today, the face is phasing out.  We cover up instead of standing to what is right. 

 

“A righteous man who walks in his integrity, how blessed are his sons after him.”  (Proverbs 20:7)

 

The Face of a Warrior

The warrior face says, “You know, I am going to lose weight” and then it does.  It says, “I am going to change” and he does.  It is the face that says, “Let us do it!” because it is right and he takes ownership over it.  This face is a reflection of conquering energy and characterized by initiative. 

 

In the family, he says, “I am going to take care of you.... no matter what it takes!”  Again we need this face that would face the onslaught in life.  He perseveres in the midst of all kinds of adversity. It is not destructive, it is positive.  He rides above circumstance and make those changes because it is necessary.

 

“Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  (2 Timothy 2:22)

 

The Face of a Lover

This face is somewhat as unnatural to man as the Warrior is natural, because love is more difficult for most men.  After all, how often are we nicknamed, “Kayu”.  It is the Love who picks up his wife’s real needs; willing to make sacrifice to spend time at home; who opens his heart and share things that he really feels.  It is the emotional or romantic energy.

 

Tenderness, sensitivity, sacrifice, emotional openness, physical affection are characteristic of this face.  He balances his warrior face with a lover face.  It is firm yet loving.  It is truth yet gentle.  Paul in his letter gave a tall order to men in every generation when he says in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church.”  There is truly only one command given to man to treat their wives and yet we have not got it right!   Let us heed to the command of God.

 

The face of a Friend

Today we live in a world of acquaintance and superficial relationships, where no one around us do we feel close enough, to trust with the secret things of our life.  This face is a connecting energy, characterized by loyalty, accountability and challenge and of course just pure fun!

 

Being able to connect is having the ability to allow others to speak into your lives and you speaking to other’s lives as well.  The power of connection will always result in powerful changes.  “No man is an island” - how true a saying.  Would that be the reason why we are facing crises like identity crisis, significant crisis, mid-life crisis and others?  We need such connections today.

 

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17) and that takes FRIENDSHIPS!.

 

Conclusion

I wish all fathers, a Very Blessed Fathers’ Day and all man out there - a celebration of real manhood.  May God’s blessing of wholeness and life of balance of these 4 faces be seen in our midst.  And we will see all the real man standing up!

 

站起来吧，真正的男人！

－丘其威牧师撰写

 

这个月我们要庆祝另一个特别的日子－父亲节。父亲被尊为一家之主， 他也是爱人，供应者与保护者。听起来他肩负令人肃然起敬的重任。就如 郭大卫牧师(Rev.David Kwok) 在母亲节时所说的，“父亲是船中或家中的导航者”。

 

当我想起父亲节时，我不其然的想到了近来所上的真男人课程。今天我们迫切的需要一个正面的父亲形象。若我们不谨慎，父亲的形象就会逐渐没落。就如我们在电视喜剧片“每个人喜欢的雷蒙”（Everybody Likes Raymond）中看到的父亲形象一样。

 

诚如真男人课程的作者Robert Lewis 所说的， 今日的世界需要一个拥有平衡生命的男人。 一个真正的男人 应有四方面的特质。这些特质能以四种面貌反映出来。

君王的面貌

男人应有君王的气概，是公义的，是喜爱正义的。一个男人为人处事的最基本原则就是公义，做正确的事。今天我们是否面对这样的危机，人们不再坚持去做正确与该做的事？尤其是在受到新时代的相对论影响之下，似乎已没有了绝对的真理。然而真理还是真理！我们可以在大卫王身上看到这种气概。大卫王在暗中范下奸淫的罪后，先知拿单来到他面前说了一个故事。当大卫听到那富人的不义罪行后，就恼怒的宣判那人该死。先知拿单指着大卫说：“你就是那人！”

 

大卫没有找借口为自己的罪行掩护。他当下说：“我得罪耶和华了，你是对的，我犯罪了！”大卫做了符合道德的选择。他有强烈的认罪意识。在罪行被揭发后，他勇敢的承认自己犯罪，并站出来承担后果。今天，拥有这种气概的人已经逐渐消失。我们犯错后总是试图去掩盖而不是站出来勇敢面对。

 

箴言20：7 行为纯正的人，他的子孙是有福的。

战士的面貌

战士是创始成终者，战士决定要做的事，他必定成就。如果战士说：“我要减轻体重！”他一定做到。当战士说：“我要改变！”他就会积极的去达致目标。战士就是那个说了就做的人。若战士说：“让我们一起来做吧！因为这是正确的事。”他就会一马当先扛起责任。战士的面貌反映出来的是征服的能力，他事事采取主动！

 

在家庭里，他说：“不管如何，我要照顾你！”我们正需要这种面貌来面对生活的挑战。在各种逆境里，他坚忍的面对。他充满了建设性的思想，而不是破坏性。他是奋斗者，他胜过环境，他会在有需要的地方作出改变。

 

提摩太后书 2：22  同那清心祷告主的人追求公义，信德，仁爱，和平。

 

爱人的面貌

对男人来说，这种面貌是比较不自然的，因为男人较难去表达爱。很多时候，男人都被冠上“木头”的花名。但因着爱，他愿意去承担妻子的需要。情愿牺牲，花时间在家，敞开内心坦诚的分享他的感受。这是一种罗曼蒂克的力量。这种面貌展现出来的特质包括：温柔，敏感，舍己的关爱，开通的思想与肢体的爱。

 

他用爱人的面貌去平衡战士的面貌。保罗在他的书信中下了一道严格的命令给每一个时代的男人。以弗所书5：25说：“ 你 们 作 丈 夫 的, 要 爱 你 们 的 妻 子, 正 如 基 督 爱 教 会.”这是唯一赐给男人当如何对待妻子的命令。但很多时候我们都无法做到。让我们留心听上帝的命令。

 

朋友的面貌

今天我们活在一个人际关系疏远且表面化的时代。我们感觉不到身边有足以信赖，让我们能交心的朋友。这个面貌展示连接的力量。他的特质是：忠诚可靠，有责任感，有挑战性，且满有乐趣。与人连接就是让别人走入你的生活，也让你介入别人的生活。连接的力量常会形成巨大的改变。“没有人是一座孤岛。”这句话多么贴切。若我们孤立自己，我们可能会面对身份危机，重要危机，中年危机等。今天我们需要与人连接。

 

箴言27：17 “铁磨铁，磨出刃来，朋友相感也是如此。”

 

这就是友谊！

 

结论

我祝福所有的父亲们一个非常蒙福的父亲节。并祝所有的男人都有一个值得庆祝的真男人气概！

 

愿上帝齐全的祝福临到我们；也愿在这四种面貌中取得平衡的生命彰显在我们当中。我们就会看到所有的真男人站起来！

 

 

A Tribute to All Mothers! 

by Pastor Daniel

Introduction

A teacher had just given her standard 2 class a lesson on magnets.  Now came the question session, and she asked a little boy, “My name starts with an M and I pick up things.  What am I?”  The boy replied instantly, “A mother!”

 

We honor all mothers again during this time of the year.  Why are mothers so special. They are special because for all its stumbling blocks, pitfalls and broken dreams, for all the soiled diapers, soiled wallpaper and spoiled plans, we’re talking about a beautiful ideal, a natural part of God’s creative plan to bring love and caring to light. Motherhood is a constant demand for the gift of love and caring.

 

We always hear about the fatherhood of God.  Well the Bible did not forget the mothers too.  The Bible does equate somehow the love of a mother to God’s love for us all.  That God’s love is unwavering.

 

We talk so much of the Father God and forgotten the “mother-love” of God.  There are actually a few occasions whereby God’s love is described as a mother.

 

However what is so unique of a mother’s love?   

 

Safety and security.

Jesus himself said these words in Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

 

It sounded as though the heart of God is broken over the stubbornness of His people.  Will they ever be willing?

 

What does that have to teach us today as we honor our mothers?  Well, they are the symbol of our understanding of God’s love for us.

 

Have we ever seen baby chicks interact and question mother hen?  At the slightest sound of danger, you will see all those little chicks rush and tuck right under mommy’s wing.  It is the best place and the most secure place in the world for those frightened chicks.  Now that is the place of safety, security and comfort.

 

I thought of King David who was constantly threatened by war , enemies and even betrayal by his own.  While he could spend sleepless nights worrying over his life, he wrote in Ps 17:7-9, "Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me."

 

The prophet Isaiah when he spoke of the restoration of Israel has a couple of times talked about God like a mother.  Isaiah 49:14-15,

" But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.” 

In another passage, Isaiah 66:12-13,

“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

 

That is how God loves us.  A mother never forgets.  A mother comforts.  A mother sacrifices.

 

Relationship and compassion

Then as we consider those themes, we see the longing for relationship and compassion seen in mothers.  They teach us the lesson of how we look at relationships today.

 

Fast forward to Jesus’ time. Never again would the Israelites turn to other gods. But rather than trust in the LORD and his promises, they began to trust in their ability to keep his law. That's when the religious parties began to develop; the scribes, the Sadducees, the Pharisees.

 

They thought they were being faithful to God, but they'd actually become his enemies again. The letter of the law rather than the spirit or the Lawgiver himself was all that mattered.  And in the process of trying to keep the law perfectly, they were actually breaking it. They had forgotten that the whole point of the law was love for one's neighbor. For them it became just the opposite of love. “Stone the adulteress! Avoid the leper! Don't touch the wounded traveler! Cast the sinner from the dining hall!”  There was no concern for sharing God's love and forgiveness, no desire to bring the lost and erring to repentance.

 

Are we learning the lessons of “motherhood”?    Is not relationships important in our lives?  Are we building right and strong relationships to communicate love and compassion?  May FCC be known for her value on relationships and each one of us contribute to the building of that to glorify and honor God.

 

Conclusion

Someone once asked, “When we are in doubt (especially in grey areas), what do we do?”  What is the right thing to do?  Well, when we are in doubt, I believe grace must be employed and consider first.  That is what the Lord has taught us, in his dealing with people.  When we have the law, employed it on ourselves, when we have people before us, employed it with grace.  May our mothers be a signpost of God’s love for us and our love for our fellowmen.  May God bless all mothers in FCC!

一个对所有母亲的敬意！

丘其威牧师著

 

简介

一位老师正在教她的二年级学生关于磁铁的知识。现在是回答问题的环节，老师便问小男孩，“我的名字是M 开头的，我把东西拾起来。请问我是谁呢？”那个小男孩随即回答，“一个母亲！”

 

我们再一次地在这个时刻向所有的母亲致敬。为什么母亲是那么的特别? 她们特别,因为他们面对阻碍，陷阱和破碎的梦想，要处理肮脏的尿布，肮脏的壁纸和破碎的计划，我们现在是讲关于一个美善的理想，这是上帝的创意计划中最原始的，上帝要把爱和关怀带给我们。从以前到现在，母爱一直都是爱和关怀的礼物。

 

我们时常听到有关于上帝的父爱。在圣经里也没忘记母亲。在圣经里有提到母亲的爱和上帝对我们的爱是相等的。上帝的爱是不动摇的。

 

我们经常讲关于天父的爱，把上帝对母爱的诠释遗忘了。其实有几次在圣经中，上帝的爱是被形容好像母亲那样。

 

但是母亲的爱有什么特别呢？

 

安全和安全感

耶稣自己在马太福音23:37所说的话语，“耶路撒冷阿，耶路撒冷阿，你常杀害先知，又用石头打死那奉差遣到你这里来的人。我多次愿意聚集你的儿女，好像母鸡把小鸡聚集在翅膀底下，只是你们不愿意。”

 

这里听起来好像上帝的心破碎了，因为他的子民顽固。他们可曾想过要服从呢？

 

在向母亲致敬的同时，这一篇经文教导我们关于什么呢？ 这里象征并让我们了解上帝对我们的爱。

 

我们是否曾见过小鸡跟母鸡沟通和问母鸡问题呢？听起来或许有一点危险，你会看到那些小鸡奔向母鸡并揣在母鸡的翅膀里。被惊吓的小鸡认为母鸡的翅膀里是最好并且是世界上最安全的地方。现在上帝那里是一个安全，充满安全感和舒适的地方。

 

我想起大卫王，他经常地面对打战的威胁，敌人甚至自我的背叛。当时他整晚都不睡觉，担心他自己的性命，他在诗篇17:7-9中写到，“求你显出你奇妙的慈爱来。你是那用右手拯救投靠你的，脱离起来攻击他们的人。求你保护我，如同保护眼中的瞳人。将我隐藏在你翅膀的荫下，使我脱离那欺压我的恶人，就是围困我，要害我命的仇敌。”

 

当以赛亚先知分享以色列的修复时，他有几次说到上帝就好像母亲。以赛亚书 49:14-15, “锡安说，耶和华离弃了我，主忘记了我。妇人焉能忘记他吃奶的婴孩，不怜恤他所生的儿子。即或有忘记的，我却不忘记你。”

 

另一篇经文，以赛亚书66:12-13,

“耶和华如此说，我要使平安延及他，好像江河，使列国的荣耀延及他，如同涨溢的河，你们要从中享受。（原文作咂）你们必蒙抱在肋旁，摇弄在膝上。母亲怎样安慰儿子，我就照样安慰你们。你们也必因（或作在）耶路撒冷得安慰。”

 

这就是上帝如何爱我们。一个母亲永远不会忘记。一个母亲的安慰。一个母亲的牺牲。

 

关系和怜悯

当我们思考那些主题，我们会在母亲身上看到她渴望与我们有着联系和充满怜悯。她们教导我们如何看待现在的关系。

 

让我们转到耶稣的时代。以色列人没有再投向别的神。但是他们不相信上帝和上帝的允许，他们开始相信他们又能力保守上帝的律法。在当时就有各种的宗教团体开始发展，抄写员，撒都该人，和法利赛人。

 

他们以为他们对上帝忠心，但是其实他们又变成上帝的敌人。他们在意记载律法的书信多过上帝的灵或者是真正的立法者。在尝试保存律法的完美的过程中，实际上他们已经犯了律法。他们已经忘记律法的中心点是要爱别人。他们的行动是与爱对立的。“向犯奸淫的人丢石头！避开麻风病患者！不要触摸到受伤的旅客！将犯罪的人赶出饭厅！”他们并没有关心到分享上帝的爱和宽恕，没有带领遗失和犯罪的人回头。

 

我们是否有学习到有关于母爱的教导？关系不是在我们生命中很重要的吗？我们有没有建立正确和坚韧的关系来传达爱和怜悯？希望信心教会能以关爱别人闻名，并且希望我们每一个人都对赞美和荣耀上帝中做出贡献。

 

结论

有一个人问，“当我们心中有疑惑的时候（特别是灰色地带），我们要做什么呢？”我们应该做什么才是正确的呢？当我们心中有疑惑的时候，我相信我们一定要先运用并考虑到恩典。这是上帝跟人们接触的时候所教导我们的。当我们有律法，把它运用在我们当中，当我们对待人的时候，要以充满慈悲的心来使用律法。愿我们的母亲成为上帝的对我们的爱的招牌，和我们对于同胞的爱。愿上帝祝福FCC的全体母亲。