10/3/2026 Saturday
Attended Crossroads Men's Fellowship event: Serving without Burning Out. Led by Pastor Dan. We have about 5 randomly formed 4-people smaller groups. It's basic but engaging. It appears that this session was created due to the double worship services we have during school seasons. Personally, I believe that they do not have a strong view of what it means to serve God or grow in God from serving. The volunteerism is strong, despite Pastor Dan's dislike of that term. When one serves God, one seeks to grow in the Word, in apologetics, etc. I see no indication of that. Only Bible verses from Elijah to Moses as companionship with burnout in serving. Verses like "Take up your cross daily, Luke 9", "as a living sacrifice, Rom 12:1", Genesis 3, were mentioned to contrast Christian-sacrifice vs. self-destruction.
I asked the pastor about those who thought serving in their own ministries is enough to serve in a local church, the pastor said he's never met someone like that. I didn't want to name names as they are just probable candidates anyway. I'm certain that there are plenty at Crossroads who are members of more than one churches and find themselves serving other churches rather than Crossroads. Perhaps I wasn't clear in my question. I didn't want to press on as I prefer to hear from those who do serve in this church as well as not steer off topic (i.e. burnt out vs. more than one ministry). It seems also that the meaning of the word "work" or "serving" needs to be clarified. However, it appears that the pastor only view burning out in the scope of having no time, rather than fellowship with God and church (why would I serve with you if I do not know you?).
Another interesting question I do have, which has always been there ever since I am with an American cultured church more is that Western culture prefers to wait for someone to volunteer; while Asian culture prefers to solicit someone to volunteer. So the real question would be, who is suppose to ask who? Silent judgment certainly won't solve this.
9/27/2026 Sunday
So Nadia didn't feel good in the morning, probably due to the hotpot we ate at home last night (high sodium, spicy), causing morning dizziness. The weather was also not that great, chilly, serious flooding here and there due to a weekend heavy nor'easter storm. So I took the opportunity to visit a Chinese church that I have on my list: 新澤西華人福音會, Chinese Evangel Mission Church of New Jersey in East Brunswick. 10am service, 11:45am Adult Sunday School. I attended the Mandarin ones. Theologically, it's highly topical sermon: Blessings through Trials. I met a Fuzhounese guy named Tony, who was converted after finishing the Bible in 30 days for his immigration trial, and another named 永春 (who doesn't know 詠春拳) whom I asked about evangelism (they go to senior homes). They played hymns (Mandarin session), pianist appeared very talented, she's wife (洪師母) of the minister I believe. The one leading Sunday School (they have about 6 classes, but for some reason Tony took me to the beginner's class where some are expected to not be Christians I would imagine based on the Q&A - topic's on What is the Bible to You), is from Sabah, Malaysia. I should start revising a list of churches I've visited in NJ, with basic details.
An interesting short debate happened regarding Bible vs. Buddhist texts during Sunday School. One guy mentioned: 例如像佛經, 最重要的教義有所謂『三法印』，就是：
涅槃寂靜（最終解脫的境界）
諸行無常（一切事物都在變化）
諸法無我（沒有永恆不變的自我）
可是沒告訴你 從哪來去哪 它只是告訴你一個現象 可是沒告訴你 怎麼開始 怎麼結束.
But Tony retorted: 有！大樓炭經, 起世因本經 (Aggañña Sutta (Pāli; DN 27)), 有講, 我昨天晚上剛翻到.
Of course, ultimately we are still comparing a superior Christian creation theology vs. Buddhist observational cyclical cosmic theory.
For more comprehensive resources on Buddhist texts, Google AI:
The primary Chinese Buddhist texts that correspond to these teachings are:
Samsara and Rebirth (General Sutras): The broader cycle of coming and going through the twelve links of dependent origination is systematically detailed in the 《緣起經》 (Yuánqǐ Jīng) and the 《大緣方便經》 (Dàyuán Fāngbiàn Jīng).
The Agganna Sutta: Known as 《起世因本經》 (Qǐshì Yīnběn Jīng) or 《大樓炭經》 (Dà Lóutàn Jīng). In the standard Chinese Āgama collections, it is recorded within the Long Discourses as part of the 《長阿含經·世紀經》 (Cháng Āhán Jīng·Shìjì Jīng).
The Abhidharma Texts: The most comprehensive text detailing this cosmic model is the 《阿毗達磨俱舍論》 (Āpídámó Jùshè Lùn), commonly known as the 《俱舍論》 (Abhidharmakośa Śāstra).
The Kalachakra Tantra: Known as 《時輪怛特羅》 (Shílún Dátèluó) or 《時輪經》 (Shílún Jīng).
After church, I then went to Asia Market (美東) to buy some lunch for Nadia. Later, we watched back to back Nezha 1 & 2 on the bed. Nadia liked the movies.