If people leave the church, the pastor is to be blamed (or at least the pastor is ultimately responsible). - Paraphrasing my dad.
Many will try to defend pastors in this but pastors are still pastors. Though we must view God's anointed with all reverence; we should discern right from wrong from even the leaders.
It's not uncommon. Little girl in a Florida kindergarten told that praying is not good by lunch teacher after praying for her food.
No, I'm not surprise by it. I am bringing this up because I am beginning to see a pattern, that the anti-Christian movements seems to be obvious only in the Bible-Belt arena, while liberal cities rarely see this kind of cases.
One sees the need to fight against the fundamentalists, while the other tries to not mind anybody else's business (that means, no greeting, no preaching, no helping, no nothing).
My conclusion is that the hostility is there. It shows that if Christians were to speak up, Satan will come to work. His job is already done, when Christians do nothing.
This is pertaining to the free online course at Ligonier Ministry: The Person and Work of Christ.
Towards the end of the main interview in the 3/28/2014 hr-3 show, @ time frame 32:45, while doing my morning TOEFL setup routine at NYGC all alone at 7:30am and listening to my podcast, I heard my name & comment got mentioned as one of the comments Janet brought up in order to share/promote the free online class, and I smiled unbelievably:
...and then, I'm going to go one more, so you can hear the types of answers we're getting here, that were so...so good, I love this one, this is from Timothy. Asked the question: "Why do you think it matters so much that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine?", and I love this, he says: "If Jesus is only fully human, you become a liberal; If He is only fully divine, (longer pause) you become a pharisee." (chuckles) It's good. So all kinds of great answers...
I have to admit that I have been checking myself of pride ever since. But this happens so rarely to me that I had to find a way to remember it. It is also important for me to jot down how a professional broadcaster/journalist like Janet talks about it - such as the "longer pause" point I marked in bold and the rephrasing of the question, since mine was also the last answer she was quoting.
Interestingly, the partial chronology of Old Testament I did was being linked by a page online. An encouragement for checking my entries for accuracy.
Recommended by Stan Honda in AAA Monthly Newsletter, April 2014. $300.
Motorized astrophotography tracker.
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” ~ Winston Churchill
How much doctrinal unity you need to partner with someone depends on what you are partnering with them for. - Tim Keller
I once asked on FB during a rare Q&A by Keller pertaining to the workshop: Center Church: What do you need to compromise? I did not receive an answer.
Indirectly, after almost a year, I saw this in his Tweets.
Pros are expected. Cons have to do with fellowship quality.
From time to time, I ponder upon the case when Rev. Tong took Michael from NYC to be trained near him in Indonesia. This also brought to mind the "unannounced" testimonial/sermon Rev. Tong had Michael give while others are expecting sermons from only Dr. Tong.
So there are two things to consider. For which I have yet to have clear answers. However, I have recurring response to each case.
1. It is the incompetence of NYC pastors (Mainly Chinese), particularly one that Dr. Tong had originally trusted Michael to. On top of incompetence, the pastor and elder felt that their pride was hurt and to the contrary, claimed that they have too many people serving and that they do not think Michael was serious enough to serve in their church.
Michael focuses on preaching the Gospel and that is what I take from him. Unfortunately, many of the Chinese immigrant seniors love to act the role of mentor/builder/founder on a ministry but never to be judged by others. I would not be surprise if they consider Alex, who's had numerous academic achievement, as the prodigy of their fruit. Simply because they've given support to him. However, they realized that they couldn't do that to Michael, the credit wouldn't be theirs but Dr. Tong and others'. I don't care about their politic. But they have reasons to make me skeptical about their attitude towards the Gospel. Judging from who they ask to teach the children and who they ban, I have concluded a serious doctrinal error they have made. They praise men more than God. I cannot be a part of it, even though Rev. Lin and perhaps others, had planned for me to be the church's next pastor, what a joke. I had better get out while I could. Like escaping hell's fire.
They couldn't deal with Michael, James (another kid that's like the "old" Michael, curious in theology but has character problem). They wish them out of the church, I'd say.
I admire Dr. Tong's sense of responsibility to this extend. I am not sure if it is a task that would overwhelm him, in other words, not a problem he should take. This, I can only pray.
2. This is a more troubling one. My answer have been that even if Michael was to speak in between (or in place of?) Dr. Tong's sermon, if it is going to be long enough, Dr. Tong should have made it known to the host prior to the event, because everyone thought it was just one sermon from Dr. Tong. Some may feel that they have been cheated out of their precious time to be forced to listen to someone they did not expect.
Of course, I have to consider the nature of a rally, the communications between Dr. Tong and the organizers, etc. Nothing but prayer I have.
From my own judgment, Michael will have enemies that he himself is not aware of and take as friends. I shall pray to God for this concern.
On such quest:
All are quite patient.
Many seek after academic (not epistemological) achievements.
Many seek after connections with people (specifically of high official status), such as the leaders at CCCNY.
Some neglect all of the above but seek to obtain power in a non-power pursuit. Seeing others disillusioned with the convention idea of power. This is where I was.
It is better to neglect all of the above and focus the power that's only from God. From the Holy Spirit. The only tool for such power is the Word of God. Everything else will be provided: One must learn to let go any of the above without nostalgia. That which is of God matters.
As for social connections, those who are of God, pray for the hope in them. Those who twist God's way from within (even if it is passively), understand the grace that is bestowed upon them but be watchful lest be tainted by them (do not bind with them 不与他们相配，不和他们同负一轭 - 2 Corinthians 6:14), rebuke them when necessary (but many in the leadership roles know how to avoid that, so be it, seek no association with them), those who seek not God, show them mercy with wisdom.
Michio Kaku's assertion: Plane blew up and drifted away to Indian Ocean.
I have no time to follow up this news.
