My Journal

Malaysian Anthem Negaraku:
Music based on Pierre-Jean de Béranger(1780-1857)'s "La Rosalie".

Chung Ling High School Anthem:
Lyrics written by Mr. Wang Qiyu, a teacher.
Music by American songwriter Henry S. Thompson in 1857, titled "Annie Lisle". Later used by many alma maters and popularized by Cornell University's "Far above Cayuga's Waters".

(source: wikipedia)

By leadership I mean the roles of a preachers, thus pastors, elders even Christians with certain authority included.

Not including those charismatic megachurch that doesn't really dwell in the pursue of God's word.

Churches have low number of congregants, low attraction, no more respect from others, why?

Because of vain sermons? No edification for their souls? All true in the most likely case.

Recently I got a response that "They should serve in the church"...what? Non-christians should serve in the church so that the church can be stable in number and be an example to the world in this way? What about a true servitude to God? What about the truth? What about the meaning of sanctification?

Cause:

Lazy to preach, not willing to face rejection.

Consequence:

Chosen the easy road instead of facing the problem.

Convinced of the righteousness of the easy road.

Therefore, no wonder they love to use the term "慕道友". Because they only want "non-christians" who are INTERESTED to be christians. This is what they called "preaching" the Gospel to the world.

So, they sit in stationary, waiting for non-christians who are "interseted" to come.

So, they want them to serve, since they are "interested" enough. Which is good for the number too - for if serving, they are more likely to stay.

So, they love to use the term volunteer, 義務， 義工. Because it is the only way to convince non-Christians they can "serve", as long as they make 事奉 = 義務.

No wonder, they cannot stand sinners who are "Not Interested" in Christianity. No wonder they cannot bring people to Christ, people whom they don't like. No wonder they have no problem letting nice non-christians to serve in the church.

And no wonder they cannot benefit even fellow christians spiritually.

They have stopped growing, they have played the part where there's only talk but no action. They have learned how to be laborious in vainity and have shown themselves to be very good at it.

Had I not read C.S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed", I might not have been reminded to beware of the vain comfort many wish to exclaim.

Last night, I've received news from Facebook that Rev. David Chen has passed, on the 23rd. of cancer.

The first thought that came to my mind was what Paul had said in 1 Corinthians 5:5. That was my grief back then, that was my prayer. I would say seeing a couple of recent photos of the seemingly much older, incredibly skinny man brought some joy to me, amidst the anguish. I no longer need to call him "fat" anymore. What's more, he was wearing an old green STEMI Rally T-shirt...ah...the reminiscent of old times, what comfort to know he had no hard feelings even after quiting the organization. But then again, could my comfort be of vain value? What assurance do I have of his repentence? For all purposes, that could have been the only cloth he could find at that time. I do not want to be fooled by myself, nevertheless. I am therefore more inclined to believe in David Chen's salvation, although I will not look to those who love to say "He is with God now". For I would rather ask them, "have you ached for his fall, his weakness? or did you just dismiss them in denial?".

My fear is that I had not prayed enough for him. I was sadden long before so many of them, therefore I should have prayed harder? How then was Paul praying for Hymenaeus and Alexander?

Granted, I have not ceased my prayer for his wife, his children, but what would that justify?

I grief, but not like them. I am no better than my Lord's servants before me. I pray of my own soul, the strength for me to push through all obstacles to my God, whether they be of "good" intentions or not, may God grant me the strength and the discernment. Amen.

Is most likely to be 173 pounds, after reading from another scale, a more reliable one, which is located in the pharmacy school which I work.

These 99 cent store products really have problem with measurements. What can I say? It only costed $10. I don't even trust the cooking cups I bought from such stores. If only I have the time to look for trusted everyday measuring tools. Perhaps ebay is the only easiest way to go.

The Man and the Lion

A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon
began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in
strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a
statue carved in stone, which represented "a Lion strangled by a
Man." The traveler pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong
we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The
Lion replied: "This statue was made by one of you men. If we
Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed
under the paw of the Lion."

One story is good, till another is told.

After reading this Aesop's Fable, I was immediately reminded of a time while I was in Arkadelphia, an american asked me about Kung Fu movies: "Why asians are always the losing ones in the end?", not knowing much about kung fu movies, especially "American" ones, I had replied, "I don't think so...there are some..."

Of course, some thousand year old slave already had the perfect answer to this.