I remember a pastor once said that attending a smaller church is much preferable because one has more opportunity to serve.
I beg to differ: Worship is a form of serving too. And last but not least, many who has taken the liberty to serve are not reckoned by God-In the end, Jesus will say to them: I never knew you, depart from me.
I've heard one has said because they have no television, more time to read. True. But I also think that because they don't talk vainly. This perhaps made those who are prominent.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Gal 5:26 不要贪图虚名，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。
The healing of the sick of the palsy who was let down through the roof was the first Biblical account where Jesus directly forgave a person's sins in public. (Matthew 9, Mark 2, Luke 5)
Now when the scribes and the Pharisees reasoned in their hearts, Jesus perceived their thoughts and asked the question, "which is easier...to say thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, rise up and walk?"
I do not believe that both are of equal choice. Therefore, "rise up and walk" is the easier one.
Unlike today's attitude, the Israelites knew very well that God's mercy is not something to be trifled with. They have experienced it, they have treasured it with fear and with the utmost reverence.
To them, miracles are rare but not unfamiliar. And they have laws governming the proceedings of all these.
Today, when we say we forgive someone, we often still hold grudges against them in our hearts, or we made it a closed pandora's box or we pretend it never happened. More so, we are even encouraged by some scholars to have this attitude with the excuse that "we are humans, we are weak". Sure we are weak, but this is not supposed to be so. We must learn the proper aspect of forgiveness. If we cannot forgive someone in truth, the way God does us, we must pray for God's mercy that we be purified first, lest we be tempted to walk the hypocritical path.
Then we will know the true value of forgiveness of sins and recognized the power of the Son of man to forgive sins in TRUTH and not take it for granted.
What happens when colleges and universities are more interested in $$$ than education? Do not fear, YouTube is here. Nowadays, there are more and more where it comes from, MIT's OCW, etc. A better management of courses will guarantee towards victory over the institutions that actually produce certificates and diplomas.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psa 30:5 因为，他的怒气不过是转眼之间；他的恩典乃是一生之久。一宿虽然有哭泣，早晨便必欢呼。
What kind of mentor is he, if he has no right to rebuke us.
Rick Warren's method is simple, first tolerate as much as possible for number gain. After achieving fame and popularity, then focus on the doctrinal issues. In contrast, Jesus achieved fame without toleration of anything outside and then He exhibited compassion.
The reality show Secret Millionaire, produced in Britain and America, where Millionaires pretending to be poor people living among the real poor people in poverty neighborhoods for a week and then revealing themselves giving these people a large checks in hundreds of thousands each, reminds me of the kind of missionaries sent out from America.
