I believe there is a fine line between Co-working with others and Having others co-working with oneself.
It is a matter of authority, of planning, of visions.
It is not wrong to choose either one in serving the Lord, but it is wrong to deny such line.
And they should not have relationship such that if you co-work with me today, I should co-work with you tomorrow.
Besides at home, Starbucks, Metropolitan Museum...
1. Food Court at LaGuardia Airport
2. Brooklyn Green-Wood Cemetery (8am-7pm)
3. There are some serene places in Central Park, but not easy to find I would bring insect repellant if it is done outdoors at night.
Hope I could find more. The objective is to find a place of serenity, no disturbance, in one of the most populated cities in the world.
Churches today are fooled by the likes of Rick Warren and Joel Osteen because they admire only that which is popular, instead of truth, instead of the true mystery of God's words.
No doubt these great authors have written some very motivational books, however, it is the way they present what they have LEARNED themselves, which makes their works popular, not great, but popular. Like magicians who are very good at keeping their secrets.
I wish I could get my hands on the book by Neil Duddy: The God-men
Some have trouble with God's love especially when they face difficulties.
I supposed the greatest president of U.S. have something to say about this, to paraphrase Lincoln:
Are you sure it is that you are on God's side? or that God is on your side?
We all know God does not love every humans in the world. As stated in the Bible: God does not hear sinners (John 9:31), "I pray for them, I pray not for the world (John 17:9) The grace is sufficient for all, but efficient for only the elects. Who are the elects? We don't know all of them, we cannot measure anyone else's true heart except that we ernestly check our own with a seeking and yet fearing heart towards God, our Creator.
Many Christian leaders today, including full-time preachers and pastors, are not really preaching the Gospel. They are stocking the Gospel. Preaching is to take the initiative to go out and talk to people about the heart of God. Storing the Gospel is waiting for people to come and ask, and then you give them. That is not preaching, that is stocking.
However, if one studies not the Word, if one has no concern of God's will, how can one truly preach the Gospel, but merely pretend to follow God's commission.
Not all are called preachers, not all are called pastors, but we must all recognize the gift and commission God bestowed upon each and everyone of us to achieve our full potential.
I would firmly obey Matthew 23.
Nonetheless, as what the passage later states, those who see that their pastors or preachers have been living in a fantasy world, should still recognize their authority and do what they say. Turn those anger and despise to NOT doing what the hypocrites do.
I believe this is an important subject the immigrant Chinese christians here in America need to seriously work on.
Very caring? Yes, but watch the motive. It should not be for the purpose that others would stay or join the church. It should not be for the purpose that others would serve or co-work. It should not even be for the purpose of graying the distinctive black and white of this subject.
What happened today was a wake up call. The fox and the grapes, Javert vs Valjean, mammon and God.
It was the first of such offer. My first time at this kind of mistake. It will surely be the last.
There's an urge in me to make many times this much on my own, nonetheless, control. What if my hope is set too high and is not the measure of potential given me; or so what if I've done it, who am I proving to? Who deserves such worth? Who am I proving for? Do I cloud my own judgment with the will of God?
A good company is not built on bills and benefits, nor is it built on blind judgment. A good company is built on the goodness of God bestowed upon men.
Let my righteousness exceeds the righteousness of these.
I do have to seriously pray for John Chen. As I heard last night after visiting CCGCLI during our dinner discussion that they are going to start a fellowship and the topic would be on the book of Hebrews. It would appear that John wished to use Rev. Tong's seminary lectures on the Hebrews as study materials, which is a great thing. I can only pray that God keep this fellowship, bless this fellowship and guide John richly according to His will.
I was silent back then but I am deeply moved and thanking God now. Lord, may you be with them always through the hardest road they will be facing, Amen.
