Leaving CCGCLI

I have decided it is imperative for me to leave CCGCLI.

Many would say, since I have just taken deaconship in the church, I should stay for 3 years, as stated in the regulation.

I beg to differ.

I have rejected this position for more than 2 years now because I do not see the need for more deacons in the church. And strongly opposed the idea that the number of deacons needs to meet certain quota.

In the Reformed principle, deacons are helpers, when the church is struggling with administrative situation.

It is a principle I still strongly hold.

I accepted the position because the pastor who recruited me convinced me that this could only be temporary. And since he's one given the authority to choose deacons, his words is counted. He had successfully conned me of how reformed he was, something I would have to watch for, for this is my weakness: One should always immediately be able to discern the real belief of another from what he says he belief.

It's been almost half a year now and I see there's not much need of my presence as deacon except to fill the deacons number quota and to make me stay because I had mentioned on numerous occasions before I became deacon that I have to leave. And since I have made no promise to stay 3 years nor does the regulation implying such to be the minimum as it also discusses solutions where a deacon should leave before the next nomination, hence my decision.

I believe I have much more responsibility in the city where I stay. I see the whole world as my parish, not just CCGCLI. If I can serve the Lord better, why should I seize?

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A Lesson in Love - Confession of Timothy Law

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

For I know if I get any closer to her, I would have fallen in love for her, as I already had. One who has been a good friend to me, one who also has already gotten herself a boyfriend now. Even though it means nothing more than good friendship to her, every time we spent time alone together face to face, the more I see her, the more I listen to her voice, the more I know her, the more I love her.

It may also seem as innocent to me, but deeply I know, my love has grown for her and it is excruciating having this kind of love, having sleepless nights. I could be patient, I could persevere but deeply I also know, it is wrong, for it will invite envy. How can this love be pure, how can this love be agape, if it has jealousy, if it seems selfish, if it is self-seeking and care not for others.

Timothy Law, you should know better. If you truly love her, be content.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

 

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13)

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Long-Winded Me

I really need to focus on simplicity. Making my sentences short, my conversation to the point, and simple.
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Art of Pastoring

Preach in truth. Be a shepherd with a father's countenance and a mother's heart.[@more@]

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Soli Deo Gloria

The evangelical Christians focus on families, friends so much that they could not realize that they are not giving glory to God. They think they are, but it just turns out that they merely "understood" they must give glory to God.

The reformed Christians today focus on Soli Deo Gloria so much that they fail to see it has to do with peace and joy in families and friends. 

 

I believe the key in these problem is cowardice. Not willing to face conflicts, escaping from controversial subjects. Because if we do, we might get out of control or if we admit we don't know the answers we feel we have shamed Christianity. And since laziness plays a huge role here as well, we tend to ignore it and use other excuses to run away from our responsibilities.

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Victor Lin Plays Jazz Piano in Bryant Park

Watching Victor play Superb Jazz in the park made me wish I could play like him. Astonishing. I remembered listening to another piano player in the same park, it wasn't as interesting. With Victor Lin, there's a couple of people even came dancing on stage voluntarily.

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New York City Tram

It wasn't until this last Monday did I actually find out that there's a tram in NYC. It's located between 59th Street 2nd Ave and Roosevelt Island.

The first time I tried it was scary. Perhaps it was because it was late at night and very few passengers were on board. I rediscovered my fear of height. But it was fun. 

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My Flaws

I realize I have two major flaws:

1. Too easy to promise. Lack of plan and action.

2. Too talkative...simplicity seems harder to learn than I thought. 

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Seeing the Unseen

There leaves a certain image of a person on whomever he or she was in touch in.

There is no escape from such truth. There is no privacy from this revelation. Therefore one must use it justly. 

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On Decision to Leave my Long Island Church

It's been 7 years I've been with this church, and I think it's time for me to move on.

My mission and my vision in the city has not been productive because I couldn't commit enough as I thought I could. 

Ever since I've taken the short seminary courses, I have learned a lot and was greatly motivated to preach the Gospel and to serve God in orthodox doctrine.

I believe I have shared my most precious treasures with fellow members of CCGCLI, but it is time for me to leave.

From all that I've learned, observed and studied, I find that authority is very very important. And that is what many church leaders fail to realize. This authority is obviously not the kind of authority in "human" terminology. But because there's no other words in our limited expressive language, it is such so that TRUE authority triumphs over false authority. Those who have this authority, often failed to use it with the excuse of "humility". Those who have no such authority, faked it with the excuse of "compassion".

Since the last Sunday school, I've been thinking for a long long time, especially yesterday, from dusk until almost dawn, that I've come to realized that my position there is more of adding a number rather than having an authority in my position.

I have declared that my time serving there was up long ago. But no one seemed to take it seriously and instead, made me deacon, and there were even some "supposedly innocent" form of beauty trap involved. I can see how truly enthusiastic and God loving they are in sharing God's love, which is why I've been staying with them to learn from them. But time has come that I must make my stand in my faith that whatever we do, we cannot disregard our intention, purity of motives and God's will even though we might think that what we do is done "on God's side". I had seen there's no need for such task of deaconship before as the church wasn't too big or that one need not be a deacon to help out in certain area. I was naive in accepting it eventually, but I was wrong. Before it has been made official, I must step down immediately. Otherwise, the motive is not right and it has been something I've been preaching against.

I must soberly see the church of God as the whole pasture and not just CCGCLI. 

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