\nA month had gone by. Little did I know what big events had happened
\nduring the time of the rally. Like the trapping of the Chilean miners
\nincident. Of which the rescue was still on going and the 33 miners had
\nlived in isolation from the rest of the world for about a month now,
\nhalf way through freedom. I wonder who in the rally was aware of it.\n<\/p>\n
\nSo here I am, as I have promised myself to continue the afterthough.\n<\/p>\n
\nI
\nforgot to mention in part 1, that it was interesting having Dr. Tong to
\nconduct the choir for "Worthy is the Lamb - Amen" of the Messiah.
\nInteresting because, not only we had little rehearsals prior to the
\nevent (4-5 times), now we had to deal with a different conductor, with
\nonly one short trial a night before. I won't complain, not in this case.
\nBecause it is more than just a concert performance, it is about a
\npreacher of God showing the world directly the beauty of Handel's
\nMessiah, a blessing from God. "Amen" is the hardest piece, I believe,
\nnot just in the Messiah, but of all the pieces we sang. Hardest because
\none could easily be lost in his\/her section due to the most confusing
\nbut beautiful counterpoint I've ever experienced. But despite the
\nconfusion, I thank God for my previous experience in OSNY which had
\ntrained me to be very attentive to every parts (though there's still
\nroom for improvement for myself) to help me stay on track.\n<\/p>\n
\nI
\nliked singing in that choir because I was singing with confidence in a
\nconcert hall for the first time. Nevertheless, I was less impressed by
\nthe fact that I could hear myself all the time, very clearly, in
\ncontrast to my experience with OSNY. I imagined they (OSNY) saved their
\nvoices during the rehearsals and blasted out during the real performance
\nI could hardly hear myself and I was afraid to be confident to avoid
\nsome embarrassing mistakes.\n<\/p>\n
\nI think Dr. Tong find us singing too softly.\n<\/p>\n
\nOver
\nthe past few weeks, I am gradually convinced that I should be on the
\nalert of not mixing any of my called ministry with the Ameristians.
\nAfter looking back at how Rev. Lin stopped me from preaching, to how
\nawful her supervision of the rally was done. Awful due to the sole
\ncontrol of Rev. Lin. I'm sure, like many Ameristians, she would prefer
\nto think it as a "congregationally" planned event. Thus, it is no one
\nsingle person's fault. This kind of "I'm just the overseer and any fault
\nmust also be covered by all the co-working staffs" attitude is
\nsomething I must stay away from with whatever authority is given me. If
\nJoseph could rely on God and manage a whole ancient empire without
\nblaming his responsibility on anyone else, I'm sure with God's help, I
\ndo not need a diseased part such as Rev. Lin. It is better she be like
\nking Saul, and I, David. Taking no credit from her but God and other
\nGod's true servants.\n<\/p>\n
\nWhy has it come to this, why is it so hard
\nfor any evangelical rally in the cities, which have high populations,
\nbut not proportionally balanced outcome.\n<\/p>\n
\nFor the Chinese here, is
\nthe use of the term "慕道友". Rev. Lin loves to use this term. Perhaps the
\nolder Chinese do also. Where is such a verse in the Bible? Not even
\nsuch notion. One is either a Christian or he is not. There's no such
\nthing as in between position, like he's neither good nor bad. What are
\nthese preachers afraid of? As if by calling them such, they are granted
\n"half" membership in the Kingdom of God, that they do not have to face
\nthe labor of birth as one is needed in repentance of their sins? "All
\nright, your next step is just say YES to everything the church pastor
\nconfirms with you in public"...any problem with their later beliefs-it's
\ntheir problem because they've said YES already-I'd just help as much as
\nI can.\n<\/p>\n
\nHow irresponsible. Thus, the problem is not the
\nnon-Christians here in the city. The problem comes from those who
\nprofessed to be Christians, those who have upgraded their status from
\n"慕道友" to believers without any personal breakthrough in the Lord, those
\nwho have helped them in such upgrade. Their piety, is a committive one, a
\nsocial driven one, not a personal one with the Truth.\n<\/p>\n
\nI must say,
\nthere is much for me to learn from. I remembered when my dad told me
\nhow Rev. Tong scolded those in Penang when they didn't bring their
\nnon-Christians. It was a different scene in New York City. When asked
\nhow many Christians, almost all raised their hands, and they laughed, at
\nthemselves. Rev. Tong didn't show any sign of anger, but responded
\ndifferently, how, I've forgotten. Perhaps he was tired, perhaps it was a
\nsituation I am yet unaware of. I give this great mentor of mine plenty
\nbenefit of doubt. Though I am not oblivous of my Lord principles.\n<\/p>\n
\nI
\ncannot comment too much on the content of the rally, the message,
\nbecause as a choir member, I am not present for that all the time.\n<\/p>\n
\nI
\nhope Rev. Tong comes back. I have no problem co-working with Rev. Lin
\nagain, if she commands. I will be more prepared, more responsible, evangelical-wise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A month had gone by. Little did I know what big events had happened during the time of the rally. Like the trapping of the Chilean miners incident. Of which the rescue was still on going and the 33 miners … Continue reading