You are the Potter, I am the clay

http://www.newlifechurch.org/ check out the column that says "Senior Pastoral Transition" In summary, Ted Haggard and his family will be relocating from Colorado to another place but will continued to be counselled. NLC has kindly decided to continue to see them through the process of their restoration. As I read the letter, I see the grace in the midst of discipline. I asked myself, what's restoration? We've always think, restoration must be back to ministry. For a big man like Ted Haggard, he ought to return to ministry. But the overseers of the church decided that restoration of the whole man is the priority and will take years. I think this is grace, the grace of God at work through human agents who love God and his church. Honestly, I am very touched by what the overseers have done and have learnt the real meaningful purpose of restoring a man of God. It is first and foremost a restoration in his relationship with God. I quote part of a letter "There should...

It's very interesting that yesterday I blogged about Christ being evidenced in my life, my relationships with others and blah blah blah. During the LNY period, I had many family gatherings. On the 3rd day of LNY, I went back to my mum's home for dinner. My aunt (mum's younger sis) was there too. Just when I stepped into the house they were starting their dinner at about 6pm. She asked me to join them repeatedly, by the third 'call' I replied her in a rude tone and told her I'll eat later as I was not hungry. Yesterday my mum told me I should apologize for my tone, I explained that she was too naggy and gave her my reasons for retorting in that manner. After a day and a night of thinking, I think I should apologize. My husband also think I should. Well.. when more than one person think you should apologize, you better. I called her today to apologize for my tone of voice and to my surprise she didn't sound as annoyed as my mum had told me she was. Well, put t...

Heard a sermon yesterday by Rev. Edmund Chan. He defines Revival as "responding to God's transforming presence" Revival is an act of God, Revival is God revealing His transforming presence to us. Our respond to God's transforming presence is crucial for a spiritual reformation. The result of our response to God's transforming presence will producemany things. Yet it is not the signs alone that tells us revival has taken place. It is the change of heart, the switch of allegiance that causes that the impact of that revival to last in our hearts. Many a times what causes the frequent instability and inconsistencies in our walk with God? A heart not totally yielded and surrendered to God for transformation. We fear that our surrender to God will rob us of our pleasures... yet the greatest truth is when we surrender, we will experience the greatest joy. It's because of our lack of trust in a great God that causes us not daring to put both feet forward. If we have n...

what does pride look like, sound like? 1. I'm better than you - "Why are you not doing this, doing that to be better so that you can be like me?" 2. I can spot the speck in the eyes of others from miles but fail to see the log in my own eyes - "another person's flaws always seemed more serious, more detrimental, more sinful than mine" 3. I am doing ministry right and you are doing it wrong - "how come you are not doing this/doing that?" Pride creeps into our lives so subtly that we never realize until we look deep inside our hearts. Many gathered around the woman who was caught in adultery, dragged to the streets and demanded a verdict from Jesus. They look so right, so honorable in front of the woman in shame. Yet Jesus spoke one sentence and all left one by one. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." To Jesus, Sin is Sin. No lesser sin, no greater sin. Adultery is sin, lying is sin, looking at a...

God is always on time, never late!

Last Sunday's sermon was simple and edifying. I've always enjoyed listening to missionaries because I consider them those who are on the front line of sharing the good news. To me, they are the true theologians who put their theology into practice. Unlike armchair theologians who write pages and pages of thesis without taking one step out of their 'comfort zone'. Those of us who do not 'go' usually have so much considerations back home. We 'count the cost' and decide that staying at home is the best for us. How much of our 'cost counting' involves God? Cost counting tells us the realities, the facts but God has never worked around our realities. He gives us a great alternative, partner with Him and walk in faith. Christian Consumerism has crept into the Church i.e. "What can God do for me, What has God done for me and What will God do for me?" I cringe at times when I hear testimonies of "What God has done for me this and that...

Saw this interesting story this morning online and decided to put it up as a reminder to myself. "The ability to see sin in others and ignore it in your own heart is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a Pharisee, and being a Pharisee is so easy. It's great to make rules to guide our own behavior, but when we extend those rules to everyone around us, we're in danger of becoming pharisaical." the problem with rules: it only dictates behaviour, it does not transform life.