Living out Deut 6:5-7

申命记 Deuteronomy 6:5-7
以色列阿、你要听．耶和华我们神是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽力、爱耶和华你的神。我今日所吩咐你的话、都要记在心上．也要殷勤教训你的儿女、无论你坐在家里、行在路上、躺下、起来、都要谈论。

Movie: Love Comes Softly

This was the movie we watched together in our cell group last Friday. We initially planned to watch the "Amazing Grace", but were unable to rent the movie in the Blockbuster nor the Rogers video store.

It is a story about a young woman (Marty) on her way to a new life in the West, who suddenly finds herself a widow. With no other options, she accepted the marriage proposal of widower (Clark), who offered her a place to stay for the Winter and provided her with the fare for the wagon train heading back East in the Spring. In exchange, he wanted her to provide a maternal influence for his young daughter Missie.

The love story is really touching, but it is Clark's faith that attracts me. A scene that is memorable is when Clark takes Marty to his "church," a bench that faces a beautiful view, and explains his faith to her:

"Missie (his daughter) could fall down and hurt herself, even if I were right there beside her. That doesn't mean I allowed it to happen. But she knows, with her father's unconditional love, I'll pick her up and carry her. I'll try to heal her. I'll cry when she cries. And I'll rejoice when she is well. In all the moments of my life, God has been right there beside me. The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad thing to happen, it's his promise that he'll be there with us when they do."

"WE SEE WHAT MOST DON'T"

Note: Click image to enlarge.

Came across one Salvation Army ‘Invisible’ poster campaign ad in one of the magazines while waiting in ER lounge. The poster really stirs up my compassion, and reminds me that how little I pay attention to the needy. When got home, little googling found out another 2 posters. Also found the ‘Invisible’ TV ads in YouTube here.

马太福音 25:35-40
因为我饿了、你们给我吃．渴了、你们给我喝．我作客旅、你们留我住．我赤身露体、你们给我穿．我病了、你们看顾我．我在监里、你们来看我．... 主阿、我们甚么时候见你饿了给你吃、渴了给你喝．甚么时候见你作客旅留你住、或是赤身露体给你穿．又甚么时候见你病了、或是在监里、来看你呢． ... 我实在告诉你们、这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上、就是作在我身上了．

The Marks of Disciple

Things are sliding down on my side. Stresses, worries and changes mix altogether in such a short time frame, creating an uneasy atmosphere at times. The coming of mother-in-law, the job changing at work, the excitement but yet anxiety one on the coming of baby. I guess those pieces just have to blend into our life to make this moment even a beautiful and unforgettable one.

It was a great sermon on 2 Timothy 2:2-7 today. It reminds me to be a good disciple no matter what and how things are changing around me. It encourages me to live like a soldier to endure hardship, to act like an athlete to discipline, and to live like a farmer to do the hardwork and to wait in patience for growth and harvest.

As Soldier

• Endure hardship
• Submission to please commander

As Athlete

• Discipline life & training
• Compete according to the rules

As Farmer

• Hardworking
• Dependence or God for provision
• Patience in waiting for growth and harvest
  

OMAC Annual Report

能参与年刊的编辑工作，是一种福份。 在这过程中， 我们体会到文字事工的重要。听过的道，也许会忘记；发生的事，也许会遗忘；相处的人，也许会离开我们；有了这些文字记录，能够叫我们在多年以后仍然不断回味，不住地感恩。在这过程中，我们还体会到弟兄姐妹彼此搭配，同心同力事奉的美好。从年刊的字里行间中，我们更能感到彼此相爱的含义。

今年年刊共由教会部门报告，团契小组报告，教会全年报告，见证篇，照片集等五部分组成。这里的每一篇文章和照片不仅记录了过去一年里我们教会的人和事，也记载这一年里神给我们满满的恩典。 愿它们成为我们最美好的感恩，献给爱我们的神。

愿神祝福我们的教会，带领我们的牧师、执事与同工们打那美好的仗！愿我们每一位弟兄姐妹的灵命都“如鹰上腾”， 成为神所用的贵重器皿。愿神的公义、圣洁和爱充满我们的教会。

Jacob's Movie Night - Devil's Advocate

It is Jacob cell group's movie night again. This time, we are watching the "Devil's Advocate". We really pray that we know our enemy well so that we can well equip ourselves with God's word.

Quote <系统神学>
"撒但的引诱，只是造成一个场合，引起一个机会，使亚当受试探；但撒但并没有勉强亚犯罪。亚当是一个有理解力并自由意志的人，外来的力量并不能违反他本身的志愿和意向，逼使他作不愿作的事。试探的本身并不一定会引致犯罪。主耶稣在世时也常受魔鬼的试探，但他并没有犯罪（太四：1；来四：15）。他坚信天父的旨意，拒绝魔鬼的建议，反对与撒但妥协，终于胜过试探者的奸计（太四：11）。"

Quote <圣经> 约翰一书 2:15-17
"不要爱世界，和世界上的事。人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他里面了。因为凡世界上的事，就像肉体的情欲，眼目的情欲，并今生的骄傲，都不是从父来的，乃是从世界来的。这世界，和其上的情欲，都要过去。唯独遵行神旨意的，是永远常存。"

Quote <陈终道牧师解经书>
"这三样可以总括世上一切敌挡神的罪恶的事在内。亚当、夏娃失败，就是失败在这三件事上，基督得胜魔鬼的试探，也是在这三件事上。可见魔鬼自始至终都是从这三方面引诱人背叛神的（参创三1-6与路四1-11）。"

Quote<圣经>以弗所书 6:10-13
我还有末了的话、你们要靠着主、倚赖他的大能大力、作刚强的人。要穿戴　神所赐的全副军装、就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。因我们并不是与属血气的争战、乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的、以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。〔两争战原文都作摔跤〕所以要拿起　神所赐的全副军装、好在磨难的日子、抵挡仇敌、并且成就了一切、还能站立得住。