Forgiveness and Restoration

Forgiveness and restoration are completely different things.

One allows the possibility of another.

Both have to mutually work at each stage to make anything possible.

Restoration can't occur until forgiveness is mutually sought.

Be real.

Mission Madness

So many cross-cultural missions happening this coming month! Please pray for:

1. The SDBC Team going to Tokyo, Japan

They still need 3 homestays and time is ticking before they leave. Please pray for this! Please also pray that God will make divine appointments with the Japanese people through the team. Pray for sensitivity to the Japanese culture, and for relationships to grow during their stay.

2. Pray for the CCCB Team going to Cambodia

Praise God for the young team of CCCB guys and girls going to Cambodia! The country is so in need of God's unconditional love. Pray for the kids programs, the english learning classes, and all the conversations that the team has with the Cambodian people, that everything will be done for the glory of God.

3. Pray for the Taiwan Missions team

Praise God for the ministry that has been consolidated over the past years, and the relationships that have been made with the taiwanese people. Praise God for the new members on the team going to Taiwan and on missions for the first time. Pray that God will continue to move within the taiwanese people and that people will come to faith.

4. Pray for the TBC team going to India

Praise God for this unique experience for Zee Zhang and the others going! Praise God for the work that missionaries have been doing in India for the past century. Pray for continued support for the christian movement in such a hindu stronghold, that God will break the chains of Satan that are holding the Indian people down.

Its such an encouragement to see God's name go out to the ends of the earth!

Maybe a miracle is actually required..

Found this gem on my Iphone from my visit to Malaysia and staying in my cousin's old room... but reading it from a totally opposite perspective than before...

The Miracle of Friendship

There's a "Miracle called Friendship"

that dwells within the heart,

And if you don't know

how it happens

or when it gets its start...

But the happiness it brings you

always gives a special lift,

And you realise that "friendship"

is

God's most precious gift!

Christian Hypocrites

"Christians are a bunch of hypocrites"

I have heard this strong phrase many times while speaking to non-Christian workmates and friends, and wished they would look deeper into Christianity. I wish they would look at the real Christians, the ones who are actually following God and living a life for Christ. I mean, there are so many of them out there!

This is probably the way I have thought about Christians and hypocrites until the past few years. Now when I hear this statement, my feelings are sadness and disappointment. After experiencing more of life, looking at people, Christians, and 'Christians', I am just at a loss looking at 'Christians' who live the life of the world. I am saddened looking at Christians who put themselves out as good, nice, and Christ-like, but deep down they can be the total opposite, without any guilt or regret. Where has the honesty, humility and sincerity gone? Then I revisit this common secular phrase again, the stumbling block for many people looking into Christianity, and think again - "Yes, it could be their lack of interest or their uniquely bad experience, but maybe its a wake up call for us too".

Maybe its time for all of us to look honestly, humbly and objectively at ourselves, and really ask ourselves the hard questions: Am I being Christ-like in all my life? Or am I just 50% there, or whatever it is. Am I holding this part of my life ransom and not giving it up to Christ, and why am I doing this? Sure life is busy, but life shouldn't be busy enough that you can't even think about where you're at with life. We need to examine ourselves, monthly, weekly, daily, and continue to move towards Christ-likeness, so that our lives can be a witness to the one God who is sovereign and has saved us from our inequities.