Wednesday, September 27, 2006
In Rememberance of my spiritual father...
Today is Rev. Cheung's birthday. If he is still alive, he is 72 years old. I may not remember what's the headline news yesterday, I may not remember who got the academy award this year, however I can still remember Rev. Cheung's sermon and his impact on me. Rev. Cheung offers my 1st job at church when I finished my 6 months Lay-E committment. From time to time, I will flip through my sermon notebook and review his teaching. His teaching is solid, pierce to heart, rebuking, at the same time brings hope and encouragement. His preaching triggers my appetite to study the bible in depth.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Lecture I - The Reality of Spirituality (Dallas Willard)
Colossians 1:9-14 " For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
The Reality of Spiritualily is nothing mysterious. It is indeed, as simple as what have already heard in the years, however often misunderstood and distracked. That knowledge is actually the 'reality', indeed is our "INNER PERSON", an interactive relationship with God.
To "worship God in Spirit and in Truth" means to relate to God in terms of who we really are:
Not 'performance'
Not counting on outward things to please Him
As we come spirit-to-spirit with God, performance drop away. Worship can't be done when we are hiding. Hiding just means that i am not living in the domain of the spirit, therefore, it is important to 'confess'. When we seek honor from other, we don't worship God in spirit and truth. As we drop our own way, then that's the only occassion when God moves in.
Moving into the kingdom of light means that we decided to live without pretending - we abandon our kingdom to God's rule and don't take charge of outcome.
'In His steps' doesn't mean do what Jesus would do, but to be like Jesus, He "keeps entrusting" himself to Him who judges righteously. Not to just follow the rules/laws, but become a person the law intended, i.e. be like Jesus, the Inner Reality practical union with God. Power effortlessly becoming a kind of person when you do something good, you don't even aware you are doing it. Being 'righteous' is NO BIG DEAL! It is the outcome of Spiritual Formation.
Spiritual Disciplines: fasting, praying, confessing, solitude...etc. These practices... are only 'shell', vessels. The reality is "Christ living in me", closer than my breath, more tangible than my own soul. (II Cor. 4:7) If not kept in their place as mere instruments, they will generate a new legalism of 'spirituality'.
The Reality of Spiritualily is nothing mysterious. It is indeed, as simple as what have already heard in the years, however often misunderstood and distracked. That knowledge is actually the 'reality', indeed is our "INNER PERSON", an interactive relationship with God.
To "worship God in Spirit and in Truth" means to relate to God in terms of who we really are:
Not 'performance'
Not counting on outward things to please Him
As we come spirit-to-spirit with God, performance drop away. Worship can't be done when we are hiding. Hiding just means that i am not living in the domain of the spirit, therefore, it is important to 'confess'. When we seek honor from other, we don't worship God in spirit and truth. As we drop our own way, then that's the only occassion when God moves in.
Moving into the kingdom of light means that we decided to live without pretending - we abandon our kingdom to God's rule and don't take charge of outcome.
'In His steps' doesn't mean do what Jesus would do, but to be like Jesus, He "keeps entrusting" himself to Him who judges righteously. Not to just follow the rules/laws, but become a person the law intended, i.e. be like Jesus, the Inner Reality practical union with God. Power effortlessly becoming a kind of person when you do something good, you don't even aware you are doing it. Being 'righteous' is NO BIG DEAL! It is the outcome of Spiritual Formation.
Spiritual Disciplines: fasting, praying, confessing, solitude...etc. These practices... are only 'shell', vessels. The reality is "Christ living in me", closer than my breath, more tangible than my own soul. (II Cor. 4:7) If not kept in their place as mere instruments, they will generate a new legalism of 'spirituality'.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Once Again...
A little poem to my Lord for He has touched me, once again... with His Love for all....
The story of the old rugged cross...
The sacrifical love of my Lord...
The nails that pierced His hands and feet
Rusted in the wash of the years
His love, however renew daily with tears
My sin, inadequate and self-righteous
You're pure, sufficient and righteous
Jesus bring me to the cross on the hill of Calvary
Lest I forget Your great love in memory
Once again touched by that story of old
My Lord forsake everything to gain my hold
Jesus, I am weak, sinful and poor
Forgive my lust, untrue and fool
Down on my knee to plead Your forgive
Again, please grant me peace
Kneel before my Lord daily in prayer
Grant me mercy to live as You desire
Lest I forget our divine date
Give me enough trials to fall on my knee
My love is limited, weak and shallow
Lead me to Calvary whenever possible
The story of the old rugged cross...
The sacrifical love of my Lord...
The nails that pierced His hands and feet
Rusted in the wash of the years
His love, however renew daily with tears
My sin, inadequate and self-righteous
You're pure, sufficient and righteous
Jesus bring me to the cross on the hill of Calvary
Lest I forget Your great love in memory
Once again touched by that story of old
My Lord forsake everything to gain my hold
Jesus, I am weak, sinful and poor
Forgive my lust, untrue and fool
Down on my knee to plead Your forgive
Again, please grant me peace
Kneel before my Lord daily in prayer
Grant me mercy to live as You desire
Lest I forget our divine date
Give me enough trials to fall on my knee
My love is limited, weak and shallow
Lead me to Calvary whenever possible
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