Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year!

Wishing you all have a wonderful time in the season.

Merry Christmas and may the peace of God be with you all and forevermore!!

Enjoy the Hawaiian Christmas song!

The coming of a King

I gave a talk at my daughter's school Christian club last Friday before the Thanksgiving holidays. Although this wasn't my first time speaking before a crowd, it was my first experience to speak before a group of American teenagers in High School.

I was pretty nervous about this engagement. The first reason was I didn't know any of the students in the Christian club except Ariel. I am the kind of person usually need to know my 'audience' well beforehand in order for me to feel comfortable what to talk about. Secondly, I don't belong to the category of gifted speaker who can talk on and on without looking at his note. The key for me to deliver a good message is hard work and lots of prayers. Someone recently told me about a fundamental truth: "If it is not a gift, then it is a discipline." This speaks a lot about me. So, even if it is just a twenty-minute of preaching, it takes me a great amount of time to prepare for it.

Initially, I'd thought of turning down the invitation to speak at Ariel's school for I am swamped with many course assignments. Currently, I am also doing my ministry internship at a local church. However, knowing that God had placed something in my heart to share with the kids, I felt a little guilty and disobedient if I just pushed it away out of convenient.

Besides, I had my biggest fear too in this case. The church that I am now doing my internship is a Chinese Baptist church, but the group of people I spoke to last week was virtually non-Asian. Ariel is one of a handful of Asian students in her present school and perhaps the only one in the club. I was pretty worried that the group of students might not accept me easily for I speak with a foreign accent. I am truly proud of Ariel that despite being one of the minorities in school, she still shines in her studies. I finally made it to the talk was mainly spurred by a Bible verse in 1 John 4:6 which reads whoever knows God listens to His people, so my concern actually was pointless. I should focus on what God can do with His message rather than what people can do with me. Amen.

I shared with the students a passage on Matthew 2:1-2, hopefully in the coming Christmas season they may choose to emulate the Magi in responding to the news about the coming of a King and not as Herod did. Often time it is easy for us to know Herod as a bad guy who ordered all babies to be killed in Judea for fear that the arrival of a new King would take away his throne. But what about us? How do we respond to the coming of a King? Aren't we also behaving like king Herod - rejecting Jesus to reign as King in our life?

Merry Christmas!!

Immaculate Heart Retreat House

Few photos I took with my cell phone during my second retreat at a Catholic convent situated mid way on a hill in one of Los Angeles’ up-scale residential neighborhoods.

 I spent a long hour at this chapel (below) in my first visit.

 

 

 

Every time when I passed by the pool to look for a quiet corner for solitude, I was tempted to dive into the water for a swim instead.

I fasted for my first retreat here. Despite the nice dinning place, the second time I brought with me only this simple lunch to last me through seven long hours up here.

 

I've left my God back home

This year I have a number of opportunities to retreat, twice in August and twice in October. The two retreats I had in August were accompanied by family. One was a church camp and the other one was seminary’s community coordinators get together camp.

The two retreats in October however were to do it alone with other seminarians of a spiritual formation class. My experience in these two latter retreats was amazing, especially the one in my first EPC (extended personal communion with God).

I went to the retreat with many questions ready for God. I wanted to take this opportunity to ask Him about many things He promised but had not been happening here in my life.

I felt my life (socially and spiritually) back home was a whole lot more challenging and fulfilling as compared to where I am living now. There is nothing much for me to do here in Southern California.

We don’t have any relative lives here, nor do we have any real close friend to talk to. My spiritual life has been like in a desert for awhile as dry as the California’s weather. Many churches here are dying. It took us about a year to finally settle down at a church in Alhambra. We don't want to consider mega church, as it's too big for us to get to know anyone, and smaller church is usually too small. We need an intergeneration church with ministries for children, youth, and adult. Often time, this turns out just like looking for a needle in a haystack. One usually finds a church either with adults and young children but with no youth, or a church mostly with youths but without the adult and children.

Church services are usually pretty short in mainline churches. Before you get anything (or before the pew get warm), the entire Sunday service is over. I have been grumbling about this ‘lukewarm kind of service” to my wife for quite some time. What is the use of seminary education - staying up late most nights reading an inexhaustible list of books and working on seemingly endless assignments and at the end none of which is preached in church. How can one go deeper into God’s word in such a mini service? How to get people interested in knowing God?

In seminary, it’s hard (for me) to feel God’s presence as readings and assignments usually preoccupied most of our being and mind and in church if I still don’t experience Him, where is my God? This question is exactly the same one when I asked Him in my first EPC during the retreat.

To my amazement, God spoke that day. He assured me again – “I did not leave you and I did not abandon you.” – I am the one who has left my God back home. This whole conversation took place in the first person pronounce “I”, whether it was the part God had spoken, or the part I responded in my mind.

To confirm I really 'heard' what it was just said, I re-paraphrased His saying to what sound like in Scripture. I asked God did you say, "I’ve never forsaken you nor abandoned you.” Immediately, I was being corrected. God’s voice resonated again in my heart “I did not leave you and I did not abandon you.” At that moment, I stopped…..and wept…..I knew God has never left me. I was the one who left God back home!

Let's pray the St Patrick's prayer

May Christ the prince of peace dwell in you and empower you:

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ all around me, please consecrate me.

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, Christ in my walking, Christ in the ocean, Christ on the Mountain, Christ in the air please fill me.

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me, please bless me! Amen.

(adapt from St Patrick's breastplate prayer)

If we're the body why....???

I found this song--If We're the Body by Casting Crowns--speaks to me a lot about our prejudice against people whom we do not know when I was preparing the study on James 2;1-13 for this coming Sunday School lesson.

I seriously agreed we all ought to think about why......



It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

CHORUS

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

Chorus (2x)
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus is the way

About predestination and election

About the doctrine of predestination, I’m still more inclining towards Arminianism. When I read about the debate between Jacobus Arminius and his colleague, Francis Gomarus, a firm believer in predestination in the strictest sense, I tend to find it hard to believe that God makes salvation available only to those He chose beforehand. It’s hard to face the fact that Jesus’ atonement is limited to some or he died only for the elects.

The five doctrines or the hallmark of orthodox Calvinism came out from the Synod of Dort (1618-19) maybe easily remembered by the word “TULIP.” No, it’s not about the spring flower; it’s about some theological aspects of Calvinism, which some people find it hard to identify with.

T= total depravity
U= unconditional election
L= limited atonement
I= irresistible grace
P= perseverance of the saints

Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father who sent Him drew that person (John 6:44), it argues well for the predestination of the elects. Sin, by definition, is our rebellious attitude against a holy God, so how can we a sinner turns to God if it is not by His saving grace? In essence, the followers of Calvinism are saying salvation is all in all and through all God’s grace – the sovereign will of God to predestine who would be saved.

Of course, not many people, including non-Calvinists would deny the sovereignty of God. According to the understanding of Arminius, God’s predestination of who would be saved is not about election for it means God rejecting others, but it relates more to His divine foreknowledge of who would respond to Christ’s unlimited offer of salvation.

If my interpretation is correct, it means when you are saved, it’s because God already knows you will respond to His invitation of salvation, and thus God predestines you to be saved beforehand. The ‘good’ thing in such case is we are being given an opportunity to participate in God’s redemption work. Nonetheless, such idea is exactly the primary reason that Calvinism against. Salvation belongs to the Lord, how can we have any part in it?

Honestly, I don’t have any answer as to who (Calvinists or Arminians) are more accurately reflecting the theological truth of God’s predestination. I simply believe that our God is faithful and just, and He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins. Since God is faithful and just, He will forgive us our sins not only on certain days but everyday, and will purify not only my sins but your sins as well. Amen.

Hear the Word of God:
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1&2)

The Book of Revelation

I know many people like Revelation, including my professor who has the class to do an exegesis of several passages of the text. Personally, I don't really like the Book of Revelation very much. I find that it is kind of hard for me to relate the meaning of the text with our everyday living.

Though every book in the Bible is canonical and authoritative and should be given the same weight and attention, most of us in some way have developed our own canon within the canon - a tendency for loving certain books more than the others.

I am no exception to the above nature as well. I often find myself quoting more frequently from the gospel of John and the Johannine epistles in the NT. In the Old Testament, I like Exodus and Deuteronomy the most.

I recalled one of my pastors (who is really good at preaching and interpreting Daniel & Revelation) said many years ago that Revelation was written by the same author of the gospel of John. But, I am now pretty convinced they were two different authors. The literary style and the language used in both the books truly did not resemble each other. These two books of course are of different genre, and thus they should not be expected to look similar; however, they are simply too far apart! If you read John's Gospel and the epistle of first, second, and third John, you'll agree with me quickly they were all written by the same author, but different from the one wrote Revelation.

The big question here is, if Revelation was not written by Apostle John, who was the one on the island of Patmos (Rev 1:9) ? What happened to Apostle John? If Revelation was written by Apostle John, then who wrote the gospel of John and the epistles? Who was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" described in John 13:23? Unfortunately, no one seems to have an answer ready for this series of question. Most theologians, nowadays, instead of confirming one or the other, they generally say there is a lack of evidence to even pinpoint the books in questioned were written by Apostle John. Perhaps, the safest way to say it is they were both come from the Johannine community, and it is possible that Apostle John could have asked someone to write on his behalf.

I know any answer offered here would fail to satisfy one's desire to know the fact. But the truth is, there is no concrete information available for us to make any claim. The best thing is to leave the matter to individual interpretation. What we must know and believe is, in my opinion, there was an apostle by the name of John in Scripture rather than so much of a deal now as who wrote the scripture. Amen.

Greek again

I thought I've done with Greek after three quarters of labor. I didn't know that I need to go even deeper into it in my current exegetical class.

I don't say I 'hate' Greek, it's just that when you have other classes to attend and many others things to do at the same time, Greek doesn't come as a pleasant thing to study. Under such circumstances, I always feel that I have not given enough attention for it. If there's no other assignment and nothing else to worry about, I really don't mind learning another biblical language.

But again, to be frank, how many of us pickup a language simply because of interest? Isn't it we all do so out of practical reason rather than learning it just for fun? So, let's go Greek!

Sermon on the Mount - a picture of eschaton

In my own reading of the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7) many times before it's never occurred to me that this particular passage could be viewed as a picture of eschaton (about end-time.)

I, like most people, generally assume Jesus’ discourse on the Mount is a radical call to his followers for entering the kingdom of God. It’s a sermon on radical discipleship. Its message was beyond the comprehension of its hearers. It went against all norms and worldly teachings.

Jesus began his discourse with “You’ve heard that it was said…..But I tell you.…” in almost every first sentence of the paragraph. All the stuff he spoke about in his discourse is not even easy for “faithful” Christians to follow suit. When common people (non-believers) read of such extreme instruction like “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (5:44),” they would think it is a senseless world.

However, to the Anabaptists, not only they won’t think of the world is senseless, they see it as a kingdom about to come, which motivates many of them to live and act out in anticipation of the coming. They see that the Sermon is not just about how to be a better individual Christian. It is a picture of how a church (the faith community) is to look. To them,

“It is an inauguration manifesto of how the world is supposed to look with Christ ushered in God’s kingdom. “

“It is about Jesus’ invitation to all people to become citizens of a new kingdom, a messianic community, where God is creating a new world.”

“The Sermon is eschatological, it concerns with the end of things – the final direction toward which God is moving the world.”

Anabaptists’ theology believes that when the people have that picture and know where God is directing them, then the church would know where it supposes to head its way. The rationale–we can only act within a world which we can see. If you see the picture depicted in the Sermon on the Mount, and it is the picture of the future, now you will have to start to live out that picture.

So do you see that picture?

Psalm 34:17-18

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (New Living Translation)

Psalm 121:7-8

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. (NIV)

Process Theology (II) - a relational process not entity

According to the view of process theology, God is not an entity but a process. In such case, who is the one directing the process? If God is some kind of a “force”’ which influences directly or indirectly in forming the universe, where is this force first originated then? If every agent in the creation has its own free will as advocated by process thinkers, without the existence of a sovereign will to control or to govern the direction or the development of this so-called “process” there would be chaos in the world. Ultimately, there will be no “process” but problematic disorder in the entire universe.

Process theology seems to focus primarily on the creation aspect of the universe and its interaction on the changing environment of the world. It fails to offer a holistic view about humankind existence in this world. In process theology, humankinds are just passing through time as event rather than being materially or physically existed as substance or being. This theology is pretty much restricted to its own perception of an evolved world with hopelessness.

In traditional theism God is viewed as Creator of the universe, and He is transcendent. God is seen as absolute in terms of power, knowledge, and his presence in all eternity. God is outside of the creation, thus anything that happens within His creation will not change or affect Him. It is within His creation that freewill exists as part of His plan for the natural activities of the creatures. Such empowerment would make all the creatures to bear the responsibilities and consequences of exercising their freewill. God would not affect by the action or freewill of all creatures, however their decision would affect themselves and their surrounding. God, out of His love and compassion for His creation, intervenes for the goodness of His people.

Traditional theism albeit is not a perfect theology for our full understanding of God, it considers a wider scope of our relationship with this God who created the universe. Traditional theists look beyond God solely as just our creator, but He is also a God of providence, who supplies all the needs for the existence of His living creatures. He is not just a God who brings about changes; He lives in the heart and mind of believers. He is not merely a process as claimed by process theology philosophers, He created human beings according to Scripture in His own image that we both have the power to think, the faculty to will, and the ability to feel like He does. We do not have a full picture of why the devil exists as God is good. All we know is that the devil is a “created” spiritual being and there was once in time he chose to sin against God and was permitted to exist until his time to be ended.

Although I rejected the idea of process theology, this however, does not suggest that our understanding of God must be trapped within our present knowledge of Him. Indeed, as modern science continues to develop in many aspects of our life and as we gain a better understanding of our relationship to the surrounding nature and environment, we should further develop a holistic view of God’s wonderful creation. We, on one hand, absolutely do not wish to restrict the advancement of science because of our personal faith, on the other hand neither do we want to let our still limited understanding of science to become the worldview and overstep our faith to claim a Godless world. Amen.

Process Theology (I) - a changing God

Process theology makes some good attempts in explaining the changing world with a new understanding of how ones can view God and His creation from a different perspective. Advocates of process theology found many contradictions within the traditional theism.

According to their view, they see God less as an entity but more as a process. This process changes over time and is carried out by the agents of free will including human’s will. Thus, God in process theology’s view is not omnipotent as classical theist understood. To them, God is actually offering possibilities to influence human’s free will to make things happened. Reality in process theology is not material substances that endure through time, but serially-ordered events, which are experiential in nature.

Process theologians believe traditional theists developed their view of an absolute God from ancient Greek philosophers, and they have claimed something more than what should be understood from the doctrine of God. Process theologians claim the God in the Bible changes His mind and at certain point in time He decides thing differently when humankind acts in certain way. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Scripture was not a God who abandoned His people after the creation. Indeed, this God was perceived in the Bible as the God who interacts closely with His creatures. They argue unless the future is open to change otherwise human being will not have any kind of freewill.

Process theology advocates or thinkers question how humanity could have any freedom if God is in control of everything. If God is eternal and in control, where is the devil from? The goodness of God and the evil of the devil cannot exist at the same time. And if God is in eternity, then He is unchangeable, and as such the prayer or the persuasion of humankind to God is meaningless and futile. Since nothing can change or affect God why does He want us to change. If God is Spirit, how can the material things come out of spiritual thing; it is metaphysically impossible to get something out of nothing.

Process theology no doubt offers a new way of looking at how God can interact closely with His creation, especially with human beings from a distance when He is not in or under the creation. On the surface, process theology seems to make a better connection that creation is actually the overall changing process of all free will agents, which come into existence. However, this theory also does not scientifically explain how the universe comes about. Much of the development of process theology is derived from human own wisdom and understanding of the physical world through observation and power of reasoning. It is philosophical, and not based on empirical studies. It comes with more flaws than the traditional theism.

Long Beach

What a beautiful place!

I said a silent prayer and truly thanked God from my heart for a lovely outing here in one of summer afternoons

.

 

Isaiah 46:3-4

“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel.
I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.

I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.I will carry you along and save you."
(New Living Translation)

Where are you God?

About God's presence in my previous post what I meant was a spiritual presence. It is not like God is leaving us. God is the God of Immanuel. When we can't feel the presence of God, what happen is we're falling away from God. Paul said (Rom 8:38, 39) nothing can separate us from the love or presence of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is sin; our disobedience to God causes us to separate from His presence.

We like to think that if we go to church, we'd feel His presence. If we come to pray to Him, we'd feel His presence, but we know this is not true. There are times we did all these and yet we can't sense His presence.

We imagine that we can lock God in a room and so when we come to Him, we'd find His presence. How naive are we sometimes. King Solomon knew better that it is impossible to take captive of our mighty God.

After the completion of the temple he prayed, "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! (2 Chronicles 6:18a)

So, where are you God?

You'll know it when He is there…by the Spirit He gave us. (1 John 3:24b). Amen.

2 Samuel 22:2-3

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.

Do you seek God's presence?

In our modern living many Christians mostly pay lot of attentions to God’s divine protection, provision, and His promises. Few actually care about whether God’s presence is with us. This phenomenon can be easily detected in our prayer. We ask about anything except His presence.

If you look at Old Testament, you’ll notice that the Israelites concern a whole lot when they heard about the distressing news that their God is not going with them to the promise land. They mourned and took off all their ornaments showing regret for putting up a golden calf in their midst. (Exodus 33:4)

After Moses pleaded to God to forgive what Israel had committed, God told Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." (Exodus 33:1-3 NIV)

From the above passage we see that God still keeps His promise to give the people the land and send an angel of escort to protect them from their enemies. Nonetheless, the people were not satisfied with just God’s promises, protection, and provision. They wanted God’s presence as well. Moses even boldly told God not to send them if His Presence was not with them. (Exodus 33:14)

In fact, the reason of putting up a golden calf is exactly for the sake of seeking the divine presence by the people. Look at Exodus 32:1 below:

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

Do you seek God’s presence? Is God’s presence still important to us?

We know God is Immanuel, i.e. He is with us. However, we must admit that there are times we can’t feel or sense His presence at all. Many people said we’re not supposed to feel, we simply acknowledge God is here. While it is theologically correct, is that so in real life? Is God real to you? There is no doubt that God exists, but do you feel His presence?

You may have all the blessings, wealth, good education, and a great future or career, but do you have God’s presence? If you don’t, your heart is probably empty and lonely right now despite all the great blessings you’ve been receiving.

If you want God’s presence, my friends, you must obey Him and depend on Him. You must not substitute Him with anything else. You must not be stiff-necked doing what is pleasing to you and continue to grieve the Holy Spirit. Let us love God and obey His commandments. Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23). Amen.

The Lost Letters of Pergamum - Part II

Throughout Antipas’ correspondence with Luke, we do not know when exactly Antipas is converted. One thing the readers do know for sure is Antipas’ faithfulness in following through the gospel. This is evidenced by his frequent engagement or correspondence with Luke and his increased enthusiasm in Christian virtues. Besides, Antipas’ compassion for Simon ben Joseph, his love for the little girl Nouna, his sympathy for the woman and her baby where he met during the voyage to Caesarea, and his changed attitude towards the gladiatorial game at the end also tell us that he was being transformed gradually without him even realizing it. What is shocking and unexpected of Antipas is his sudden appearance in the gladiatorial game appealing to the emperor for the life and freedom of Demetrius, imitating Jesus Christ who laid down His life on the cross for us. Truly, “greater love has no one than this,” The Lost Letters of Pergamum by Longenecker is a gospel by itself depicted through the transformed life and acts of love of Antipas. It seriously challenges my faith again– would I be like Antiapas if I were in his situation?

The stark contrast between the two Christian Bible study groups: one by Kalandion and another by Antonius resemble very much to our present day context even though the story is told in an antiquity setting. Without doubt, Longenecker is doing a marvelous narrating to intertwine historical data and fictional characters into a very believable biblical account. I truly find it helpful and experience for the first time to better appreciate the gospel of Luke when I heard it from Antipas. The experience or the feeling I have in reading Antipas’s narrative is like you heard from someone in the historical context who talked about his own experience. Antipas’ description of his personal experience, which he encountered at the house of Antonius, is very heartwarming. It resonates with my heart for the same desire – Isn’t this the kind of fellowship we Christians long for in our Bible study group at home?

Book Review - The Lost Letters of Pergamum (Part I)

If you love the novel “The Shadow of Galilean” by Gerd Theissen, you’d probably enjoy reading “The Lost Letters of Pergamum” by Bruce Longenecker as I did. The genre of the latter however is very much different from the former. What is common between them is both authors are New Testament scholars, both their story is fictional intermingled with historical facts and the setting of their narrative is both in first-century NT time.

“The Lost Letters of Pergamum” is a collection of correspondence between Antipas from Pergamum and Luke in Ephesus. The story began with Antipas invited Calpurnius of Ephesus, the son of Theophilus, to attend a gladiatorial game in Pergamum to be organized by his noble friend, Rufinus. Through the correspondence, Antipas becomes acquainted with Luke who is a real closed friend of Calpurnius and is helping him to oversee his household when Calpurnius has to leave town for a family matter. Antipas by origin is a pagan civic benefactor of his home cities Tyre and Caesarea. He was in Pergamum because of his great interest in studying historical documents. Because of such interest, Antipas soon develops a steady friendship with Luke after reading Luke’s monograph accounting for the life of Jesus of Nazareth. He corresponded with Luke frequently about his reading of the gospel. Later, under Luke’s recommendation, Antipas took the challenge to join a Christian gathering for fellowship at one of the Christians’ house in Pergamum

Antipas began by joining Kalandion’s group with his friend Rufinus, but soon realized that the social life of Christians there was far from what was being said in Luke’s narrative. People at Kalandion’s group were very conscious about their status quo and were attracted to Jesus’ miracles more than by his teaching. On Luke’s advice, Antipas attempted another Christian group led by Antonius. His experience with Antonius’ household and the Christian friends gathered there immediately drew him to reflect deeply in the biblical account of Luke. The fellowship at Antonius’ house was warm and sincere, and the spirit of brotherhood was evident and real. The people were opened to one another and cared for one another irrespective of social status. Noblemen, civic officials, merchants, artisans, women, and even people with no social rank at all like Simon ben Joseph, a past employee of Antipas, was treated as a Christian brother.

Longenecker's account of "The Lost Letters of Pergamum" is undoubtedly convincing and believable. His invention of an editor's preface to introduce the discovery of the "Lost Letters" and the additional footnotes about the dating of those letters is genius. It truly does create an effect like one is actually reading a long lost ancient manuscript. Although the book contains only letter correspondence, the story is carefully constructed out of a cinematic traditional plot. The main character Antipas was introduced as an enthusiast of the gladiatorial game at the beginning, but ironically he had become a victim of the game at the end for his friend's sake.

Isaiah 54:10

For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you. (Amplified Bible)

Recovering the Scandal of the Cross

Well, regardless of what the authors have attempted to accomplish in this book, I will still abide with the “penal substitution” theology. This is what the Bible speaks to me when I read from the Old Testament to the New Testament, so I am not prepared to change my perspective. Although one can derive other significant meanings from the cross, Jesus’ crucifixion impacted my life the most, and it is because of His sacrificial love on the cross that I truly feel forgiven by God.

The major concern of the authors is that they found the meaning and function of atonement have been narrowly defined in the last two centuries. Atonement, in their view, so far has been articulated in the doctrine of “penal substitution” or “satisfaction”. This doctrine albeit is biblically based and it speaks about the central theme of atonement that “Christ died for our sin”, its message may not be easily or universally understood by people who live in different society system or of different cultural background.

Green and Baker were afraid these two doctrines, based on the same theology that Christ Jesus died in our place for our sins to satisfy the judgment of a righteous God, may convey too much of a negative picture or message rather than a Gospel with love to the contemporary audiences or soon-to-be believers. They wanted the contemporary Christians, theologians, and especially preachers to take note that these two doctrines were formulated during the time of feudalism. While the cultural concepts and practices were appropriate during then, we cannot possibly articulate them in the same way in today cultural setting. They argued that even this atonement theory still serving well in a society driven by guilt-base in which offences or wrongful acts naturally resulted in consequences with punishment or justice, it can appear difficult to comprehend when it is being translated to a shame-base society like Japan.

Green and Baker presented a good case for contemporary believers to re-look at the full meaning of the cross or more precisely the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross as salvific act. The book opens a good opportunity for more conversation and thought and more research on the topic than ever before, however, the attack on the theological model of “Satisfaction” by Anselm and “Penal Substitution” model does not seem fair.

Anselm spoke of the issued related to his own contemporary and drew the meaning of the cross to appeal to his context should be understandable and nothing is inappropriate. Most historical models are time sensitive and appealed to its specific groups of people or culture. This by their nature is of timeliness and contextualization. The constraint and relevancy of the models should be properly recognized and fairly treated instead of being heavily criticized and attacked. The person who adopts the models lied with the responsibility to interpret the models in their proper context and original intention.

Overall the book offers a good survey on all the essential meaning of the cross in both the Old and New Testament, especially in Gospels, Apostle Paul’s and Peter’s epistles. It gives a sound biblical insight into Christ’s work that involves intercultural potential such as liberation from sin and guilt to the significance of Jesus’ life, his obedience (recapitulation) and resurrection as the final victory besides the atonement.

Money Autobiography

Money Autobiography? Ever heard of it? This is one of the topics discussed in one of my classes. I’ve been trained and worked in the financial field for many years, but I must admit this is the first time I come across money autobiography in my Learning Community class at Fuller.

I was responsible for a company I worked at to do financial planning and cash flow projection up to three years, but none of those could speak something so close to me. I mean who of us is not concerned with money at all? I take care of my financial matter carefully and I manage others prudently as well. This however does not mean I was born to be a good financial manager. It took time to learn and to grow as well.

Sadly, I’ve seen many people who have been living in financial difficulty not because they’ve not had enough but rather the opposite is mostly true. Many incidences in our life sometimes cause our otherwise peaceful and normal living go derail. If financial matter is one of them, then I’d like to ask you to spend a little time to find out what money autobiography is about. Even if you’re fine and financially sound, by catching a glimpse of what is it may turn you to even a better steward than just a ‘money’ manager.

As the name suggests, it is a personal reflection process on the role and influence of money and material possession in our lives. We want to find out in a very honest way about our past attitude, assumption, and value towards money. At the end of the reflection, we realize that it is the material things that posses us more than we posses them. Through this reflection, hopefully it can help us set some priorities and goals in our lives for the future.

You may want to begin by reflecting on your attitude towards money by pondering over few questions like these: What do you like best about money? What do you like least about money? What things in life are worth more than money? Which of the following words best communicate your attitudes and feelings about money? Why? E.g. Money is.....power….leasure.….freedom….security….hope….love….evil…fun….prestige….etc.

As time goes by our reflection questions may change from attitude or value questions to lifestyle or management questions. I find this kind of reflection questions great. It can really help us to see ourselves through a different perspective. I say this because I’ve done some personal reflective writing for this class as well, and it really helps me to examine what kind of a learner I am.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Psalm 84 - The joy of worhsip in the temple

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.

In ancient time, the only place where Israelites could find God was to go to the tabernacle or temple. The temple is where the Lord dwells, particularly the holy of holies. No one can enter the holy of holies besides the high priest. This is the place where the deity makes His presence known to His people Israelites.

Pillar of cloud stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle were visible to the people.

How to maintain the presence of God in the tabernacle or temple is by sacrificing animal. All the animal sacrifice at burnt offering is not just for the atonement of Israel’s sins however. It is also for the purification of the tabernacle–the dwelling place of God. If the tabernacle was defiled, God would leave the people.

How nice it is that we can now have access to God and pray to him anytime and at anywhere through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Romans 8:31-32

³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (NIV)

Today's food for thought - Genesis 3:1-4

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

My brothers and sisters, "Knowing good and evil is very different from being able to choose good and reject evil." (Andy Crouch)

For if we do not reject evil, there is no benefit of knowing good and evil. I believe it is God's intention for human to live in a world without evil rather than to know good from evil.

God actually says it in a firm but positive and pleasant manner to the man, ""You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (2:16-17). The serpent, however, turns it around and presents in a provocative and deceitful manner to the woman by playing on the words, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (3:1b) to lure her to focus on the one forbidden tree in the garden instead of all other fruit trees she was free to eat from.

Truly, there is no goodness come out of evil but deceitfulness and lies. Let's us fear God and shun evil always, and do not be wise in our own eyes. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 & 24

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. Amen. (NIV)

This is my Father's world

I truly rejoiced when our professor began his lecture today with this beautiful hymn.

The Shadow of the Galilean - Part II

Andreas’ second mission from Pilate is to check on Jesus’ activities in the region to ascertain his initiated religious movement - the coming of God’s kingdom - would become a “security risk’ or post any imminent danger to the existing tension experienced in Jerusalem. Andreas (as expected being a fictional character) never actually has a chance to meet with Jesus except the one last view he has from a distance when Jesus was crucified at Calvary with two other Zealots. We can’t tell how much Andreas is being influenced by Jesus’ teaching through the testimonials and accounts he heard from various groups of people who said about Jesus. He seems to incline towards Jesus’ religious movement more than agreeing with the Zealots who believe that they must engage violence to liberate their people from Romans’ oppression. They believe that God’s would deliver them only when somebody is doing something. An extreme between Zealots’ vengeance and Jesus’ advocate of loving your enemy truly stands out to arrest one’s attention.

Pilate was fearful of another riot occurred during the Passover feast of unleavened bread with multitude of pilgrims streamed into the city of Jerusalem from different parts of the regions. He manipulated Andreas’ idea of granting amnesty to Barabbas and other Zealots who were either imprisoned or took sheltered in the caves, and also to Jesus who was arrested by the authority. Pilate’s sole interest was to reconcile with the crowds by releasing a prisoner to their request to avoid a possible riot, and at the same time to test out where the real political threat actually come from: the Zealots or Jesus’ passive political reformation. Having discovered Pilate’s motive, Andreas felt he was indirectly involved in Pilate’s decision. He struggled with the issue of who is the culprit and who is guilty. Was it the Zealots, without them in the background, without that tension, Jesus would not in any way be viewed as security risk? Has not the Roman anxiety over the messianic unrest, Jesus may have not been arrested.

Though this is a novel with a predictable ending of Jesus’ execution on the cross by the Romans authority as well as a major part of the storyline is somewhat familiar from the biblical narrative, the author didn’t fail in keeping up his readers’ eagerness to follow through the story. Certain parts of the scene like blackmailing and kidnapping are thrilling, and the debate and conflict of healing on Sabbath is exciting and at times suspenseful. It is brilliant to begin the story with Andreas in the jail; this has absolutely caught the attention of the readers who eagerly want to know what would happen to his fate.

Book Review - The Shadow of the Galilean (Part I)

I am not a novel enthusiast. In my entire life, I read no more than ten novels. But this one, The Shadow of the Galilean, attracted me first because of the title. It is a novel that constructs its plot based on a familiar biblical account. I was curious to find out how the author, a German theologian, uses his imagination and biblical knowledge to makeup his story. The second reason I read the book was because I need to do a review as one of my course assignments.

Let me post it here to give you a summary of what it is. I truly enjoy reading this book; a rare experience out of my many book review assignments.

The narrative story of the book is told by Andreas from Sepphoris, a city in Galilee. Andreas is a grain merchant whose family has business dealings with Herold Antipas. The story began with a riot in Jerusalem as a result of Pontius Pilate’s intention of making use of the Jewish temple treasury for the construction of the aqueduct. Andreas, anxious to greet an old friend Barabbas among the demonstration crowd, was falsely arrested by the Roman authority. He was taken to prison with one of his two slaves. Because of his good education and competency in Greek and as a rich young merchant who travels round the land of the Palestine at that time, Pilate blackmails Andreas to work as a spy under the supervision of his officer Metilius. First he was asked to collect and gather information about the Essenes who live in the wilderness.

Pilate’s government was anxious to know the secret of the Essene community. They were afraid the community might have other hidden agenda, and living in the wilderness perhaps might just be one way of hiding a secret crime. Pilate worried that the Essenes might favor Antipas should there be any kind of further tension and conflicts developed between the two rivals.

Seeing that he really has no other options, Andreas accepts the task and ventures immediately into the journey as he was conducting business along the regions of Galilee and Judaea. He began to collect information from his targeted group of people. First he met a rejected Essene by the name Baruch, who was excommunicated from the community after he had uncovered the community’s secret of hidden treasure, which probably never existed. Andreas saved Baruch in the wilderness, and accepted him into the family as a hired assistance in his trade. He gained substantial amount of valuable information to satisfy the Romans authority about the belief and objective of Essenes who chose to live in the dessert through Baruch.

Essenes are a group of cult believers who disagree with the temple worship and most of its festivals celebrated. They find themselves more peaceful and can better observe God’s commandments in the wilderness than participating in the Jerusalem temple’s worship. They hold to the belief that God in his right time will liberate them from the oppression.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers.

If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ. (The Living Bible)

Jesus is the true light

As I usually do - to come to the Lord's presence to ask Him, "Lord, what do you have for me tonight?" He leads me to John 1:9

"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world."

It is not a statement. It is a promise and this promise was fulfilled by Christ Jesus who came into the world two thousand years ago. I think this is a good topic for sermon.

If I were to preach a sermon on this, what would I say and how should I say it? The title is long, but the promise of that true light gives hope to many - The true light that gives light to every man and woman was coming into the world.

I must admit that I am always fearful of not being capable of preaching a 'good' sermon in church when I am given the opportunity in the future. I am afraid of giving a 'lousy' sermon that discounts God's powerful word because of my inability and non-readiness.

Of-course, the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts the people's heart but we as God's servant must be accountable for what we say though not for the results of what people will response.

Right now, I only want to tell you don’t be afraid of darkness, my friends. Jesus the true light was in the world. It is a matter of whether you recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. To those who received Him, and to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

We are the children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, but born of God. Yes, we are born of God. What do we mean by born of God?

We are from God; we belong to God. We are no longer an orphan in the spiritual realm. We have a Father who loves us; a Father who would give His inheritance to us through Christ Jesus.

We need not wait to get to heaven to receive that inheritance. Jesus the true light of the world had come, who had ushered the kingdom of God into the world. All we need to do is to receive Him and to enter God’s kingdom by faith.

There is victory in God’s kingdom over the dominion of darkness, over the power of sin, over the principalities so long you let the reign of God rules in your mind and heart. In all things that you do, acknowledge Him Jesus is your savior, your true light in the world, and you will receive hope and direction from the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus Christ return in the eschatological 0r end time, we will receive His full inheritance in heaven. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26

24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ (NKJ)

Hebrews 13:20-21

20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

Is there other way to reach God?

Thomas asked Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going and how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 6:5-7)

You have heard of Jesus and the ONLY way for you to come to the Father is through Jesus Christ. I don’t know what the Universalists think. They seem to offer there is another way to salvation and everyone will be saved.

Although Jesus does not specifically talk about salvation here, He makes very clear statement that everyone would have to go through Him to the Father.

You may argue that there is sure another route to the Father for not every tribe or everyone on earth has had the opportunity to receive the gospel or to know of Jesus, it is not fair to exclude anyone.

Salvation is from God and personally I don’t want to view this matter from human’s perspective. We should listen heartily to what our Savior says to us, rather than elevating ourselves higher than God, extending His salvation to our fellow humankinds on God behalf.

Let’s us not attempt to earn or win the salvation by argument, but humbly beseech Jesus our Lord and respond to His calling by going into the harvest field to bring people to Jesus Christ. Once the people know who Jesus is, they would have known the Father and have seen Him. Amen.

John 14:1-3

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)

What is good news?

Come tomorrow Jan 20 (at noon to be exact), America will be receiving good news from her 44th President Barack Obama in his inaugural address.

The American people have been anxiously waiting in hope for their new president to deliver his promises made during the presidential campaign to turn the country’s economy around.

The present economy of the nation is in turmoil. Many financial giants have gone bankrupt and unemployment is rampant. Automobile and mass merchandising related companies are at the brim of going out of business. Millions of American men and women are counting on the President’s campaign for the CHANGE would bring them Good News!

The word good news ‘gospel’ or ‘euangelion’ (εὐαγγέλιον in Greek) is originally used in Greco-Roman time to propagate the birth or the appearance of a new emperor. Gospel means good tiding; it signifies a new emperor will usher in a new political era with good economic ideology, which will bring the empire to another milestone.

However, in the Gospel of Mark, according to the evangelist good news begin from the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth (Mark 1:1). It is not about the new emperor or the new political regime or the new economic ideology; it is about Jesus – the Son of God who ushered in the kingdom of God.

Political leaders come and go throughout the human history, thus the change or the good news brought by the new leaders is merely temporal, but the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal!

All of us, every citizen of the world and America, must receive this good news – gospel – for according to the Scripture (Roman 1:16) it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Amen.

Psalm 40:1-3

1I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. (Today's NIV)

How do you run a church?

Learning how to run a church efficiently and especially to be effective in church ministry is something every pastor and Christian leader looks forward to. I believe none of the church pastor or leader somewhere along in their ministry path has never been pondering over the question what a church must really do? Without doubt we must have spent numerous resources and timeless effort in doing everything right for the church to strife for its best – that is to win souls for Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we must humbly admit to a certain degree our effort often is of little success. We wonder sometimes if God is with us at all.

A book about the “Spirit-led” Ministry of the “Missional Church” by Craig Van Gelder shades some light on the matter. Van Gelder is a guru in pioneering the framework of the Spirit-led ministry of a missional church. He spends his lifetime interpreting what is missional ecclesiology: an important concept of understanding how a church could participate in God’s mission for the world versus what a church should do in its mission.

I have been serving in the church as lay leader for a decade in different capacity. I must say during the time when I was serving as Executive Chairperson of the local church board, numerous occasions and lengthy discussion was spent to define the church mission statements or what the church objectives are. Pastors and fellow brothers and sisters in the committee have also pondered over the one crucial question: what God is doing in our church? However, a lot of time, we have easily mistaken what a church must do in its existence as similar to what God wants us to do. We faithfully hold onto the duties and responsibilities of a church and diligently carry out its plan for mission, outreach, social concerns, teaching and sharing of the gospels. We lay them before God and earnestly seek Him to bless our work.

If you have read the preceding mentioned book by Van Gelder, you would have known it is entirely two different things on what the church wants or decides to do for God and what God wants the church to do for Him. The essence or critical difference here is who initiates the activity. Traditionally, and it is still true today, we would like to ask God to bless what we do. It is not too difficult to have a group of people to brainstorm what are the things a church can do. We usually do not have the trouble to come out with a physical long list of activity or program for the members to implement those events enlisted for their good cause and intention, however, if we put this to the perspective of Spirit-led ministry of a missional church, it appears clearly that we are heading in the wrong direction!

Spirit-led ministry as its term implied - the Holy Spirit is the One who initiates the activity. It is letting the Holy Spirit to lead us to participate in God redemptive work in Christ Jesus through the church. It is an exact opposite of laying down before God the work of the church for His blessing. In real sense, we are actually demanding God to accomplish the church’s agenda on our behalf.

I presume what is significant or the central idea or theme of the book is to be able to see the mission of God for the world – the “missio Dei.” God the creator who creates the world through Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit in the beginning, likewise, He would reconcile the world to Himself through the same Christ and by the work of the same Spirit in the present day. Our responsibility therefore, is to have faith and be able to discern what God is doing in our church for His people around us. Amen.