Don’t give up

You have filled my heart with greater joy 
              than when their grain and new wine abound.

Psalm 4:7

Face slap!

Sorry for the lack of personal content in recent posts. I really want to keep you guys updated on the thoughts roaming around my mind and cluing you in on the havoc in my heart (and I’ll throw in more pictures too).

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“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy without blemish”

Ephesians 5:25-27

So yesterday night Pastor Reggie gave us a short message about what Christianity is and isn’t about and one point really struck a chord with me. He talked about how people get into “miserable Christian” mode:

Oh God, I’m such a great sinner! I am so unworthy, I am scum of scum!

Sometimes when we see our sins and get a glimpse of just how wicked we are, we feel like Christianity is just about being forgiven and asking God for mercy…over and over and over again. And that’s where I’ve been for a while.  Everyday I see how sinful I am, rely on God’s forgiveness, but remain on the hopeless side of life. During this time of my life, the scariest thing that I’ve realized about myself is that I gave up on changing.

The miserable Christian has to stop neglecting the grace in his life and know that he will change! The grace of forgiveness is so great that it changes us!

Pastor Reggie

God did not simply forgive us, but is cleansing us and preparing us to become His radiant bride. We will change because He is working within us! Last night was like a slap in the face – why would I ever think that that is what Christianity was all about? Christianity would be really sad if it were only a cycle of feeling really sad. The hopelessness that comes from our sin is trumped by the incredible grace of God!

Now I’ve just gotta remember that and hold on for dear life.

Doing missions when dying is gain

“If you are a Christian, God is holding out to you indescribably wonderful promises. “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ Therefore, you can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6) Well, actually, man can kill you. But that is no defeat, because you know what Romans 8:36-39 says:

We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered all day long…Yet I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, nothing ultimately can harm you. Remember what Jesus said in Luke 21:12-19? “Some of you they will kill and some of you they will throw into prison…Yet not a hair of your head will perish.” “Some of you they will kill…yet not a hair of your head will perish.” It’s just Romans 8. Everything, including death, works together for your good. When you die you don’t perish. To die is gain.

Doing missions when death is gain is the greatest life in the world.”

John Piper

“Doing Missions When Dying Is Gain”

October 27, 1996

The man in the mirror.

As I was watching “Family Matters,” I realized that I’m really similar to Steve Urkel

朋友 (péng yǒu)