Sunday, December 30, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Live like that
My goal as a woman who follows Christ... live life with total abandonment, under His grace.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
My heart for my home
School killed my imagination, my love for life, my heart for learning, and my self esteem! I was always the odd learner. My suggestions for group projects made people wince. My humor scared people away.
So, you would be surprised that I am obsessed with learning history these days. I love how one thing that happened in Germany could have triggered many things around the globe. How one person visiting from a different nation would have triggered a revolution in another.
If you had known me since I was little, I always didn't like to be Chinese. I thought it was so uncool because my family pushed Chinese pride on me. I moved to the States when I was a teen and didn't want anyone to know I spoke any Mandarin or Cantonese. When I first met my now husband, I didn't even want to look at him because he was Chinese. The first thing God did when I surrendered to Him was revealing His plans for our marriage. Slowly but surely, I was convicted to deal with myself with embracing who God has made me. Now, I am careful to teach my children, they were born here in the States but their skin and blood should tell them God has made them Chinese for very special reasons.
This was when troubles started. It was about 2 years ago. My heart suddenly ached to know my people. So, I started to read and watch China and Hong Kong documentaries, news, and articles. Now my heart bleeds for my people.
Did you know in 1937, the Chinese people endured an event called the "forgotten holocaust"? It is also called the Nanjing Massacre and the Rape of Nanjing. When I looked back on how bitter my grandmother was as she spoke about the Japanese people, I now get it. I now understand why. She also said things like never eat sushi from the dirty scumbags (in Cantonese of course) I am sorry I didn't get it and made fun of her. Read about it here.
And did you know in 1958-1962, 40 Million Chinese people died in 4 years? All because of the communist party. The Chinese calls it the "3 years of Great Chinese Famine". Fact was, it was not of natural causes but of mismanagement. Please read about it here.
Now I am going to show you what is indeed happening to Hong Kong, right at these history making moments. Hong Kong was handed over in 1997. Lots of people left because of fear. We were part of that group. Now, they have started, little by little, to take the freedoms away from the people of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's government is set up very much like the United States government. Here's the catch,.... for another 50 years after the handover in 1997, Hong Kong shall remain capitalist. (chapter 1 article 5) It's been 15 years of the 50, they are getting impatient. Here's their clear plan to flood Hong Kong with fear and to wear the Hong Kong people out:
1. rig all elections
2. allow mainland women to have babies in HK
3. allow mainland babies born in HK to have citizenship
4. allow mainland babies to have taxpayer privileges even if their parents don't pay taxes to the HKG
LORD Jesus, Thank You for changing my heart. Thank You for making me and molding me. You are the great Rescuer. Rescue Your people from the evil and wicked. Put them in Your land and fight for them. We are so weak, we have no power over darkness but You do! You have triumphed over He who is the Prince of this world. Give us strength to suffer; hope to hold on to; courage to stand tall and against all evil; and love so we can love those who are unlovable to us. Deliver Your people from evil. I can't wait for Your glory to be spread over us. AMEN.
P.S. The 3 years of Great Famine reminds me of the U.S. socializing healthcare. The communist party in China "taxed" the Chinese people for 4 years before their plans went into place. "We're going to be gifted with a healthcare plan we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don't, which reportedly covers at least 10 million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a president who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we will be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted social security and medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese and financed by a country that's broke." Dr. Barbara Bellar, Candidate for Illinois State Senate, District 18
So, you would be surprised that I am obsessed with learning history these days. I love how one thing that happened in Germany could have triggered many things around the globe. How one person visiting from a different nation would have triggered a revolution in another.
If you had known me since I was little, I always didn't like to be Chinese. I thought it was so uncool because my family pushed Chinese pride on me. I moved to the States when I was a teen and didn't want anyone to know I spoke any Mandarin or Cantonese. When I first met my now husband, I didn't even want to look at him because he was Chinese. The first thing God did when I surrendered to Him was revealing His plans for our marriage. Slowly but surely, I was convicted to deal with myself with embracing who God has made me. Now, I am careful to teach my children, they were born here in the States but their skin and blood should tell them God has made them Chinese for very special reasons.
This was when troubles started. It was about 2 years ago. My heart suddenly ached to know my people. So, I started to read and watch China and Hong Kong documentaries, news, and articles. Now my heart bleeds for my people.
Did you know in 1937, the Chinese people endured an event called the "forgotten holocaust"? It is also called the Nanjing Massacre and the Rape of Nanjing. When I looked back on how bitter my grandmother was as she spoke about the Japanese people, I now get it. I now understand why. She also said things like never eat sushi from the dirty scumbags (in Cantonese of course) I am sorry I didn't get it and made fun of her. Read about it here.
And did you know in 1958-1962, 40 Million Chinese people died in 4 years? All because of the communist party. The Chinese calls it the "3 years of Great Chinese Famine". Fact was, it was not of natural causes but of mismanagement. Please read about it here.
Now I am going to show you what is indeed happening to Hong Kong, right at these history making moments. Hong Kong was handed over in 1997. Lots of people left because of fear. We were part of that group. Now, they have started, little by little, to take the freedoms away from the people of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's government is set up very much like the United States government. Here's the catch,.... for another 50 years after the handover in 1997, Hong Kong shall remain capitalist. (chapter 1 article 5) It's been 15 years of the 50, they are getting impatient. Here's their clear plan to flood Hong Kong with fear and to wear the Hong Kong people out:
1. rig all elections
2. allow mainland women to have babies in HK
3. allow mainland babies born in HK to have citizenship
4. allow mainland babies to have taxpayer privileges even if their parents don't pay taxes to the HKG
- public school - now native HK children are forced out of their districts if HK born mainland children "got their first".
- medical needs - free since mainland parents don't have to pay taxes. the medical field in HK is burdened with more paperwork, headaches, and less resources. Many times as a mainland baby isn't born with perfect scores, babies get left at the hospital for months to years until a social worker takes them or a religious person adopts them.
- voting - mainland voice will take over HK
- education - brainwashing
Want to see some proof? Here it is. This is 2012.
A protest (including fasts and strikes) about communist brainwashing by parents and students. Some are organized by parents, some by activists. The biggest one ever organized was by 11 graders.
The radio station that was too outspoken about rigged elections, freedom, liberty, and communism being shut down in Hong Kong. What happened to our freedom of speech?
A Hong Kong cartoon on the people's feelings on brainwashing through "education" material sent from mainland. The poison in the bottle is "love the country love communism". The paper being stuffed says countrymen education. The people in the shadows are all upholding Mao's "little red book" which explains the ideologies of Mao and communism. Read about "the little red book".
LORD Jesus, Thank You for changing my heart. Thank You for making me and molding me. You are the great Rescuer. Rescue Your people from the evil and wicked. Put them in Your land and fight for them. We are so weak, we have no power over darkness but You do! You have triumphed over He who is the Prince of this world. Give us strength to suffer; hope to hold on to; courage to stand tall and against all evil; and love so we can love those who are unlovable to us. Deliver Your people from evil. I can't wait for Your glory to be spread over us. AMEN.
P.S. The 3 years of Great Famine reminds me of the U.S. socializing healthcare. The communist party in China "taxed" the Chinese people for 4 years before their plans went into place. "We're going to be gifted with a healthcare plan we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don't, which reportedly covers at least 10 million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a president who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we will be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted social security and medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese and financed by a country that's broke." Dr. Barbara Bellar, Candidate for Illinois State Senate, District 18
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween 2012
Here I am again about halloween. I don't know what happened to halloween in 2010 and 2011, but I did not blog about it haha. Actually, last halloween, we were so busy stuffing candies and these awesome home made tracts I must have forgotten to blog on it. I remember taking a couple of pictures of my kids' stuffing action though.
We don't celebrate halloween because I have seen too much of the dark side in the spiritual world. We have passed out tracts and candies though. But just a thought here.... the object of evil isn't intrinsically evil itself until a person who knows evil relates it to evil. Halloween can't be good when witches and wiccans sacrifice babies but halloween can be good when Christians step out in this dark night and teach that there is hope and grace even in a time like this. The days are evil whether if it's halloween or not.
Reminds me of great examples.... Jehovah's witnesses teach that objects r evil. So when they see a cross it reminds them of a pagan god so they r repulsed by the object of salvation. But to us the cross reminds us of love and ultimate sacrifice. With similar principles, they teach their kids how to "evilize" all festivals, objects, and motives.
Another example, easter... easter is a fertility god, it has nothing to do with our Lord's resurrection. But Christians throughout the years have used this pagan holiday to teach the gospel to their own children using eggs, bunnies, chicks, candies and different resurrection recipes. Yet again, Jws teach that this holiday itself is evil and no one should be honoring the fertility god when no one thinks of the fertility god when we color an egg or pass out chocolate bunnies. If a family had no upbringing about the history and evils of halloween but just trunk or treat and dressing up as something fun, is halloween an evil pagan holiday to their kids? Does dressing up and celebrating it "give more power" to the dark evil demons?
Can't Christmas also become pagan when santa becomes the object of affection in any home including a Christian home? Can't easter also become a pagan holiday when the painting of beautiful easter eggs becomes the main event of the day?
A day in itself has no power to be evil or good until a person of evil or of good grants it power to be evil or good. Look at Romans 14:14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
The book review I did back in September for "Grace based parenting" actually talked about halloween for a little. What he said really made sense. I will look for that book and quote it when I find it, but he basically said, if all we do is instill this fear of halloween into our kids and tell them what evil happens on that day, we are teaching them about the evil not about the good. They will remember what is evil and not what they can do to impact the world on a day like this. They will remember to be scared and not being about to be sent out into the world to be bold on a day or a society that is wrapped in this sort of thing!
The Chinese culture has many different festivals. I grew up celebrating each and every one of them. I remember thinking how silly the stories were but the festivals were a fun time. An excuse to get the entire family together, distant relatives and all! Do I teach my kids that all these festivals are evil just because it doesn't have Christ? Or do I bring Christ into these festivals so that they can bring Christ to their friends when no one else see Christ in them? Do I teach my kids not to participate and scare them out of action or send them into the world for action with the power of Christ?
Romans 14:5-9(ESV) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
I wrestle with this whole chapter of Romans. No one needs to be judged of what they do with anything. That I know. I used to struggle with being legalistic about it and judged others. Not anymore at all. I went through it and grew up out of it in Christ. What I am still trying to grasp is how I can raise my kids in a way of grace not legalism about not celebrating halloween the way others do. Right now, I tell them what I learn about this. Today, I told them, for example, that a holiday is evil when a person or a group of people makes it evil. Some Christians use it to share the gospel, some hide at home. Some unbelievers choose to dress up as scary evil characters, some also choose to hide at home. Like me, before I was a Christian, I never dressed up and "trick or treat".
Here are my evolving thoughts and growing knowledge of grace on this western holiday, "halloween"
2008 - This was my blog on halloween named "and What occasion is this?"
2009 - This one was written about this same day named "Halloween - It's just not our holiday"
2011 - my husband drew and dedicated this episode of jujubee and raisin to pointing families back to Jesus at halloween. We must have printed 100 and on the back was a gospel presentation in words. We folded and stuffed it in a little bag with candy.
LORD, continue to teach me. Continue to stretch my mind because sometimes I am reading and writing but cannot comprehend. Only through Your grace will I grow in love and grace. I love You. But not enough. I want to love you more than more. Convict me and forgive me of my sins. Expand my love for You and for Your Creation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
We don't celebrate halloween because I have seen too much of the dark side in the spiritual world. We have passed out tracts and candies though. But just a thought here.... the object of evil isn't intrinsically evil itself until a person who knows evil relates it to evil. Halloween can't be good when witches and wiccans sacrifice babies but halloween can be good when Christians step out in this dark night and teach that there is hope and grace even in a time like this. The days are evil whether if it's halloween or not.
Reminds me of great examples.... Jehovah's witnesses teach that objects r evil. So when they see a cross it reminds them of a pagan god so they r repulsed by the object of salvation. But to us the cross reminds us of love and ultimate sacrifice. With similar principles, they teach their kids how to "evilize" all festivals, objects, and motives.
Another example, easter... easter is a fertility god, it has nothing to do with our Lord's resurrection. But Christians throughout the years have used this pagan holiday to teach the gospel to their own children using eggs, bunnies, chicks, candies and different resurrection recipes. Yet again, Jws teach that this holiday itself is evil and no one should be honoring the fertility god when no one thinks of the fertility god when we color an egg or pass out chocolate bunnies. If a family had no upbringing about the history and evils of halloween but just trunk or treat and dressing up as something fun, is halloween an evil pagan holiday to their kids? Does dressing up and celebrating it "give more power" to the dark evil demons?
Can't Christmas also become pagan when santa becomes the object of affection in any home including a Christian home? Can't easter also become a pagan holiday when the painting of beautiful easter eggs becomes the main event of the day?
A day in itself has no power to be evil or good until a person of evil or of good grants it power to be evil or good. Look at Romans 14:14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
The book review I did back in September for "Grace based parenting" actually talked about halloween for a little. What he said really made sense. I will look for that book and quote it when I find it, but he basically said, if all we do is instill this fear of halloween into our kids and tell them what evil happens on that day, we are teaching them about the evil not about the good. They will remember what is evil and not what they can do to impact the world on a day like this. They will remember to be scared and not being about to be sent out into the world to be bold on a day or a society that is wrapped in this sort of thing!
The Chinese culture has many different festivals. I grew up celebrating each and every one of them. I remember thinking how silly the stories were but the festivals were a fun time. An excuse to get the entire family together, distant relatives and all! Do I teach my kids that all these festivals are evil just because it doesn't have Christ? Or do I bring Christ into these festivals so that they can bring Christ to their friends when no one else see Christ in them? Do I teach my kids not to participate and scare them out of action or send them into the world for action with the power of Christ?
Romans 14:5-9(ESV) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
I wrestle with this whole chapter of Romans. No one needs to be judged of what they do with anything. That I know. I used to struggle with being legalistic about it and judged others. Not anymore at all. I went through it and grew up out of it in Christ. What I am still trying to grasp is how I can raise my kids in a way of grace not legalism about not celebrating halloween the way others do. Right now, I tell them what I learn about this. Today, I told them, for example, that a holiday is evil when a person or a group of people makes it evil. Some Christians use it to share the gospel, some hide at home. Some unbelievers choose to dress up as scary evil characters, some also choose to hide at home. Like me, before I was a Christian, I never dressed up and "trick or treat".
Here are my evolving thoughts and growing knowledge of grace on this western holiday, "halloween"
2008 - This was my blog on halloween named "and What occasion is this?"
2009 - This one was written about this same day named "Halloween - It's just not our holiday"
2011 - my husband drew and dedicated this episode of jujubee and raisin to pointing families back to Jesus at halloween. We must have printed 100 and on the back was a gospel presentation in words. We folded and stuffed it in a little bag with candy.
LORD, continue to teach me. Continue to stretch my mind because sometimes I am reading and writing but cannot comprehend. Only through Your grace will I grow in love and grace. I love You. But not enough. I want to love you more than more. Convict me and forgive me of my sins. Expand my love for You and for Your Creation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Freakishly hilarious
People are so talented.
When I first heard "50 ways to say goodbye" by Train, these are my thoughts in order...
1. a mariachi band, mexian song?
2. wait, this guy copied the melody from "the phantom of the opera"
3.eaten by a lion????
4. ways to say you WHAT?
5. oh my gosh, he's wishing she was dead?
6. oh it's a joke cuz he was so embarrassed he was dumped. hahahahaa
did you see the Hoff? haha and doesn't the cashier look like Howie Mandel?
When I first heard "50 ways to say goodbye" by Train, these are my thoughts in order...
1. a mariachi band, mexian song?
2. wait, this guy copied the melody from "the phantom of the opera"
3.eaten by a lion????
4. ways to say you WHAT?
5. oh my gosh, he's wishing she was dead?
6. oh it's a joke cuz he was so embarrassed he was dumped. hahahahaa
did you see the Hoff? haha and doesn't the cashier look like Howie Mandel?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Poems by Taylor Mali
Speaking with conviction
"I'm like inviting you to, like, join me in the bandwagon of uncertainty. What has happened to our conviction?"
What a teacher makes (warning: there are a couple of bad words)
"I decide to bite my tongue instead of his...."
"I'm like inviting you to, like, join me in the bandwagon of uncertainty. What has happened to our conviction?"
What a teacher makes (warning: there are a couple of bad words)
"I decide to bite my tongue instead of his...."
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Proverbs 13:4 again!
Yes, I am revisiting Proverbs 13:4 again. This time with a different spin. My desires, what do I want to have accomplished? How? The verse says diligent, not lazy. I get that. Here is why I was struck. This quote:
Discipline is 'Making yourself do what you don't want to do in order to achieve what you want to achieve.' (supposedly from Tom Landry's book in p.279)
Diligence has to come from the the right motivation. And the right motivation has to be for the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ, not anything else. Anything else would be the wrong motivation, for a follower of Christ, that is. And motivation, comes from self discipline doesn't it? And this self discipline has to come from conviction and motive. If my motive is none other than to please someone else or myself, forget it. If my motive is to succeed in a worldly sense or get more money, forget it. Wrong motives! Where does my conviction lie? Is it through my own senses of failure? Or is it through the word of God that is speaking to me through the Spirit, telling me to obey? Telling me to change? Telling me to step up?
Through godly conviction and motives, self discipline, motivation, and diligence shall follow.
So what do I want? What is it that my heart so desires and yearns to achieve?
intimacy with the LORD
Hebrews 7:25; 10:22; 11:6, James 4:8
spiritual, mental and spiritual fitness
Luke 9:62, Romans 9:8, 1 Timothy 4:8
doing everything unto the LORD and not unto man
2 Chron 5:11-14; Psalm 115:1; Proverbs 25:2; Isaiah 24:15; Jer 13:16; 1 Cor 10:13;Col 3:23
I did not list them because all of them are number 1. That's all I want to achieve. I am also gaining wisdom from reading and studying Proverbs 30. The sayings of Agur. I will have to blog on that later.
LORD, bless my conviction and motives to better know you. Psalm 84, how lovely is Your dwelling place oh Lord!!! Better is one day in Your house!! Let my heart and flesh cry out to You! Let me seek You and find You. You are beautiful. Lord, I never have the right motives, I am human. Give me Your motives! Let me seek self discipline, motivation, and diligence and find these things because of You. Like Agur says, only give me my daily bread! I don't need anything but You. Help me surrender all things to You and know I cannot take any material thing from this world with me. May the Holy Spirit consecrate my children and may they desire the baptism from Your spirit so they may be anointed to do Your will. Open their spiritual eyes, ears, and hearts so they make seek You from their deepest parts of their souls. Thank You for Your sacrifice and grace. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Discipline is 'Making yourself do what you don't want to do in order to achieve what you want to achieve.' (supposedly from Tom Landry's book in p.279)
Diligence has to come from the the right motivation. And the right motivation has to be for the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ, not anything else. Anything else would be the wrong motivation, for a follower of Christ, that is. And motivation, comes from self discipline doesn't it? And this self discipline has to come from conviction and motive. If my motive is none other than to please someone else or myself, forget it. If my motive is to succeed in a worldly sense or get more money, forget it. Wrong motives! Where does my conviction lie? Is it through my own senses of failure? Or is it through the word of God that is speaking to me through the Spirit, telling me to obey? Telling me to change? Telling me to step up?
Through godly conviction and motives, self discipline, motivation, and diligence shall follow.
So what do I want? What is it that my heart so desires and yearns to achieve?
intimacy with the LORD
Hebrews 7:25; 10:22; 11:6, James 4:8
spiritual, mental and spiritual fitness
Luke 9:62, Romans 9:8, 1 Timothy 4:8
doing everything unto the LORD and not unto man
2 Chron 5:11-14; Psalm 115:1; Proverbs 25:2; Isaiah 24:15; Jer 13:16; 1 Cor 10:13;Col 3:23
I did not list them because all of them are number 1. That's all I want to achieve. I am also gaining wisdom from reading and studying Proverbs 30. The sayings of Agur. I will have to blog on that later.
LORD, bless my conviction and motives to better know you. Psalm 84, how lovely is Your dwelling place oh Lord!!! Better is one day in Your house!! Let my heart and flesh cry out to You! Let me seek You and find You. You are beautiful. Lord, I never have the right motives, I am human. Give me Your motives! Let me seek self discipline, motivation, and diligence and find these things because of You. Like Agur says, only give me my daily bread! I don't need anything but You. Help me surrender all things to You and know I cannot take any material thing from this world with me. May the Holy Spirit consecrate my children and may they desire the baptism from Your spirit so they may be anointed to do Your will. Open their spiritual eyes, ears, and hearts so they make seek You from their deepest parts of their souls. Thank You for Your sacrifice and grace. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Re-visitation
Frequent re-visitations are essential. What I mean is, when God is teaching something, go back and revisit it frequently, read it again, think about it again, pray about it again, examine your life against it again and again.
One of the heart issues I was revisiting tonight is what I had mentioned in the blog on Sept 5, 2012, just a couple of weeks ago. I wrote the verse I mentioned on the cover on my bible, and when it fades, I re-write it. I just rewrote it two nights ago actually.
I went on biblegateway, and I put different versions together and studied them. Click on this, this is what I had on my screen.
In the last block, the Chinese version, it says, "Lazy man admire from afar but can't ever achieve; those who put all their might into hard work are promised prosperity." Sounds like a Chinese proverb!! ;) It says what it means and means what it says. The word admire, gives a longing for whatever they try to achieve. Also, the second part gives "umph" to the hard work. It's like triple hard work. Then, the word promised, it's gives me a "wow, finally, satisfaction is here" feeling. I love this version and how I translated it, hahaha.
Now look at Holman Christian, the slacker, here, is someone who just mopes and sits around doing nothing, even though it sounds like he knows what he should be doing. Well, he gets nothing! The ones who are diligent are satisfied, whatever they need or want to accomplish.
How about ESV? I wonder if the original language had the word "pneuma" or what in it? It says soul. But, I get it. It's deeper. It's not about material. Not about things. As I blogged on Sept 5, I crave to have spiritual things done, and when I don't work hard to get them, my SOUL feels like failure, like confused, I feel unrest.
NASB is similar to ESV.... except for the word FAT at the end LOL made me think food instead. Maybe soul food. Food for the our eternal spirit. God's Word. Jesus did say, "Man does not live by bread alone." We shall grow spiritually with spiritually food.
NIV uses the word appetite. It made me think food right away too. Everyone has an appetite for either worldliness or godliness. We have to choose what to work hard at. If we choose worldliness, we will never be filled in spiritually. There will never be enough when we are lazy at working toward godliness. Ecc5:10
I have been working slowly towards discerning what God wants me to be doing VS my own wants. I want to have a good appetite for working towards the right things, not empty things that don't matter to Him. May all of us strive for a godly appetite for spiritual growth, and never give up desiring it with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
LORD, You are my God, continue to teach me through this verse. I can't get enough of You and what wisdom You have for me. Use me, humble me, teach me, direct me, help me to always glorify you in everything I do. Focus my eyes on You and what You have called me to do and who You have called me to be. Give me strength to not seek human praise and ignore human jeer, but to turn my gaze upon You. Thank You Lord for giving me abundant life I never dreamed I would have. Truly, You know what's best for me. In Jesus' name I pray to You. AMEN.
One of the heart issues I was revisiting tonight is what I had mentioned in the blog on Sept 5, 2012, just a couple of weeks ago. I wrote the verse I mentioned on the cover on my bible, and when it fades, I re-write it. I just rewrote it two nights ago actually.
I went on biblegateway, and I put different versions together and studied them. Click on this, this is what I had on my screen.
In the last block, the Chinese version, it says, "Lazy man admire from afar but can't ever achieve; those who put all their might into hard work are promised prosperity." Sounds like a Chinese proverb!! ;) It says what it means and means what it says. The word admire, gives a longing for whatever they try to achieve. Also, the second part gives "umph" to the hard work. It's like triple hard work. Then, the word promised, it's gives me a "wow, finally, satisfaction is here" feeling. I love this version and how I translated it, hahaha.
Now look at Holman Christian, the slacker, here, is someone who just mopes and sits around doing nothing, even though it sounds like he knows what he should be doing. Well, he gets nothing! The ones who are diligent are satisfied, whatever they need or want to accomplish.
How about ESV? I wonder if the original language had the word "pneuma" or what in it? It says soul. But, I get it. It's deeper. It's not about material. Not about things. As I blogged on Sept 5, I crave to have spiritual things done, and when I don't work hard to get them, my SOUL feels like failure, like confused, I feel unrest.
NASB is similar to ESV.... except for the word FAT at the end LOL made me think food instead. Maybe soul food. Food for the our eternal spirit. God's Word. Jesus did say, "Man does not live by bread alone." We shall grow spiritually with spiritually food.
NIV uses the word appetite. It made me think food right away too. Everyone has an appetite for either worldliness or godliness. We have to choose what to work hard at. If we choose worldliness, we will never be filled in spiritually. There will never be enough when we are lazy at working toward godliness. Ecc5:10
I have been working slowly towards discerning what God wants me to be doing VS my own wants. I want to have a good appetite for working towards the right things, not empty things that don't matter to Him. May all of us strive for a godly appetite for spiritual growth, and never give up desiring it with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
LORD, You are my God, continue to teach me through this verse. I can't get enough of You and what wisdom You have for me. Use me, humble me, teach me, direct me, help me to always glorify you in everything I do. Focus my eyes on You and what You have called me to do and who You have called me to be. Give me strength to not seek human praise and ignore human jeer, but to turn my gaze upon You. Thank You Lord for giving me abundant life I never dreamed I would have. Truly, You know what's best for me. In Jesus' name I pray to You. AMEN.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Last Convo
Phill, my husband, and I have been praying for weeks about today.
Did I have a clue it was today? No. Not till this morning.
I woke up with a headache. At around 8am, my ears were choosing to pick up low pitches extraordinarily, attributing to an elevated headache. I started praying, and praying about the meeting, knowing M and S are coming. Then, I got this affirmation. A peace that transcends all understanding, 100% certainty, no doubt.
I gotta be honest to say, that after 1.5 years, I have wanted this moment, but I was never 100% sure. At some points, I did get a bit exhausted, maybe a little frustrated here and there, wanted my "JW day" to be my day again... But my response wasn't, wow finally, or yay. It was yes Lord, I will obey.
To give you some background info, we had been going through their little yellow book "What does the Bible really teach?" We were on Ch15 when we could not go on. So they suggested to go back to Ch1 and skimming through the subtitles of the chapters. By that time, I narrowed my questions down to 3 of them. 1.Spirit after death 2.Jesus the angel 3.Trinity/Modalism. For the past 2 weeks, I had been interviewing them about #1, asking them for evidence.
Here are the highlights of our conversation, remember we talked as friends, our tones are kind and light. Very much like just talking to our next door neighbor:
1. I started by stating that I have been praying about this a lot, that it's not so much about the different issues but that if an organization is truly chosen by God, I am in because God is never wrong even tho people are imperfect and will make mistakes. On the other hand, if an organization shows false teachings, I am out, cuz God would want me out.
2. They continued to show me magazines and evidences that makes their organization truly awesome. Everyone volunteers, everyone loves each other, their teachings are the same internationally... I said to any of this, "this is commendable. I really appreciate this." They said, how did the Bible say we can tell if an organization is true or false? it's by its fruits. Good fruits only grow on good tree, and bad fruits only grow on bad trees. Our organization never sweeps anything under the rug, our brothers and sisters serve one another etcetcetc... I said, well, I guess I see the good fruits and trees differently. I don't see it just talking about an organization. I see it talking about individuals. People as good trees carrying good fruits can be associated with an organization that is a bad tree carrying bad fruits. And people can have bad fruits and be associated with an organization that carries good fruits. That why God prunes away.
3. I had a question in Revelation 9:1-11. Who is Abaddon? Who is the angel of the abyss? Who are the locusts? What are their jobs? (side note: previously they had given me a red publication named "Revelation - a great climax") The reason I asked these questions was because if you read the passage, you would know the answer is obvious. Who else would rise up from the bottom of the abyss? Who else would be the King angel? I quoted all the verses about locusts and Abaddon in OT book of Joel . They refused to answer me. They kept saying we need to research. S at one point said, give me that red book. I said, no I don't want to upset you. S laughed, just give it to me! So I did. Page 148, “Their king is the angel of the abyss. His Jewish name is Abaddon… (Revelation 9:11). Jesus as the “angel of the abyss” and the “destroyer” inflicted indeed a deadly plague on the Christian world.” (p. 148). You would not believe it, but at first they refused to acknowledge the natural explanation from the bible. After several readings, she said, the red book says.... I kindly interrupted no, this bible right here says something different from that book. I cannot accept that Jesus is the angel of the abyss and that he is the king of these locusts.
4. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 I read through my research, not just 1975 cuz they will say that never happened, that the elders of the congregations misunderstood. And of course, I told them, that doesn't make any sense that some elders from some halls from some cities can then affect all congregations from all the halls from the whole world. My grandma has been JW for more than 40 years, I know this happened. S brought up jw.org on her phone and started reading how she knows her organization is the one true religion. The WT loves using anecdotes to prove their points cuz Jesus used parables. anyway, at one point she read about handing out maps so people can know how to get to their destination. So I asked, how do we know how reliable these maps are? The map giver is always going to say that theirs are the most reliable.... I said, if in 1800 I can do something to go to heaven but in 2015 it's no longer valid, I think that map is not very reliable. I then brought up the bible verse and I said, I don't want to disobey God. I cannot study this organization's material anymore. They started to pack up after these 2.5 hours.
5. Funny thing. S keeps asking me questions.
a) so, do you have the truth? yes, i do. it is right here in this bible alone. just the bible.
b) where are you going to go when you die? i am going to be with God. I know there are many discussions about heaven and hell, but the bible is clear about one thing, you die either to be with God or to be without God. It says, if you accept Jesus as your Savior, believe He died for your sins, and confess with your mouth, you are going to be with God. I am going to be with God.
c) how do you know what your church teaches is true? my husband and i are not "baptists" we are God fearing people who follow the bible. we just happen to go to a baptist seminary, it's not a title or label. If a church we walk into does not teach the bible, we walk away. If a church teaches the bible but God has not brought us there, we walk away too. Only if a church teaches the bible and God has called that we stay to serve. We are not bound to one organization.
d) what were you before you became a Christian? i was into new age, a little buddhism here, a little hinduism there, a bit of atheism... i used to have nightmares about dying when i was a kid.
and then I started reading the bible and found God.
e) but your bibles took out jehovah's name.... yes and studying with y'all have opened my eyes to that. that's why i have been seeking out bibles like Holmann Christian and New Jerusalem Bible that have YHWH in them.
No arguments, no debates, seasoned with truth.
6. Awww we are going to miss you.... Me: me too!!!!! drop by any time. email me, call me, text me!
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M and S will bring this sadly rare Christian kindness with them and to their hall. They are not going to black list me or my house. Their hall will send people back. I have complete peace and trust that God's work has been finished. Please continue to pray for M and S.
4. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 I read through my research, not just 1975 cuz they will say that never happened, that the elders of the congregations misunderstood. And of course, I told them, that doesn't make any sense that some elders from some halls from some cities can then affect all congregations from all the halls from the whole world. My grandma has been JW for more than 40 years, I know this happened. S brought up jw.org on her phone and started reading how she knows her organization is the one true religion. The WT loves using anecdotes to prove their points cuz Jesus used parables. anyway, at one point she read about handing out maps so people can know how to get to their destination. So I asked, how do we know how reliable these maps are? The map giver is always going to say that theirs are the most reliable.... I said, if in 1800 I can do something to go to heaven but in 2015 it's no longer valid, I think that map is not very reliable. I then brought up the bible verse and I said, I don't want to disobey God. I cannot study this organization's material anymore. They started to pack up after these 2.5 hours.
5. Funny thing. S keeps asking me questions.
a) so, do you have the truth? yes, i do. it is right here in this bible alone. just the bible.
b) where are you going to go when you die? i am going to be with God. I know there are many discussions about heaven and hell, but the bible is clear about one thing, you die either to be with God or to be without God. It says, if you accept Jesus as your Savior, believe He died for your sins, and confess with your mouth, you are going to be with God. I am going to be with God.
c) how do you know what your church teaches is true? my husband and i are not "baptists" we are God fearing people who follow the bible. we just happen to go to a baptist seminary, it's not a title or label. If a church we walk into does not teach the bible, we walk away. If a church teaches the bible but God has not brought us there, we walk away too. Only if a church teaches the bible and God has called that we stay to serve. We are not bound to one organization.
d) what were you before you became a Christian? i was into new age, a little buddhism here, a little hinduism there, a bit of atheism... i used to have nightmares about dying when i was a kid.
and then I started reading the bible and found God.
e) but your bibles took out jehovah's name.... yes and studying with y'all have opened my eyes to that. that's why i have been seeking out bibles like Holmann Christian and New Jerusalem Bible that have YHWH in them.
No arguments, no debates, seasoned with truth.
6. Awww we are going to miss you.... Me: me too!!!!! drop by any time. email me, call me, text me!
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M and S will bring this sadly rare Christian kindness with them and to their hall. They are not going to black list me or my house. Their hall will send people back. I have complete peace and trust that God's work has been finished. Please continue to pray for M and S.
Listen, if you have family or friends who are Jehovah's Witnesses, please don't give up talking to them. If you don't know how or you have before with no avail, please contact me. I will show you how to talk to them without getting upset or getting them upset. I have a great mentor and friend through out this journey and I couldn't have done it without him. For more than 30 years, he used to be a JW and used to write for their publications. He got out and now "an associate member of the Evangelical Theological Society. Member of ISCA, International Society of Christian Apologetics. Member of Mensa." All things are possible for God. He can free their minds!!!
Oh Lord my God, You are so awesome and amazing. What is a year and a half compared to an eternity when one soul repents and returns to You???? Thank You for sending M and S to my door. Thank You for giving me an opportunity to learn, to commit to a call, and to struggle through all this. Thank You for my supportive friends who kept me accountable and also my not so supportive friends who kept me humble. Help me now to rest and be still. Let my spirit rejoice and be glad. You are precious Jesus, whoever finds you is like finding a rare treasure in a vast field. Help me hold onto this..................... In your precious name, AMEN.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Who doesn't?
I haven't found anyone who doesn't hate cancer. I have friends who has or had cancer and died from cancer. Sin has seriously brought it on. When sin entered this world through Adam, sin also corrupted all that is in the world and of the world. It is only through Christ we find any hope from this sick world.
Romans 5:18-19 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
I really don't like taking or giving medicine. I don't like hospitals or doctors. I guess I just have had too many bad experiences with them personally. Did I use to? No. Needles, shots, hospitals, doctors, dentists, were never a dislike for me. I went to them often and I was taught to relax and just let them do their thing and trust them 100%. Now, as I get older, wiser, teachable, knowledgeable etc, I just cannot believe what I have experienced, heard, read and tolerated.
I have learned to say no. I have learned to look for healthy alternatives. I have learned to think independently regardless of media bombardment, peer pressure, and cultural trends.
This is one of the articles that makes me shudder at doctors and researchers. http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/researchers-accidentally-discover-chemo-helps-tumors-grow/
Draw your own conclusions. I am not saying to not like doctors or hate meds or never ever go to the hospital. I am saying, read up, don't be lazy to research, don't be afraid to get second opinions, don't get all spooked out by natural remedies, learn learn and keep learning.
Romans 5:18-19 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
I really don't like taking or giving medicine. I don't like hospitals or doctors. I guess I just have had too many bad experiences with them personally. Did I use to? No. Needles, shots, hospitals, doctors, dentists, were never a dislike for me. I went to them often and I was taught to relax and just let them do their thing and trust them 100%. Now, as I get older, wiser, teachable, knowledgeable etc, I just cannot believe what I have experienced, heard, read and tolerated.
I have learned to say no. I have learned to look for healthy alternatives. I have learned to think independently regardless of media bombardment, peer pressure, and cultural trends.
This is one of the articles that makes me shudder at doctors and researchers. http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/researchers-accidentally-discover-chemo-helps-tumors-grow/
Draw your own conclusions. I am not saying to not like doctors or hate meds or never ever go to the hospital. I am saying, read up, don't be lazy to research, don't be afraid to get second opinions, don't get all spooked out by natural remedies, learn learn and keep learning.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Art of fear
I love this artistic statement Liu is making. As a Christian, as a Hong Kong citizen, as a US citizen, as the Presidential election approaches, as the day of the LORD approaches, etc this speaks to me so loudly about this world. This picture is what many people feel and probably what Liu feels as Chinese. This is what God's words have to say:
Phillipians 4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Take a look:
The Mending Project, an installation by artist Beili Liu consists of "hundreds of Chinese scissors suspended from the ceiling, pointing downwards. The hovering, massive cloud of scissors alludes to distant fear, looming violence and worrisome uncertainty. [Liu] sits beneath the countless sharp blades of the scissors, and performs the on-going simple task of mending."
Phillipians 4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Take a look:
The Mending Project, an installation by artist Beili Liu consists of "hundreds of Chinese scissors suspended from the ceiling, pointing downwards. The hovering, massive cloud of scissors alludes to distant fear, looming violence and worrisome uncertainty. [Liu] sits beneath the countless sharp blades of the scissors, and performs the on-going simple task of mending."
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Music to my ear
It's been a long long time since I woke up to Hanon.
I have woken up to them practicing a little song. But not Hanon yet.
I grew up waking up to my mother teaching piano. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I'd hear my mom's students play classical music and technique exercises.
This morning at 8, I woke up to a familiar sound. I was a little confused, but as I awoke, I realized Isaac was practicing Hanon #1 by himself. It was truly music to my ears. My eyes opened wide and I propped up going, huh? I tried to figure out if it was Abigail or Isaac. Out of curiosity, I went to the living room and found out I was right. :)
It was a very sweet moment.
I have woken up to them practicing a little song. But not Hanon yet.
I grew up waking up to my mother teaching piano. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I'd hear my mom's students play classical music and technique exercises.
This morning at 8, I woke up to a familiar sound. I was a little confused, but as I awoke, I realized Isaac was practicing Hanon #1 by himself. It was truly music to my ears. My eyes opened wide and I propped up going, huh? I tried to figure out if it was Abigail or Isaac. Out of curiosity, I went to the living room and found out I was right. :)
It was a very sweet moment.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Hymn Medley
Another Hymn Medley
Arr. Jo Jo
(Synth)
GCG GC
Alleluia Alleluia
C G
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
GCG GC
Alleluia Alleluia
C G
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
GC
Alleluia (Guitar fade in)
C GC G
Holy Holy
C G D
Are You Lord God Almighty
C
Worthy is the Lamb
C
Worthy is the Lamb
GC G
You are Holy Holy
C G D
Are You Lord God Almighty
C
Worthy is the Lamb
C
Worthy is the Lamb
G D G(bm) A
Amen
D
I stand amazed in the presence
A D
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
G D
And wonder how He could love me,
And wonder how He could love me,
D A D
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
D
how marvelous! how wonderful!
how marvelous! how wonderful!
A
And my song shall ever be:
And my song shall ever be:
D (bm)
how marvelous! how wonderful!
how marvelous! how wonderful!
G em A D
Is my Savior's love for me!
Is my Savior's love for me!
D
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He took my sins and my sorrows,
A D
He made them His very own;
He made them His very own;
G D
He bore the burden toCalvary ,
He bore the burden to
D A D
And suffered and died alone.
(Bonified piano solo)
And suffered and died alone.
(Bonified piano solo)
D
When with the ransomed in glory
When with the ransomed in glory
A D
His face I at last shall see,
His face I at last shall see,
G D
’Twill be my joy through the ages
’Twill be my joy through the ages
D A D
To sing of His love for me.
To sing of His love for me.
D G
My chains are gone
D
I've been set free
G D
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
G D
And like a flood His mercy rains
GA D
Unending love, Amazing grace (2X)
D G D
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow ( fade)
A
The sun forbear to shine
D G D
But God, Who called me here below
D A D
Will be forever mine
G A D
Will be forever mine
D GA D
You are forever mine
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Satisfaction
Hey. I struggle with feeling like I'm failing all. the. time. I always have some excuse for myself to fail. You know my life verse? Proverbs 13:4. Perfect for me. "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent is fully satisfied."
I have to be honest, I bend towards laziness. Growing up, I did nothing but sit in front of a TV or mope around daydreaming. Now that I am a new creation in Christ, when I am lazy, I also crave to get stuff done. I really do. I have this craving to be a godly mom and godly wife and I have a plan in my head.
I don't want to be the sluggard who just keeps having these cravings of what my life should be or who I should become or why I did not do something. If these godly desires don't get fully satisfied, my heart gets confused, defeated, deflated, and crushed!
FAILURE gets etched in my brain and heart when my negative feelings collide with my godly cravings.
When I read this verse, I am so convicted and motivated. It's written on the cover of my bible. I say it to myself before I go to sleep, because the second part of the verse is my goal. I want to be FULLY satisfied. That includes my spiritual walk with Jesus, housework, homeschooling, working out, being submissive... everything! The fruits of satisfaction pleases not only me, but my God.
LORD, Continue to teach me to do all things unto Your glory. AMEN.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
A bit of my conversation with the Jehovah's Witnesses on Tuesday
Instead of M and S, S brought her mom, P, this past Tuesday. M is training to be a pioneer, which is a full time missionary for WT. This is part of our conversation after a video about Charles T Russell. They brought it over because i had mentioned something about WT starting with CTR and not the disciples.
S-what did you think of the video? does WT still seem like it starts from just one man?
Me-i think the dvd was really good. it really shared a lot of Russell's faith journey.
S-like it said, trinity is not in the bible and yet churches teach it like it's truth.
Me-you're right.... hmmm... but the word bible is not in the bible either....how come the dvd teaches that trinitarinism like it's modalism?
Smom-what's modalism?
Me-what the dvd and the WT teaches. that Jesus is God is the Holy Spirit.
Smom-that is the trinity.
Me-no it's not. that's modalism. united pentacostal churches teach that. but that's only one church.
Smom-it doesn't matter, they are all the same.
Me-no, that's not true. modalism is God, Jesus, Spirit as 1 person 3 roles. the trinity is where 3 completely different persons, 1 divine nature. God the Father is greater than Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the helper. They are 3 different persons.
Smom-i have many Christian people explain to trinity like this: I am Pandora, I am a mother, a daughter and also a grandmother.
Me-that's modalism. Trinity is, Adam and eve, 2 persons, 1 union. also we are a church, ears, eyes, feet, hands, but 1 church.
Smom-that's not what our other christian friends explain it to us. we have never heard trinity being explained that way.
S-do you believe in the trinity?
Me-my community teaches...
S-no, you, Joanna.
Me-I do. because when i read the scriptures, nothing contradicts. God the father sends Jesus the Son. Jesus dies and resurrects, then Jesus the Son sends the Holy Spirit.
S-so do you believe Jesus has a beginning?
Me-In the beginning He was with God the Father.
S-was he made?
Me-if God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Spirit are 3 persons in 1, how could Jesus have been made if YWHW was not made?
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This is my plea!!! Preachers, Pastors, Teachers, USE God's Word to preach God's Word! This seems elementary, but so many of you have been wussified. You have sold your Bible for numbers. You have sold your calling for popularity. I wanted you to read what my conversation was because it shows how Christians cannot explain what the Trinity is right off without using another horrible modalism illustration. I am not talking about the church goers. I am talking about preachers, pastors, their wives, Sunday school teachers, leaders, and PARENTS. Great if you went or go to seminary and you do. Truth is, the largest percentage of conversions are Baptists turned JWs. I have talked to at least 10 JW's who used to be Baptists, or their parents are Baptists. They all said, I had a question about the trinity, or death, or hell, or being saved... and no one answered me. Or, they drew this diagram on a paper, told me they will get back to me, and never did. Or, it didn't make any sense and they didn't show me where in the bible. Again, it's not whether or not these questions were answered. It's about you selling out on Sundays, holding the Holy Bible of 66 books, and using several verses or even worse I've seen, ONE verse to "preach God's Word"! You only have 1 day, for what, 20 minutes, a week to speak to many of these people. What a GRAVE responsibility, at that pulpit that you hoard, to read Straight from His Word, His Mouth, and His Heart! How many of those words you preach every Sunday is your opinion on a specific topic? Let your people have His Words! They want it! If they don't want it, they don't want Him. If they reject you, they are rejecting Him. If you don't preach straight from the Bible, why should you expect your congregation open theirs any other days of the week? Just think about it. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Preach, the Word. End of rant. Thanks for reading.
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If you want to read more:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/2011-church-membership-southern-baptists-decline-cults-growing-48984/
This should make you mad at ourselves, specifically at the end when he lists that we believe in the "trinity -3 gods in one." A Jehovah's Witness's writing on wiki answers on the difference between Baptists and WT beliefs.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_a_Baptist_and_Jehovah's_Witnesses
S-what did you think of the video? does WT still seem like it starts from just one man?
Me-i think the dvd was really good. it really shared a lot of Russell's faith journey.
S-like it said, trinity is not in the bible and yet churches teach it like it's truth.
Me-you're right.... hmmm... but the word bible is not in the bible either....how come the dvd teaches that trinitarinism like it's modalism?
Smom-what's modalism?
Me-what the dvd and the WT teaches. that Jesus is God is the Holy Spirit.
Smom-that is the trinity.
Me-no it's not. that's modalism. united pentacostal churches teach that. but that's only one church.
Smom-it doesn't matter, they are all the same.
Me-no, that's not true. modalism is God, Jesus, Spirit as 1 person 3 roles. the trinity is where 3 completely different persons, 1 divine nature. God the Father is greater than Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the helper. They are 3 different persons.
Smom-i have many Christian people explain to trinity like this: I am Pandora, I am a mother, a daughter and also a grandmother.
Me-that's modalism. Trinity is, Adam and eve, 2 persons, 1 union. also we are a church, ears, eyes, feet, hands, but 1 church.
Smom-that's not what our other christian friends explain it to us. we have never heard trinity being explained that way.
S-do you believe in the trinity?
Me-my community teaches...
S-no, you, Joanna.
Me-I do. because when i read the scriptures, nothing contradicts. God the father sends Jesus the Son. Jesus dies and resurrects, then Jesus the Son sends the Holy Spirit.
S-so do you believe Jesus has a beginning?
Me-In the beginning He was with God the Father.
S-was he made?
Me-if God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Spirit are 3 persons in 1, how could Jesus have been made if YWHW was not made?
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This is my plea!!! Preachers, Pastors, Teachers, USE God's Word to preach God's Word! This seems elementary, but so many of you have been wussified. You have sold your Bible for numbers. You have sold your calling for popularity. I wanted you to read what my conversation was because it shows how Christians cannot explain what the Trinity is right off without using another horrible modalism illustration. I am not talking about the church goers. I am talking about preachers, pastors, their wives, Sunday school teachers, leaders, and PARENTS. Great if you went or go to seminary and you do. Truth is, the largest percentage of conversions are Baptists turned JWs. I have talked to at least 10 JW's who used to be Baptists, or their parents are Baptists. They all said, I had a question about the trinity, or death, or hell, or being saved... and no one answered me. Or, they drew this diagram on a paper, told me they will get back to me, and never did. Or, it didn't make any sense and they didn't show me where in the bible. Again, it's not whether or not these questions were answered. It's about you selling out on Sundays, holding the Holy Bible of 66 books, and using several verses or even worse I've seen, ONE verse to "preach God's Word"! You only have 1 day, for what, 20 minutes, a week to speak to many of these people. What a GRAVE responsibility, at that pulpit that you hoard, to read Straight from His Word, His Mouth, and His Heart! How many of those words you preach every Sunday is your opinion on a specific topic? Let your people have His Words! They want it! If they don't want it, they don't want Him. If they reject you, they are rejecting Him. If you don't preach straight from the Bible, why should you expect your congregation open theirs any other days of the week? Just think about it. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Preach, the Word. End of rant. Thanks for reading.
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If you want to read more:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/2011-church-membership-southern-baptists-decline-cults-growing-48984/
This should make you mad at ourselves, specifically at the end when he lists that we believe in the "trinity -3 gods in one." A Jehovah's Witness's writing on wiki answers on the difference between Baptists and WT beliefs.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_a_Baptist_and_Jehovah's_Witnesses
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A Mama's struggles
My struggles as a mother have not come from my kids' misbehavior or weird conduct. It has come from my own childhood. Whatever I was struggling with then, I still struggle with now. The way I was wired then, is the way I am still wired now. My struggles as a mother still come from the ways I saw my parents acted and reacted. Yes, I am a new creation in Christ. Yes, I have gone through the renewing of my mind. Yes, I have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus. My struggles as a mother come as I realize that I have to go through these steps each and every day to ensure the purity, sanity, and sanctity of my mind, heart, and soul.
Truth? It's tough! My normal childhood in the world was not normal at all. My childhood was not just in the word, but of the world. Going to temples and worshiping statues were a norm. The yelling and screaming ending with a talk of divorce every night was a norm. A depressed suicidal childhood was a norm. These things followed me into pre-adulthood and magnified as I found myself unprepared for adulthood, so I played pretend.
Dare. The dare was to stop playing pretend. The falsehood that chained me to its bones had me think that I was somehow doing all right. When I met Jesus in my car, I was immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. Confronted with endless grace, I knew I couldn't lie to the face of the living God.
Difference? Hope. My struggles of laziness, longing for more of God, an untamed tongue, unsubmissive heart, wild thoughts.... have only one hope. JESUS. I am thankful Jesus has cut my chains to my old self but I am not perfect. When Paul said "Therefore" in Romans 12:1, he was addressing the remnants of Israel. Last verse in chapter 11 says God has bound everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them ALL. So "in view of God's mercy," we have to offer our tongue, our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our feet, our laughter, our tears, our happiness, our anger, our sufferings, as a "living sacrifice." Our worship to the one true hope, one true God, is the ways we treat and employ the bodies God has given us.
Charge. The charge is for ultimate holiness. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Paul says. What pattern? The patterns of infidelity, idolatry, speech, jealousy, hatred, Christian feminism, self righteousness, love of money. On top of that, Paul added, "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renewed by God's Word, His righteousness, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, His submissiveness,.... everything that stands opposite to this world! Everything that the world cannot do without His help.
THEN! Then, I will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
My struggles as a mother has not ended, but it HAS an end. :) It is a victorious end and it lies at the foot of the cross, in the blood of Christ, by the grace of God.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2
Truth? It's tough! My normal childhood in the world was not normal at all. My childhood was not just in the word, but of the world. Going to temples and worshiping statues were a norm. The yelling and screaming ending with a talk of divorce every night was a norm. A depressed suicidal childhood was a norm. These things followed me into pre-adulthood and magnified as I found myself unprepared for adulthood, so I played pretend.
Dare. The dare was to stop playing pretend. The falsehood that chained me to its bones had me think that I was somehow doing all right. When I met Jesus in my car, I was immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. Confronted with endless grace, I knew I couldn't lie to the face of the living God.
Difference? Hope. My struggles of laziness, longing for more of God, an untamed tongue, unsubmissive heart, wild thoughts.... have only one hope. JESUS. I am thankful Jesus has cut my chains to my old self but I am not perfect. When Paul said "Therefore" in Romans 12:1, he was addressing the remnants of Israel. Last verse in chapter 11 says God has bound everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them ALL. So "in view of God's mercy," we have to offer our tongue, our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our feet, our laughter, our tears, our happiness, our anger, our sufferings, as a "living sacrifice." Our worship to the one true hope, one true God, is the ways we treat and employ the bodies God has given us.
Charge. The charge is for ultimate holiness. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Paul says. What pattern? The patterns of infidelity, idolatry, speech, jealousy, hatred, Christian feminism, self righteousness, love of money. On top of that, Paul added, "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renewed by God's Word, His righteousness, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, His submissiveness,.... everything that stands opposite to this world! Everything that the world cannot do without His help.
THEN! Then, I will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
My struggles as a mother has not ended, but it HAS an end. :) It is a victorious end and it lies at the foot of the cross, in the blood of Christ, by the grace of God.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2
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