The Gist

Date:	Saturday, June 9, 2007
Time:	8:00pm - 10:30pm
Location:	Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church
	9670 Bayview Ave,Richmond Hill, ON

The Summer is shaping up

I love God's plans... everything is beginning to fit together nicely. My Summer is slowly shaping up, and like a puzzle, every piece is falling into place.

Apr 29 - June 7 (Jenny away on missions in China)
May 16 - June 27 (Mondays and Wednesday Night): Summer school - Gospel Church & Culture
May 19 - May 2: Spring Camp
July 15 - Aug 8: Vancouver visit
Aug 9 - Aug 11: Willow Leadership Summit
Aug 13 - Aug 17: Arts and Sports Camp

The nice thing about the Leadership Summit being held on Aug 9 - 11 is that I can fly straight from Vancouver to Chicago and attend the conference live. There are Air Canada flights from YVR to ORD departing at 11:00p and arriving at 5:00a. That gives me 4 hours to travel to Willowcreek to attend the 9:00a conference. Nice. Now I can see my canceled Harmony Flights to be a blessing in disguise.

The Leadership Summit will be so cool!

Times Listed below are Central Time. (Schedule is subject to change.)
Thurs, August 9, 2007 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Fri, August 10, 2007 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Sat, August 11, 2007 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Session 1 Vision to Die For Bill Hybels Session 2 Tough Choices One-on-One with Carly Fiorina Session 3 The Heat of Responsibility Floyd Flake Session 4 The Sixth Sense of a Leader Warren Bennis	Session 5 Your Move Harvard Strategy Professor Michael Porter Session 6 Leading at the Highest Level A Personal Conversation with Colin Powell Session 7 A Leader’s Greatest Fear John Ortberg Session 8 Living for the Greater Good One-on-One with International Filmmaker Richard Curtis	Session 9 Building Humanity An Exclusive Interview with President Jimmy Carter Session 10 Whatever You Do, Inspire Me! Bill Hybels

Lunch with the big guys

Another jam packed day, another productive day. This week has been crazy! I never knew there so much to do during the summer "break". Monday was a nice Sabbath. Tuesday, dim sum lunch with grandma. Wednesday, worked all day, meeting after dinner and tutor. Today, graduation rehearsal, work at church, and tutor.

The highlight of the day was surely lunch. Lunch with Kaarina, the dean of student life, Nelly, admin of Hudson Taylor Centre, Doreen, executive assistant to the provost, and provost Dr. Earl Davey. Lunch with the provost was intense. I had to be on my best behaviour. :P But from him, I learn so much about how upper levels of Tyndale runs.

Because of the parties present during lunch, at one point I felt that pulled in many directions. When they asked me what was my plans for the coming year, whether or not I'll be serving at the student council, I replied no and Kaarina gave me a frown. Then I suddenly felt the tension with when Nelly's eyes when with the prospect to recruit me to the Chinese student council. LOL. Oh, the fun of ministry. In the end I made my point clear that I wanted to focus on my congregation. But I'll still lend my helping hand to both council occasionally.

The most encouraging part of lunch was when Doreen asked about my trip to Vancouver in July, she asked me if I have family there. I said no but Kaarina jumped in and said "Not yet". Then Earl started sharing his experience when he was a missionary in Indonesia that the culture always uses the phrase "not yet". So much hope, I like it.

It turns out that Earl also have a passion for photography. Oh, we will have so much to talk about. :)

The Final Soiree

Men, Prepare for battle...

The weather is getting warmer, the snow is melting away. It is that time of the year I remind my boys again, to prepare for battle...

Driving to school this morning, before turning onto Garnier St. that leads to Tyndale, I had to drive by St. Joseph's. This is the time of the year when all the catholic school girls dig out their skirts. It is ridiculous how they hike up their skirts, it sickens me. I ask myself why do they bother to put one on if the skirt does not cover anything at all!?!

My heart aches for all men who wants to be righteous. This is the time of the year where it seems like the world is out to get them. Bounce your eyes, men!

is it in you?

Spring Camp 2007, registration begins tomorrow!

False Doctrines

Following up my past Sunday's sermon from Colossians 2 on how the media is feeding our next generation in regards to beauty and image, I found this website the proves what you see is not what is true.

http://detouch.org/de-touch/med.php?set=fluideffect&img=22

Alicia Keys:
Before Touchups ____________ After Touchups

Take care of your...

"The pulpit is a lonely place..."
~Dr. Victor Shepherd

These words of Dr. Shepherd regularly echoes through my mind to serve as a reminder to be on guard. As His servant we are called to fight by the side of our Lord Jesus Christ. But serving as one of His officers, you become a prime target of Satan's attacks.

Ho! Get your hands down. Do not salute me. There are goddamned snipers all around this area who would love to grease an officer. I'm Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Welcome to Fourth Platoon.
~Lt. Dan, Forrest Gump

The devil and his army would love to take aim and take down a church leader. They salivate at the opportunity to create such chaos in the Christian camp. Just look at what happened to Ted Haggard or Paul Melnichuk.

Learning from one of my favorite movie, "All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)", while at times is might seem quiet on the battle front, don't go around chasing butterflies for snipers are hiding in ambush and ready to take aim.

Be alert.

Take care of your eyes...
Take care of your thoughts...
Take care of your actions...

Lust. Greed. Pride. These feelings are normal for we are human, but sin creeps in on how we act on these feelings. Come to the alter and laid these thoughts and feelings at Jesus feet.

In ministry there is this moral code, and if you break it you are done.
~Dr. Fred Penny

The Storehouse of His Bounty

The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
~Deut 28:12

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/187986

After reading this Toronto Star article, I was really upset. The story of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts 5:1-11 came into mind. No, I do not wish the individuals in the above article to drop dead for that judgment ultimately belongs to God. But in the mist of the followers sharing the things they have for body of Christ, how shall we handle the leaders who are misusing God's resources for their own benefits. Yes, in Deut. 28:12 it did say that The LORD will open the heavens to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. But I guess these leaders forgot the second part of this passage, that they will lend to many nations and advance God's mission.

But I'll first remove the plank from eye. Lord, let me be responsible for the resources you have graciously provided for my. My I be diligent in how I use these resources and be of good steward.

The Dare

Dare To Move
by Switchfoot

Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
What happens next?

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself
Lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before

At times, life seems like a dare. We can refuse to accept the dare and let life passes us by, or we can take the leap of faith the accept the dare as a challenge. What is the consequences of the dare? If you fail at the dare: Humiliation. Embarrassment. Defeat. Rejection. If you succeed: Triumph. Achievement. Liberating. Growth.

Humiliation. Embarrassment. Defeat. Rejection. These are all extremely traumatic experiences. There is an inert fear in everyone of us to avoid these experiences if possible. Does the exultation of succeeding at a dare out-weights the possibility of these traumatic experience.

Two biblical characters came in mind. Jonah (because we are currently studying the book of Jonah) and Jacob.

Jonah. At the call to witness to the people in Nineveh (Assyrians), the brutally violent most hated enemies of Israel, Jonah refuse to accept the dare and fled. He did not want to face the ridicule of the people of Nineveh, or worst, face to crudity at the hands of these people. Also he did not think these people deserves the mercy of God. What happened to Jonah? In the belly of a fish... good as dead...

Jacob. When given the opportunity of meet face to face with God, what did he do? He took the dare and wrestled God. Is he out of his mind? The consequences of wrestling with God is far more serious than humiliation, embarrassment, defeat or rejection. It could cause him his life. Yet in the end, God blessed him

Jonah seek to save his life, but 'lost' it. Jacob took the dare that could of caused him his life, find life.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
~Matt 10:39

Do you dare?

In the presence in God's miracles

This term, I have designated Thursday as my Sabbath. A day for rest. A day to build connections. A day to connect with God, with myself, and with others brothers and sisters.

Yesterday, I had the joy of having lunch with Patrick and John Baik at Duff wings. Mmmm... After lunch, Baik and I headed downtown to pick up a photocopier.

A photocopier?

On Wednesday, I saw on Craig's List that a law firm is giving away a 5 years old Xerox 5855C copier. So immediately I jumped on the opportunity and arranged for the pickup today. During dinner on Wednesday night, I asked mom if any church organization needs a photocopier? She said perfect, 多倫多短宣中心 Toronto Chinese Christian Short Term Mission Training Centre needs a photocopier. Apparently I found out yesterday that the copier they have right now only makes about 10 copiers per day before overheating.

So Baik and I arrived at the law firm... only to find out that copier was larger than I though because of the additional modules. I made quick work and removed the paper sorter, but the paper loader was more of and hassle. It was on rails attached to the body of the copier by 4 screws. I had my trusty Swiss Army key chain knife was able remove 2 of the 4 screws. I needed longer screwdriver to remove the rest. Baik and I thought, let's wheel the unit down to the car and we'll see what we can do.

At the car, I soon realized I have to remover the paper loader. So out of options, I looked in to the spare tire wheel well of my car. I opened the bag containing the tire iron and to my surprised, there was a screw driver! I shouted "Praise God" and Baik and I cheered in the middle of the busy street in downtown tomorrow.

We loaded the copier into my car, thank God for the hatchback. I had to remove the front cover of the copier but the copier JUST fits through the hatch... seriously, no more than 5 cm leeway on each side and the top. Praise God.

I paper sorter fit perfectly in front of the copier and the paper loader sit snuggly on Baik's lap. I could not see out the back of my car, and I had to lean forward to see out of the right side of my car. So I kept the blinkers on and drove on the right lane all the way back uptown.

All in all, the was filled with joy as I delivered the copier to TCSTMTC. I know I could have sold the copier and toner and made a good sum of money, but giving to God's ministry in need was so much more rewarding. $8 downtown parking, several scratches on my car and 2 1/2 hours of labour later, I arrived at TCSTMTC. Dad arrived shortly after work to help. However, we could not get the main unit up the stairs to the Training Centre so a piano mover will arrive today to take the copier upstairs.

Director Yu of TCSTMTC commented how much faith I had to go and get the copier, and we are all excited how God provided.

Thank you, Lord, for gracing us with your presence.

Intentionally Relational

Now as my life mainly revolves around seminary, the church and ministry, I always feared about losing touch with the secular world. I often asked myself, who are my non-Christian friends?

Who am I going to witness to when I have no contact with my non-Christian friends? The key to "friendship evangelism" is "friends". But am I so focused on friends that I'm treating friendship evangelism as the "silver bullet" of evangelism?

And is purposely making friends for the sole purpose of evangelism doing justice to that particle individual? When happens when that individual accepts Christ? Do I move on to another friend? NO! That's not how love your neighbours mean.

What should I do? I have given much though about the past few months and what Darren deGraf of BCOQ said during lecture today rings closely to the thoughts in my mind. Be intentionally Relational. Start a routine, and meet acquaintances and witness to them...

This echoes what Rev. Lau has been saying all along: "Be informal yet intentional."

Am I Real?

"You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
~Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Life is a process of becoming. You either become who you were meant to be, or you become who you were not. One way or another, you become somebody. And this process of becoming is a long process.

Today, I questioned myself how do I become a footnote in the lives of those I minister to?

I have to be vulnerable, be transparent, smooth out my sharp edges, and open up myself to be loved. This process is usually painful -- most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But his is the only way to become real to those who I minister to. In order to touch the lives of my congregation with my live, I stand vulnerable, exposed, naked. It might not be a pretty sight, "but these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

What is in Tomorrow?

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
~James 4:13-17

In my preaching class today we were practicing our exegetical skills by extracting the subject and the compliment from a passage of Scripture. I love this class for the new insights I am getting from the Scriptures. As we were flying through verse after verse, James 4:13-17 stopped my right in my tracks.

In the recent weeks, I was so preoccupied by the future, I fear that I was boasting and bragging about it. I need to be more sensitive to the will of God.

Not About Me

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
~Rom 12:1

I must admit in my ministry there are times that I just want to step back and lay-low. For example, at Urbana, I wanted to room with people outside from my church. For one week, I did not want to be a leader. For one week, I just want to be like the common denominator. For one week, I just want to be like everyone else... But I soon realized, Urbana is not the only time I felt this way. Many times on Friday night I have a similar feeling...

Reflecting on Dave Overholt's lecture yesterday, ministry is not about me. It is about God who wants to use me. I think my old high tech full-time mentality has gotta the best of me. Yes, I am called into full-time ministry. This does not mean that I put in my 40, 50, or even 80 hours a week and that's full-time ministry. Full-time ministry in the Lord is a 24/7 calling. Whether I like it or not, it's not about me. Yes, there are time to step away and rest, but it is my attitude the needs to change.

"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices." Merely putting in 40 hours a week is not a sacrifice. It is just doing what's "convenient" for me. If my attitude were to change, I need to treat everything I do as ministry.

It is not about me.

The Journey... springboarding from Urbana

Learning from my experience in Thailand and Vietnam, I purposely let several weeks past by before composing a reflection on my experience on Urbana 06. Sorry for those who were looking for my thought on Urbana over the past weeks, but I realize that if I wrote something right away it will be mostly hype and emotions. Therefore I took the past few weeks to let the whole Urbana experience sink deep into my core.

As mentioned in Jenny's reflection on Urbana, the two of us had the unexpected yet delightful opportunity to spend the Urbana week together. We were prepared to not see each other through the whole week, but for some reason we ran into each other in the mist of 22,000 people and we had the opportunity to have our daily walk and chat - on what the experience at Urbana means to our relationship. Throughout the week, I also had the opportunity to witness how Jenny works and interact with her fellow student workers. This was refreshing and comforting because through her stay in Toronto she was the one meeting all my friends and family and it was good to see her with her friends and the chance to meet her friends.

Also, being part of the pastoral track and choosing to focusing on mobilization in my seminar selection, I was blessed with wonderful messages and challenges. Okay, by this point you are wondering and questioning: "Joel, what was God's calling for you at Urbana." This is my cope out answer - I realize that God is calling me to mobilize my congregation while waiting for God to lead me to my next step.

That is all I am going to say about "my calling", because I realized that is not the most important thing I got out of Urbana. While I would continue to encourage those in my congregation that was challenged and was called at Urbana, I would also remind them that a calling is a process - a journey. In seeking God's purpose for you, it is not like "BOOM!" and you suddenly know what God has planned for you. And even if you realized God has call you into a ministry, it is rarely you move from "minding your our life" directly into "fully immersed in ministry". Usually it is a gradual process - a process of patience and wrestling.

On realizing this, it made me take a step back. This was exactly what Jenny realized when we were sharing on the drive home from Urbana. Man, that is why I'm falling in love with her! God uses her to challenge me and my ministry. She was able to discern this immediately at the end of Urbana while it took me 3 week. :P

How many times I have heard these words:

• "I wish I can be in China right NOW serving the Lord."
• "I wish I can drop everything I'm doing and serve the Lord."
• "Why cannot our worship at church be better NOW."
• "Why can't I know NOW exactly what God wants me to do."
  

Yes, it is great to get direction from the Lord on where He wants you to be. But IMHO, I do not think that is God's biggest concern. He knows you will get there eventually. What He IS interested in is your journey, how you will wrestle and struggle on this journey, and how you will grow. This is why God rarely waves His magic wand and changes an individual immediately.

To struggle and to wrestle...

"You have a calling..." But in order to "live worthy of your calling" involves wrestling with the Lord and asking Him to bend you and break you so that you will fit into the calling God has for you.

God is interested in growth. But as a church leader we have a tendency to focus too much on facilitating on this growth. Let God worry about the growth. He is the master gardener. :) Learning from Rick Warren at Urbana, we don't have to worry too much about the grow. Just keep you congregation alive. And all living things grow!

On a final note. We are back in Toronto. The youths are back into their normal lives at school. And Jenny is back in Vancouver. I am glad that Jenny is back in Vancouver. This gives us a chance to wrestle with what God has given us.

On the Way to Urbana

Michigan City, IN, 4 hours away from St. Louis for Urbana.

It has been an awesome journey, traveling with Mike Jr., Angie, Jenny, Winnie, Crystal, Belinda, Becky and I. From stuffing our face with oranges at the border crossing to having lunch next to a crime scene, we had a blast! However, what's on the top of my mind is not the trip, is not Urbana, but rather the young Jehovah Witnesses who came to our door yesterday. I had the opportunity to speak to them and help them interpret the Bible correctly. They are so young, knows the Bible so well, but yet they are blinded in their interpretation.

As I talked to them, I prayed the Holy Spirit will open their eye... but yet, they did not see the errors in their interpretation and do not believe. I didn't want the stand there and argue the doctrine of Trinity with them... but they are so close yet their hearts are so far away.

My prayers goes out to those two young individuals... I pray that my challenge for them to read the gospel of Mark will open their eyes and their hearts.

Will arrive in Urbana tomorrow. Praise God for His protection on the roads so far.

Be Strong and Do The Work

NIV 1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

People watching

People watching
by Jack Johnson
Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George [SOUNDTRACK]

Well I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
And we're all people watching
The other people watching we
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're all as lonely as we wanted to be
Just as lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just you, you're just me
But it's only true if we believe
Well there really ain't no use in stopping
What nobody never told me not to do
So I'll keep people watching, watching me now
Finding my way back to you
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're all as lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just as lonely as I wanted to be
I'm just you, you're just me
But it's only true if we believe
I see so many feet going so many ways
People passing by, they got nothing to say
All on our own, just watching and confused
Nobody told me what to do
I can't stop breaking all the rules
And I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
We're all people watching
The other people watching we
We're as lonely as we wanted to be
We're not so lonely as we wanted to be
I'm just as lonely as I wanted to be
Not so lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely

The Seminary Student Council was volunteering at Fairview Mall today for the Salvation Army manning the Christmas Kettles. I was the first one to arrive at 3:00p while the rest of them will come after classes at 4:30p. My job was to stand next to the kettle with the Salvation Army red vest on, and smile... simple enough.

Standing there in the middle of the mall by myself, time ticked by slowly. What made time go by slower was the fact that I was posted opposite from a jewelry story which had a grandfather clock in plain sight.

{tick} {tick} {tick}

I kept reciting Phil 2:14 in my head:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing"

To pass time, I began to hum "People Watching" by Jack Johnson while I watched people. I learned so much in the hour and a half of observations.

The Widow's Offering

41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

~Mark 12:41-44

Jesus was too people watching at the temple - Watching people put large sums of money into the temple treasury. I also watched people put large sums of money into the kettle. There were these two ladies I would describe the "Pharisee ladies". One took out a loonie and just before she deposited the coin she loudly exclaimed: "I do this every year, and next year I'm planning to make a large donation!"

{sigh}

Then there are those who sneak up to the kettle and quickly make a donation... I would turn my head and suddenly there will be someone right in front of me. And they would be gone before I can say thank you and Merry Christmas. This was the case with one lady, suddenly appeared, deposited $100 and gone.

God bless them, bless their meek and gentle spirit.

What touched my heart the most today was this little boy, around 10 - 12 years old. Came by the kettle and push some coins out of his pockets and toss them into the kettle. Touched by his act of kindness at such a young age, I bowed and said "thank you, sir, and have a Merry Christmas" as he smiled and hurried off. 5 minutes later, the same boy came out of Shopper's Drug Mart now with a big chocolate bar in his hands grab the remaining change he had and tossed it into the kettle, saying "that all I have."

May God bless this little boy. And thank You, Lord, for challenging me through the actions of this little boy.

Finish Strong

Deep breath...

8 more days, and the term would be over. 1 exam and my reading assignments left to complete ...

What a term it is? Lessons in ministry. The car accident. Debts being paid off. It was a term filled with challenges and blessings.

The only thing left for me to do is to do the one thing I always preach to my volleyball team. To finish strong. This is one area I need to improve on. Last term, in the last week of school, due to tiredness and stress, I gave up on two papers... There a part of me that wants to do that again. To toss in the towel now. But would that be beneficial? No.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
~1 Corinthians 9:24

How can I claim the prize if I give up? Yes, I'll still finish the race, yet, it's not run in such a way as to get the prize.

So I have a race to get back to...