Hello all,
I've been making my way through J. I. Packer's book, Knowing God. It's a book that has sat on my shelf for many years and I've only recently picked it up and started reading it.
Here's an excerpt I'd like to share with all to reflect on:
------
Knowing vs. Knowing About
We need frankly to face ourselves at this point. We are, perhaps, orthodox evangelicals. We can state the gospel clearly, and can smell unsound doctrine a mile away. If asked how one may know God, we can at once produce the right formula -- that we come to know God through Jesus Christ the Lord, in virtue of his cross and mediation, on the bases of his word of promise, by the power of the Holy Spirit, via a personal exercise of faith. Yet the gaiety, goodness, and unfetteredness of spirit which are the marks of those who have known God are rare among us -- rarer, perhaps, than they are in some other Christian circles where, by comparison, evangelical truth is less clearly and fully known. Here, too, it would seem that the last may prove to be first, and the first last. A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about Him.
To focus this point further, let me say two things:
1. One can know a great deal about God without much knowledge of Him.
...
2. One can know a great deal about godliness without much knowledge of Him.
...
...
Evidence of Knowing God
We have said that when people know God, losses and 'crosses' cease to matter to them; what they have gained simply banishes these things from their minds. What other effects does knowledge of God have on a person? ... We may summarize its witness in four propositions.
1. Those who know God have great energy for God.
...
2. Those who know God have great thoughts of God.
...
3. Those who know God show great boldness for God.
...
4. Those who know God have great contentment in God.
...
------
Have a blessed weekend!
In Him,
Charlton
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Patience
Dear all,
I finally had the chance to have Grace read to me what Xuecheng wrote. Xuecheng, do not be disappointed. I can assure you that we are fervently praying for the fellowship. Remember what Rev. CK Wong preached several weeks ago? I believe it was from the book of James that he preached. Christians are all too familiar with the word "trials" but sometimes I think our interpretation of what constitutes a "trial" only encompasses physical suffering or mental anguish. I believe that the word "trials" has far greater implications---especially for Christians. In particular, I think having a heart of apathy, is also a trial. It may not be a trial for the human mind but it's definitely a trial for the Holy Spirit within us. Too much apathy and your Spirit can be crushed out of existence. Learning to care when you don't really feel like caring is one of the things that I personally have struggled with over the years. I keep telling myself, "You have to care because that's what you're called to do." Certainly this is true but there isn't enough trust behind the statement to actually make us change---at least not for any sustained period of time. True caring, I think, is only going to come by way of conviction by the Holy Spirit. So we're back to the age old question that many Christians struggle with: "How do I invite the Holy Spirit to live in me all the time?" I don't have the definitive answer but I will say that Rev. Ko is absolutely correct that it at least begins with true and regular devotions.
Our fellowship is in a difficult stage. There has to be some repair work done and fuel added to the fire. For myself, the repair work has to start within my heart first. I have to repair the years of damage caused by laziness and apathy. Lack of consistent and truthful worship in my devotional life has been like a cancer of sorts. There were good days and there were bad, but what was fundamentally lacking was consistency. Hopefully, that has changed and these days, I truly do feel much more in touch with God. I don't really view devotions as something I have to do anymore. Rather, they are something I want to do. Perhaps one day, spending time with God will be a primal need just like breathing, eating, and sleeping.
That said, one thing I've learned over the last little while is the need for patience. Things simply don't happen overnight. This has been in my mind in almost everything that I see these days. When I see Hannah, sometimes I wonder why it is that human development is so much slower than any other species. How many other species in the world are such that an offspring has absolutely no chance of survival after about a year? I look outside my house and I see a tiny tree and I wonder "how long do I have to wait before this tree will be big enough to build a tree house on top of?" And then I realize that by the time that happens, I will likely have returned to dust. Cast iron (which is generally regarded as a superior for machinery) is best if it has been "aged". That is, left to cool down very slowly and to let the stresses relieve themselves out of the iron. Even relationships of quality need to be developed over the course of time. Anyway, as I reflect on these things every day, I realize that the saying "slow and steady wins the race" really does ring true. We must have a fervor for Christ, yes. But change doesn't happen overnight and, often, we must wait upon the Lord for direction and for strength.
Grace and I just finished reading Joshua and one phrase keeps popping up over and over: "Do not be discouraged."
I hope that I can figure out how to get the comments to show underneath the original post (rather than appearing as a new post). I also hope to figure out how to be informed whenever there is a new post. I thought this feature was available but I can't seem to find it!!
In Him,
Charlton
I finally had the chance to have Grace read to me what Xuecheng wrote. Xuecheng, do not be disappointed. I can assure you that we are fervently praying for the fellowship. Remember what Rev. CK Wong preached several weeks ago? I believe it was from the book of James that he preached. Christians are all too familiar with the word "trials" but sometimes I think our interpretation of what constitutes a "trial" only encompasses physical suffering or mental anguish. I believe that the word "trials" has far greater implications---especially for Christians. In particular, I think having a heart of apathy, is also a trial. It may not be a trial for the human mind but it's definitely a trial for the Holy Spirit within us. Too much apathy and your Spirit can be crushed out of existence. Learning to care when you don't really feel like caring is one of the things that I personally have struggled with over the years. I keep telling myself, "You have to care because that's what you're called to do." Certainly this is true but there isn't enough trust behind the statement to actually make us change---at least not for any sustained period of time. True caring, I think, is only going to come by way of conviction by the Holy Spirit. So we're back to the age old question that many Christians struggle with: "How do I invite the Holy Spirit to live in me all the time?" I don't have the definitive answer but I will say that Rev. Ko is absolutely correct that it at least begins with true and regular devotions.
Our fellowship is in a difficult stage. There has to be some repair work done and fuel added to the fire. For myself, the repair work has to start within my heart first. I have to repair the years of damage caused by laziness and apathy. Lack of consistent and truthful worship in my devotional life has been like a cancer of sorts. There were good days and there were bad, but what was fundamentally lacking was consistency. Hopefully, that has changed and these days, I truly do feel much more in touch with God. I don't really view devotions as something I have to do anymore. Rather, they are something I want to do. Perhaps one day, spending time with God will be a primal need just like breathing, eating, and sleeping.
That said, one thing I've learned over the last little while is the need for patience. Things simply don't happen overnight. This has been in my mind in almost everything that I see these days. When I see Hannah, sometimes I wonder why it is that human development is so much slower than any other species. How many other species in the world are such that an offspring has absolutely no chance of survival after about a year? I look outside my house and I see a tiny tree and I wonder "how long do I have to wait before this tree will be big enough to build a tree house on top of?" And then I realize that by the time that happens, I will likely have returned to dust. Cast iron (which is generally regarded as a superior for machinery) is best if it has been "aged". That is, left to cool down very slowly and to let the stresses relieve themselves out of the iron. Even relationships of quality need to be developed over the course of time. Anyway, as I reflect on these things every day, I realize that the saying "slow and steady wins the race" really does ring true. We must have a fervor for Christ, yes. But change doesn't happen overnight and, often, we must wait upon the Lord for direction and for strength.
Grace and I just finished reading Joshua and one phrase keeps popping up over and over: "Do not be discouraged."
I hope that I can figure out how to get the comments to show underneath the original post (rather than appearing as a new post). I also hope to figure out how to be informed whenever there is a new post. I thought this feature was available but I can't seem to find it!!
In Him,
Charlton
Sharing
Thanks, Xuecheng, for working so hard on this blog, and working so hard for getting the fellowship going. I was writing something on the blog the other day but I didn't know how to post it...and, I have lost the writing since then. But, I hope you know that at least, I have read your postings even though you might have felt that nobody read it.
Lots of things happened lately and lots of thoughts. I am just not the type of person to put things together in writing well. But, I will try my best to share my thoughts with all of you in the next few days.
Grace
Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
马丁·路德·金的榜样
想到团契，有些时候，也满灰心的。总觉得这个团契，缺少些生气、缺少些活力，缺少些基督徒应该有的热心。也许是因为我们在主里太“老”了。看别的团契都朝气蓬勃的，大家都热心地为团契的活动、为团契的发展出主意，想对策，主动帮忙、张罗，大家凑在一起真好像一家人。而我们，搞什么活动，就像是给大家添麻烦似的，好像是自己闲得无聊，喜欢多事，出风头。更不要说，关怀新朋友，邀请新朋友（连我自己都不愿意邀请人来团契）去教会、去团契了，打电话问问人家有什么需要。
要说什么埋怨的话，也说不出来，想想人家也都没错，都有自己该忙的事，也没人反对你要做的事。有时侯也想，也许团契到了这个阶段，也就这样子了。该怎么样就让它怎么样好了。查经、分享，一个月二次活动（有些时候还没二次），每次二、三个小时，总归能安排得下来。到年底，看看大家的负担，有人愿意把这个团契建设成为一个亲密一点，小一点的家庭团契，就让他／她来带领，有愿意去学生团契的，去学生团契，有愿意去周二、夫妻或其它团契的去其它团契。总归是，有聚就有散。神也是要我们走出去，到最需要的地方去，发挥每个人的作用。
但总是心有不甘。刚才还在为团契祷告，求神亲自来带领。接着，看范学德写的《活在美国》一书，里面有一篇写美国人权活动领袖马丁·路德·金的文章。马丁·路德·金刚发表他著名的“我有一个梦”的演讲，确立他在美国人权运动中的领导地位时，就受到死亡威胁，有三Ｋ党人士打电话威胁要杀死他，杀死他的全家。那一刻，他也软弱、动摇了。文章中这样写到：
金坐在那里，凝视着一杯没有动过的咖啡，思考着怎样退出，不动声色地交出领导地位，重新开始他计划中的平静的学者生涯。在隔壁的房间，他的妻子克瑞达和他们新生的女儿紫罗兰已经睡了，金在一次讲道中这样回忆到：
“当我坐在桌旁时，想到的是这个小女孩，是随时随地她都可能被从我身边带走的事实。我也开始想到完全委身和忠诚的妻，此刻她正睡在那里……我到了一个地步，不能再承受下去了。我感到软弱无力……
“那时我发现信仰必须成为我的实际，我必须自己认识神。我在那一杯咖啡前跪下，我永远也不会忘记……我做了一个祷告，那个晚上我大声祷告，说：‘主啊，我到这个地步是为了成就对的事情。我认为我是对的，我认为我们提出的要求是对的，但是主啊，我必须承认我现在软弱，我在畏缩，我在失去勇气。’
“……好像就在那一刻，我听到里面有一个声音对我说：‘马丁·路德·金，为公义而站起来，为公平而站起来，为真理而站起来，我将与你同在，甚至世界的末了’……我听到耶稣的声音说战斗到底，他应许永不离开我，永不离开，永不离开，永不离开。他应许永不离开我，永不离开我。”
……
这是他从来没有过的经验。从此，他站起来了。他告诉自己的兄弟们：“记住，即使有一天我死了，这个运动不会死去，因为上帝与我们同在。”
1968年4月4日，马丁·路德·金被枪杀。
其实，我们在生活、学习、工作中，都会遇到困难，有软弱的时候，但只要想到我们所做的是对的，是符合神的心意的，就应该坚持下去，因为神和我们同在，他应许过永不离开我们。
（不知道把这篇文章放在团契的Blog上是否合适，如果伤害了什么人的感觉，我先在这里道歉。我确是个常软弱的人。）
学成
要说什么埋怨的话，也说不出来，想想人家也都没错，都有自己该忙的事，也没人反对你要做的事。有时侯也想，也许团契到了这个阶段，也就这样子了。该怎么样就让它怎么样好了。查经、分享，一个月二次活动（有些时候还没二次），每次二、三个小时，总归能安排得下来。到年底，看看大家的负担，有人愿意把这个团契建设成为一个亲密一点，小一点的家庭团契，就让他／她来带领，有愿意去学生团契的，去学生团契，有愿意去周二、夫妻或其它团契的去其它团契。总归是，有聚就有散。神也是要我们走出去，到最需要的地方去，发挥每个人的作用。
但总是心有不甘。刚才还在为团契祷告，求神亲自来带领。接着，看范学德写的《活在美国》一书，里面有一篇写美国人权活动领袖马丁·路德·金的文章。马丁·路德·金刚发表他著名的“我有一个梦”的演讲，确立他在美国人权运动中的领导地位时，就受到死亡威胁，有三Ｋ党人士打电话威胁要杀死他，杀死他的全家。那一刻，他也软弱、动摇了。文章中这样写到：
金坐在那里，凝视着一杯没有动过的咖啡，思考着怎样退出，不动声色地交出领导地位，重新开始他计划中的平静的学者生涯。在隔壁的房间，他的妻子克瑞达和他们新生的女儿紫罗兰已经睡了，金在一次讲道中这样回忆到：
“当我坐在桌旁时，想到的是这个小女孩，是随时随地她都可能被从我身边带走的事实。我也开始想到完全委身和忠诚的妻，此刻她正睡在那里……我到了一个地步，不能再承受下去了。我感到软弱无力……
“那时我发现信仰必须成为我的实际，我必须自己认识神。我在那一杯咖啡前跪下，我永远也不会忘记……我做了一个祷告，那个晚上我大声祷告，说：‘主啊，我到这个地步是为了成就对的事情。我认为我是对的，我认为我们提出的要求是对的，但是主啊，我必须承认我现在软弱，我在畏缩，我在失去勇气。’
“……好像就在那一刻，我听到里面有一个声音对我说：‘马丁·路德·金，为公义而站起来，为公平而站起来，为真理而站起来，我将与你同在，甚至世界的末了’……我听到耶稣的声音说战斗到底，他应许永不离开我，永不离开，永不离开，永不离开。他应许永不离开我，永不离开我。”
……
这是他从来没有过的经验。从此，他站起来了。他告诉自己的兄弟们：“记住，即使有一天我死了，这个运动不会死去，因为上帝与我们同在。”
1968年4月4日，马丁·路德·金被枪杀。
其实，我们在生活、学习、工作中，都会遇到困难，有软弱的时候，但只要想到我们所做的是对的，是符合神的心意的，就应该坚持下去，因为神和我们同在，他应许过永不离开我们。
（不知道把这篇文章放在团契的Blog上是否合适，如果伤害了什么人的感觉，我先在这里道歉。我确是个常软弱的人。）
学成
Saturday, April 7, 2007
神爱我们
昨天晚上，听范学德弟兄来教会做复活节敬拜讲道。他的讲道题目是“究竟发生了什么？”究竟发生了什么，让多马、保罗、彼得等耶稣这些门徒生命发生了如此大的变化？印象最深的一句话，是他所说的，神爱我们，神一直爱我们，不管我们怎样，他深爱我们。
记得在Hamilton的宣道会，贝师母一见到我（还有其他人）就说，“神爱我们啊，神是真的爱我们哪！”师母到退休年龄了，说这话听起来有点像老母亲的唠唠叨叨，但很真切。
神爱我们，基督徒都会讲。神怎么爱我们？许多人都有标准答案：神爱我们，甚至为我们的罪死在十字架上。细细思量，这是世上最大、最深、最感人至深的爱。可许多时候，这样的“标准答案”实在太标准了。
问题是，在我们个人生命中，我们是否感受、体会、经历到神对我们的爱？只有我们在个人生命中看到、经历到神对我们个人的爱，才能真切地认识、感受到神真的爱我们，从而从内心深处生发出感谢、敬拜之情，愿意为神而活。
这让我想起一件事。在McMaster大学校园查经班事奉时，有一年也是四月底的时候，我们组织去Waterloo附近的枫糖节。头一天晚上，我们得知，第二天有９０％以上的可能性要下雨，我们为第二天的活动祷告，甚至谈论到如果下雨怎么办。我当时心情很不好，于是祷告时，就默默对神说，神啊，如果你爱我，还关心我，就给我一个显示，让我们明天的活动有太阳，我只要五分钟的阳光，以此来证明你还关心我。我知道，天气预报说９０％以上的下雨可能性，天肯定是要下雨的，毕竟加拿大的气象科学水平不是太糟糕，天气预报水平不是太离镨。但我那时实在心情糟糕透定，像个任性、背逆、不听话的小孩，明知不可行，偏要为之，死死地要求神，要他做一件不可能的事，来证明什么。
第二天，在我们去的路上，还是阴云密布。快到目的地时，开始露出一缕阳光。停车后，天上的云散去大半，到活动开始时，天上一丝云都看不见了。后来，一整天，晴空万里，天上一丝云彩都没有，一滴雨也没下，大家玩得非常的尽兴。
真的感谢神，我只要求五分钟的阳光，他却给了一整天的万里无云，阳光普照。神的爱、神的恩典，远远超出人的测度，人的想象，人的要求。
常常在想，怎样能使我们这样的团契复兴？用什么样的活动能让大家的灵命复苏、活跃起来？查经？分享？祷告？游戏？电影？户外活动？ＢＢＱ？……说实话，我不知道，那一样可行，能达到我们期望的效果。任何活动，若心不在上面，都可异化为“小和尚念经”，流于形式，不起什么作用。
惟有神的爱，神在我们心头动工，让我们感受到神对我们每个人博大的爱，让我们因爱而感动、而奋起。
学成
记得在Hamilton的宣道会，贝师母一见到我（还有其他人）就说，“神爱我们啊，神是真的爱我们哪！”师母到退休年龄了，说这话听起来有点像老母亲的唠唠叨叨，但很真切。
神爱我们，基督徒都会讲。神怎么爱我们？许多人都有标准答案：神爱我们，甚至为我们的罪死在十字架上。细细思量，这是世上最大、最深、最感人至深的爱。可许多时候，这样的“标准答案”实在太标准了。
问题是，在我们个人生命中，我们是否感受、体会、经历到神对我们的爱？只有我们在个人生命中看到、经历到神对我们个人的爱，才能真切地认识、感受到神真的爱我们，从而从内心深处生发出感谢、敬拜之情，愿意为神而活。
这让我想起一件事。在McMaster大学校园查经班事奉时，有一年也是四月底的时候，我们组织去Waterloo附近的枫糖节。头一天晚上，我们得知，第二天有９０％以上的可能性要下雨，我们为第二天的活动祷告，甚至谈论到如果下雨怎么办。我当时心情很不好，于是祷告时，就默默对神说，神啊，如果你爱我，还关心我，就给我一个显示，让我们明天的活动有太阳，我只要五分钟的阳光，以此来证明你还关心我。我知道，天气预报说９０％以上的下雨可能性，天肯定是要下雨的，毕竟加拿大的气象科学水平不是太糟糕，天气预报水平不是太离镨。但我那时实在心情糟糕透定，像个任性、背逆、不听话的小孩，明知不可行，偏要为之，死死地要求神，要他做一件不可能的事，来证明什么。
第二天，在我们去的路上，还是阴云密布。快到目的地时，开始露出一缕阳光。停车后，天上的云散去大半，到活动开始时，天上一丝云都看不见了。后来，一整天，晴空万里，天上一丝云彩都没有，一滴雨也没下，大家玩得非常的尽兴。
真的感谢神，我只要求五分钟的阳光，他却给了一整天的万里无云，阳光普照。神的爱、神的恩典，远远超出人的测度，人的想象，人的要求。
常常在想，怎样能使我们这样的团契复兴？用什么样的活动能让大家的灵命复苏、活跃起来？查经？分享？祷告？游戏？电影？户外活动？ＢＢＱ？……说实话，我不知道，那一样可行，能达到我们期望的效果。任何活动，若心不在上面，都可异化为“小和尚念经”，流于形式，不起什么作用。
惟有神的爱，神在我们心头动工，让我们感受到神对我们每个人博大的爱，让我们因爱而感动、而奋起。
学成
团契博客
团契需要有一块精神家园，大家在这里分享、交流、相通。
在这里，我们可以把我们读经、灵修所得的心得体会拿出来和大家交流；分享读书笔记；讨论所遇到的难题、困惑。
我们可以把自己与神同行的经历拿出来和大家分享；可以把自己的难处告诉大家，让大家彼此代祷。这里应该成为一个彼此关怀、分享神的爱的地方。我们的欢乐、痛苦都有人来一起分享、一起分担。
我们可以把自己生活中的照片拿出来秀（show）一秀；团契活动所留下的身影，放在这里作为永久的纪念。实际上，我希望，不久的将来，我们团契中的每个人，包括已离开我们的弟兄姐妹，在这里都能看到他们与神同行时留下的脚印，或者只是让大家看看他／她长得怎么样（我可不是想选美哦，只是想让大家更彼此熟悉）。
我们可以把朋友的文章、博客（Blog）放在这里，让我们有更大的朋友圈，更多的交流、分享。我们也可以在这里彼此推荐最近读过的好书、好电影，听过的好讲道。
当然，评论是少不了的，没有评论，没人捧场，没人看，写得没劲，是不是？
……，总之，我们可以做很多的事情。目的是希望大家在这里有更多的交流、更多的分享，对神的认识更多，与神的关系更紧密，大家彼此之间的联系、爱里面的交通更紧密。我们一直希望各人之间有更好的交通，更亲密的关系，但有些话说出来可能有些困难，可写出来较容易些。
春天就要到了，转眼间，大大小小的公园，就会百花齐放，百鸟争鸣，鲜花绚烂，绿草如茵，一片姹紫嫣红。我希望，我们这片精神家园，也能生机勃勃，留下各人娇美的身影，坚实的脚步。
学成
在这里，我们可以把我们读经、灵修所得的心得体会拿出来和大家交流；分享读书笔记；讨论所遇到的难题、困惑。
我们可以把自己与神同行的经历拿出来和大家分享；可以把自己的难处告诉大家，让大家彼此代祷。这里应该成为一个彼此关怀、分享神的爱的地方。我们的欢乐、痛苦都有人来一起分享、一起分担。
我们可以把自己生活中的照片拿出来秀（show）一秀；团契活动所留下的身影，放在这里作为永久的纪念。实际上，我希望，不久的将来，我们团契中的每个人，包括已离开我们的弟兄姐妹，在这里都能看到他们与神同行时留下的脚印，或者只是让大家看看他／她长得怎么样（我可不是想选美哦，只是想让大家更彼此熟悉）。
我们可以把朋友的文章、博客（Blog）放在这里，让我们有更大的朋友圈，更多的交流、分享。我们也可以在这里彼此推荐最近读过的好书、好电影，听过的好讲道。
当然，评论是少不了的，没有评论，没人捧场，没人看，写得没劲，是不是？
……，总之，我们可以做很多的事情。目的是希望大家在这里有更多的交流、更多的分享，对神的认识更多，与神的关系更紧密，大家彼此之间的联系、爱里面的交通更紧密。我们一直希望各人之间有更好的交通，更亲密的关系，但有些话说出来可能有些困难，可写出来较容易些。
春天就要到了，转眼间，大大小小的公园，就会百花齐放，百鸟争鸣，鲜花绚烂，绿草如茵，一片姹紫嫣红。我希望，我们这片精神家园，也能生机勃勃，留下各人娇美的身影，坚实的脚步。
学成
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
团契活动安排
我把团契接下来三个月的活动安排预告在此。可能会有临时变动，最终活动时间、地点、内容，见Tammy的E-mail通知。
另外，从五月份开始，我们每月会有一次或二次的针对新朋友和初信者的活动，包括福音电影、布道、主题查经、户外活动、游戏等。具体安排另外通知。
四月至七月的活动安排
April 7: Bible study (1 John)
April 21: Pot luck and games (at Charlton and Grace’s house)
May 5: Special lecture
May 19: Jonathan and Tammy's wedding
June 2: Mission Conferences
June 8-9: Retreat (at Home of Bethay, 12350 Sideroad 17, Sunderland, ON)
June 16: Logos’ church outdoor activity
July 7: CGC Annual picnic
July 21: Bible study (1 John)
学成
另外，从五月份开始，我们每月会有一次或二次的针对新朋友和初信者的活动，包括福音电影、布道、主题查经、户外活动、游戏等。具体安排另外通知。
四月至七月的活动安排
April 7: Bible study (1 John)
April 21: Pot luck and games (at Charlton and Grace’s house)
May 5: Special lecture
May 19: Jonathan and Tammy's wedding
June 2: Mission Conferences
June 8-9: Retreat (at Home of Bethay, 12350 Sideroad 17, Sunderland, ON)
June 16: Logos’ church outdoor activity
July 7: CGC Annual picnic
July 21: Bible study (1 John)
学成
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