He gave his life, what more can he give?!

This is a hymn that i grew up with:

O how He loves you and me
O how He loves you and me
He gave his life, what more can he give?
O how He loves you
O how He loves me
O how He loves you and me

When i was young i thought it was a beautiful song.

after i while i realise that the theology is somewhat questionable.

The phrasing of the question "He gave his life, what more can he give?" suggest an answer in the negative.

But we can see that in the bible, that it does not answer the question in this way:

Romans 5:9-10

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Romans 8:32-34

32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Notice that Paul argues that because of Jesus death, we can have HOPE in better things. All too often we don't operate in hope, hence our Christain life malfunctions. I reckon that guy in shawshank redemption has a better idea of Christian life than most Christians (although his hope is based on his own efforts). At time i reckon we are quite pathetic when we hope so little in the sure promises of God.

this - the importance of tursting in God's future provision - is the very point that Piper argues in the book future grace.

My thoughts on the election

It's been a sad few years for Australian politics. Men of conviction (e.g. Rudd and Turnbull) had been deposed, instead replaced by puppet heads devoid of personaility (Kenneally, Gillard, Abbott).

Maxine McKew rightly assessed the sentiments (at least for her Bennalong electorate), namely indeed it is a strategic mistake. In her Chinese dominated electorate, the betrayal (the exact opposite of the virtue of loyalty esteemed by the Chinese) by the labor party in deposing a PM with fluent Mandarin has cost them the electorate, predicatbly.

However, she is also right in expressing the lack of policy and conviction expressed by either party, and the lack of hope or excitement in her electorate (which is also true of my feeling).

We have not been given any policies of note, and instead have been given just character assinations repeated over and over (i remember watching the train-wreck Ad - THREE TIMES - during ONE commercial break.)

Neither party in their speeches has said anything of note. (well, abbott has once again made a fool of himself , attacking Gillard and labor instead of doing anything positive to form government).

I personally would have hoped that either of them woudl have said the following:

'We have clearyl outlined (whatever our policies/action) is during this campaign, and respect the opinion of the public, etc. We will work with whichever indepedent/green and try to head towards this direction, etc, etc)

What saddens me most is that there is that both the upper and lower house may hang in the balance of the greens - one of the most openly anti-Christian policital party. I earnestly pray right now that either party (hopefully the coalition) can form a majority governemtn without involving a minor party.

It is right in 2 Timothy that we pray for a King (i.e. governemnt) that can govern in peace. In my personal opinion, a minority government that bows to the whims of independents and the greens would not achieve that result.

reflection on andrew hong's post

here are 2 recent post by andrew hong

part 1:

Q. how interested are Asian bible college students in serving in a chinese church? A. http://bit.ly/9MMn4H

part 2:

Q. so what makes asian theological students worried about serving in a chinese church? A: http://bit.ly/bObnNA

and here's a summary from andrew hong's post:

part 1: theological graduates will consider (in order of decreasing desrability)

1) overseas mission
2) parachurch
3) working in non chinese church
4) working in chinese church

part 2:

The (chinese) church's leadership (deacons, elders, wardens) is the most concering factor for theological graduates.


here's my response (it appeared first on andrew hong's wall on FB):

it proves the saying/mentality: the grass is greener on the other side (this is the reflection of reading both your posts). People do like the adventure of o'seas mission and the perceived freedom from structures that one may envisage. but having experienced both sides of the coin, one should realise that accountability is benficial, and in fact, at times overseas mission is a much more difficult situation, with the missionary at times answerable to 4 sets of rules/authorities:

1) the agency's dominant authority (usually N american),
2) local leadership
3) sending leadership
4) ch leadership.

i am writing this not to downplay the importance of mission. (The fame of God amongst the nations, ala Piper cf Ps 67, is a personal driving force). However, i am writing this to show the importance of the right motive in going to mission (or indeed any ministry). Overseas mission will not avoid leadership structures. it exists in all parts of the world. in fact, interpersonal issues are the #1 factor in missionary attrition. as mentioned by the following (excellent) book:

* Too Valuable to Lose: Exploring the Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition
By William David Taylor

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=S_lOJ5tZdoIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=too+valuable+to+lose+missionary+attrition&source=bl&ots=QCLJS5BcIP&sig=gIXwDIGk15HTGVGbW7weD4vKUnI&hl=en&ei=sahhTO6hA9ivcOnyxK4J&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

i believe the key, as explained in my second entry on AH's wall:

"also, while many ppl are willing to be cross cultural students in a mission environment, usually most ppl fail to do so working in a chinese church."

If interpersonal conflict is a main issue, surely one would do well to do that and treat working in any ministry as a cross cultural environmnet.

one of the best courses i have done @ SMBC (amongst many) is cross cultural communication by Richard Hibbert.

The course teaches one to analyse culture from various aspects (e.g. power distance, etc, etc) and what i have learnt is to ask questions of the culture before passing judgement.

I guess if we use the same set of (tinted/untinted) glasses (as well as, obviously, Christian, grace, love and forbearance) to look at local and overseas ministry, it would solve many of the interpsonal isue problems.

reno blog - finished

man - it shows how much i blog:

summary of reno:

may - remove everything carpet, wall board, foam ceiling (the last two items combined gave the house the feeling of the house from the castle... yuck!), yucky built in wardrobes, small cupbards (they even have a cupboard built from asbestos!). Also, removing foam ceiling is back breaking work, i have to lift a heavy scraper (5kg+) to do the ceiling. eventually i gave up a little and got someone else to finish scraping the ceiling.


we also removed kitchen & bathroom. On council clean up day, our pile of rubbish was so high that it became a spectacle for all those who drove past on galston road (i distinctly remember one family who all turned to look at our rubbish).

june: lots of shopping - looking for kitchen, bathroom, tiles. then it was tradesmen madness:

1) gyprockers
2) electrician
3) tiler
4) floor board person
5) carpenter

july: as well as wedding prep, we needed to move in/add finishing touches/prepare accomdation (i.e. getting enough quilts/beds/heaters), organize itinerary for relos. it was probably the most stressful month in my life.



june:

Reno blog - week 1

mon arvo - got house back.
tues -
(day) forwarded all mail, checked rental report to discover some items are missing. Worked out transport logistics so that i can renovate after work.
(b4 work/arvo) Demolished all wardrobes. Starting to remove carpet, and as usual in old houses, discovered lovely timber floor underneath.
(night) - dad came around for measurements - had some bathroom designs
wed - research on building materials, going to ikea, write sermon

Masterchef: seinfeld

whenever someone cries on masterchef, i really want one of the contestant to say the following (while crying):

Frank: Inchon, Korea, 1950. I was the best cook Uncle Sam ever saw, slinging
hash for the Fighting 103rd. As we marched north, our supply lines were getting
thin. One day a couple of GIs found a crate, inside were six hundred pounds of
prime Texas steer. At least it once was prime. The Use date was three weeks
past, but I was arrogant, I was brash, I thought if I used just the right
spices, cooked it long enough...

Kramer: What happened?

Frank: I went too far. I over seasoned it. Men were keeling over all around
me. I can still hear the retching, the screaming. I sent sixteen of my own men
to the latrines that night. They were just boys.

Kramer: Frank, you were a boy too. And it was war. It was a crazy time for
everyone.

Frank: Tell that to Bobby Colby. All that kid wanted to do was go home. Well
he went home alright, with a crater in his colon the size of a cutlet. Had to
sit him on a cork the eighteen-hour flight home!

Kramer: Frank, now listen to me. Two hundred Jewish singles need you. This is
your chance to make it all right again.

Frank: No. No, I'll never cook again! Never! Now get out of my house!! Get
out. Go.

The Trellis and the Vine... Chinese style

The teacher/scholar/elder person is respected in Chinese culture

These are all good things (after all, Jesus is a teacher, and the wisdom literature promote the wisdom of scholars, and older people are to be respected, as commanded in the pastoral letters (as well as other places)

However, at times this is skewed in the Chinese culture.

I am sure that a lot of people have read The Trellis and the Vine by col marshall and co

the application of those prinicples (i.e. pastor's role -A) training , not just ministry B) people, not program) is much harder in a chinese culture

I have seen two phenomena in some Chinese churches

1) some regard the pastor with a reverence in such a way they think they cannot do ministry
2) some regard the pastor with such disdain i have seen some people who think that a church is better off without a pastor.

Amongst many things, view 1 neglects the fact that we are a priesthood of believers and view 2 neglects that God does give some people the gift of teaching and equipping.

无欲无求 (no desire)

Those that are chinese will be familiar with a chinese /buddhist saying " 无欲无求"

Traditional Chinese/Chinese of a buddhist background still believe this.

However the post 80s and esp post 90s are used to be the centre of attention and are given everything they want. (my fiancee has been going to a chinese run play group and it's clear when every family think that their own kid is king then things are a bit chaotic!)

against this background, we are to understand that the Christan view is not to the suppression of desire (cf Col2, Phil 3) but rather to foster a desire in God (cf Psalm 37)

the implications are astounding... the former generation needs to realise that desire is good if placed in God, and the current generation need to realise that only delighting in the lord will give you the desire of your heart.

the offence of the gospel - as a chinese

one thing about changing from a church where i do a lot to a church where i do very little is that i can reflect.

Read andrew hong's blog about face:



the way i reflect on these issues theologically, in a very brief way, is to do a biblical survey and see whether it is a core gopsel issue.

While in the wisdom literature, it does emphasize the importance of peace, the timing of wise words, the gospel at times does bring offense the division, and the idea of peace and wisdom is presumed only on the gospel.

reflection on the book of numbers during my sleep

Sorry, LONG time no post.

Just reflected on the book of numbers in my sleep (from the Bible, not one of those geeky things i do when a draw a whole list of numbers on the train)...

summary: Israel went 'camping', not in the gaming sense, where they sit there and wait and kill (in the computer gaming sense -well, there's a sense of that - instead of going to canaan they killed a whole heap of animals... but this is to sacrifice to God), and also not in the recreational sense, but to worship God.

But when they set out, they grumbled.

This reflects well on us. all as Christians. i am planning to get married, and plan to renovate the house i bought... with interest rate rises, etc, and just the whole thing about how ridiculously much wedding costs, i have been unfocused and grumbling.

i should reflect more on one of my favourite hymns, 'Glorious thing of Thee has spoken', with one verse based on the book of numbners:

"Round each habitation hov'ring,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a cov'ring,
Showing that the Lord is near;
Thus deriving, from their banner,
Light by night, and shade by day:
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which He gives them when they pray."

God leads with his presence both for his provision and his direction, with just enough sustenence for a life of worship.