Open Air Preaching
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Here are two videos of street evangelism. Why should you watch these if you are a Christian? Because we all need Christ Crucified preached to ourselves everyday... and I pray that while watching, God will stir up your heart.
Posted by yipeng 9:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: Evangelism, video
What you wear to Church
Laziness can lead to immodesty.
I once wore an oversized pair of jeans... and was too lazy to put on a belt.
I remember a conversation with an uncle about "what you wear to church". He wears his best clothes to give his best for God. I, on the other hand, sometimes turn up in shorts and slippers and uncombed hair.
When serving Holy Communion, it is a requirement for me to wear "formal clothing" or at least pants and a polo-tee. Can you see the wisdom in such a requirement? No? Think about this question...
How should we dress for Church... and why does it matter?
Here's a chapter entitled God, My Heart, and Clothes from C.J. Mahaney's new book (Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World). I think the examples used are targeted at Women... but general principles are for everyone.
It's an easy read. Check it out.
HT: Between Two Worlds
Posted by yipeng 12:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: christian living, hospitality
hit and miss on relationships
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Febreze For The Soul
- by Christopher, We Lay Our Crowns
God continues to remind me that I am often too selective in loving my brothers.
I choose Pigpen as my illustration, as I want us all to honestly browse our congregations, and think about our stinky guy. A stinky guy, is a person you ignore, shut out, or otherwise pretend does not exist, even though you find them under your nose every week...
Sleeping Over: The Latest Trend in Christian Sketchiness
- by Sharon Hodde, She Worships
When you share a bed with someone you are tempting yourself unnecessarily. My pastor always says that if your boyfriend can lie down next to you without getting aroused, then he either doesn't like you very much, or he's probably gay. While he is overstating his point in jest, I think there is something to that statement...
Posted by yipeng 10:13 PM 1 comments
Labels: hit and miss, relationship
Why should I be hospitable to new people in my cell group?
Monday, May 12, 2008
He isn’t one of us. He isn’t aware of our culture – some things are just taboo, we don’t say it, and we don’t do it.
I don’t trust him. I trust everyone else but not him. How can I share my problems when he is around?
Have you ever felt this way? Do you have a special friendship that you don’t want anyone else to be a part of..? It’s not as comfortable and you get less attention.
Here are 6 reasons why you should be intentional about hospitality:
- To help people remember you.
- To be loved
Relationships are rewarding! Think about the people who love you. Do you want to hit them with a stick or love them back? - To be sure of your Salvation. (1 John 3:14)
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." - To learn how to trust God. (1 John 4:20)
God uses our relationships with one another to teach us about having a relationship with Him. Trusting someone who has not proven to be or failed to be trustworthy is a step of faith.
Even though God is completely trustworthy, we can’t see him. God also knows our needs and does what is best for us. This means that He doesn’t give in to our every whim. Trusting Him is a step of faith. - To understand God. (Rom 5:8)
God loved us so much, He sent His son to die for us. We were yet sinners who lived apart from him, perhaps even without the knowledge of His existence.
You and I are treacherous creatures. We fall into sin while God remains faithful. He continues to forgive us, to trust us, and to use us.
Loving Man helps us to understand how God loves us. - To be Bold for Jesus! (Acts 1:8)
God calls us to be witness and we are powerful witnesses when we display His great love through our actions. Sharing the gospel requires knowing someone you can share the gospel TO.
I can’t remember many people from Sunday school but Marcus I can’t forget. He entertained me by blowing saliva bubbles out of his mouth.
Posted by yipeng 10:09 PM 0 comments
Labels: hospitality
I Love my Church
Sunday, May 11, 2008
HT: Hacking ChristianityHow much I criticize you, my church, and yet how much I love you!
You have made me suffer more than anyone,
and yet I owe more to you than to anyone.
I should like to see you destroyed, and yet I need your presence.
You have given me much scandal,
and yet you alone have made me understand holiness.
Never in this world have I seen anything more compromised,
more false, yet never have I touched anything more pure,
more generous or more beautiful.
Countless times I have felt like
slamming the door of my soul in your face—
and yet, every night, I have prayed that I might die in your sure arms!
No, I cannot be free of you, for I am one with you,
even if not completely you.
Then too, where would I go? To build another church?
But I could not build one without the same defects,
for they are my defects.
And again, if I were to build another church,
it would be my church, not Christ’s church.
No. I am old enough. I know better.- Carlo Carretto, I Sought and I Found
Posted by yipeng 4:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: Contentment, quotes
Prayer: Depending on God
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Lord, I want you to come and possess my mind and control my thinking, I want you, Lord, to come and possess my eyes, and wreck the programs that I watch on TV, the magazines that I read, and the books that I survey. I want you, Master, to be in-charge of my tongue - that the words that I say - be words that are constructive and encouraging and helpful and a blessing. I want you, Master, to be in charge of my feet - that where I go in the paths where on I walk, that they may be honoring to you. I want you, God, to take my heart - that all motivations and everything about me is what you would desire. I want you, Master, to take my life and let it be consecrated to thee.This is a simple prayer. What struck me was it's 'at-once-comprehesiveness' compared to my own. Praying is admitting that we need. And the things we pray for specifically... are the things we explicity defer and depend upon God for.
- Tim Robinson, quoting his father in True Commitment in Ministry
Wanna know some of the verses from which he prays?
1 Jn 2:16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
2 Co 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Posted by yipeng 11:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: prayer
I Like Tolstoy
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
I have just finish listening to 'What Men Live By', 'Three Questions', and 'How Much Land Does a Man Need?' by Leo Tolstoy.
They are easy to listen to, and each with a spiritual message behind the story. If you have an hour to spare listen to one of them! Alternatively, you can read them online.
http://librivox.org/what-men-live-by-and-other-tales-by-leo-tolstoy
Posted by yipeng 9:26 PM 0 comments
Labels: Audio
Lessons from FISH: Confession to Man
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Confessing your sins to Man is...
- Choosing Humility
Accepting that you have made a mistake. - Choosing Truthfulness
Being able to be honest with one another about your feelings and problems. - Choosing God's Love
People can't help you if they don't know you have a problem. - Choosing Unselfishness
Acknowledging that you are more interested in getting right with God than maintaining an impression with Man. - Choosing a Healthy Culture
...of listening, not judging, and caring. - Choosing to Trust in God
Letting God handle the consequences. - Choosing God's Power and Freedom
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16
Posted by yipeng 11:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: Accountability
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