4-27-08 Sermon

Building relationships in Love Galatians 5: 13-15; John 15:9-10, 12

Introduction: The concept of love seems to be an ever changing picture if we were to develop our beliefs based on what we see described and depicted in the world around us. Now even in marriage the idea of love has been twisted to conform our expectations of love in marriage. We so easily loose God's plan for lifelong loving commitment not only in marriage but in our Christian walk unless we regain a biblical perspective of Love in both our hearts and mind.

Scriptures tell us that "God is love" (1 John 4:16). It should come as no surprise that love is the first fruit for us to look more closely at, hold it and get a sense for how it feels, and even venture to taste and see the difference in God's love with what we may have settled with before this encounter. May great man have said that "love for others is the first sign that we have been born again." For it is not enough for you to say, "I love God." Props for you if you can. (1 john4:7-12) But God says, Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. What's up with that? If you don't love (others) than you don't really love God. And if you don't love others you haven't been born again. So what is it with us? Are we lovers of others? As believers we are brothers /sisters of another mother but if God lives in us we are brothers and sisters of the same father.

What's up with that? In short, you walk with Jesus and you become interconnected to Jesus. But his heart taking over yours is an inside job. Only you can choose to yield NO! pursue His will for you. It's no longer what you want but what He wants. It's no longer, what should I do? But what would Jesus do?

Now just because you wear a WWJD bracelet doesn't mean you can do this. It's impossible. Remember it's impossible for you to bear God's fruit in your life if you're not connected/attached to Him. Because God's love is the agape love. It's the pure untainted love. Not self serving, not self promoting, not self empathizing, but it's the love that's out there it's the love that gets abused; it's the love that goes unappreciated but gives anyway. Its gives because it's there. It goes out because it flows out.

I. AT the Core of Christianity is relationship.

But for us its not natural we have to choose to practice agape love. The more you hang with Jesus you get it that you should love people the way He loves you. And you realize you could love people, because He has loved you. But somehow, it's your _______ to choose to do acts of love.

Your real life Christianity all goes back to Jesus. I mean it depends on whether you have really spend time with him. Is His hearts seeping into yours? Is compassion growing in you? Can you risk loving others? Or more importantly do you risk loving others? Do you? I'm reminded of a song we use to sing in our home church

I'm loved, I'm loved I can risk loving you, because the one who loves me most loves me best, I'm loved I'm loved I can risk loving you. We can learn to love each other we are loved.

II. Three Common Misunderstandings about Love.

1. Love develops automatically. The word is prolific when it comes to telling us to love. It never assumes we even know how to love. Rather were told to love and further more we're explained why.
   
2. Knowing the definition of love doesn't =LOVE. It's the difference between understanding and acting on. I can understand the details of cleaning my room, I can understanding to benefits of, but I can still choose to ignore it.
   

A couple weeks ago I told you I would look up the 4 greek words I could only remember three. Here's where they fit in:

Eros- sexual/sensual love

Storge- family/natural love

Phile- friendship love

Agape- God's love

Biggest mistunderstanding Love is a feeling.

Love is not just a feeling, more correctly. Love is an action. Love is a choice. As a matter of fact, Love should often go the opposite direction of your feelings. Love. God's love is an act of will.

To quote or butcher of nursery rhyme:

Mary mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?

Well for us, our roots grow deeper are connection grows stronger when we consistently condition our hearts to choice to love, especially when it's the last thing we feel like doing. In fact, as you choose loving others, you will often develop the "want to." "Your emotions will catch on."

Instead, as you grow your spiritual life to where your feelings fall in line.

1. We don't always realize how hurtful our words and actions can be to others.
   

Find article (girl suicide-internet web site) Some maybe tempted to say- she was mentally weak, what loser, But I dare say that kind of person is exactly who jesus had in mind when he climb onto the cross.

III. Biblical Love

1. Love is possible. But it is only possible when we encounter Jesus. I mean when your drenched in His love for you, when you know deep in your bones. He loves you totally unconditionally. Then and only then can you love Him and then and only then can you love others like He loves you.
   
2. Love forgives. Col 3:13. Just like love is possible. Forgiving is possible only if you have experienced. I mean really experienced God's forgiveness. When he takes off the sin stained shame we carry. Like the prodigal son returning to home from the pig pen. His father doesn't say, uuuu! You stink! Give him the coat ring and shoes but only after you clean yourself up. No He wraps his arms around the son, calls for the designer coat to be drapped over his stinky son. The son must have been overwhelmed felt bad, he was going to ruin his fathers coat it would stink forever. But under the washing of the father's tears and his fathers love melts away his shame.
   
3. Love compels. John 12:32 quote when I'm lift up. Draw all to myself. His drawing power is His unconditional & sacrificial love. People hunger to be cared for and loved. Sometime we find foolish ways to creatively get love, but once you experience God's pur merciful love. They are drawn to it.
   
4. Love is resilent. (Acts 7:60)What conditions should we attach to love? NONE. Doesn't matter how crappy they treat us, we must keep on loving, forgiving, & praying for them. We must not hold grudges, refuse to "get over it" or attach conditions before we forgive someone. Even when we are shocked hurt disappointed by their behavior; but we regain our strength because were attached to the vine. 2 cor 4:8-9) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 
   

Conclusion: Once we gain an understanding of God's love for us, and only than, can we truly begin the journey of being used by God to love others in such a way that would "cover sins" that we begin to raise up the truest image of the God who has loved us.

 
 

Pasted from <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Pastor%20Don\My%20Documents\Building%20relationships%20in%20Love%20%20%20Galatians%205.doc>

 
 

4-23 Pastor’s Devo

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 6

 
 

Lord when I see the passion and depth of Solomon's conviction that there is none but You. You alone are the great God. Today's generation and all the beliefs that are tossed around and promoted that claim truth and gain the ears and hearts of this generation stand in stark contrast to the window into reality that your word describes. I'm reminded of the words of one of today's most influential leaders in America and one who many describe as a spiritual leader. Her teaching have captured the hearts of the masses. Consider the following as we contrast what "Oprah feels" versus what "God says".

• Oprah feels: there are millions of ways the following God & we all reach the same destination.
  
• God says: (Acts 4:12) - Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (NKJV; emphasis mine)
  
• Oprah feels: there cannot possibly be just one way to God.
  
• God says: (Ephesians 2:8) - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (NKJV; emphasis mine)
  
• Oprah feels: she can reconcile her "Christianity" with her new religious ideas because she has discovered how "big" God is
  
• God says: (2 Samuel 7:22) - Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (NKJV; emphasis mine)
  
• Oprah feels: something is wrong with biblical Christianity because God cannot possibly be a jealous God
  
• God says: (Exodus 20:5) - you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (NKJV; emphasis mine) (others: Ex. 20:5; 34:13, 14; Num. 25:11; Deut. 29:20; 32:16, 21; 1 Kin. 14:22; Psa. 78:58; 79:5; Isa. 30:1, 2; 31:1, 3; Ezek. 16:42; 23:25; 36:5, 6; 38:19; Zeph. 1:18; 3:8; Zech. 1:14; 8:2; 1 Cor. 10:22)
  
• Oprah feels: God is a "feeling experience" and not a "believing experience"
  
• God says: (Acts 16:31) - So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (NKJV; emphasis mine)
  
• Oprah feels: if God for you is still about a belief, then that is not truly God
  
• God says: (Romans 1:16) - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (NKJV; emphasis mine) http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=598
  

  Lord please guard my heart from the deceptive philosophies that so easy find their way into our hearts when we are guided by our feelings instead of your word. Help me to be discerning about what "teachers" I allow myself to sit under or into my life. Help me to filter out the falsehoods that lace the teachings of others that can influence my beliefs and behaviors before you. Instead, let me secure my heart to your most glorious and unchanging word.
  

   
   

Daniel's seventy sevens (70 7s)

Dear all:

This past Friday's teaching, discussion and video about end times raised many good questions. This would be a great place for you to post your questions and further discussion.

This week lets be sure to come to the youth room and ready to go 7:55pm This way we can finish the video this week.

For those who have the interest have include the links to some helpful sites:
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=479 (very solid)
http://www.truthnet.org/dan70.html (Has good description of the time line of Daniel 9's prophecy

Do miss the final lesson of end times for APril and dont forget to BARF (bring a real friend)

College Prep Resource

Resource links:

http://www.gostudents.net/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ejINI5PNKpG&b=881157&ct=366844

Andy Kim

Welcome...
to Andy Kim's CCC Blog

Kirsten Wang

Welcome...
to Kirsten Wang's CCC Blog

Kristian Wang

Welcome...
to Kristian Wang's CCC Blog

Alison Pang

Welcome...
to Alison Pang's CCC Blog

Timothy Chen

Welcome
to Timothy Chen's CCC Blog

Elizabeth Chen

Welcome

to Liz Chen's CCC Blog

Pastor Don's Sermon 4-10-08

Sermon Title: Listen to Him Scripture: Matthew 17: 1-9; 2Timothy 1:8-10
Intro: It’s easy to get caught up in ourselves and forget the value that God places on others. When we experience the presence of His warmth, love and power it's a place that we don’t want to leave. We feel safe and secure. Yet, God has called us to listen to his son. Go where He goes and do what He does. But first we have to be with him.
From the geologist’s perspective, mountain ranges are evidence of seismic activity, the process of reshaping the earth's surface over the course of millennia.
From the tourist’s perspective, mountain ranges are sometimes beautiful, sometimes inconvenient =P (remember Taos) features of a landscape.
From the skier’s perspective =), snow-draped mountains are an opportunity to enjoy a challenging winter adventure.
From the religious person’s perspective, a mountain is where God and humans meet. It symbolizes reaching up and touching Heaven, and Heaven bending down toward man. Consider Michelangelo’s masterpiece “The Hand of God”
I. When God pulls back the veil. (1-4)
And in today’s passage, the New Testament writer describes an awesome mountaintop experience of God by Jesus and three of the disciples:
.... Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain ... And before there very eyes He was transfigured, and His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light..., a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
In this moment, God's Presence in Jesus Christ exploded before the disciples so intensely they found themselves in the presence of another world, where there is no mistaking the voice of God: "This is My Son, whom I love ... Listen to Him!" And “When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified." (Mt. 17:6).
II. Making what is precious to God precious to you (4-5)
A. Jesus-
To the disciples who witnessed it, the Transfiguration was incredible – so much so that they didn't know what to do and they even appeared as if they wanted to stay. They actually had seen the glory of God shining in and through the Body of Christ.
Of course they wanted to stay on the mountaintop where they bathed in the Gloray of God and to reflect and meditate on the wondrous vision.
Of course they wanted to build a chapel to commemorate it.
Of course they wanted to stay with Jesus in this place where they had just experienced the most incomparable moment of their lives.
But that is not how we show God that Jesus is precious to us, right? How do we show God that He is precious to us?
B. Others
But in that supreme moment, they had heard the voice of God say, "Listen to Him!" And, of course they had to obey Jesus when He instructs them to go back down the mountain where there were people in need. They had to go back down the mountain and minister to them.
And what of us? Who believe, who follow, who obey the Christ? Can we do one or two and not the other? We might like to think so, but not if you choose to take God at His word. To believe means to follow and to follow is to obey. They are one in the same. Those who believe obey.
What about us? Who have come together in this place, shouldn't this worship event be awesome? The glory of God still shines through the Lord Jesus who is in our midst now. The loving Presence of God is made real to us now through the Body of Christ. And the unmistakable voice of God is speaking to us now: “This is my Son, whom I love... Listen to him! Follow Him from this place to where there are people in need -- and minister to them!"
The Lord Jesus Christ is most precious to God. We Christians have no trouble at all accepting that reality. But we do seem to have trouble accepting the reality that we ourselves are precious to God. You and I, and the members of our families, and all our friends, and all our neighbors, and all whom we consider to be our enemies, and every passing stranger, and every human person God chooses to create -- all are precious to God.
When God made the earth, He filled it with everything that is most precious to Him! Can we look at God's good earth and not experience the fullness of it?
Can we look at what is most beloved to God and not experience the majesty of it?
Can we look at what is most beloved to God and not experience the splendor of it? Can we look at what is most beloved to God and not experience the reverence and wonder of it?
We must be on guard, always, against degrading our ability for reverence, and the sense of the sacred in God's creation.
C.S. Lewis recalled the time when he first started going to Church. "I disliked the hymns," he said. "I considered them to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But then I realized that the hymns were, nevertheless, being sung with great devotion by an old saint in rough boots in the opposite pew. It was the kind of moment in which you realize that you aren't fit to clean his boots, and it gets you out of your solitary conceit."1
When God looks out upon humans that represent Him on earth, He sees the whole thing. And the variety that He sees is precious to Him. So precious, in fact that He allows His glory to shine through it, making it possible for us to say, in every human encounter, "I worship the God I see in you." Not that you are a god but by virtue of our existence each one of us bare His image, the image with which our maker has marked us.
It seems safe to assume that God enjoys variety not just on the cellular level...
He didn't stop with a 1000 insect species; He conjured up three hundred thousand species of beetles and weevils alone. In the Book of Job, God points with pride to such oddities of creation as the mountain goat, the wild ass, the ostrich, and the lightening bolt. He lavished color, design, and texture on the world, giving us Pygmies and Watusis, and blond Scandinavians, and swarthy Italians, and big-boned Russians and petite Japanese.2
Allow me to repeat: Every human God chooses to create is precious to Him. That's awesome! That's beyond our ability to fully comprehend. But by the Grace of God, we do have the ability to say from the heart, in every human encounter, "I worship the God I see in you!"
II. Preparing for the future Kingdom (v. 9, 2 Tim 1:8-10)
But even when the world refuses to acknowledge your value... Maybe even those closest to you might measure your worth based on your performance… God refuses to discount your life.
Have you ever wondered if your value has dropped before God because of your sin? Then maybe you listen to those voices too long and forgotten that no may enter the kingdom of God based on their self worth or performance. Or maybe someone acts odd or unpleasant around you or immature and your tempted to loss it with them. Believe me I’ve been there. Remember this..
9who has saved us and called us to a holy life
But why?
not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time
Conclusion:
So we are precious not because we perform but because He has purposed it so. Even so, when “facts” seem to contradict your Christian responsibility to "worship the true God" whom you may not “see” in another, "you have to bend your attitudes to fit them, that's all."
Attitudes are what we choose. They’re a matter of choice. Choose Christ and allow Him to bend your attitudes to be in harmony with His teachings.
The reality is our lives rarely go as smoothly as we wish or hope and the fact that life can hard and faith too can challenge the attitude that we choose to go around with in our lives. For Christians to excel, they must learn to love the things of God, build their faith in God and His word, and hope in His amazing blessings. Choose Christ but be prepared; He may bend your attitudes -- your entire life – until you no longer see yourself but see Him in you!
Listen to Him!!!
1- Brand & Yancey, “In the likeness of God” pg 48-50.
2- Brand & Yancey, “In the likeness of God” pg 48-50

4-9-08 Pastors devotional

Pastors Devotions
2 Chronicles 15-16

As I read this passage, I was reminded how appetite can literally drive our lives. This time mine in particular. Even after having eaten a nice meal I had a hankering for certain food, so much so that I took our family +1 on a slight detour. It had been ages or so it seemed since I'd last had cheesecake like cheesecake factory. Why do i share this? Well as I read this passage. I was reminded of how when we hunger for something we'll really put our energy into seeking what we hunger for. As for the Israelites in those days the true God was out of sight and mind of most Israelites. However, when God reminded King Asa through his prophet of His promises. After that the hunger for God had captured Asa and he sought after Him and found Him. But not only did he find God, but Asa was able to return the tribes of Judah and Benjamin back to their true God.

If your appetite is not with God and his Word and you lack His peace and strength, God invites me you all of us to return to him daily. I'm always amazed at how quickly I can get caught up in the work of God and yet miss the sweetness of my savor who I serve. The lord reminds me "I am with you when you are with (me)".

May you use me to bring you daily into the lives of my home, church and community. God may you satisfy each of us as we turn to you. I pray for those who are struggling to continue their devotions or maybe even just begin. May your Spirit affirm your words in their hearts that You are with them when they are with you.

Lord I pray for our mission team that you will establish and strengthen Cathryn, Kristian,and Kirsten as well as Sister Flora, Brother James and Sister Pauline. May you grant us a strong bond of unity and desire to see your will done through our lives. Thank you Lord that when we are with You you are with us. And I pray for those who remain that they will see that we are one body and grant them the vision to see that there work of prayer here binds them together with us in the building of your kingdom. Help us to be diligent in our preparations of our lessons and activities and prepare ourselves in prayer to be useful in Your hands.

Yi Lan mission Trip 01 from Pastor Don

Dear All:

Regrarding the Yilan Mission trip preparation this Sunday The team members will receive their training schedule, reveiw expectations, assignments, review the tract to use this year, choose songs to use during the school and during church. Discuss the program schedule in the English Camp and in the evenings program at the churches.

Responsibilities already covered:

Reciepts - Pauline Wang
Adminstration- Flora Chen
Sunday Song leader- Flora Chen
Sunday Pianist- Kirsten Wang
Handbook- Flora Chen


Roles to confirm:
Lesson, Craft and memory verse leaders: (Youth)
Translators: (Adults)
Choregraph Children Songs movements:_____________
Lead Games:
Purchase Crafts materials:
Type up Songs:
Lead Songs:

Songs to be confirmed:
2008 CCC Song for Childrenʼs Program
Song #1 "First"
Song # 2 "Just Say No"
Song #3 "Children Obey Your Parents"
Song # 4 "Clap Clap Clap" Silly Song (Ice break time)
Song #5 "Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle" Silly Song (Ice Break time)
Song #6 "I just want to be a Sheep Baa Baa Baa Baa" fun song for church
Song #7 "I'm Feeling Good"
If you have any suggestions or thoughts please share.

Blessings,
Pastor Don

CCC 2008 Taos Ski Trip

Check out this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17708&id=541652980

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