Check this out Amazing - Congrats to Liu Wei!
Losing his arms in an accident at age 10, Liu Wei from Beijing never gives up on his dreams. He has learned to do everything with his feet and started to learn to play piano at age 19. His dream is to become a musician—and he has done just that! He just won the China's Got Talent Show on Oct. 10, 2010. In the final, he played piano and sang the song "You're Beautiful" as a reminder that everyone is beautiful despite outward appearances.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
The Gospel - IS Good news
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures . . .” -1 Corinthians 15:1–4
What is the Gospel? The word gospel simply means “good news.” The central message of the Bible is the gospel, or good news, about the person and work of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Paul provides the most succinct summary of the gospel: the man Jesus is also God, or Christ, and died on a cross in our place, paying the penalty for our sins; three days later He rose to conquer sin and death and give the gift of salvation to all who believe in Him alone for eternal life.
The great reformer Martin Luther rightly said that, as sinners, we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in one of two ways. The first is religion/spirituality and the second is the gospel. The two are antithetical in every way.
Religion says that if we obey God He will love us. The gospel says that it is because God has loved us through Jesus that we can obey.
Religion says that the world is filled with good people and bad people. The gospel says that the world is filled with bad people who are either repentant or unrepentant.
Religion says that you should trust in what you do as a good moral person. The gospel says that you should trust in the perfectly sinless life of Jesus because He alone is the only good and truly moral person who will ever live.
The goal of religion is to get from God such things as health, wealth, insight, power, and control. The goal of the gospel is not the gifts God gives, but rather God as the gift given to us by grace.
Religion is about what I have to do. The gospel is about what I get to do. Religion sees hardship in life as punishment from God. The gospel sees hardship in life as sanctifying affliction that reminds us of Jesus’ sufferings and is used by God in love to make us more like Jesus. Religion is about me. The gospel is about Jesus.
Religion leads to an uncertainty about my standing before God because I never know if I have done enough to please God. The gospel leads to a certainty about my standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus on my behalf on the cross.
Religion ends in either pride (because I think I am better than other people) or despair (because I continually fall short of God’s commands). The gospel ends in humble and confident joy because of the power of Jesus at work for me, in me, through me, and sometimes in spite of me.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
I need thee every hour...
Used this video on Sunday. I was asked several times for it so here it is - Enjoy!
Thursday, 16 September 2010
The Story of Grace By Andy Stanley
Read this by Andy Stanley today - totally awesome!
Grace.
What I crave most when my guilt is exposed. The very thing I'm hesitant to extend when I'm confronted with the guilt of others—especially when their guilt has robbed me of something I consider valuable.
Therein is the struggle, the struggle for grace. It's this struggle that makes grace more story than doctrine. It's the struggle that reminds us that grace is bigger than compassion or forgiveness. That struggle is the context for both. When we are on the receiving end, grace is refreshing. When it is required of us, it is often disturbing. But when correctly applied, it seems to solve just about everything. Contrary to what is sometimes taught, the opposite of grace is not law. As we will discover, God's law is actually an extension of grace. The opposite of grace is simply the absence of grace.
To say that someone deserves grace is a contradiction in terms. You can no more deserve grace than you can plan your own surprise party. In the same way that planning voids the idea of surprise, so claiming to deserve voids the idea of grace. You can ask for it. You can plead for it. But the minute you think you deserve it, the it you think you deserve is no longer grace. It is something you have earned.
But grace can't be earned.
To earn something is to find an equivalent. There is no equivalent where grace is concerned. Grace is birthed from hopeless inequity. Grace is the offer of exactly what we do not deserve. Thus, it cannot be recognized or received until we are aware of precisely how undeserving we really are. It is the knowledge of what we do not deserve that allows us to receive grace for what it is. Unmerited. Unearned. Undeserved. For that reason, grace can only be experienced by those who acknowledge they are undeserving.
From the beginning, the church has had an uneasy relationship with grace. Yet history has shown that the church and Christianity in general fare best when characterized by grace. The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent. Yet grace is often an early casualty in the world of organized religion. The gravitational pull is always toward graceless religion. Instead of defining itself in terms of what it stands for, the church often takes the less imaginative and easier path of defining itself in terms of what it is against.
The odd thing is that when you read the New Testament, the only thing Jesus stood against consistently was graceless religion. The only group he attacked relentlessly was graceless religious leaders. So we should not be surprised when we get to the end of the Gospels and discover that the people who crucified him were those who claimed to know God but knew little of grace. In doing so, they confirmed everything he said about them.
Grace is not a New Testament idea. Grace didn't begin with Jesus. But it was certainly personified by him. John tells us that he was "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14; emphasis added). Not the balance between, but the embodiment of. John speaks of "the fullness of his grace" (1:16), the idea being that in Jesus we get as clear and as close a look as we will ever get of what grace looks like in an otherwise graceless world.
In Jesus there was no conflict between grace and truth. It is that artificial conflict that throws so much of Christianity into disarray. It is our misunderstanding of grace, as modeled and taught by Jesus, that leaves us feeling as if grace allows people to "get by" with things.
But grace doesn't dumb down sin to make it more palatable. Grace doesn't have to. Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin and yet does not condemn.
But not just any grace.
The grace of God.
Grace.
What I crave most when my guilt is exposed. The very thing I'm hesitant to extend when I'm confronted with the guilt of others—especially when their guilt has robbed me of something I consider valuable.
Therein is the struggle, the struggle for grace. It's this struggle that makes grace more story than doctrine. It's the struggle that reminds us that grace is bigger than compassion or forgiveness. That struggle is the context for both. When we are on the receiving end, grace is refreshing. When it is required of us, it is often disturbing. But when correctly applied, it seems to solve just about everything. Contrary to what is sometimes taught, the opposite of grace is not law. As we will discover, God's law is actually an extension of grace. The opposite of grace is simply the absence of grace.
To say that someone deserves grace is a contradiction in terms. You can no more deserve grace than you can plan your own surprise party. In the same way that planning voids the idea of surprise, so claiming to deserve voids the idea of grace. You can ask for it. You can plead for it. But the minute you think you deserve it, the it you think you deserve is no longer grace. It is something you have earned.
But grace can't be earned.
To earn something is to find an equivalent. There is no equivalent where grace is concerned. Grace is birthed from hopeless inequity. Grace is the offer of exactly what we do not deserve. Thus, it cannot be recognized or received until we are aware of precisely how undeserving we really are. It is the knowledge of what we do not deserve that allows us to receive grace for what it is. Unmerited. Unearned. Undeserved. For that reason, grace can only be experienced by those who acknowledge they are undeserving.
From the beginning, the church has had an uneasy relationship with grace. Yet history has shown that the church and Christianity in general fare best when characterized by grace. The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent. Yet grace is often an early casualty in the world of organized religion. The gravitational pull is always toward graceless religion. Instead of defining itself in terms of what it stands for, the church often takes the less imaginative and easier path of defining itself in terms of what it is against.
The odd thing is that when you read the New Testament, the only thing Jesus stood against consistently was graceless religion. The only group he attacked relentlessly was graceless religious leaders. So we should not be surprised when we get to the end of the Gospels and discover that the people who crucified him were those who claimed to know God but knew little of grace. In doing so, they confirmed everything he said about them.
Grace is not a New Testament idea. Grace didn't begin with Jesus. But it was certainly personified by him. John tells us that he was "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14; emphasis added). Not the balance between, but the embodiment of. John speaks of "the fullness of his grace" (1:16), the idea being that in Jesus we get as clear and as close a look as we will ever get of what grace looks like in an otherwise graceless world.
In Jesus there was no conflict between grace and truth. It is that artificial conflict that throws so much of Christianity into disarray. It is our misunderstanding of grace, as modeled and taught by Jesus, that leaves us feeling as if grace allows people to "get by" with things.
But grace doesn't dumb down sin to make it more palatable. Grace doesn't have to. Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin and yet does not condemn.
But not just any grace.
The grace of God.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
One is too small a number to achieve greatness
A Chinese Proverb I recently read states. 'behind an able man there are always other able men.' The trust is that teamwork is at the heart of every great achievement. The question isn't whether teams have value. The question is whether we acknowledge the that fact and become better team players.
Einstein once remarked, 'Many times a day I realise how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labours of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received'. WOW!! How awesome is that.
President Lyndon Johnson said, 'There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few we can solve ourselves.' Why try and go it alone? You've probably heard this before but, even the Lone Ranger rode with Tonto!
I am convinced that team work is and has always been essential where there is anything significant happens.
Teams involve more people that hols more resource, ideas and energy than anyone individual can have.
Teams maximise a leaders potential and minimise weaknesses.
Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal.
Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. I think this is at the core of fostering genuine humility and authentic community.
Teams are accountable for keeping the goal in focus.
Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.
Einstein once remarked, 'Many times a day I realise how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labours of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received'. WOW!! How awesome is that.
President Lyndon Johnson said, 'There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few we can solve ourselves.' Why try and go it alone? You've probably heard this before but, even the Lone Ranger rode with Tonto!
I am convinced that team work is and has always been essential where there is anything significant happens.
Teams involve more people that hols more resource, ideas and energy than anyone individual can have.
Teams maximise a leaders potential and minimise weaknesses.
Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal.
Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. I think this is at the core of fostering genuine humility and authentic community.
Teams are accountable for keeping the goal in focus.
Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Drawn to a winning cause
Read a quote this week that inspired much thought:
'People are drawn to a winning cause. People are not drawn to groups that complain, lament, scold, whine. Most of them have enough of these negatives in their loves. People are drawn to groups that help them grow, develop, advance and build their lives. Congregations having the confidence that they are participating in the winning cause of God's mission will grow in generosity and the more people will be reached in your locality. People always give to a winning cause not a sinking ship!'
WOW... So much in this! Thoughts:
Jesus must be prominent and seen as the KING of kings and head of HIS church
Creating the right culture in church is crucial
Confidence in leadership and the vision,
Participation of everyone
The church is to be a discipling and equipping environment
Jesus mission must be our focus
Generosity
Community impact as church and resources are released
Now there's a series just from a quote!
Over the last few years at MKCC we have been engaged in a major building project to extend our current facilities to allow us to grow. Every day there has been change and progress taking place and I have enjoyed watching it. This is how it ought to be in church life as Jesus is the builder and is actively at work in us daily by his Holy Spirit. Movement, change, activity, progress, obstacles, developments...etc - Just normal really. If Jesus is building his church then there is always something happening! If there's not to much happening or changing, the warning light should be flashing in your life or church!!
As we move forward into the purposes of God, I believe that people want their lives to count by having a part in a spiritual movement, not a monument! Church suppose to be alive, relevant, influencing society and actively making a difference in the community.
Let's all get fully involved - Someone else's miracle is waiting on the other end of your obedience! God is waiting for you to say, here I am use me. Let's start BEING the church and quit ATTENDING church. Let's follow Christ with passion and and serve his purposes together to the end.
'People are drawn to a winning cause. People are not drawn to groups that complain, lament, scold, whine. Most of them have enough of these negatives in their loves. People are drawn to groups that help them grow, develop, advance and build their lives. Congregations having the confidence that they are participating in the winning cause of God's mission will grow in generosity and the more people will be reached in your locality. People always give to a winning cause not a sinking ship!'
WOW... So much in this! Thoughts:
Jesus must be prominent and seen as the KING of kings and head of HIS church
Creating the right culture in church is crucial
Confidence in leadership and the vision,
Participation of everyone
The church is to be a discipling and equipping environment
Jesus mission must be our focus
Generosity
Community impact as church and resources are released
Now there's a series just from a quote!
Over the last few years at MKCC we have been engaged in a major building project to extend our current facilities to allow us to grow. Every day there has been change and progress taking place and I have enjoyed watching it. This is how it ought to be in church life as Jesus is the builder and is actively at work in us daily by his Holy Spirit. Movement, change, activity, progress, obstacles, developments...etc - Just normal really. If Jesus is building his church then there is always something happening! If there's not to much happening or changing, the warning light should be flashing in your life or church!!
As we move forward into the purposes of God, I believe that people want their lives to count by having a part in a spiritual movement, not a monument! Church suppose to be alive, relevant, influencing society and actively making a difference in the community.
Let's all get fully involved - Someone else's miracle is waiting on the other end of your obedience! God is waiting for you to say, here I am use me. Let's start BEING the church and quit ATTENDING church. Let's follow Christ with passion and and serve his purposes together to the end.
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