When your christian sister get a non-christian boyfriend

My heart felt very heavy tonight, when I have heard that one of my christian sister have got a non-christian boyfriend.

I am not in a position to judge, or to condemn. I am also not in a position to intervene the other private life. Looking from the human perspective, I can image, and I can fully understand her feeling. Our heart is not as hard as stone. The longer we are living in this world, the strong is our emotional needs.We are longing for someone to fill in the void in our heart. Two are better than one. Who want to be always alone in this world?

If one has a non-christian partner before she became a christian, then the situation is much better and I think God do understand, even though God in the meantime He will show his way in a more gradual and order way. However, if one has became a christian for some time, knowing what is the will of God, but still decided to enter a relationship with a non-christian, then he or she may fall into trouble.

Perhaps the reason my heart felt heavy, is because I know that she will go through many hard time in her christian journey in the future. When Cain has killed his brother Abel in Genesis 4, it's God mercy that God has spared his life. Yet during Cain's life, he was under a curse that he will become a restless wanderer in the world. Sometimes God will have mercy, so that there are testimony the non-christian partner will turn to Christ, as in the story God has spared Cain life. Yet, this is solely by God's grace. This doesn't mean that christian should find a non-christian partner in the first place, just as Cain shouldn't killed his brother in the beginning of the story, because both of this is not the will from God. Because of this act of killing, Cain suffer the curse from God that he will become a restless wanderer in the world. Because of having non-christian partners, so many christians have become a restless wanderer in the world and in the church. Some has lost their faith. Some has still retained their faith, but this thorn will always be in their heart and never be taken away unless it is by God's mercy. Their heart was torned between following God and their christian partner. They know what the standard of God is, but deep in their heart they could not follow, and so it is difficult for them to worship God freely and serve God because of this thorn.

Perhaps an irony is that, if you don't have a close relationship with God, you will feel much better, as your conscience won't blame you. Yet, the closer the relationship you have with God, the more you are going to struggle. So why keep on trusting God as He make you struggle as He reveal His will to you?

Some will try to justify their act, and debate will follow. It is similar to argue that God will allow couple to divorce for reasons other than adultery or non-believing partner. So in the end, they either turn their face away from God and never go to church or fellowship again, claiming that people don't understand them and christians are legalistic; or they want to influence or persuade the others to accept their view; or they will like the rich young man in Mark 10:17-29, who cannot follow Jesus and go away sadly, because he cannot give up the things that is dear to his heart.

My former girlfriend was one of them. I remember once she has shared to me that 'Do not yoke with unbelievers' (2 Cor 6:14), and she understand the biblical truth much better than I during that time. Yet afterwards , she contradicted herself, and enter a relationship with a non-believers. Even though she has broken up with her non-christian boyfriends in the end. Together with other incident, her faith was contaminated and she has never recovered. The last time I saw her several years ago, she kept doubting and challenging God. She no longer join the HK fellowship now. I don't know what is her current status, perhaps she has already lost her faith.

Perhaps even the strongest christian will fall also, who knows. Who can blame someone when they are tired of being alone that has left a foothold for temptation to come? And sometimes using the world temptation maybe misleading also, as who can say that someone interest in you or you are interest in someone is a sin? As times go by, and hope is fading, why keep waiting for something that seems to be a false hope and never will realise?

I can't explain. It's stupid from human eyes. Yet this is what it is meant by faith. Abraham has faith, so that He receive the promise from God and bear his son even though at a very very old. He has faith, so that He is willing to give up and sacrifice his son Issac when God ask him to do it. In the end, God return Issac to him. God is alway looking for our long-term benefit, even though that mean sometimes He discipline us we have to go through some short-term pain. This is a a kind of metamorphosis process, so that our life can be transformed and made beautiful in His sight. May God keep us and protect us in our christian walk, so that we won't fall away, and we are willing to carry our Cross to follow Him everyday.

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecc 12:13b-14)

Missing Name

Sitting in the library in the evening and pondering upon the future of the cell group. Sooner or later the fellowship has to re-arrange the cell-group structure to accommodate the changes and the people needs. Glancing on the names, I know that there is something familiar that will not appear in the list again. Perhaps, I shouldn’t turn my eyes back and I should continue to look forward, lest I will become a pillar of salt that disappears in the shadow of the wind.

A minor incident

Sitting in the library for the whole day. There came a time when I felt bored and disturbed , so I have decided to go out for a walk to the supermarket. Then my mind was brought up with something that has seldom came across in my heart, yet which has brought me with peace and tranquility. Just want to pen it down. Nothing special. Has to work again.

Never lose sight of our original purpose

Thank God for today's gathering. He is working amidst of us in our heart. Sometimes you are depressed when you don't feel the presence of your companion, but actually they are all there and have a heart for God.

Never lose sight of our original goal and purpose in the fellowship, to equip people spiritually today to prepare for the future, and be bold to face the changing dynamics in the fellowship is the message for today. May His will continue to be done in the fellowship

Perhaps the only discouraging things today was Zidane being sent off and France has lost the penalty shoot-out. Anyway, it's quite enjoyable to watch the world cup together with brothers and sisters. And I observe the following: Perhaps the husband has to accompany their wife for shopping, but the wife has to accompany the husband to watch the world cup. Peer pressure works.

我為你的殿、心裡焦急、如同火燒

他的門徒就想起經上記著說 、『我為你的殿、心裡焦急、如同火燒。』 (約翰福音2:17)
His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." (John 2:17)

This is one of the bible that pastor has quoted when he spoke on the topic "Rekindle our fire for God". We have passion, but where should it direct to? Jesus directed his passion and zeal for God's kingdom. When he saw the Jews had turned the sacred temple into a market place, his fire burned, and the consuming fire has driven him to clear the temple for God's sake.

Today, somehow we should ask why we have lost this zeal. Our strength are not consumed by our zeal for God, but rather they are being dissipated to the world.

Put it plainly, as serving in the fellowship, sometimes it is very depressing if you have realised that many has lost their passion for God and to the fellowship. A sign of sickness.

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Ps 42:4) These is no point to keep reminiscence of the past. Yet I still treasure those time when brother and sister come and share countless to me about their thoughts, burden, and what they saw the needs about fellowship with an urgent heart. These days, the voice were so few, really few in the past few months. Perhaps it is my problem. Perhaps the yoke that they carry is to heavy for them to bear at this moment. Perhaps I am just thinking too much.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" A familiar verse in Isaiah 6:8, but what is the response? The fellowship is getting weaker and weaker during the summer time. Hope God will do something during tomorrow committee gatherings.