Transformed Disciples To Transform the World

Before the start of game 5, a renowned coach was asked to give advice to the Montreal Canadiens who already lost the series by 1-3. This coach advised the team, "Stick to the game plan. Play a simple game. Don't try to do too much." We know the result. Their opponent, the Flyers won that game & the series by 4-1. Most of the coaches when asked to review their lost & to regroup, they almost 100% said, "Play simple & direct hockey."

There is absolutely some truth & wisdom in being simple & focus in what we do. No exception in doing church. Jesus' way of doing church is simple, focus, basic & reproducible. His 12 (incl. Paul) turned the world upside down by following the Jesus' principle.

I try to capture what God put in my mind. For details, you can go back & read from my first blog & await the future coming messages. But in brief & simplicity, it is making "Transformed Disciples To Transform the World"

What we are going to do is a disciple-making church planting movement. We are not planting a house group, which is what the conventional churches do in the beginning stage of their church planting. We are not planting one house church, which is normally 10-20 people, or most 30 something.

What we do is: house church planting house churches, network (clusters of house churches) planting networks, local to regional to national to global. So in order to be reproducible cross-territorially & cross-culturally, it must be simple, basic and focus.

But it doesn't begin with church planting church. It starts even smaller & even more basic. It all starts with disciple making another disciple. It all starts with relational discipleship. It aims at life transformation. Lordship of Jesus is central & focal. It is not about passive Sunday school program or lecture stuff. It is all about interactive, learning by doing, practices & application, obedience & accountability, like Jesus & His 12 or even His 3. Jesus model will be our model. We are making transformed disciples. Slow. Yes it maybe. But worthwhile. It is deep & multiplying. When doing the right way, it may be faster than we think. One thing definitive, they will change the world.

These transformed disciples know that they do not exist for fun, for their success, for their own interests, or even for their kids. They live for Jesus. They follow Jesus for the sakes of others. They live their life for God & others. They'll rejoice in worshiping Jesus at home, in starbucks, at campus, or offices, knowing that this will save up a huge sum for serving the poor & the unreached, in local as well as in global. They will participate in God's Kingdom mission in drawing people to experience the Kingdom through the gospel & their love for the world.

Like His second calling to me (the previous blog) in Psalm 82: They will "defend the cause of the weak & the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them from the hand of the wicked." By doing these, hopefully the love and gospel of Jesus is well received. Life transformed. Disciple made. An unlikely army of God is raised up. For this purpose, the new house churches networks will mobilize, will support, will send out missionaries. This is a must: we are missional. The Great Commission & Great Commandments are our bedrock core.

I am writing this now at home (on-leave today). Using my router for the first time in wireless mode. That I can be away from the sitting room noises. You know what I just put in the router network name? "4All Nations House" You know where it comes from? After Jesus cleansed the Temple, he told his disciples, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."(Mk11:17).

Jesus longs to see all nations, all peoples, all tribe & all language, standing before Him in heaven. He longs to see His ways may be known on earth, his salvation among all nations (Ps.67). I long to see Him being loved & worshiped in this way, in this manner, in this magnitude. The lamb is great. He deserves ALL...

So what is the name of the new church: 4All Nations House Church Networks. It will start on 1/1/2011 - four 1 of Isaiah 11:1(check with it. what a coincidence.)

We will pray, pray, pray in these house churches. We will preach, preach, and preach the gospel. We will bring All nations, here in Vancouver as well as overseas, to Christ, direct & indirect. We shall direct to the Lamb, All glory & praises, forever, Amen...

My sons surrounded & shared a bowl of noodles, they were so joyful. Life could be very simple, yet joyful. Church could be very simple, joyful, yet Christ-glorifying. Amen?! Amen.

My Dream. His Dream.

Doubts. I had a few.

Even after that wonderful Saturday night on 29/8, I had not less.

Was it God's voice or I made it up? Is it only my dream or is it His? Is that out of my personal ambition or His will... After all, I am still evangelical, very much bible-faithed. I had doubts. But at the same time, I am pretty sure of that Jesus moment because I've seen one, two...

Feb, 2006, Port Moody Library: on hearing "leave" I quit my ministry in Coquitlam to enter an unknown zone.

April 23, 2006, at the side of Edinburgh Drive: Jesus called me to love him "in His way, in His time." I almost chose to love him my way by going to Africa as missionary. I threw myself to the dashboard, shivered, cried under a starry night, as I recognized it's Jesus.

Nov 25, 2007, at Richmond Emmanuel Church: 10 minutes before I stepped on to preach a gospel message in a "very extraordinary way" - talk show comedy(Yes. I try new things!), I was calm outside, scared inside. There again, with Psalm 46, He said, "Fear not, I am with you." So I feared not.

June 3, 2008, nursery room in REC: I prayed. I waited. I invited Jesus to come, to come to me... we talked. "I love you, son. I find pleasure in you." Jesus said to me. It touched me deep, very deep. I wondered if it's really him. 10 minutes after my prayer, Jesus said this once again through the mouth of our special meeting speaker. Confirming it's Him.

I know what it's like when Jesus shows up, in a very personal way. I shouldn't have doubt. But I am a Gideon. The task is too big. The cost is huge. It is almost a mission impossible. It feels good & great in talking. It demands hardships, sufferings, tears & attacks... in accomplishing. I am nobody. I am old. I know it will do much harm if it is not from His calling. I asked God for double, even triple confirmation.

September 30, 2009, one month after my first calling. I was bathed in morning prayer for an hour something. I praised & worshiped. I waited. waited. waited. Then I talked to God about the calling again. I asked him for when to do it, where, what, who and how... "Do you really mean it?"

Then during my prayer, I remembered my hypocrisy many many years ago. Nearly 30 years ago, I wanted to express my love to other human being. I wanted to feel good about myself. "Marcus was a man of love." I went to sponsor an orphan in Poleungkuk (a HK charity). I brought with me some toys to the little boy & walked & played a little bit with him. My love lasted for 30 minutes. After that day, I never went back to visit or did anything for the boy.

I remembered this. And I repented to God. "God, how can this guy, with his love, achieve anything good for the poor world..." I did not trust myself, my love. And I wondered if God made a mistake or simply I made a mistake only.

Then I read Psalm 82. I used a new Chinese translation that morning. Normally I don't use that one. Here's my journal...

v.1-2: God judged his people of being not just, & not doing these...

v.3-4: "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;

maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed,

Rescue the weak and needy;

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

These words jumped out to me! Especially I was just struggling with Jesus about the orphan, the fatherless stuff.

v.5: All the foundations... are shaken (because of unjust, unrighteous, unfair...to the poor)

v.6: Who are to be blamed by God? The leaders of Israel (or churches)

I was praying again & reflecting on these. I said again to God. "I am scared. Really scared if all these visions & dream are my ambition, my dream, my my love, my my my... You've just seen my darkness. Stop it Lord, if they're not from you..." I was wrestling again.

Then I heard clearly. This time, no worship music & singing, without a doubt, I heard, "I have compassion for them."

I recognized this voice. I heard it before. I heard it somewhere. You know who said this? Where? ----------------------------> Matthew15:32.

It's Jesus voice. He said it to his disciples, before feeding 4000.

Tears just flooded out in this Jesus moment. I knew him. He is my Jesus. I was shivering.

Then Jesus said more, "I want you to lead my children, my people for doing this" "I will bless you" "This is the things that I want you to do."

So God pitied Gideon. Jesus was patient to me. I still struggle here & there, esp. the hows. But from now on. I know. I believe, without a doubt. This is not what I want to do. Yes it is. But above all, it is what He wants to do. I don't need to trust my love for the world. Mine is not reliable. I only need to trust Him, because this is his Kingdom mission. His heart. His love. It is all about Him & for Him.

I am so fired up. His dream becomes my dream. To see his love flooded to all nations, that one day, people from all tribes, all languages, all peoples standing before the Lamb, worshiping Him, and with me playing my part in this Kingdom mission, this is my focus. This is my business. This is my life.

In this world, there are fortunate ones. Like you and I...like my sons.

There are unfortunate ones. Like the HIV/AIDS orphans, oppressed and afflicted. Like my handicapped sister.

But there is a love, His love, through you and me. And there is the Gospel, Jesus Gospel, for our witnessing. When it meets the poor and the needy world, shared in love, life could be so blessed, so beautiful, so hopeful for the unfortunate as well as for fortunate.

So will you join me in His dream? Will you join me to bring it come true?

"Nobody can do everything. Everyone can do something. Together we can change the world." - Bravo!

A Simple Prayer. A Big Dream

I ask "Why"

Years ago, a new chinese immigrant(2 weeks only) crushed dead while biking in Richmond. A buddist charity rushed in to offer help, money, and learning assistance to his kid. I asked, "Why no churches jump in to help?" Maybe a Christian social concern group tried a bit. But the question is "why no churches...?" Do we just love those who love us? How can the love of Jesus not just expressed in doctrine but in ways the world can feel & touch? I am frustrated...it's a holy kind. I ask lots of why about church & even more, as I grow in age, in faith, in touch with the world.

I ask "why not"

Under that beautiful and warm summer sun of last year, at poolside, I read the the World Vision book about the world tragedies: hunger, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, wars & refugees, diseases...stories after stories of people, born fatherless, die young, live miserably, suffer unnecessarily, hope of nothing. While 20% like you and I, uses up 80% of the world resources. Sarcastic enough I was pitying the world at the poolside, enjoying my summer sunbath. Ashamed somehow even now.

Under that same sun, I read a wonderful book about leadership from Colonel Jeffrey. At the end of the book, he unfolded how God called him to start a ministry with $500(Well, this I can do!). With this portion from his limited salary, he & 2 friends started an orphanage in India. After 10 years, they ran 50 orphanages taking care of hundreds of kids. The fatherless receive food, education, love. Above all, the gospel of Jesus. They now have hope. They dig wells to provide clean water for hundreds of villages. They set up clinics, provide hot meals...They send out workers to the unreached. Churches set up. They had won 100,000 souls for Christ. (Read the book yourself for accuracy). Out of all these beauties, I asked: Why not we see churches doing these? Are churches of Christ not supposed to bring forth the gospel in words as well as through deeds of love? I expect some things more from churches. Jesus expects more from His church.

I dream...

In one summer morning (29/8/09), I had my quiet time with God & read Psalm 37.

I read...
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him & He will do this..."(v.5)

At that moment, I was challenged to do something I seldom did. To pray this prayer. Tell him what I want. Trust in him. And ask him to do this...according to his promise. So I pray a simple prayer out of simple faith:

"Lord, I want to see strong disciples. They love you & transformed by you so much that they love what you love...They love your world. I want to see strong churches...bringing the gospel & God's love to the lost. I want to see they are taking care of the fatherless, providing clean water, setting up schools...doing things that make a huge difference in the life of others. I want to see your followers following you for the sakes of others...living not for ourselves, but for you and for others..."

That night, I attended the SOP praise concert. I was in the first row. I praised. I jumped. I worshiped Jesus...Then came the music for the song "Trust"...then the lyrics in the power-point...there they sang...

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust in Him & he will do this"

Electrified. Stunned. Eye's wet in this Jesus moment, holy moment. A small voice still echos: "I hear your prayer. And I will fulfill it."

That was the most wonderful Saturday night I ever had, usually that's not the case before you had to preach the next day?! But I went home, so grateful, fully charged, His love like surround-sound, very much in hope...

Open our mouth Big. Ask for something Big. Real Big for God(Jeremiah 33:3). When it comes true, no one will believe it can be done through you without his workings & his will. That, all glory be unto Him & only Him, forever, Amen.

By the way, guess who's big mouth: Caleb, Joshua, Philip?

Prayer On Fire

"You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes..."(Isaiah 62:6-7).

I love to share with you with exactly what & how the Lord calls us to do for church planting. But before doing this, I want to share more on prayers first, because it is out of this context His calling is revealed. I promise you I start talking about my call in the coming blog message.

Do you pray? Do you love praying? Any struggles in praying?

I pray.
I love to pray.
I struggle a lot to pray.

Thanks God that He gives me mentors to teach me pray.
From Rev. David Ng, I first tasted the sweetness of coming to my Heavenly Father as a kid.
From Robert Mcheyne ("the Life of Robert Mcheyne"), I open my deepest self in honesty through grace before a holy God.
From the missionary James O Fraser ("Mountain Rain"), I was encouraged to start kneeling down for at least 30 minutes to simply enjoy the intimacy. That's when I was in seminary.
From Jason Ma ("the Blue Print"), I learn to wait, wait and wait in prayers.
From a dead man, rev. Chen, I challenge myself to be a watchman to pray overnight once a week.
From Jesus, I learn to surrender my will...

That's my journey. But I still struggle to pray. Struggle to wake up, to stay awake, to stay awake overnight. I could have share some really funny silly experience, lest you think I am charismatic. But there was really silly. Ask me face to face. Yes. I am silly and struggled a lot in prayers. But still I love prayers.

I love coming to my Father, pour out my heart.
I love the presence of the Lord, quiet, so close, tears just flow.
I love to wait till I am sure He is there, till I'm sure He smiles.
I love to flow out my love to you Lord, telling you "I love you Jesus"
I love to say love words, & praise Jesus because He so loves me.
I am so drawn close to him in prayers that I am kind of addicted.

But still I struggle in prayers.
If I have any encouragement to you, it is to pray, to love him and wait for him in prayers. Life will change. The world will change. Nothing will stay the same if you just pray.

But do you really believe He'll answer your prayer, even a short & simple one? I'll tell you a true story in the following blog. Bye!