I Preached Against Shrimp Dumpling

I preached against shrimp dumpling last Sunday Service.

Pretty much on fire.

Some told me so. Some discussed it. Some cried. Some shook my hands. Some even told me a shrimp dumpling was left uneaten on table that day. No one dared to eat it.

In case you forgot it, missed it, or are interested in it, this is a very simplified version...


Note: ( ) = My elaboration, or text reference


" Title: Fighting Moment/Nehemiah ch. 4...

My wife said, "It is huge warfare!" when recalling what happened last Wednesday. She went into a neighbor house & led second second Discovery Bible study (go to last message 'Stepping Out... WOW' for God's wonderful guidance). Just when they were ready to study the fall of mankind, 2 Jehovah witnesses knocked the door. The host answered the door. Aden went down as well. The Jehovah witnesses were very sticky. And a baby of our neighbor started crying. Even though the J.W. were gone, the crying wouldn't stop.

The study was then forced to stop. BTW, this group is penetrated by the Baha'i faith people who volunteers to teach them English every Tuesday. For the last 9 months, when we prayed for ways to outreach the neighborhood, the Jehovah witness, Baha'i faith came out forcefully from nowhere. It's really the fighting moment!

(I talked about how Nehemiah called out all people to respond to their enemies...How everyone became an army of ordinary people... Then I switched to Christian role in spiritual warfare in Eph.6:13-18. How all of us should put on God's armor to fight the world, Satan, and our sinful nature...)


Yes. The warfare is fierce. But it is never an even one. Through the victory of the cross, Jesus has taken away the sin of human being. God is willing to grant the gift of forgiveness via Jesus Christ. Satan could no longer condemn our sin & enslave us. We are set free! The strong man had been tied up by Jesus Christ(Mat.12:29). We, as free man, our role is to follow through, go into the house & rob his possession. Through preaching the gospel, we'll set free all those still captured by Satan.

If you get this, the essence of Great Commission comes into light: After being crucified & raised to victory, Jesus commanded his disciples, the army of ordinary people: 'I have won the victory & have all the authority. No more defence. It's time to attack. Soldiers, Charge... Go! Go! Go! Therefore Go and Make disciples of all nations...'(Italics, mine).

If we obey Christ, put on God's armor, bring forth the Gospel & His love, go into a community of desperate people, Satan will be scared to death. Because he is going to be robbed again! (Then I told a story of a church in HK, the church of "no walls." How a pastor has mercy over the homeless in parks. How he visits them every week & later gathers a church of 60 homeless every week in the park, worship, learning God's words...)

Church of no walls are those Christ followers dare to go go go, go into a community, share the gospel & gather believers as a church, right where they are. If according to Jesus' definition(Mat.18:20), church can be in a park, then can church be in campus field? If a church in park is church, then can church be in office? If a church in office is church, then can church be at home? (Then I started to introduce the simple church ministry I am going to do next year... Our Bishop encouraged me to use 15 minutes to talk about this... Normally I don't like to deviate much from the text message!)

The name of our ministry is called "FANS Home"(The Home For All Nations - Mk.11:17) . We have 3 focus:

1. Missional:

God sent His Son to the World. Jesus sent us into the world. Instead of asking people to come to church. We are the go go go people. We are the go go go church. Just like what Aden doing, we pray & pray for harvester. We go into a community. Share the gospel. Identify the person of peace(Luke 10). Convert him(her) + his (her) network, the house. Gather them right where they are as church...

2. Making Disciples & Simple Church:

We make disciples when they commit to come together as a group, even before conversion. 3 DNA will be implanted right there from the start: Divine Truth + Accountable Nurturing Relationship + Apostolic Mission. They will be reading & studying & obeying the words of God. Life will be transformed by the Spirit working through God's words in an obedient heart. Everyone is accountable to others. The neglected but crucial discipline for growth like confession of sin to each other(sure it applies to Pastor!), speaking the truth in love... come back to central stage. And we will be praying for the lost, reaching out for the lost, sharing what we learn each week as a group to our pre-believer friends... We focus on these 3 areas in group of 2-3, from there to every size God will us to grow, 30, 60, 100 times... Simple? Yes. Simple but profound. Simple & reproducible. That makes a movement.

(Where is the shrimp dumpling part? Coming...)

3. The Poor and the Needy:

God calls us to share the gospel not in words only. It will be shared in love. God tells us there is a big world out there needs help... Probably you'll have dim sum after this service, right? How much it costs for a plate of shrimp dumpling? (They replied: $3, $4) How long does it take for you to finish this plate, say if you are very hungry? One minute?!(They nodded.) I want to make you feel sick when you have dim sum today... 60 seconds gone, right after you finish your shrimp dumpling, 24 kids die in the world(refer to my blog message 'Count with me 1, 2, 3...') 24 kids die of malnutrition & hunger in Cambodia, in India, in remote areas of China, in urban ghettos of Mexico... right after you finish your shrimp dumpling. And that $3, $4 can save those 24 young lives. That same beautiful life as we touch, we kiss, we hug, we feed at our home... dies. Die because we only touch, only kiss, only hug, only feed the little ones, the ours! It is a sin for Christian not caring for the poor and needy. It is not about shrimp dumpling. It is about a lifestyle. A lifestyle that is not thinking, caring, loving the poor. This is sin. This is something we need to answer before Jesus(Mat.25:31ff). Our ministry will be taking care of the orphans, the widow, and the poor... Among them, we shall make disciples of Jesus Christ. That is a must!

(Funny enough. After this powerful & straight-forward wording, I came to ask for support...) You can support us in this way:

• Check my blog to know our passion: marcus-jesuswow@blogspot.com


• Persistent Prayers:


• Donation

(And I concluded with 2 Tim.4:7-8...)

Which opponent you don't want to face in battle? A well-trained mercenary army or a well-trained voluntary army. One fight for pay check. One fight from love. Brothers & sisters, God is calling his army to fight, put on His armor, go into the world, share the gospel with love... Satan will be scared to death. Because this army. The army of ordinary people. The army of all voluntary hearts. Fight out of love. To them, they have nothing to lose. Are you one of them? )

I was pretty much on fire.

Walking. Waving. Preaching. Lost in the pulpit.

The life of a shrimp dumpling changed that day. Uneaten. Thanks to my preaching.


The next day. Monday morning. I looked out the window from my room. Still lost in the power of Spirit. Still lost as the focal point on pulpit, I talked to Jesus in open eyes...


"Lord, I know I have the gift of preaching. I am feeling good about it(kind of addicted). I am good at doing it, doing something that is not effective in changing life(I changed the life of a shrimp dumpling, though). Can you take away this gift from me?

But while you do this... can you give me another gift, a gift that I might not be familiar, have not been doing very good. But at the end, people see you, not seeing me. At the end, we see life changed, obedient disciples made. We see your followers love you so so much, that they love the world so so so so much..."

If you happen to be a preacher, I do not mean to offend you. I think there is a higher calling than preaching to a Christian community every Sunday morning. And you know the reason. Sooner or later.

Am I bragging over my preaching?

Instead, this is my confession. The confession of a preacher. The confession of a preacher who looks for something more effective in impacting life, changing life, plus changing the world. We don't need to invent it. Jesus had shown us. Commanded us. It is only our question of following suit or not!

Stepping Out...WOW!

Jesus was walking on water. His disciples were in a boat. One man decided staying there no more. What did it take Peter to step out, to take risk of his life or his fame, to wow like Jesus?

We all know he failed later. But we all forgot he was the only man in NT to wow with Jesus - a surfing-like ecstasy. We might have forgotten it is Jesus' entertaining Peter's pursuit with "Come!"

A consuming passion to pursue Jesus. This is the WOW spirit. Peter did have. Have we? Let passion dies, we live as follower only by name.

All for Jesus. Good. All through Jesus. Much needed. For the last few months, I have been learning the latter. There is so much fun... with Jesus leading & showing His ways.

I was asked a few times: "What did you prepare for planting church next year?" "How many people will go out with you?" My answer always seems embarrassing. To me, I mean. Because it seems I had no preparation at all. I made some. But God overturned them.

I attended church planting school in 2009 Spring. But when God gradually shows his plan for me with simple, organic, house church movement. All I learnt there were pretty much irrelevant. At least in principles. I could have been provided with a better financial support system in church planting. But ended up with a less secured one. I requested to use a quarter of my last few months' time in our team leaders training, but not granted. It's ok. God knows I don't need it. Because I don't have a team. Except my best team. My family team.

We prayed and prayed. But things didn't happen that way.... Then Christ shows us His way. So we are at peace. Perfectly happy. Firmly secured in His presence. What else will you ask if it is Jesus himself around you, before you? You ask nothing more, except more of himself.

Step out, you walk on the same water with Jesus, I prayed.

The simple, organic church movement starts with this: Pray for the harvester. Go out in a team of 2. Find the person of peace in a community. Go into his house & preach the gospel. Gather them in meetings(a church)... Does it sound familiar? It is Jesus' way. He showed the twelve disciples. He showed his seventy(Luke 10). How could I be so stupid to neglect it as timeless? Thanks Lord. He shows me this truth.

We have prayed for harvesters for a long time. We have prayed for the person of peace in our community. Our neighbourhood is very much multi-ethnics. We always think we have to speak English at least in the house church at my home. And you probably knew that the Baha'i faith (a new religion from Iran) penetrating my neighbourhood, if you've read my previous blog. Our heart was burnt when we saw the Baha'i faith people volunteers to teach the Chinese people English weekly.

Prayers + Person of Peace + English speaking house church + Baha'i faith penetration = ?

They all not match up. Hardly could add up. But in God's economy. Divine purpose shows up.

One day. Aden & I intentionally started a casual talk with a Chinese lady who's now learning English with the Baha'i faith. Later on we exchanged favors... then we become friends. In the meantime, Aden was praying how to move forward with her. Later on she asked if Aden could teach them English once a week. In mid-Autumn Festival, we were invited to join their party. We saw the power of a person of peace. She had invited 30 of her friends there (not counting kids). WOW. You know what? I could envision a house church in hers already.

Every Wednesday morning, my wife will teach them, a group of 4, English in their house. They would talk in English about all walk of life. About raising kids, immigration hardship, family, finding jobs, pressure... Out of these practical issues, Aden will share how her faith made a difference.

In the second lesson, our woman person of peace, after hearing Aden's witness, said, "Can I follow you?" said in eyes redden.

Over the week, my wife was praying of how to lead them closer to God spiritually.

In the third lesson, our woman person of peace requested, " Could you lead us Bible study that we could know more about your God?" WOW. Isn't it amazing that a non-believer asks you to teach her Bible?

That afternoon. I bumped into her. Chatted a little bit about their English class. She told me about my wife: "Aden was very good & kind to us. And she seems like someone I could always look up to... I don't know why. Your wife has a very special attraction to me. I just so adorn her. Honestly speaking, a lot of people volunteers to lead me Bible Study. I turned them down. But I really want Aden to teach us Bible..."

In this coming Wednesday, they'll have their first Discovery Bible Study.

But let me tell you how prayers add up to all these.

Over the last two weeks, when my wife walked to them for English lesson every Wednesday, I prayed for them to come to know Jesus. I prayed for my wife. Knowing that the Baha'i faith people teaches better English (a UBC student), I prayed for other attraction: a special attraction, the fragrance of Christ, flows through Aden to them. That they will be deeply attracted. The Spirit prompted me to pray this way. The attractiveness of Aden to that lady is exactly the unique fragrance of Christ, filling them via a weak but willing vessel.

Jesus is leading us all the way. He is doing it wonderfully all by himself. And we are so honored being yoked with him. So mystically following his steps. Without knowing, even praying His prayer. And seeing it comes true.

So in Thanksgiving Day, nothing is more appropriate than this gratitude: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume" (2 Cor.2:14 - "Hermie & Friends Bible Version"- I am using my son's Bible a lot lately!).

It is so empowering, so powerful, so excited to see Jesus revealed his will, his way, his hands, his perfume. Even in this preparation stage, the stepping out stage. Should I expect less if I have my other foot as well walking on water 2011.1.1?

When we took our first surfing course in Kenting, Taiwan this summer. We were driven to a beach far away. Each of us stood on a surfboard. Listening to the instructions of our "Coach Iron," we did all the funny moves and practices. To others, it sounds so weird. A bunch of weird people wearing swimsuits, standing on surfboard, doing all strange gestures...on sandbeach. If we do not envision ourselves end up riding on waves in that piece of ocean, we would be the biggest joke of the day. As silly as it might sound, we prepared ourselves in high spirit. Wow! Just the thought of riding on waves rocketed our spirit sky high.

We were taught with some basics, briefly 45 minutes. Life is all about learning. But learning by doing. Then we rushed to the sea for more than an hour. We were not scared. The joy overrode any fear. Too exciting to feel fatigue. All failed a few times. All wiped out. That would not stop us. Because our coach didn't leave us in water only with those basics taught on sand. Coach Iron was with us all the way. He was standing in water. Correcting every mistakes. Applauding every little win. He was there. Till we all made it.

Jesus said, "I will be with you always !" This is not a promise to any Christian. Sorry guys. This is a promise only to those who dare to pursue, dare to risk...a lot, even their life in making His mission, His dream a reality to the end of the world(Mat28:19-20).

When I saw Coach Iron in water, I know what is "be with you." When Peter walked on water, I know it again. Even when he fell into the water, I know it. I know what is "always." When you WOW... when you fall... Jesus is there, beside you, inside you, around you, before you, behind you...that is "always." So we expect an authentic and authoritative appearance of Jesus himself everywhere, anytime, around us and before us. As much as we do it for Jesus, do it through Jesus, we expect much from Jesus, of Jesus.

In order to remember that moment of a lifetime surfing on water, we wore a bracelet. We crossed our hand, held each other as a team, we took picture. With that same boldness, huge expectation and a deep breath, we are taking off another foot, stepping it out on the sea of newness & freshness... We know He is there waiting for us. We are ready to WOW with Jesus.

Dear friends, do you still have that burning passion for Jesus? Do you now want ministry done only through Jesus, no more by your flesh? I pray you do.


Do pray with us that we, family as a whole, don't miss too much of what we leave behind , and that the new depth of faith & the discovery in Jesus surpasses all loss incurred in the process of making all nations His disciples. May Glory and Honor be to our dear Lord Jesus Only and till eternity, from traditional churches, from simple, organic churches, as well as from you and me. Amen.