放下心頭大石

今天跟爸爸在一起，真的不容易... 不是因為沒有說話要說，也不是因為有甚麼面阻阻的事情，而是因為陪爸爸到醫院看化驗報告。

在車上，我問他是否擔心，他回答：“當然擔心”，我再問他擔心甚麼（目的只是想從他口中聽到他心底所擔心的事情），他回答：“最怕那些最壞的事情”。我們最擔心化驗報告說爸爸患上癌症... 這也是爸爸最擔心的事情。

此之前，我們一直為此禱告，求主介入，讓爸爸經歷主的保守，藉此讓他的心能被打開，接受耶穌。媽媽一有機會便與爸爸一起禱告，自己也在不同環境與爸爸一起禱告。就在即將得知報告之前，我跟爸爸一起看使徒行傳17:28，當中提及我們的生活，動作，存留都在乎上帝；及後我再為爸爸禱告，他便進去見醫生。

結果，化驗的報告證實爸爸身體沒有大礙，只是過濾性病毒而已。聽後，我們真是放下心頭大石，心內感恩不盡！

祈求上帝藉此預備爸爸的心，讓他能真“知道”祂！

35歲前要做的33件事 (33 things you do before turning 35)

A few years ago, I picked up a book named

35╳33—35歲前要做的33件事 (33 things you do before turning 35). To a guy who just turned 30, the act of purchasing the book itself means there is some ambition going on, or at least it's a self-imposed challenge.

A few years have since passed, and a flip through of the book this morning made me "sigh (!)". Have I achieved anything significant in the last several years? Have I attempted to do what the book has suggested? Not much!

This led me to conclude that time flies, and if we don't act and make changes today, WE NEVER WILL!

The last week of "21 Days" (Day 16-19)

Starting from this week, ie the last week of "21 Days" (& judging from the frequency I make a new blog entry), things have started to be more normal. Perhaps it's because I have become sort of slack ...

Coming to the last week, I don't want to let things go and finish plainly. In my heart, I still want God to bring about lasting transformation in my life, as a man, husband, dad, pastor, and ultimately as a dear child of the loving Father.

I am still praying for a stronger hunger for God. What are you longing and praying for?

Understanding the Father's love

I actually posted the following video on my blog more than a year ago. Like many others, I am touched by clip because of its storyline and music etc. You will know that it very much points to the sacrifice of Jesus and the pain the Father had to endure when His only Son died on the cross.

I think we all have the head knowledge and appreciate (on the head level) God's love for us. But only from tonight, could I "feel" what it is like by sacrificing your own loved ones for others.

I was driving along Albany Hwy to a follow-up session. It's when I saw a bus quite full of people in the bus stop bay trying to come out in front of my car. I hypothetically thought if it came out forcefully which made me unwillingly give way to it, which then causes my kids killed, would I be willing to sacrifice my lovely kids who are pleading to me, "daddy, please help" for the sake of the passengers on the bus? NO WAY!!

This makes me appreciate more and I can feel what it's like when the Father let go of Jesus who said, "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It's taken unfathomable love of the Father to sacrifice His Son for the sake of the world.

I now not only understand it, but can feel it. This is so touching! Can you feel it?

I had a nightmare (Day 6)

I have not had any bad dreams for a long long time, but I had a nightmare last night.

In the dream, I was told over the phone call that a respected pastor committed suicide. I was shocked to hear the news. That pastor was a well respected pastor who's very committed to the Lord in everything he does. Yet it seems to me in the dream that one of the reasons behind it is that the pastor has long been torn between ministry and family. To be more precise, somehow ministry always comes before family in his priority.

Then I woke up during midnight after I had that nightmare. Immediately I knew I should pray for that pastor, pray for his safety, his family, and his mind to set things right before it's too late ...

In the morning, I had a chat with my wife about the dream, and somehow we all agreed that as ministers, we should maintain a healthy balance between ministry and family. If we can't look after our family well, how can we nurture and pastor God's church?

By the way, today I'm feeling much better, and am very glad to hear another person feeling burdened to engage in fasting and prayer. Praise the Lord!

從未見過的柏斯 (Perth) 男士聚會

剛過去的星期一 (1/12) 晚上令我好感動，約60位來自不同教會 (雖然主要都是宣道會) 的弟兄，參加了「澳洲家新」舉辦的弟兄聚會，當晚嘉賓講員為播道會同福堂的主任牧師何志滌。

除了信息/見證精彩外，令我最感動的是，在過往十多年的柏斯華人教會圈子裡，從來未曾試過有華人男士/弟兄聚會；所以，該晚可算是史無前例，當一班弟兄唱著詩歌時，我心裡真的受感動到想哭出來。

聚會的最後部分，我們弟兄們分成4人小組，彼此學習交心，把心裡的爭扎和難處都說出來，之後，互相代禱才結束聚會。

真的，弟兄當中需要更多這方面的交往，祈求主繼續在我們當中行奇事，藉著我們的順服，去影響柏斯，而至澳洲更多的弟兄/男士，領他們歸向神！

If you were God, what would you choose ... ?

Most of us would have heard of a story of the bridge operator who, like God, saved the mob by allowing his son to die (in this case, being crushed under the bridge). This is put up quite nicely. Do not just watch, but reflect and give thanks to God. (Source: godtube.com)