To Be a Good Christian about Money - summary of this Sunday's sermon from a friend in MA

Ananias and Sephira show up at the beginning of Acts. There was a very giving man who decided to sell his house and land and give the money to the church so that they could care for the Christians. He got so much praise from the apostles that other people were encouraged to do the same thing. Soon, however, a married couple, Ananias and Sephira, sold their property, but only brought part of the money. When Ananias came in, Peter asked him if that was everything. Ananias saidit was. Peter said that it was very evil, because nobody forced him to sellthe land, and nobody forced him to bring the money, and he could have brought half, or a quarter, or any amount he wanted. but lying about it was stealing from God. So, God killed him right there. The wife came in three hours later and repeated the lies, and also was killed. This discouraged church attendance for a while.

It can be discussed for many reasons, but one is that the couple was acting together with their money. It is important for couples to act as a unit in such matters... the sermon included this idea: to be a good Christian about money, make as much as you can reasonably without doing evil or damaging your health; second, save as much as you can reasonably, without doing evil or damaging your health, and invest it wisely; third, give freely out of love from what you have saved and don't use it as a method of control or a weapon or to impress people, because that is really buying things, not giving things.

In particular, the pastor also discussed the tithe (giving one tenth), and why so much of the offering was burnt on the alter rather than used for the temple... it was because God didn't need the offering to do good work, or to do anything... the church doesn't need the money, it isn't about using it efficiently (from the giver's point of view - the receiver should be worried about using it well)- it is about it being a sweet aroma to the Lord that we don't worship the money, and instead worship Him.

Sharing - How much God loves us

This sunday's evening service is unique - discussion groups. The questions discussed are "What is your belief about God?" "How sure are you about your belief?" "Does God matter?" "What would life be like if God was involved?" (I actually don't quite understand this question - it kind of implies that God is not involved ?) The the last question is something like - do you think we matter to God.

To the last question, besides the fact that He gave His son for us to forgive our sins, the paster's wife read a little book to us, from what I can remember, it says - "If he has a car, your name would be on its bumper;....his favorite book is The Big Book of All My Children's Names....actually your name is written on His hand...; He created the whole universe, yet he chose to live in your heart; .......He is the maker of everything, yet He wants you to call him Father...." (bad memory)

I was especially moved by "He created the whole universe, yet he chose to live in your heart." He has come down to our level, willing to suffer the fickleness of the human heart, just because He loves us.

May HE increase, may we decrease.

"He must increase, I must decrease" - Jn 3:30

Follow the leading of the Spirit in our hearts. Life up our eyes to the Lord. May the Lord increase and may we decrease in all the things we do.

Did God Start the Work?

Did God start the work? That's the question every brother and sister needs to ask before engaging in any ministry.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."
- Psa. 127:1

All of Me

All of Me
Words and Music by Terry Wade Haynes

Holy Father, love me still
I have fallen from Your will
I am broken
Hear my humble cry
My cry

I have wandered for so long
Tired and weary on my own
In Your arms I know I'm home, O God
My God

Take my life and make it Yours, Lord
Fill me with Your love
You are all I need
I surrender all of me

Take my life and make it Yours, Lord
Fill me with Your love
You are all I need
I surrender
I surrender
I surrender all of me

目的

"十字架不是目的，基督才是目的；
折毀不是目的，建造才是目的；
苦難不是目的，祝福才是目的；
倒空不是目的，充滿才是目的；
我衰微(減少)不是目的，
祂興旺(加增) 才是目的；
「不再是我」不是目的，
「乃是基督」才是目的；
同樣的，破碎不是目的，靈能夠出來才是目的。"
- 于宏潔弟兄

The cross is not the purpose, Christ is;
Tearing down is not the purpose, building up anew is;
Tribulation is not the purpose, blessing in Him is.
Emptying is not the purpose, filling up is;
Decrement of me is not the purpose, increment of Him is.
"Me no more" is not the purpose, " Christ within" is.
Brokenness is not the purpose, the Holy Spirit shines through is.

-By brother Yu, Hong-jie.
(Ying, thanks for your translation)

当主摸着我们最深难处的时候...

当主摸着我们最深难处的时候，也就是主最爱我们，要在我们身上作爱的工作的时候。

我的弟兄們、你們落在百般試煉中、都要以為大喜樂． 因為知道你們的信心經過試驗、就生忍耐。 但忍耐也當成功、使你們成全完備、毫無缺欠。 - 雅各1：2-4

In all these things, we are more than conquerors

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Ro 8:37-39

Only through Him, can we be more than conquerors. Thank the Lord for giving me patience and wisdom dealing with a difficult co-worker. It is amazing how easy it is to live out God's will if we are obedient to the teaching of the anointing that lives in us. All the glory to our heavenly father! May He continue to guard my heart and make me stand firm in faith.

Whatever we do, let us do them for the Lord.

My dear brother, you need Jesus!

This morning, I called my brother Bryan. He seemed to be really down. He shared his struggles with me. I thank the Lord for this opportunity, for Bryan and I rarely talk about these things. He said, "I am so easily bothered by the trivial things in my life. I am always unhappy. It seems that nothing can cheer me up." He is also often upset by people's view of him. On one hand, he doesn't want to conform with the world, and he feels that he doesn't belong to any social circles at all. On the other hand, he has to do certain things in order to fit in the environment. He is result-driven. Therefore, his mood fluctuates so much. He also has lots of peer pressure.

My heart was saddened when listening to his words. I know only Jesus can save him and deliver him. I told him, 'Only the true God can help you. If you seek Him, he will be found. " At that moment, I felt that I had never loved my brother in a true or right way. I had never really, truly loved his soul and prayed for him to be saved zealously. I have to ask for God's forgiveness. I pray that the Lord would answer Bryan, if he calls out to Him. And I pray for other chances to share gospel with him. I sense that he was a little touched by what I said. Lord, may your Spirit work in Bryan's heart just as you have in mine! May you have mercy on our family members who are non-believers! May you draw them closer to you!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Mt 11:28-30

Dear Lord, I need your grace

Dear Lord, I really need your grace daily. Grant me the wisdom to face any trials. I am dealing with a very difficult co-worker. I pray that I would not let my flesh take control when I am mistreated. May the Glory of the Lord shine through me in the difficult times. I thank the Lord for answering my prayers so quickly. Just yesterday, I was so touched by the Spirit and prayed, 'Lord, I want to surrender all to you. " Here comes some trials. I know He is dealing with my pride. (This co-worker of mine shows no respect for me, which hurts me a lot) I believe that once I let the Lord reign, He will prevail. May I live out the truth of the following verse: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Gal 2:20

From a Friend - An Article on Contemporary Church Architectures

Featuring slides of contemporary mega-church architectures and discussions on style and purpose of the churches.
http://www.slate.com/id/2127615/

Share Your Favorite Scripture Verses

Dear brothers and sisters, please share with us your favorite scripture verses by adding comments to this post.

5种帮助你知道与神的关系是否浅薄的方法

一、如果你跟随神只是为了他能为你做什么，那么你与神的关系是浅薄的；要是你对他的爱大到足够让你问他，你能为他做什么，那么你与他建立的关系就是越来越深厚的。

二、如果你只在环境困苦或需要某样东西时才向神祷告，那么你与神的关系是浅薄的；要是你发现自己一天祷告好几次，只因为你喜爱神的同在，那么你与他建立的关系就是越来越深厚的。

三、如果你对神生气或失望，是因为你所要的他不给你，那么你和他的关系就是浅薄的；相反的，要是不管光景如何，你都一样赞美神，那么你与他建立的关系就是越来越深厚的。

四、如果你爱神只因他能做什么，那么你与他的关系就是浅薄的；要是你单单因他的缘故而爱他、尊敬他，那么你与它建立的关系就是越来越深厚的。

五、如果你觉得自己得苦苦求神，或掐着他的脖子，他才会应允你的祷告，那么你与神的关系就是浅薄的；要是你相信神会按着他的旨意来回答你，那么你与他的关系就是越来越深厚的。

- excerpt from "The Power of a Praying Woman"

A sister and a brother will be joining us tonight

Sister Lijuan Liu, who is the owner of China Buffet in Warwick, will be joining us tonight with her son Jason. Please pray that they would get to our meeting place without a problem. They are not familiar with South County at all. Also pray for the Holy Spirit's presence and a good fellowship tonight.

A Very Touching Testimony by a Dear Sister in Christ

Below is the email from a dear sister in Christ.
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亲爱的朋友：

你们好！好久未与你们交通了。一来是“忙”(不是“茫”、“盲”或“亡”)，但更主要是怕你们反感我老讲神和叫你们认罪接受耶稣基督的救恩。多少次不得不控制自己的冲动把一些我认为很感动或很有启发的电子邮件转寄你们。甚至这次我也拟制了一个多月。我实在坚信约翰福音第三章16节是宇宙中唯一的真理，我若真爱你们，就不得不把这真理告诉你们，不然，后悔莫及！那里说道：“神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生”。

一个月前，我作了一个重大的决定---带职在基督学房读神学。这是网上学校，都是一些非常爱神爱人的名人自愿作老师。他们不收我们一分钱。但要求一遍两千字的得救见证和侍奉心志， 以及一封好的推荐信。我们可以用中文读，听，写。本来要求至少读完圣经两遍，教会侍奉两年以上。都是神的恩典，他不但作工在我女儿、先生身上，还感动我教会负责人以及基督学房的总务主任(他正好那时从香港来我教会进道)。你们看，神是不是又真又活的在爱他的人中间！

今附上“我的得救见证和侍奉心志”以及我先生在谈恋爱时给我的那张圣诞卡。YHWH 是希伯来文的耶和华---圣父，C代表基督(Christ)---， HS代表Holy Spirit---圣灵。圣父、圣子与圣灵是我们的三而一的真神。愿神早日开启你们心中的眼睛看见他的慈爱(阳光照好人和歹人，降雨给义人也给不义的人，供空气给大地。。。)， 听见他的声音，特别是开启那久久关闭的心灵去感觉他的真实。不要先断定没有信号(神)，因为别人能收到，会不会你的手机(心门)还没打开呢？

你若想对世界上销售量最大、读的人最多的书---圣经，有更多一点的了解，我很愿意把我正在学的“圣经概论”这门功课的作业陆续与你们分享，当然你们不说“OK”，我不敢放肆，因为我也学得不够。爱你们的人敬上！
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

我的得救见证， 事奉经历及心志

我的得救完全是神的恩典， 若不是神自己阻拦和亲自启示， 我早入了异端邪教或永远流浪。

1993 年， 我随丈夫留学去了葡萄牙， 刚到不久， 在超市上听到一群人在唱诗。因好奇停步。 一位年轻小伙子进前来打招呼。发现我们不会讲葡萄牙话。我们惊讶他们原来都来自美国。 为了跟他们学英语， 我们一周见面两次。 几个星期后， 他们邀请我受洗，时间竟然定于我生日那天。心里又喜又怕， 如此巧合吓得我不敢不去受洗。在受洗前, 他们让我填一份详细表格，为的是传到美国去存档。 我因担心回国后有麻烦， 就拒绝了受洗。

1995 年随丈夫 刚到美国纽约上州康乃尔不久，又有一群人来我们家查经， 还带来见证人， 因拿他们免费杂志，想以满足他们要求接受洗礼来买自己良心不安。结果又被神打住了。

1999 年迁到康尼迪克州工作， 老板是位基督徒。他提醒我不要去信葡萄牙碰到的摩门教， 也不要去信康乃尔遇见的耶和华见证人会，因为他们都偏离了圣经。 我当时心里想： “信的人都认为自己信的对，没准都错了”。 我打定主意：决不轻易上当， 一律驱出门外！

直到2002年5月31日早上，我正要开车去机场参加在弗罗里达举办的五十周年质谱年会， 看见十岁女儿留的一张便条，上面写道：“妈妈， 我知道你这次会死， 今天是我们最后一天在一起。。。。。。”。我吓得没敢看完， 就边撕边说：“不算数！不算数！”。

开会回到家的第一天晚上( 6月8日半夜)， 一声清脆的铃声把我惊醒， 我起来发现一张十三年前我先生寄给我的圣诞贺卡，当我一打开， 听见声音说“三位一体”， 我忙问：“什么意思？ 谁在说话？”。 这时我心中有个肯定的回应： 神！我唤醒先生， 告诉他刚才神对我说话了。他答道：“深更半夜的，什么神呀鬼的， 快睡！”。 我无法再入眠， 想知道贺卡上画的苯环(请见附页)与神有什么关系。当晚，我没能得到答案， 直到我2002年10 月6日受浸， 才明白： 圣父， 圣子和圣灵， 有时看到他们分开作工， 但实际上是一体的， 就像苯环， 尽管教科书上画成三个单键被三个双键隔开，可是每位学过化学的人都知道：实际上没有单双键之分，是合一的， 正如我先生以园圈代表三个双键。我们知道日常生活中处处含有苯环，如蛋白质；药厂和生物制药公司天天与含苯环物质打交道，正如诗篇第19 章大卫写道“ 1.诸天述说神的荣耀；穹苍传扬他的手段。 2. 这日到那日发出言语；这夜到那夜传出知识。 3. 无言无语，也无声音可听。 4.他的量带通遍天下，他的言语传到地极。神在其间为太阳安设帐幕” 。

第二天一早， 当我默想神的大爱， 忍不住落泪， 可是看到先生女儿彼此责备谁气哭了妈妈，又把我逗乐了。忙解释实在因为神对我们太好了，竟然在十几年前就预备好那贺卡。它 飘洋过海跟随我们没被扔掉，用我的专业术语(苯环)启示神。我请求先生解释他在苯环上写的字母(Y H W Z)， 以及两个地名(Canada 和 ShangHai)。先生见我抓住十几年前的东西没完没了， 又因神 又哭又笑的，着实担忧。女儿悄悄告诉我“千万别在爸爸面前提神”！我不解地对先生说：“神对我们这么好， 你为什么怕他呢？”先生答道：“我不是怕他，我怕你！”他足足忍耐观察我一天， 见我“症状”不变， 就于6月10日下午拨911， 将我送进医院急诊室。护士问我们谁是病人，在分别与先生和我谈完后，说：“我看她很正常， 不过我只是个护士， 没有权力下诊断书， 你们若想看医生， 我可以安排。”我心想：既来之， 则安之， 受怎么大的污辱， 我一定要一位有权柄的医生证明我正常。所以我要求见医生。同样， 医生问我们谁是病人， 不同的是：她要先同我谈， 然后同先生谈。 没过多久， 我听见他们在里面吵起来了。 先生怪医生不负责任，说：“你若认为她正常，我为什么把她送医院来”。医生答：“那是你的问题”。先生气得说：“好！今天不是她有问题，就是我有问题， 我们总有一人要住院。反正我是不会带她回家”。医生只好打电话去请示她的老板，然后告诉我她的老板建议我当天留在医院。我立即将那委屈， 羞辱和气愤一起倾倒在先生身上。然而医生一句话让我意识到吵也无济于事。 她说：“你老板要你做什么， 你能不听吗？”我生气地对先生说：“ 赶快带女儿回家， 她明天还要上学呢！我今天就死在医院里了！”就这样， 无人问津，只是叫我在医院里躺了一晚。第二天一大早， 那位权威医生来了， 他很友好地问候我几句后， 让我打电话叫先生来接我， 我问：“您知道我没病， 是吗？”他答：“当然， 我昨晚就知道了”。“那您为什么让我住院呢？”“对不起， 昨晚我有点自私，都半夜了， 我不愿来医院；另一个原因是想试探你，当我得知是你自己愿意留下来的，我就知道你很正常。”我告诉他：“我哪里是愿意， 实在没办法， 我几乎要哭了”。他说：”我真高兴你没哭， 记住：无论发生什么， 千万别在医院里哭， 否则， 医生可能把你当作精神病人对待。”

从医院回来， 我照样上班， 但心中渴慕去教会， 又苦于不知什么教会是真的。在网上订了许多关于神的书和光碟。两个星期后， 我原先那位基督徒 老板来电话告知他要来东岸开会，顺便来看我。我要求他住在我家， 因为我要与他谈论神。他听了我们的见证，肯定我被灵界接触过，要我奉耶稣基督的名祷告。在他的推荐下我们第一个主日就去了他原所在的教会。先生心想：“医院都拿妻子没办法， 若教会能治好她的病， 再远的路也值得。”

到教会的第一天，他们让我们自我介绍。我简单提了一下前面差点入了摩门教和耶和华见证人会， 今天听到大家说你们信的神为了人， 道成肉身， 替人受死， 且死在待拯救的人手上。这样的大爱和超人精神境界， 是一切宗教无法比的。会后， 有一位老弟兄跟我说：“刚才听了你的经历，心中有个感动要告诉你：你是很有福的， 你一出母胎， 神就定意要拣选你， 那个没被阻拦的， 一定是神要你拣选的。”这短短几句话， 可了不得啦， 一下把我几年怕入错门 的顾虑及心中的帕子揭去了。所以我一决志， 很快就要求受浸以便看看真神是阻挡还是成就。

指望教会能把妻子“病”治好的先生，不久竟然发现自己对神有“麻痹和瘫痪症”，也相继决志，至今羡慕我和女儿对神的如痴如醉。正如新任巡抚的非斯都在使徒行传二十六章24-25节对使徒保罗大声说：“保罗，你癫狂了吧！你的学问太大，反叫你癫狂了。” 保罗说：“非斯都大人，我不是癫狂，我说的乃是真实明白话......"。又如大卫妻子， 扫罗的女儿米甲，在撒 母 耳 记 下第六章20-22节讽刺大卫说：“以色列王今日在臣仆的婢女眼前露体，如同一个轻贱人无耻露体一样,有好大的荣耀阿。”大卫对米甲：“这是在耶和华面前．耶和华已拣选我、废了你父和你父的全家、立我作耶和华民以色列的君、所以我必在耶和华面前跳舞。 我也必更加卑微、自己看为轻贱,你所说的那些婢女、他们倒要尊敬我”。愿神赐给我们一颗为主癜狂的爱心，勇气和心志！

第一次当我读到加拉太书第二章20节：“我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著；并且我如今在肉身活著，是因信　神的儿子而活，他是爱我，为我舍己。”突然想起女儿在 2002年5月31日早上写的那张便条以及一个星期后她说的另一段莫名其妙的话：“妈妈， 还记得你去开会前我写的那张便条吗？我没有撒谎， 你的确死了，现在的你不再是你了”。我坚信她当时讲这话, 不是她自己在说，因为连我都听不懂，她那时根本不知道神。她是在我后面重生得救的。经历奇妙话语从小孩子口中说出，我完全相信圣经是神默示的，是神启示四十多位作家写出来的。难怪四十多个作者在跨越一千五百多年间所写成的圣经实在是一脉相承，前后呼应，而且是有始有终，绝对找不出任何矛盾、抵触，或者是有错误的地方。

保罗的加拉太书上这段话，结合我孩子的话时常激励我在基督里长大。比如当我忧伤痛苦或暗中得意时，她的“你的确死了”提醒我死人不应该有的反映，从而催促我的老我死透以便让基督生命活出来。难怪耶稣在约翰福音十二章24节说:"我实实在在的告诉你们，一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来"。难怪他能以十字架的爱征服人的心，而且常胜不败。我们在处理夫妻，儿女，父母，朋友，邻居，同事，上下级甚至陌生人关系时，用神的“我死你活”原则，什么关系都可迎刃而解。因为“死在我们身上发动，生却在你们身上发动”(林后4：12)；“我们如果颠狂是为神；。。。并且他替众人死，是叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活”(林后5：13-15)。

我深知神在我， 先生和孩子，以及我远在家乡的亲人们，恩典实在太大，路加福音12章48节说：“因为多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁多要”.我即使用余生来服侍神还嫌自己装配太晚太少，渴慕能在圣经上扎根，将来去神最要我去的地方服侍他。因此我虽然知道自己条件不够(圣经完整地读过一遍，零零碎碎跟着查经不到一遍；侍奉神也不到两年)，我在神面前求恩典，感动我先生全力支持我，这不，他为我买了一部专用电脑，今天他终于主动叫我报名(尽管比报名截至日期晚了一天)，相信若是神的旨意，他也会照样感动你们，并且带领我完成每门功课和每次考试。愿神赐福给基督学房以及所有师生和家人，把一切荣耀归于神！

Brother John Weng's email to Other Brothers and Sisters

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Peace in Christ!

Please join me to pray for Kingston Chinese Christian Fellowship in RI. Although we only have a few family gather together in RI, we know God is with us. In Him, we have peace! Although we are absent from each other, we are present with each other in spirit and truth.

Our Lord is a living God. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians1:15-17)

Dear brothers and sisters, please pray for us so that God may use this small new group as His blessing around this area, so that the gospel is bearing fruit and growing in RI, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Wherever we go, Whatever we do, Let us pray! Pray for each other and Praise God!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh526.sht

Turn on the speaker for the music =)
My friend sent me this link for a song we sing so often during our Bible study. Check it out. Maybe you already know this, but this is my first time to know the English version.

Wherever We Go, Whatever We Do, Let Us Pray!

Dear brothers and sisters, let's pray! I love to pray and love to listen to others pray. The sweetest thing is that prayers go on and on with the guide of the Spirit. Is there another way that can bring us closer to God? Is there another way that builds each other up better? In my eyes prayers work magic, for He is the God who listens. I pray that in our group, in this cozy cyber spacy blessed by Him, prayers go on and on, that everyone of us experiences the Spirit and love of God when we come here and pray.

I know not all my prayers are pretty. Nasty and ugly ones were heard not long ago....But I thank Him for not letting me go, thank Him for the brothers and sisters who prayed for me and helped me through their prayers. Wherever I go, whatever I do, I pray that I'd always come in front of Him and honestly pray. For He will listen, He will deliver and His will shall prevail.

In Christ's name.

October 2005 Prayer Requests

Please post your prayer requests by adding comments to this post. I have made this post to appear on the side navigation bar so that everyone will be able see it right away.

A new template

Hope you will like it better.

A very touching testimony

A very touching testimony