Weeks 37 & 38 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

25 years ago, I was the Project Director in charge of the redevelopment of the Hong Kong side of a township named Sha Tau Kok, that straddles the border between Hong Kong & China. It was for some 4000 people who were living in tin huts on stilts.

Since the opening up of China in 1978, many mainland Chinese came to the China side of Sha Tau Kok to buy gold ornaments, jewelleries and Hong Kong clothing, plus taking a peep at cosmopolitan Hong Kong. But because the Hong Kong side of Sha Tau Kok looked more like a slump than the “Pearl of the Orient”, Hong Kong’s renowned name, the HK Government decided to give it a facelift. Over HK$100 millions were spent on just 4000 people, to provide them with new housings, a primary school, a community centre, a police station, a fire station and a sewage treatment works.

Shenzhen, the region that is immediately north of the border, where Sha Tau Kok (China side) is a part, is one of the fastest growing region in China. It recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary since Ex-Chinese Leader Tang Shiu Ping declared it as a Special Economic Region. Today’s Shenzhen, boasting a population of over 15 millions, rivals Hong Kong in terms of skyscrapers, hotels, shopping malls, luxury boutiques, eateries.....

Because of the relatively lower housing prices, a lot of Hong Kong people bought homes in Shenzhen and commute into Hong Kong to work.

Two recent trips to Shenzhen gave me a glimpse of the vast expanse of territories and the huge populations (1200 millions) that made up China today.

The more recent visit was to celebrate our elder son Nic’s 33rd birthday. My Shenzhen friend borrowed a chauffeured driven 7-seater to show us around the city, ending up with lunch in a posh Chinese Restaurant in Pot Portofino, a nice resort with a Mediterranean feel. The young ones plus yours truly spent the afternoon in Happy Valley, an amusement park, enjoying the many crazy & fun rides. :o)

The previous trip to Shenzhen was to meet a pastor who is leading an underground church of over 100 people. They got to know me through the sister of our Hope London member (Hason). They invited me to speak in their church retreat from 1st – 4th October.

The pastor is a Swiss who has been in China for 10 years. He married a Chinese lady from Hunan. I am ashamed to know that he can speak better Putonghua (Mandarin) than I do. :o(

I am very excited about it and I look forward to preaching/teaching the Word of God for the very first time in China. I want to know and understand what the Chinese are thinking in post-Communist China. May the Gospel of Christ reach and impact them before they are corrupted by materialism brought about by modernization and opening up to the “free” world. :o)

I recently listened to a sermon about the Chinese and the God of their ancestors. I was encouraged to know that our ancestors, for the past 4500 years, worshipped the God of Heaven, not Buddha. Our forefathers worshipped their ancestors, not unlike Catholics worshipping the Saints. This is a fact the later generations did not know!

Today, if a Chinese becomes a Christian, his or her unbelieving parents would call him or her betraying the ancestors. This is the work of Satan, deceiving multitudes of Chinese.

Today, many Chinese are proud to call themselves the descendents of the Dragon (Satan), not knowing that they are the descendents of God!

I pray and hope that many would realize this deception and turn around before it is too late. One day, all will see the glory of God. Yes, “The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty…..Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity……O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea — the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD. [Ps 93:1-5 NIV]

When prophet Isaiah saw the glory and majesty of God, he was humbled. “…… I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty……" [Isa 6:1-13 NIV]

Sadly, today many religious leaders are not doing the will of God….. “Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach…….Everything they do is done for men to see……they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues……."Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!......You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? [Matt 23:1-22,33-39 NIV]

May the wisdom, the understanding and the knowledge of God come to you that you may know good from evil. God says that “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion……Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. [Prov 8:12-21,32-36 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 35 & 36 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

In a recent news release, Professor Stephen Hawking, the celebrated UK physicist, who has motor neurone disease, will complete his last day as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Cambridge University, on 30 September. He will take on a new role as director of research.

The Lucasian Professorship was established in 1663 and previous holders have included Isaac Newton.

In his 1988 bestseller, “A Brief History of Time”, Prof Hawking appeared to accept the role of God in the creation of the Universe.

"If we discover a complete theory, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we should know the mind of God," he said.

He had previously argued that belief in a creator was not incompatible with science but in a new book, he concludes the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics.

“The Grand Design”, part serialised in the Times, says there is no need to invoke God to set the Universe going.

“The Universe can create itself from nothing”, says Prof Hawking. “There is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe and spontaneous creation is the reason there is something," he concluded.

Britain's most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton's belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of chaos.

Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, Prof Hawking said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions - the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass - far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."

He adds: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

This change of view about God’s act of creation by a prominent scientist is regrettable. But again each of us has to decide for himself or herself what to believe.

For me, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."………You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning — though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom……May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands. [Ps 90:1-17 NIV]

Although we are sinners who deserve death in the hell of fire, God has shown us His mercy and His grace. “Come now, let us reason together, "says the LORD."Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.” [Isa 1:18-28 NIV]. Let us take note of God’s warning and rebuke.

Do not remain stubborn. The Lord’s wedding banquet is being prepared. Let us accept the invitation gladly without delay. Yes, “…..the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests………."For many are invited, but few are chosen." [Matt 22:1-14 NIV]

Be sure to know that “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways……For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it. [Prov 2:11-22 NIV]

Amen & amen.

Weeks 33 & 34 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I have just made a trip back to London for the Europe Leaders Conference (ELC). Although it was just for a week, I managed to do a fair bit during this trip.

During Ps. Simon and Sis. Lai Eng’s visit to London for the ELC, Kim introduced them and myself to the musical Jersey Boys. I must say it was very enjoyable with many Golden Oldies like Sherry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Oh What A Night, Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like A Man. They brought back a lot of memories of my growing up years (way before Kim’s time of course). And I can see why seeing a musical is on the “must do” list for visitors to London!

The theme of the ELC was on Wisdom, a timely topic for the church. I pray and hope that God’s people will have His wisdom as we venture forward to build HIM churches around the globe. We will need God’s wisdom to be effective and relevant wherever we plant.

The ELC also marked the close of a chapter in my ministry where I relinquished my role as Hope West Europe Regional Pastor. It was emotional but at the same time gratifying to see the succession of younger leaders carrying on the building God’s church in West Europe. I will now focus on Hong Kong and China, as led by the Lord!

Besides preaching in the Combined Service at London Central, I also visited London West (Ealing), which had made huge steps in the past year. I believe it is because Dexter, the pastor is ready to take up the role.

They are now using a very nice church hall in West London, close to an Underground Station. They now have a lot of talents. They have a great worship team and one member is training his children to be involved in the worship team. And one of the members is a builder. He is helping to build a sound room at the back of the hall. Its great to see members using their talents to serve in the church.

Hope London West will celebrate their 5th Anniversary this weekend and they are expecting 200 people, praise the Lord!

I also visited my dentist friend Dr. Gouw for a cleaning while I was in London. He is a Christian from Indonesia and it was great to catch up with him. I noticed a poster on the wall of the reception room. It was a National Health Service poster by the UK Government. What captured my attention was the message – “Stop tobacco use before Ramadan”. I have never seen one on “Stop tobacco use before Easter” or “Stop tobacco use before Christmas”. Why Ramadan is more important than Easter or Christmas??? Why the favouritism by the UK Government??? I thought the UK used to be a Christian Nation, or wasn’t it any longer???

This is an alarm bell for all Christians in the land. The Scripture in [Matt 10:32] "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” came to me! Let all Christians realize the subtlety of the enemy’s cunning schemes. Let us cry out to God – “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more."…….. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. [Ps 83:1-4,17,18 NIV]

Sometimes we can be very naïve. We need to know God’s Word better and its true meaning. One such Scripture is found in King Solomon’s Song of Songs. “How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! …….You are a garden locked up……Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices…….. [Song 4:10-15 NIV]. The fruit (9 in number) in the garden is in fact mirrored by the fruit (9 in number) of the Holy Spirit in [Gal. 5:22,23]. When the 3 Magi brought gold, incense and myrrh to Jesus the child, they represented Jesus’ purity, faithfulness and gentleness!

Our response to God’s Word will depend on the type of “soil” we are. “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." [Matt 13:3-9,18-23 NIV]. Let us be good soil that will yield a 100, 60 or 30 times.

I like the humble attitude of King Solomon when he wrote this proverb: “I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man's understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” [Prov 30:2-9 NIV]

Amen & amen.