August 2011 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I am always very interested in God’s time table and His timing. As I sit quietly and meditate on the major events that have been and are happening around the world, I would very much like to know the time we are in, and of course only God knows :).

[Matt. 24:1-35] provided a lot of the Signs of the End of the Ages, which we are witnessing them happening right now.

Whilst the Old Testament is the forerunner of the New Testament,

the Old Testament Feasts are symbolic of the New Testament events,

events after the birth of Jesus Christ.

The first 4 feasts have been fulfilled in the New Testament time. Believers are eagerly waiting for the trumpet call that signals the 2nd coming of the Lord in glory and power.

The question every believer is asking is - When will this happen?

Jesus’ 2nd coming will be a repeat of the Day of Noah. Noah became the father of Shem, Ham & Japheth after the age of 500 [Gen. 5:22] and the flood came when Noah turned 600. So the ark probably took Noah and his 3 sons a good 50 years to build. But during this time, people took no interest in what Noah was doing or simply ignored Noah’s warning of the flood.

Then God says in the verses following the Signs of the End of the Age in [Matt 24:36-39]:

“No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Today, people in the world are showing a lot of interest in eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, despite of the many Signs of the End of the Age - “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places”!

Here are a few scriptures to encourage all Christ followers to be alert and ready for Jesus’ 2nd coming as if He will return tomorrow:

[Rev 19:7] Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

[Rev 21:2] I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

[Eph 5:25-27] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

[1 Thess 5:1-6] Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

The Church of Jesus Christ – the Bride – should be alert

and ready for the 2nd coming of the Lord.

Besides the Bride (a lover of Jesus), there will be 2 other groups of believers at the wedding – the Bridesmaids and the Guests.

If you are a bridesmaid (a very good friend of Jesus),

make sure that your lamp is full of oil (the Holy Spirit)

and you are not sleeping (alert).

[Matt 25:1-5] "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

If you are a Guest of the Groom (an acquaintance of Jesus),

make sure you wear wedding clothes at the wedding (truly born again & walking with God).

[Matt 22:11-13] "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The best way of staying alert and being ready is to practice the 3Ss:

1) Stay close to God through (understanding) His Word and (walking in) His Spirit and living in His presence (in prayers),

2) Strive for holiness, and.

3) Serve God

This is a good prayer to pray at this time – “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth…..come and save us. Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved….O LORD God Almighty…....Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. …..Return to us, O God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted…….Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” [Ps 80:1-7,14,15,19 NIV]

If anyone doubts the love of God, he or she should observe the faithfulness of God towards a rebellious people Israel. "'…This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel……..all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD…….I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him……..And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.' [Ezek 38:17-23 NIV]

We are living in a time of great deception. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. [Col 2:8-15 NIV]

These are some of God’s promises who choose to walk in righteousness. “A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted……Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm……The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes……..An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble……..No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.” [Prov 12:3,5,7,10,12,13,21,26,28 NIV]

Amen and amen!

July 2011 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Lately, the issue of leadership is very close to my heart. The problems and turmoil we witness in the world today are the results of poor and/or ungodly leadership.

God has established 4 principal institutions that govern the world – family, workplace, government and Church, and God appoints leaders in each to govern on His behalf.

The Church has the single most important role to play:

[Eph 3:10-11]

10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God made known His wisdom through the Church and He expects His Church to set an example for the world to follow. But ungodly leadership in the Church has allowed Satan to persuade unbelievers in the world to discredit God and believers (God’s people)!

I am teaching A Kingdom Church at BBC, and indeed the domain of God’s Kingdom covers the entire universe – everything visible and invisible. And each individual believer has a significant role to play in advancing God’s Kingdom, whether it is in the family, in the workplace, in government or in church.

God’s original intent is that top leadership is male – father in a family, male boss in a workplace, male president or prime minister in government and male pastor in a church. But when men fail God in exercising leadership God’s way, women rise up to take the leadership role!

Mothers are raising up families; bosses in workplaces can be both male & female in the modern world; women are taking up top leadership in government in many nations and we have seen women as top leaders in ministries. Although not ideal, I believe God would rather see good female leadership than poor male leadership governing His world!

Now, as a Christian in the marketplace, I am trying to introduce Godly principles in leadership. Recently I gave a talk on Principles of Good Leadership in our company. Although good leadership includes many aspects, I set out 5 aspects using the word DREAM (i.e. dream leadership :)). I used 5 principles in a workplace context:

D for Delegation

One particular boss in our company does not know how to delegate. He micro-manages the projects, resulting in a lack of ownership and frustration of his sub-ordinates. Lack of ownership leads to lack of responsibility and pride in the work they do. The boss also ended up doing a lot of the junior work himself!

R for Respect

Every worker is valuable because he or she can contribute to the success of a project, if motivated correctly. In this sense, every worker deserves respect. A good leader needs to recognize the strengths of his or her sub-ordinates and assign them in roles that will maximize their strengths and optimize the performance of the project team.

E for Example

Good leaders lead by example. When we expect our sub-ordinates to work hard, we should not be taking time off to play golf or shopping during office hours :). When we expect them to work smart, good leaders should teach the principles of working smart and apply them to their own lives.

One recent example was that I taught my sub-ordinates the importance of having a strong and healthy body and the ways to achieve and maintain it. By way of example, I shared with them what I do. When they see a 62 year old working hard and energetic and not falling sick easily, they may want to follow :).

A for Authority

A good boss cannot expect someone to be responsible for a project without providing the right level of authority. This includes support of resources and manpower.

Recently, we are getting complains from the client on a number of projects because a certain project engineer did a sloppy job. But the truth was that he did not get enough support from management!

M for Mothering

Mothering includes both encouragement and discipline. When someone does a good job, the boss should praise the person for a job well done. This builds loyalty and trust. On the other hand, a mistake should be corrected and bad behavior should be disciplined out of love [Prov. 13:24, Prov. 29:15].

I look forward to seeing the above principles being implemented in our company as my way of seeing God’s Kingdom advancing in the marketplace :).

A nation will be blessed when its king follow God’s principles. “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.” [Ps 72:1-11 NIV]

God demonstrates His ways through the nation of Israel in the Bible. When people of God did not walk according to God’s principles, He disciplined them. “…..when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them……I dispersed them among the nations……for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land……the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.” [Ezek 36:16-28 NIV]

Whilst God expects leaders to lead correctly, He also expects followers to obey their leaders. ‘“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honour your father and mother" — which is the first commandment with a promise —"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."……Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.’ [Eph 6:1-8 NIV]

Many families are broken when the father commit adultery. God expects all men to love and honour the women of their youth. “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well……Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer? may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife? For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths……He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” [Prov 5:15-23 NIV]

Amen and amen!

June 2011 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

After 6 months of waiting and praying, I officially launch the marketplace ministry in my workplace by sending out my first message “PK COLUMN – Message No.1.2011” to all 150 staff, with the big boss’ permission. It titled INTRODUCTION, a life testimony of where I came from and where I am heading. The key points were:

1) Graduated from Hong Kong Technical College (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University) as a top student in 1969.

2) Won a place to be trained in the UK as a structural engineer.

3) Returned to Hong Kong in 1976 with a MSc(Eng) degree, a Chartered Structural Engineer status, a wife and a British Passport.

4) Joined Mott Hay & Anderson HK (now Mott MacDonald HK) as a Senior Structural Engineer in 1981.

5) Spent the next 16 years with Motts, becoming a Director in 1992. Motts was involved in 5 of the 10 mega projects in Hong Kong at the time – the HK International Airport, the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Tung Chung New Town, the North Lantau Express Way and the West Kowloon Reclamation.

6) Became the first Chinese to win the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers President’s Cup in golf in 1988.

7) Became a born-again Christian in 1991.

8) Responded to the Call of God to be a missionary in the UK in 1998, at the peak of my professional career.

9) Spent the following 12 years planting churches in many cities in UK and Europe, while working 3 days a week, initially as an Associate Professor at the London South Bank University and later as a Consultant with major consulting firms in London (the WYG Group and AECOM Europe).

10) In Jan., 2010, whilst on holiday in HK, was offered a 6-month contract with AECOM Asia as Project Manager on the iconic Station Entrance Building of the West Kowloon Terminus (WKT) of the Express Rail Link project, managing a 300 people team including Aedas (Architect), Buro Happold (Structural Engineer on the complex geometry roof), Meinhardt (M&E Engineer), ALT (Cladding Engineer), BMT (Wind Specialist), MVA (Transport Engineer), Widnell (QS) and AECOM Asia (Civil, Structural, Fire and Planning Engineers).

Then I told them that it was God’s plan for me to return to Hong Kong. The rest of the Message is reproduced in the following:

“At the beginning of 2011, I joined Canwest/DAAL as a Director through Mr. Lawrence Wong and Mr. David Au, who were long-time friends and fellow professionals.

In the 6-months of working in Canwest/DAAL, I got to know quite a few people in the company through working directly and indirectly, and through the Christian Prayer Group.

At 62, I have learnt many valuable lessons in life through over 40 years of my working life and 20 years as a Christian and a church leader. I am thankful for the full life that God has given me and I want to give all I have learnt in life back to the construction industry and my fellow professionals.

I believe I can work with you to make Canwest / DAAL

one of the top consultants in HK

and one of the best workplace that people want to join.

I know you are all working very hard. I am no exception. From Monday to Friday, I come to office at 8:00 each morning and I leave the office at 7:00 in the evening, unless I have other engagements. On weekends, I am planting a church and spend time with my family. I also constantly think about how I can improve myself and the company. You will seldom see me riding the MTR without a book in my hands, unless I was travelling with someone. :)

I believe each person is valuable and has the potential to achieve great things in life.

To reach one’s highest potential, working hard alone is not enough.

One also needs to work smart.

These may include improving all aspects of one’s life. I will share more about this in future. To achieve better results, the company will also need to improve its facilities. I understand Senior Management is taking steps in achieving this.

I will keep you posted on my thoughts and on the development of the above.”

After the message was sent, I could see the different responses, as expected. But all in all, they were positive. One of Christian Prayer Group members – a Senior Architect told me that one of her team members wanted to know more about Christianity. Praise the Lord!

My next message in the PK COLUMN will be entitled – Work Hard / Work Smart. :)

We are God’s workmanship and everyone needs the Lord. We are made to worship and we will only be satisfied when we find & worship the true God. “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” [Ps 63:1-11 NIV]

Out of pride, many people still refuse to believe in the LORD of creation. They are in effect their own god. But, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you. You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" [Ezek 28:1-10 NIV]

“it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. [Eph 2:1-13 NIV] This mystery of God’s plan for mankind can only be understood by those who chose to humble themselves and accept Jesus as Lord & Saviour!

“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy…….A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor….. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” [Prov 29:1,3,6,9-11,13,20-23,25,26 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 21 & 22 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

On 2nd June, at 22:35, Sebastian Matthew TSE was born in Kwong Wah Hospital, Yau Ma Tai, Kowloon, Hong Kong. About 23 hours earlier, mommy Wai-wa felt the water broke. Father Nic was not yet home, working on a late assignment. The superwoman made her own way to the hospital by taxi, after descending the 100 steps of their 5 storey building by herself. Nic met her in the hospital a few minutes later.

Kim and I went to the hospital the next evening to visit Wai-wa, who was already in the Labour Ward. I prayed for her for a smooth delivery and for God’s protection of both mother and child. I have forgotten to ask God to remove the birth pain, but praise God that Wai-wa managed to go through it later like a brave woman! The same evening Kim and I went to meet a friend for dinner in a nearby restaurant. By 22:00, Kim & I were back in the Hospital and Wai-wa was taken into the delivery room. Shortly past 22:35, Nic came out weeping uncontrollably. It was a cry of joy. Apparently he was stunned by the birth experience. He witnessed God’s amazing design firsthand!

Although Sebastian was generally healthy, weighing 6lb 6oz, he had a minor infection. The doctor put him on antibiotics. So he was housed in an incubator and strapped to a drip for the duration of the drug. It had been most difficult for the parents, being separated physically from him for a period of some 5 days!

Because only the parents were allowed to visit Sebastian during the incubator time, daddy had been taking lots of pictures and videos and kept us updated on Sebastian's development on Facebook. The parents said he seemed to look bigger every day, always hungry for more milk. :)

I praise and thank God for the smooth delivery, a natural birth without any surgical aid. But Wai-wa has always been an amazingly tough woman. She is also a handy woman around the house. Our son Nic is a blessed man indeed!

Sebastian is our first grandchild. It is a surreal feeling to become a grandpa for the very first time at the age of 62. Also in July, I will fly to Vancouver to celebrate my father’s 100th birthday. It would be great to have a picture of the 4 of us – great grandpa, grandpa, daddy and Sebastian!

As I write, Sebastian is still not yet home. Whilst I cannot wait to meet and hold him, hopefully in just a few days’ time, I composed the following poem to welcome him:

Hi Sebby

Sebastian 敬 Matthew 予 is your name,

given by your parents Wai-wa and Nicholas.

Your family name Tse 謝 stands for thanks-giving,

thus your full name means “Thanking The Reverent for His Gift”.

God says you were fearfully and wonderfully made,

how true indeed is His Word.

We saw you grown in your mummy’s tummy,

since the happy announcement some 7 months ago.

Despite of God’s perfect plan,

you were born into an imperfect world.

I know your minor infection is only a blip,

because I am sure the Almighty will see you through.

God says children's children are a crown to the aged,

indeed you have made an old man very proud!

I praise and thank God for a smooth delivery,

that both you and mummy were safe.

I cannot wait to see you face to face,

and give you a big welcome hug and kiss.

Little Sebby is God’s workmanship and he belongs to God. That applies to every creature that ever lived. "The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth…..He summons the heavens above, and the earth……."…every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine……for the world is mine, and all that is in it. [Ps 50:1-6, 9-12 NIV]

People who fail to recognize the Lordship and Sovereignty of God today will one day be shocked. "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the LORD. So I will spend my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, "The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it……Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives……And then you will know that I am the LORD.'" [Ezek 13:13-23 NIV]

Here I would like to borrow Apostle Paul’s words to exhort you - "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses……in hard work….in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on……sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. [2 Cor 6:1-10 NIV]

These are God’s Word for all of us. “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends? even the wicked for a day of disaster. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him……Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. [Prov 16:1-7,11,20,33 NIV] In my 20 years of walking in the LORD, I certainly can testify to it.

Amen and amen!

Weeks 19 & 20 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Last Friday, a Christian Senior Architect at work came to me for advice. She had a dream just before the 311 (11th March) disasters in Japan. In the dream, she saw major natural disasters happening. She shared with me that she wanted to study the Bible systematically by joining a Bible Seminary. She would only work half-time then. Clearly the Lord is stirring the hearts of many through dreams and visions as the Day is getting nearer!

Yesterday at BBC, we started a new teaching on A Kingdom Church. We were 4 people; a few regular people couldn’t make it. As an introduction we started with some definitions of the Kingdom of God, which the Bible explained using a number of parables. The one that struck me most was The Parable of the Wedding Feast.

[Matt 22:1-14 NKJV]

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen."

It talked about 3 categories of people:

1) Group 1 – people who have known the Groom and were invited to the wedding

2) Group 2 – people who were invited to the wedding in the last minute

3) Group 3 – people without a wedding garment

In Group 1, not everyone who knew the Groom will respond to the invitation, implying the falling away of believers who did not keep their faith till the end.

Group 2 are those who accepted the invitation just before the start of the wedding feast; those who were saved shortly before the return of our Lord Jesus, during the 7 Years of Tribulation.

Group 3 are those who are not TRULY born again.

The Kingdom of God will consist ONLY of people who will be at the wedding feast – The Groom (Jesus Christ), the Bride (The Church or Zion), people who are very close to the Groom and friends & colleagues of the Groom. All will receive God’s gift of salvation and spend eternity with God.

But these people have different levels of relationship with the Groom and will have different rewards in Heaven, which I will share deeper in the BBC teachings and in my quarterly Newsletters to Church Leaders.

The most important thing is to ensure that one is at the wedding feast, i.e. having confessed Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour, and keeping that faith without waivering till the end. No doubt, when we observe all the happenings around us in different parts of the world, the wedding is not a million years away!

On the same subject, I notice a lot more people are seeking “god”, may be due partly to the world happenings.

But the 2nd most important thing is for one to find the right god – the God of Creation, the God who came to earth some 2000 years ago to die for our sins, and the same God who will return as the Groom of the Wedding, and not false ones which Satan has created to deceive many.

In Hong Kong, one popular topic of conversation is about owning a property, because prices are not only sky high but keep on rising, due partly to a devalued HK dollar. Many young people are worried about never able to own a property. Money or making money therefore becomes the main goal in life. But the Bible is clear on this issue. “For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings…..Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed? and men praise you when you prosper ? he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life]. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish. [Ps 49:10-20 NIV]

Indeed Satan, who wants to be God, has throughout the ages distract men from knowing the true God and enticed men to worship all kinds of idols that are detestable to God. “And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel……..Then he said to me, "Son of man, look towards the north." So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy. And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing — the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable." Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. He said to me, "Son of man, now dig into the wall." So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there. And he said to me, "Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here." So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel. In front of them stood seventy elders of the house of Israe……Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'" Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them." [Ezek 8:1-12 NIV] Even a God of infinite mercy will not tolerate the sins of men forever!

“……If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold…….And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. [2 Cor 3:7-18 NIV] The glory of God will become more and more evident in God’s people before the end. They will be anointed by God to do His bidding, blessing and condemning as God wills!

Let us heed the advice of the Lord. “You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. [Prov 8:5-11 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 17 & 18 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I touched on Marketplace Ministry in my last message as strategic in end-time evangelism. I believe it is God’s calling for me at this time after 12 years of church planting in the UK.

In Feb 2010, God opened a door for me to return to Hong Kong to work for one of the top consultants AECOM on the prestigious West Kowloon Terminus of the Express Rail Link to China. I was Project Manager for the iconic Station Entrance Building, project managing a multi-disciplinary team comprising Aedas (Architect), Buro Happold (Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer), Meinhardt (M&E Engineer), MVA (Traffic & Transportation Engineer), EDAW (Landscape Architect), Quantity Surveyor (Widnell), ALT (Cladding Specialist), BMT (Wind Engineering), AECOM (Civil Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Planner, Fire Engineer). The client was MTRC. It was a great opportunity to meet many senior professionals in the Marketplace and an excellent start to the Marketplace Ministry.

I thought it was God’s will for me to continue with AECOM when I learnt that its CEO is a committed Christian leading the Engineering and Construction Fellowship (ECF) in Hong Kong. I became a member of ECF, but so far there was hardly any activity. Also after my 6-month contract with AECOM expired, it was not renewed.

I spent the following 4 months job hunting, and God used that time to help me set up the BBC School.

In January 2011, God opened a different door, allowing me to join a smaller consultant as a Director. The work nature is very different, working on a large number of much smaller building projects.

Somehow I sense that God is showing me a principle that our desire may not be what He has in mind. My idea of Marketplace Ministry in a big company proved to be not what God had in mind.

Indeed His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. His will may not be the same as ours. The key is to submit to His will and willingly to do what He calls us to do.

So far, I have a lot of opportunities to incorporate God’s principles in management:

1) I started monthly meeting for the staff and I used that opportunity to teach

2) Besides teaching some topics on structural engineering, I have taught best practices in project management

3) I introduced some management tools in making resource planning more effective

Going forward, I will incorporate more teachings that directly apply God’s principles. In fact, I gave a talk on The Principles of Good (Biblical) Leadership yesterday. :)

A few weeks ago, I witnessed to the big boss over dinner on the essence of the Gospel. Soon after that, he asked me to accompany him in a lunch time meeting organized by the church where his wife attends. I believe he is interested to know more. It would be great if he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour one day!

Living in a world with a “can’t wait” mentality, waiting is unacceptable to most people. Yet, God’s timing is different from ours. Very often, He expects us to be patient. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no-one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare…….Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” [Ps 40:1-17 NIV]

Soon after I joined Hope some 18 years, God gave me the gifts of prophesy and intercession. I saw the importance of intercession soon after I went to Europe for church planting. God has made me a watchman during the time in Europe, a bit like God’s calling for Ezekiel. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself [Ezek 3:17-27 NIV]. Some 2 years ago, I warned a church pastor in obedience to God’s Word so that God would not hold me accountable. Sadly, he did not heed my warning and, today, he ended up getting his marriage and his family in a mess!

I count myself privileged to be given the opportunity to serve the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords. God has blessed me as tentmaker all this time and as one who gave up the right of support from the churches I planted. “If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…….To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” [1 Cor 9:1-12,19-23 NIV]

A Psalmist has put these questions to us. “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 30:4-6,32-33 NIV] Thank you Lord for your eternal Word!

Amen and amen!

Weeks 15 & 16 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism is a rich resource of Christian learning. One Occasional Paper I came across is No. 40 - Marketplace Ministry.

Mark Greene says in “Evangelism Isn’t Working” that the workplace is incredibly strategic for mission and ministry. We spend 50 to 70% of our waking hours there. It is:

• the one place where Christians and non-Christians have to meet

• the one place where the playing field is even, where Christians and non-Christians are subject to the same corporate culture and the same pressures

• the one place where the non-Christians can actually see the difference that Christ can make to a life – not for a couple of hours over dinner but for 20, 30, 40, 50 hours a week over a couple of years or more.

Often the people who know us well don’t live next door; they work at the next desk. Many TV shows are set in the workplace – police, law firms, offices, hospitals. That’s where the drama and life-changing decisions take place.

We need a rediscovery of the priesthood, prophethood and kingship of all believers, teaching/pasturing, proclaiming and wisely ruling/managing God’s people and creation respectively [Jeremiah 18:18].

Spirituality is about discovering and responding to the presence and purposes of God in every context, every task, every relationship and every moment of every day.

The dominant model of spirituality in today’s evangelical community depends heavily upon ‘monastic’ practices of withdrawal and disengagement. The following comparisons highlight the problem.

The ‘Spiritual’ Realm vs The Marketplace

Withdrawal vs Engagement

Solitude vs Community
Silence vs Noise
Stillness vs Movement

Serenity vs Chaos

Peace vs Stress

Simplicity vs Complexity

Meditation vs Multi-tasking

Order vs Interruption

Centred vs Scattered

Focused vs Busyness

Seriousness vs Humour

Quietness vs Raised voices

In order for Christians who spend a large part of their daily life in the marketplace to discern and respond to the presence of God ‘in every moment of every day’, we need models of spirituality that engage the realities and challenges of daily life in the marketplace and not away from it.

The post-conversion counseling commonly given to a new convert comprises (i) begin daily Bible reading and prayer; (ii) find a Bible-believing church to attend and (iii) tell someone about your decision. These 3 indicators, commonly known as ‘edge’ activities become the measure of spirituality of the believer. But what do the daily activities of work, recreation, sleep, shopping, friendship, family life, eating, commuting – activities that take up so much of the average Christian’s day – have to do with living in the presence of God?

Marketplace Christians can expand their understanding of spiritual discipline – typically understood as ‘edge’ activities – to include activities more often associated with the everyday. If a spiritual discipline is broadly understood as any activity undertaken intentionally and routinely that nurtures us into the likeness of Christ, then such activities as nurturing friendship, acts of service, perseverance, providing for the family, community building, the sharing of meals, attentive listening, helping a colleague, doing one’s best in the job etc. can be embraced in a new and liberating way.

Marketplace Christians can reclaim aspect of their work as spiritually significant when they see what they do as a reflection of the work of God. A simple exercise list of some of the working roles of God – Creator, Provider, Redeemer, Judge, Architect, Gardener, Healer, Teacher, Reconciler, Administrator – and then to reflect on what aspects of his or her daily work connect with the work of God.

Marketplace Christians can find support and fellowship in naming and responding to the presence of God in their work by linking up with other Christians in similar profession or fields of work.

Spirituality in the marketplace is not an exercise in solitude but one pursued in community.

Indeed our job in the marketplace can be a mission and a ministry if what we do glorifies God. God is glorified when our activities reflect His glory.

Being Christ-like in a predominantly secular world is challenging, to say the least. And we can only do so with God’s help. God will back us up when we walk in His way. God will come to our help when we cry out to Him. “Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends……..I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O LORD…….Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you…….Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. [Ps 31:9-18 NIV]

For us to be an effective Marketplace Christian, we need to have confidence in the might of our God. "He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses……."Every man is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He…..is the Maker of all things…….the LORD Almighty is his name. [Jer 51:12-19 NIV]

Marketplace Christians can grow spiritually if they are determined to do God’s bidding in a secular world. They shall not remain as babies like the Corinthians whom Apostle Paul addressed. “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready………So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow…….By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds…….If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work…..” [1 Cor 3:1-15 NIV]

Let us seek God’s knowledge, understanding and wisdom. “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers…….[Prov 24:3-7 NIV]

Amen and amen!