Musings on Fellowship
Musings on Fellowship
Kevin Leung (3A Statistics)I believe that it is important for Christians to be part of a fellowship. Fellowship is a place for believers to gather so that they could build up one another in their walk with God. By meeting together, Christians are also able to care for one another’s needs and find support through prayer, accountability and service.
Prayer is important in fellowship because the power of praying in a group can make a difference. There is comfort in letting others know of your needs and your requests and God listens to prayers, and when many pray earnestly for something to happen in His will, He will answer.
Accountability is important because it allows for openness and honesty and people can begin to share about the deeper issues going on in their lives, it also helps those that are struggling in different areas of life to find support and encouragement.
Service is important because we have all been given different gifts that we could use to benefit others. All of us have been blessed with talent or the desire to serve in one way or another, nothing done to serve in fellowship is insignificant, anything done can contribute to the growth of the Body of Christ.
If one just goes to Church on a Sunday, it does not allow enough time for believers to bond and relate with each other. That’s why it is important for Christians to attend a fellowship where they can experience the love of Christ through other believers.
It is also a place for non-Christians to come to experience the warmth and friendly environment that should be present in a fellowship so that they could see love and unity among believers. It might be a first step for them before they start attending Church on Sundays.
reference: CCF Handbook, released Fall 2005
Musings on Confession
Musings on Confession
Yuling Lee (Mathematics Alumni)
It seemed like yesterday that I sat in a room filled with fellow brothers and sisters from various Chinese Christian Fellowships across Ontario. This was the last night at Campus Challenge (an equipping conference for CCFers) and we were expected to bare our souls to one another. Clearly, I was more than skeptical by the setup for such a sharing experience. And yet, one by one, several people began sharing thanksgivings and prayer requests – sometimes silly (inducing many giggles from the girls), other times quite appropriate (resulting in massive amounts of head-nodding)… but really, could I honestly think that any life-change can result from such artificial-spiritually-charged events? I don’t think my life will be changed by a program.
After several more quick moments of sharing, a brother dared to do a courageous thing, a Christian thing, a practical demonstration of a spiritual discipline that has been lost on many of us:
He began to confess.
Unbelievably, this guy starting sharing about the issue of sexual addiction. He shared about his struggles with pornography and his inability to change. He wanted to share with us, to confess to US, because that seemed right to do. It seemed like what God wanted him to do.
This spirit of confession began to permeate our entire group. One by one, many brothers began to repent about similar sins. Soon, you could see the spiritual guard on people’s faces begin to wash away. Our sisters were wonderful and they went outside the room and began to share about comparable taboo matters of sin. Spontaneous prayer began for both groups… we even laid hands on a brother and prayed for him!
Now that I’m a few years older, I still find it difficult to figure out what confessional faith looks like. I start to doubt whether it matters if I have built in resentment, or anger, or lust… cause wouldn’t Jesus forgive all that anyway? So I’m grateful for James when he wrote that we should confess our sins to each other and pray for one another so that we may be healed. The more I thought about his words, the more I see that this is the duty of every Christian. It’s part of our job description to be priests to one another, to be conveyers of God’s grace to each other.
And this extends past our community of believers, but to the rest of the campus – imagine an entire fellowship willing to take a confessional attitude about our faith. We will not use manipulative tactics to share the good news. We will not impose our religious structures and traditions on those who find them foreign. We will not condemn those who we perceive to have different beliefs.
Rather, imagine having an attitude like Christ Jesus himself. An attitude of incredible humbleness and selflessness. An attitude that would endure all grief, sweat and tears and still be willing to sacrifice it all. An attitude based on confessional faith that can be clearly seen when Jesus poured out his doubts and his praises to God in a garden the night before his crucifixion.
This is such a wonderful gospel that we have. Let’s confess it to others.reference: CCF Handbook, released Fall 2005
Short Term Missions?
I know that co-op makes short-term mission opportunities difficult, but I heartily recommend them to anyone who can go. We are definitely feeling that the harvest is ready but the workers are few. Here is the website you can pass on to the CCFers: http://www.ca.omf.org/content.asp?id=13036. If anyone has any questions or is interestred please feel free to contact Josh Grisdale (CCF Grad) grisdalejosh(at)omf.net
The Package
27 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Philippians 1:27-30As Christians, we are called to live a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ”. The gospel and a holy life should be a package; and when a non-believer sees this package, it should produce a change in his life. We are plates that the gospel is being served on. If we are in sin, it discredits the integrity of the gospel message. The gospel maybe wonderful but if the plates are dirty, who would want to touch it.
Am I clean? Am I dishes that God would want to use? Am I living a life that has a positive impact or is people going to reject the gospel as they look at me and my actions? Do people see the gospel live out in my life?
I myself am guilty of this. I talk the talk but I don’t walk the walk. I can remember on countless occasions, my actions were far from being worthy of the gospel. It hurts me to just to think back and wonder, if I behaved righteously on that occasion, will he have a relationship with Christ right now.
The message is merely ordinary words without a holy life. So, ask yourself, what areas of your life are not clean and work hard on changes the sinful ways.
http://www.rbc.org/ourjourney/oj20051129.php
[posted by mr. johnny au]
the roots of CCF
Established in 1968, the Chinese Christian Fellowship at Waterloo began as informal gatherings at the home of Professor David and Rose Pei. At that time Chinese churches did not exist, nor were there many Chinese in Waterloo; but as we all know, Chinese people congregate. So the Chinese Christians did, with the express purpose of studying the Word of God, and inviting others to join them as well.
Terrance Lau, a Christian through student Bible studies, came across literature testifying of how God was working on campuses through Bible study groups while studying his undergrad. When he moved to Waterloo for graduate studies, he began looking for a bible study group and asking God “What can you do through me?”. God quickly answered his prayers in the summer of 1970 by putting him in touch with Professor Pei and family and sending Reverend Arthur and Margaret Louis from Winnipeg Alliance to Waterloo. Together they worked with other Chinese students and local workers to develop the Chinese Christian Fellowship. This year also brought about the move in locations to the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (now Sir Wilfred Laurier University).
The next couple years brought in many Cantonese speaking people and while none of them were Canadian born Chinese, English remain the official language of the fellowship. The first student winter conference in eastern Canada took place shortly after which served as a major force that shaped the fellowship body dynamics to fervently study His word and share it with others who wished to hear it.
The 1967 change in immigration policy made it easier for Chinese people to immigrate. Gradually the demographics changed to what we have today.
Five of the early fellowshipers are now full time ministers at Chinese churches within the Greater Toronto Area. One of them, Dr. Terrance Lau, challenges us to maintain the Bible study ministry and pray that God would raise up spiritually mature believers to impact the lives of others around. Faith integrated into life through interaction (eg. discussion) shape the spiritually of the fellowship.
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)reference: CCF Handbook, released Fall 2005
running with itty-bitty shorts
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race God has set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1
“…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”; in the NLT version it says “let us strip off every weight that slows us down”. Picture yourself wearing big baggy pants while you’re running a race – you’d totally trip over. Or even…picture yourself running with the hottest high heel shoes on your feet. Or picture yourself running with your laptop in your arms. Or picture yourself running with a bottle of in either hand. Or picture yourself running with shopping bags filled with items in your hands. Or picture yourself running with your boyfriend or girlfriend on your back. Hah – all these things would look rather ridiculous if you were seriously thinking about running a race with them. You know those crazy hockey moms who scream stuff at you…well…God’s not a hockey mom, but He’s one heck of a coach. I’m sure He’d tell you that you’d move much faster IF you did this…I’m not saying these things are bad. Or even necessarily sinful…but when you’re not willing to put them down to run this race…then, maybe, we need to re-evaluate where we are with God. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with shopping, or wearing fashionably ‘in’ clothing, or taking care of your laptop – because it’s your ‘baby’. Organizing our priorities is where we often struggle most. If these things are hindering our walk with God then we should really consider what we want to strive for. Are we willing to sit idle with these worldly things…or are we gonna get off our butts, drop everything and RUN?
After reading this passage, I sorta understand why some runners wear those itty-bitty shorts. Marathon runners are trained to run races…and with running races, they know the benefits of wearing certain clothes and pacing themselves at a certain pace. Runners wear short-shorts to avoid resistance…so nothing is holding them back. I think…at first, to wear short-shorts, it would be rather uncomfortable. You would feel somewhat vulnerable, even. But when you see that finish line…when you have other people rooting us on…that naked feeling goes away. We gotta encourage one another to train for this race. There’s no way we should expect to make it through without some sort of training. I’m not encouraging us all to go out and buy short shorts (PLEASE don’t do that). But what are we prepared to do?? What I would like to encourage is that we evaluate our lives…consider the things that may be slowing us down…consider what things we’re holding on to…and really think about the things we’re willing to let go, so that we can move faster and more efficiently in this race. ALL or NOTHING, guys…ALL or NOTHING.
-Alison Wong
Journal reflection
wednesday.october.eighteen.twothousandfive
ten:fortytwo
SLC silent study hall
Was reading the paper today and an article on Judith Miller, NY Times Reporter' caught my attention. Journalism used to be my hope and dream. I remember working on the school paper back in grade 10 (almost 10 years ago.. wow...) and loving every moment of it. It was a a thrill to work with a hard and fast deadline of getting a 'copy' (i think that's what they called it. i forget now..) to the printer at the precise time so that production would occur. The 'it is finished' feeling as the burden of stress instantaneously lifted off your back was definitely something to live for. But even in anticipation of that moment, the thrill of going out and digging up the dirt and getting your own story to tell others enticed me. And as much as mom would forbid me to go to a warring country, I envied the lives of war press personnel.
Journalists as people who seek, expose and reveal the truth in a timely manner (eg. daily deadlines) and having an accountability group (eg. readers who respond with feedback..) in friendly competition with other peers to get the story first. This is a super cool job cause it parallels much of what goes on in the Christian life I'm supposed to live.
journalists pursue truth; the Christian Life is about the Pursuit of Truth: with a key difference between the journalistic truth and Christian Truth. Journalists look for the truth story to tell, The Truth that Christians pursue is Jesus (John 14:6), Amos 3:
Seeking God is an adventure that is both EXCITING and FUN. Getting into His word is EXCITING and FUN if done properly (if not, can easily be DULL and BORING).
journalists expose truth; The Christian Life is about exposure and 'revealing' of Truth by Truth: I've struggled recently with focusing when reading His word and as a result it hasn't been as EXCITING and FUN as He meant it to be. But God exposed the truth about myself to me - that I was lacking orthopraxy (right practise of the gospel) and therefore my orthodoxy was skewed (right thinking and opinion) since they are inter-dependant. This was a real 'blow' to me. (Luke 12:35-48, emphasis 47-48) Exposure of truth hurts; but, I'd rather God do surgery with me now than, later, not be able to enter His home. Consider role of Scripture Hebrews 4:12-13.
Revealing means 'to make known by supernatural means i.e. God' (dictionary.com).... The Holy Spirit plays a key role in understanding Truth to be revealed. And this is exciting - because the Truth that Christians reveal is life changing, whereas the truth that journalists seek out is just a really good story. Both stories true, but one with much more power. duh.. God was involved...
journalists live to share with the world (ie. get published), The Christian Life is about the sharing of Truth: Although the motive may differ, there is something special about Truth. Truth can not be contained. His love for us overflows. Likewise, we can't claim to be reborn without sharing with one another. Just like thousands of people anticipate the morning paper with their Tim Horton's coffee, people are waiting to hear my (your) testimony! How this takes place takes many forms (eg. speech, writing, art, action, to name a few)
Side Note: to the fellowship - from one body part to another... Because I'm a part of this (Chinese Christian Fellowship) body (i.e. the way that God has purposed for me to grow in Him this academic year), He's challenge me to challenge you…
I Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it."
My apologies for not being able to meet you all in person and hear your stories, I encourage you to pursue Truth. The theme/vision for this year encourages/challenges you to seek and experience how we are to live the "Christ in me" life through the practise of the gifts (spiritual, physical, mental, etc) gifts He has given each of us. (This is just one site that I googled that might be of help looking for a starting point. http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/ ) Hope that you have been blessed and hope to be blessed by the working of God through you!
I Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
Thanks for reading through this thing ‘til now and allowing me to share. I actually haven't journalled in a while, but it was a good time to reflect upon my past dream of being a journalist. The dream was shattered shortly after and I think I'm still recovering from it to this day. On a more joyous note, despite not being a recognized journalist working for the Globe and Mail, I hope to always be a Truth seeking, exposing, revealing person. And I pray the same for you. Shalom.
-Eric Cheng
Closing the Gap
Commit the will to God, and immediately you will find Him near. Not because He has moved any closer, for He has always been at hand, but because you have finally allowed yourself to be near.
It is a common occurrence for Christians to feel distant from God, not a rarity.
We may feel God has left us to fend for ourselves. In a way He has, but He has not forsaken us. Sometimes God appears to leave us so we can grow. Parents cannot always be at their children's side if the children are to come into their own.
We may feel, furthermore, distant at some spiritual level. Not only does God seem to ignore our prayers but I no longer "feel His presence". However, God allows us to lose the sensations of spiritual high because He wants to give us a choice. We are not impelled to follow Christ by surging emotions, but in the quiet we must choose. "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." This is of course an analogy, imperfect as all analogies are. God does not leave us permanently like this, but He tests us and shapes us through so many different ways. This may be one reason.
Sometimes we feel especially kindled with fervor. A Christian life is not led by such passionate impulses as that which constitutes emotions, but by love.
In seeking to be restored to the right place with God, do not try to climb back up to a spiritual high like you might have had when first you decided to commit yourself to Christ. Just commit yourself by your will. "Spiritual highs" come and go. They are not bad in themselves, but they are only a catalyst.
Feeling distant? Ceaselessly steel your very will to that of God's, realize that you
are near, and you are near.
The entire Christian life -- a life of Love -- is a constant affair of the will.-Bily Xiao
