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How far and how deep are you willing to go for someone you love? A few blocks? A few miles? Scale mountains? To the ends of the earth?

After watching one of the lessons from Focus on the Family’s “That the World May Know” series, I was really touched and I felt really treasured by the relentless ways that God demonstrated love to His people in the Old Testament.

I was moved by the extent God was willing to go, evening transcending space, time, and dominion to be with the Israelites that He promised to love.  From His unimaginably glorious heavenly dwelling that can only be built by His own creative genius, God resorted to living on top of box made by the hands of a few human beings, so that He could come one step closer to the people He eventually gave His own life to love.

The message that we took away with was that if we create space for God to work in our lives, He will transform our lives, and he will do so with gusto.

How do we create space for God? Firstly, to even get to God, we need to do away with the thing that is separating us from Him.  God calls it sin and He provided a way for us to deal with it through Jesus.  Romans 10:9 tells us that we need receive and confess that Christ as our redeemer as the only one who can save us from our sins simply by believing in what He did on the cross.  When we do this, we give our entire lives to God and God’s presence, the Holy Spirit will come and live inside our hearts.  This is a mark that we will be forever united with God and even death will not separate us from Him.  Is this enough? No, this is just the first step.  If we stop here, we will miss out on a life time of adventure.

Think of creating space for God in our every day life as if we are learning to love a person step by step.  When we love someone, we find out what we can about them.  We talk with them, and we listen to them.  Similarly, spend time getting to know God better by reading His word.  Set time apart to just be with Him in His presence.  This can be done in prayer, as well as by being still to listen for His voice.  As our friend and fellowship counsellor for the past year, Daniel, suggested: we can start by being still for a minutes after we pray and listen for what He wants to tell us.  You may not hear anything at first but do not give up.  Keep practicing for a few days or a few weeks and He will make His message known.

Often His voice will come in the form of a verse from that Bible that pops into your thought.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit.  We should not be surprised when we hear the Spirit speaking to us for Jesus says to us in John 14:26:  “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Let us encourage each other to seek God every day.  To learn to let Him into our hearts and let Him direct our lives in our schools, homes and work.  You may not notice a difference after doing this for a week.  If you give it two weeks, or three, or four weeks, you will begin to sense that God has taken steps to direct your life.  You will discover the purpose He has planned for your life.  After all, it is God’s promise that He’s plan for your life is good and “He will keep His promise always.” Psalm 105:8

–reflection ends

預約: Tony Yu

本週六我們要一起去Mission Fest Vancouver！正如Dwayne牧師所建議的，我們將會參觀許多展出的攤位，進而了解全世界各式各樣的基督事工；之後我們會一起參加Michael Oh牧師的見證分享。Michael Oh牧師是美籍韓國人第二代，目前在日本名古屋帶領一個名為Christ Bible Seminary的事工。藉由他的見證，我們或許可以看到神是如何幫助他克服歷史所造成的種族敵視情緒，而使他能在日本傳福音。本場次為售票的演講，C&C將補助每個人20%的票價，所以每張票現在只要 $8。預約請洽 Tony Yu, 以便統計人數提早訂票。

This Saturday, we are going to the Mission Fest Vancouver! As Rev. Dwayne has suggested us, we will visit the booths and see the exhibitions from various ministries in the world, and then we’ll attend the Rev. Michael Oh’s seminar at 8:30pm. Rev. Michael Oh was born and raised in a Korean-American family and now is working at the ministry of Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan. Through his testimony, we would be able to see how God has worked on him to overcome his anger toward the Japanese due to the national history. With 20% off sponsored by C&C, the ticket is now only $ 8 per person. Please RSVP to Tony Yu so that we can order the tickets in advance.

What was most challenging was probably the text pastor Buhler based his sharing upon: Mark 10:17-31 – the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler. Like the rich young ruler, each one of us may desire to know how we can have eternal life, or to seek and follow Jesus. The rich young ruler turned his back on Jesus because he could not give up his riches. We may not have explicitly said to God we will follow you based on the conditions of…(you fill in the blank). However, there must be at least one thing that occupies our hearts that has been keeping us from following God fully. One that has perhaps become our ‘god’?  Just to name a few: the desire for success, dream of marriage, comfort in our wealth/life/job, busyness in ministry, or even love of ourselves. Often, the image of God we can end up having is a strict king who makes us give up our ‘loves’ if we choose to follow Him. But what would your response be if the image of God is the One of a lover who has loved us and pursued us unconditionally, who gave up Himself, His all for our sakes? Doesn’t His love for us demand our open hands (letting go of the rocks in our hands) in order for us to even first receive it? Perhaps the key does not lie primarily in the ‘rocks’ we hold onto that has become our ‘gods’, but maybe we need to all ask ourselves this question, “how do I see God”?  Our following after Jesus is about a relationship with God, not about what kind of good deal we can get if we follow religiously. When you love someone, what you do with and for them is naturally a joy and out of love. When you only want things from someone, what you do with and for them is conditional and based on the fulfillment of personal desires. Is God your God, a genie, or church symbol?

轉眼間又到了十二月了! 你已經把聖誕襪掛到床頭了嗎? 你期待得到什麼樣的禮物呢? 這個聖誕節, C&C有個天使會分送珍貴的禮物給 “可憐的人” 喔! 這是許多C&C成員一起編寫的戲碼 – 天使的禮物! 我們將在接下來的三個禮拜六 (12/4, 11及18) 排練, 在12/19的聖誕晚餐之前表演!! 演員徵求中!!

Wow… It’s December already! Did you hang on your Christmas stockings on bedpost? What gifts are you expecting? This Christmas, an angel at C&C is going to give his/her precious gifts to “poor people”. Several C&C members have written a Christmas play — Gifts from an angel. In the following three Saturdays (12/4, 11 and 18), we will rehearse and prepare the costumes together, and perform at the Christmas Dinner on Dec. 19. Actor Wanted!!!

Thank Bob for taking and editing the video of the peace through arts festival. We thus had a chance to review the event and discuss the relation of culture and gospel. Indeed, culture is definitely important for people with different background to hear the gospel. As Paul said, “how can people know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted?” (Roman 10:14). On the other hand, however, cultures are made by peoples but not God so that it would never lead us toward perfection, and even worse, it might deliver us from the Truth of God. When preaching in Athens, Paul was distressed to see that Athenians worshipped many idols, one of which was even AN UNKNOWN GOD. Paul thus said to them, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything” (Acts 17:16-31). By the same token, in some cultures, where athesim and egolism are advocated, people are also hard to find the true peace and love in God. Let us pray that we will truly understand God’s Word no matter the different cultures where we grew up.

你知道Neema是誰嗎?

如果沒記錯的話, 我們的前前…會長 – 王保羅在C&C開始了這個認養兒童的活動。也就是說, 藉由許多的募款活動, 我們能夠持續的贊助一個小孩的基本生活所需。Neema就是我們的小女孩, 今年七歲, 住在坦桑尼亞。就這樣每個月$ 41加幣, Neema 可以透過當地教會而有學習的機會、營養餐、醫療照顧、生存技能及職業訓練、並學習神的話語。本週五晚上至週日下午 (Nov. 19 to 21), 我們將在教會副堂舉辦 “烘培義賣活動”。Christine 將會教大家作餅乾及紅蘿蔔蛋糕, 我們也會一起包裝餅乾。這次的募款目標是 $ 250 加幣, 可資助Neema六個月。如同C&C本年度的主題“我們的愛應該是真實的愛，必須用行為證明出來！”(摘自約翰一書 3:18), 讓我們大家一起來募款幫助我們的小孩。

Do you know who Neema is?

If I got it right, our former, former… chairperson, Paul Wang, started the Sponsored Child project at C&C. That is, we are supporting a child’s basic living expense through some fundraising activities. Neema is our girl, who lives in Tanzania and is 7 years old now.  By the monthly donation of $ 41 CAD, Neema has been able to receive Christian teaching, learning opportunities, nutritious meals, access to medical care, life skills and vocational training through a local church.  This Friday and Saturday night (Nov. 19 and 20), in preparation for the Bake Sale on Sunday, Nov 21st, we will bake, decorate and wrap our fundraising bake-goods at the Church Hall.  The goodies we will be making include gingerbread cookies, drop cookies, carrot cakes and Swiss cake rolls. Our goal is to raise $250.00, which will support Neema for six months. We need as many pairs of helping hands as possible so please do come out and participate!

11月21日，C&C青年團契將舉辦西點義賣，所募得款項將會用來支持C&C領養的七歲坦桑尼亞兒童: Neema。這次義賣目標是$250.00，可以資助Neema六個月基本的生活費、學費以及醫療費用。義賣項目包括: 聖誕餅乾、麵包以及蛋糕，每份$8.00。如有意預購，請向青年團契同工定購。謝謝您的支持。

November 21st, C&C fellowship will be holding a fundraising bake sale to support our 7 years old Tanzanian girl: Neema. Our goal is to raise $250.00, which will provide Neema learning opportunities, nutritious meals and access to medical care for six months. Festive cookie packages and loaves are available for pre-ordering at $8.00/item. Pre-orders is taken now! Please email a C&C fellowship committee member if you are interested. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Menu: ($8 / item)

1. Cookie Package: Cranberry & White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies + Gingerbread Cookies
2. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
3. Cranberry (or blueberry) Cake Roll

See our Bake Sale Flyer Here!

感謝聖歌隊的阿姨們, 送給C&C許多好吃的水餃!! 本週六 6:30pm, 我們將一起享用簡單的晚餐 (當然不只有水餃啦), 以及花一些時間聚在一起禱告, 為我們的團契禱告, 為我們的教會禱告, 為其他兄弟姊妹的代求禱告。
Thank many aunties in Choir for giving C&C many yummy dumplings! This Saturday at 6:30pm, we will have simple dinner together (more than dumplings la~), and also spend a bit time to pray together for our fellowship, for our church and for one another.