Friday, February 27, 2015

fast and pray

I found a nice website for the topic of fasting and praying, going to find out more detail about it.


Often time I heard from others about fasting and praying, this web has whole lot of information and the things that we need to be aware about it. Fasting and praying is not an effortless work, actually it sometimes may be dangerous. So read more and knowing more about it from the people who has a maturity Spiritual is crucial or any other trustworthy guide before you start it.

John 14:17

Living life, today do you qt yet?
I’m so touched by those two days’ scriptures, especial John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

red carpet - oscars 2015

There are so many different award ceremonies in USA each year. Each one of them, I especially enjoy to watch the guests’ performances, the representation of the host, and what those celebrities wear.

This is one of them, the 87th Oscars award.
Best & Worst Dressed Oscars 2015 - Dirty Laundry

2015 Oscars - Full Show Recap & Highlights

Nicely opening of the ceremony, do you like it?
Oscars 2015 Opening Monologue with Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Kendricks and Jack Black

Lady Gaga 2015 Oscars Full Performance (Sound of Music) for Julie Andrews
I really like it, classic and elegant, am surprised that it was sung by her, I mean I like gaga. It’s quite different kind of style that I usually see her in the public.
Wow! 50 years ago, the sound of music, I like that movie and 1965 is the year that I was born! Julie Andrews is still beautiful and the goodly temperament, just amazing!

Talented and handsome guys’ perform and the meaning of the movie, touching!
GLORY - John Legend & Common

Host Neil Patrick Harris, what a host! He talks, sings, dances, act together with the technology. Its fun to watch, is that rated R? It’s not an easy job, hosting.
Neil Patrick Harris in Underwear at Oscars 2015 Birdman Spoof!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

spiritual discipline - slowing (2)

Modern life is full of tight and rush schedule. It’s like you can never delay or slow down even one second otherwise you will lose a chance or something important or everything.

Hurry! Hurry! I don’t have time to talk now! We often heard about them. And the first idea about rush on things is, multitasking. Do you multitasking too?

Many times, I just cannot stand for doing one at a time.
I have to watch the TV while I am reading a book and when the commercial time come, I either switch to different channel or try to check on the news or email on my iPad.
I talk on the phone and reading the news from the computer and writing something plans and thinking about something else in my mind at the same time.
Even when I don’t have a tense schedule, I feel like that I just can not slow up. I talk fast and briefly to people and yes they don’t understand. Is that because I get used to it or I’m afraid to slow down just a bit?

By rushing end up fatigued, restless and miss something without knowing it. If we are always rushing, we cannot hear what God trying to communicate with us.

God is the one who creates Sabbath. Resting is not equal to lazy.
Genesis 2 
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

There are tons of methods that we can try to practice slowing, do one thing at a time, and talk slower, chew slower and a lot more.

Ever play the game, follow the leader. Yes! God is our leader. Slowing down, listen and follow Him, you may find something surprised, joy, contentment, relief, peace, find others’ needs and gain patience and so on.

spiritual discipline - Celebration (1)

Spiritual discipline, celebration is our first Sunday school lesson and discussion.

Christian is not equaled to solemn. We also can have fun and celebration whenever is needed. The past Friday, our fellowship just held a celebration for the Chinese New Year with delicious homemade food, drinks, performances and so forth.
John 15:11                       
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

In the bible mention a lot of celebrations in different occasions. The following example is just one of them.
Exodus 12:14-20
14 Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel16 On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. 20 You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”


Celebrations are necessary only for special instances or has to be a huge one. Celebrations can simply be buying a nice outfit for not others but yourself.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Daily life - Godly or ungodly

What are the basic needs of human beings?
Our physical body needs the soul and the spirits, they all link together. Any part of it is not contented than something may go wrong.

Hunger, thirst, weariness, mind, will, emotion, sex and longing of more like supernatural needs that is hard to explain via language are among of those needs.

It’s not a shame to have needs or desire to be contented. What matter is how you are going fulfill the needs?

Godly or ungodly way, by ungodly way, your needs may never be contented.

We are all created by God and in His image.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We all also related to others with the body, soul and spirit. And through God, we can be contented in good.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But we cannot do this alone; we need some one or ones to keep each other accountable. Therefore, how to choose and keep an accountability partner for oneself is crucial.
Galatians 6:1-5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
1 Peter 4:8  
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

God do give us free will to choose, to plan or to make our own decision.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:1
To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

What is real freedom mean? The real freedom is not do whatever you want, is that you can have the control on things that you should and shouldn't do, not by law or any kind.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

What is real peace of your mind? Money or power cannot do the job.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

When do we feel joy, even we are in deep trouble? Joy is not happy, is not depend upon the circumstances.
Psalm 97:10-12
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.


Yes! Lord all through you alone, please helps us be not falling out of your hand, and away from evil’s temptation.

Monday, February 23, 2015

i'll be me

"I'm Not Gonna Miss You", a song quite catching, mix with relief and sadness. 

Recently, I’ve read, “Slow Dancing with a Stranger”, a life story about Alzheimer's disease, from a patient’s wife’s view’s illustration. Then I heard about the movie of “Still Alice”, I’m planning to read this book too, since there’s very little chance that I’ll see this movie. And then is this song, “I'm Not Gonna Miss You", the inside story of a legendry country music singer.

Three of the stories’s main roles were diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease. They all choice to face it, instead ignore or run away from it, they are really brave. Especially the celebrity well-known people, some of them choice to hide away or even finish their lives, so fans can only remember their good of everything. 

Glen Campbell - "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" - A Scene from the Film "Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DvH0_CxlrBQ&itct=CBYQpDAYBSITCOO61_Gv98MCFYG6vgodnjcARzIHcmVsYXRlZEjc0Irdmvy35Ec%3D 

Glen Campbell Farewell

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S6J99mWFqMU

I'm still here, but yet I'm gone
I don't play guitar or sing my songs
They never defined who I am
The man that loves you 'til the end
You're the last person I will love
You're the last face I will recall
And best of all, I'm not gonna miss you
Not gonna miss you
I'm never gonna hold you like I did
Or say I love you to the kids
You're never gonna see it in my eyes
It's not gonna hurt me when you cry
I'm never gonna know what you go through
All the things I say or do
All the hurt and all the pain
One thing selfishly remains
I'm not gonna miss you 

mars one mission


Mars one mission is kind of new to me. It is actually form from 2012. Since then, project been organized, investors step in, over 2 hundred thousand of people been applied for the Mars settlement.

Basically, it’s a one-way trip for the candidates to stay at mars. Kind of like immigrate or colonize the mars. So far it already come down to 100 candidates, the final number of it will be 24 people. The candidates, first come to my mind, should be the people either, engineer, scientist, doctor, or whoever have the knowledge to survive at mars, but no, it’s the people with strong both physical and mentally.


Truly, this is a one-way trip to a kind of unknown situation.


Saturday, February 21, 2015

blessed

I’m so blessed to know this free music lesson from a dear friend of mine.

I’m still at the very beginning of the lecture; I really enjoy and found benefits from it. I don’t have trained ears like some of the people. They can pick up the music and the feeling about it right away.

corporate

Working individually is hard but working with group or team is even harder.

Well most of the time, we don’t have the choice, we just cannot finish the tasks all by ourself. In most of the case, don’t even have the choice to choose who you are going to work with. Or you are forced to corporate with that particular group of people.
I kind of realized now why people leave a group to another and then another, sad to say, they might work together as a team for years

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Open Yale course:Listening to Music

I found this from a friend’s recommendation on face book. I already finish the first lesson, introduction, pretty interesting. I’ll definitely continue the whole class.

https://www.coursera.org/course/introclassicalmusic


Introduction to Classical Music

Using a simple and enjoyable teaching style, this course introduces the novice listener to the wonders of classical music, from Bach fugues to Mozart symphonies to Puccini operas.




Wednesday, February 18, 2015

2-20-2015 sharing - the World According to Bob / bible verses


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMWpT3S0C54

如果有人在基督裡,他就是新造的人

2 Corinthians 哥林多後書 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
因此,如果有人在基督裡,他就是新造的人;舊的已經過去,看哪,新的已經來臨。

Isaiah 以賽亞書 43:18
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
念從

Ezekiel 以西結書 36:26 
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
『我也要賜給你們一個新心,將新靈放在你們裡面,又從你們的肉體中除掉石心,賜給你們肉心。

Revelation 啟示錄 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
神要從他們的眼中抹去一切淚水。將來不再有死亡,也不再有悲傷、哭泣或痛苦,因為先前的事已經過去了。」

Proverbs 箴言 9:10 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端,認識至聖者便是聰明。

Psalm 詩篇 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端,凡遵行他命令的是聰明人。耶和華是永遠當讚美的!

John 約翰福音 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

認識你獨一的真神,並且認識你所差來的耶穌基督,這就是永生。

1 John 約翰一書 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
愛裡沒有懼怕;相反,完美的愛能除去懼怕,因為懼怕帶有懲罰;而那懼怕的,在愛裡沒有得以完全。

Romans 羅馬書 8:15
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
你們所受的不是奴僕的心,仍舊害怕;所受的乃是兒子的心,因此我們呼叫:「阿爸!父!」

驚喜合唱 民歌四十 Flash Mob Chorus at Ban Qiao Rail Station

驚喜合唱 民歌四十 Flash Mob Chorus at Ban Qiao Rail Station
Won’t you proud of be one of them?

I’m listening with tears, so many memory suddenly come back to me. I’m speechless.

Friday, February 13, 2015

elderly friend

One of my elderly friends was hospitalize weeks ago. And then I heard that she recovered, but since her age, she become very weak so now she stay in rehabilitation center. It sounds familiar, right?

This rehabilitation, that’s the one that I've been servicing for around 2 years. This morning I’m first very surprised to see her there. Because for some reason that I’m unfit to ask, where is she? But in my mind I’m so concern about her and miss her too.


When I saw her, I hug her and tears just come down from my eyes. Yes! Thanks Lord, you answer my prayer. We talk, pray and sing together. We are like long lost friends so happy finally to meet each other. And I plan to visit her as much as possible in the future and I’ll bring the music sheets that we used to sing together. Also the bible is the must when I see her next time. Thanks God for blessing me with lovely friend.

valentine's day

Have you ever known someone, whenever is some special holiday, such as Valentine’s Day, there’s flowers sent to the office? I’m not jealous or envy or anything. But why sent to the office, doesn't either the husband or the wife go home at the special day each year. And this year’s Valentine’s Day is tomorrow?

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

movie review - american sniper

Movie trail:

American Sniper is an American biographical war of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. With 255 kills, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Department of Defense, Kyle is the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history.

It’s a good movie, but the ending is a tragedy, Kyle was killed by a veteran, whom he is trying to help him on his PTSD.

The veteran, who is accused of killing Kyle and his friend, has a record of using drug since he was high school. This I really doubt, how can he even get in military? And later he is suffered from PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. And still own guns and allow going to a shoot ranch.

Kyle, a hero, saves so many lives, also suffered from PTSD at the beginning when he decides to leave military. With a doctor’s encourage start to help on others who experience the same as him and recover gradually. It’s such a shame.

No one wants the war; we all know it cannot resolve the problem, but what can?

In this movie, a breathtaking and touching scene, Kyle must judge whether he should pull the trigger toward a innocent little boy while this boy is intend to pick up a rocket gun and fire.  

At the end of movie, unlike the other kind of movie, there’s a long silence moment, it seems to salute and paying respect to Kyle and his families and the ones who like him.

avocado

The other day, I bought avocado for making Guacamole. It was on sale, 5 small ones for $1. Good deal, right?


When preparing, I cut open the avocado and found 3 out of 5 of them, their core is like half of the size of the other two. Am I lucky or should be worry?

Monday, February 9, 2015

Luke 路加福音 15:3-32


串場敘述 (Jenny - Hightlight Part) ,總結(牧師)經文  PPT (  Luke ),謝場( Leo & Joanna 手牽手帶全體一起)。

3-7
牧人尋找一百隻羊中迷失的一隻 」
牧羊者  Hannah  : 回家前,數羊時發現百隻羊群少了一隻, Lei呢?慌亂中交待九十九隻羊安心小心等待他們回來
羊群 ( 鄭力,Hanqin,Irene,Queenie,Joanna,Leo,Daniel,Shelly,Cynthia Alice)Baaaaaaaa! 放心! 我們會在這兒乖乖的等你們回來
牧羊者 : Lei 呀!Lei 呀!你在哪? 擔心害怕狀
狼叫聲。( Sarah )
迷失小羊( Lei  Baaaaaaaa! 主人主人
牧羊者 : 可讓我找到你了,我們快一起回去和你的弟兄姊妹團聚吧!抱起 Lei: Lei 呀!怎麼才幾個小時不見,妳又長高了!沒事!沒事!我們快回家吧!
羊群、朋友鄰舍:可邀請會眾參與,一同歡喜。(Baaaaaaaa!

8-10
婦人尋找十個銀幣中遺失一枚的故事
婦人( Lucia 細數銅錢倆次(第一次用英文,第二次用廣東話),發現少了一枚,非常著急!Think! Think! 加上動作) 這時想起前一天與好友分享終於賺得十個銅錢,於是用手機好友視屏得知(友人- Kevin 告知, 可加動作)唉呀!我正要找你!昨天你來我這兒時說得口沫橫飛,手舞足蹈,不慎將其中之一銅錢甩到家中游泳池的最深處,知道那一小銅錢對的重要性,我剛剛才冒著生命危險,跳下泳池幫拾取,別擔心別擔心馬上用線上匯款方式將小銅錢匯給(婦人)頓時一小銅錢從婦人手機中掉出。太感您了!不跟你多說了,我得趕緊將這好消息告知親友。我找到了!我找到了!邀請親友(會眾)一起國語再一次數銅錢

11-32
浪子回頭的故事」
浪子(  Felix ):父親,請你把我應得的家業分給我
父親就把產業分給他.
父親( Luke ):唉!
浪子Bye!  Bye!
串場敘述者( Joanna ):13-16
13
過了不多幾日,小兒子就把他一切所有的,都收拾起來,往遠方去了在那裡任意放蕩,浪費資財
14
既耗盡了一切所有的,又遇著那地方大遭饑荒,就窮苦起來
15
於是去投靠那地方的一個人,那人打發他到田裡去放豬
16
他恨不得拿豬所喫的豆莢充飢也沒有人給他
浪子換裝成破舊衣物(由僕人 - Cynthia, Alice 拉一小布簾換裝)
小兒子我父親有多少的雇工,口糧有餘,我倒在這裡餓死麼我要起來,到我父親那裡去,向他說,父親,我得罪了天,又得罪了你。
從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒子,把我當作一個雇工罷,並檢視自己破爛發臭的一身。
串場敘述者:(與會眾互動深思問題)
當父親見到浪子的反應會是
. 鄙視他,不原諒,趕他走?(加表演:你這個不孝子,從今以後我不要再見到你!
. 叫他先去洗乾淨,再過來?(加表演:捏著鼻子叫浪子先去洗乾淨有什麼話再
. 不記前嫌?

兒子說:父親,我得罪了天,又得罪了你,從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒 
父親:吩咐僕人拿來袍子、戒指和鞋子來,並叫僕人把肥牛犢牽來宰了同慶祝。

僕人:拿來袍子、戒指和鞋子。

父親:將袍子、戒指、鞋子與浪子穿戴上我這個兒子,是死而復活,失而又得的。(大家就都快樂)




LUKE 路加福音 15:3-32

路加福音 15:3-32 的三個寓言故事為基礎編演短劇,以輕鬆幽默的型式表達, 唯願尋回迷失的小羊們,邀請每一位組員都能一齊參與籌備和演出。

narrator 敘述者總結者,三段經文 ppt, 簡單道具(兩台手提或手機牧羊仗,毛外衣,亮麗外衣,自製大戒子,十個銅版)。
Just some thoughts about it.
3-7  牧人尋找一百隻羊中迷失的一隻迷失小羊:Lei (未受浸者)),羊群,朋友鄰舍,牧羊者
3耶穌就用比喻,說,
4你們中間誰有一百隻羊,失去一隻,不把這九十九隻撇在曠野,去找那失去的羊直到找著呢‧
5找著了,就歡歡喜喜的扛在肩上,回到家裡‧
6就請朋友鄰舍來,對他們說,我失去的羊已經找著了,你們和我一同歡喜罷‧
7我告訴你們,一個罪人悔改,在天上也要這樣為他歡喜,較比為九十九個不用悔改的義人,歡喜更大‧

8-10  婦人尋找十個銀幣中遺失一枚的故事 (婦人,婦人之友(外加人物增加喜感)
8或是一個婦人,有十塊錢,若失落一塊,豈不點上燈,打掃屋子,細細的找,直到找著麼‧
9找著了,就請朋友鄰舍來,對他們說,我失落的那塊錢已經找著了,你們和我一同歡喜罷‧
10我告訴你們,一個罪人悔改,在 神的使者面前,也是這樣為他歡喜‧

11-32  浪子回頭的故事 (長子,浪子,父親,僕人) 故事簡化
11耶穌又說,一個人有兩個兒子‧
12小兒子對父親說,父親,請你把我應得的家業分給我‧他父親就把產業分給他們‧
13過了不多幾日,小兒子就把他一切所有的,都收拾起來,往遠方去了‧在那裡任意放蕩,浪費資財‧
14既耗盡了一切所有的,又遇著那地方大遭饑荒,就窮苦起來‧
15於是去投靠那地方的一個人,那人打發他到田裡去放豬‧
16他恨不得拿豬所喫的豆莢充飢‧也沒有人給他‧
17他醒悟過來,就說,我父親有多少的雇工,口糧有餘,我倒在這裡餓死麼‧
18我要起來,到我父親那裡去,向他說,父親,我得罪了天,又得罪了你‧
19從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒子,把我當作一個雇工罷‧
20於是起來往他父親那裡去‧相離還遠,他父親看見,就動了慈心,跑去抱著他的頸項,連連與他親嘴‧
21兒子說,父親,我得罪了天,又得罪了你,從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒子‧
22父親卻吩咐僕人說,把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿‧把戒指戴在他指頭上‧把鞋穿在他腳上‧
23把那肥牛犢牽來宰了,我們可以喫喝快樂‧
24因為我這個兒子,是死而復活,失而又得的‧他們就快樂起來‧
25那時,大兒子正在田裡‧他回來離家不遠,聽見作樂跳舞的聲音‧
26便叫過一個僕人來,問是什麼事‧
27僕人說,你兄弟來了‧你父親,因為得他無災無病的回來,把肥牛犢宰了‧
28大兒子卻生氣,不肯進去‧他父親就出來勸他‧
29他對父親說,我服事你這多年,從來沒有違背過你的命‧你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔,叫我和朋友,一同快樂‧
30但你這個兒子,和娼妓吞盡了你的產業,他一來了,你倒為他宰了肥牛犢‧
31父親對他說,兒阿,你常和我同在,我一切所有的,都是你的‧
32只是你這個兄弟是死而復活,失而又得的,所以我們理當歡喜快樂‧