September 2, 2018 Reflection

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23/ James 1:19-27

What Goes In or What Comes Out

While I was learning about the history of France, I learned that, in the Renaissance period, perfumes were used to mask body odours, and became highly successful during the 17^th Century; I think this is because the Palace of Versailles didn’t have bathrooms, besides the body odour problem. But as I learn this knowledge, I found myself saying, “Really? You smell bad because of your bad sanitary practices, and you use perfume to mask it? Really?” I mean, we may be able to mask the odour if no one comes too close to us, but we can’t get rid of it unless we actually get rid of the source. Washing with soap and water can get rid of body odour. I don’t remember if it was in a movie or a TV show, but there was a man trying to impress a woman; he asked her, “What perfume are you wearing?” The woman said, “Soap.” The truth is, body odour can only be removed by washing; getting rid of the source. Masking the odour with perfume? My attitude is about it is, “Who are you kidding?” more —>

August 19, 2018 Reflection

John 6:51-58/ Ephesians 5:15-20

In Life, In Death, In Life Beyond Death…

Today, we will be talking about heaven; so, let’s start with some heavenly jokes. One day, a highly successful executive woman was hit by a car and went to heaven. At the Pearly Gate, St. Peter said, “You’re the first executive who came up here and I don’t know what to do with you.” She said, “Just let me in.” Peter said, “Okay, we have rules up here. You are to spend one day in hell and one day in heaven, and then decide where you want to spend your eternity.” She went down to hell; she saw all her old colleagues and friends, who welcomed her, at a beautiful golf course and a fancy restaurant where she ate lobster and steak. Even the devil was nice to her. The next day, she spent a day in heaven, frolicking in the clouds, playing harps, and singing. When it was time for her to make up her mind, she said to Peter, “I didn’t think I would say this, but I’d rather be in hell.” She went back to hell and found a wasteland with her colleagues in rags. The devil came to her and she said, “But yesterday, everything was beautiful, and we had a great time.” The devil smiled and said, “Yesterday, we were recruiting you; today, you’re staff.” more —>

August 5, 2018 Reflection

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16/ 2 Samuel 12:1-13a

Courage to Live Out Our Calling

I don’t know about you, but I love beautiful things. Recently I have been watching videos of ballet performances and documentaries about ballet dancers. Ballet movements are full of grace and beauty, more —>

July 1, 2018 Reflection (Canada Day)

Mark 5:21-43/ 1 Samuel 1:17-27

Healing of the Nation, Grieving of the Past

Recently, I discovered a new TV show on Netflix. It’s called “An Hour to Save Your Life.” It is a British documentary series of emergency medical staff, both paramedics on the site and the doctors and nurses in the hospital trauma centre who try to save the lives of trauma patients. The title is “An Hour to Save Your Life” because for trauma patients, the first 60 minutes are crucial to whether they will survive or die. It is more captivating than fictional medical dramas because these are real medical professionals trying to save real people. Every episode shows three patients fighting to survive. Some survive and make full recovery, some survive but with some permanent damages in their body such as partial hearing loss, and some don’t survive at all even after the medical effort that looks pretty much like a battle scene. This procedure of trying to save a trauma patient’s life is utter chaos like in a war; it’s a life and death situation, and there is fear, desperation, mustering up of hope, tears, and one can easily imagine, desperate prayers. It is highly emotional. more —>

June 17, 2018 sermon 

Mark 4:26-34

Kingdom of Growth

Since today is Father’s Day, I will start with Jerry Seinfeld’s joke about fathers. He said, “Fathers are intimidating. They are intimidating because they are fathers. Once a man has children, for the rest of his life, his attitude is, “The heck with the world. I can make my own people. I’ll eat whatever I want, I’ll wear whatever I want, and I’ll create whoever I want.” Seinfeld wrote this joke long before he became a husband and father; I wonder how he would feel about this joke as a father. Perhaps, “Yeah! Fathers rule!” Or maybe a sigh? “Being a father is so challenging”? What if the fathers among us have to choose one of these two, which would it be? This past week, I have asked several of our members on what they think father’s role is in children’s life; among many things, the words growth, guidance and mentoring, and even hero came up. But I think these different words are connected to each other.

I personally think a parent’s role, mother or father, is to help the children experience growth. When I say ‘growth’, I’m not talking about physical growth, although it is crucial that children get enough food and nutrients to grow up healthy. Children also have to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Interestingly, today’s two parables are about growth. Both are called kingdom parables because they illustrate what God’s kingdom (or reign) is like. The first one about a man planting the seeds, which grow on their own teaches us that in God’s community, we disciples sow the seeds, but it is God who makes them grow. Repeating what I said last Sunday, if we achieve something great, glory be to God! Remember, it is no longer us who live, but Christ lives in us. God works through us. Another lesson that this parable teaches is that growth happens very slowly and gradually. It is imperceptible. This knowledge gives us patience (because we could get impatient about things not happening fast enough), and hope (because no matter how imperceptible it is, growth DOES happen). The last lesson of this parable is a call for preparedness. Seeds grow, maybe some faster than others. But at the end of this growth comes the harvest. Those that grew well will be harvested, and those that did not prosper will be cut off. It’s like at the end of a semester’s learning, there are final exams. If we were students, we should prepare for the exams, shouldn’t we? Knowing that judgment day is coming, although we don’t know when, we should keep growing in faith and strive to live as faithful citizens of God’s kingdom by loving and serving.  more —>