<p><b>Jun 05-06, 2021</b><br><b>潘啟華傳道</b></p>

你曾經參加過比賽嗎？也許，你會像我一樣，雖然已經許多年沒有參加過任何類型的比賽了，但我還記得，最後的三分鐘總是最難耐的。終點線就在眼前，你開始逐秒鐘倒數，你的身體極度疲憊疼痛到不可再忍受。你對自己說，“我不能再等很快就可以鬆口氣…”。

這是精神上的挑戰中最艱困難的一刻。你用盡你的毅力，以個人的意志驅使自己衝過終點線。你疲倦的身體不斷在游說你放鬆你的肌肉，慢步走過終點就算了。但所有優秀的跑步員都知道，這不是完成比賽的方式。

我想這就是我們很多人目前的感受。我們看到大流行的終點線，許多活動逐步重新開放，我們現在可以在餐廳裡用餐了。隨著重啟計劃的宣布，我們期待已久的終點線就在眼前，我們看到終點線，它就在拐角。我們只需要繼續努力向前跑。

這種“繼續努力向前跑”的心態叫耐力。這耐力讓我們跨越大流行，亦是我們一生必須學習的。希伯來書的作者知道所有上帝的孩子都需要這種耐力。

我們在大流行期間需要耐力；當基督徒在門徒訓練甚至在敬拜感到疲憊時，便需要耐力。當生活出現困境、迷失、事事不順景時，我們必須要耐力。因此，希伯來書的作者用了很大的篇幅對他的讀者講解耐力。

我們為何要有耐力？當他的讀者被試探丟棄信心時（希伯來書 10:35,39），當他的讀者開始失去對福音的熱情，失去向外傳福音的心志；希伯來書的作者寫信給他們說：“你們還需要忍耐，好使你們行完了神的旨意，可以領受所應許的。”（希伯來書 10:36）。

他鼓勵信徒要竭力堅持和忍耐－緊緊抓住上帝的應許。但更重要的是，作者將他的讀者指向耶穌，祂是“…那位信心的創始者和完成者”（希伯來書 12:1-2）。這是耶穌賜給我們從神而來的愛之禮物－耐力，是耶穌送給祂孩子的禮物。

如何忍耐呢？耶穌激勵我們的心去渴慕親近祂。耶穌打開我們的心門去體驗祂的慈愛、憐恤、恩慈和幫助多而又多。當我們感到缺乏時，是耶穌給我們力量。即使在我們對耶穌的愛似乎枯竭的日子裡，是耶穌首先更新在我們裡面祂奇妙的作為，我們要敬畏祂。祂給我們另一個敬拜祂的理由，祂給了我們另一種親密感，另一種新的生命氣息。祂給了我們一個新的提醒，我們可以依靠祂，祂是我們的避難所，我們的幫助。我們需要做的就是切實地承認我們需要這樣的愛。我們需要做的就單是尋求和接受。這就是我們救主奇妙的作為。

耐力在我們現實生活中既美麗且複雜。一方面，我們渴望更有耐力，但另一方面，我們不喜歡經歷那個過程。就好像所有運動員都知道，為了獲得更強的耐力，他們必須對自己的身體作出要求。是痛楚，一種源於紀律的正面痛楚，能讓我們在鍛鍊中增強耐力。我們的生命必然會經歷低谷，但在那裡，耶穌激勵我們的心去尋求祂並在祂裡面得安息。

那我們該怎麼辦？我們可以隨時禱告，詩篇 16:11 ：“你必把生命的路指示我，在你面前有滿足的喜樂，在你的右手中有永遠的福樂。”讓我們一起為自己的靈魂以及周圍的人的靈魂向神祈禱吧。

尋求耶穌並忍耐到底！

<p><b>Jun 05-06, 2021</b><br><strong>From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Alex Poon</strong></p>
Have you ever run a race before? Maybe, like me, you haven’t run any sort of race in many, many years. But here’s what I remember; the last 3 minutes were always the hardest. The finish line is in sight, and you’re able now to count down the seconds until your body will no longer feel the burning pain of exhaustion. You think to yourself, “I can’t wait to take that relaxed breath… soon”.

It’s the mental challenge that’s the most difficult at this point. With all your resiliency, you must will your body to cross the finish line… speedily. Your mind is tempted to convince your muscles to slow down, to begin your relaxation a touch early, jogging if not walking across the finish line. But all good runners know that’s not how you finish a race.

I think that’s what a lot of us are feeling these days. We see the finish line of the pandemic, things are beginning to reopen, I mean, we’re now able to eat inside the restaurant now right? With restart plans being announced, we now have somewhat of a better view of what the finish line looks like. If we can’t see the finish line yet, we know it’s right around the corner. We just have to keep on running.

Well, this mentality to “keep on running” is called endurance. And endurance reaches beyond the pandemic, it’s something we must deal with for the rest of life. Endurance is something the author of Hebrew knew all children of God needed.

It’s needed in the midst of a pandemic; it’s needed when Christian’s feel fatigued in discipleship or even our worship. It’s needed when life is confusing, disorienting, full of turmoil in one difficult sense or another. Therefore, the author of Hebrews did not mince his words to his readers.

What are we enduring towards? In the midst of his readers being tempted to throw away their confidence (Hebrews 10:35,39), when his readers began to lose their compassion, or their passion for proclaiming the gospel to each other and perhaps to their own hearts; the Hebrews author wrote to them, “You have need for endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36).

He encouraged them at length to faithfully persevere and endure – to hold tight to God’s promises. But most importantly, he pointed his readers to Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). It’s Jesus who gifts us with God’s loving gift of endurance, a gift he gives all his children.

How? Jesus stirs our hearts to move towards him more and more. Jesus opens the eyes of our hearts to see his love, compassion, mercy and help more and more. When we feel we are lacking, it’s Jesus who gives us strength. Even on the days where our love for Jesus seems dry, it’s Jesus first who refreshes our awe and wonder of him. He gives us another reason to worship him, he gives us with another touch of intimacy, another new breath of life. He gives us a fresh reminder how we can lean on him, find our refuge in him, find our help with him. All we need to do is earnestly admit our need for such love. All we need to do is ask and receive. That’s the wonder of our Saviour.

Endurance is a beautiful, yet complicated reality of our lives. On one hand we long for more of it, but on the other hand, we don’t like how we get more of it. Like all athletes know, in order to gain a little more endurance, they must put their bodies to the test. Pain, a good kind of pain rooted in discipline is the kind of experience that will grow us in endurance. We must sit in the experience of the discomfort. But it is there, that Jesus stirs our hearts to seek and rest in him.

So what shall we do? A prayer on our lips can be found in Psalm 16:11 “You make known to them the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Let’s pray this for our own souls, and for the souls of those around us.

Seek Jesus and endure well.

Feb 20-21, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Alex Poon

Have you begun to notice that your days are beginning to blur together? Are you beginning to realize you’re forgetting which day of the week it is?

It might be because all our days seem to be so similar now. Our routines are the same day in and day out as we find ourselves spending more time safely at home. Each morning begins in the same way, and each bedtime routine follows the monotony of the day before.

I’ve noticed the same repetitions in my life. And I know others feel the same. Just some enjoy the same routines more than others.

I realize that for me and others who continue to work, we have tasks to separate our weekdays from weekends.  At least we’re more prone to recognize the date on the calendar. But for those of you who are retired, I wonder how you’ve been able to separate your days apart?

While our days may all look similar, let us be sensitive to the nuances of each fresh day.

Monotony or routine can be exciting and fun in their own unique ways. Because through the sameness, you’ll really notice the subtle differences. You’ll notice the smaller variations that rise up above the stillness. You’ll notice the distinct conversation you had today that you didn’t have yesterday. You’ll notice the thought that peaked your curiosity today, that didn’t come to mind yesterday. You’ll notice the budding leaf that’s grown on your living room plant that wasn’t there the day before. Or you’ll notice how the patch of snow you encounter on your daily walk has been turning to water, day by day.

But on the other hand, let’s not deny that the same routine can cause a level of dreariness, or boredom – especially if we’re in a constant state of waiting for the “more”.

I recognize that in this temporary season, while we’re all living under Provincial Health Orders, it may be harder than usual to find the moments of our tomorrow to look forward to. We wonder what the next day will bring and if there will be anything to look forward to. But there is. There’s a blessing in tomorrow’s monotony, because this again-and-again is a direct reflection of the God we worship.

He is God of again-and-again.

God calls the oceans tides to crash against the rock of the cliff day after day, hour by hour, minute after minute, seconds apart.

God causes the sun to come up each fresh morning. To give rise to each new day’s activities. Then, He causes it to go down again for each night’s good rest.

God circles the clouds around the world and back, travelling the skies – as the song goes, “all-the-day long”.

We might be quick to be lost in the monotony, but God thrives in the routine.

Because for God, every petal that grows on the flower, every wildflower in the fields, every blade of grass on the lawn – while they may look all the same to us, to Him, they are so vastly set apart.

In our over and again, let us be quick to be sensitive to the nuances of the day. There, let us notice a new thought that comes, a new curiosity that arises, and those fresh encounters with a wonderment of who God is.

There are thrilling moments to seek. There are fresh encounters to experience. Our God is a creator God, who creates uniquely each new day.

We have reason to worship God for His nature of again and again. Because the piece of routine that draws our worship, is God’s everlasting grace each fresh day.

We rest upon His mercies, which are new every morning. His steadfast love never runs dry. Great is his faithfulness, for He gifts His grace again and again.

My prayer for you is that you find peace in your everyday routines. There is a beauty in doing things the same over and over again. The more you grow in familiarity with each day, the more you’ll notice the subtle differences of it all. And there, in the peace of routine, may you find comfort that you’ve been gifted with an opportunity to just simply… relax.

<p><b>Feb 20-21, 2021</b><br><b>潘啟華傳道</b></p>

您會否已察覺到您對每一天的日子變得模糊不清？就連今天是星期幾也忘記了？

或許是因為我們現在每天日常的生活都似乎是一模一樣，天天如是，大部份時間都是安全地留在家裡。每天早晨起床到晚上就寢都跟前一天沒有太大分別，生活變得單調乏味。

我意識到我的生命也是同樣的重複。我知道其他人也有同樣的感覺。只是有一些人會享受千篇一律的生活模式。

對於我和其他在職的人來說，我們的工作讓我們分辨出平日和週末的日子。至少我們更容易識別日曆上的日期。但是對於您們退休人士來說，我好奇您們如何能夠分隔開您們的日子？

即使我們每一天看起來都是差不多，但讓我們對每一天的細微差別保持敏銳的觸覺。

單調或常規的程序也有其獨特之處令人振奮和快樂。因為不斷的重複，您會真正注意到一些細微的差異。甚至體會到寂靜中的一些微小的變化。您會發覺到您今天和昨天的談話有明顯的不同。您今天的思想靈感比昨天的豐富。您會注意到在客廳的植物今天長出了嫩芽。又或者您會發現每天步行時遇到的積雪，如何一天一天溶化變為水。

但是，另一方面，無可否認常規的程序會導致一定程度的沉悶或厭煩－特別是如果我們一直處於等待「更多」的狀態時。

我意識到這個是暫時性的狀況，我們都生活在省級衛生指令之下，期待明天更美好的時光可能比從前更加困難。我們會質疑明天會怎樣或者有什麼值得我們期待呢。還是有的。明天的不變是一種祝福，因為這週而復始直接彰顯出我們敬拜的上帝。

祂是堅持到底的上帝。

上帝叫海洋潮汐撞向懸崖的岩石，日復日、時復時、甚至逐分逐秒。

上帝使每天早晨太陽升起，帶動新的一天的開始。然後，祂使太陽西沉，讓我們每個晚上有好的休息。

上帝在雲中繞著世界迴盪，沿著天空飛舞，正如詩歌唱頌，“晝夜唱和”。

我們可能會很容易在單調無聊中迷失，上帝卻在常規程序中茁壯成長。

因為對上帝而言，花朵上長出的每一片花瓣，田野上的每一朵野花，草坪上的每片草地－在人看來都是一樣，但在上帝看來，它們卻是每天都有著不同的變化。

讓我們每一天對每一件細微的差別保持敏銳的心。讓我們細心留意新的構思，保持好奇心，以及與神相遇的一些奇妙驚喜。

尋求振奮人心的時刻。體驗全新的經歷。我們的上帝是全能的創造者，祂創造獨特的每一天。

因為我們週而復始的敬拜，領我們經歷上帝永恆的恩典，每日都是新的。

我們仰望祂的憐憫，每天早晨都是新的。祂堅定的慈愛永不枯乾。祂的信實廣大，祂降下恩典，施恩不盡。

我為您們每天起居生活平安祈禱。反複地做同樣的事情都是美的。您們對每天的了解越多，就會越發體會到它們之間的細微的差別。祝願大家輕鬆平安渡過每一天。

Oct 24-25, 2020
潘啟華傳道

我常常喜歡和李牧師談論精采的籃球比賽。這是我們於教會以外的共同興趣。他對於球員，每個賽季的情節，和籃球歷史的熟悉讓我印象尤其深刻。並不是我自覺對籃球了解很多，而是欣賞大家都是球迷。

不久前，我們談論洛杉磯湖人隊（LA Lakers），在2019-2020年NBA總決賽對陣邁阿密熱火隊（Miami Heat）的比賽。特別談論到熱火隊在10月9日第五場獲勝的情節。你們中若也有緊追NBA 七埸決賽系列的，就知道我所指的那一刻。在第五埸的最後11.7秒，我們現世代最偉大的球員之一，湖人隊的詹姆斯（Lebron James）在應付兩個對方球員防守時，將潛在的獲勝機會交給了隊友格林（Danny Green）。至於這是錯誤或慶祝的時刻，取決於你擁護那一隊。

身處三分球圈頂端，格林未能把三分球投入籃筐，錯失為湖人隊贏得第五場慶祝勝利的機會。湖人隊只差一球，便可成為整個苦戰賽季的冠軍。但是格林從他站著的地方倉猝射籃，因為他看不到我們看到的東西，就是他有時間。

如果你在家觀看球賽，你的反應可能就像我一樣。看著那球從籃筐邊彈起，你可能會感到懊惱。本以為可興奮地舉起雙手，慶賀今晚你擁護的球隊贏得籃球錦標賽……卻是讓你垂頭喪氣、悶悶不樂。或者……你是那隊毫不起眼的熱火隊球迷，現可鬆一口氣，因為你的球隊可以打進第六場比賽。

無論你是否熟悉這場球賽，或者你是否熟悉籃球運動，以下是我想說明的人生重點。當球迷坐在攝像機的這一邊，舒適地觀看電視轉播的比賽時，我們擁有不同於球場上所有球員的觀賞位置。雖非設身處地，但從攝像機的另一邊，我們看到了更大的畫面和實際的情況。在任何球賽中，我們都能看到球員投籃的時間，伸手接球的距離；他們竭盡所能，以求贏得比賽。我們具有這個優勢，可以看到真正的情況。與身處球場上的球員不同，我們看到了更大的景象。

當談到人生時，福音的好消息就是這樣。

福音給我們一個透視世界的鏡頭。這個鏡頭使我們看到更大的生活畫面。你會發現，當我們陷入這種經常艱難的人生困境時，我們看不到其中的原因。作為處於困境中的人，我們只是感覺到所承受的壓力愈來愈大，重擔愈加艱辛；有時甚至屈服於壓力。

福音的希望是使我們清晰明白。

我引述解釋神學家凱勒（Tim Keller）對福音的定義：“我們比我們所想像的更加破碎和脆弱，但我們得到救主耶穌基督的接納和愛卻更超乎我們所希望的。＂

當我們可以從這個鏡頭 一 從這個角度看人生的所有經歷時，我們可以看到，無論今天或明天我們經歷什麼，都會被我們滿有恩惠的救主看顧。

福音告訴我們，在我們的苦難中，天父因著衪的慈愛放棄了自己的獨生子，以使我們明白我們所承受的一切艱辛、災難、軟弱和逼迫是有目的的。沒有什麼是偶然的，沒有什麼是由於殘酷的懲罰。我們是蒙恩被寬恕的罪人，因為基督的寶血流在十字架上，洗淨了我們。當我們在患難中，靠著主的力量堅持不懈，並得到希望的信息，提醒我們在所有困難的情況下，我們都被引到天父的懷抱中。這是愛，這是恩典。正如一位作者所說，“當我們屈膝祈求時，我們就被帶到祂的保守看顧中。”

艱難的環境逼使我們在低處深思與上帝的關係。當我們與處境角力時，上帝會以衪慈愛的膀臂托起我們，並且聖靈給予我們忍耐的力量。最終使我們的品格變得更像基督。

福音的鏡頭為我們提供了這種觀點，使我們可以看到自己的困境。

當一切計劃和諧地進行時，福音的鏡頭也為我們提供了更深層的理由來慶祝。

當生活中的日常事帶給我們深深的幸福與和諧時，當我們的目光轉向美麗的祝福時，福音的鏡頭再次給了我們更大的生活畫面。

它提醒我們上帝深愛衪的獨生子，而所有的祝福都是由憐恤、慈愛和慷慨的父神所賜予的。我們被天父看顧，正如照著衪的形象所創造的那樣，我們變得重要，並被賦予尊嚴和價值。當這位美善的上帝慷慨地向衪沉淪的創造物展示衪的恩典時，我們就被接納收容。這福音訊息實在是我們所有感恩的源頭。我們因著上帝的慈愛得蒙拯救。

福音的好消息給予我們鏡頭看到更大的人生景象。因此，我在基督裡的列宣家弟兄姊妹們，願你繼續尋索福音的深層意義。願你經歷基督犧牲的大愛，以使你對我們父神的讚美和尊崇加倍增長，為衪的榮耀，也為我們的益處。

阿們！

主僕
潘啟華傳道

Aug 22-23, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Alex Poon, Pastor of English Youth and Young Adult MinistriesI always enjoy talking about the great game of Basketball with Pastor Simon. It’s one of our common interests… outside of church ministries of course. I’m always impressed with how much he knows; about the players, about the storylines of each season, about general history. It’s not that I claim to know a lot either, I just appreciate that we’re mutual fans of the game.

Not too long ago, we were talking about the L.A. Lakers, about their recent win against the Miami Heat in the 2019-2020 NBA Finals Games. Specifically, we were talking about the Miami Heat’s win in Game 5 on October 9th. Immediately, some of you who’ve also kept up with the best of 7 series know exactly the moment I’m referencing now. In the final 11.7 seconds of Game 5, one of the greatest players of our generation, Lebron James of the L.A. Lakers – while dealing with a double team – entrusted the potentially game winning shot to his teammate, shooting guard Danny Green. A moment of mistake or celebration, depending on which team you were cheering for.

From the top of the 3-point key of the basketball court, Danny Green’s three pointer shot fell short of the basketball hoop, bouncing off the rim and ruining any chance for a Game 5 trophy celebration for the L.A. Lakers. The Lakers were one win, one basket, one play, away from being champions of the entire hard-fought season. But Danny Green was forced to make a rushed shot. A rushed shot from where he stood, because he didn’t see what we saw – that he had time.

If you were watching the game at home, your reaction might have been like mine. Watching that ball bounce off the rim, you might have given a big groan. Your hands may have been lifted high in excitement, realizing that on this night a basketball championship could have been won… only to have your hands drop down again in dreary shock. Or… you unlike me, could have been cheering for the underdog Miami Heat team, and at that point you had just gained breath back in your lungs as a sigh of relief that your team had just forced a game 6.

Well, whether you’re familiar with this recent sports moment or not, whether you’re familiar with the sport of Basketball or not, here’s the life point I’m trying to make. Sitting on this side of the camera, as the comfortable sports fan just watching the televised game, we were given a viewing vantage point that differed from all players on the court. Removed from the situation, from our side of the camera, we were given the bigger picture. We could tell what was really happening. In any sports game, we’re able to see the amount of time the player has to make a shot, just how far a player has to stretch their hands to catch a ball, just how much faster they have to run to win the race. We’re given a vantage point that lets us see what’s really happening. Unlike the player on the court who is in the thick of the situation, we see the bigger picture.

The good news of the gospel is like this when it comes to life.

The gospel gives us a lens to see the world through. And this lens gives us the chance to see the bigger picture of life. You see, when we’re caught up in the thick of the situations in this often-difficult life, we don’t see the reason for what is happening. As the ones in the midst of the dire situation, we just feel the weight of the pressures being built up. We experience the intensity of the hardships caving in, and we at times, succumb to the pressure.

The hope of the gospel is that it gives us clarity.

The gospel is defined by Theologian Tim Keller like this, and I’ll paraphrase, “we are more broken and weaker than we ever dared imagine, but we are more accepted and loved by Jesus Christ our Saviour than we ever dared hope.”

When we’re able to see all of life’s experiences through this lens – this vantage point – we’re able to see that no matter what we go through today or tomorrow, we’re being taken care of by our gracious Saviour.

The gospel tells us that in the midst of our suffering, the love of the Father gave up his own Son so that we would know all hardships, calamities, weaknesses and persecutions we endure are present for a purpose. Nothing is by accident, and nothing is because of ruthless punishment. We are blemished sinners forgiven by grace because of the blood of Christ shed on the cross washes us clean. When we endure in the hard times, we lean into God for strength to persevere, and we’re brought to a message of hope that reminds us that in all of those difficult circumstances we are being drawn into the caring arms of the Father. This is love, this is grace. That as one author put it, “when we are brought to our knees, we are brought to dependence on him.”

Difficult circumstances force us to ponder deeply on our relationship with God in times where we’ve fallen. And there, when we wrestle with our situations, God meets us with the comfort of his loving arms that lift us up. We are given strength by his Spirit. Strength to endure, strength that eventually chisels and builds our character to be more like Christ.

The lens of the gospel gives us this perspective to viewing our hardships.

And the lens of the gospel gives us an even deeper reason to celebrate too when all goes according to harmonious plan.

When the events of our life bring us to deep happiness and harmony, when our eyes are turned to seeing the beauty of our blessings, again, the lens of the Gospel gives us a bigger picture of life.

It reminds us God loved so deeply he gave of his only Son, and that all of the blessings to follow are gifted by the same compassionate, loving, and generous Father. We’re cared for. We’re given worth, dignity and value as those created in his image. We’re invited into adoption, when a good God graciously reveals his grace to his fallen creation. And this gospel news is truly the source of all our thanksgiving. We’re saved to be loved by a holy God.

The good news of the gospel gives us a lens to see the bigger picture of life. And so, my RCAC brothers and sisters in Christ, may you continue to seek out the depths of the gospel meaning. May you experience the sacrificial love of Christ, so that your praise and adoration of our Father God would exponentially grow, for his glory, for our sake.

Amen,

Alex Poon
Pastor of English Ministry’s Youth and Young Adults