2022.03.05/06
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

We are no strangers to pain as we all have experienced different degrees of pain and suffering in our lives. But the past two years of COVID have made us all even more vulnerable to all sorts of physical, mental and/or spiritual trials or attacks that can break the best of us and cause us to be susceptible to all sort unexpected anxiety, depression, and other emotional and psychological disorders, and even moral and spiritual failures. Even though we should now feel safer as so many are fully vaccinated against the virus, the fact is we still feel so vulnerable, including myself.

Some telltale signs that we may be burnout or on the brink of breaking under the stress are that we are easily irritable, constantly negative, quickly becoming impatient, lacking in self control in our emotions, inability for positive rational thinking, developing low self-esteem, and losing our vision and the ability to deal with the everyday pressures of life. When we find ourselves being unable to cope in such situations, we become angry with the world, with others and some ultimately with ourselves for being so helpless. In trying to cope, we can become defensive and aggressive, becoming totally out of character from our normal self. We become the epicenter of all that are going wrong in the world, around us and in our lives, and bitterness and negativity consumes us. Even though we are Christians, even Christian leaders, we cry out to God and lament, saying “Why?” and “Why me?”

The season of Lent is here, our question is, what is Lent and how does Lent and the practices in Lent help us cope with the pressure of life that we are all facing now in the pandemic? Up front, the answer is, we turn our eyes upon Jesus, and away from the wind and the waves around us.

Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which marked the beginning of the period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before sundown on Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. These are the most important dates in the Christian calendar, followed and observed more closely within Churches with liturgical traditions. By observing the 40 days of Lent, some Christians also attempt to replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three pillars of Lenten practices, in preparation to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection at Easter. Prayer is to help us walk closer to God. Fasting is the practice of self-control, to abstain from the luxuries of life so as to turn our heart to Christ. This is practised in many Christian churches where Christians are urged to give up something during Lent to help them focus on Christ. Almsgiving is the intentional giving to the poor and needy.

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are all good Christian disciplines that we can practise throughout the year. But to do that more intentionally during Lent, a preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, is especially meaningful. The sacrifice of Christ, the death and the resurrection of Christ are at the very heart of the Christian faith. In the practice of prayer, fasting (or giving up of certain personal pleasures during Lent) and almsgiving, we are reminded to reflect on the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in giving up everything in heaven to come and pay the penalties for our sins.

As mentioned, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent.  There is no mention of Ash Wednesday (nor Lent) in the Bible, and it is a tradition of the Church. However, there is a tradition of donning ashes as a sign of penitence that predates Jesus. Job repents “in dust and ashes,” and there are also other associations of ashes and repentance in the Old Testament books of Esther, Samuel, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Some people trace the origin of this church tradition even to ancient Rome, but Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, ended this practice in the reformation. For us, if we observe this day, it is to help us to start the season of Lent in humble repentance as we meditate on why Christ had to suffer and die for us on the cross.

In some churches, Ash Wednesday is observed with a prayer service. Typically, during the service, the priest (pastor) would mark the sign of the cross on the forehead of the person with some ashes. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, His followers carry and wave palm branches to welcome Him, singing “hosanna.” Nowadays, sometimes the ash used for Ash Wednesday is made of palm branches used on the Palm Sunday of the previous year, burnt into ashes. We can see how this symbolism of the cross of ashes on the forehead can be a powerful reminder that we are all saved by the death of Christ.

Whether we have this practice or not, the important thing is to start the season of Lent with a reflective and repentant heart and become more impacted by the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ. This year we are going to hold two mini silent retreats in March (in Cantonese) to prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter.  Hope you can come and join us.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Simon

2022.03.05/06
李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹：

我們都明白何謂苦痛，因在生活中也曾經歷過不同程度的痛苦和苦難。可是在過去的兩年，因為疫情導致我們的身心靈更脆弱，更容易受到各樣身體、心理或靈性上的考驗及攻擊，能破壞我們最好的一面，以致令我們容易產生各方面預料不到的焦慮、抑鬱和其他情緒及心理與生理的障礙異常，甚至引發道德和靈性上的失敗。儘管我們現在因著已有這麼多人完全接種了病毒疫苗，而應該感到較前安全，但事實上我們仍然是感到極為脆弱，我自己也不例外、無可免疫。

從一些跡象顯示，我們可能正在壓力下感到耗盡或瀕臨崩潰而不自知，例如：我們會很容易煩躁，經常消極負面，很容易變得不耐煩，情緒缺乏自制力，無法積極理性思考，自尊心低，並失去我們的視野/異象和應對日常生活壓力的能力。當我們發現自己在應對這種情況時力不從心，我們會因此感到無助而對世界、對他人以及至終會對自己感到憤怒。在力圖應對時，我們可能會變得很自我防衛性和攻擊性，變得不像我們正常的自我。我們成為世界、我們周圍和生活中所有問題的核心，任由苦毒和消極情緒吞噬著我們。即使我們是基督徒，甚至是基督徒領袖，我們也會向神呼喊並哀嘆發問：“為什麼？”、“為什麼是我？”

預苦期已開始，我們的問題是，什麼是預苦期，預苦期與我何干？它能否幫助我們去應對疫情中所面臨的生活壓力？答案是：當然可以，我們可學習如何不在圍繞我們的風浪被沖擊，將眼目轉向勝過一切痛苦與死亡的耶穌。

上週三是聖灰日，標誌著預苦期40 天(不計算主日)的開始，直至耶穌受難日前一天的聖週四之日落前。這些是教會年曆中最重要的日期，不少禮儀宗的教會更緊密地遵循和持守40 天的預苦期。在這思念基督受苦受死的一段期間，一些信徒還會仿傚耶穌基督的犧牲和退到曠野40天。

預苦期是一個為期40 天的祈禱、禁食和施捨的操練時期，這是實踐預苦期的三大支柱，以準備準備自己在復活節慶祝主的復活。禱告是為了幫助我們更接近神。禁食是一種學習克制自我的實踐，戒除奢侈生活的操練，以讓我們的心轉向基督。不少基督教會也鼓勵信徒藉著實踐放棄一些本身所看重的東西，以讓自己能專注於基督。施予的行動是刻意對窮人和有需要的人付出。

祈禱、禁食和施捨都是很好的屬靈操練，我們可以在全年內實行這些操練。但在預苦期間，為著思念耶穌受難日和復活節而刻意地這樣做，是特別有意義的。基督的犧牲、基督的受死和復活是基督教信仰的核心。在祈禱和禁食中(或在預苦期放棄某些個人享樂)和透過施予的實踐，我們被提醒去反思神兒子耶穌基督的偉大犧牲，祂怎樣捨棄天上的一切來到塵世為我們贖罪忍受我們罪孽應受的懲罰。

如上述所言，聖灰日是預苦期的開始。聖經中沒有明文提到聖灰日(也沒有預苦期)，這是教會的傳統。然而，在耶穌之前就有披麻蒙灰作為懺悔的標誌的傳統。約伯“在塵土和爐灰中”懺悔，舊約中的以斯帖、撒母耳、以賽亞和耶利米書中也有其他關於披麻蒙灰的實行。有些人甚至將這種教會傳統的起源追溯到古羅馬，但基督教改革領袖馬丁路德在宗教改革中結束了這種做法。對我們來說，如果我們今天遵守這預苦期，乃是為著幫助我們以謙卑悔改作開始，在此期間內思想基督為什麼必須在十字架上為我們受苦和受死的大愛和意義。

一些教會在聖灰日會舉行祈禱會。特別在聚會期間，神甫或牧師會用灰燼在信徒額上塗灰，劃上十字架的標記。當年耶穌進入耶路撒冷時，跟隨他的群眾，揮舞著棕櫚樹枝歡迎他，高唱著“和散那”。至今，一些聖灰日所用的灰燼是由前一年棕枝主日所使用的棕櫚樹枝燒成灰燼所製成的。由此可見，塗在額頭上的灰劃上十字架記號的這種象徵意義如何有力地提醒我們，我們都是因著基督的受死而得救的。
不論我們是否有這種做法，重要的是要以反思和悔改的心開始預苦期，並讓我們的靈命更能夠受到基督死亡和復活意義所影響。今年我們的粵語會眾將在三月舉行兩次小型的安靜退修會，作為悔改認罪的修練，並為慶祝復活節作準備。誠邀您來參加我們的安靜退修會。

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.02.19/20

 From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

 Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

The first half of this article: Do not lose heart (1): Remember we are doing the Spirit’s ministry (4:1-6) was based on the key verse “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (4:1) Those who serve God is given this honour by the Spirit Himself, and Christ Jesus our Lord will give us strength to persevere. We therefore do not need to give up when the going gets tough. All we need to make sure is that we have a servant’s heart.

In this half of the article: Do not lose heart (2): Remember our inner person is being renewed day by day (4:7-18), the key verse is “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16) Here we are dealing with physical pains and trials in our lives. We immediately think of the devastation we have experienced over the last two years in the Covid pandemic, especially the impact of the latest Omicron variant, sparing no one in its rapid spread here and around the world, causing illness and disruption in our daily lives.

But Paul talks about our human bodies are like “jars of clay” and our human experience as “afflictions” (ESV) or “trouble” (NET). Furthermore, for Paul, physical suffering is always contrasted against spiritual realities. For Paul, in all his trials, he was “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (4:10) Our victory is in Christ trough His resurrection. Paul says, he could speak boldly “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (4:14) Often we reference our “suffering” to the “normal” life that we live, and question why we are robbed of the life that we think should be a “given” that we feel we deserve, treating it as a right. This is also why when we are faced with suffering the first question we ask is “why” or “why me”?  Haven’t I followed Christ faithfully, each of us will ask? Paul recognizes that our body is frail by its very nature, like “jars of clay.” He also sees our suffering as a way that we can demonstrate Christ’s glory. This is such a contrast to how humans look at suffering.

Paul then declares that we do not lose heart when “our outer self” (physical body) is wasting away, “our inner self” (inner person) is being renewed day by day. (4:16) To Paul, what is important, is not what and how he suffers in the outer self, because our body is expected to be frail. He is more concern with how his inner person is being renewed in Christ. Again, Paul contrast “our outer self” and “our inner self.” When we suffer, we focus on “our outer self” and how to cope or get well, naturally. But for Paul, his focus is always that Christ brings about growth and healing in the “inner person.” Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why he was able to overcome so many of his adversities and weather so many storms in his life. All that matters to Paul was the renewal of the “inner person.”

Because of this knowledge of the eternal versus the temporal, Paul was able to face his suffering head-on. He knows that the “light momentary affliction (suffering) is preparing us for (producing for us) “an eternal weight of glory.” Therefore, we are to “not look at the things that are seen,” they are “transient,” but focus on “the things that are unseen,” they are “eternal.” So, we can all be assured that what we are experiencing is only “light” and “momentary.” Covid has ravaged us for over two years, but like many such epidemic or pandemic in past human history, eventually it will subside because it is temporal and transient. We often focus on the “temporal” and neglect the “eternal.” That is why we are so devastated when we suffer in the world that is transient, because we may have treated the transient as eternal.

Furthermore, if we realize that this experience of suffering is permitted by God in “preparing us” for the weight of glory in eternity, we then can view all our suffering as the discipline and trials that will help us live our lives in the resurrection power of Christ.  We need to treat it as the valuable lesson of growing in maturity in Christ and live by faith and not by sight. Paul says: “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God…, a house…eternal in the heavens.” (5:1) In other words, even if our bodies succumb to Covid or any other diseases like cancer, we will have a home in eternity, mortality replaced by immortality.

Paul continues to say, “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (5:5) In the process of being tried in the experience of our physical suffering, we are also given the Holy Spirit who is our guarantor.  The Spirit who is the paraclete or the counselor comes along side us to carry us through our trials and tribulations, it is all the work of God. We have the assurance that we will overcome because we have the Holy Spirit that is given to us, and He dwells within us. What a comforting thought to us when we are enduring the pains of suffering.

As we face Covid or any other trials in life, turn our eyes upon Jesus, just like the hymn by Helen H. Lemmel, says:

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.02.19/20

作者:李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹：

本文的前半部分(二月5/6日)：不要灰心氣餒（1）：勿忘我們是在承擔聖靈的職事(林後4:1-6) 是基於經文的要義： “所以，我們既然蒙了憐憫，得著這職分，就不沮喪。” (4:1) 聖靈賜予凡事奉神的人這榮耀，我們的主基督耶穌亦賜予我們堅忍不後退的能力。因此，我們毋須在遇到困難時放棄。我們只需要確保存著僕人的心而事奉。

這是全文的下半部分： 不要灰心氣餒（2）：勿忘我們裡面的人在天天更新（林後4:7-18），經文的重點是 “所以，我們並不沮喪，我們外面的人雖然漸漸朽壞，但裡面的人卻日日更新。” （4:16）我們正在面對著在生活中身體的痛苦和考驗。我們馬上想到過去兩年在 Covid 大流行中所經歷的破壞，尤其是近期Omicron 的新變種病毒，在世界各地迅速傳播造成疾病和破壞對我們的日常生活的影響。

但保羅提及我們的身體就像陶土做成的“瓦器”，我們在肉身上所經歷的是“苦難/災禍”(ESV譯本)或“窘境”/難處(NET譯本)。此外，對保羅來說，身體上的痛苦總是與屬靈的實況形成對比。對保羅來說，在他一切的試煉中，他“為耶穌的緣故常常被人置於死地，好讓耶穌的生也在我們必死的身上顯明出來。” （4:10）我們的得勝在於基督的復活。保羅說，他可以大膽地說： “知道那使主耶穌復活的，也必定使我們與耶穌一同復活，並且把我們和你們呈獻在他的面前。” （4:14）我們常常將我們的 “苦難”與我們過“正常”的生活相提並論，並質疑為什麼我們被剝奪了我們認為應該是“應份給予”的生活，我們認為這是我們應得的，將之視為這才是對的。這也是為什麼當我們在面對苦難時，我們首先問的問題是“為什麼”或“為什麼是我”？每個信徒可能都會問:我不是忠心地跟隨基督嗎？保羅認識到我們的身體本質上是脆弱的，就像“瓦器”。他還認為我們所受的苦難是我們展示基督榮耀的一種方式。這與一般人看待苦難的方式形成鮮明對比。

保羅接著宣告:當“外在的我”(身體)逐漸衰殘，我們“裡面的人”(內心) 卻日日更新，我們不會灰心氣餒(4:16) 。 對保羅來說，重要的不是他外在的自己受了什麼苦以及怎樣受苦，因為我們的身體本來就很脆弱衰退的。他更關切自己的內在人(屬靈品質)如何能在基督裡得到更新。保羅再次對比了“我們的外在自我”和“我們的內在自我”。當我們受苦時，我們會專注於“我們的外在自我”以及怎麼能自然地應對或康復。但對保羅來說，他的重點始終是在於讓基督帶來“內裡的人”的成長和醫治。也許這就是他能夠克服在生命中諸多的逆境和經歷如此多的人生風暴的主要原因之一。對保羅而言，重要的是“內裡的人”的更新。

因著這對於永恆與短暫的認知，保羅能夠迎向苦難。他知道“短暫輕微的患難(苦難)正是為著我們迎接永恆作準備（為我們而設/成就）“極大無比、永遠的榮耀”。因此，我們要注目於 “所看不見的”(“永恆的”)，而非專注於 “所見之物”(“短暫的”)。所以，我們都可以放心，我們所經歷的只是“光”和“瞬間”。新冠病毒已經肆虐我們兩年多，但就像過去人類歷史上的許多此類流行病或大流行病一樣，它最終會消退，因為它是暫時的和短暫的。我們經常關注“暫時的”而忽視“永恆的”。這就是為什麼當我們在短暫的世界中受苦時如此沮喪，因為我們可能將短暫的視為永恆。

此外，我們如果能認識到這些受苦的經歷是神所允許的，為的是“準備我們”能以承載在永恆裡神那極重無比豐盛榮耀的重載，我們便可以靠著基督復活的大能，將所有的苦難視為在生活中的管教和試煉中的幫助。我們需要把它當作在基督裡成熟的寶貴教訓，憑信心而不是憑眼見而生活。保羅說：“因為我們知道，如果我們地上的帳幕被毀壞，我們就有來自上帝的建築……，一座房屋……永遠在天上。” (5:1) 換句話說，即使我們的身體死於新冠病毒或癌症等任何其他疾病，我們也會在永恆中擁有一個家，死亡被不朽所取代。

保羅繼續說，“為這事預備我們的就是神，他賜給我們聖靈作保證。” （5:5）在經歷肉體痛苦的考驗過程中，我們也得到了聖靈，他是我們的保證。聖靈是我們的保護者或同行者，陪伴我們度過考驗和磨難，這都是上帝的工作。我們確信我們會得勝，因為我們有賜給我們的聖靈，而且祂住在我們裡面。當我們忍受痛苦時，這對我們來說是多麼令人欣慰的體會。

當我們面對 Covid 或生活中的任何其他考驗時，請將我們的目光轉向耶穌，就如 Helen H. Lemmel 的詩歌《當轉眼仰望耶穌》所言：

你心靈是否煩惱困苦？不見亮光，黑暗滿佈？
仰望主耶穌就得光明，你生命更活潑豐盛。
當轉眼仰望耶穌，定睛在他奇妙慈容，

在救主榮耀恩典大光中，世俗事必要顯為虛空！

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.02.05/06
From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee

 Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

The latest Omicron variant of COVID has taken a toll on many of us. First, it is really hitting home. My own family (of 17) has been impacted by COVID in the past months in many ways, including one being tested positive for COVID and must be quarantined. But the more devastating thing was that some members were developing COVID-like (flu-like?) symptoms but could not even be tested, told to stay home, and assumed they had COVID, therefore living in the fear of spreading the virus to our contacts, including other family members. I personally have had to cancel some important appointments because of “possible contact with people with COVID symptoms.”

Ministry-wise, in our Church with 5 different congregations, I and all our staff all struggle to find the best way for everybody to “keep safe.” My prayer has been, “Lord, I need desperately the wisdom of Solomon! I need the Spirit to give me discernment as to how I can persevere and how we can all persevere when we live in uncertainty and the threat of the virus, now for over 2 long years.”

The Spirit reminded me again of how Paul persevered, though under different circumstances, and I like to share what I have just re-discovered in 2 Corinthians 4. I am applying this first to all in ministry and then all in physical trials (next article). Paul uses the phrase “do not lose heart” twice in 2 Corinthians 4, once in 4:1 and again in 4:16. Let us look at each occurrence in context.

Do not be discouraged (1): Remember we are doing the Spirit’s ministry (4:1-6)

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (4:1)

What an honour it is to serve God in such a glorious ministry (as described in Ch. 3). Therefore, we do not lose heart or quit easily. This ministry is in fact a gift that we receive from God Himself, in His mercy, even though we are so unworthy.  First Paul declared he was not a quitter. In applying this to our present challenge, all of us, including all pastors and lay-leaders, must remember the privilege of being called the children of God, Christ’s ambassadors and His “bondservants.” We are therefore to be a witness to the world that is under the cloud of COVID, that amidst the challenges we are also facing, we are not discouraged, because of God’s mercy to us.

Paul in exhorting Timothy says these words: “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus…” (I Tim. 1:12-17) Paul’s encouragement here has guided me through many trials in over 40 years of ministry and I am being reminded of this truth even right now. To be honest, there were many times I have become discouraged and almost at the point of wanting to quit, because I said to myself, this is not what I bargained for when I committed myself to living for and serving Christ. Then I hear Paul encouraging me by saying, “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost (chief of all sinners), Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (I Tim 1:16) I am running out of patience, may His patience come through me!

Our ministry is “the Spirit’s ministry” seems so obvious and those of us who are committed to serving God all think almost automatically that we are doing just that – “the Spirit’s ministry.” I need constantly to remind myself so that I am not deceiving myself while I am really doing MY ministry instead. Paul elaborates by pointing to how we can all fall into the same trap by: “shameful hidden deeds,” ‘behaving with deceptiveness,” or “distorting (knowingly or unknowingly) the word of God.” (4:2a) The source of discouragement for Paul was the false prophets in the Corinthian church. Paul was facing very sharp accusations for his apostleship by being accused of using the gospel deceitfully to serve himself. Then Paul declared he was not a deceiver. Paul both strongly denied the accusations against him and stated he boldly proclaims only the truth of God.

While Paul was addressing a different audience and dealing with different challenges than ours today, nevertheless all these failures refer to doing ministry in MY ways, instead of the Spirit’s way.  The difficulty I see in applying this to myself is distinguishing the Spirit’s way and MY ways, it is indeed easier said than done. I find in myself and in pastors whom I have helped over the years, that the longer we are in ministry and the more set we are in our ways, we often lack the humility to recognize that we may and can be wrong. Paul reminds us of the way out of that is by focusing on God’s truth (not our truth): “by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.” (4:2b)

The litmus test of whether our ministry is God-centred or self-centred is found in Paul’s statement of his ministry. Paul further restated that by these words: “For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.” (4:5) Finally Paul declared that he was not a self-promoter. What strikes me about this statement is two-fold: 1. Proclaiming Christ as Lord; 2. Serving the Christians in the Church of Christ as “slaves for Jesus’ sake.”

The question I must ask myself is whether I am truly proclaiming Christ and his truth and whether I am truly submitted to Him as Lord. It has been said, “If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” I often ask myself the question in all my decisions and actions, am I truly submissive to God. In so many instances in my life, I have found that challenging. To be honest, I am still learning this true lesson of humility and surrender to God. I am amazed to rediscover that found here is one secret of not being discouraged, that is, to use the cliché “Let go and let God.” We all feel the need to be in control, but if Christ is really Lord, HE is in control. Again, I find that to be hard, to give up “the locus of control,” especially when we so desperately need certainty amidst the uncertainty that we are in.

Paul is also declaring that because Christ is His Lord, therefore he was slaves (to Christ’s Church) for Jesus’ sake.” True submission to the Lordship of Christ is demonstrated in being a true servant who serves at the will of the master, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and therefore the people of God. We yield to God’s way that is shown to us and not insist on our way. We all know this to be true, but what does it mean when there are differences of views among brothers and sisters. It is hard, and we all need to come humbly before God and ask for His guidance. Ultimately, it reflects whether we are truly yielding to the Lordship of Christ, as in this hymn:

Make me a servant
Humble and meek
Lord let me lift up
Those who are weak
And may the prayer
Of my heart always be
Make me a servant
Make me a servant
Make me a servant today.

Your servant in Christ
Pastor Simon Lee

2022.02.05/06
作者: 李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄弟姊妹：

冠狀病毒疫情的Omicron 新變種病毒實在是對我們許多人造成了極嚴重的影響。首先，其影響力真的“很埋身”。在過去的幾個月裡，我自己的一家，在很多方面也受到了疫情的影響。在教會事工方面，我和教牧團隊也在致力於探討最佳方式，以能夠確保五個不同會眾的每個人都可“保持安全”進行實體敬拜。

聖靈提醒引領我去再次思想，保羅如何能夠在各種不同的情況下，堅持不懈。我很想在此分享我剛剛從哥林多後書4 章中重新被啟迪的亮光。我先將這領會應用於所有承擔事奉和面對實體考驗的人之上，然後應用在身體軟弱的人上。保羅在林後4 章中兩次使用“不要灰心”這個用辭(句語)，其中一次是在4:1，另一次是在4:16。讓我們從經文的上下文去細察其中的含義。

今期先分享4:1。“所以，我們既然蒙了憐憫，得著這職分，就不沮喪。”(4:1)
正如在第3 章所描述，能夠在如此榮耀的職份上事奉神，實在是何等的榮幸，何等的蒙恩。因此，我們不要灰心或輕易放棄。實際上即使我們是如此的不配，我們仍然能在神的憐憫中，領受從衪而來，可以事奉衪的恩賜/恩典。我們要在冠狀病毒疫情的陰霾下，在面對的挑戰中不氣餒，我們要向世界作神的見證。

保羅在這裡的勸勉成為我在40 多年以來經歷了許多考驗的事奉中的指引。即使到現在，這真理也在提醒著我。老實說，我曾多次灰心氣餒，幾乎想要放棄，因為我對自己說，這不是我委身於服侍基督為主而活時所預計到的。然後我聽到保羅鼓勵我說：“我竟然蒙了憐憫，好讓基督耶穌在我這個罪魁身上，顯明他完全的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。(提前 1:16)我已自感堅持能力耗盡了，願祂的堅持力量臨到我！

我們的事工是以神為中心還是以自我為中心可作為試金石，明顯可見於保羅對他屬靈職事的陳述中。保羅在以下進一步重申了此重點：“我們並不是傳揚自己，而是傳揚耶穌基督是主，並且為了耶穌的緣故成了你們的僕人。”(4:5)保羅宣稱他不是一個自我吹捧的人。這句話讓我札心的有兩方面：1.宣揚基督為主；2.以“為耶穌的緣故作奴僕”服侍教會的信徒。我必須先問的是:我是否真的在宣揚基督和祂的真理、我是否真的全然順服祂為主？戴德生曾說：“若基督不是所有事情的主，祂就根本不是主。”老實說，我仍在學習謙卑和順服神的真正功課。我驚訝地再次發現，原來不致氣餒的一個秘訣就是引用這老常談的話:“放手，交給神”(Let go, and let God)。

我願作僕人，柔和謙卑，主，我願扶助孤單軟弱。
我心靈時刻不住的禱告：我願作僕人，我願作僕人，
我今天願作僕人。《世紀頌讚 #397我願作僕人》 [全文請參看網上版]

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.01.22/23
From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

This year’s theme is “Christ (the Messiah) the King” and this quarter we are focusing on Christ is our saviour. But what is His message and how is He our saviour?

At the beginning of His ministry in Galilee after His temptation, Jesus was back in Nazareth teaching in the synagogue. The passage He was given to preach on was a messianic passage, Isaiah 61:1-2. Luke’s gospel reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)   Christ went on and declared “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” and alluded to Himself, thus claiming He was the Messiah, to the shock of His listeners. (Luke 4:21)   He was the one who was “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The reference here is to the “Year of Jubilee” described in Lev 25:7. For the Jewish people, every seventh year was a “sabbatical year” for the nation, when the land was allowed to rest and be replenished.  Then every fiftieth year (after seven sabbaticals), a year was set apart as the “Year of Jubilee” in helping to balance the economic system: for example, slaves were set free, property was reverted back to the original owners, and all debts were canceled… and the people celebrated. In effect, Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the Jubilee year of the Lord (the gospel of the kingdom) was being offered to them the listeners through Him. (21) Jesus applied all of this to His own ministry, not in socio-political-economic terms, but in a physical and spiritual sense. He was bringing salvation to sinners, healing to the broken-hearted and marginal people, healing for the sick, and deliverance for those bound by demons. Yes, this is the good news from Christ our Saviour.

This week in our staff devotion, one of our pastors brought our attention to the original Isaiah passage (Is 61:1-7). What Jesus preached as recorded in the Lukan passage was the first two verse of Isaiah 61, focusing on His ministry in the First Advent, and not the judgement of God, in the Second Advent, that is found in the rest of the verses. What strikes me is the reference of the people celebrating their freedom in the Year of Jubilee as “the priests of the Lord” and “ministers of our Lord.” (Is 61:6a). There will also be “double blessings” (like the firstborn has double blessing) and with “everlasting joy” instead of “double shame” (Is 61:7).

As Christians (“little Christ), the followers of Christ (the Messiah), as we have put our faith in Christ our Saviour, we are therefore living in a spiritual “Year of Jubilee” (Wiersbe).  We are to proclaim the good news like Christ did in His first advent. That means, hope for the poor, freedom to the enslaved, healing for the sick, and liberty for the oppressed, both physically and spiritually. We proclaim Christ as our saviour, sanctifier, healer and coming King. As we believe in the priesthood of all believers, let us all remember the honour we have to be the “ministers of our Lord” and let’s bring double blessings and joy to those around us, those in the fear and anxiety of the Covid pandemic, especially those who live under the cloud of the fast-spreading Omicron virus. Yes, let’s be proclaimers of the good news.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.01.22/23
作者:李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄弟姊妹：

今年的主題是“君王基督(彌賽亞)”，我們在本季集中於：基督是我們的救主。思想有關衪的信息及衪如何成為我們的救主？

耶穌受試探後在加利利開始傳道時，回到拿撒勒的會堂裡作教導。路加福音記載，衪所宣講的經文是以賽亞書61:1-2的彌賽亞經文：“主的靈在我身上，因為他膏我去傳福音給貧窮的人，差遣我去宣告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，受壓制的得自由，又宣告主悅納人的禧年。”(路4:18-19) 基督繼續指出：“今天這經應驗在你們耳中了”，並暗指自己，聲稱自己是彌賽亞，令聽眾震驚。(路4:21) 衪就是那“宣告主恩年”的人。

這裡指的是利25:7 中描述的“禧年”。對猶太人而言，每七年是國家的“安息年”，土地被允許休息和補充。每隔五十年(七個安息年之後)，將一年作為“禧年”，以幫助平衡經濟體系：例如，奴隸被釋放，財產歸還給原來的擁有者，以及所有債務被取消了…以致人們歡慶。實際上，耶穌的話清楚地表明，主的禧年(天國的福音)是藉著衪帶來給聽聞的人。(21) 耶穌將這一切都應用於衪本身的職事上，不是在社會、政治、或經濟方面，而是在身體和靈性上。衪為罪人帶來救恩，為傷心和邊緣人士帶來醫治，為病患著帶來醫治，為被惡魔捆綁的人帶來拯救。誠然，這是來自我們救主基督的好消息。

在本週教牧同工的靈修中，我們其中一位牧者將我們的注意力帶到以賽亞書的原來的經文中(賽61:1-7)。以賽亞書61 章的前兩節的重點在於耶穌第一次來臨的職事，而不是在第二次降臨時神的審判(可見於經文其後的記載中)。令我感受良多的是，經文提到在慶祝禧年自由時作“主的祭司”和“我們主的傳道者”(賽61:6a) 。也提及“雙倍的祝福”（就如長子得到雙倍的祝福）和“永遠的喜樂”而不是“雙倍的恥辱”。(賽61:7)

作為基督徒(意即“小基督”）即基督(彌賽亞)的追隨者，根據聖經學者Wiersbe的詮釋，當我們相信我們的救主基督時，我們因此已活在一個屬靈的“禧年”之中。我們要像基督第一次降臨時那樣宣揚好消息。意即：帶來貧乏人的希望，釋放被奴役的人得自由，病患者得醫治，和帶來受壓迫者在身體和靈性上的自由。我們宣揚基督是我們的救主、成聖者、醫治者和再來的君王。當我們相信「信徒皆祭司」，讓我們緊記我們擁有“傳揚主道者”的榮譽，讓我們為身邊的人帶來雙重的祝福和喜樂，特別是那些在新冠病毒和快速傳播的Omicron變異病毒陰影下感到恐懼和焦慮的人。是的，讓我們成為好消息的宣揚者。

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.01.08/09
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Every year at the beginning of the year, we have an installation service for the new elders, deacons and deaconesses who will be serving in the new year. We are enormously thankful to all the people who serve so faithfully year in and year out. This is especially so when we have just gone through 2 years of the Covid pandemic and to see how we carried on the Church ministries using all sort of means and methods. It is so gratifying to witness that as our people serve God faithfully despite all the setbacks we experienced. All of you will receive the commendation from Jesus Himself: Good and faithful servants!

Here in 2022, after a year of roller-coaster ride through the Covid pandemic with our hopes down, up and down again, we are facing the Omicron variant that has spread rapidly through the population with number of cases of infection up to over 4,000 daily. Yet, just as the Lord brought us through the past two years, I am confident that the Lord will again help us through. We shall overcome!

The new team is characterized by new vitality of new board members and coworkers, and the continuation of stability of experienced board members and other faithful team members. We are also grateful for a strong team of pastoral workers and administrative team. Praise the Lord! Leaders, let us together with our members return to Scriptures to seek guidance on how to lead the Church forward.

The Spirit leads me again to the story of Moses and the problem he had in trying to lead about 2-million people through the wilderness, as found in Exodus 18. Moses was totally exhausted, and he tried to deal with all the problems brought to him, both big and small. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law saw Moses and was very concerned about him, because Moses was sitting from dawn till dusk judging over the people’s affairs. When Moses was asked why he did that, he replied: “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. When they have a dispute, it is brought to me and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.” (15-16) Jethro couldn’t believe what he heard and said: “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you and you cannot handle it alone.” What follows as his advice to Moses what I like to call the 3 “Jethro Leadership Principles” which I would like to share with you here.

#1 – Teach others the Words

Moses had to learn to teach others the laws of God so that they know how to live by them. Teaching (and preaching) is the most important thing a leader can do in his or her ministries. Before dealing with the “how’s”, a leader must show those he leads the “what’s” and the “why’s.” Unfortunately, in our pragmatic society, both the leaders and those who are led value more the “how’s” over the important truth that is the reason and basis of what we do and want to achieve.

Paul in encouraging Timothy in his ministry to be above all diligent in God’s word, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:14-16) We should all lead based on His Word.

#2 – Delegate others to serve

Moses was instructed to “select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials … have them serve as judges for the people at all times.” (21-22) The character of the leaders we elect and appoint is critical to doing the task well, they include the qualities of God-fearing, trustworthiness and integrity. A problem we face today in the leadership of the church around the world is that these qualities are being replaced by self-confidence, self-trust and worldliness, a version of the power and politics of the secular world.

Again, Paul teaches Timothy in 2Tim. 2:1,2, “You then, my child, …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Train the trainers, teach the teachers. I hope we can do this at RCAC.

#3 – Take on the most difficult cases

Moses should concentrate on the most difficult tasks which are his major responsibilities and leave the rests to others whom he had appointed. A good example is found in Numbers 36 where the issue of land inheritance for women came up. Moses had to exert his leadership in resolving the issue. Senior leaders must be empowered to deal with the major issues and not be handcuffed in exercising his authority. There must be trust given to the senior leader, and of course, the senior leader must also earn the trust of those he leads by personal example. Paul instructs Timothy with this words: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1Tim 4: 12) We hope that all our leaders, in our own areas of responsibility, will lead by example.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.01.08/09
作者:李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

每逢一年之始，我們也會為即將於新的一年內事奉的新任長老及執事舉行就職典禮。我們衷心感謝所有年復一年忠心地事奉的眾肢體。尤其是在我們剛經歷了兩 年的新冠病毒大流行，並看到彼此各展其謀、竭盡全力地推展教會事工時取得可喜的成果。見證了各人儘管經歷到不同的困難挫折，仍忠心地為神擺上，這真是令人欣慰。你們都能得著耶穌自己的稱讚為：良善忠心的僕人！

2022 年，在經歷了一年有如乘坐過山車般的新冠大流行之後，我們的希望再次幻滅，我們現正面臨著 Omicron 變種病毒已在人群中迅速傳播，每天的感染病例高達4,000 多宗。然而，回望主怎樣帶領我們度過已過的兩年，我深信主必定會再次幫助我們度過難關。我們必能靠主克勝！

長議會新團隊的特色是由具備活力的新成員和同工組成，配合經驗豐富的長議會成員和忠心事奉的團隊得以延續穩步向前。我們也感謝同心合力的教牧同工和行政部同工的事奉。讚美主！讓我們一眾領導團隊一起回到聖經去，尋求神話語教導我們如何帶領教會前進。

聖靈再次引領我回到出埃及記 18章摩西的故事中，探討他如何嘗試帶領大約 200 萬人穿越曠野時所遇到的問題。摩西試圖處理所有帶到他那裡的各樣大小問題，以致他完全筋疲力盡。摩西的岳父葉忒羅看到他的情況，極為關切，因為摩西從早到晚都坐著審判百姓的事。當摩西被問到他為什麼這樣做時，他回答說：“因為人民到我這裡來求問神。他們有事件的時候，就到我這裡來，我就在雙方之間施行審判，使他們認識神的條例和律法。” （15-16）葉忒羅不敢相信他所聽到的並說：“你這樣作不好。你必疲乏不堪；不但你自己，連與你在一起的人民也必疲乏不堪，因為這事太重，你不能獨自一人去作。” 接下來是他對摩西的建議，我形容之為 3 項“葉忒羅領導原則”，我想在以下與您分享。

#1 –以神的話語作教導

摩西必須學習以神的律法教導人，讓他們知道如何遵行這些律法。教導(和講道)是領袖在事奉中佔首要的。在 “如何”(how) 處理事情之前，受領導者必須向擔任領導崗位者展示“什麼是領導”(what)和“為什麼領導”(why)。不幸的是，在我們務實的社會中，領導者和被領導者都更看重“實行領導” 過於真理的重要性，這是我們希望達至目標的原因及基礎。

保羅鼓勵提摩太在他的事奉中，首先要勤奮地遵從神的話語，“你應當遵守所學和確信的；你知道是跟誰學的，並且知道自己從小就明白聖經，這聖經能夠使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶穌得著救恩。全部聖經都是神所默示的，在教訓、責備、矯正和公義的訓練各方面，都是有益的，為要使屬神的人裝備好，可以完成各樣的善工。”(提後3:14-17) 我們都應該根據神的話語作領導。

#2 – 分工合作善於委派

摩西被指導“要從人民中間選出有才能的人…就是敬畏神、忠實可信、恨惡不義之財的人，設立他們…去管理人民…讓他們隨時為人民擔任法官。” (21-22) 我們選舉和任命的領袖的品格，對於做好這項任務至關重要，其中包括敬畏神、值得信賴和具備純全正直的品格。我們今天在世界各地的教會領導中面臨的問題就是，這些品格正在被自信、自恃和世俗取向所取代，以謀求世俗的權力和政治手腕作藍本。
再者，保羅在提摩太後書 中教導提摩太: “我兒啊，…應當把你在許多見證人面前從我這裡聽見的，交託給那些又忠心又能夠教導別人的人。”  (提後2:1-2)。 培訓教導人的導師，培育教師。盼望我們列宣家也能如此。

#3 –不畏艱難承擔重任

摩西的主要職責應常專注於最困難的任務之上，其餘的任務則分派給各指定人選去承擔。民數記第 36 章就是一個很好的例子，其中提到了處理婦女的土地繼承問題。摩西必須發揮他的領導作用來解決這個問題。在實行職務時必須賦予在上的領袖以處理重大問題的權力，而不是在行使權力時受到制肘。要信任在上的領袖，在上的領袖也必須要以身作則，贏得下屬的信任。

保羅用這樣的話教導提摩太：“不要因為你年輕，就讓人看不起你，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心和純潔上為信徒樹立榜樣。“(提前4:12) 盼望我們所有的領袖，也能夠在我們自己的職責範圍內，以身作則。

主僕,
李耀全牧師