Sunday, July 11, 2010

33. A Loving Father

"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me." (1 Cor 4:15-16)

One message from RETS that I really like is how as RE teachers, we should be fathers who love their children. There may be many instructors in the RE system, who teach class and then leave like part-time professors. However, we must not just be instructors. We must be fathers who love the students as their own children. This love is like the love of a good shepherd who is willing to give his life for the sheep. This love is a love of sacrifice. Therefore, let us not be hired hands. Let us not be mere instructors. Let us ask God for the heart of a father that we may truly love our children in Christ. We must set the example of love for the students - an example for them to imitate and follow.

32. RETS Happenings

Not really happenings. More like quotes by D. Liang.

D. Liang was giving a message about how our criteria for marriage should only be based on feeling (if you have feelings toward this person), same faith, and independence (mental, physical, and spiritual). He was saying that people often create artificial criteria like how people look. However, beauty eventually fades like a flower.

DL: After they have 2 or 3 children, they all look the same.

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About Holy Spirit and good conduct. Can you identify that someone has received the HS by their good conduct (fruit)? The answer is no. The evidence is speaking in tongues. One is example is Cornelius who did good works but didn't receive the HS yet. Another is... Confucius?

DL: Of course Confucius did not have the Holy Spirit. He did not even hear of Jesus Christ.

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There was a two-part class on "sexual purity before serving". We have to be clean vessels so that God can use us.

DL: If I gave you a gold cup and a plastic cup, which one would you use?
Student: Which ever one is clean.
DL: Yes. What if the cup had poopoo in it? What is important is if it is clean.

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We were talking about the ideal age of marriage. DL said 22 is okay (right after graduating).

DL: What age is ideal? I got married at the age of 33 - Jesus' crucifixion.

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DL was talking about how we should move courtship closer to marriage, and consequently, the engagement commencement closer to the wedding day.

DL: After courtship and commencement, you can get married the next day. Right? Double blessing.

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He was talking about how we have to spend time to counsel students.

DL: Counseling is not like McDonalds - a few minutes and it's finished. No such kind of thing.

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He once read in Reader's Digest that fathers usually spend 3-5 minutes each day with their children. The first minute is to ask the children to report what they did. The second minute is for the father to criticize them like how they didn't clean well enough or how they need to improve in HW. The third is to give commands.

DL: The fourth is to dismiss - "Everybody watch TV." ... No wonder so many problems.

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About sexual purity and how we should never be in the same room alone with the opposite gender unless it's family, and how we should go to public places during courtship.

DL: Go somewhere like McDonalds. It's impossible to commit to fornication at McDonalds.