Through their blows, the persecutors and the persecuted came to know one another. This is an important gain for both of us, as we continue to walk through persecution. This is what it means when we Chinese say: “Out of blows, knowledge grows!”
There will always be conflicts for people who grow up in a traditional Chinese education, because a Chinese education is an atheistic education. But I never doubted the existence of God. The existence of God was as natural to me as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It was as natural to me as getting up in the morning.
I am a subversive patriot because, despite the progress we have made as a nation, America is not my best hope for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." My ultimate allegiance is to a King who gave up his own life, liberty, and happiness to redeem us from the tyranny of sin.
The gospel’s biggest impact on me is that it changed how I viewed human existence. The truth is that human existence is not random, and life is not without meaning because God has prepared eternal life for us. I was hopeless about life before I heard the gospel because of my own sinfulness and my separation from God. But through Christ’s redemption, I have been restored and am now truly alive having God’s spirit in me.
Read MoreI hope to have my grandmother’s perseverance and her attitude toward her work. It is worth my time learning these things from her. As for my mom, I hope that I can have her strong faith in the Lord and her thirst for the Bible. I am not there yet. I want to learn from both of them.
Read MoreLast year I read through Philippians a lot. I want to grow in him in joy. In the past, I thought joy was knowing how to suck it up or to be positive in a hard situation. I wanted to learn that skill. But after I read through Philippians, God helped me get a little taste of Paul’s joy when he was in prison. It’s not like Paul is positive about it. His heart is completely not there, his heart is on Jesus’s gospel and the Philippians. When he heard the gospel is spreading and the Philippians are growing, that’s where his joy came from. He’s so filled with joy that his surroundings or the situation don’t even matter.
Read MoreI often wonder when I will be able to step down. Most churches are led by brothers, and in most cases their family members are all believers. So, I wonder whether I am not building up the church with my example. I think about this every day, but every time I pray about leaving my position, God does not allow me to do it.
Read MoreI was facing the consequences of my sin. People didn’t tell me that if I sinned, there would be consequences. I felt it was too much: “If you are the God who cares about me and loves me, why do you make it so hard? I made a mistake, so what?” But when I look back, in that time my faith became more real.
Read MoreIn my opinion, the key issue is not about whether one wears dresses or heels. It is about how a woman understands beauty. Does she believe that God has given her a beautiful image when he created her? And does she believe that we are a group a women whom God personally created, that we have many fine and beautiful ideas, and that the wisdom we possess is from God?
Read MoreWhen I was in high school, I was so stressed. Late at night I would pray to god, whoever it was. My mindset was all about exchanging; I had to give him something so he would give me something. It was like this: I had an exam or test the next day and had to get a good score. I told him, “You can torture me or give me nightmares—whatever you want to do tonight—but I need a good result on tomorrow’s test.”
Read MoreI have learned over and over that when I trust him, I can overcome many more of my deepest sins that are controlling me. Perhaps my family of origin did leave an indelible imprint on me. But the power of Christ, the power of the gospel, can deliver me from such a darkness so that I can have greater joy. Then more of Christ’s character will flow out of my life.
Read MoreMy greatest desire is that everyone would face the coming persecution with unity and joy, for this is what God has allotted to us. We must face it joyfully and not speculate about God’s reasons. We must move forward according to what God has appointed to us.
Read MoreThere is a strong consensus among church workers about the theology of the cross: because of the gospel that we believe, the church must walk the way of the cross. In the past, this consensus was not clear or strong, but now it is very clear and very strong… As for the congregation, grace and the cross seem to have become two focal points in their understanding of the gospel through the preaching and pastoring of the church.
Read More
