The Eagle and the Chickens ~ A Parable.

Once upon a time a bird nicknamed "Baldy" was born in a tiny little chicken coop.

When he was young…it seemed OK doing things chickens do

He spent the day pecking at the ground, scratching around for bits of grain or juicy bugs to eat.

But as he grew older he noticed that he was different from the other chickens.

He didn't make the same sounds they did.
His beak was sharper.
He didn't like to eat bugs anymore--he wanted to eat fish.
(The other chickens thought fish was yucky).

He was way taller than the rest of them.
His wings were really long ~ he wanted to fly…
Because he wanted to fit in he kept his wings tucked away so nobody would notice them.

He began to feel very sad and unhappy…

Most of his chicken friends made fun of him because he was different from them.

By now the feathers on the top of his head had turned white…It made him look bald.

They called him Baldy-Chicken-Monster…

One of the nicer chickens told him that even though he was really different he should just learn to fit in…
enjoy bugs… give up on his dream of flying…

"Forget about EATING FRESH SALMON AND CRAB!
WHY leave? We’ve got everything we need right here…"

To "Baldy" the chicken coop was feeling more and more like a prison

One day Baldy heard a sound way high overhead. It was the unfamiliar screech of a Red Tailed Hawk. He heard it again!

Baldy said to himself~ That is not a chicken … it can fly…
FROM THE END OF ONE WING TO THE OTHER IT MEASURES 4 FEET!

For the first time Baldy spread his wings out…

They were even bigger than the red tail hawk; FROM THE END OF ONE WING TO THE OTHER IT MEASURED 8 FEET!

Suddenly the chickens realized ~ Baldy wasn't weird ~ He was a superhero!

Baldy spread his wings out and flapped them.
He gained altitude like an airplane…
Soon he was soaring high above the earth…
He was working up an appetite and looked down
& saw a salmon dinner with his name on it!

He began to sing a new and happy song…

He finally understood…

He was not a chicken meant to scratch on the ground in a cage.

He was a bald eagle, the most majestic of birds..

He was meant to take wing and soar as high as he could…

Isaiah said, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

God can help you take flight & soar because He made you uniquely you.

(resource: Dick Staub)

Joe

Step into other people's shoes

" When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good news and share in its blessings. " ( 1 Corinthians 9 : 22 - 23 )

To be able to share people's weakness means being able to step into other people's shoes and see the world from their perspectives.

The best way to do this is to talk to people, ask questions and hear their stories. Start a conversation with someone and find out about him/her. Write a journal about it, let this be an ongoing project; add to it whenever you feel led. Allow you interest for other to stay with you in the long run. ( source: Creative Worship, The Vine. )



If you are interested in knowing more about Jesus Christ and church, please come visit us in Jordon, Hong Kong, our church is a place with joy, fun, excitement and love.

Be the light, be the Jesus of others

about a week a ago, just after I came back from Japan, I went out for lunch with my friend, just as I walked pass a convenient store, the magazines being displaced in the window section caught my eyes, and yet I realized the focus of today's Hong Kong media is so much more on entertainment news than on humanity, life or even the basic concept of right and wrong.



I am not here to judge, but I am sure to most of you, it wouldn't come as a surprise if the magazines stories were made up, fake or what-not. And soon after that a bunch of questions popped up on my mind, why would people rather telling lie than truth? what is today's value? what happen if people cannot distinguish truth from lie? and they kept bugging me for a little while, until I looked at the typical Hong Kong crowd out there, and I sensed God spoke to me and granted me a new vision at the time.



I felt God said to me, look at all these people, and imagine they are all the children of God, accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, imagine Christ lives in all of them, everyone with a humble, loving and happy smile on their faces, loving and caring one and other, using their gifts to serve the Lord and help one and other. I just stood there in awe, and experienced the amazing grace of God as he spoke to me when least expected.
At that time I know God wants me to be a person who stands firm and strong in His word, and does not afraid to stand my ground for Christ, telling people about Jesus, telling people out there what God's done for me and how my life changed because of Him.

" When people do not accept God's vision, they run wild. " (Proverbs 29:18)



Remember a preaching from Hillsong youth pastor Phil Dooley, he talked about being the Jesus of others.
Back in the days when Jesus was doing his ministries, it was his job to tell people about our heavenly father and to glorify our God. But it is now our responsibilities to tell people about Jesus, to shine his light and to glorify his name, as Jesus now lives within us. And the closer we are spiritually to Jesus, the brighter we are to shine His glory.

" You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. " (Matthew 5:14)



so don't be afraid to get out there and tell people about Jesus, as still there are a lot of people out there living in darkness, not knowing God's love and mercy, so let us be the light of people who still live in darkness, be the Jesus of them.

" God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. " (1 John 1:5)


If you are interested in knowing more about Jesus, please come to our church in Jordon, Hong Kong, it's a place with joy, fun, excitement and love.

Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter

I got this story from a friend and I would like to share it here.

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, ‘You’d better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.’ Then he thought, ‘Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.’

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, ‘Here, you gave me too much change.’

The driver, with a smile, replied, ‘Aren’t you the new preacher in town?’
‘Yes’ he replied.
‘Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.’
When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, ‘Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.’

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard - and remember – You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself ‘Christian.’

Luke 9:23 NIV “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you.

Jeremiah 24: 3-7 NIV “My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL!

God Bless You and Thank you to the Original author.

Joe

This is our church, our God !!!

You are invited to join us to worship God @Breakthrough Centre !!
你被誠意被邀請到我哋教會 @ 佐敦突破中心一同敬拜神!!

聚會時間Service Time: 逢星期六 Every Saturday @ 1800-1930

地址: 突破中心九龍佐敦吳松街191號突破中心地庫青匯點
(佐敦地鐵站D出口)
Address: Basement of Breakthrough Centre, 191 Woosung Street, Jordan, Kowloon
(Jordan MTR Exit D)

聯絡人Contact: Peko 60366399 or Phoebe 63702404


Moon festival version JLH Hong Kong !!!

We're looking farward seeing you here!!!

Stand you gound for God

Daniel 6 : 10

( The administrations and high officers gave orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human - except to the king - will be thrown into the den of lions. )

" But when Daniel heard that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prays three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. "

No matter how different the belief system of this world is to ours, we ought to stand firm and stay strong in what we believe in, to tell people the good news of Christ.

We're called to live a different lives to others, so we stay strong and consistent, to make a difference in the cities that we live in. ( When the going gets tough, the tough gets going ! )

Joe

Called to live holy

1 Peter 2 : 11 - 12

" Dear friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live proper among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behaviors, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. "

We, as christian, live as an outsider to the earthly world, not to depend on the earthly things, but on God.

We are called to live a different live then others.

Joe

Pressing Toward the Goal

Philippians 3 : 12 - 16

" But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Forgetting that past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. "

No one is made perfect except our Lord Jesus Christ. But we are so blessed and able to receive the grace of God, and becoming more like Him.

Don't let what you've done wrong in your past holding you back, instead look forward and move on to what lies ahead. (You can not be your best today unless you say goodbye to yesterday !!!)

Joe

Building on a Solid Foundation

Luke 6 : 47 - 49

" I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwater rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and does not obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. "

Being obedient to the word of God helps us building our life foundation on God but not on earthly things such as money, fame or status.

When trials come or hard time strikes, a life foundation on God is the best defence or the best solution.

A Godly based life foundation allows us to stand tall and strong in any situation in life. But to people who are not having their life foundation built on God, they fall easily when hard time comes, and find it hard to build themselves back up again.

Joe

The Tree and Its Fruits

Luke 6 : 43 - 44

" A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. "

Be obedient to God, follow what the word of God said, and you will receive His blessing.

And it is our accountability as children of God to check on our internal growth in God, for our fruit reflects on what within us.

Joe

Living the New Life

Colossians 3 : 1 - 3

" Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth, for you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in his glory. "

Keep our focus away from the earthly things, but to fix our eyes to the heavenly father's love and mercy.

Death on earth is just a beginning of heavenly life.

Don't be short-sighted in God's glory.

Joe

Be the blessing of the next generation

Genesis 26 : 4 - 5

" I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirement, commands, decrees, and instructions. "

The word of God said to us that we can be the blessing of the next generation, and many more to come.

Just by being faithful and obedient to God, obeying His words and love Him with all your heart.

Important being a good role model in God, and to our next generation.

Joe

My Life Is In Your Hands

You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

Be Fruitful

Psalms 1 : 1 - 3

" Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. "

God is pleased when us as the children of Him don't associate with the wicked. And yet keep the word of God on our mind always, for the word of God keeps us from doing evil.

Stick by the word of God, for they are the wisdom of life. Meditate and learn the true meaning and wisdom behind the word of God,

people who obey the word of God have their life foundation built on God, like trees planted along the riverbank, never lack of what they need (wisdom is God are like the water flowing along the river stream), bearing fruit each season (achieve and grow out of the tasks that is given from God), also they do well in all the things that they do in the name of God.

Joe

Live by the word of God

Matthew 4 : 1 - 4

" Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, if you are the son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread. But Jesus told him, 'No! The scripture say - Please do not live by the bread alone, but by every word that comes from the month of God.' "

The focus of God can be shifted if we have a strong desire of something that is other than God, but we can claim the mighty power of our Lord Jesus to overcome that, just by trusting in the word of God.

And we have to keep in mind that devil won't just come and tempt us once, but they will keep doing it many many times through out our lifetime.

Make a balance out of our lifestyle that let us live by the word of God and let us worship God with all your heart, and at the same time satisfy our needs that are aligned to God's vision.

Joe