Today I finally had the opportunity to go and hear Chris Yu speak at Hallelujah Chinese Evangelical Free Church. If you know me and my story, I hold Chris in high regard, as it was through his sermon at TC03 the Lord was revealed to me and I was saved.

I had a great time hearing God’s Word, worshiping with bros&sis at HCEFC and praying with them, as well as observing how things are done differently (or not so differently) at another church! This is probably no benefit to you, but here’s a list of people I met (and sorry if I misspelled any of their names): Kristy (gr12; future life-sci student), Isabelle (Blue Mountain Friday snowboarder), Lillian (artsy?), Dennis (TC05 planning committee person; guitar), Gary (bassist; looks a little like Derrick Fung), Anna (worship leader), Michelle (Queen’s; Jen’s female best friend), Imelda (Kristen’s school friend), Richard (The Adult That Went To High School In Oshawa), Rohanda (looks a little like Carmen Chan from high school), Ellen (guitarist), Heidi (female vox), Pastor Derek (down to earth prayers, friendly attitude), Pastor Emily (spelled my name).

Since Sunday school occurred first, I’ll put my notes from that first!

Sunday school

Psalm 61 [show] Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; [2]from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, [3]for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. [4]Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! [5]For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. [6]Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! [7]May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! [8]So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.

• higher rock, collective vision
• can’t change self; only God can change you
  • BUT you must desire change
  • all change starts w/ prayer
• getting to higher place but then plateau…need God’s help to elevate!
• What would happen if the Psalmist doesn’t cry out to God to take him higher? what would prevent him from doing so?
• must PRAISE Him after change occurs
• how is your walk reflective of Psalmist’s words?
• What words do you use to describe God? Why do you NOT use some of the words found in the Psalm?
• Mark 9 [show] And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." [2]And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3]and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. [4]And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [5]And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." [6]For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7]And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." [8]And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. [9]And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. [10]So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. [11]And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" [12]And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13]But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." [14]And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. [15]And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. [16]And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" [17]And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. [18]And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." [19]And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." [20]And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. [21]And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. [22]And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." [23]And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." [24]Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" [25]And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." [26]And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." [27]But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. [28]And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" [29]And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." [30]They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, [31]for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." [32]But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. [33]And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" [34]But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. [35]And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." [36]And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37]"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." [38]John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." [39]But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. [40]For the one who is not against us is for us. [41]For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. [42]"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. [43]And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. [45]And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. [47]And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, [48]'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' [49]For everyone will be salted with fire. [50]Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (ESV)
  : “Lord help me w/ my disbelief…”
• Dennis’ program:
  • light source (God) behind us while we face the wall; our shadow is our sin
  • while facing the wall, step back closer to the light; our shadow grows as we go closer to God with our backs turned
  • look AT the light; when we solely focus on God, can’t see the largeness and shame of our sin

Sermon: “Be The Change: Emus or Eagles”

Isaiah 40:26-31 [show] [26]Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. [27]Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? [28]Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. [29]He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. [30]Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; [31]but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

• eagles…everywhere in Bible as majesty, honourable…
• vs emus; made decision to stay Earth-bound, not fly?
  • as Christians…we have danger and reality of eventually just going through the motions (hrmm…Matthew West – The Motions) and get stuck on the ground…
  • where is our FAITH?
• ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE of our faith
  • God saved us (as emus) and allows us to change (through Jesus) to be eagles; flapping our wings to fly
  • …but we can lose our ability to fly (being complacent, falling back to old self)
• v26: this verse itself is a shift (wrt v1-25); “LOOK UP AT GOD, BUDDY.”
  • God is completely in control, and completely powerful
  • tension of trusting, seeing and believing in God
• v28-31: “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength”
  • God is in control and will give strength to breakthrough
• change is a choice you must make
  • Why live low and plain/dead like an emu when can live high, free and alive like an eagle?
• its not that we’ve never known how to fly; we KNOW; we just forget
• set God focused goals; change what you do; start dreaming big (Rick’s GOBIG?); don’t let the wrongs of the past hinder your future
• What do you want to be? What kind of community? Where to go?