APPROACH QUESTION:
If you feel cheated by your spouse, fiancée, boy or girlfriend, what would you like to see happen to them?

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what do I learn about Mary, the mother of Jesus?
1. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph.
2. But before they [Joseph and Mary] came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what do I learn about Joseph?
1. Joseph was the husband of Mary.
2. Joseph was a righteous man.
3. Joseph did not want to expose her to public disgrace.
4. Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly!

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself what do I think was going on in Joseph's mind?
Joseph was thinking that he did not make Mary pregnant because he did not have sex with her but since she got pregnant, Mary was unfaithful to him.

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself how did Joseph want to respond and the significance of that response?
The significance of knowing how Joseph wanted to respond reveals to me why Joseph was seen as a righteous man. Even though he felt that Mary got pregnant and he definitely was not the father, he did not want to expose her to public disgrace so he had in mind to divorce her quietly without anyone knowing about it. This reveals to us Joseph's love for Mary amidst how he felt Mary had wronged him even though Mary did not wrong him but he did not know that yet. Joseph shows true love towards Mary in a world of false hope by wanting to protect her publicly and privately. Publicly Joseph wanted to protect her by not exposing her to public disgrace unlike what happened to Tiger Woods and privately Joseph wanted to protect her by divorcing her quietly unlike what happened to Tiger Woods.

It is  especially loving what Joseph did because according to Jewish law what Joseph thought he knew could have given him reason to stone Mary but love for Mary overruled what should have been done when he thought Mary was guilty. Also, it is Joseph's relationship with God that revealed his true love towards Mary in a world of false hope because his ultimate true hope is in God in a world of false love too.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
The implications for my own life are profound when I study the actions of Joseph. Joseph's actions show that true love is never self-righteous but always is kind and thinks about the best welfare of the other person. So, the purpose of today's study was for me to understand that true love in a world of false hope can influence lives with true hope in a world of false love. True hope exists because of God's true love for us to give us true hope moving us to love truly.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING L.O.V.E:
I  would not have even been at Oakland International Fellowship (OIF), if it were not for the Lord Jesus Christ using Pastor Hugo Cheng, the senior Pastor of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland of which OIF is the English congregation.  The Lord Jesus has used Pastor Hugo Cheng to show me how love looks like no matter how many times I have messed up as a leader and congregation member. Even when my mistakes have been exposed to me by him, I rarely ever felt he was judgmental towards me but always showing love. I don't think I was ever offended by what Pastor Hugo said to me even if there were times I felt distressed, confused, and even disturbed. A lot of times instead of telling me how wrong I have been in certain areas of my life, he let me see it through using examples and anecdotes. The most powerful being using the Word of God and the examples of biblical characters to make me see my own shortcomings without making me feel judged. He always does things to be of service to me instead of it ever being a power trip. It is for me to grow in the Lord and experience Jesus' true love in a world of false hope so that my living the life will be reflected by my imitating the Living Lord's ways for my life through the Lord's transforming grace.

It is true love that changes people and brings them back for more whether it is hearing about Jesus, living in community, etc. Sometimes it just takes that one person to make a difference which is multiplied. Even when I cannot meet with Pastor Hugo weekly, I always get to meet with Edwin Chan who Pastor Hugo discipled in the earlier years. I would say to Pastor Hugo that some of the things that Edwin tells me reminds me so much of my meetings with Pastor Hugo.  Bottom line is being loved is what keeps me keep meeting with Pastor Hugo.

I realize my own mistakes time after time when I meet with Pastor Hugo and Edwin, but I don't feel judged because TRUTH is PROCLAIMED IN LOVE.

This is what yesterday's lesson on Gospel Christianity Series II: Lesson 2 revealed to me too. In a sermon that Edwin, Marie, Pastor Ed, Steve, Zela, Kristen, Josh, Bryan, and I heard, we learned about the danger of proclaiming the Truth of God's Word without love. When we do that, we will be seen as many Fundamentalist Right Wing Christians who people perceive to have a self-righteous holier than thou attitude even if they may not think of themselves that way. I have been labeled as a Fundamentalist Right Wing Christian because of my beliefs and if the actions do not reflect Christ's love then all the Truth will lay dormant because this in essence will remove the right for us to be heard because if people see themselves as being judged by others without experiencing love, then the feeling of condemnation will overrule any Truth. This will destroy being a true witness for Christ. Truth without love leads to death. I have experienced that because of my own actions.

On the contrary, God's Truth can be expressed in love and when that is experienced, the Truth will bring conviction instead of condemnation. As a follower of Christ, this is what I need to aim for. I have done that too and experienced that too. When I meet with Pastor Hugo, I feel convicted instead of condemned. This is how I want to proclaim the Truth to be a Missional church as Pastor Tim Keller talked about in the sermon.

I also learned the danger of loving others to the point that we do not proclaim God's Truth, because we do not want to offend anyone but tolerate everyone. When we do that, we will be seen as many Liberal Left Wing Christians who want to love without Truth.  This in essence may give people the right to be heard but just to hear about love instead of God's Truth expressed in love. This will eventually destroy churches. Love without Truth leads to death.

God's Truth expressed in love will look like how Jesus approached the Samaritan Women at the Well in John 4.  For my own life, it has been experienced through how the Lord Jesus has used my mom as I was growing up and currently Pastor Hugo and Edwin. Also, no matter how wrong I may be in a topic, when I talk with Marie, I never feel judged even though my actions could totally be wrong. That's the key to let others see their wrongdoings and still not feel judged.

Yet, those who know me well know that I can be the most judgmental person expressing Truth which is not biblical. Truth expressed in Christ's love is what is biblical. We never shy away from expressing the Truth of God's Word because we do not want to offend anyone. But, we ask the Spirit of the Living God to help us reveal His Truth in love. It can be done because I have seen it happen in my own life.

As I thought about Joseph, it reminded me of God's true love for me no matter how many times I have messed up and wronged the Lord. There were areas of my life that should have been exposed to public disgrace and God could have divorced me from His presence forever because of the way I have lived my life so many times but God's true love for me in this world of false hope revealed Jesus Christ to me and what Jesus Christ can do for me instead of abandoning me. Thank you Father God! Despite my soul sickness, as Jason and Andrea, staff workers of Asian InterVarsity Christian Fellowship like to use for sin, Jesus Christ did not abandon me.

If anything He revealed His true love to me despite how many times I have sinned by my actions. Jesus' radical way of dealing with people including me shows that when the love of Christ is shown in people's lives by Proclaiming the Truth and Living the Truth, lives can be transformed by His grace through love. That's what happened to me. It is my mommy that instilled in me the love of Christ  by loving me and rarely  being judgmental! When my brothers and I doubted our own walk with the Lord, she had encouraged us to keep reading the Book of Romans to show God's love of infinity towards us in Jesus Christ. To this day, my mommy has us focus on what Christ's love can do for us. Thank you Jesus.

All this testimony will be for naught if I do not share with you all where this Truth comes from in love. It is Jesus Christ for me. My love cannot influence anyone's life if that love is not rooted in the love of Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  It is His Way, His Truth, and His life that leads us to true love and true hope. It is found in Him. Jesus loves us so much that if we were the only one living, He would have still died for us and come back to life to save us from all our sin.  It is His love for us that made Him shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to cleanse us from all our sin so that we can be seen as righteous in the eyes of the Lord when we come to Him. Jesus gave us the free gift of His grace to save us and redeem us. Jesus did everything for us so that we will not feel judged but loved by Him. It His love for us that moves us to action. We are not saved because of the good we think we do but we are saved because of the good that Jesus has done for us. So, no matter how our life is and how much we have messed up, we are never out of His love and His reach. He loves us as we are inspite of our shortcomings. He wants us to come to Him in our soul sickness, so He can work in us and transform us for we cannot ever get rid sin no matter how much we try. Only Christ can do that for us and will do that for us. But for that to happen, we should turn our lives over to Him and experience His love.

To show that love he places people in our lives and especially His Word to reveal His love to us. You can have that love too because it is only His true love that can give us true hope in a world of false hope and false love. I hope you find that as I have. Knowing how Jesus loves us and understanding the implications of Joseph's actions, Jesus' actions towards the Samaritan woman in John 4 and Adulterous woman in John 8 should move us to true love in a world of false hope.

I ask you now dear friend how has your love influenced others in life?
Dear friend, I learned how love influenced Joseph’s life towards Mary in a positive way. Joseph could have humiliated Mary with the intention to destroy her for what he perceived happened to him and what he believed. But, instead his love shows his righteousness.

 Sadly, we live in a society where love can at times just become a four letter word and not have a true meaning. Many times it is only love when things go our way but when things don’t love is shattered. A wrongdoing can easily turn human beings heart to hate which is sad if they are not careful.

When that happens we are not satisfied with our own hurt but want the other person to be hurt too. The best way people do that is trying to publicly disgrace someone for their wrong doing. I have experienced that in the past and it is so terrible. The pain and humiliation is awful too.

 It does not show love but their own vengeful spirit for what happened. I have been guilty of that too but reading this passage made me realize how I need to change and let love rule me.

 Sadly in ministry people are more publicly disgraced than in other professions. I believe if we allowed love to rule the situations, things would be different. This does not mean that if a person’s actions are in the wrong, they are being approved of. Just as Joseph thought of ways, I believe we can think of ways too to rectify a situation where we have been wronged but allowing love to influence us.

Friend, maybe you have been at the receiving end of a wrong and do not know anymore how love can influence you.  But, I want you to know that whatever has happened to you, Jesus wants to show you what true love is.  No matter what has happened, the Lord Jesus can pick you up and put you on solid ground as you turn to Him this Christmas season! Yes, He can! Even if you have been humiliated, don’t let that rule you but allow Jesus to come and heal you. Love has come into this world and He will encompass you with His love.

Maybe you are at the giving end and have publicly disgraced others. If that happened, you can know there are alternatives to handle a situation. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and see how you can handle a situation from now on allowing love to influence you. That is what Joseph did.

May you allow the Lord Jesus Christ’s love to influence you this Christmas season now and forever! Amen!

"Love Others Very Enthusiastically!" (L.O.V.E)/"How has your L.O.V.E influenced others in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you so much for how much you love us. Your love is so pure and unconditional. Lord for all the wrongs we have done if you did not show us love, we would forever continue to be publicly disgraced. But you have not done that Lord instead you had in mind for you to be publicly disgraced taking upon yourself our sin. Thank you so much Jesus for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Help us please to be influenced by your love. I thank you Jesus for being in our life. Forgive us Lord when we allowed a vengeful spirit to decide those we want publicly disgraced. This happens a lot in society. We don’t want to be like society but how you want us to be. Thank you so much again for your love that can rule our lives. I give myself completely to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you for bringing us through the years of infancy and caring for us. You have been our help so many times. Please continue to live in us and we will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of our lives. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you are our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us. In Your Name I Pray JESUS! AMEN!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!