Discerning: True or False
Rev. Ted Kang
I have a very nice watch that I received as a wedding gift from my in-laws. One day, I spotted the same watch being sold for no more than $40 in one of the night markets of Bangkok. It had a remarkable resemblance to the genuine watch that I own, down to the smallest details. Most people wouldn’t have been able to discern the fake from the real thing. But it didn’t take long for me to know that it was a well-crafted counterfeit. The weight was off. The hue and the texture of the dial was ever so slightly too dull. The complex engraving on the back case was exactly the same as the one I had, but its depth was deceptively shallow. If the watch was any other brand or model, it would’ve been impossible for me to know it was a knock-off. But I was able to tell almost instantly because I had worn my watch for the last 20 years and had come to know it by heart. Read more →
Wounded Healer
Rev. Jason Ho
A peer group was gathering in a house, chatting excitedly about their work, up-to-date “know how” and the most current news. Among the group was a charismatic and talkative young man, the center of attention, who spoke loudly with self-confidence. There was another young man, who just joined the group recently, a man of few words, working in a machine shop in the daytime. He looked like he was having some physical pain and his mind was thinking about a report that was due tomorrow. He had hoped that he would be able to find some comfort in a group that he felt he belonged to; however, he was not able to communicate with them. One weekend morning, the young man showed up in a senior nursing house, meeting up with an old lady. The old lady could only express herself with her eyes to express how eager she was to have someone accompany her. The young man tried to practice his limited sign language to “sing” a hymn to her. Amazingly, through the old lady’s eyes where anxiety was gradually fading away, the young man experienced the forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus. Read more →
Untiring Work
Pastor Lei Hou
Isaiah 40:28-31 says, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.” Read more →