Comments on: 12 Random Reflections for the New Year http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/ for friends of University Bible Fellowship Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:34:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1 By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11770 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:41:20 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11770 If you think there is something that we could collaborate together let me know.

]]> By: BK http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11769 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:26:49 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11769 Yes, but I have some ideas for further books.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11768 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:24:10 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11768 Is your new book the one with bigbear?

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11767 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:21:48 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11767 As I close out this year, it is good for me to reflect on my thoughts on Jan 1, 2013. As I re-read my 12 alliterations, I was somewhat shocked and sobered to realize how far I fall far short of my own expectations, plans and desires.

]]> By: BK http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11766 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:12:49 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11766 Goals for 2014? Publishing! 2014 will see at least one new book, a new website and many more connections with various media outlets.

]]> By: BK http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-11765 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:11:01 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-11765 In reflecting back on these comments from the beginning of 2013, I am ever more convinced in my beliefs above. I feel a sense of accomplishment regarding my three goals above: Be human. Be yourself. Be honest.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-9898 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:36:09 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-9898 Thanks, Brian. I still love my corny alliteration! even if I usually forget them after coming up with them.

I really do not see any “controlling” director being removed from UBF. Your layers probably explains why it won’t happen. Our only consolation is that no matter how controlling any UBF director is, God is the ultimate One who is in control (Ps 115:3; 135:6; Jn 3:8).

Really, I feel very bad and very sorry for anyone who thinks they are in control. It will be a very sad day for them whenever they realize that they are really NOT in control at all, no matter how much they try to control UBF.

]]> By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-9895 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:08:57 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-9895 These reflections are good to be reminded of. I think #8 is highly relevant – “Resist authoritarianism which is of the devil (Acts 19:16), and which denies Jesus’ humble servant leadership (Mt 20:25-28; Mk 10:42-45; 1 Pet 5:2).”

Will the day come when the 20 or 30 so ubf directors who are steeped in authoritarianism are all called out together and removed from office all at once? When we single out people one by one to hold them accountable, nothing gets better because the control is still there.

]]> By: MarthaO http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4889 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:20:59 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4889 Hello

I also, havent written my reflection for this year. I have so much to think about and reflect on and the pain that comes with it, is a bit overwhelming.Its been a very difficult year to process,So many things have happened in ToledoUBF. But I thank God that I can always come to Him, who is our wonderful counselor and prince of peace. Happy New Year…and may God be like a roaring lion this year and that we all may have this kind of courage to stand in His truth.

]]> By: Chris http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4871 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:15:45 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4871 Wow, skiing in the Carpathians – something I always wanted to do. Unfortunately, need to work and school holidays are too short for that. Happy New Year, Mariah, and don’t break your legs.

]]> By: Maria Peace http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4869 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:44:54 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4869 Great reflections Ben, Brian and James. I am working on mine now. It’s hard to review 2012 because of several painful things that happened to me. But I’m so glad that I can come to Jesus who is my peace maker, Lord and Savior. I had two weeks of Christmas vacation already with our children, which have been so comforting. I so glad that God gave our family four wonderful children. We have one more week left and we are going skiing in the Carpathian mountains. In that environment I want to reflect on what God has done in 2012 and pray for his leading and proper key verse for 2013. I want to wish all UBFriends a Happy New Year.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4866 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:32:44 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4866 Great list from Kim. Thanks, James, Brian.

Another caveat is that this list or any other list should always be applied toward oneself, and never guilt tripped toward others.

A sad refrain I have heard from some older UBF members is this: “We have served so sacrificially for so long, that now it is YOUR TURN to serve and sacrifice.” Imagine if God applied such words to us!

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4865 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:27:20 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4865 Thanks, Brian. I just thought of another:

14. Reconciliation is basic Christianity (2 Cor 5:18). This should never be delayed, but must be ongoing and pursued daily, especially toward those who are broken and hurt.

]]> By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4864 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:15:34 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4864 Thanks James. This is a rather good list, as long as it doesn’t develop into an absolute ideology and is used as a guide rather than commands. I don’t think it is too strong. In fact, I think it is critical that we are able to express some of the gospel messages without a Bible, without using “God” and without demanding conformance to uniformity.

]]> By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4863 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:44:37 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4863 This is a great list!

It is also an amazingly awesome attempt at alliteration.

]]> By: James Kim http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4862 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:40:38 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4862 Happy New Year, Ben and Brian. Recently I read a book “Lovism”, s story about Dr Kim Jin Kyung who built a university (YUST) in Yanbian, China and later PUST (Pyungyang Univ of Science and Technology)in North Korea. He was the first person who was allowed to build a university in the Communist country like China and North Korea as a foreigner.
Your blog reminds me of his eight mottos that he has taught for the university students in the Communist country. (These eight mottos are translation into English. To Americans it may sound a little strong.)

1. Must understand others.
2. Must sacrifice first.
3. Must respect others.
4. Must reconcile each other.
5. Must forgive others.
6. Must first say,”I am sorry”
7. Must be thankful.
8. Must love others unconditionally.

In the communist country you can not say the name of Jesus, but his ideas are all from Christ. I must remember these things in this year.
Trying to understand others and respect others, forgive others and show unconditional love to others is the first step for reconciliation.

]]> By: Brian Karcher http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4861 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:14:56 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4861 Here are some random things I learned last year…

Be human. Be yourself. Be honest.

Homosexual people are not automatically condemned to hell.

God is raising deep, passionate and fascinating gospel witnesses in the LGBT community.

Don’t cut too deeply into your “self” with the knife of self-denial.

God needs our conscience, our dreams and our emotions.

The gospel is about grace, peace, the glory of Christ, the kingdom of God and salvation. These are five explicit messages of the gospel mentioned in Scripture.

The gospel as Apostle Paul defined it explicitly is: Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. 2 Timothy 2:8

Salvation is justification, not justification plus sanctification plus glorification.

Live a life that is being transformed by grace-driven sanctification guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is our General Director.

Jesus is our Lord and King and Savior.

The work completed on the cross was fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, which included abolishing the regulations of the Law in the flesh of Jesus and nailing the written code to the cross. (Romans, Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians)

Christ is the end of the law.(Romans 10:4)

A life of obedience to the Law is a cursed life and no one will be justified by such a life. (Galatians 3:10, Galatians 2:16)

Apostle Paul’s writings and the book of James are not contradictory, but teach the same truth from different angles.

The gospel is about fulfillment, freedom and forgiveness.

To repent is to turn to God. Such repentance motivates us into actions that demonstrate we did turn to God.

The gospel is presented in Scripture as “repentance and forgiveness of sins”. We turn to God and His forgiveness floods our soul.

The gospel is not presented in Scripture as “repent of your sins”. We can never be good enough nor present ourselves to God well enough in order to receive more grace.

The gospel of sin management is no gospel at all.

The gospel of condemnation by the law is no gospel at all.

The Christian life is not a life of brutally butchering sin or self, but a life of desperately clinging to the grace of God with all my might.

The effervescent, new wine, all-surpassing power and joy and peace and faith and hope and love and justice comes only when we realize God’s gift is 100% baaed on His work and 0% based on our work.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2013/01/01/12-random-reflections-for-the-new-year/#comment-4860 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:48:17 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=5265#comment-4860 13. Remember that the Bible, including the OT, is about Jesus (Jn 5:39, 46; Lk 24:27, 44; Acts 10:43).

]]>