DAY 142 - Strict Olympic Training

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 9

Please read 1 Corinthians 9: 1 – 27 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from this blog. You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf . (You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.)

Please click the links below to 1 Corinthians 9:
Chinese: http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=hb5&book=1co&chapter=9
ESV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209&version=ESV
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209&version=NIV
Message: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209&version=MSG

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25


Paul states here the reason why Christians in Corinth had so many sins and problems. It is so simple, and yet that is so crucial: they were runners without strict Olympic training.

Jesus told me why I have so many problems since I became a Christian and why others have similar problems: We are runners but do not want to participate in the strict training to become a good athlete; We are soldiers and warriors but do not want to participate in the strict training to become a good soldier. The result will be very simple too: to be disqualified!


Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for choosing me to be a runner and a soldier. Help me to fully participate into the strict Olympic training you prepare for me so that I can run a good race for you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Prayer items today:

For ACiC/AI
Bishop: Rt. Rev. Silas Ng
Network Leader: Rev. Peter Klenner
Administrator: Mrs. Zenia Cheng

Pray for one ACiC/AI church one day at a time
Church of Our Lord, Comox
Rector/Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. David Bowler
Priest: Rev. David Hollebone

We have started our 2nd phase of 100 days of prayer. I am calling you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to fill in your names in the new list below. Many wonderful things have happened in the past 100 days. Can we follow our King, our Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ to use an hour’s time to pray for His protection and blessings to my new ministry as the Bishop of ACiC/AI, all our ACiC/AI clergy, leaders and people? Pray that in the Holy and Mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we can win over Satan's tricks, in order to strengthen our brothers and sisters so that His Kingdom will be extended. Please click this new link to participate in our 2nd phase 100 days/24 hours Prayer Campaign (Nov 29, 2009 to March 8, 2010)

DAY 141 - Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 8

Please read 1 Corinthians 8: 1 – 13 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from this blog. You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf . (You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.)

Please click the links below to 1 Corinthians 8:
Chinese: http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=hb5&book=1co&chapter=8
ESV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208&version=ESV
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208&version=NIV
Message: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208&version=MSG


Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8: 1-2


This is my 22rd year since I was ordained as a priest. I still remember how proud I was for at least the first ten years, thinking that I knew every thing, criticizing my superiors and other people as to how little they knew. The Lord used all kinds of methods to make me a more teachable disciple of Christ. I have had many painful and difficult learning experiences to humble myself. The only thing I know better than those days is that knowledge may be a stumbling block but love prevails.

There are so many problems in so many churches. Usually it is being stirred up by Christian leaders who think they know but actually they are the unteachable ones. Because we think that we know, so small things becomes a big deal causing lots of pain! That’s why when Paul deals with food sacrificed to idols, he says,

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak…Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall. 1 Corinthians 8: 9, 13


Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for how you mold me to be a teachable disciple of yourself. Help me to know that I know nothing, unless I can love you and others more. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.


Prayer items today:

For ACiC/AI
Bishop: Rt. Rev. Silas Ng
Network Leader: Rev. Peter Klenner
Administrator: Mrs. Zenia Cheng

Pray for one ACiC/AI church one day at a time
St. Brendan’s, Bellingham, WA
Rector/Senior Pastor: Rev. Kevin Bond Allen
Deacon: Rev. Pam Schmaling


We have started our 2nd phase of 100 days of prayer. I am calling you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to fill in your names in the new list below. Many wonderful things have happened in the past 100 days. Can we follow our King, our Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ to use an hour’s time to pray for His protection and blessings to my new ministry as the Bishop of ACiC/AI, all our ACiC/AI clergy, leaders and people? Pray that in the Holy and Mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we can win over Satan's tricks, in order to strengthen our brothers and sisters so that His Kingdom will be extended. Please click this new link to participate in our 2nd phase 100 days/24 hours Prayer Campaign (Nov 29, 2009 to March 8, 2010)