This Is Church

Divided: a documentary film to look at today's youth in church

Watch trailer: 

Divided Trailer from NCFIC on Vimeo.



Watch the full documentary film here:
http://vimeo.com/26098320

與陳逸豪牧師談家教會 1

“我們都是一家人” 是我非常喜歡的詩歌。當歌詞唱到

“因著耶穌同敬拜，因著耶穌蒙慈愛，因著耶穌彼此恩慈來相待；

或在喜樂中歡唱，或遇苦難同哀傷，因著耶穌同渡人生的風浪”

我可以體會出一個牧者的心腸，藉著優美的旋律述說那對耶穌的愛，對人的愛。

陳逸豪牧師也是一位音樂家，早年在臺灣師大音樂系畢業後便到法國深造主修作曲。之後在洛杉磯和臺灣創立了有情天音樂世界，創作出「我們成爲一家人」、「耶和華的心」等教會膾炙人口的詩歌。陳牧師還擔任會衆超過1000人的洛杉磯台福基督教會主任牧師多年，積累了豐富的牧會經驗。

很高興的與愛家的夥伴在一個週二的晚上，透過愛家的網上與陳逸豪牧師談談家教會。從陳牧師多年牧會的經歷裡來看家教會，更讓我們有一種說不出來的親切感：同時也深感到一個敬畏的心。神在不同的地方不同的人中正在說話，而說話的內容竟是那麼的相近。

邀請您與我們一起來分享感受家教會的感動！！

與陳逸豪牧師談家教會2

Watch live streaming video from catalite at livestream.com

與陳逸豪牧師談家教會 2

“我們都是一家人” 是我非常喜歡的詩歌。當歌詞唱到

“因著耶穌同敬拜，因著耶穌蒙慈愛，因著耶穌彼此恩慈來相待；

或在喜樂中歡唱，或遇苦難同哀傷，因著耶穌同渡人生的風浪”

我可以體會出一個牧者的心腸，藉著優美的旋律述說那對耶穌的愛，對人的愛。

陳逸豪牧師也是一位音樂家，早年在臺灣師大音樂系畢業後便到法國深造主修作曲。之後在洛杉磯和臺灣創立了有情天音樂世界，創作出「我們成爲一家人」、「耶和華的心」等教會膾炙人口的詩歌。陳牧師還擔任會衆超過1000人的洛杉磯台福基督教會主任牧師多年，積累了豐富的牧會經驗。

很高興的與愛家的夥伴在一個週二的晚上，透過愛家的網上與陳逸豪牧師談談家教會。從陳牧師多年牧會的經歷裡來看家教會，更讓我們有一種說不出來的親切感：同時也深感到一個敬畏的心。神在不同的地方不同的人中正在說話，而說話的內容竟是那麼的相近。

邀請您與我們一起來分享感受家教會的感動！！

與陳逸豪牧師談家教會1 

Mission With Ross Paterson: What Is In God's Heart

巴牧師在愛家分享

Watch live streaming video from catalite at livestream.com

His Way or Our Way? Mission with Ross Paterson

Listen to Ross' sharing on Pentecost 2010: His Way or Our Way? from Act 2.

You can listen in the following link

AHF Bread (Word) Video Collections

click on Ross on 05/22/2010 clip

家教會= 有機 [這一生，至少當一次傻瓜]

>

《這一生，至少當一次傻瓜》 溫柔的人有福了，因為他們必承受地土 作者：WC (「WC看看 © 好書太多朝我來」格主) 朋友提起這本《這一生，至少當一次傻瓜》時，說她讀到幾度眼眶泛紅。我還想這位太太妳是不是太誇張了。 因為書不厚，在日本又紅成這樣，於是我在某個夜晚上床翻開（誤以為心情平和有助睡眠），看了幾頁趕快把書丟在一旁。哎呀不得了，我差點就要清醒來作筆記了！

木村阿公雖然長得像阿公，但其實還沒有60歲，皺紋與黝黑的皮膚可能是農夫本色；不見的牙齒則是曾因為外出打工被黑道打斷，他覺得這缺牙是去捍衛蘋果的紀念品；但是他的笑容，是連寫作者都說「我很努力思考該如何向讀者傳達他的笑容，因為我從來沒有聽過這麼爽朗的笑聲。」
木村所創造出的「奇蹟」就是，不用農藥不用肥料而種植出全日本都想著「一生能吃到一次就好」的蘋果。 從實驗開始，到他第一次看到七朵蘋果花、採收到兩顆蘋果，整整10年。 第11年，他的蘋果園開滿了蘋果花。 

這段期間，人們口耳相傳去跟他買蘋果，木村用電話、傳真、通信的訂購法，每年收成都被訂個精光。再過20年的2006年，他接受NHK「專家的作風」採訪，開場就是東京的法國餐廳主廚表示，用木村凝聚「生產者的靈魂」蘋果所作的料理，訂位已經排到半年一年之後。據說這集「獻給放棄人生的你」的節目，被觀眾要求重播了100多次。

並不是所有作物不用農藥時都會有這麼大的挑戰。但蘋果是。因為農藥在近代加入，蘋果變得只要負責長得又甜又大就好，它不用奮力生長，所以當木村不使用農藥的時候，現代的蘋果已經不知道怎麼長了！
所以木村可以說是在，等。他知道蘋果樹其實很努力。

*****
木村並非只會夢想不知輕重的人。務農前的他，可是具有簿記資格、在公司中是專門控管成本的人。而且他酷愛研究機械，他坦承就是因為喜歡耕耘機，所以也欣喜的入贅務農。 可是，每噴灑一次農藥，他體質過敏的妻子就得臥床休息一週。


直到有一個無事可作的雪天，他閒不下來而去書店，在搬動置放高層的機械書籍時，不小心打落了其他的書，木村於是把弄髒的一本也給買了下來，那本書叫做《自然農法》，不用農藥也不用肥料的栽種，因為大自然是自我完結的體系。
就這樣，木村踏入了無農栽培的路。但他不是專家，所以他完全靠讀書、實驗、從挫折中再試一次。

*****在這段慘不忍睹的日子裡，他被鄰里冠上了「滅灶」的嚴重形容，他女兒在作文上寫著：「我的爸爸是農夫，但是我從來沒有吃過家裡種出的果實。」苦還不是重點，重點當時可是經濟大起飛，鄰居都已經買車出國了。
但每一次猶豫的時刻，木村都會發現一點奇妙的事，例如，葉子還是又長出來了，有一年葉螨不見了，每次一點小小的進展都讓他覺得──蘋果樹也想活下去啊。
所以，他「窮得只剩下信念」。
但依然有這樣一個極限，他實在不忍心看到家人和蘋果樹因他繼續受苦，他決定，來去死吧，只有死才能夠制止他的夢想。月圓風高，他帶著繩子上山要去找棵大樹來吊，這個時候他突然意識到，山裡不可能有農藥，而且到處都是蟲，可是為什麼它們的葉子都那麼健康？！（讀到這裡我也楞了一下）
他觀察之後發現，就是他腳下踩的泥土不一樣。鬆軟度不一樣，氣味不一樣，溫度不一樣，味道也不一樣（呃，他吃了起來）。他終於理解，重點在泥土，是在整個一體的大自然醞釀出這種泥土，讓蘋果樹盡情的深根茁壯。我們為了保護蘋果樹，卻用農藥將它隔離在大自然之外。從此之後，木村更加的開心，他選定了努力的方向，開始出外打工（牙齒就在這個時候離去了啊）。 
「沒有任何生命是孤立的」，蘋果樹不能，人也不能。 
日本的腦科學家、也是NHK「專家的作風」主持人之一的茂木健一郎，形容這種傻瓜的意志：他們擁有相信眼睛看不到的東西的力量。像這樣不斷學習的人，「是閃閃發光的」。

*****
儘管被視為是個麻煩，但木村卻不斷汲取著周圍人的能量。 他的岳父因為經歷過戰亂，理解農藥未必是個必須，不僅同意木村拿家產來試驗，有時候還要在外當擋箭牌。他親生父母覺得自己的兒子去把人家搞成這樣實在太對不起，聲明斷絕往來，可是晚上偷偷送米過去。

他的女兒聽到父親可能要放棄的時候，生氣的反對，她說那我們前面苦的是都白費了嗎?!

他繳不出水電費時，有朋友去代墊；他需要機械時，老闆留下好用又便宜的部分給他；他要去繳納欠稅時，對方還勸他，還是先留著吃飯家用吧。

他的蘋果園開花時，是鄰園的農夫放下手上正煩惱的事趕快跑去通知他。第一次結出好小的蘋果帶去市區廉賣，客人寫信回來跟他說，好甜！我還要再買。
後來木村在為其他果園諮詢時就表示，你的果園也不能獨立於其他人之外，他每年都要去拜託拜託鄰居，讓他再試一年。木村也認為，如果收支平衡了，就不應該收取高價格，要讓大家都吃得到好吃健康的蘋果。

*****
日前台灣媒體報導木村那顆放了兩年沒有腐爛、只是枯萎飄香的蘋果（乾）時，訪問了農委會專家，專家說這不可思議，因為沒有科學根據。日本的學者也大感驚訝，認為這在學術上有其深遠的意義。
其實木村自己也不知道為什麼，他認為，也許因為它來自於大自然吧。


正由於他完全靠觀察和實作，NHK說這是一位「打破常識的男人」。他用眼睛看益蟲也看害蟲，而且是連蟲的臉和卵都想了解。他自己調和醋來當農藥，但是堅持以人工噴灑完800棵樹，因為他認為機器壓過會損壞土壤。他的果園平常長得像個植物園，但是秋天會割草，讓土壤溫度降低，「這是要告訴蘋果秋天來了」。他不用肥料，土壤仍維持肥力；他連修剪樹枝都有自己的道理，於是日本甚至韓國的專家和果農都紛紛去取經。
當節目主持人問他認為「什麼是專業」，他想想後說：心和技術的結合，才是真正的專業。 
木村最在意的就是：主角是蘋果，我只是幫助它生長，畢竟人再怎麼努力也無法靠自己開出一朵蘋果花（也不能長出一條金魚－－這是佐賀阿嬤說的）。所以他常常會去跟蘋果樹說，謝謝你們真努力啊，對不起啊你要努力活下去啊，在開花的那第一年，他帶著燒酒到果園裡，澆了些到地上，跟蘋果樹對飲起來。



******
對於木村似乎是被天啟而發現有關泥土深根的祕密，我是一陣雞皮疙瘩。他的蘋果園隨處一翻，都可見根枝，數量和長度都和其他果園大不同，地底的世界可以長達 20公尺 。有回颱風之後，他有八成的蘋果都還在樹上。深根，是生存茁壯的原力。
我心中一震，這簡直是這個人們思考流於淺薄、沒耐性的時代天啟吧！一如湖底不起浪，讓人不盲目於流行、煽動，這樣的踏實與紮實，讓人擁有沉穩的力量。希臘神話裡的巨人安泰烏斯，他是天神與地神的孩子，每當他與人征戰時，只要身體觸及到土地，就會有源源不斷的力量灌輸到他體內。他知道他的根之所在。
寫作者不禁想，難道這座果園是知道農藥必將崩解自然的那艘方舟嗎？而木村只笑笑問：你要上來嗎？
想起最近剛讀到一則小故事。一個人帶著前任雇主的推薦信找工作，信裡只有一句「他在暴風雨中沉睡」。農場主人用人急迫就雇用了。某個深夜暴風雨肆虐，主人跑去叫這個工人，他卻沉睡不醒。主人跑到畜欄，發現牲畜都很安全、飼料充足；他跑到田裡，麥子都捆好了也都罩上防水油布；他再跑到穀倉，門都拴緊了，穀物都保持乾燥。這個時候，農場主人懂了那句「他在暴風雨中沉睡」。 
當我們照顧好人生中重要的事，便能免於痛苦折磨，儘管外人是多麼不解傻瓜的行徑。 
*****
要說這是一本農業書的話，這的確是很普及化的心事說明；要說這是一本勵志書，它讓我感動莫名。我不得不認為這位傳記作者的利害，他應該也是讓我朋友眼眶泛紅的幕後黑手。木村的想法強而簡潔，跟小蟲藏在蘋果樹上一樣，書中藏著許多令人一醒的文字，與它相遇時，蘋果好像立刻搾為蘋果汁的潤了喉。然而作者繼續的挖掘和演繹，也常幫助讀者進入了許多可能。
我想起這幾年的一些趨勢。從天災頻傳，我們學習從「人定勝天」轉回「天人合一」；或是《祕密》透露，不用逆爭上游，因為「你本來就值得擁有美好事物的權利」；木村阿公窮盡半生所追求的，也只是想恢復大自然原本的體系。這種對於當然擁有原本美好、我們只是忘了偏離了的提示，陸續都引爆人們深思或振奮的深遠影響。障礙並沒有變小，是我們的心變大了。
《聖經》有這麼說：「溫柔的人有福了，因為他們必承受地土。」當我們對與生命相依存的，懷有一顆溫柔心，恩典就如經拂拭的明鏡，自然浮現了。
◎在WC也要利用時間：
1.上網搜尋「木村秋則」就會遇上不少日本網站（可以看圖囉），原來台灣也有很多課程已經看過NHK影片了。
2.NHK一開始就把這集節目獻給「放棄人生的你」。木村說節目播出後很多人也找他討論人生的問題，但他實在不記得自己說了什麼啊哈哈......不過對於曾經想尋死而自此獲得勇氣的人，木村說，既然想死，那就在死之前為一件事瘋狂，作一次傻瓜吧！ 
這一生，至少當一次傻瓜
木村秋則的蘋果....... 
http://iread.businessweekly.com.tw/file.php?fid=786&p=1

Grow Organically: AHF ABCD Foundation

I read a message from Jeng-bang and Hsun-Mei with their lovely one-year old Zoe. I could sense their love and joy in caring for Zoe even though they are probably exhausted by their care-taking on a daily basis.  They are surprised but very satisfied by her growth and development in very turn: even though she may not grow "according to the textbook".

Suddenly I realize that AHF is just like a baby passing her first year mark - learning to speak, stand-up and walk.  Wobbly she walks but barely runs.  Every turn there is expectation and then came the surprise because she does not grow according to the textbook. 

 Indeed, a church grows as we grow because we are the church!!  Church is not like the government, school, hospital or social club that we all experience and know how it serves us.  Church in the original Greek is clearly defined to be the people that are called out to live out God's purpose on the earth.   Church growth should be an natural collective outcome of the growth of each members.  Just like a tree, it grows because every element of its body functioning normally and growing naturally.  

In 2010, I feel the Lord is leading me and my family to grow in these four areas:

Agape Love

Back to Basics

Church of Two

Disciple the Nations

There are not intended to be the "textbook" but the guideline for us to plan seeds from God's word and exam ourselves looking for a balanced growth.  

To facilitate this, we have put together a tri-fold page as a hand-out from Saturday House.  Here I include an electronic version for those who did not make it to Saturday House.  

And when this year ends, I pray that all of us at AHF can share testimonies as Jeng-Bang and Hsun-Mei shared on Zoe: we grow in the love of Christ together.

So the Father and Son Walked on Together

A Father-son team
Twice in Genesis chapter 22, it mentioned this short description, "So the two of them (Father and Son) walked on together


6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.


8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. 


Without questioning, Abraham walked in faith with his only son, Isaac, into God's eternal plan.  Without figuring out the whole plan, Abraham and Isaac simply obeied their way into a forever-lasting redemption plan. 


 A picture of Father God's redemption love
 In this picture.  God chose an earthly vessel, a father-son team, to unveil his heart toward us.  


2 .... “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac,.... offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains.....


Father God, through his only beloved Son Jesus, had destined the salvation and redemption plan for you and me.  They, the Father and Son, talked and walked on to this path to carry out this plan.  


Now, after thousands of years after Abraham that Father God and His Son did walk on together into a place called Calvary, a hilltop from a distance.  


4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.


Until the last moment, they still walked together.  Until the moment that few human beings could fathom:  Jesus cried out, " Father. Father, why have you forsaken me?" on the cross.  So Father God and Son walked on together to finish this journey.



After three days, now we know, the Son came back from death and was lifted up by Father back to where he came from.  


Holy Spirit In the Fire


This is also a picture of perfect trinity.  We see Abraham, the father, and Isaac, the son.  Where is the third person of God, the Holy Spirit?   This chapter gives a little secret here:


 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 


As they were going to a hilltop to offer a burn offering.  They needed the fire.    As Isaac is in the place of the sacrificial lamb needed in the offering, the fire in Abraham's hand.  


We need the fire of the Holy Spirit.  He is always accompanying the Father-Son team throughout the history, from Genesis to Revelation.   


A picture of cross-generation house church


I feel that we are walking into the fulfillment of this Father-Son team.  In the house church vision, we started to see how this becomes so important to bring all generations to worship, serve and study together in God's house.  This father-son picture probably is very close to what God's heart for His house at the end time:  all generations, young and old, walked on together into God's eternal plan. 

Without questioning, Abraham walked in faith with his only son, Isaac, into God's eternal plan.  Without figuring out the whole plan, Abraham and Isaac simply obeied their way into a forever-lasting redemption plan.


And we do need the fire of the Holy Spirit in this cross-generation team.  You can see how important that this Father-Son team did remember to bring the fire with them.  I could almost see that they were extremely cautious with the fire they brought from home altar into God's destination.  Same way we will welcome and work with the move of the Holy Spirit among us.


 At Agape House, we made efforts, to some point, sacrifice trying to follow God's leading in this area.  And I firmly believe that as we stepped out of simple faith to believe in God, without understanding the overall picture or even final destination, God himself will take through the journey and unveil his heart toward this generation.


16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”


Are You Walking with Him?
I am inviting you to walk with the Father as the obedient Isaac, he did not ask too much, he simple walked with his father.  Would you also step out of your comfort zone to walk together with Him?  


After all, will the heaven and earth see a picture that you and the Father, 


So two of them, the Father and you,  walked on together.

A Year of Discipleship: Agape House ABCD track

 2010 will be A Year of Discipleship!!

 A unknown source left a comment on the blog in responding to my
recent blog on "whose  disciple are you". It said "I thought Christianity is dead….."
and continued to suggest a new religion.  I am personally open to such
comments on my blog website since it shows us that the world has a very
different view of Jesus, Christianity and Christians.  To me, this is a
reflection from a mirror to show us that the world is more diligent in
"preaching" their believe and looking for "disciples" than we are.
Remember, disciple in Greek word is reserved to use for Jesus' disciples as
they made such a profound impact to their world at their time!!  Unless we
know who we are, who we follow and make it known to this world our side the
four walls of church, our believe will mean very little to this world!!  And
now, it is our time to stand up and take our place as the true disciple of
Jesus.

           I would like to invite you to join us into a year of
discipleship with Jesus.  We are very excited that God has moved Agape House
into this direction: let Jesus take back his Lordship in His house through
our obedience to him and each other.  On the right hand side you will find a
layout of subjects we will go together.  We call this Agape House 101, or
ABCD courses:

A: Agape Love – refocus our relationship with the Lord

B: Back to Basic – look again the basic principle established in a house

C: Church of Two – simple, organic church that will influence our neighbor
effectively

D: Disciple the Nations – yes, our eyes are on the nations

          We will walk together through these topics as the Holy Spirit is
leading us.  And I fully expect the Lord will accomplish greater things in
these days as we walk the walk of obedience to his words.

          

           Some of these will be also available as on-line sessions with live chat rooms that we are working on.  Stay tuned here on the blog or contact us direction if you are interested in walking through these together.

      

Agape House 2009 Flashback

Join us to flash back 2009!! What a year we have been going through. Together we make it a courageous journey into a organic, house church!!

AHF_2009_flash_back

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2009 Flash-back 回顧：House Church Blueprint 家教會藍圖

愛家已經一歲生日了！！ 謝謝愛家大家庭這一年來的禱告，扶持，忍耐，同心，在牧者自己都在摸索家教會這個方向時，與我能一起踏上充滿未知冒險的2009！

當我再回顧2009這一系列的信息，用家教

會“靑”圖(House Church Greenprint) 更能表達我的感觸。圍繞著“家”這一個主題，這些信息一筆一畫的勾畫出了一個愛家的藍圖。許多筆畫帶著濃濃靑澀的味道，好像使用那剛摘下來的果樹的漿汁，還來不及陳澱過濾，濕濕答答的就作起畫來。 但我心中很明確的是這些漿汁是絕對來自最新鮮的果子，剛採下的枝葉，才剝開的樹皮，是符合有機（Organic) 的標第.

我的禱告是天父能拍拍我們的肩膀，給愛家一個標簽貼紙，上寫 “有機Organic Certified”。 也許，我要將這一系列改名為"家教會有機藍圖 "House Church Organic-print".

再次謝謝你們。 沒有你們的參與，這圖將永遠停留在鉛筆的淺描，黑白的底稿。如今我已看到色彩繽紛的可能，五顏六色的可貴。

修造大衛那簡單卻超越時代的帳幕敬拜 (Tent Worship)，回歸神聖愛(Agape)的家 （House)。

Thursday Night Catalite Worship Live Replay Dec 3

Vision Sharing: House=Organic=Simple=Discipleship

Due to a sore throat, I could not sing on Thursday night. I decided to have an hour of sharing and testimony on house church vision. Please pray for my throat to heal completely before the weekend comes.

Welcome to join me on the following sharing:

- Shumac & Edison Club: My personal testimony on God's call in my life

- House = ?: use the shumac as a picture of what God is leading us into in the house church movement.

- Verse for 2010 Psalm 110:3

Hello Monday From Kung-Li: What kind of leader are you?

Quick Vote

What kind of leader are you?

These two video clips may sum up two types of leadership for your review, and you can assess where you stand:

clip #1- He Got the Whole World in His Hand: Kevin Garnet doing impossibles on his own

clip #2- Domino effect (please skip to final beer part.....)

Vote: _______

When You Come Together

I am inviting you to watch this video " When you come together" from www.simplechurch.com

It is a great video clip to transform our thoughts about what to do when we come together to "church".

It is also a great video to watch as a family: youth folks will definitely get to know, feel and see what many have tried to follow bible's teaching about "When you come together"...

When You Come Together from simplechurch.com on Vimeo.

PASTOR DAD - great book to read

This small book is the edited transcript of an eighty-one-minute sermon originally preached by Pastor Mark preached in 2001, and is now being offered as a freely distributable online eBook and downloadable as a PDF which we encourage you to distribute.

Click to link to this on-line Book: Pastor DAD

We will discuss this book on our Weekly Wed night AHF Foundation Bible Study. Welcome to join us

contents:

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1
Worshiping the God of Our Fathers

Chapter 2
The Fruitful Vine

Chapter 3
Cultivating Kids

Chapter 4
The Masculine Duty to Provide

Chapter 5
Instruction Followed by Correction

Chapter 6
Protecting From Sin and Folly

Chapter 7
Countering Culture