Saturday, June 28, 2014

What does Gilligan Have in Common with the Church? (Part 1)

My TIE: Commit Your Way to the Lord (Ps 37:5)

The setting to the classic story of Gilligan’s Island begins with a rather eclectic group of 7 people only intended to travel together for a 3-hour tour around the Hawaiian Islands. Somewhere along the way, the small ship called the “SS Minnow” encountered a severe storm. The tiny ship and 7 people crashed on an uncharted island. When it was apparent that there was no immediate rescue, this small group began to form a community.

 Who was in this community?

The Professor who not only had a gift in science but also in engineering. He could design the physical framework for the new community to survive in the natural world.

Mr. and Mrs. Howell the millionaire couple. For some reason they brought trunks of money, clothes, and effects for a comfortable lifestyle on a three hour tour. They brought refined culture to the basic fabric of this new community.

Ginger the movie star. She provided entertainment and glamour. 

Mary-Anne the farmer’s daughter, She provided a more practical skill set of agriculture and homemaking skills.

The Skipper who captained the SS Minnow. He provided protection, order, and a sense of duty in serving the needs of this new community.

And then, there was Gilligan. He was the first-mate. Compared to the others, Gilligan had no apparent useful skills. His was usually the one who was causing problems and chaos on the island. Several times he was the reason that potential rescues were foiled.

What Made Gilligan Special? 

Gilligan had a special relationship that impacted all areas of this small community.
- To the professor he was a lab assistant
- To the millionaire couple he was a son
- To the movie star hew was a test audience and an extra
- To the farmer’s daughter he assisted with the chores
- To the skipper he was a “Good Ole Buddy”

Gilligan's community value was that he connected people who had little in common into a community. Without Gilligan there would have been a group of castaways without a community.

My TIE 

How can we become a Gilligan and bring people together in this world of castaways?

My thoughts are that we are called to be more like the misfit Gilligan than a cutting edge Google or Apple. Like a Gilligan, we need to form a community out of a world of castaways.  But unlike our fictitious character, we need to form a church community where God’s power through the cross initiates mutual growth in His holy callings on our lives.

We need to allow God to turn our spiritual switch ON. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18a, “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. 

We might think that our hearts are pure but Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." While in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us only that the pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8)  Therefore without God turning on or activating the eyes of our heart, we will not see the full power of His works because we lack the purity needed to see.

When God turns on our hearts, we see the following evidences of God’s work in bringing His people together according to Ephesians 1:18-19 .

1. God’s hope brings His people together
In order that you may know the hope to which he has called you (1:18b)

Hope is an anticipated result of what will happen in the future. For believers they can anticipate being forgiven from their sins because of the work of Jesus on the cross. They can anticipate being present with God and God present with them without any separation because of sin or death. And even in the present time, we are called to a hope that allows us to anticipate that everyone who makes it to heaven through Jesus Christ will be declared “overcomers.” There will be a lot of victories to celebrate at that time (Rev. 21:7).

2. God’s Inheritance brings His people together
The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (1:18c)

We show that we value the church by building up Holy people who discover their calling from God for salvation, maturity and mission. The question of the average member becomes, “How can I help prepare you for God’s mission every day?” The church gives everyone an opportunity to be prepared in the Word, encouragement, practice in patience, and sacrifice in for the benefit of others that will add strength to meet the challenges that stand against Christ in our world.

3. God’s incomparably great power brings His people together
And his incomparably great power for us who believe. (1:19)

Paul goes on in Ephesians 1:19-23 to exclaim that the same power that God resurrected Christ from the dead is indeed the SAME power that is visible in Christ church. This is amazing!

God makes a unified people who have no other reason to be unified. People are naturally unified or separated according to culture, language, philosophy, worldviews, political parties, race, nationality, etc. But through God’s power we can have peace and agreement with other people outside our familiar groups because of Jesus’ cross where natural hostilities have no place in our churches.

“For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all ONE people.” Eph. 2:14

The church ought to be and must be the place where God’s people gather in order to mature in the God given abilities to touch every segment of community outside the church with His gifts of life through His grace, truth, righteous, and most of all showing that His Good News is indeed Good.

Furthermore, God has a heart for gathering the castaways of this world and giving them the opportunity to find community among His people.


Next week I will further my thoughts about how God’s power in His church is evident through “Common-Unity” rather than “Common-Formity.” 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Praising God and Blessing Others in Dual Storms

Recently God took Lorriane on a much needed trip to Alaska. As she continues to live with dual storms of family and work swirling about her. She has been gracious enough to share how God is revealing Himself during this season of her life. I pray that you are blessed by Lorriane's continuing story. May you find God present with you in your life's storms. - Tom Ford


My Story Continues 
God’s Grace is Always Sufficient for Us

It’s been over a month since I last shared on My TIE about my battling duel storms. While God is trying to make me fireproof.  Although these storms continue to get more severe, my prayers for ways to find Jesus have been answered. 

Bad things happen to good people even for those who are ready and wanting to be transformed by God.  

- Instead of healing my mom her health condition continues to deteriorate
- Instead of removing me from my work environment the work environment continues to darken 

However, God has placed me in these dual storms to show me that His grace is sufficient for me.  His timing is always perfect for us.  He places the right people around us at the right time.

Mother’s day has been painful for me since 2010 because of my mom’s dementia. This disease advances year by year.  Now it is worse because I know that I could lose her any time.  A few of my colleagues have lost their mothers earlier this year. Now all of a sudden there is an instant support group at the office.  

Tears have been been easy to come by this year.  But at the same time, there has been much encouragement that has helped me to understand my feelings. God is helping me to discern what He wants through praying for grace and wisdom. He will prepare me for the worst to come despite being in a work environment as dark as mine. I know Jesus is here bringing comfort in the midst of pain.

God’s Plan is bigger than Our Plans

You may recall my story began when I mentioned the last time I gave a testimony at church on how God worked in me and through me in 2008 after returning from a trip to Vancouver visiting a dying sister-in-Christ.  On such an emotional mother’s day week, God sent me back to Vancouver.  This year I went on a trip like none other. I am not talking about the magnificent scenery that I experienced in the beautiful Alaska, but how God clearly revealed to me that “His plan is bigger than our plans.”

In the weeks leading up to the trip, there was no short of conflicting advice and guilty feelings about whether I should cancel the trip after our family emergency.  I have always tried to plan my vacation a year in advance. So when this trip was booked in May 2013, I had no idea about the seriousness of my mom’s condition.  After prayers and encouragement, from my pastor, I decided to turn off my mobile phone for a week and boarded a cruise ship in Vancouver to Alaska.  This was where God showed me that this was all part of His plan.

I choose to travel alone because I enjoy meeting different people.  This was my fourth trip where I embarked on a journey not knowing anyone.  Because I was both physically and emotionally drained from battling my dual storms, I was very skeptical about this trip. Who will I meet? And what would I expect from a different itinerary that I was not normal for me.  

I picked Alaska simply because it was a good deal and that I had points to cover both the flights and the hotel. Now that I look back, God already knew a year ago that I would need this trip at this particular time.

Alaskan cruises normally attract an older clientele. I had already met many wonderful caring people within hours of boarding the ship.  On the second day, God sent a retired couple visiting from the other side of the world while I was walking around the ship.  I ended up spending most of my time with them for the remaining of the trip.  From people I dined with, at the mandatory safety muster drill, to those I shared many hours in the cold watching the ship sailed alongside God’s magnificent creation (the glacier, I was feeling so loved).  There were words of encouragement from those who heard my story, as well as tears and hugs from strangers who just wanted to wish me well.  

Some of these people  had recently lost their beloved family members such as parents, spouses and children.  We could relate to each other because they had experienced similar challenges at work. We even prayed for one another and I was like a daughter to them.  At each of our ports of call, I kept on bumping into them so it was a like a family vacation as I was never alone.  

On mother’s day Sunday, I attended a worship service on the ship.  The sermon message focused on how God would restore us from our brokenness to a state where we will be better and stronger than before.  I was moved in tears as I knew Jesus was right there with me.  An older lady who sat next to me comforted me; and for the rest of the week, she checked on me every time she saw me on the ship to ensure I was enjoying myself.  She referred to herself as my “church friend.” I am glad that she repeatedly told me that I was on this ship for a reason.

God is working in us and through us

This is what I have learned about how God works in and through us. He puts us through challenges that surprisingly blesses us.  His blessings strengthen us through our trust in Him. And then works its way through us to reach out to others.  

I returned from this trip to a worse situation at work and at home. However, I could not stop praising the Lord. He picked the most perfect time and perfect itinerary just for me.  He wanted to let me know that trust is having faith in Him that He will do what He has promised.  He will love us and never forsake us.  

God sent me to Alaska (also referred to by many as God’s country) to make me a stronger person. Also, He wanted to prepare me for what is to come.  I appreciate even more the time I can spend with my mom. I know God will take care of her and all of us in the family for when she eventually passes. I also know that my growing online spiritual support group (of people I met on my trips) will continue to be there for one another.

It is part of God’s plan to place us in situations full of brokenness.  The purpose is for us to see Him and to do His will.  Every time we deviate from our focus on Him, we need to return to the cross (Jesus Himself) to recharge and reset our purpose. 

God will does not take us to a place where the grace of God will not protect us.  All we have to do is to continue to praise Him, even in extreme conditions.  This is where we can find true peace that give us strength to persevere. We need to be in position to experience God’s work and to shine His light wherever we are placed.  God will take us to a place where we can be a blessing to others. 

God said to me through His Word, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).  

May the grace of the Lord be with you always.

Lorraine Fung
June 1, 2014

Edited by Tom Ford June (2014)

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Honor the Greatest Generation by Being a Great Generation





My TIE Value: Be Still and wait for the Lord (Psalm 37:7)



We have witnessed the 70th Anniversary of the allied invasion that led to the freedom of Europe in World War II. Thousands of soldiers who were killed on June 6, 1944 are laid to rest in the famous cemeteries along the French coastline. Many of these soldiers were under the age of 21. Seeing the elderly WWII veterans makes the loss of years even more real to me.

We have the benefit 70 years later in seeing the enduring result of freedom because of the sacrifices that were made. Tom Brokaw said, “These young soldiers sacrificed without knowing what the result would be.” (June 6, CBC News)

I have taken time this week to reflect on all those who have sacrificed on and off the battlefield. They are rightfully known as “The Greatest Generation.” We all would do well to recall our connections to this generation.

My "Great Bill"

My personal connections to the Greatest Generation are many. But one such person that I believe is representative of this generation is through the life of my grandfather I like to remember as the “Great Bill.”  He was a gentle man when dealing with people but at the same time a tough man in the way he dealt with life’s issues head on. He could “Take the bull by the horns.” While he never stormed a beachhead, he sacrificed his life for the well-being of other people.

Billie Bittick Ford
    -          Before the war he sacrificed his education to support and raise his younger siblings so that they could complete their education

    -          During the war, he welded ships that were converted for supporting the war effort

    -          After the war, he coached baseball and helped his neighbors with their cars after working long 10+ hour days in a carbon black plant. I am amazed he was doing this in throughout his forties!

Great Bill spent his best years of his life enriching people's lives. Sadly, just a few years after retiring Alzheimer’s began to take hold of his life and after a much of a decade of illness his life on earth ended at 70 years of age.

I only know my Great Bill through the stories preserved by my grandmother, great-uncle, father, and aunt. But sadly, some of these stories are beginning to fade as he has been gone for over 35 years. One day I will connect with Great Bill himself in the presence of God’s glory.

Other Members of the Greatest Generation


Since 1999, I have been connected with the greatest generation from Hong Kong as I have served in Chinese Churches. This generation endured the great hardships. One hardship was worldwide Great Depression where like so many lost any wealth that was previously made.  And a much harder hardship was the during imperial Japanese occupation from 1941-45. Many of the women had their feet bound.  Married couples were separated for up to a decade before finding their lost love. They not only survived but remarkably persevered through the hard processes of recovery. I have learned from these great people that…

-          They never gave up life even through their extreme suffering.

-          They never gave up hope even when it seemed like they would never find their spouse.

-          They never gave in to bitterness over the injustices that could never be set right.

As a result they have guided their children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren with encouragement that all of life’s difficulties can be recovered if one does not give up. Even better, the seniors I have known over the years in the Chinese church have faithfully followed Christ as their Good Shepherd.

Sadly we are losing this generation in large numbers every year. At each funeral, I am blessed to hear their stories about their recovery from suffering and discovery of their life in Christ Jesus. We all must do our part in keeping their legacy fresh by recalling their life’s stories.

My TIE. Reflections

As I reflect on the Greatest Generation from all sides of the world, I realized that they lived during these tough times without the assurances that world-wide freedom would be achieved. They chose to respond to life with hope over despair. They chose hope despite what they saw in their world’s cruel realities.

I believe the greatest honor we can give those we know and love from the Greatest Generation is to choose to live with a greater hope over the dismal realities we see in our world. In the aftermath of His glorious resurrection Jesus proclaims that greatest generations are those blessed in believing in His resurrection even without seeing. (John 20:29)

Here are some of my thoughts as I have been reflecting this week on how God’s presence is giving all of us an opportunity to be our Greatest Generation:

-          Be victors as He guides us on the journey of life into His eternal presence (Rev. 21:7)

-          Be courageous as His love chases away life’s fears (I John 18)

-          Be confident that God is present with us even in death’s shadows. (Psalm 23:6)

-          Be effective in bringing out God’s glory through adding to faith in the daily grind (2 Peter 1:3-10)

-          Be reliable to continue to do good in times of suffering (1 Pet. 4:19)

-          Be a living sacrifice that leads people to receive the crown of life (2 Tim. 4:1-8)

-          Be a blessing by proclaiming God’s works to future generations(Psalm 45:17)

Oh yeah a verse that best describes everyone who is included in all of God’s great generations.

Be Still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)