Sunday, August 6, 2017

WeChat ESL Class August,12 2017

A. High-light of the Week
B. Short Story:

becoming as little children

--Author Unknown  

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, “Hi there.” He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.

 His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,” the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, “What do we do?” Erik continued to laugh and answer, “Hi, hi there.” Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.  

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, “Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo.” Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.  We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door.

“Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,” I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s “pick-me-up” position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man’s. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder.

 The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby.” Somehow I managed,  “I will,” from a throat that contained a stone.

 He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, “God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my Christmas gift. You see, m’am, I never saw my child grow up. My wife and son were taken from me in an automobile accident when they were both too young. I was never able to get over it.”

 I said nothing more than a muttered thanks and “I’m sorry to hear that.” With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.” I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, “Are you willing to share your son for a moment?” when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me...

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” -- Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

C. Bible Lesson:
1 Kings 4:29-34
²⁹And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, ³⁰so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ³²He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. ³³He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. ³⁴And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
Proverbs 1:1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

²To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
³to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
⁵Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
⁶to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.



Proverbs 10:19

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
    keeps himself out of trouble.

Ephesians 4:29

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.



Discussion Questions:

How do you feel when someone says something hurtful to you?
How do you feel when someone says something helpful to you?
Where did Solomon get his wisdom?
What is a proverb?
Where are many of Solomon's proverbs written down?
Where is the Book of Proverbs found in the Bible?
What does true wisdom begin with?
Who know about Solomon's wisdom?
Who send people to learn from Solomon?
What did Solomon write many proverbs about?
How many different proverbs did Solomon speak?
What does it mean to guard your mouth and tongue (Proverbs 21:23)?
What do reckless or thoughtless words hurt like (Proverbs 12:18)?
What can the words of the wise bring (Proverbs 12:18)?
What can talking too much lead to (Proverbs 10:19)?
What is unwholesome talk (Ephesisans 4:29)?

Thursday, July 20, 2017

WeChat ESL Class on July 22, 2017

A. High-lights of the Week

B. Short Story: a glass of milk
One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you? "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was stronger also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk." -- Signed -- Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank you, God , that Your love has spread through human hearts and hands."
There's a saying which goes something like this: "Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place." And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

C. American Idioms
1 (A) lady-killer:
"He thinks of himself as quite the ladykiller. Unfortunately for him, women don't see him that way."

2. Last but not least:
"Last but not least, I'd like to thank my parents."

3. Last ditch (adj.):
. "They made a last-ditch effort to win the game, but came up short."

4. (To) lay a finger on someone:
"If you so much as lay a finger on him, you will be in trouble."

5. (To) lay low:
SEE "KEEP A LOW PROFILE"

6. (To) leave a bad taste in someone's mouth:
"The experience left a bad taste in my mouth."

7. (To) leave someone high and dry:
*somewhat antiquated* To leave someone helpless.

8. (To) leave someone alone:
"Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anyone."

9. (To) let off steam:
That's OK, he's just letting off a little steam."

10. (To) let someone off the hook:
"Natalie said she didn't want to wash the dishes, but her mom didn't let her off the hook."

D. Bible Lesson - Luke 15:11-24

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Discussion Questions:

Who did Jesus tell this story to? Why?
What did the son in the story do wrong?
What happened to the son and how did he feel?
How did the son expect the father to treat him?
How did the father treat his son?
How is God like the father in Jesus' story?
According to the memory verse, what will happen if we admit our sins to God?

Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.

Monday, July 10, 2017

WeChat ESL Class: July 15, 2017

A. High-Lights of the Week

B. Inspiring Short Story: Don't Forget to Smile.
A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.
Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child’s school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.
When the mother’s car drove up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her.
“What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?”
The child answered, “I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my picture.”
May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

C. American Idioms

cat bird seat
shortchange
cold turkey
close, but no cigar
clear as a bell
clear bill of health
crocodile tears
dead as a door nail

D. Bible Lesson: Luke 15:1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ²And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

³So he told them this parable: ⁴“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

John 10:10-18 I am the Good Shepherd
¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

How are we like a sheep that gets lost?
What does the shepherd do when a sheep gets lost?
How is Jesus like a shepherd?
Why did Jesus tell this story to the Pharisees?
What does it mean to be "lost" from Jesus?
What does it mean to be "found" by Jesus?

I have been reading Jerry Bridges' book, Trusting God. He says, "God has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together." I believe this is in part what Paul is describing, in addition to the gospel itself, when he refers to the mystery eleven different times in his letters. Ephesians 6:19 says, "and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,".Our good was certainly accomplished at the cross, when Christ defeated sin and death. His glory was also accomplished at the cross, when Christ defeated sin and death. This is the essence of the gospel: Christ's death for our sins, and his resurrection for our life.

Dear Lord,

You are my God and Savior. Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Be glorified in my life today and every day! I am blessed to know that You not only care about Your glory, but equally greatly about my good, and doing what is best for me.

Prayer List:

My own growth and holiness.
My wife and that I would be a gently, loving, unselfish husband.
My children:
- Matt: Your continued mercy toward him, and that he would come to trust in You.
- Mark: Your continued mercy toward him, and that he would obey You and put You where you are: first!
- Luke: Your guidance for him, and Your continued protection of him and April. That they would as individuals and a couple desire to know You better.

Community Group:
- Ron: health
- Lilah: job at Kirkwood Music Store
- Betre: job at MJ
- Yemmi: job and certification exam
- Andy: job - wisdom for education decision for Grace
- Sandy: homemaker - wisdom for interactions with Grace
- Nanette: helping Leif, esp. during and after surgery

Job:
- Paul: testimony, health, rest, peace
- Grace Chapel: health, spiritual growth, new pastor

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Wechat ESL Class on July 8th, 2017

A. High-Lights of the Week:

B. Short Story: An Inspiring Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
C. American Idioms:

Back to square one
Backhanded compliment
Back-seat driver
(a) ball-park figure
(To) bank on something
(To) be up to no good
(To be) beside oneself
Believe it or not
Big-shot
(To) bite off more than (you) can chew

D. Bible Lesson : Isaiah 6:1-9

Isaiah 6Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

God Calls Isaiah to Be a Prophet

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a very high and wonderful throne. His long robe filled the Temple. ²Seraph angels stood around him. Each angel had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their bodies, and two wings to fly. ³The angels were calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord All-Powerful. His Glory fills the whole earth.” ⁴The sound was so loud that it caused the frame around the door to shake, and the Temple was filled with smoke.

⁵I was frightened and said, “Oh, no! I will be destroyed. I am not pure enough to speak to God, and I live among people who are not pure enough to speak to him.But I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful.”
⁶There was a fire on the altar. One of the Seraph angels used a pair of tongs to take a hot coal from the fire. Then the angel flew to me with it in his hand. ⁷Then he touched my mouth with the hot coal and said, “When this hot coal touched your lips, your guilt was taken away, and your sins were erased”
⁸Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Who can I send? Who will go for us?”
So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
⁹Then the Lord said, “Go and tell the people, ‘Listen closely, but don’t understand. Look closely, but don’t learn.’

Discussion Questions:

What was the amazing thing that Isaiah saw?
What else was there? What did they do?
How did Isaiah feel about God's holiness?
Why is it important for us to understand that God is holy?
In the memory verse, how is the earth full of God's glory?

Memory Verse: Isaiah 6:3
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

Monday, June 5, 2017

WeChat ESL Class on June 25, 2017

A. High-lights of your week
B. Short Story: An Interview With God

I dreamed I had an INTERVIEW WITH GOD.
"So, you would like to interview me?" GOD asked.
"If you have time," I said.
GOD smile. "My time is eternity... what questions do you have in mind for me?"
"What surprises you the most about humankind?"
GOD answered...
"That they get bored with childhood, that they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again."
"That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health."
"That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future."
"That they live as if they would never die, and die as though they had never lived."
GOD's hand took mine... and we were silent for a while.
And then I asked, "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"
GOD replied, "To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved."
"To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others."
"To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness."
"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them."
"To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least."
"To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings."
"To learn that two people can look at the same thing, and see it differently."
"To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."
"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.
"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"
GOD smiled, and said... "Just know that I am here. Always."

C. Word Power: 5 Matching questions

preclude
virago
monolithic
adduce
adherent

a. Loud, strong woman

b. To rules out; to eliminate/make impossible

c. To cite something as an example for an argument

d. A supporter of a cause

e. Massive; representing uniform and inflexibility

D. Bible Lesson:

Psalm 19 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

²Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

³There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

⁴Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

⁵ which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

⁸the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

⁹the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

¹²Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

¹³Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.