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Pastor's Corner by Pastor Jonathan Lee

August 2007

A Royal Life 

A few months ago, Sarah and I visited Monaco. This tiny country is where the rich and famous live and play. The famous Casino Royale is here and the Grand Prix Auto Race. Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Bentley are parked on every street and yachts are docked together like cars in a parking lot. A lifetime of my earnings would not buy even a week’s rent here, so of course we were there as tourists. Although surrounded by immense wealth, one thing I was really curious to see was St. Nicholas Cathedral where Princess Grace is laid to rest. 

I knew about Grace Kelly because I love classic films. I’ve seen her in the movies: High Noon, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and It Takes a Thief.  She was a star on the screen, a kind of American royalty. Then, in 1956 she became royalty in reality when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She left her acting career, but reigned as Princess for 26 years. Tragically, she died in a traffic accident when she suffered a stroke while driving down the winding road from her country home towards the palace. An estimated 100 million people watched the funeral. Her life and story captivated many people just as the story of Princess Diana does in more modern times. Princess Grace lived a life that most can only dream about.   

Last week we attended my Auntie Mae’s funeral. She was a friend of my parent’s ever since they were in church Youth Group together. She was considered a part of my family and was one of our God-Parents. (We grew up in an era when God-Parents committed to raise us if anything happened to our parents, and also looked after our spiritual growth.) She didn’t have children of her own, but we all became her children. When we were growing up, she came to our home every week, sometimes every day. She always sent us cards on our birthday and gave special gifts thoughtfully picked out for each of us at Christmas. When we grew to have our own families, she remembered our anniversaries and our kid’s birthdays, too. Our kid’s first real Bibles are from Auntie Mae.  

Auntie Mae had a gentle encouraging spirit. She was generous with her time and attention. She cared about how we were doing. She made each one of us feel special and valuable. She had a deep love for Jesus, spending much of her time later in life reading, meditating and writing her feelings and thoughts in her journals. 

To my surprise, at the end of her memorial service Auntie Mae was laid to rest in Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. I thought, “Isn’t this place reserved for saints and royalty?” Then, I was reminded that a person doesn’t have to be rich or famous to be honored by God. He looks and smiles at our simple steady devotion to love Him and love one another. (He doesn’t just look for great feats or spectacular events.) If we put our trust in Him and allow Jesus to be Lord of our life, we become the bride of Christ. We become princesses and princes. God prepares a place for us in His heavenly kingdom. Here and now on earth, Jesus offers us to live a royal life!    

Before I sign off, I want to thank all who have generously and sacrificially partnered with us to exceed our Missions Pledge! Your prayers and resources make it possible to support our people as they share the love of the Father. Pray for Jenny, Tony, Annie, Sindra, Philip, Ken, Ray, Katina, David, Carol and others as they go to all nations. 

Pastor Jonathan

一個高貴的生命

前幾個月我和忠文到摩洛哥旅遊，這個小國住的都是非富則貴。這裡有著名的Royale賭場，而格蘭披治大賽也在這裡舉行。法拉利、勞斯萊斯、賓利等名車滿街都是；遊艇也如車輛般停泊在碼頭。窮我一生所賺取的也無法在這裡付上一週的租金。當然啦，我們只是作個遊客而已。雖然被眾多的富豪圍繞，我卻好奇地希望到聖尼古斯大教堂一遊，並參觀皇妃格雷斯墓塚。

我認識格蕾斯‧凱利是因為我鍾情於經典影片，我曾看過她主演的幾部影片：《正午》、《電話謀殺案,》、《後窗》和《捉賊記》。她在螢幕上是顆明星，有著一種美國人的高貴。1956年 她與摩洛哥皇子雷民埃三世完婚使她成為真正的皇族。她放棄了影藝生涯，當了廿六年的皇妃。但很不幸，一次在她駕車回皇宮的路上，因為突然中風導致交通意外 而身亡。據估計，約有一億人觀看她的喪禮。她的生命與故事迷住了很多人，就如近代一點的戴安娜皇妃一樣。格蕾斯皇妃過著一個大多數人只能夢想的生活。

上週我參加了我的 Mae姨 的喪禮，她跟我父母在教會的青少年團契時就認識，被視為我們家中的一份子，也是我們其中一個的教母（在我們成長的時期中，如父母遇上意外，教父、母便要負 起養育的職份，同時也照顧屬靈的成長。）她並沒有自己兒女，但我們都成為她的兒女。在我成長過程中，她每週都會來我家，有時甚至每天都來。她會寄生日卡給 我們，也會為我們每一個細心挑選聖誕禮物。我們成家以後，她也記著我們的結婚週年和孩子們的生日。我們孩子的第一本聖經也是Mae姨送的。

Mae姨有著一種和藹及令人鼓舞的精神，她從不吝嗇她的時間和關愛；她關心我們，她讓我們每一個都感到特別及寶貴。她對耶穌有著深深的愛慕，她用很多時間去研讀、默想和把她的感受及思想記錄下來。

令我驚訝的是， 在喪禮之後，Mae姨是安葬於三藩市Grace 大 教堂。我心在想，這個地方不是留給聖人和皇室的嗎？但再一次我想到，神不會按著人的財富或名望來給與榮譽，祂卻因著我們對祂單純而忠誠的愛和彼此相愛的心 而露出笑靨。（祂不在乎封功偉績）若然我們願意忠信於祂，讓耶穌成為我們生命的主宰，我們便會成為基督的新婦，我們便成為公主、王子。神為我們在祂的天國 裡已經預備了地方；而這時刻在地上，耶穌讓我們 能夠過一個高貴的生命。

在我擱筆以先，我要為你們在差傳認獻上的慷慨以至我們有超額的認獻來致謝！你們的禱告和支持得以令我們能夠支持願意出去與人分享神愛的肢體。請為陳婉婷、霍奕謙、李慧慈、張倩加、徐聖安、張健長、黃銘儀、周亞章和太太Carol等等代禱，記念他們在不同地方的事奉。

李振倫牧師

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