Family Note – Wellspring of Pastor Joseph 3 – 1/23/22

January 23, 2022

Pastor Joseph will continue to flow from his wellspring of faith from Revelation 1.  His messages are laying the foundation for our next message series on being a trusted steward of authority.

God has already set His authority in us, in magnitudes that we cannot imagine.  We do not need to seek or strive for it.  God’s way is containment, and He will release that authority in us when we can exercise the proper containment – which is built upon the disciplines of thanksgiving and self-denial.  Faith is the basic ingredient of thanksgiving and self-denial, and that is the reason we set aside this important season to drink from Pastor Joseph’s wellspring.

Even with the expected overnight snow, we still plan to gather at the WPC for the worship service.  If you cannot attend in-person, you may connect via Zoom at 10:45 AM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09
Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/eid4fW_iFNU.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Wellspring of Pastor Joseph 2 – 1/16/22

January 16, 2022

Dear Church Family,

For the past few years, Pastor Joseph have consistently encountered serious health issues and experienced God’s gracious healing during January.  These are not coincidental events, and we stand on the truth that God works all things for the good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.  God has His purpose – and through these experiences of our spiritual father, has been lifting up our faith and authority in powerful ways.

This year is no exception.  We are only 2 weeks into 2022 and I have already seen so much advancement in the people I fellowship with: in faith, in work and business, in family, and of course, in health.  God is elevating our authority as we embrace the road of the cross – and we anticipate 2022 to be a time when God will make this clear to the church and also clear to the world.

God has prepared Pastor Joseph as the wellspring for us to drink from during this precious season.  He has invited you to partake in order to be prepared for what is to come in 2022.  Jesus’ voice and knocking on the door of our hearts will become louder, but it will take a humble heart to perceive it with clarity and understanding.  So as God invites you, we also invite you to reconnect with your spiritual family.

We will gather at the WPC for the worship service.  If you cannot attend in-person, you may connect via Zoom at 10:45 AM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09
Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/wcAo6xJZRjo.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Wellspring of Pastor Joseph – 1/9/22

Greetings Family,

We are thankful to God for sustaining Pastor Joseph’s health and giving us the grace to receive from his wellspring of faith and perseverance.  The Lord invites you to join with our church family to drink from the wellspring flowing from Pastor Joseph during this Sunday.

We will gather at the WPC for the worship service.  If you cannot attend in-person, you may connect via Zoom at 10:45 AM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09
Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/um7i3Zr5d2I.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Pastor Joseph – Strengthening of the Heart

1/5/22

We give thanks for Pastor Joseph’s quick and smooth recovery after his pericardiocentesis procedure. He was released from the hospital this afternoon and is finally back to the comfort, peace, and freedom of home. He has been renewed in his strength, vigor, and of course, a good appetite. The vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, O2 level) have been stably beautiful, and he is looking forward to going back to his swimming routine. Most importantly, he has been reunited with Shimu, which truly has brought peace on earth unto her.

As Pastor Joseph continues to strengthen his heart, let’s lift up the doctors and nurses who will also continue to seek a treatment to cure this heart condition. The treatment might still involve highly invasive surgery into the heart area, so we cannot let down our guards now, but need to stand even closer together and cover each other as one family in greater grace and mercy, for that’s how God flows His authority through us.

God has an important reason for picking the worst possible day in the history of this hospital for our spiritual father to be admitted into the ER. Perhaps this is His way to bring us together – through our common honor and affection for our pastor, our shepherd, our father. If that is what it takes to bring beauty and purity to His bride, may the work of the Lord be blessed.

We give thanks.

Experience Emmanuel,

pdt

1/4/22

Pastor Joseph was admitted to the hospital yesterday (1/3/22) after complaining of shortness of breath for 2 days. After assessing his breathing difficulties, his doctor asked us to admit him through the ER because the tight hospital capacity from Covid did not allow them to directly admit patients. So after spending 14 hours in the ER waiting area, we finally got admitted into a patient room and the ER doctor confirmed a pericardial effusion condition with a heart ultrasound. These are sizable pockets of liquid surrounding the heart that can apply significant pressure to the heart, preventing it from fully expanding. This compromises the oxygen level that gets pumped into the body, resulting in the shortness of breath.

The surgeon successfully initiated a pericardiocentesis procedure today to drain the excess pockets of liquid. The catheter drain will be in place for 24 hours, and if all goes well, Pastor Joseph can be discharged in less than 24 hours after the catheter is removed.

We are thankful for God’s grace and provision to sustain Pastor Joseph, even during this very trying time with limited hospital capacity. Waiting 14 hours with Pastor Joseph has really softened my heart, so to speak – I never imagined that I would so welcome the sight of an ER patient room. It certainly ranks among my top moments of giving sincere thanks.

There were numerous moments during the 14 hour wait that I thought we should just quit and go home. The nurses and the security guards said that they have never seen such a surge in the ER. In all practicality, this is perhaps the worse time for anyone to need to get admitted to the hospital. I sustained by trying my hardest to find “thanksgiving” in that situation, all the while soaking with a full crowd of sick people, many with Covid. As my daughter noted to me at 3:45 AM, that this is akin to the “no room at the inn” situation for Joseph and Mary, and this experience certainly felt like a full blown “manger test” for us. Pastor Joseph stood strong and persisted. And with the fruits of that faith (which saved Pastor Joseph’s life), we can only be thankful, and continue the learning to persist in the actions dictated by our thanksgiving.

What truly set my heart trembling was the fact that the surgeon was able to drain 1,400 cc of liquid right off the bat, where typical volume would be in the 5-10 cc level. This broke the surgeon’s previous record of 1,200 cc. She indicated that, with this kind of volume, the heart was at risk of stopping at any moment, and she was stunned by how well Pastor Joseph’s heart stood up to the pressure. She said “wow” to the record-breaking volume! I said “wow” to God’s mercy and timeliness. We have nothing, but everything is in His hands – and by that, we have everything.

Please continue to lift up our spiritual father and mother – Pastor Joseph and Shimu. It’s always hard for them to be separated because Pastor Joseph does so much to take care of Shimu. Pray for the Spirit’s comfort and that she will be strengthened through this experience. Please also pray for the doctors to seek God’s wisdom and insight to understand the cause of the pericardial effusion and how to treat it at the root.

God is with us. In your thanksgiving, experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Glorious and Bright 2022 Blessings – 1/2/22

January 2, 2022

New Year blessings to our spiritual family!

As Chicago greets 2022 in a glorious and bright blanket of snow, we stand in anticipation of God’s glorious and bright presence to shine from His church in ways never seen before – as He becomes greater and we become less.

Because a very thick blanketing of the snow is forecasted, we will not hold in-person service at WPC this Sunday.  Nevertheless, we will still offer our first 2022 worship online with a simple time of praise and a word of New Year blessings from Pastor Joseph.

We will connect via Zoom at 10:45 AM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09
Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/bHbMxba-DFY.

We give thanks for a smooth recovery from Covid for Pastor Li-Shang’s family in the past two weeks.  We give thanks for God’s sufficient grace that takes us to a place where our cups overflow.  We give thanks that He has shown us a clear and powerful vision for 2022: Building Containment & Preparing Containers.

The Lord invites you to join in this gathering under the cover of our spiritual parents.  Let’s come and partake of this feast that the Lord has prepared for us and called us to.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Looking Forward To 2022 – 12/26/21

December 26, 2021

Blessings to our church family as we wrap up a most joyous and hope-filled Christmas for 2021.  We have so much to be thankful for, and we stand in that thanksgiving as we step into 2022 full of anticipation.  The Lord is leading us into 2022 for a season of “Building Containment & Preparing Containers.”  I will begin sharing on the messages of containment & containers from the following passages:  Matthew 16:17-20 and Ephesians 5:15-21.

The Lord invites you to join in this gathering under the cover of our spiritual fathers and mothers.  Let’s come and partake of this feast that the Lord has prepared for us.

If you cannot attend in person, you may connect with us via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09

Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/tnrkkNww8Ks.  My apologies for a mistake I made in configuring last week’s Youtube stream, so it was not accessible.  We have corrected that mistake.  Thanks for your understanding.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – 2021 Christmas

Hi CASC Family & Friends,

Merry Christmas! What an awesome journey the Holy Spirit continues to lead our CASC family in and through together! The grace and blessing God has given to us through this time of refining, testing and revealing of our own hearts, He has again shown His continued faithfulness in providing for us our manna, our daily bread as we enjoy the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. As we continue to press into our 10500 call, preparing followers of Jesus for the Great End Times Harvest, we are reminded of how Jesus came in simplicity, in the ordinary and in such a way that only a few shepherds would witness the birth of the Son of God (Luke 1-2). We have been enjoying this “simplicity and ordinary” – I liken it to life in the Garden of Eden, enjoying God and enjoying His fruit.

As we enter into 2022 we look forward to again seeing many of you who have been experiencing the stirring and shaking of the Holy Spirit. The latter part of Isaiah 9:7 tells us “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” His zeal is moving in many – what has it been accomplishing in you? Let His zeal fill you up, flow through you and fulfill His destiny in your everyday life! One again, Merry Christmas and Blessings – looking forward to the next time we can meet face to face.

Pastor Li-Shang

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Family Note – God Coming to Us – 12/19/21

December 19, 2021

This week, we will take time to reflect upon and give thanks for the most incredible miracle blessed to us: that Jesus, The Creator of all, would come to us, and begin His road of the cross as any embryo, any fetus, any baby would start life.  We will recite from Luke 2 along with music presented by our younger generation.

You are invited to join in this great feast.

If you cannot attend in person, you may connect with us via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6992360838?pwd=SldXeHpFVWE4MnhCU3lvY0NpRzlQQT09

Meeting ID: 699 236 0838
Passcode: 10000Call

The online stream will also be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.  Stream link: https://youtu.be/nGafVd9yMNE

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – Walking in Our Shoes – 12/12/21

December 12, 2021

The Lord has prepared another abundant banquet for us this week from Luke 2:1-20, from which Pastor Li-Shang will reveal amazing insights of God’s heart through the birth of His son.  The Creator of the universe did not descend into the world with the fanfare of a VIP, but He came “Walking in Our Shoes.”  In fact, the shoes He walked in on that first night in Bethlehem do not even come near to our basic standard of care for childbirth today.

Somehow, Jesus thought that self-denial is so important that He went through extremes to make this point.  This is the message of Christmas – our God becoming so helpless, so obscure, so underprivileged, and so misjudged – that we have no excuse.  Let us then lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

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If you cannot attend in person, the online stream will be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.

Stream link: https://youtu.be/3BPuwSHbHTs

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt

Family Note – My Father’s Business – 12/5/21

December 5, 2021

Pastor Li-Shang continues to deepen our grasp of self-denial with the message, “My Father’s Business” – referencing Jesus’ uncompromising desire to accomplish only the Father’s desire – to redeem, restore, and resurrect.  The scripture passage reference will be Luke 2:49, which may be considered one of the most awkward moments recorded in all scripture, until we see it in light of “not My will, but Yours be done.”

We invite you to come eat at the table that God has prepared for our church family.

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Please check the tithing page for ways to make your tithings to God’s house.  May our church be a testimony of the blessings God promised in Malachi 3.

—————————-

If you cannot attend in person, the online stream will be available at around 10:45 AM, Central Time.

Stream link: https://youtu.be/0MeV9wBn1rI

Experience Emmanuel!

pdt