Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your Martial Arts and Outreach for Christ.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
Jesus Christ
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The Apostle Paul
This month, we begin a journey into the mind and heart of one of the 20th Century's great martial artists and Christian brothers. His name was John Chung Li. Master Li was a Kung-Fu Grand Master from Hong Kong, China. He taught an ancient martial art and health care science known as Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi Ch'uan (formerly known as Liu Ha Pa Fa). Grand Master Li moved to the United States in 1969 to share Christ and the health care benefits of Hwa-Yu with the American people. He often publicly announced his love and appreciation for the United States for liberating Hong Kong from Japanese occupation during World War II. Master Li lived and taught in Boston, Chicago, New York and Florida until his death in 1982. He taught hundreds of university students around the country, including those at Yale, Harvard, MIT, and Boston University. Grand Master Li also traveled and taught in Europe.
Grand Master Li shared Christ as a natural part of his T'ai-Chi instruction. He taught the Bible to his students on Friday nights in Boston's Chinatown. He spoke publicly about the joys of knowing Jesus Christ. Fortunately for all of us, Grand Master Li gave his tapes and writings to Master Robert Xavier who is Legacy Holder of the Hwa-Yu and Yon Ch'uan Martial Arts System. Master Xavier has been kind and generous in sharing Li's tapes and writings with us.
We'll begin this month by looking at the spiritual thoughts of Grand Master Li. He had a deep love for Jesus Christ. Master Li was humbled by God's Love for him. Master Li called his writings about God's Word "Honey Drops." He believed God's Words were sweet to taste. The following are excerpts from "Honey Drops."
"Readers must taste each sentence clearly with calm prayer and meditation, but do not read in hurry. Firstly to receive the idea really into the mind by calmness; work out afterward."
"If readers take responsibility to work, then the more you read, the more improvement in spiritual life you gain, the more sweetness you will find in reading HONEY DROPS!"
Romans 5:11 - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Saviour, Jesus Christ, to save me by His death and resurrection, is not only we are receiving His atonement, but only receiving joy in God is the highest salvation we gain.
Luke 1:46-47 - "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." How can I rejoice in God? This is looking Him having a boundless beauty and goodness, therefore in my Lord. Oh! His plan is wonderful, His wisdom is great. His grace is how large. His glory and beauty are plentiful! His arrangement is fixed forever. His thought remains thousands generations. He said exist and it is exist. He ordered fix and it is fixed. All His works are righteous, all what He does have grace! He is noble and holy God, was willing to die for me who is so humble and filthy sinner. A wonderful grace! His greatness I enjoy without ceasing! His love I enjoy without finish!
Matthew 14:30 - "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and begining to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." One who find out that he has no power, is able to ask his Lord to help, saying 'LORD, SAVE ME!
Romans 5:8 - "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." My repented painful heart toward my Lord who died for me, confesses two things: (1) my Lord's love is greatest. (2) I am not fitted to have His redemption! Wonderful! My Lord loves me such a sinner.
Next Month: More thoughts about God's Grace and Love from Martial Arts Grand Master John Chung Li
Kung Fu (Gung Fu) has many forms of exercises. They develop flexibility and strength internally and externally. They can extend a person's life expectancy and general health during that long life.
The following are examples of some intermediate and advanced Kung Fu exercises.
Next Month: Jujutsu warm-up exercises
Please send your Training Tips to Mark McGee.
This month we will look at some of the best-known styles of Chinese Martial Arts (Gung Fu, Wushu). Some are very old (more than a thousand years). Others are relatively new (within the last century) This cannot be a comprehensive list since the number of styles is in the hundreds. The purpose is to honor the wide range of Gung Fu styles in the world today. If you practice any of these styles and would like to share your thoughts about them with other members of the Fellowship, please e-mail Mark McGee.
Next Month: "Okinawa Te" by Dr. William Durbin, Shodai Soke of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei
Please send information about your Martial Art to Mark McGee.
Jeff Tam, a Christian martial artist living in Hong Kong, would appreciate input about a martial arts evangelistic ministry in China. Here's a note he recently sent us.
"I think H.K need someone to start a ministry that use Martial Arts as a tool of evangelism. We need a team that can go around and demonstrate Martial Arts and share the Gospel or some teachers that can come and teach Martial Arts for a certain time. We need some churches to involve in this kind of ministry. I do not know if anyone would have this heart to start a ministry in H.K."
I'm sure we all share Jeff's heart for a ministry in China. Please send your ideas and your prayer support to Jeff Tam in Hong Kong.
We added several Christian martial artists to the Fellowship in February. We appreciate each one and thank them for their interest in fellowshipping with other Christian martial artists around the world. Please welcome these fine Christian brothers and sisters and remember to pray for them and their ministries throughout the coming months.
Charles Mak is a medical student living in Malaysia. He grew up in Australia and studied TaeKwonDo there for three years.
John Noesen has been a Christian for about 20 years and lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He has been married 31 years and has three grown children. Mr. Noesen is a Senior sales representative in the process analytical instrumentation field. He started his martial arts training in 1955 with Jujitsu. Mr. Noesen was also a high school and college wrestler. He started training in TaeKwonDo in 1965 and has also trained in Thai boxing, Kick Boxing and Hapkido. Mr. Noesen holds black belts in TaeKwonDo and Hapkido. He is preparing to start a martial arts affiliation with emphasis on self defense and assault prevention.
Stephen Lawwell is Chief Instructor at the Kicks for Christ School of Martial Arts in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Mr. Lawwell is an I/T Specialist-Applications Integrator for IBM Global Services
Diane England lives in Utah and trains in Kenpo Karate.
Tammy Stevens is an accountant from Bay City, Texas. She has trained in T'ai Chi and Karate.
We appreciate your Fellowship in the Gospel. We are praying for you and your opportunities to serve Christ. Please let us know about ways GMAF can help you in your service. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter, please ask them to e-mail Mark McGee. We'll be glad to put them on our monthly mailing list. If you would like to join Grace Martial Arts Fellowship ©, contact Mark McGee.
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