Good 1.57pm, world!
Sorry for the lack of updates; been quite busy with a gigantuan church event, the usual (pleasant) craziness of work, and my piano exam preparations.
I've just come home from lunch with some of my Bible study kiddies.. Wait, maybe they shouldn't be called that anymore because they've actually grown up! They're 18 this year; practically legally adults! Some of them have even decided to and have begun serving in Christian ministry: becoming teachers themselves, leading the 13 year olds in Bible study. It's wonderful to see them teach and get all excited and jittery with each Sunday, with each new lesson they're preparing to impart to the young 'uns. It's good to know they've grown and matured and are courageous enough to even take such a step, such a leap of faith! But I guess they were my kiddies and will always be my kiddies, so maybe I'll refer to them from now on as my grown-up-kiddies!
Anyways, during on of those usual short moments of silence during lunch when everyone is contentedly lost in their own thoughts and just feeding food into their thoughtfully-chewing mouths, one of the grown-up-kiddies suddenly spurted a random utterence. 'Twas random because nobody was talking about that topic or anything remotely related to it.
She asked if our now-defunct children's ministry outreach wing was doing anything recently.
To which I answered that wing is no more; we've rebranded ourselves, repurposed, remissioned, refocussed.
Then I asked what I would think is a natural progression of the conversation: why is she asking? Is she interested in rejoining us in our events?
A quick and flat "no" was the reply.
She continued to cite a certain "thing" she was made to do during one of the past events when the old version of the evangelistic wing was still in existence. She really disliked it so much that it made such a huge impression in her consciousness and there it stayed.
That "thing" happened about a year ago.
It was a story-telling tool that she participated in: freeze-frame drama. Someone narrates the story, and the others move their bodies into poses according to the narration. She was chosen to be Mother Mary in the Nativity, pregnant (with a toy doll tucked under her shirt), and giving birth (turning around so that her back faces the children, she quickly slips her hand under her shirt, pulling the doll out and cradling it, she turns back to the children and freezes in that pose). Apparently, she felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed performing that act.
And that got me thinking:
Do we gravitate towards what we feel most comfortable doing?
Or do we purposely uproot ourselves from our comfy sofas and plonk ourselves in the middle of prickly thorns?
Do we confine ourselves to what we like best, or what we do best?
Or do we, as we Singaporeans like to term it, bao ga liao (do everything)?
Which is the right answer?
Is there a right answer?
Methinks that either option is not wrong.
It is natural for us to heed our inclinations, our gut feeling, and do what we feel most comfortable in doing first. Perhaps there is some logical truth in it, afterall, we were all created with a particular and unique shape: some of us love children and enjoy working with them, others may not be able to work with kids and prefer working with teenagers or young adults or seniors; some enjoy first-hand interaction with people, while others prefer to work behind-the-scenes performing administrative and logistic duties. And there is no shame in doing what we each do best, and what we best enjoy doing.
The problem comes when we are asked to "fill the gap", to "stand in", to do something we otherwise perhaps won't voluntarily and immediately do ourselves for whatever variety of reasons. For instance, getting a "runner" to have a hand in the "preparation\planning", or asking someone who is not otherwise inclined to deal with children to help out in running an event with children for children, or like my dear grown-up-kiddy, she is more accustomed to administrative & behind-the-scenes duties, but was asked to lend a hand (due to shortage of helpers) in the story-telling drama performance.
I can understand the discomfort and awkwardness, but perhaps in the days after the not-so-welcomed situation, what kind of attitude should one adopt?
Should one be bitter and apprehensive, chosing to remember the unpleasant feelings and emotions that one felt whilst ministering?
Should one close oneself off from that particular opportunity for ministry just in case such an uncomfortable moment presents itself again?
The phrasing and placing of the question would hint at a "no", but do we actually emobody and manifest that?
Do we even remember what ministry is all about?
"...Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others..."
Why do we engage in active ministry?
What pushes us, obliges us, spurs us on to do and continue in ministry?
"...Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..."
Ministry is all about the others. Others come first in ministry.
Whether or not our ministry, our deeds leads to the others choosing our Lord as their God, whether or not our ministry, our deeds are primary, are precedents to something mind-blowingly out-of-this-world, whether or not our ministry, our deeds are fully recognised and received by grateful hearts...
"... the issue is not in the outcomes but in the condition of our hearts... routine surrender is the distinguishing mark of His followers and that every opportunity to treat others as more important than ourselves makes us more like Christ." (Joe Stowell)
Afterall, Jesus did come and chose to stick resolutely to His mission, His ministry, all the while looking foolish in the eyes of the world just for us.
So why can't we?
Sorry for the lack of updates; been quite busy with a gigantuan church event, the usual (pleasant) craziness of work, and my piano exam preparations.
I've just come home from lunch with some of my Bible study kiddies.. Wait, maybe they shouldn't be called that anymore because they've actually grown up! They're 18 this year; practically legally adults! Some of them have even decided to and have begun serving in Christian ministry: becoming teachers themselves, leading the 13 year olds in Bible study. It's wonderful to see them teach and get all excited and jittery with each Sunday, with each new lesson they're preparing to impart to the young 'uns. It's good to know they've grown and matured and are courageous enough to even take such a step, such a leap of faith! But I guess they were my kiddies and will always be my kiddies, so maybe I'll refer to them from now on as my grown-up-kiddies!
Anyways, during on of those usual short moments of silence during lunch when everyone is contentedly lost in their own thoughts and just feeding food into their thoughtfully-chewing mouths, one of the grown-up-kiddies suddenly spurted a random utterence. 'Twas random because nobody was talking about that topic or anything remotely related to it.
She asked if our now-defunct children's ministry outreach wing was doing anything recently.
To which I answered that wing is no more; we've rebranded ourselves, repurposed, remissioned, refocussed.
Then I asked what I would think is a natural progression of the conversation: why is she asking? Is she interested in rejoining us in our events?
A quick and flat "no" was the reply.
She continued to cite a certain "thing" she was made to do during one of the past events when the old version of the evangelistic wing was still in existence. She really disliked it so much that it made such a huge impression in her consciousness and there it stayed.
That "thing" happened about a year ago.
It was a story-telling tool that she participated in: freeze-frame drama. Someone narrates the story, and the others move their bodies into poses according to the narration. She was chosen to be Mother Mary in the Nativity, pregnant (with a toy doll tucked under her shirt), and giving birth (turning around so that her back faces the children, she quickly slips her hand under her shirt, pulling the doll out and cradling it, she turns back to the children and freezes in that pose). Apparently, she felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed performing that act.
And that got me thinking:
Do we gravitate towards what we feel most comfortable doing?
Or do we purposely uproot ourselves from our comfy sofas and plonk ourselves in the middle of prickly thorns?
Do we confine ourselves to what we like best, or what we do best?
Or do we, as we Singaporeans like to term it, bao ga liao (do everything)?
Which is the right answer?
Is there a right answer?
Methinks that either option is not wrong.
It is natural for us to heed our inclinations, our gut feeling, and do what we feel most comfortable in doing first. Perhaps there is some logical truth in it, afterall, we were all created with a particular and unique shape: some of us love children and enjoy working with them, others may not be able to work with kids and prefer working with teenagers or young adults or seniors; some enjoy first-hand interaction with people, while others prefer to work behind-the-scenes performing administrative and logistic duties. And there is no shame in doing what we each do best, and what we best enjoy doing.
The problem comes when we are asked to "fill the gap", to "stand in", to do something we otherwise perhaps won't voluntarily and immediately do ourselves for whatever variety of reasons. For instance, getting a "runner" to have a hand in the "preparation\planning", or asking someone who is not otherwise inclined to deal with children to help out in running an event with children for children, or like my dear grown-up-kiddy, she is more accustomed to administrative & behind-the-scenes duties, but was asked to lend a hand (due to shortage of helpers) in the story-telling drama performance.
I can understand the discomfort and awkwardness, but perhaps in the days after the not-so-welcomed situation, what kind of attitude should one adopt?
Should one be bitter and apprehensive, chosing to remember the unpleasant feelings and emotions that one felt whilst ministering?
Should one close oneself off from that particular opportunity for ministry just in case such an uncomfortable moment presents itself again?
The phrasing and placing of the question would hint at a "no", but do we actually emobody and manifest that?
Do we even remember what ministry is all about?
"...Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others..."
Why do we engage in active ministry?
What pushes us, obliges us, spurs us on to do and continue in ministry?
"...Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..."
Ministry is all about the others. Others come first in ministry.
Whether or not our ministry, our deeds leads to the others choosing our Lord as their God, whether or not our ministry, our deeds are primary, are precedents to something mind-blowingly out-of-this-world, whether or not our ministry, our deeds are fully recognised and received by grateful hearts...
"... the issue is not in the outcomes but in the condition of our hearts... routine surrender is the distinguishing mark of His followers and that every opportunity to treat others as more important than ourselves makes us more like Christ." (Joe Stowell)
Afterall, Jesus did come and chose to stick resolutely to His mission, His ministry, all the while looking foolish in the eyes of the world just for us.
So why can't we?
Say the word and I will sing for You
Over oceans deep, I will follow
If each star was a song
And every breath of wind, praise
It would still fail by far to say all my heart contains
I simply live, I simply live for You
As the glory of Your presence now fills this place
In worship, we will meet You face to face
There is nothing in this world to which You can be compared
Glory on glory, praise upon praise
You bind the broken hearted
And save all my tears
By Your word, You set the captives free
There is nothing in this world that You cannot do
I simply live, I simply live for You
Over oceans deep, I will follow
If each star was a song
And every breath of wind, praise
It would still fail by far to say all my heart contains
I simply live, I simply live for You
As the glory of Your presence now fills this place
In worship, we will meet You face to face
There is nothing in this world to which You can be compared
Glory on glory, praise upon praise
You bind the broken hearted
And save all my tears
By Your word, You set the captives free
There is nothing in this world that You cannot do
I simply live, I simply live for You
"So if there is
any encouragement in Christ,
any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
~ Philippians 2: 1-11
any encouragement in Christ,
any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
~ Philippians 2: 1-11
