WoW3: I can do nothing but only through God.
This week somebody confided in me a personal problem. I discovered a few things.
1. I don't understand the problem.
2. I don't have an answer to the problem.
3. I usually don't have answers to much problems anyway.
4. There are countless problems out there.
5. I am called by God to co-work on these problems.
6. I have a problem.
The burden is immensely heavy, but yet it is light on my shoulders. God is carrying the bulk of it and I live a life of miracles. No wonder the Psalms begins with exhortations, continues with wonder, struggles with lament, but eventually ends with thanksgiving.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
On Dealing with Pain
WoW2: Get the mission right and live with the pain.
In life, you feel pain. Some are mental, some are physical, some are self inflicted, some seemingly a gift from God. The pastor is forced to deal with pain because God needs to answer for it. While it is sometimes wise to think about the reasons for the source of pain, the example of Paul continuing his work in spite of pain must surely be a beacon of light for all of us.
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hardwork, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet posessing everything." 2 Cor 6:3-10
Astounding!!!
In life, you feel pain. Some are mental, some are physical, some are self inflicted, some seemingly a gift from God. The pastor is forced to deal with pain because God needs to answer for it. While it is sometimes wise to think about the reasons for the source of pain, the example of Paul continuing his work in spite of pain must surely be a beacon of light for all of us.
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hardwork, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet posessing everything." 2 Cor 6:3-10
Astounding!!!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Words of Wisdom
Apparently, there is one person reading this blog. There are 2 implications.
1. I will have to be careful with dubious content in case I end up like Mark Foley.
2. I will actually make an effort to keep this blog updates often.
One thing I promised myself when I was thinking ages ago about starting a blog is that I will use it as a platform to anounce all my musings about daily life. Kind of like Proverbs. Only better. And Funnier. And MORE IRRELEVANT.
WoW 1: Worship is done by the people.
During the Middle Ages, worship is performed by the clergy, and for the masses attending mass, they are merely an audience to what the clergy is doing. One of the point of the Reformation is so that the people can participate in the worship itself. The people learn to read the bible in their language, they sing psalms they can understand, and they pray and participate in communion in words they would use.
Today, we make exegesis (bible interpretation) a skill that is exclusive to ministers, songs that are overly triumphanistic in contrast to the broken lives of the people, and with prayers and communion in bombastic words and jargons. Worship is performed by the clergy once again.
Time for a change. And to invite all to worship once again.
1. I will have to be careful with dubious content in case I end up like Mark Foley.
2. I will actually make an effort to keep this blog updates often.
One thing I promised myself when I was thinking ages ago about starting a blog is that I will use it as a platform to anounce all my musings about daily life. Kind of like Proverbs. Only better. And Funnier. And MORE IRRELEVANT.
WoW 1: Worship is done by the people.
During the Middle Ages, worship is performed by the clergy, and for the masses attending mass, they are merely an audience to what the clergy is doing. One of the point of the Reformation is so that the people can participate in the worship itself. The people learn to read the bible in their language, they sing psalms they can understand, and they pray and participate in communion in words they would use.
Today, we make exegesis (bible interpretation) a skill that is exclusive to ministers, songs that are overly triumphanistic in contrast to the broken lives of the people, and with prayers and communion in bombastic words and jargons. Worship is performed by the clergy once again.
Time for a change. And to invite all to worship once again.
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