Archive for March, 2004
Broken People
“God calls very broken people to enter ministry, for, once healed, it is out-of brokenness that we accomplish our greatest ministry of healing toward others.”
~ Managing the Congregation, p. 18
Random Thoughts hoping for better tomorrows
I really never expected that Mom’s place would have a break-in that totally messed up our week (at least the last two days). But then, none of us can ever be truly ready for any form of invasion …
Under stress when I found out about another unwanted event ( another kind of invasion). It’s such a roller coaster ride the last two days.
Dinner with Mom was good tonight, I think Gareth brought her some joy in spite of what had happened.
Reading The Homiletical Plot (Expanded Edition) by Eugene Lowry.
It’s been sometime since I’ve read a book on preaching. Interesting to find out what’s in the minds of those in the pew. When will the time come when we move away or at least beyond a “consumeristic” approach to the sermon and towards a let’s listen to God’s message for us together both the so called “speaker” as well as the “listener”?
Spent some time with my God-son the past couple of days … what a mixture of fun and discipline. hmmm….
Intrigued by the non-mainstream responses (and another link here) to our new PM’s cabinet line-up.
Delighted to get in touch with two young men I’ve always wanted to read … thanks Ben for finally letting me in into your head. And of course Yoshua … the one and only 
… just wished they had rss feeds.
For the first time, I have a chance to help someone set up a blog … I hope it helps.
Delighted read about John’s reaction to A New Kind of Christian.
I love reading other people’s blogs (as well as comments) … it let’s me know how they are doing, what they are thinking as far as they allow it … at times I’m delighted, at other occassions pause in disappointment, many a times asking questions, other times just speechless … but that’s just part of life …
Can’t get a “particular” movement or influence that’s “worming” in some churches and Christians I know out of my head. I’m sure it’s probably going to continue expanding and it won’t vanish just because I wish it will. An immediate reaction is “stay away from me!!!!”, “i don’t want anything to do with these guys”, “Help! Lord, why are we stuck in all this nonsense?”, “what happened to using our brains for a change huh?”, … the list is endless. … need to focus on Jesus again … if not, I might shout some profanity … not to GOD, just when I think about the rubbish that’s going around (forgive me Lord!)
Hell
~ From Spencer Burke
Just when I thought I could get re-oriented back to rhythm. The unpleasant unexpected happened. One feels invaded when your home is turned upside down (in this case it was my parents shophouse). Some portable property was stolen, and for my mom hard earned or saved money emptied, and I feel worse for my brother because the tools of his trade and “treasured” possessions disappear just like that. It’s an awful feeling …. it’s a numbing experience … it’s a glimpse of “hell” … you might try to “rationalize” the causes or the “reason” behind all this … we try to be somehow thankful no one was hurt in anyway … but it does not take away the reality of “disappointment” …
Attitudes to the Poor
Read and reflected on “Attitudes to the Poor in New Testament Times” in preparation on a message based on John 12.1-8.
Somehow reading the article coincides with our visit coming up this afternoon. We’re visiting the NGO led by a friend I got to know better at the Asian Mission Conference in S’pore. The NGO is focused on working with the poor.
On top of that, I just got my copy of Byrant Myers book below. Is it coincidence, or an accident, or is it providence that all this is happening? It all depends which lens one chooses to look through, isn’t it?
>The Interview with God
click the picture and view the flash presentation and other info.
Read the rest of this entry »
Health care chaos
Deserted by Doctors, India’s Poor Turn to Quacks is a report that deserves attention and in some ways i couldn’t help but even see it as an analogy for other areas from education to religion.
Two Journals
I’ve been keeping a spiritual journal since I was 17. Yesterday, i got introduced to the idea of a “management” journal from this book I borrowed from the seminary “Managing the Congregation: Building effective systems to serve people“. I still don’t feel attracted to the word “management” (even though the book is redeeming the word for me!) so I’ll just call it my “ministry journal” for now …
“The management journal is a log of what you are experiencing in your work– the critical incidents that have happened in ministry — key people, conversations, decisions and experiences: and what you are thinking about these. Just as important is the expression of your feelings about these incidents.” (p. 35)
