Monday, October 31, 2005
Time to Loosen Your Bow
As P.Bryan concluded the last of the 3-part series on "Work & Play" for the YAS service, he highlighted the importance of rest. He gave a personal testimony of having worked continuously without taking a break. He pushed himself beyond his physical limitations during his early ministry, preaching, cell visitations and counselling many others, thinking that doing all that will make him more 'holy' or to earn more 'credit' so to speak. Often, he wouldn't rest till the wee hours of the morning, spending his time reading and preparing for the next day's work. In 2003, he suffered a burnt-out. He came down with a severe eye infection. Both of his eyes were very red one day and he went to see a GP who gave him antiboitics eye drops to treat his conjunctivitis. The eye drops didn't work and his eyes were ozzing pus. He was telling the congregation how he had to constantly wipe the yellowish pus while he was watching television. His eyes grew very sensitive and he was afraid of bright light including going out into the sun as he would be blinded by the rays. A few weeks later, P.Bryan had an appt with an eye specialist. The doc commented that he was lucky to have made it to see him in time, if not, his sight could be permanently damaged. By the time he consulted this specialist, his eye corneas were already scarred. A membrane was formed over the surface of his eyes and that was why the antibotics eye drops couldn't reach the designated treatment area. The doc had to 'scrapped' (quoted P.Bryan) the layer of membrane off the surface of his eyes, using a highly specialised equipment. From that incident, the Lord spoke to him that he should not take rest for granted. So should we not, my friends, underestimate the impotance of rest.
A story P.Bryan then told us to further illustrate his point. According to tradition, when the apostle John was overseer in Ephesus, his hobby was raising pigeons. It is said that on one occasion another elder passed his house as he returned from hunting and saw John playing with one of his birds. The man gently chided him for spending his time so frivolously.
John looked at the hunter's bow and remarked that the string was loose. "Yes," said the elder, "I always loosen the string of my bow when it's not in use. If it stayed tight, it would lose its resilience and fail me in the hunt."
John responded, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.” He explained, "In the same way as you do, I am now relaxing the bow of my mind so that I may be better able to shoot the arrows of divine truth."
We cannot do our best work with nerves taut or frayed from constant pressure. When Jesus' disciples returned from a strenuous preaching mission, their Master recognized their need for rest and invited them to come with Him to a quiet place where they could be refreshed
(Mark 6:31). Even Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of ministry. And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us when He “rested from all His work” (Gen.2:3).
Hobbies, vacations, and wholesome recreation are vital to a well-balanced, godly life. A rubber band when stretched once in a while will maintain its elasticity. But stretched to its max without letting go will cause it to snap. We lose our effectiveness by keeping our lives so tightly strung that we are always tense. Take time to smell the roses. Shouldn’t we take His example seriously? If it seems we can't relax, Jesus may be inviting us to take a break—to "come aside . . . and rest a while." Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Footnotes:
P.Bryan has since taken up jogging at MacRitchie, learning to roller-blade
and recently began growing 'plants' in pots as his pasttime hobbies.
He thanks well-wishes for their prayers.
A story P.Bryan then told us to further illustrate his point. According to tradition, when the apostle John was overseer in Ephesus, his hobby was raising pigeons. It is said that on one occasion another elder passed his house as he returned from hunting and saw John playing with one of his birds. The man gently chided him for spending his time so frivolously.
John looked at the hunter's bow and remarked that the string was loose. "Yes," said the elder, "I always loosen the string of my bow when it's not in use. If it stayed tight, it would lose its resilience and fail me in the hunt."
John responded, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.” He explained, "In the same way as you do, I am now relaxing the bow of my mind so that I may be better able to shoot the arrows of divine truth."
We cannot do our best work with nerves taut or frayed from constant pressure. When Jesus' disciples returned from a strenuous preaching mission, their Master recognized their need for rest and invited them to come with Him to a quiet place where they could be refreshed
(Mark 6:31). Even Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of ministry. And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us when He “rested from all His work” (Gen.2:3).
Hobbies, vacations, and wholesome recreation are vital to a well-balanced, godly life. A rubber band when stretched once in a while will maintain its elasticity. But stretched to its max without letting go will cause it to snap. We lose our effectiveness by keeping our lives so tightly strung that we are always tense. Take time to smell the roses. Shouldn’t we take His example seriously? If it seems we can't relax, Jesus may be inviting us to take a break—to "come aside . . . and rest a while." Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Footnotes:
P.Bryan has since taken up jogging at MacRitchie, learning to roller-blade
and recently began growing 'plants' in pots as his pasttime hobbies.
He thanks well-wishes for their prayers.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Car Key Short Story
There was a working mother. She has a little toddler. Her domestic assistant took care of her toddler during day time. This mother did her best in office. She also did her best as a mother.
One day, as she arrived in her office. Her domestic assistant telephoned her. Her child sickness was getting worse.
She informed her manager; rushed to her car. Unfortunately, she couldn't find her car key. She locked her car key in the vehicle. She pulled the door handle real hard; pull and pull, but nothing happen. She picked up a thin little metal piece from the floor. She attempted to open but failed.
The domestic assistant telephoned again. This time, she panicked. Suddenly, she remembered one thing - "Pray"! She bowed her head and whispered a simple short prayer: "God, please send someone to open car door."
When she opened her eyes, she saw a dirty untidy man riding recklessly on a rusty bicycle almost knocked her down. In her desperation: "Sir, could you help me to open my car door. I need to pick my child to the hospital. My child is very sick. I left the key inside. Could you please help, sir!"
He said in a low voice: "Certainly..."
Then he asked her: "Could you pass me the metal piece on your hand?" He bend the metal a little. Carefully, aim it into the key hole; with a few twists and the car door open.
The mother was very happy: "Thank you, Sir! You are a very nice man. Are you locksmith?" she asked.
He replied: "I'm not a good man. I am not a locksmith. I just came from the prison for car theft awhile ago"; the replied faded off as he rode off with his bicycle.
The working mother cried: "Thank God for sending me a professional!"
One day, as she arrived in her office. Her domestic assistant telephoned her. Her child sickness was getting worse.
She informed her manager; rushed to her car. Unfortunately, she couldn't find her car key. She locked her car key in the vehicle. She pulled the door handle real hard; pull and pull, but nothing happen. She picked up a thin little metal piece from the floor. She attempted to open but failed.
The domestic assistant telephoned again. This time, she panicked. Suddenly, she remembered one thing - "Pray"! She bowed her head and whispered a simple short prayer: "God, please send someone to open car door."
When she opened her eyes, she saw a dirty untidy man riding recklessly on a rusty bicycle almost knocked her down. In her desperation: "Sir, could you help me to open my car door. I need to pick my child to the hospital. My child is very sick. I left the key inside. Could you please help, sir!"
He said in a low voice: "Certainly..."
Then he asked her: "Could you pass me the metal piece on your hand?" He bend the metal a little. Carefully, aim it into the key hole; with a few twists and the car door open.
The mother was very happy: "Thank you, Sir! You are a very nice man. Are you locksmith?" she asked.
He replied: "I'm not a good man. I am not a locksmith. I just came from the prison for car theft awhile ago"; the replied faded off as he rode off with his bicycle.
The working mother cried: "Thank God for sending me a professional!"
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Project Daniel 0410
Daniel's early life demonstrates that there is more to being young than making mistakes. No characteristic wins the hearts of adults more quickly than wisdom in the words and actions of a young person. Daniel and his friends had been taken from their homes in Judah and exiles. Their futures were in doubt, but they all had personal traits that qualified them for jobs as servants in the king's palace. They took advantage of the opportunity without letting the opportunity take advantage of them.
Our first hint of Daniel's greatness comes in his quiet refusal to give up his convictions. He had applied God's will to his own life, and he resisted changing the good habits he had formed. Both his physical and spiritual diets were an important part of his relationship with God. He ate carefully and lived prayerfully. One of the benefits of being in training for royal service was eating food from the king's table. Daniel tactfully chose a simpler menu and proved it was a healthy choice. As with Daniel, mealtimes are obvious and regular tests of our efforts to control our appetites.
While Daniel limited his food intake, he indulged in prayer. He was able to communicate with God because he made it habit. He put into practice his convictions, even when that meant being thrown into a den of hungry lions. His life proved he made the right choice.
Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Office and workplace:
Our first hint of Daniel's greatness comes in his quiet refusal to give up his convictions. He had applied God's will to his own life, and he resisted changing the good habits he had formed. Both his physical and spiritual diets were an important part of his relationship with God. He ate carefully and lived prayerfully. One of the benefits of being in training for royal service was eating food from the king's table. Daniel tactfully chose a simpler menu and proved it was a healthy choice. As with Daniel, mealtimes are obvious and regular tests of our efforts to control our appetites.
While Daniel limited his food intake, he indulged in prayer. He was able to communicate with God because he made it habit. He put into practice his convictions, even when that meant being thrown into a den of hungry lions. His life proved he made the right choice.
Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Office and workplace:
- Continue building strong relationship boss/es and colleagues
- Establish good rapport with customers and suppliers.
- Inviting God's presence and help during meetings and discussions.
- Believing God to provide relevant data and information to make decisions.
- Asking God for guidance to reduce office complexity into simplicity.
- Believing God to provide sufficient resources to carry out office works.
My first LOVE
I first fell in love when I was 10, to a really handsome guy with dreamy big eyes and a spaced- out look. We met at a church camp, and the whole time we played together...we had fun... we couldn't stop thinking about each other...
Okay, this is not about me and my mushy love stories. I do have quite a few, by the way!
Here, take some time to ask yourself a few questions:
What are the things you LIKE?
...What are the things you LOVE?
If we just blurt out without thinking, perhaps we might say things like: 'Sleeping...Chocolates...Money...Travel...Books...' (Nothing wrong with liking or loving these, by the way.)
When we take some time to reflect on it, perhaps we might answer something to the tune of the 'higher ideals', as referred to, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Perhaps the importance of Truth. Righteousness. Of Family and Friends (and Lovers.) Of Church and Community. Some would value Work...
God says:
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
- Revelation 2:2-4
I challenge us, not to forget our first love. Like the song goes, "My first love, I'm reaching out, once again/My heart's consumed with you/Lord I yearn, Lord I thirst, for more of you."
In our daily challenges, pursuit of life, work, and purpose; let's focus on things that are truly important - Things that have eternal significance.
And most importantly, make sure you know who is your first love.
Okay, this is not about me and my mushy love stories. I do have quite a few, by the way!
Here, take some time to ask yourself a few questions:
What are the things you LIKE?
...What are the things you LOVE?
If we just blurt out without thinking, perhaps we might say things like: 'Sleeping...Chocolates...Money...Travel...Books...' (Nothing wrong with liking or loving these, by the way.)
When we take some time to reflect on it, perhaps we might answer something to the tune of the 'higher ideals', as referred to, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Perhaps the importance of Truth. Righteousness. Of Family and Friends (and Lovers.) Of Church and Community. Some would value Work...
God says:
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
- Revelation 2:2-4
I challenge us, not to forget our first love. Like the song goes, "My first love, I'm reaching out, once again/My heart's consumed with you/Lord I yearn, Lord I thirst, for more of you."
In our daily challenges, pursuit of life, work, and purpose; let's focus on things that are truly important - Things that have eternal significance.
And most importantly, make sure you know who is your first love.
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