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!"
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