United Body in Christ

Well, lotsa thoughts this week. And, since my last entry, I have quite some thoughts generated in my mind. Trying to organise and remember them.

Anyway; In about 6 days would be the BIG day. Hahaa, actually its not really that important as it seems but its just a more special day lah. I really do not want to place a very huge emphasis on my race, as if something great or what, because I feel the most important thing in the end is to just do my best and let God decide whether to use to to glorify His name! Somehow or rather, I shouldnt "fall" into this world view to think that this competition is something great. Because, unless I want to run it for my own fame, my own honor, I do not see how much importance it can be. I used place so much so much on that day, but I realised that a day I lead one person to Christ may even be more special then that day winning the race for Christ. But nonetheless, like any other examinations, I could still feel the heat, the tension and the anxiety within me. Really seek sincere and earnest prayers from one and all. Pls pray for my focus to be right, not doing for fame, nor fortune, nor friend's praise, nor honor, nothing but for the glory of my Lord. Pray for recovery from my flu. And pray for strength for the run, that God may be glorified!

Anw I've been thinking about our youth ministry, and I realised the importance of every single youth having a personal, intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. And somehow or rather, everything will be nice, warm and sweet. Really SWEET fellowship. Unless youths have a personal relationship, and not depending on the Youth Comm to "feed" us with spiritual food, we cannot grow firstly as a ministry, and secondly, problems may arise. So, if every single youth loves the Lord with all their heart, seeks after His will and walk worthy in His footsteps, I can not imagine how powerful and impactful our ministry can be. And how much warmth, friendliness, loving and caring this ministry can be. As much as I do not want to be saying these things, I really really feel there is a need to address it because what I don't stand alone with what I feel.

Remember Ian who visited our church some time before last year, the main reason I believe he stopped coming is because he didnt feel welcomed while he was hear. And he commented to my another christian friend that the youths were abit cold. My friend Loius who came on Easter Sunday felt that there werent much attemps to talk to him, even though he was a christian from another church, compared to his church.

I am quite surprised by the feedback from my friends. Well, I think there may certainly be many reasons why they this was happening. I'm not exactly pointing out directly a mistake, but I'm just sharing what I have been concerned with, and where it would lead to unless we do something about it. Pray about it. I do not know about the girls but especially for the boys, I think we really have to learn to reach out to the newcomers and make them feel welcomed. I say this because I myself have not being able to do so, and thus as I reflect and share I purpose to see what I can do. Frankly speaking, without learning to reach out to others, we may just be a group where we can yes, can have fun, fellowship, but it will always be that group of people that would be together instead of introducing others to the youth group. Isnt that too much a group which enjoys, more than work? I do not stand as one who have overcome this problem, but one sharing even what difficulties I face myself and see others facing. So, do commit this unto our prayers. As a church, as Big Friendly Church, I think youths especially have to learn to GROW OUT of our concerns, and start to reach out! Unless others see the warmth, the love and the compassion of our Lord in us, no amount of preaching of sharing will be able to win them to Christ. Do we not always see newcomers feeling uncomfortable on sundays or even saturdays? Can we commit ourselves to trying to talk to them, or simply make friends and make them feel welcomed? I see this as a common fault that I have, and some youths have. Shawn? I feel strongly that when he returns, we should make an effort to include him into our youth group and make him feel welcome. The three brothers (tyron's friends), small Samuel even, people who may feel uncomfortable, left out. I am just worried and burdened that if this trend persists, wouldnt our youth group appear to be lukewarm and very "closed"?

I have some thoughts about it. And there are some reasons which I feel led to this phenomena. Firstly, I think that the youths are "grouped" and not as one body. In the sense that, we all know that we the fellowship of believers make up the Body of Christ, of the Church, yet if we spilt ourselves up into distinct group and just stay as "hermits" in our own group, not allowing any to join or be introduced, how can we fulfill being United in Christ? After Youth Camp last year, this scenario was immediately taken away as our youth guys begin to have bible study with anyone or every one who is interested. But I realised how we may slowly be returning to the earlier states of seperate groups. I cannot deny that yes, there may be a group or friends closer to one another, but what I realise is that it is on our part, responsible to open up, reach out and bring them into our circle of friends, and not exclude anyone. For us christians, its is our duty to seek for young christians, bring them in, and teach and disciple them so that they may grow and be build up in Christ. Leaving them untouched, unbothered, and alone may cause more harm den we ever expect. Who knows or insensitivity to it may the reason the person absent himself from church? Secondly, as we grow in our Lord, we have to acknowledge that we too have to grow out of our concerns, or joy and fun and enjoyment, stepping out of our comfort zone and start working. We have been fed well the past years, now its time for work, and forfeiting pleasures and joy and doing low-profiled work, backstage service or be a quiet but fervent servant. Sometimes, being too concerned with our own life shows selfishness. If we are too concerns with our own lives, we become self-centered. And, if we are able to grow Out of our concerns and INTO being concerned WITH Christ, to do His will, that is the stage we should be striving towards. Simply things like calling up someone, or asking a person how he is doing for that week, and having that person reply in a very enthusiastic and responsive way warms your heart for that day, or even for that week. "Pray for you" becomes a very common "term" to use and I believe unless we really mean it, do not say it. We must understand what it means to promise someone to pray for him/her. And unless we taste God's power and might after prayer, unless we see what He has done, we will remain skeptical about praying for others, and how lacking of power are our prayerss! The thing about growing out of our concerns and reaching out to people. It really will warm our hearts to see youths genuingly caring for one another, and committing themselves to fervent, earnest and sincere prayer for one another. Unlike a spilt bodies of believers, showing lukewarmness and appearing "cold", I think we should strive towards such a warm, caring, compassionate and loving ministry so filled with the attributes or our Savior, our Master. And lastly, we all MUST learn to start to look out and around and reach out to people whom we know needs help. Do not forsake eternal blessings for momentary joy, in the sense that not because of our fun and enjoyment, we neglect talkin someone into Christ.

Well, much has been said, those are all my thoughts and feelings. I do not noe if this may be tactful to be posted here, but because I know that this blog is mainly to our church people I feel more safe to address my concerns. I may recieve judgements? I dunno, but I am doing it with an upright and pure heart, out of concern, out of my heart's burdens. Pls do pray if u feel burdened too. Do not forget to pray for me too eh.

Truly, let us stand together as a united body in Christ!