I'll have to disagree

NO - having a pastor who follows God wholeheartedly isn't nearly as good as having Jesus Himself leading the church.


My brain just froze after typing the statement above. Why? Because it's hard to imagine a situation where one has to make such a statement. It's a no-brainer. How can someone compare a pastor to Pastor Jesus, and then say both are just as good? No no no... No no no. NO!!

There are pastors whom I personally know and have tremendous respect for - including my parents and my brother. They are wonderful people who pursue God's heart with great passion. But they are not and will never be just as good as Pastor Jesus. No one will be as good - that knowledge is the starting point for salvation!! Perhaps there are certain aspects of their ministry or their character which are like our Saviour - but never as good as. I would have Jesus Christ as my pastor any day of the week. I'm sure pastors I know will share my preference.

Justice, Compassion, Love

Micah 6:6 - 8 raises a very important question - one we should ask often - What is pleasing & good in the sight of our God? Is it our giving, our sacrifices, songs, & various acts of service unto him? The answer - act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.

Jesus also spoke on this in Matthew 23:23 - citing justice, faith, & mercy as weightier matters of the law. Yes He did!! According to Jesus, these are more important things that we must not neglect. Paul resounded the importance of the matter in 1 Cor 13:1-3. And it is simply summed like this - without love, nothing we do - be it of good intentions or with great excellence - would matter.


I believe a shift in focus is necessary. The church, collectively, needs that. After all, the church is the body of Christ, purposed & empowered to do good & spread love on this earth. For too long we have been focusing on excelling in the duties we perform within the 4 walls of our building. Even our best 'reaching out' efforts are mostly aimed at bringing people into the church first.

I look at myself, & things I'm supposedly good at - song leading, script writing, teaching... All these are good gifts from God, but so far I've been using them effectively only within a church setting. I can think of so many good things we do within the church, but my brain gets stuck when it comes to schools, neighbourhoods, cafes, community halls, etc. It's not that we don't care - it's that we don't care enough to think more about it.

I'm not saying that excelling in church duties & in-house evangelistic programmes are wrong; I'm asking if those are the only things we know how to do.I'm talking about a shift in focus, a change of paradigm.

John 13:35 - By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. 

Beeka

Rabeeka has been a close friend to May and I. The sleep-overs, car-rides, conversations, mahjong sessions - both our lives have been blessed by her friendship. This picture was taken on Tuesday, where Rabeeka gave us a Korean treat. Although it felt a bit strange (it's the first time she's treating us), it was a memorial occasion & it made me feel really really good (I don't know how else to express my feeling). I thank God for knitting us together.

Restoration

As I participated in the corporate worship & communion in my home church on Resurrection Sunday, I was reflecting again on an entire year that has gone by - a time of trials and storms indeed.

Compassion, love, mercy, & unity were all severely lacking - basically they were all thrown out the window, replaced by law & rules, condemnation... I won't go into the details of what transpired in these times, but here's what's what in short: My family members were targets of accusations & prejudices coming from the very people we gave our lives to serve; changes were abruptly implemented on the basis of "i have a revelation from God & you're filthy with sin"; and without warning / notice / explanation, I was relieved of my leadership positions. Though now I'm still the youth leader, I've not been serving in the music team since June 08.

While I was reflecting about all that & participating in communion for the first time in 10 months (I refused to partake of an inferior brand of Jesus' blood), I felt God impressed the word 'RESTORATION' onto my heart. I don't know if it's a message also for the church, but personally, yes, I do feel that I've lost many things, & many things have been taken away from me. Yet I'm reminded of the provision available to me through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The blessing outweighs the curse, the joy overcomes sorrow. YES!! I believe.

Be it unto me, according to Your word. I believe.