Alot of issues we face in ministry are relationship based. It is so disheartening to always hear criticisms from others with no one truly showing their appreciation. And most criticisms seem to be based on personal preferences as opposed to true worthwhile issues.
There are so many things that I cannot tell others to protect others from being hurt or disappointed, and bottling them up eventually would take their toll on me. I think I have become more withdrawn than before, and it is ironic that some people still perceive me as not able to keep secrets - if they only knew what I know inside my head.
Frustrations also come from our sense of helplessness. We see people falling, but we don't know how to help. Even if we are willing, the fallen may not be willing to allow you to help them.
But we should look beyond the short term and focus on the glory of God in eternity. All the frustrations are paid off when I received the following message earlier this week from a long lost friend, who I have previously spent time to evangelise to a few years ago:
"Hey, do you know I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour?"
Soldier on, everyone! Its worth it!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Friendships
How do we define friendships? How do we establish friendships?
Do you establish friends through networking? I went to a speed networking function organised by my firm recently. We had an "one-on-one" session with each person in the room for 3 minutes in which we discussed a pre-determined topic and exchange our personal information. By the end of the night, I had a number of business cards in my hands, none of which I would be contacting again. Although I went out with some of my new-found networks afterwards to more drinks and dinner, and I actually had a good time talking about the insignificant details of life, they were still just an acquaintance to me and a potential network for the future. I am sure they think the same. These kind of people may be described "one-night friends". "One-night friends" may also include those long lost friends who contacts you once every couple of years and updates you on things in their lives.
Do you establish friends through open invitation? Even if you open yourself to someone new, that person may not open themselves to you in the same way. Maybe to you that person is your friend, but to them, you may not be a friend. These kind of people may be described as "one-way friends".
How do you respect your friends? It is hard when you have an expectation of them, and they do not meet that expectation. We expect our good friends to inform us of their big events in life, and when they do not do that, do we respect their privacy? When we find out that they have informed others of their big events, and we are kept in the dark, do we have the understanding to accept that each person may have their reasons for doing what they do (and maybe we are too busy for them in the first place)?
How do you respect your friends? It is hard when they do not appreciate what you've done for them, and to them, their "one-night friends" are closer than you are, even though they can expect your friendship regularity, and their "one-night friends" will only give them unexpected friendship once in a blue moon.
How do you help and support your friends? Do you need to give them an answer every time? How do you tell a friend that they need professional help? How can you tell them that you feel their pain but you don't know how to help them.
And how do you cope and handle a dying friendship, a lost friendship, or a friend who you no longer connect or click with?
Do you establish friends through networking? I went to a speed networking function organised by my firm recently. We had an "one-on-one" session with each person in the room for 3 minutes in which we discussed a pre-determined topic and exchange our personal information. By the end of the night, I had a number of business cards in my hands, none of which I would be contacting again. Although I went out with some of my new-found networks afterwards to more drinks and dinner, and I actually had a good time talking about the insignificant details of life, they were still just an acquaintance to me and a potential network for the future. I am sure they think the same. These kind of people may be described "one-night friends". "One-night friends" may also include those long lost friends who contacts you once every couple of years and updates you on things in their lives.
Do you establish friends through open invitation? Even if you open yourself to someone new, that person may not open themselves to you in the same way. Maybe to you that person is your friend, but to them, you may not be a friend. These kind of people may be described as "one-way friends".
How do you respect your friends? It is hard when you have an expectation of them, and they do not meet that expectation. We expect our good friends to inform us of their big events in life, and when they do not do that, do we respect their privacy? When we find out that they have informed others of their big events, and we are kept in the dark, do we have the understanding to accept that each person may have their reasons for doing what they do (and maybe we are too busy for them in the first place)?
How do you respect your friends? It is hard when they do not appreciate what you've done for them, and to them, their "one-night friends" are closer than you are, even though they can expect your friendship regularity, and their "one-night friends" will only give them unexpected friendship once in a blue moon.
How do you help and support your friends? Do you need to give them an answer every time? How do you tell a friend that they need professional help? How can you tell them that you feel their pain but you don't know how to help them.
And how do you cope and handle a dying friendship, a lost friendship, or a friend who you no longer connect or click with?
Easter Church Camp
The first combined church camp occurred over the Easter long weekend.
Praise God that every thing went well. It was a good time for us to interact with people from another local church. I was surprised as to how well we were able to mix with them.
Being part of the committee again allowed me to see God at work. It was great to work with a great bunch of brothers and sisters, helping and supporting each other. Thank God that I have established a closer relationship with my counterpart at the other church and he was a great assistance to me throughout the camp.
It was very encouraging to receive support from people throughout the camp. Their encouragement showed their love and care for us. I was very also very touched by some comments for my workshop - all praise and glory to the Lord.
The only drawback was that there were meetings scheduled in my free time. But I did get some insights from those meetings, so it was not all that bad.
The only regret is that I did not spend enough time with certain people that I wanted to. But God did allow me to spend time with others that I did not expect to spend time with.
A thought which I have been pondering since the camp about is how I should invest my time, money and energy on matters in relation to heaven, since our future is in heaven. This may have implications on my current job situation.
Keep praying. Keep praising.
Praise God that every thing went well. It was a good time for us to interact with people from another local church. I was surprised as to how well we were able to mix with them.
Being part of the committee again allowed me to see God at work. It was great to work with a great bunch of brothers and sisters, helping and supporting each other. Thank God that I have established a closer relationship with my counterpart at the other church and he was a great assistance to me throughout the camp.
It was very encouraging to receive support from people throughout the camp. Their encouragement showed their love and care for us. I was very also very touched by some comments for my workshop - all praise and glory to the Lord.
The only drawback was that there were meetings scheduled in my free time. But I did get some insights from those meetings, so it was not all that bad.
The only regret is that I did not spend enough time with certain people that I wanted to. But God did allow me to spend time with others that I did not expect to spend time with.
A thought which I have been pondering since the camp about is how I should invest my time, money and energy on matters in relation to heaven, since our future is in heaven. This may have implications on my current job situation.
Keep praying. Keep praising.
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