Our brothers and sisters never cease to amaze me. Which is the same as saying our church is amazing. Which is the same as saying Jesus is amazing.
But back to our brothers and sisters, and why I’m so amazed. We have a Bible Retreat that hasn’t changed from its current format of pretty much 9 to 10 hours of listening and reading from the bible. (from what I hear, it used to be more like 12-14 hours) Yet, year after year, our brothers and sisters continuously attend the retreat over and over and over again, and with a new sense of yearning in their hearts for fellowship with not only one another and new souls, but most importantly with God. As a fellow brother within this family of God, it truly brings me delight and gratitude knowing I can partake in this “lovefest” at least twice a year. Some saving up their money leading up to the retreat to pay for not only themselves, but for others they want to witness to. Some spending their vacation time to travel long distances just to attend the retreat for 4 days. I think the worldly hardships and tests our church battles and overcomes through the scriptures is a definite and an observable attribute that doesn’t take much faith in acknowledging. It’s very much palpable. It’s Jesus…….and not all churches truly exudes this. Some have it, some just claim it. Wow, just take a moment to think about this for a second……………..amazing indeed. To be part of this.
……..and now, to the struggle.
Blessings. There for my taking and I don’t have a strong desire to take it, contrary to the things I know in my heart. It’s amusing for a second, then it’s really not all that funny anymore.
I would be lying if I say that I never calculate the costs, the days of vacation I have left for the year, and quite honestly, thinking to myself I already heard everything before when it comes to the retreat. It’s as it says in Matthew 26:41, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”, amongst others verses…
This year is no different, I still haven’t paid for the retreat, everybody assumes I’m going, I make it seem like I’m going by asking others to go, some I literally beg to attend, and yet, in the back of my mind, I still am looking for a possible retreat from Retreat! Heh, again it’s kind of amusing for a quick second, then I realize how serious of a problem this is. Not only a problem because I’m possibly using up brain cells that can be used on something a bit more beneficial to me, but also a problem because it’s having an adverse affect on my personal relationship with God. I have no brain cells I can afford to use on useless thoughts!
From yesterday’s sermon, Pastor talked about the lack of fellowship he’s been having recently with Jesus due to the amount of work he’s been dealing with. The financial documentations, the church renovations and contractors he’s thinking about, and all other things that comes with moving to a new church location, the collective workload had caused even pastor to fall from grace for brief moment, causing anxiety, resentments and complaints in his heart. I no less, am very easily distracted by my worldly needs and so forth. I don’t have much workload, but I keep thinking I have no time to be gone for 4 days. I keep having second thoughts about attending the retreat…..even though I know I’m going to go!!! What the heck?! crazy….anyways, I think I’m going to just end this post here.
Let’s not retreat from the retreat.
(this post has been revised, after reading through again, i took out some useless blabbering)
PS
Anyone wanna raise a half shizu half maltese poodle? They really look delicious…I mean, cute! Very CUTE! :)
God Bless.
brother jimmy
Well, I have to share your opinion on getting a lot out of Pastor's sermon this past Sunday. Even, the pastor goes through his own personal struggles of being too caught up with the new church or material objects in the world vs. praising and praying to God--it's easy to do in this life. I'm starting to understand why fellow brothers and sisters try to attend every retreat and have so many fellowships; i think it's to help us remember and reenergize our faith and realize how much god loves us. It's easy to forget. I for one believe I put too much priority into work and think it's too difficult to attend this retreat, but now believe my priorities are misplaced. Although, I'm in my probationary period, I'm going to request to take the 3 days off for the retreat, and hopefully there will be space available for me. Wish me luck. -brother derek
ReplyDeletehey brother, you just gave me a reason to pray this morning. thank you.
ReplyDeletei look forward to having fellowship with you at the retreat...our dear sister junghee is a lucky lady!! i hope she knows that!
Hello Brother Derek and Brother Jimmy! I am very glad to have something to read as I fight off sleep and boredom at work.
ReplyDeleteI just want to share something. I felt like I had been lacking fellowship lately. Especially because I felt, at times, that fellowship was taking a backseat to the play. I know deep inside that any lack of fellowship I may have, is due to my resistance or failure to seek it. We all know that our church has a superfluous supply of fellowship. You just need to open up your heart an take it. Though I know that the play was a work of Christ, himself, I missed our usual timothy fellowship. This Sunday's timothy/peter fellowship was a breath of fresh air. I felt good again. fellowship + scripture = goodness. I'm glad to be part of a church in which fellowship is given the value it deserves! That is awesome.
As for the retreat, I felt so relieved as soon as I paid. I hope I can put aside my worldly thoughts and approach retreat as an empty bowl :) I can't wait to reunite with all my brothers and sisters. Retreat is a true family reunion!
Derek, you are both very lucky to have each other. Actually, I should rephrase that. You two are very blessed to have been paired by God :) It will be lovely to witness your TRUE holy matrimony in September. I didn't know you had a blog!
derek,
ReplyDeleteyou have a blog as well?? please provide link!!