Rejoice in our sufferings

Today was 1/10 for work done. Did so little work. But accomplished and learnt other things, so thankfully it's not a wasted day. Bought myself a cheap tripod (this means a whole new dimension of photography). There was a little incident regarding problems that David and I have with our housemate. Time for some dialogue to end the cold war.

Cell
Today's cell was a sharing among the brothers (though I knew Derrick had an agenda). The main thing he had to bring up was that the brothers, as men, are spiritual leaders and we ought to set the spiritual pace in the lifegroup. It seems the brothers have gotten a little cushy in our comfort zones and we have to retune our priorities. Some thoughts:

1. Derrick was very strong and yet humble and loving. It's hard to do what he did tonight.
2. It should not be a case of "we like doing this, lets see how we can be Christian as we continue doing it" but rather we should aim to seek God first, and put true fellowship first as the agenda of coming together before we drift into leisurely activities. Leisure is good for bonding, and all forms of leisure are permissible, though not all are beneficial (1Cor6:12).
3. We must actively reach out to non-Christians. If all our friends are only Christians, then we are not fulfilling our purpose to spread the good news. (Matt28:18-20).
4. We do not live for ourselves. These words have come to me from Zhangs, from David and from Jon Phan. We live a shared life, in God, in Jesus, the Holy Spirit, in brothers and sisters. Jon's analogy is that of the community, that moves together to close gaps and not individuals ripping themselves apart trying to cover gaps on their own.

 

The view of the Brisbane River and the City from Derrick's balcony. 

 

I guess God has been speaking to me a lot more in the past few days; regarding my pride and self-centredness (see points 3 and 4 above); about being righteous, and for a week about joy (see older post).

Living for Christ
Another extract from C.S.Lewis about living the Christ-life:
When we choose to follow Jesus, we really have to carry our cross and die to ourselves (Matt 10:38-39). Christ did not say to surrender certain things, he wants the whole of our being and give us a new life. This is the hardest and easiest part of Christianity.
It is easier to completely surrender than trying to hold on to 'ourselves', to try and be 'good' from what we are now. It's letting your heart and mind desire after earthly things while we hope that we are honest and chaste and humble and that we will somehow end up in heaven without actually having aimed for it. We are new creations; the old has gone and the new has come (2Cor5:17).

SIGH. I mean, Hallelujah
And a little tragedy to rejoice in:
The lens I ordered from USA got back-ordered and will delay 10 days. This means Keith's mum will not receive it before she flies here from USA. I've since tried to cancel the order and shall choose to be patient for the next opportunity to get the lens. When I first read the email my thoughts were 'Why, Father? Why why?? What did I do wrong to deserve punishment?'
Soon, (Zhangs, thank you for this) I was reminded that it's all in God's control. Who knows why God let this happen? Is He making things easier for Keith's mum? Does he want me to give the business to Auntie Bacehus (who runs a camera shop in Singapore)? Does He want me to be patient cos He's going to lead me to find it for an even better price? A better lens? To learn to do without the lens at all?


The Sword of Damacles can wait. It's about uncertainty anyways.