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Monday Meditative Mumbles
Church politics. Never pleasant at the best of times and decidedly sickening at the worst of times. It's been a trying weekend amongst my church friends and family, with almost an entire congregation up in arms, swinging between mild bafflement, anger and sadness. I will take a leaf out of my minister and his family's book and stay gracious, not directing emotion or assigning blame to anyone for having to make tough decisions and having to inform a couple of hundred people that they'll be pastor-less next year.

The two positive things that are apparent at the moment are the amazing faith and patience which the minister's family has shown and the huge sense of community and responsibility towards them that the congregation have finally discovered. Why do people always leave it too late to show support or say a quick word of thanks to their pastors - those who tirelessly serve what can be a stubborn and difficult flock? I know that this whole situation is in God's hands and that sometimes it takes a blow like this to make us realise what we have and value it all the more. While the future is uncertain, and the infamous Asian pride and culture of "saving face" will almost definitely win out against admitting wrong decisions or even allowing an open forum for people to at least get some measure of understanding of the decision, I know that God is using all of us to bring about growth in His church, ultimately for His glory.

PP: Well, for once supplanting saltlight at the forefront of my thoughts and prayers, please pray for my church as we grapple with politics, the constitution and just remain loving, encouraging and seeking the best for God's people, cos it's His church. In saltlight news though, we have 2 more dinners coming up, and then focussing on recording and visiting churches and speaking to more and more people about This Way Up.
BV: Colossians 1:9-14 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."