Retreat 2007 Slide Show

Church Retreat Summary

For the benefit of members who couldn't go for the retreat I would just share some of my experiences below...

The road was very winding and it was raining heavily when our convoy of cars were driving up the Cameron Highland (see pic on the right) on 4th June 07 morning (Monday). I was praying very hard then. Thank God for our safe journeys both ways. :) Nevertheless, a few members were taken ill during the retreat, probably due to lack of sleep (too much partying for some :P) and also the food non/hygiene at the resort we stayed (houseflies everywhere).


This year's camp arrangement was rather relaxed and we were given lots of time for free & easy activities and also group tours (e.g. bee farm and tea plantation visits, see pic on the left).





We had daily group devotions on "The 5 Steps in Gospel Sharing", where we sought to create the followings in 'harvesting':

1. Attention
2. Interest
3. Desire
4. Conviction
5. Closing

The messages were also delivered on a very simple mode with the theme "All Hands to Harvest" by Dr Lau Tak Siong. The following are gists of the messages:

Day1

FOUNDATION

Matt 9:35-38
If your relationship with God is right, then you will have no problem in your service to God.
Foundation is important, you produce what you are and can only give what we have.


WHY NO HAND TO HARVEST?

Reason #1 - Hands are tired
e.g. Moses (Ex 17:10-14); Elijah (1 King 19:2)

Solutions:

1. Rest - e.g. Lev 23: sow 3 years, harvest 3 years, rest on the 7th year. This rest is for you to recover and serve more efficiently later.
2. Share with your other leaders, like Moses and Elijah.
3. Find strength in God.
4. Wait for the right timing (Gal 6:9) and don't give up.

Day 2

Reason #2 - When you are old in age
You start to have negative feelings of uselessness, fear and guilts (Joshua 14:11-12)

Solutions

1. Be positive like Caleb, knowing that God has kept him alive for a reason.
2. Remember that your relationship with God when you are young will affect you when you are old. Encourage the young ones to remember God in their youth.
3. Bear fruits for God and mentor the younger ones (Prov 16:31; Ps 92:13,14).

Day 3:

Reason #3 - When you failed God (Luke 22:24)
e.g. Simon Peter - denied Christ 3 times, wept bitterly, and went back to his old profession (Luke 22:24-34, 31, 54; 21:3)
e.g. King David sinned

Solutions:

1. Never write-off people who failed. Though Peter failed Jesus, Jesus asked him 3 times "Do you love me?" Peter made a U-turn back to Jesus.
2. Remember, the righteous may falls 7 times, but he will rise up again.

Day 4

Reason #4 - Hands that are bruised when they serve
e.g. Paul and Barnabas - had sharp argument (Acts 15:3).

Solutions

1. Remember you are serving God, not men (Col 3:23).
   
2. God will reward you (Heb 6:10).
3. Forgive those who bruised you (col 3:13).
   

Reason #5 - Hands that are unwilling
e.g. Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3), find excuses for not harvesting

Solution

1. Remember that you can't run away from God (Ps 137).

Reason #6 - Hands that are willing but not suitable
e.g. King David

Solution
NONE. (sure or not???)

My Reflections:



I am not sure about the rest, but as for me it's more like a personal retreat, from my busy work schedule, to be away from my 'addiction' to my computer and the Internet, to do some soul searching and reflections. It's also a time for me to slow down and enjoy God's creations, enjoying tea and scones with my fellow members. :D

"The 5 Steps in Gospel Sharing" technique -
Those discussions reminded me of my previous sales career in an American MNC company, where we were trained very systematically on sales closing techniques with role plays. They were highly effective even for the most difficult product lines. Sales closing had never been a problem to me. :p

Why "no hand to harvest"? -
I was disappointed that none of Dr. Lau's reasons was applicable to me, except a likely one which he did not elaborate on or give any solution to it. The question lingered in my mind even now, "Can one be willing and yet unsuitable for the harvest?" as mentioned by Dr. Lau? Perhaps it could be true to men (to church leaders who could be discriminative or prejudicial)? What about God? I hope someone could clear my doubts from the biblical perspective.

So what do I like most or least about the camp?

Ironically, what I like most and least are the same -- too relaxing :P

Ultimately, I felt recharged and renewed in my body, soul and spirit. I had many chances to interact with members whom I had no chance to interact with before. :D

Last but not least, I thank God for the works of the working committee who had put in much time and effort to prepare for this camp. The Lord will reward them richly.

Cheers!

To Be A Man

Yesterday was Fathers' Day. I wondered how many families celebrate that. Perhaps more now as compared to before?

I find Today's Daily Encounter on "Happy Father's Day", by Richard Innes, meaningful and like to share it below:

"Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged."
(Colossians 3:21 (NLT)

As a result of teaching in many seminars and facilitating small recovery groups over the years, I have met and talked to scores of both men and women who grew up feeling their father was emotionally absent. Consequently they struggled with a deep father wound caused by the feeling that they had never been affirmed by their fathers. I felt the same way for many years.

Having spent considerable time working to resolve my own father wound, I wrote my version of the classic poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling several years ago for my two sons who are now adults.

To Be a Man

When you can rise above your

fears to conquer every challenge

that comes to those who dare

to climb the highest heights;

When you can keep on getting up each

time you've failed or been knocked down;

When you can see your greatest strength

lies in your faith and gentleness,

your greatest courage in admitting

your faults, and with God's help

strive to overcome them;

When you can accept responsibility

for resolving all your hurts and break

the chain from generations past;

When you can know and show a father's

love and feel with all your heart;

When you can love yourself, others

and God more than earthly gain,

or fame and recognition, you will,

my son, be then a man--

and indeed a great man at that.

© Dick Innes