Ministry

This is a piece inspired by the hymn Lord, You Give the Great Commission.

Ministry

by Thomas Heng

The humble individual, while made of mere cosmic dust, is crticially important to the sustenence of all of Creation. While the Infinite creates all there was, is and ever will be, it is incumbent on the individual to respond with the Integrity that has been bestowed by the Infinite, so that the cycle of unity between that which is divine and that which is mundane remains unbroken.

While the cycle remains unbroken through the boundless grace of the Infinite, the individual is not bound to slavery. Alongside the gift of Integrity is the gift of Liberty, which allows for the full expression of the individual, according to the specific gifts that one has been so endowed. Restrictions are but an illusion that the individual imposes on oneself, such that they prevent the completeness and fullness of the Infinite from effectively channeling through oneself to all of Creation.

The reality of the individual's particular role in this Journey cannot be divorced from one's immediate surroundings -- plants, animals, the elements, and other individuals. Each of these constitutes the individual's immediate Community, and responds in perfect accordance to the mysterious and unfathomable system established by the Infinite. For the ultimate purpose of the Journey is to allow the individual to find Infinity within oneself, as well as to recognise and indeed rejoice in the Infinity that resides within one another.

Communities are seemingly disparate, yet these are seen as but one Society in the eyes of the Infinite. It is the continual task of each Community to recognise its limitations in Society's scheme of things, while proceeding to channel its strengths towards the benefit of its own, as well as towards the enhancement of other Communities.

Magnificent though Society may be, it is all too finite. For over time Society waxes and wanes, as it must exhale just as certainly as it must inhale. Society's breath allows it to remain constantly aware of its dependence on Eternity. Such is the power of Eternity that no less than the Infinite can wield it, with Grace, Joy, and Love.

O mystical Infinite!

Thy Grace, Joy and Love

Sustain the individual with Integrity

Strengthen one with your Liberty

Nourish the manifold Community

Unites them into one Society

Preserves us for all Eternity!

Here are the lyrics for the original hymn:-

Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Lord, You give the great commission: “Heal the sick and preach the Word.”
Lest the Church neglect its mission, and the Gospel go unheard,
Help us witness to Your purpose with renewed integrity,
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You call us to Your service: “In My Name baptize and teach.”
That the world may trust Your promise, life abundant meant for each,
Give us all new fervor, draw us closer in community.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You make the common holy: “This My body, this My blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
Asking that the world around us share your children’s liberty
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You show us love’s true measure: “Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure all that You so freely give.
May Your care and mercy lead us to a just society.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you bless with words assuring: “I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend
And, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

The 99 Club

Accordingly to an old folk tale, a king wanted to find out the source of one's happiness. A wise advisor suggested that the king secretly place a bag of 99 gold coins outside the house of the servant who seemed happiest to the king. So the king did as he was advised, and one night he went to the servant's house secretly, and placed a bag of 99 gold coins outside the door. 

The next morning, the servant opened the door and was thrilled to see the bag of coins. He counted the coins, there were 99 of them. Puzzled, the servant counted them again, and there were 99 coins just the same. Now the servant was sure that no one would leave a bag of 99 coins; he was certain that there was one coin missing, and began to search everywhere for it. Before long, this once-cheerful servant who was given the gift of 99 coins became frustrated and angry about the alleged missing coin, and showed up for work at the palace in the foulest mood everyone in the palace had seen since, well, since next to never!

Beware the insidious trap that is the 99 Club. The ways of this Club lead to people to find sorrow in every joy, suspicion in every intent, doubt in every faith, excuse in every cause, inaction in every choice, uncertainty in every step, malcontent in every event. Sometimes it may be better to consider the possibility that the blessings one receives, no matter how inadequate to human eyes, are in fact complete in themselves. 

Rather than pursue imaginary gains, one may do well to celebrate the victories one already has on hand.

Rather than mourn past losses, one may do well to take stock of what one can learn from such experiences, in order to gain from future opportunities.

On Courage

Courage is the persistence to demonstrate the validity of one's beliefs despite the awareness of one's apprehensions. Society plays but a secondary role in determining one's actions in the ultimate analysis, although it must be clarified that the two are not mutually exclusive by any stretch of the imagination. Far be it for me to claim that only the anti-social, counter-cultural elements of society can be said to be courageous; some of them may in fact be running away or avoiding from that which is their genuine purpose. 

Courage is found in both the dramatic and the mundane. The journalist that gives his/her life in order to accurately communicate the truth about repressive regimes in war-torn areas of the world; the parent who disciplines the child firmly but gently, so that the child knows the importance of respecting boundaries of space and time; or even the strength of someone afflicted with an incurable illness to keep striving for the next meal when the authorities, society and loved ones stack increasingly insurmountable odds against him/her.

A prime example of Courage in Singapore is when MP Christopher de Souza defied party lines to oppose the passing of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). Rare is the man who stands up for what he believes in, despite all opposition to the contrary. For this little act, you'll go down in history, so take a bow, Chris...

Life in Stops and Starts

by Thomas Heng

Life is Worth Living When We...

Stop Venting and Start Listening

Stop Preaching and Start Learning

Stop Complaining and Start Reflecting

Stop Being Right and Start Being Authentic

Stop Procrastinating and Start Taking Action

Stop Having Doubts and Start Acting in Faith

Stop Having a Job and Start Having Fun with it

Stop Expecting Relationships and Start Growing Friendships

Resolution

I came across something that I find rather meaningful. The original post, as far as I know, can be found here. And apparently the originator is none other than the CEO of Coca-Cola. Brian G. Dyson.

Basically it says that Life is like trying to balance 5 balls -- Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirituality. Sometimes it is easy to see all these 5 balls as the same thing, but there is one very important difference. Work is a ball made of rubber, even if I drop it, it will bounce back to me sooner or later. But the rest of the other balls are not made of rubber, they are made of glass. So if I drop one of these balls it will chip, crack or even shatter...

In good times I appreciate that such a goal is not easy to accomplish. However, what I do realise is that in challenging times such goals are perhaps even more important to strive towards. All too often in the pursuit of material things, or more relevantly today, in the struggle for survival, people can forget their innate needs for connectedness, and become mean and downright nasty to the ones they care most about. Also, wishing that Life isn't as what has been observed by Mr Dyson doesn't make it so. No matter how we slice or dice it, there are matters in life that are so important to us that even if we ignore them our entire lives, they will return to us with either the price that we pay for neglect, or the rewards that we reap for taking heed.

The choice my friend, as ever, is yours..

On Integrity

by Thomas Heng

Integrity is the singlemost important asset

Clarity with self flows from it

Trust from others is earned with it

Peace arrives easily with it

Energy is focussed with its aid

Life derives all its meaning from it.

All things fade into insignificance when they are put alongside Integrity. What could be more pure than one who does what one says? Leadership is built principally on Integrity.

Integrity aligns one's vision

Integrity is the fulcrum upon which the sail turns

Integrity crystalises one's resolve

Integrity challenges long-held conventions of mediocrity

Integrity respects the status quo, but is never cowed by it

Integrity provides purpose to possessions, and substance to ownership.

Inspirations 008 -- Phrases of Wealth

Here's a collection of phrases I came up with that I'd consider as invaluable in my life journey:

by Thomas Heng

Learning to love and accept myself unconditionally is the greatest journey that I can undertake on earth.

A life built on an honest and innocent desire to have others experience joy in their hearts can only come from a pure heart that exudes this same joy.

To change one's lifestyle is easy, but to do so with a willing heart is less so.

I do not seek the approval of others, merely they they accord me basic respect. For this to occur I should naturally accord same respect to others.

Freedom is being able to express myself fully and responsibly.

Freedom is the ultimate responsibility of all.

Learn to slow down and think through the requirements of the day; action will be so much the easier for it!

Self-discipline sn key to the achievement of anything meaningful. It is the basic building block upon which the towers of success are built.

Patience is a virtue

Humility is a virtue

Gentleness is a virtue

So too are Decisiveness, Confidence and Perserverance!

Be different; conquer indifference

Resolve to be decisive

Take a sword to doubt

Grab pessimism by the throat.

The Four Key Questions:

Why?

Why not?

Why not Me?

God, Will You be My Partner?

Wealth is the duty of every productive person;

Under-achievement is not ideal;

Non-achievement is a sin.

Investment in self is the currency of the wealthy;

Investment in others is their credit card!

I thank each day that comes, for it is an opportunity to be ever more enlightened by the Source of Infnite wisdom. By grace I have boundless opportunities to channel part of this wisdom unto others, to Your glory.