Find us faithful
We're pilgrims on a journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounding by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave the to those behind
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through Godly lives
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
(C) Steve Green
I am at the VCF LPC, now listening to Gabriel's session on the History of the VCF. (HAH! Now you all know why I brought my laptop!) But seriously, last night during James session and right now, I have been asking myself the above question, "Have I been faithful?”
Faithful to the calling of a leader within the VCF as well as PMC. Reading Stephen's article in the special issue of epistole was very eye-opening. He gave his version of the history of the musical and the music ministry. The music was once big, strong and mighty; but with the dissolution of the musical in the past few years, it has spiralled downwards. And now, it has fallen unto me; the first male chairperson is many years, and I've failed.
That song above was sung by the min seniors at the Jubilee dinner in 2002; and I know that I've let down a lot of seniors. BUT, that does not mean that I am going to quit and give up. I will carry on. And by God’s grace, a new music ministry will rise from the old one.
Have I been faithful? Faithful to the calling to make disciples of all nations? I don’t think I have. My role in the upcoming camp is an interesting one. I’m been removed from my usual comfortable position of music and worship to do something else. It was a challenged laid down by God, just like how Ber was challenged for his Tokyo mission trip. This is going to be an interesting camp for me.
Building deep and authentic relationships with God and man – that is the direction for the year; and when I couple it with “Life transformation through prayer and discipleship” I see some similarity. When James told me about the story of his running buddy, I immediately thought of a friend.
A friend whom I’ve known since my magic days, and earlier this year, we met up again. And what he asked me that night shocked me. Once upon a time, I would spend my Saturdays with this friend and others, but when the worship team started I stopped meeting, and I told them that I was in church. Eventually they stopped talking to me. It’s been many years since them, and the question he asked me earlier this year still haunts me. Should I have shared the Gospel with him there and then? Maybe I should, but I didn’t.
Been running away from a certain reality, and I know that my actions on MSN have hurt a certain person very deeply. I guess it’s time to make things real again and accept the fact that things are over. Building deep and authentic relationship with God and man; it’s time to make things real again.
Have I been faithful? Yes, but not enough.
I know there are many within YM who might be going through what I am going through now. They think that they have failed, and want to give up. But let me say this, DON’T! Be faithful to your calling, and God’s purpose will be shown. For one day, those who come after you will fit into your shoes. Scary thought huh?
As much as you don’t want such a responsibility, I’m afraid, you cannot escape it. That’s what I’ve learnt.
PS: I began typing this even before Gabriel flashed the song...collective memory and the power of internet huh?
