of love enough

In CrossCulture Easter Camp, a tradition that we have had for a long time is "Itchy and Scratchy" - yes, inspired by the infamous show-within-a-show in The Simpsons! However, this "Itchy and Scratchy" is actually our form of "Angels and Mortals", where one person in camp takes care of another person throughout the camp. Basically, one person's back is itchy, so there is a "Scratchy" who is scratching that itch throughout the camp!

Camp has not yet started, but I think "Itchy and Scratchy" came early this year, because yesterday, I received random encouraging notes (and then even one gift) from people in church. Some came up to me and verbally encouraged me as well.. I felt very thankful!

You know who you are! And I thank each of you! :)

Then, the past-midnight melancholic Andrew began to ponder on ministries..

When I first entered a ministry, I was an extremely task-oriented person, finding comfort in front of a computer, or doing crafts somewhere in the back room away from the crowds and stage. I felt most comfortable when people know my art and not the artist. However, as the years went by, I realized that tasks are not the end-point of ministry. Tasks are the mediums, the driver, the vehicle. People are the target. Every ministry should be targeted to the people. I realized that even when doing tasks, it is important to keep the target audience in our minds. The Kingdom is made up of people, and people should matter.

I constantly thank God for this increasing realization. This has changed my perspective on ministry, and thus, how I minister or run a ministry. And I have grown to love these people, this church, and this community. Because I have learnt that Christ loved these people too - love enough to hang on that cross in suffering, so that we can be reconciled to Him.

How much is enough love? How much love does it take for one to show that love to another? And in what way?

I think if something matters to us, it is befitting for us to act. (If we care about that itch, it is befitting to scratch it!) And I am thankful that I felt a glimpse of God's love yesterday through these words of encouragement and gift from the church. There are itches all around in the church and the community. The question is whether we care or love enough to do something about them.

May we ever be empowered by His grace and His Spirit to accomplish what we ought to do in this world well :)

4 more days to camp, and this is MAX-power-mode on!

:)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

- Ephesians 4:15-16