pretty motivating.
went for MGs drama night with Joseph John Aaron Justin and JTang. the play was like 3 hours long. never did i think a school production would last that long.
mustve been lots of hard work.
anyway it was pretty good. plot kinda felt like it came out of an enid blyton book. but it was good. nice twist at the end too.
met Rebecca after. was kinda nice to see her again.
youth emphasis sunday.
did worship for 8.30 and 10.30. first time ever i lead in the sanctuary. and yet it somehow felt okayy. i guess somewhere along the line i got used to performing.
went to Evans house after second service. slept, swam, went back for ushering for 5pm service.
learnt never to wear any of my dads shirts ever again. not until i grow like 10cm at least.
discovered that pastors...preach the same sermon again and again. i wonder if in their homes they have like some file where they store manucripts of each sermon.
the Jesus files.
so anyway the sermon on sunday kinda made me think a little.
and after hearing it like 3 times...its inevitable that you ponder about it somewhat.
the story of the prodigal son is one thats told mostly from the point of view of the son that left. who physically departed from the care of his father and his household, to squander his share of inheritance. who came crawling back after he realised he had nothing else to go on with. who was welcomed with open arms by his father, despite all he had done by leaving and throwing away his fathers hard-earned cash.
and yet the message on sunday called us to look at his brother. pretty much looking at the parable from a very obscure view. the dude never left home. he never let his father down by throwing away his inheritance. he stuck around and obediently worked for his dad.
but still, the prodigal he may be. for he didnt accept the love his father showed for his brother, who he felt was below him because of the crimes he committed.
love.
"love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
love isn't selfish or quick tempered.
it doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.
Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful and trusting."
1 Corinthians, 13: 4-7
perhaps what he didnt get was the love that his father showed his brother, that returned for forgiveness. and what he failed to do was to show the same love to him, rejoicing with him, instead of bearing a grudge for what he deemed to be unworthy treatment of him.
perhaps he failed to see his father reach out to him to celebrate with the family, choosing to brood and to be displeased.
jealousy. its a bitter pill. but often only to those to take it into their system.
God gave his love unconditionally. and all He asks in return is that we, too, share the same love with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
for love was never meant to be a solitary affair.
