He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14
Before you congratulate yourself on having your emotions in check,understand that there's another side to the coin - control but no compassion; moral indignation over human suffering yet no corresponding action.
James talks about these people (James 2:20). And they were church people too. They see the pain and unmet needs of others. They have the ability to do something about it, but they lack the willingness or compassion so they walk away muttering about being too busy. Or they try to appease their conscience with a token gift.
John asks, "How does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17).
How indeed? If we are not responsible, who is?
If we don't do something, who will?
"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20).
You're only disciplining your emotions if you translate them into responsible action. And your "somebody ought to do something about this"sentiments won't get you off the hook.
William Barclay wrote: "There is nothing more dangerous than the repeated experience of a fine emotion with no attempt to put it into action. It is a fact that every time aman feels a noble impulse without taking action he becomes less likely ever to take action. In a sense it is true to say that a man has no right to feel sympathy unless he at least tries to put that sympathy into action.
An emotion is not something in which to luxuriate; it is something which, at the cost of effort and of toil, of discipline and of sacrifice, must be turned into the stuff of life.
" That just about says it all - doesn't it?
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Control Your Emotions (2)
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.
Psalm 37:8
As you go through life people will offend you. Sometimes it will be deliberate, other times it will be in advertent.
The question is - what are you going to do about it?
Spiritually mature people discipline their emotions and make sure they accurately reflect reality. They can be sad, joyful, angry or elated inappropriate ways at appropriate times. They refuse to allow their emotions to determine their conduct, attitude, or choices.
One Christian author writes: "When I feel things going against me, when feelings of anger and resentment begin to rise, it's time to stop and ask what's happening.
Is this for the greater good, or not?
Is God speaking to me,or isn't He?
Will my flesh rule this moment, or my Spirit?"
That's good advice for you too!
Psalm 37:8
As you go through life people will offend you. Sometimes it will be deliberate, other times it will be in advertent.
The question is - what are you going to do about it?
Spiritually mature people discipline their emotions and make sure they accurately reflect reality. They can be sad, joyful, angry or elated inappropriate ways at appropriate times. They refuse to allow their emotions to determine their conduct, attitude, or choices.
One Christian author writes: "When I feel things going against me, when feelings of anger and resentment begin to rise, it's time to stop and ask what's happening.
Is this for the greater good, or not?
Is God speaking to me,or isn't He?
Will my flesh rule this moment, or my Spirit?"
That's good advice for you too!
Control Your Emotions (1)
Cain, Why are you angry?
Genesis 4:6
Unless you learn to discipline your emotions you'll lose credibility,alienate others, and miss great opportunities.
Your emotions are like a car: properly understood and directed it can take you places; out of control it can destroy you.
When God asked Cain, "Why are you angry with your brother?" He was saying: "Listen up, Cain! Your emotions are sending you a message. If you don't get a handle on this you'll create a mess you won't be able to live with. Yes, you'll repent and regret it, but you won't be able to undo it." But Cain wouldn't listen. The situation seemed unfair; he felt unappreciated. He thought his brother's blessing had come at his expense.
What emotions were at work here? Jealousy. Resentment. Competitiveness. A sense of victimhood. These uncheckedf orces caused him to murder his brother Abel and cross a line he couldn't come back from.
Most of us have an inner response mechanism that isn't necessarily controlled by the rational side of our brain. It reacts to people and events, and like a sudden storm rises with strength from within, sometimes overwhelming us. Gordon McDonald writes: "I used to pride myself on the fact that I kept my emotions to myself. I never saw myself as an angry person... Then I got married and my wife informed me that I had plenty of anger after all. While it rarely came out in words it showed itself in full colour in facial expressions (the gift of glare,we called it) I never knew I had. I had work to do. I had emotions that needed to be disciplined." How about you?
Genesis 4:6
Unless you learn to discipline your emotions you'll lose credibility,alienate others, and miss great opportunities.
Your emotions are like a car: properly understood and directed it can take you places; out of control it can destroy you.
When God asked Cain, "Why are you angry with your brother?" He was saying: "Listen up, Cain! Your emotions are sending you a message. If you don't get a handle on this you'll create a mess you won't be able to live with. Yes, you'll repent and regret it, but you won't be able to undo it." But Cain wouldn't listen. The situation seemed unfair; he felt unappreciated. He thought his brother's blessing had come at his expense.
What emotions were at work here? Jealousy. Resentment. Competitiveness. A sense of victimhood. These uncheckedf orces caused him to murder his brother Abel and cross a line he couldn't come back from.
Most of us have an inner response mechanism that isn't necessarily controlled by the rational side of our brain. It reacts to people and events, and like a sudden storm rises with strength from within, sometimes overwhelming us. Gordon McDonald writes: "I used to pride myself on the fact that I kept my emotions to myself. I never saw myself as an angry person... Then I got married and my wife informed me that I had plenty of anger after all. While it rarely came out in words it showed itself in full colour in facial expressions (the gift of glare,we called it) I never knew I had. I had work to do. I had emotions that needed to be disciplined." How about you?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The MacRitchie Tree Top Walk
On Sunday Morning (24/9/06), meeting my Pre U schoolmates at Venus Dr car park at 9 am...our Team Leader Beng Luan...
with Molly, Kaijee and Diana....we have not see each other since 1988..
on the way to the tree top walk....
this is how the bridge look like.... it is quite high, can only see the top of the tree
with Diana.....
down from the bridge, take a rest at the bench....
It took us more than 2 hours to complete the journey, after that we went for tim sum at Thomson Plaza... Ting Fong gives us a treat...we depart at about 1 pm.... looking forward for another outing.........
with Molly, Kaijee and Diana....we have not see each other since 1988..
on the way to the tree top walk....
this is how the bridge look like.... it is quite high, can only see the top of the tree
with Diana.....
down from the bridge, take a rest at the bench....
It took us more than 2 hours to complete the journey, after that we went for tim sum at Thomson Plaza... Ting Fong gives us a treat...we depart at about 1 pm.... looking forward for another outing.........
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Testimonial from a cancer survivor
I was reading one of the blog, and came across this livejournal about a stage 4B lung cancer survivor. He praise God healing touch....God is the healer...Alleluia
And he has the following to advise:
Buy life insurance.
One of the main worries I had in hospital was not knowing exactly how much insurance I had. I know I bought a few but didn’t calculate in detail.Look for good agent, sit down and discuss with him, calculate how much your family needs to survive until your children can work. Luckily after being discharged, I found that I’ve been covered for more that half a million and my home loan will be automatically paid if anything happen to me.
Financial plan for my children’s study is covered too.That gave me a peace of mind and left me totally focus on fighting the cancer.
Buy Critical illness plan.
One of the mistakes I did was not buying the critical illness plan.
Why buy?
I’m fit, I run twice a week and workout in between.
I’m still young, nothing will happen to me.
All my health checks showed that I was in good health. Well, cancer happened despite all that assurance.
If I had a critical illness plan, I would have $200,000 to $300,000 now.
I will not be worried about working. With some money, I will be able to work at something less stressful and still have enough money for the family or maybe retire and work freelance.
It is funny that my death will be more beneficial than my survival.
Fitness doesn’t equate to health. It is only part of being healthy.
The food you eat and the lifestyle stress you put on your body determines your health.
I’m recommending a few books, which I hope you will find time to read. These books will educate us on being healthy.
Food as medicine,
You the owners manual,
What the doctor doesn't tell you about nutrition maybe killing you.
The cancer statistic in Singapore showed that 27% of our population would get cancer and 25% of that will die of cancer; it is a disease, which affects developing nations.
It may be the working stress, the amount of process food we eat, the environment we live in or a combination of all.
What did I think contributed to my recovery?
Having adequate insurance covered for my family.
My family – without them, there would be no meaning to survive. My wife sitting beside me the whole day in hospital from morning till night. Before I sleep I see her and when I wake, I see her lovely face smiling. Nothing can beat that.
Having a strong belief. – Will give you peace.
My whole family is Catholic, and their understanding of death is that I will be rewarded and go to heaven. Their strong belief that god will do what is right has made them strong and in turn made me strong. I didn’t have the stress of seeing them cry and suffer.I don’t fear death, nor do I welcome it, but everybody got to go sometimes sooner or later. I view it as a stage to another world. My buddy Foo brought me to healing sessions and my buddy Raymond’s prayers for me when he visited, strengthened me spiritually.That is why as I walk thru the valley of death, I fear no evil for I know that God is walking beside me.
The above came from someone who has walked thru death...
What are you waiting for?
And he has the following to advise:
Buy life insurance.
One of the main worries I had in hospital was not knowing exactly how much insurance I had. I know I bought a few but didn’t calculate in detail.Look for good agent, sit down and discuss with him, calculate how much your family needs to survive until your children can work. Luckily after being discharged, I found that I’ve been covered for more that half a million and my home loan will be automatically paid if anything happen to me.
Financial plan for my children’s study is covered too.That gave me a peace of mind and left me totally focus on fighting the cancer.
Buy Critical illness plan.
One of the mistakes I did was not buying the critical illness plan.
Why buy?
I’m fit, I run twice a week and workout in between.
I’m still young, nothing will happen to me.
All my health checks showed that I was in good health. Well, cancer happened despite all that assurance.
If I had a critical illness plan, I would have $200,000 to $300,000 now.
I will not be worried about working. With some money, I will be able to work at something less stressful and still have enough money for the family or maybe retire and work freelance.
It is funny that my death will be more beneficial than my survival.
Fitness doesn’t equate to health. It is only part of being healthy.
The food you eat and the lifestyle stress you put on your body determines your health.
I’m recommending a few books, which I hope you will find time to read. These books will educate us on being healthy.
Food as medicine,
You the owners manual,
What the doctor doesn't tell you about nutrition maybe killing you.
The cancer statistic in Singapore showed that 27% of our population would get cancer and 25% of that will die of cancer; it is a disease, which affects developing nations.
It may be the working stress, the amount of process food we eat, the environment we live in or a combination of all.
What did I think contributed to my recovery?
Having adequate insurance covered for my family.
My family – without them, there would be no meaning to survive. My wife sitting beside me the whole day in hospital from morning till night. Before I sleep I see her and when I wake, I see her lovely face smiling. Nothing can beat that.
Having a strong belief. – Will give you peace.
My whole family is Catholic, and their understanding of death is that I will be rewarded and go to heaven. Their strong belief that god will do what is right has made them strong and in turn made me strong. I didn’t have the stress of seeing them cry and suffer.I don’t fear death, nor do I welcome it, but everybody got to go sometimes sooner or later. I view it as a stage to another world. My buddy Foo brought me to healing sessions and my buddy Raymond’s prayers for me when he visited, strengthened me spiritually.That is why as I walk thru the valley of death, I fear no evil for I know that God is walking beside me.
The above came from someone who has walked thru death...
What are you waiting for?
Thursday, September 21, 2006
食物助您降血脂
隨著生活水平的提高，患高血脂症的病人越來越多，除了藥物治療外，可用下麵食物輔助降低血脂。
大豆：含人體必需的八種氨基酸、多種維生素及多種微量元素，可降低血中膽固醇。
花生：花生油有助於分解肝內膽固醇，降低血中膽固醇。
蘑菇：含有一種嘌呤衍生物，有明顯降血脂作用。
大蒜：含有揮發性味素，可清除積存在血管中的脂肪，有明顯的降低膽固醇的作用。
洋蔥：含有三烯丙基二硫化物及硫氨基酸，有良好的降血脂作用。
生薑：含有油樹脂。可抑制人體對膽固醇的吸收。
茶葉：降低膽固醇的效果明顯。
蜜桔：加速膽固醇的轉化，降低膽固醇和血脂含量。
酸奶：降低膽固醇的效果明顯。
此外，甲魚、玉米油、葵花籽、海藻等均有降低膽固醇作用。
大豆：含人體必需的八種氨基酸、多種維生素及多種微量元素，可降低血中膽固醇。
花生：花生油有助於分解肝內膽固醇，降低血中膽固醇。
蘑菇：含有一種嘌呤衍生物，有明顯降血脂作用。
大蒜：含有揮發性味素，可清除積存在血管中的脂肪，有明顯的降低膽固醇的作用。
洋蔥：含有三烯丙基二硫化物及硫氨基酸，有良好的降血脂作用。
生薑：含有油樹脂。可抑制人體對膽固醇的吸收。
茶葉：降低膽固醇的效果明顯。
蜜桔：加速膽固醇的轉化，降低膽固醇和血脂含量。
酸奶：降低膽固醇的效果明顯。
此外，甲魚、玉米油、葵花籽、海藻等均有降低膽固醇作用。
Living The Disciplined Life
You... know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith,patience, love, endurance.
2 Timothy 3:10
Living the disciplined life does three things for you:
(1) It strengthens your will! Discipline doesn't make you rigid, it makes you resilient. It provides you with shock absorbers for the potholes of life. And there will be lots of them. It enlarges your capacity to summon up courage when life gets tough. Look at Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego who refused to bow to a pagan king's idol even when threatened with a fiery furnace: "The God we serve is able to save us from it... But even if He does not... we will not serve your gods"(Daniel 3:17-18 ). All of their lives these guys had toughened themselves through discipline, in order to face such a supreme moment of test. And you'll face that moment too!
(2) It brings your gifts to their highest level of effectiveness. "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" asks the tourist of a New Yorker. Answer: "You practice, man, you practice."David's first victory wasn't over Goliath. His years of practice as a shepherd defending his sheep against wolves, a lion and a bear, had prepared him for this moment. It had given him the spirit and the skill needed to take on the Philistine champion.
(3) It inspires others. Paul writes to Timothy, "You... know all about my teaching, my way of life [living it is harder than teaching it], my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings" (2 Timothy 3:10 ). Paul's greatest gift to Timothy was the example of a disciplined life. Now Timothy had something to copy - a straight edge of excellent living. And there's no better gift!
2 Timothy 3:10
Living the disciplined life does three things for you:
(1) It strengthens your will! Discipline doesn't make you rigid, it makes you resilient. It provides you with shock absorbers for the potholes of life. And there will be lots of them. It enlarges your capacity to summon up courage when life gets tough. Look at Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego who refused to bow to a pagan king's idol even when threatened with a fiery furnace: "The God we serve is able to save us from it... But even if He does not... we will not serve your gods"(Daniel 3:17-18 ). All of their lives these guys had toughened themselves through discipline, in order to face such a supreme moment of test. And you'll face that moment too!
(2) It brings your gifts to their highest level of effectiveness. "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" asks the tourist of a New Yorker. Answer: "You practice, man, you practice."David's first victory wasn't over Goliath. His years of practice as a shepherd defending his sheep against wolves, a lion and a bear, had prepared him for this moment. It had given him the spirit and the skill needed to take on the Philistine champion.
(3) It inspires others. Paul writes to Timothy, "You... know all about my teaching, my way of life [living it is harder than teaching it], my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings" (2 Timothy 3:10 ). Paul's greatest gift to Timothy was the example of a disciplined life. Now Timothy had something to copy - a straight edge of excellent living. And there's no better gift!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Save The Children
Arise, lift up the lad... hold him with your hand... for I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 21:18
In a jealous rage Sarah told Abraham: "Cast out this bondwoman and herson" (Genesis 21:10). That's when God intervened. He met Hagar at her lowest point and gave her four steps every single parent should take:
(1) "Arise" - raise your own self esteem. You can't lift others while you yourself are down. Get God's opinion of you. Allow His Word to pull you out of every slump you've fallen into.
(2) "Lift up the lad" - give your children positive reinforcement. Regardless of your regrets, your pain or your personal state, God will empower you to lift your children.Many people are mere fragments of what they might have been if someone had lifted them up. This is so important. No one can come from the outside and tear down your child if you've truly lifted them up.
(3)"Hold him with your hand" - initiate personal contact. A warm hug, a touch, it seems simple but it's powerful. Your hand scents them like sheep are scented by the shepherd. They know his scent. They recognise his voice. They respond to his touch. If the only time your children hear your voice is in criticism they will shy away from you.Psychologists call it "bonding." If our children don't get it they become dwarfed in their personal, spiritual and mental well-being. It'samazing what a touch will do.
(4) "I will make him... great" - never think that you're not raising great children just because you're raising them alone. God is with you. Your mistakes needn't prevent your children from being great in God's kingdom!
Genesis 21:18
In a jealous rage Sarah told Abraham: "Cast out this bondwoman and herson" (Genesis 21:10). That's when God intervened. He met Hagar at her lowest point and gave her four steps every single parent should take:
(1) "Arise" - raise your own self esteem. You can't lift others while you yourself are down. Get God's opinion of you. Allow His Word to pull you out of every slump you've fallen into.
(2) "Lift up the lad" - give your children positive reinforcement. Regardless of your regrets, your pain or your personal state, God will empower you to lift your children.Many people are mere fragments of what they might have been if someone had lifted them up. This is so important. No one can come from the outside and tear down your child if you've truly lifted them up.
(3)"Hold him with your hand" - initiate personal contact. A warm hug, a touch, it seems simple but it's powerful. Your hand scents them like sheep are scented by the shepherd. They know his scent. They recognise his voice. They respond to his touch. If the only time your children hear your voice is in criticism they will shy away from you.Psychologists call it "bonding." If our children don't get it they become dwarfed in their personal, spiritual and mental well-being. It'samazing what a touch will do.
(4) "I will make him... great" - never think that you're not raising great children just because you're raising them alone. God is with you. Your mistakes needn't prevent your children from being great in God's kingdom!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Make Prayer A Habit (2)
He did what was right... but not whole heartedly.
2 Chronicles 25:2
When you pray, "Make me a better person," what specific areas would you like God to work on?
Are you honest in your financial dealings - do you give God a tithe of your income?
Do you put yourself in sexually inappropriate situations?
Do you tell the truth even when it costs you?
Are you spending enough time with your family?
Do you find it easy to say, "I was wrong, I'm genuinely sorry," or do you make excuses?
Have you formed habits that are detrimental to your health, your job, or your walk with Christ?
We will travel half way around the world for a personal "word," yet we won't spend an hour with God, or deal with our doubt, anger and selfishness. Yet that's what separates us from Him. In God's presence things that never bothered you before begin to bother you now.
Things like words; words that wound others, exalt self and contradict God.
Sometimes God withdraws His discernable presence to make us reach for Him harder. Seeking God is what keeps our hearts tender. Without realising it we become set in our methods of ministry, set in our ideas about prayer, and set in our attitudes toward others. We take a past experience we've had with God, reduce it to a formula and feel like we don't need to seek Him afresh. You can be seemingly doing all the right things, yet your love has grown cold.Ponder these words: "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not whole heartedly" (2 Chronicles 25:2 ).
There it is - your wholeheart! Does God have it?
2 Chronicles 25:2
When you pray, "Make me a better person," what specific areas would you like God to work on?
Are you honest in your financial dealings - do you give God a tithe of your income?
Do you put yourself in sexually inappropriate situations?
Do you tell the truth even when it costs you?
Are you spending enough time with your family?
Do you find it easy to say, "I was wrong, I'm genuinely sorry," or do you make excuses?
Have you formed habits that are detrimental to your health, your job, or your walk with Christ?
We will travel half way around the world for a personal "word," yet we won't spend an hour with God, or deal with our doubt, anger and selfishness. Yet that's what separates us from Him. In God's presence things that never bothered you before begin to bother you now.
Things like words; words that wound others, exalt self and contradict God.
Sometimes God withdraws His discernable presence to make us reach for Him harder. Seeking God is what keeps our hearts tender. Without realising it we become set in our methods of ministry, set in our ideas about prayer, and set in our attitudes toward others. We take a past experience we've had with God, reduce it to a formula and feel like we don't need to seek Him afresh. You can be seemingly doing all the right things, yet your love has grown cold.Ponder these words: "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not whole heartedly" (2 Chronicles 25:2 ).
There it is - your wholeheart! Does God have it?
Friday, September 08, 2006
Make Prayer A Habit (1)
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
If you're diligent about keeping other commitments but think you can cancel your daily prayer time at a moment's notice, it says:
(a) your love for Christ has grown cold;
(b) you believe you can handle life on your own except for emergencies;
(c) you're insensitive to the fact that God longs to spend time with you. "But I'm so busy!" That's the lamest excuse you can offer; how you spend your time reveals what's importantto you! The truth is, if you don't pray it's because you don't realise its potential, or you're unaware of the condition of your heart. John Wesley said, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer."
If you don't pray the best thing that can happen - is nothing. Prayer puts the situation into God's hands, otherwise whose hands is it in? Yours?
That's a scary thought!
Paul says, "Pray without ceasing." You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything. Your prayers can be verbal or silent, long or short, public or private. "Pray without ceasing" just means to be in conscious contact with God at all times.
Does your prayer life need a tune-up?
Answer these three questions:
(1)How often do I pray? If you can't remember when you last spent time in prayer, you're living undirected, uncorrected and unprotected.
(2) How'smy sincerity? More liturgy than life? That's because you don't know enough about Who you're talking to, or how He feels about you.
(3) How's my faith level? Do you wonder if prayer really changes anything? After all, if God decides everything, why bother? Why? Because prayer isn't just for God's benefit - it's for yours!
1 Thessalonians 5:17
If you're diligent about keeping other commitments but think you can cancel your daily prayer time at a moment's notice, it says:
(a) your love for Christ has grown cold;
(b) you believe you can handle life on your own except for emergencies;
(c) you're insensitive to the fact that God longs to spend time with you. "But I'm so busy!" That's the lamest excuse you can offer; how you spend your time reveals what's importantto you! The truth is, if you don't pray it's because you don't realise its potential, or you're unaware of the condition of your heart. John Wesley said, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer."
If you don't pray the best thing that can happen - is nothing. Prayer puts the situation into God's hands, otherwise whose hands is it in? Yours?
That's a scary thought!
Paul says, "Pray without ceasing." You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything. Your prayers can be verbal or silent, long or short, public or private. "Pray without ceasing" just means to be in conscious contact with God at all times.
Does your prayer life need a tune-up?
Answer these three questions:
(1)How often do I pray? If you can't remember when you last spent time in prayer, you're living undirected, uncorrected and unprotected.
(2) How'smy sincerity? More liturgy than life? That's because you don't know enough about Who you're talking to, or how He feels about you.
(3) How's my faith level? Do you wonder if prayer really changes anything? After all, if God decides everything, why bother? Why? Because prayer isn't just for God's benefit - it's for yours!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Mother Mary Birthday 8 Sept
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
8 September is Our Mother Mary Birthday, Novena Church celebrated this event on 3/9/06 6pm. I took these pictures 2 days after the procession.............. The Theme: God Is Love.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
What Followers Should Expect
Honour one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10
If God's called you to lead, more is required of you. Those you'recalled to lead have the right to expect eight things:
(1) To know your character. If I follow you will I know who you really are? Will you deal with me with integrity?
(2) That you'll take the time to explain your vision. What's the future and where do I fit? Is there a place for me or will you simply "use" me?
(3) To never be left in isolation. Will you be there for me? Will you love me? Will you care about my needs?
(4) To be heard. To whom will you listen? When you're busy and over loaded will I still be heard, taken seriously and appreciated?
(5) To be trusted. Can I take initiative without fear? Will my ideas be rewarded and encouraged or will I be regarded with suspicion and distanced?
(6) To be given an opportunity to grow. Will I be encouraged to be a life long learner? Will my gifts be increasingly identified and expressed? Will I be developed?
(7) To be held accountable. Will I be fairly evaluated for my performance? Will I belovingly held to the highest standards and to God's best for my life? Will you show me how to do it better and be patient while I learn and self-correct?
(8) To be the object of grace. Will I be forgiven even in the face of short comings, inadequacies and failure? Will I have the freedom to be who God made me to be? Will I be led with kindness?
That's what followers have the right to expect of you - so don't let them down!
Romans 12:10
If God's called you to lead, more is required of you. Those you'recalled to lead have the right to expect eight things:
(1) To know your character. If I follow you will I know who you really are? Will you deal with me with integrity?
(2) That you'll take the time to explain your vision. What's the future and where do I fit? Is there a place for me or will you simply "use" me?
(3) To never be left in isolation. Will you be there for me? Will you love me? Will you care about my needs?
(4) To be heard. To whom will you listen? When you're busy and over loaded will I still be heard, taken seriously and appreciated?
(5) To be trusted. Can I take initiative without fear? Will my ideas be rewarded and encouraged or will I be regarded with suspicion and distanced?
(6) To be given an opportunity to grow. Will I be encouraged to be a life long learner? Will my gifts be increasingly identified and expressed? Will I be developed?
(7) To be held accountable. Will I be fairly evaluated for my performance? Will I belovingly held to the highest standards and to God's best for my life? Will you show me how to do it better and be patient while I learn and self-correct?
(8) To be the object of grace. Will I be forgiven even in the face of short comings, inadequacies and failure? Will I have the freedom to be who God made me to be? Will I be led with kindness?
That's what followers have the right to expect of you - so don't let them down!
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