Who Touched My Clothes?

"Who Touched My Clothes?"
(Mark 5:30)

It is quite a question that Jesus would ask this, "Who touched my clothes?" (Mark 5:30)

There is no doubt that Jesus would know the thoughts and intentions of man. And there is no need for Him to ask this question. He would have known it.

I believe this question was posed first for the woman with the twelve years of blood issue. Being an unclean woman (because of her blood issue), she became a social reject. Besides, she had spent all she had on doctors but without any cure. Instead, it had gotten worst. (v26). She was left without a cent, without a friend and without dignity.

She took a risk to get near to the crowd and Jesus. Her faith paid off. she was healed simply by touching Jesus' clothes. By right, she could have sneaked away without causing any public alarm. Silently and quickly she walked away till she heard that voice, "Who touched my clothes?"

She has to admit it and publicly. Her confession brought forth liberation. Think about it, no one would have known she had been healed. She would walk away from the crowd and still live life as a reject, an outcast. The confession to Jesus' question had brought her light. Now, she could live 'normally'. She could go to the market, get a job, had friends. She saw hope. Jesus gave her back the lost hope.

I believe Jesus wanted her to confess this healing for 2 reasons:
* Not only she knew she had been healed. The public has to acknowledge that too. In recognizing, they no longer had reasons to 'reject' this woman. When Jesus heals, He heals and restores us completely and in wholeness. He looks into every aspect of our lives, big and small. Nothing escaped His eyes.

* The Lord must gain all glory and credit for all the grace work done in our lives. We need to testify that publicly and not keeping quiet. It is a crime to keep silent about God's redemptive work in our lives.

At the feet of Jesus, this woman witness two nature of Jesus. He is the Lord and He has all authority. (Colossians 2:9-10). He is the Lord full of compassion.

'In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33)

The Path Principle

John Maxwell quoted this, "Leaders have two characteristics: first they are going somewhere, and second they are able to persuade other people to go with them."

For the past one week, I have been re-thinking and reflecting about my calling and my leading in the Chinese Ministry. As we entered in the Pre-Planning week, the challenge to see moving people in discipleship had caused me to sharpen my thoughts in this area - moving people to the destination.

I believed I am leading my people to go with me to the destination. Part of my leading is to envision the future and to map out how to get there. as I think about this subject, I penned down some thoughts which helped me greatly to see things clearer and how to move in that direction intentionally without detouring.

1. Our Intentions do not bring us to our Destination

It is noble to have good intentions, even godly. But all these attributes do not bring us to our desired destination. I can have all the desire and intention to exercise and build up my health. But all these will mount to nothing if there is no proper plan, directions and behaviour to help me get there. What I landed up with will be 'wishful' intentions.

2. Our Directions will determine our Destination

We all know in the world of driving that to get to the destination, we need a certain path. But we seldom seriously think we need the paths in our marriage; parenting; financial scheme and even ministry path to get to the destination.

Questions to ask myself honestly:

• What do I want to see my Chinese Ministry becoming in the future?
• Where do I want to take my people to?
• Am I doing the right things to take my people there?
  
• Am I taking the right path to arrive at the destination?

To put it in one simple statement: "I must be in the right direction moving to the designed direction."

3. Values are fundamental in the Directional Path

The Vision for the Chinese Ministry is "Reaching Believers and Building Seekers".

In order to arrive at the Vision, Values are foundational and fundamental. After much thoughts, these are listed as the ones that will establish as the base for the ministry:

• Consistency (frequency will enhance consistency)
  
• Alignment (vision and mission must not be independent from the main church)
  
• Clarity (vision and mission must be clear and simple)
  
• Flexibility (to change the plans, models and systems but not the vision and mission)

4. Vehicles are tools used to bring us to the Destination

After the Vision and Mission has been established, values to be the under-girding foundations, vehicles are implemented to bring us there. Action, behaviours and habits will determine our kind of vehicles and tools. And vehicles create movements.

In the Chinese Ministry, we create Pre-Movement vehicles in order to net the China Nationals. Street invitation is one of them. We walked in the Pek Kio community (Chinatown next) looking for opportunities to connect relationships intending to invite them to the Happy Thursday. The English Conversational Class is also positioned for the same purpose.

It is clear that Happy Thursday purposes herself for outreach and relationship building. In the midst of it, evangelism takes place.

The newly restructured and repositioned Sunday Fellowship which function as cell groups master on discipleship. Discipleship takes places intentionally here and to see disciples making disciples.

"The leader is the organization's top strategist... systematically envisioning the future and specifically mapping out how to get there." (Bill Hybels)

I pray for myself earnestly that I would be the leader that knows my path well, leading my people to the destination.

The Burnt Car

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I will not lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(Matthew 11:27-30, Message Bible)

Just two days ago, I was walking towards the Christ Church compound preparing to join the English Conversational Class for the China Nationals. I witnessed a burnt car outside the church, along Dorset Road. There was such a strong odour of a burnt engine and tyres.

I am not an expert when it comes to cars and engines. But there is something at least I am aware of. Besides the regular car inspection, the owner needs to ensure the engine and the raditator are in good condition and there must be enough water in the raditator.

This week was a real teaxing one for me. While the mandate things need to keep moving on, there was the Tuesday night English Conversational Class, the staff Pre-Planning meetings, Happy Thursday, Core Team Meetings, Leaders' Mentoring and the launch of the Sunday Night Fellowship. On top of that, I was invited to farewell tea gathering to bless a young man going for his mission trips, birthday celebrations. Wow, at one point, I was totally exhausted.

This was not strange and new to many of us. There are times in life where it demands more from us than the usual. It is so easy for us attempting to accomplish those tasks and emotional situations with our own strength. We found ourselves pulled in all directions.

The truth is that: We cannot solve our exhaustion problem without God.

Jesus spoke to a crowd in Galilee one day about this problem. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls . For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

I went on to read this same verse in the Message verson and it goes like this:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will reciver your life. I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I will not lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I cannot helped but to link to the burnt car scenerio. We all need to have regular SOUL REST. Centre our hearts on His, connect to the ONLY ONE that can truly gave us that rest.

Never will I want to be found in a too late situation - the burnt car.