The Leaders' Retreat just ended yesterday, and I want to share on a part of Pastor Daniel's message that kinda hit me. The title of the sermon was "Lead like Christ"

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Mark 6:31-46 (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
(31) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they (Jesus and the disciples) did not even have a chance to eat, he (Jesus) said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (32) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (33) But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. (34) When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

(35) By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. (36) Send the people away so they can go the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

(37) But he (Jesus) answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! (200 denarii... a lot of money at that time) Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

(38) "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five- and two fish"

(39) Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. (40) So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. (41) Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. (42) They all ate and were satisfied, (43) and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. (44) The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

(45) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (46) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
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I got a point to share, and I think its quite cool


1. High opinion of people
As refered above in verse 37, Jesus asked the disciples to give the people something to eat. At first, I thought that Jesus was being sarcastic. But actually, Jesus really trusted the disciples that they had the ability to produce enough food for the five thousand.

This really got me thinking about school [specifically, 2-2 (07) and 3-3 (08)]. When I was in my class last year, I was given some crappy leader role for the geography PBL thingy. And I kena leader for Science PBL. Honestly, at that time I was rather skeptical about my team members, about how sarcastic I was when they volunteered to do something. For example, when one of the laziest person in my group volunteered to do up research, I was like "Ok lor" but in a tone such that I half-believed that he/she was just crapping. (His/Her name will not be revealed here to protect the identity of the person). Another time I did not believe that one of my science group members could actually do up the research for presentation. I was rather... self-centered at that time (and I think I still am sometimes...). I used to believe myself that I could do everything and that my group members are not up to my standard. During the message, I got struck by it and was rather ashamed by my behaviour. Sorry guys! There is a word for it... what was it... oh yah... INDIVIDUALISTIC

Acutally when you trust someone when you assign a role to them, for example "You do up the slides", you are actually raising their morale and you are trusting their abilities (and shortcomings also) and you treat all of these positively. It's actually very cool that you are able to believe that every one of your group members are as talented (or more so) as you. I really hope that I could have a higher opinion of people for the next semester.

God, I pray that you will give me a high opinion of everyone I meet as God, you said in Your word, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) And God, I pray that I could also be more like Ben Hooi, Josh etc., that I could always look at the talents, not flaws, of people. God, I also pray that you will grant me a heart for the TG teens, and that God, I would be patient with them. And in the mighty name of Jesus, I cast out my addictions and that Your love will fill my heart. Jesus, I trust that You would be with me when the devil tries to let the wants of my flesh get the better of me. As you said in your Word "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me (Psalm 23:4)" In the most powerful Name of Jesus, amen