Why do we love?

Pictures first-

My belated birthday meal cum welcome-Lio-back-from-aussie dinner on wed-

Badminton with OG on thurs-

Nicole and Daniel

Michelle, Wen Yi and Marcus

I love you Wen yi. You rock girl!! Meet up nxt wk!
Thanks marcus, you've been a great blessing and source of inspiration =)
(These two have my blog add now. better say smth nice hah)

Ice-cream at Gelare. I'm always forced to eat ice-cream when i'm with them haha!

If you guys want clearer pictures let me know i can email...

Alright. Now to the more serious matters.
A conversation with a friend, a blog post and a point raised in a meeting set me thinking.

Why am I in church?

I was surprised to find myself hesitating for a little while when someone posed me this simple question - "Do you love your church?" That made me really ponder. Do I really?

Is it the friendships forged over the years? The loving leaders I've been blessed with? Or has church-going simply become a lifestyle that we either can't or don't want to change? It's sad if it's the former, because it means that we're just appearing in church to please maybe our parents, friends or anyone else who matters. But even if it is the latter, it's too early to rejoice. Because then we'll have to question ourselves, "Are we just happily staying in our comfort zone, refusing to budge because we're basically happy where we are?" Or is it because we've truly experienced God's love and power in our lives that we can never imagine a day without Him?

A church is supposed to be a place where brothers and sisters gather to worship and basically care for one another. But is that really what's happening? Are we constantly on the lookout for people who're sitting alone at the back of the service hall wondering if their presence is even noticed? Are we looking out for those hurting inside, yearning nothing but a word of comfort and love? If yes, then why are there people leaving? Why do newcomers feel unwelcomed? This song by Casting Crowns really struck me hard-

Does Anybody Hear Her

She is running

A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

She is trying

But the canyon's ever widening

In the depths of her cold heart

So she sets out on another misadventure just to find

She's another two years older

And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her?

Can anybody see?

Or does anybody even knows she's going down today

Under the shadow of our steeple

With all the lost and lonely people

Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her?

Can anybody see?

She is yearning

For shelter and affection

That she never found at home

She is searching

For a hero to ride in

To ride in and save the day

And in walks her prince charming

And he knows just what to say

Momentary lapse of reason

And she gives herself away

If judgement looms under every steeple

If lofty glances from lofty people

Can't see past her scarlet letter

And we never even met her

This was raised in a meeting- What is one thing I can be proud of in my church that makes me wanna invite a friend over? Sadly, I can't pin-point anything solid. Am i being critical? Maybe. But the fact that I need to think so hard saddens me.

I don't usually discuss such things online but it's really something that we need to reflect upon. Don't be mistaken. I do love my church. But, what is the one thing that makes me attend church without fail? I really don't know. How about you?

Not falling into the same pit once again.