learn the unexpected

y'know when you attend an event or a lecture, and its got a specific topic, yet you walk out of it learning something completely different?
kinda like when you set off to go to uni or college, you've got a specific major. yet often, after the 4 years or so, you walk out learning a whole bunch of life skills. add another few years more of life experience, you've never once used algebra in life yet you had many tests on it during high school math.

that kinda happened today. it was church's production and worship training session. and no offense, but after 2 years at hillsong's hills campus, with weekly thursday team night trainings, what new thing can i possibly learn? so lets just say, i didnt have high hopes or expectations going in. then i realized sometimes thats how i treat bible reading/devos. i do it anyways, even when i dondt feel like it, and depending on where im reading (i.e. genealogy), i wonder, what can i possibly get out of this! and as "spoiled" by the blogpost title, i learnt something else completely different from the intention of the training. i learnt about my past. the past year or so to be exact. that sometimes, i can do everything right. (well, not everything. im not perfect). but i was heading in the right direction. i was doing what i was taught, with a good heart, good intentions, setting up the team for the win, and leaving a lasting legacy to future generations (aka training up new leaders). yet some times, things are just out of my control.

i took the hit and came crashing down. but i didnt let it get past me and affect my team. i think back to when i was in sydney, and pastor joshua (from NLCC) spoke about how Jesus "took the hit" for us. because of our sin, we deserved eternal punishment. but Jesus loves us so much that He took that punishment. he took it upon himself, and it stopped with him. when He died, we were no longer doomed for eternity and bound by sin. and talking about passing things down to future generations, how often do we realize we've picked up our parents' bad habits? at times, when i was younger, i told myself "why do my parents do that? i hope i grow up and not be like that!" yet i find myself involuntarily repeating some of their actions. but some times, following in Jesus' example, we need to stand up and say "no!", this ends with me. this is not going to be passed down to future generations! whether that applies literally to future kids of my own flesh and blood, or in the church, where the youth and kids of today, are the future leaders of the church! how are we setting them up to win, leaving them debt free, trained and well equipped, and they can go on to continue further expand and do greater things?

going back to me (hah... selfish. but this is my blog and my thoughts =P), i believe i did what i could to the best of my ability. my 9 months there were not wasted. seeds were planted. some fruits were seen. but other factors came crashing down and i took the blunt of it. its a compliment to hear "you left suddenly. i didn't see that coming!" it hasnt been an easy road to recovery, and im still on it. but i can take from this as a learning experience, and to come out stronger. i already know the ending of this battle (hint: the devil doesnt win. ;)). so if that doesnt give you hope, i dont know what does. haha...