1
After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this."
2
At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne!
3
And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
4
Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads.
5
From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God;
6 and before the throne there is
as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And round the throne,
on each side of the throne,
are four living creatures,
full of eyes in front and behind:
In October of 2007, I was installed as the first Head Servant of the new Planning Council. The structure of the Parish was changed in line with the outcome of the Diocesan Pastoral Assembly. The original Parish Pastoral Council was divided into two, namely the Planning Council and the Implementing Council. As such, we are now four who presides over the Councils Meeting, namely the Pastor, Planning Head, Implementing Head, and Finance Head. All four comprises the Parish Executive Committee (Execom) whose role is to look into all matters of church life as one body of Christ.
7 the first living creature like a lion,
the second living creature like an ox,
the third living creature with the face of a man,
and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.
THE LION - FINANCE:
In the book "Lion Taming" by Steven L. Katz, a person who possess a lion character is an individual who is his own person. He is a king who reigns from wherever he or she stands. As leaders, they are pressumed to be self-sufficient. Lions are territory guardians with uncompromised leadership. The the king of the animal kingdom so to speak, whose iron fist rule is absolute. A type of leadership that is fitting to one who holds responsibilities regarding Finance. As steward and keeper of the Lord's treasures, he must at all times be firm and transparent. He is what he is, strong and uncompromising, never to be moved and persuaded at the expense of his duties.
THE OX - PLANNING:
In February of 1961, I was born in the year of "The Ox". In chinese belief, people who were born under the influence of the Ox are blessed with equilibrium and tenacity. Few could match their determination and persistence once they have set their mind on a goal. Such a character trait fits being Head of Planning who gives directions to Parish Programs and Actitivies.
Ox people quietly labor at their daily tasks unremittingly and without complaint. They know that the way to succeed is by slow, sustained effort and they certainly don't believe in get-rich-quick schemes. The Oxen are driven by a compulsion to work hard and have no truck with free-loaders, nor with the lazy. They are both trustworthy and trusting but not particularly outgoing, often preferring self-reliance to reliance on other people.
Ox people are always as good as their word and as dependable as clockwork in their habits. And they form very strong bonds with their partners and families and make good, lifelong friends. The Ox stubbornness makes them to be staunch, upstanding and forthright. These qualities contribute toward integrity and the Ox's ability to shoulder responsibility.
Next year 2009 is again my year as an ox person.
THE FACE OF A MAN - IMPLEMENTING
No man is an island, no man stands alone. Man was created to have a companion, somebody whom he can share his life with. This befits the character of the Implementing Head. He leads a council with the most people. that is comprised of the six (6) priority commissions
THE FLYING EAGLE - PASTOR
Eagle takes to flight.
8 And the four living creatures,
each of them with six wings,
are full of eyes all round and within,
and day and night they never cease to sing,
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!"
THE SIX (6) PRIORITY COMMISSIONS
9
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS
11
"Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created."
