Farewell 2004!

Another year has passed us by & another is on its way...

2004 may have been a smooth sailing year for some of us, while others may have been through some rough waves, yet there are some who may just be riding along with the tides... Whatever it may be for you, there is no wasted experience as you journey through life! What you have gone through this year (or past years, for that matter) are there to equip & gear us up to deal with the storms of life in the years ahead!

So here's to everyone (who faithfully visit my blog) - a good start to the New Year & I look forward to sharing another blessed year with you! CHEERS!!

Back at Work

Date: 29 Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne Office

It sure is quiet in the office today - after the long weekend holidays... Most colleagues are still on vacation apparently... So guess what? I still have nothing better to do - even in the office! Ha!

Well... Actually not... I had my first "field trip" this morning with another colleague. We had to oversee a delivery job where my company handles the cargo of the Germany Sports Team who is here in Melbourne for the Deaflympics Event!

Bingo! Deaflympics is an event some what similar to the Olympics but only this is catered specially for athletes who are deaf. The event will take place from 5th - 16th January 2005... The delivery went very smoothly, we delivered a total of 38pcs of their sporting equipments & stuffs - so yea... quite cool!

The Long Weekend

Date: 25-28 Dec 2004

Saturday, Christmas Day!
Weather was great - sunny @ 28 Degrees Celsius. Excellent day to be out in the sun - exactly what I did! Left the apartment at 730am (the car got to be out from the parking lot before 7.45am, remember?) to head for St. Kilda Beach which is south of the Melbourne City.

Beautiful beach overlooking a lighthouse on the left & a pier on the far right where I saw the first biggest cruise ship the "Sapphire xxx" (oops! couldn't recall the full name) ever to come to dock in Melbourne! This cruise ship is so big that it cannot go through the Panama Canal because of the width of the cruise... so big it has a 9-hole golf putting facility!

The beach was a bit deserted - not the usual Summer Beach scene with people swimming & surfing & sun-tanning - guess 'cos it is Christmas Day & they have better things to do! Still, I'm not the only one standing enjoying the sea breeze & bright sun. There are couples strolling, man jogging with his dog, a family setting up their picnic table, some woman jogging... And there is this old man standing on this skateboard-like thing (with bigger 4 wheels), each hand holding on to a string attached to a parachute up in the sky - basically the parachute caught the wind & by pulling the strings caused him to skate forward. I've heard of para-sailing, para-gliding - perhaps this is call para-skating?! Wish I had taken a picture of it - actually, I left my camera in the apartment... What a shame!

Rest of the day was spent in the apartment - watching television & yes... alone... indeed it was a Silent Night!


Sunday, Boxing Day!
Any idea how did Boxing Day come about? I've no clue either... perhaps it's worth an effort to check that out in the web... Can some one do that & share the information in my TagBoard or my NotePad?

It seems that Boxing Day is a shopping day for all Aussie - all the major stores like the David Jones & Meyer have huge sales! They are opened as early as 7am today! I was there around 10am & for once there is no queue at the window display outside Meyer where it has an automated puppet show which is based on the story The Polar Express. So, taking advantage of that I watched the non-animated version of the Polar Express - nice!

Had my lunch at Macdonald's - Crispy Chicken Burger (think we have the same in Singapore?) - sat out in the sun, along the Victoria Market Road. Only this time, I'm very sure there are no flies! Was happily eating my French fries & reading the newspaper when I noticed there were 8 pairs of eyes watching me... then the boldest one began to approach & bug me! Apparently, they were eyeing on the fries (not me)! Arghh... sparrows! Sure the Lord had great humor to use insects & birds to keep this lonely soul company... ha!

Very much the same as Christmas Day, my afternoon & evening was spent at the apartment watching television & planning my road trip to the Great Ocean Road - checking the maps, etc... Then watched from the News & learnt about the Earthquake & Tsunami which struck several Countries in the South East Asia - killing so many people who obviously never would have expected this to happen... certainly not from the Indian Ocean! But it did...


Monday, Public Holiday in Melbourne
Despite an advise from a friend to keep clear of the Coast & the weather forecast of rain, I took my car on a road trip - along the coastal line of Victoria State of Australia. The entire journey took 12 hours of my time, covering a total of 500kms - with breaks in between, of 'cos. I enjoyed the long drive & believe those who can drive (especially those who just got their driving license!) would also enjoy this. Took some photos at some scenic views stopover - check them out at "My Photos". Naturally, the entire Great Ocean Road is a spectacular sight but I didn't take any... What? You can't expect me to take pictures while driving?! It's totally not safe!

Surprisingly the car was performing okay-ly all the way through the Great Ocean Road - which can be summed up as a winding road along the coast and lots of up & down hills in the forest route. When I came to the up & down hills part, my ears were blocked & I realized the radio volume was loud at one time & soft the next... So I had to kind of "pop" my ears to release the air pressure but the radio volume didn't seem to improve... That's when I realized there's nothing wrong with my hearing - it's the wiring of the speakers sometimes the right side speaker works sometime it doesn't! So you can imagine that I've a surround sound effect of the radio (in the front not the back, mind you) - only it can be very distracting & annoying!

Having completed the Great Ocean Road, I took another route back to the City - which is supposedly shorter in distance & traveling time. But in reality, it did not happen that way... Why? Because that was when my car started to "complaint"... For some reason, when I floor the accelerator pedal all the way & it can hardly move & it's not a straight terrain - there are plenty of up hills!! The worst part is it's an auto car - even using "L" & "2" gear didn't help much. Traveling at a slow speed of 40km/hr, I was there helpless as I watch other cars zoomed past mine... Plus the "surround sound" radio & a bit of burnt smell (from the engine, I think), I drove patiently until I arrived back in the apartment. Thank God, I'm back safely!


Tuesday, Public Holiday in Melbourne (ya... again!)
Weather forecast for today: Rain in most areas with 17 Degrees Celsius.
Decided to stay in today & had to pay A$15 for my car to be parked in the Serviced Apartment's covered car park so I don't have to drive the car every 15min... A$15 is by far cheaper than the fuel price I had paid for yesterday's road trip - which amounts to almost A$100!!

As I was driving my car from the parking lot along the road to the covered car park, it stalled on me!! Ya... an automatic car stalled on me!! Fortunately, it's a public holiday & there aren't any traffic on the road... Anyway, managed to drive & park it in the building's car park... Gave a call to the car rental company & was told to drive the car to their office for them to run a check on it - which I did. Some how, it didn't stall this time & seems to work slightly better than yesterday - the radio too! It's like when I'm sick (and I know I'm sick!) but while waiting for my turn to see the doctor, suddenly I feel just fine... you know what I mean? Really hate that kinda feeling. Anyway, hope the rental car guy can find out what's with the car...

The moment I was there, the mechanic checked the engine & realized something is not right with it & he offered to get me a replacement car! This time, I asked for a manual car - at least I can better control it with the gear option (never mind my knee)... So! An hour later, I came back with another Toyota Corolla - white, non hatchback, manual gear with power-steering! Of course, it another old car - but behind the wheel, I've a good feeling for it! The down side of this car? Hmmm... it has a rocking driver seat & it takes me quite a while to lock/unlock the car door with the key... Really stupid but hey! nothing is perfect...

Christmas Eve

Date: 24 December 2004, Fri
Time: 21:00hr
Location: Serviced Apartment

It feels good to be able to drive myself to work rather than to depend on others to fetch me... The intern who has been sending me to work & home the first 3 days will be completing his assignment here & leaving us end of Dec 2004.

For the past days he showed me the way to work - avoiding the CityLink (similar to our ERP toll) which will cost us A$1.37 per trip - by taking the longer route which amounts to twice the traveling time... But I don't mind the long route anyway - at least I don't have to pay...

Getting around the City with a car is really easy, the only problem is parking! The Serviced Apartment I'm staying actually doesn't provide free car parking - it'll cost me A$15 per day for covered parking! So I've to find parking along the road near the apartment & to observe the parking regulation as well... Managed to find the best & suitable parking lot (which I could also oversee the car from my apartment's window!). However, the parking regulation states 1/4P (Mon-Fri, 730am-630pm) & 2P (Sat, 930am-1230pm). Which means on Mon-Fri, the parking lot only allows a car to park for 15min free during the time indicated while Sat, it's 2 hours free parking. On a normal working day, I would have to drive off latest by 745am (given the 15min grace period) for work but coming back after work is not a problem as long as I park after 615pm...

You may ask, how would they know how long we have parked the car? Well, I was told there's a guy (like those aunty in hat we have in Singapore) on duty that goes round to draw line on the road across the car's front tire & notes the time. When he comes back after making his round & finds the chalk mark still visible on the ground, he knows the car has parked longer than it should and so receives a fine. Oh you won't want to get a ticket 'cos the fine cost A$100!!

Understand this regulation applies even on public holidays which really make life difficult for me 'cos today is Christmas Eve & we have half day off! What I did was to drive myself back to the apartment around 345pm, park the car, dropped off my laptop & stuff in the room, went back to the car before 15min grace expires & drove around before I can come back to park the car after 630pm... That was actually 2.5 hours of driving around! Well not quite, I actually drove to another suburb, did some shopping at the supermarket to kill time...

Like most Companies, we have a Christmas lunch celebration today. Food was catered by the company & they taste really good! And from 1pm-3pm, we all gathered at the office cafeteria for lunch & had the gift exchange where I received 2 books about Australia & Victoria - how appropriate! After which, they also organized a lucky draw thingy where everyone will receive another gift - from the company! The gifts range from Yucca (an Australian plant) to picnic baskets to bags of goodies to wine to champagne to even hard liquor! Well, thank God I’'ve got a Yucca! Took photos of all my gifts - check them out at "My Photos".

Have a joyous Chrissy!

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Date: 23rd Dec 2004, Thursday
Time: 14:00hr
Venue: Melbourne Office

I've collected my rental car this morning @ 11:00hr! It's a very old lao pok ka chia... Toyota Corolla hatchback 1987 made... Actually have booked for a manual car but they run out of one, so they gave me an auto instead (at same price). Perhaps God knows my knees couldn't take a manual car...

Still I'm like AUD904 poorer... The cost breakdown:

Deposit: A$200
Rental: A$18.50 per day (x28days) = A$518
Excess Reduction: A$4 per day (x28days) = A$112
Stamp Duty: A$11 (don't know why there is this charge...)
GST: A$63
Total: A$904 for 28 days rent

The excess reduction of A$4 will bring down the excess value from A$1000 to A$500. Decided to take this up for this month's rental only 'cos i'm new with the place & all... So didn't want to take any risk... But next month's rental should save me this A$112 when I cancel the excess reduction scheme... I'm so poor financially now... sigh!

Took photos of the car - view them at "My Photos". But first be mentally prepared before viewing - don't want to cause you any heart attack... hee!

Looks can be deceiving... What matters most is that the car gets me around & it's doing quite ok so far. Fingers crossed though! I depend on it to get me to many sightseeing places over every weekend...

It's Working!

Date: 22 December 2004, Wed
Time: 14:50
Place: Melbourne Office

As you would know by now, my email was finally up yesterday! I must say, the IT guy (only have 1) is quite hopeless here... well, actually the IT is controlled centrally in Sydney for whole of Australia - perhaps that explains it... ha! Fortunately, I'm a quite an IT savvy person so in the end I did most of the email setting up myself! Like who needs IT anyway?! ha!

The problem now is I don't have access rights to external internet website & have requested for one so I can update my blog, check my personal email & do my internet banking stuff. So, there's still waiting... & more waiting for me...

Here's the latest update: got an upgrade from a Studio apartment to a 1-bedroom unit yesterday night. Took some photos of the 1-bedroom unit - you can view them under "My Photos". The differences? It comes with a bedroom in the apartment, a kitchen (with fridge, electric stove, oven, microwave, dish washer, bread toaster, sink, utensils, etc), dining table & living area (with sofa, TV & Hi-Fi set), a bathroom (with bath tub, hair dryer, washing machine & clothes dryer). Great stuff! =)

Last evening was spent busy moving my stuff from the Studio unit to the 1-bedroom. Only had time for a cup noodle for dinner... After which I wanted to eat fresh carrots? Took 2 out from the fridge, took out the knife & chopping board & ouch! accidentally cut my left index finger!! Quite a deep cut near the fingernail & was bleeding profusely. Thank God, I had my first aid kit with me & 10min later, I was sitting at the sofa eating my carrot & watching "Miracle on 34th Street"...

Waiting - it's the name of the game!

Date: 21 Dec 2004, Tue
Time: 1035am
Venue: Melbourne Office

... still waiting for the IT guy to hook my laptop up on the network... Gosh! Is this guy working or what???

Anyhow, had an induction briefing by the Human Resource lady this morning & guess what? She has arranged to "upgrade" my apartment from a Studio unit to a 1-bedroom unit - where it comes with a kitchen so I can cook myself proper meals (not that I am good at cooking but at least better than leaving on bread, ham & cup noodles because the Studio unit doesn't come with a stove - not going to last me very long that way...)! The best part is - it's paid for by the Company! *YEAH!* Gonna change room tonight when I get back to the serviced apartment & will take some photos of the 1-bedroom so you can have a look!

The HR has also booked a car for my collection this Thursday (23 Dec) & the rental cost amounts to approx. AUD570 per month (AUD19 per day) - the cheapest they can get because it was quoted based on 3 months rental... Of course can't expect a lot from the car - it's a 1988 Toyota Corolla, so I heard. Getting better each day - it seems... Ok, except for the internet & network thingy - where the #@*! is the IT guy???

Well, enjoy this while you can 'cos when I start to get busy with work after the new year, I really doubt I'll have time to give you daily updates - at least not in such great details... There are gonna be some fairs & exhibitions events coming up starting mid-Jan 2005 & I've to be running to event sites & coordinating all the work, etc.

Something interesting about the toilet here... In the female room (I believe the male room too), there are 3 cubicles & as you enter into either of the cubicle, you have to press this round button thingy to switch on the light & the ventilation fan, lock the door & do what you have to do... This button actually acts as some kinda timer & in couple of minutes, the light & ventilation fan will be automatically switched off - you know? the energy saver kinda thing? Cool right? Okay, or am I being a mountain tortoise? Anyway, imagine if someone has some BIG business to do in the cubicle & suddenly the light & ventilation fan went off? Boy, is she gonna be busy pressing the button while she's still at it... Better still, imagine they have the same function for the cubicle door - where it will swing itself open after a while so that people won't skive & hide themselves in the toilet?! Hey! c'mon, it's a joke & you're suppose to laugh...

First Day at Work

Date: 20 Dec 2004, Monday
Time: 11:00am
Venue: Melbourne Office

So here I am - at the office where I'll be reporting for work the next 3 months! Quite a nice environment - they are almost done with the renovation of the office area & I'm seated at this new work desk/area where there is still no phone line & network cable set up yet - while the rest have more or less settled down & functioning already.

Was introduced to all the people around - but really, how many names can I remember?! Perhaps only 10% (i.e. putting a name to a face)... Well, got to give me some time - like 3 months? Ha!

With the long holidays ahead (i.e. 24th half day & 25th - 28th for Christmas & Boxing Day; 31st half day & 1st - 3rd Jan for New Year), I was told that it is going to be a quiet & slow working weeks for me - especially when 2 of the department staff will be leaving us by end December & they won't have time for me... You might asked: "then why on earth did they asked me to report for work in mid December??" Well, I have the same in mind... Anyway, other than having to spend Christmas & New Year alone, the brighter side of things is: I get to enjoy the extra holidays in Melbourne where you don't have in Singapore! How cool can that be?!

Until the IT guy comes to set up my network connection so I can start to access internet & email, I'm practically seated here alone (again!), typing my blog drafts... not that I'm skiving or what, but there is really nothing for me to do...

Might as well do a quick recap of yesterday (19 Dec, Sunday)... The weather was chilling @ 19-23 DC with shower forecast but in actual fact it didn't rain... Attend the 1030am service at St. Paul's Cathedral (located in the City area about 10min walk from my apartment). Very traditional Anglican service which also means very boring Anglican service... It's 1.5hr but sure feels like a 3hr for me!

Went to Federation Square (across the Church) where the Melbourne Visitor Centre is & took with me some sightseeing brochures - gotta plan what to do during the long holidays mah... Ordered Fish of the Day & Lime Soda at this restaurant in Federation Square and sat there enjoying the outdoor sun & breeze... Then came the most horrendous pest - the Flies! They are common during Summer season, so big they are not afraid of people! Initially, there were like 3-4 of them pestering me, flying here & there right in front of your face even. When my food came, their relatives came along side & there were like 10-15 of them? That's where the skill of multitasking comes in handy - you've to fork your food with right hand, the eyes to see where the flies are, the left hand to fan off the pests & the mouth to eat the food & not the flies!

After some 5min of struggles, the waitress came serving the next table with a plate of food & I heard myself telling the flies to go over to the other table but none of them understood me... Perhaps the Fish of the Day is their kind of food... Soon, running out of patience, I asked to be seated indoor & finished my lunch - free from the flies.

The Flinders Street Train Station is just across the Federation Square where I crossed over to take a train to their suburbs - one of those lonely ride thingy... The purpose is to check out the travel time from Flinders Street Station to Essendon Station (where it is the nearest station to the office). Well, the ride took me 20min but heard from a colleague that there is no bus from Essendon to the office - only solution is to see if I can catch a ride from someone...

Transportation to work is really a problem or so it seems. Was told there is a tram from where I stay to Westfield & the travel time is approx. 1hr. On top of that, need to catch a bus from Westfield to office which is another 10min! Meanwhile, I have a French colleague who will pick me up from the apartment to office for the next couple of days until Wednesday where I'll collect a rental car for the long weekend. Will have to work out the cost & see if it is cheaper to rent a car for 3 months or buy a really OLD & "lok" manual small car (which cost approx. AUD1800) & later sell it off before I leave...

Most of the interns who work here for 6 months actually bought a small manual car - condition is like 20yrs old with no air-con - and when they finish their internship, they will drive the car round whole of Australia for another few months before returning back to their home town to complete their studies. Works for them but not necessary for me - unless I buy & drive the car from Melbourne to Sydney so I have a complete 6 months use of the car!

Just came back from lunch with 2 German Intern colleagues who have been here for almost 3 months now... We drove to Westfield Shopping Centre which is 10min from office. It's a single storey shopping mall with food court, restaurants, fast foods, supermarkets & many other shops. Lunch at the food court cost me AUD5.80 for a small plate of 2 dishes (i.e. fried rice & chilli beef). The portion is really small & for that price (equivalent to SGD7.40) we can go for lots of variety & quantity in our hawker centre! Must consider to pack my lunch box to work liao...

It's quarter past 2pm & I'm still waiting for the IT guy to come connect my laptop... waiting... waiting... waiting... *yawn!*

In Continuation ...

Landed in Melbourne International Airport at 20:30hr yesterday & checked into Medina Grand Melbourne Serviced Apartment. The Studio Apartment is rather small but well equipped with a pantry that comes with a refrigerator, toaster, microwave, utensils; iron & ironing board; a queen size bed; TV set; wardrobe; study table; dining table & bathroom. Also a common washing machine & dryer outside my room in a common area where I can do my laundry... Took some photos of my room - it's for your viewing at "My Photos".

Finally called it a day at 1:30am after unpacking... it's time to ZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZzz


Date: 18 Dec 2004
Time: 20:35hr (MEL local time)

It's summer here in Melbourne & the sky was bright as early as 05:30hr!! Yet it did not disturb my slumber... Woke up at 0830hr (which is your local time 0530hr) thinking to myself: "you guys are still in bed - how lucky..." Anyway, left my apartment @ 1010hr to check out the gym, sauna & swimming pool before walking to the City Center.

The apartment is only 2 streets away from the Bourke Street Mall - the city's largest shopping paradise! And across the apartment there is a supermarket; Gloria Jean's Coffee & Starbucks!! How convenient!!! Went to check out Starbucks - no! not for the latte - but to see if they have wireless connection (like those in Singapore?) so I could surf the internet for free! It's very expensive to hook on to broadband or dial-up modem from my apartment... Thank God they have! Yeah!!

My morning expedition continued as I went to Bourke Street to buy my prepay SIM card with Vodafone (cost AUD29.90 with a credit amount of AUD30), called activate the SIM card & had to wait 30mins before it is ready for use. Had my 1st meal in Red Roaster & their fries are so salty - my goodness!! After 30min of rest, it's more walking as I headed uphill towards Queen Victoria Market to stock up food for my room - some apples, cherries, carrots & honey hams from the Victoria Market and fresh milk, mineral water, breakfast cereals, cup noodles, Milo, biscuits & bread from the nearest supermarket. After some 2 hours, I came back to the apartment looking quite tan - the weather today is sunny at 37degrees celsius but quite cooling!

In the room, I tried connecting my laptop wirelessly (to the Starbucks outlet opposite who is using Telstra) hoping to get a signal & be able to log online without having even to bring my laptop there - though it's a good & valid reason for me to buy a cup of latte... hee! Well, I could connect though signal strength is low but somehow still could not access the internet - guess it has to do with some settings... Anyways, will ask my IT colleague about this when I report for work on Monday. So meanwhile, it's Microsoft Word as I draft my blog entries...

Went for a swim at the indoor swimming pool around 4pm. It's quite a small pool - only 2 lanes wide & less than 25m in length... Did a couple of laps & had to leave the pool when 4 Ang Mos came plunging into the pool making it almost impossible for me to swim - it's either the size of the pool or their sizes to blame!

Oh! Did I tell you that the TV program here totally sucks?! Perhaps that is good news for you because I've nothing better to watch so decided to type my blog entry as I munch on almost 500gm of cherries & a carrot... If you think I'm in some kind of diet, the answer is no... I had 2 sandwiches for dinner & these are only desserts!

Although it's almost 2100hr but it's still quite bright outside - something like 5pm in Singapore? So we have super long days & short nights during the summer season in this part of Australia.

Well that's about all for today. Tomorrow is yet another lonely adventure!

This is THE day!

Date: 17 Dec 2004, Fri
Time: 1524hr
Venue: on board SQ217

5 hours later on board Boeing 777 heading for Melbourne... I'm totally bored! Then came the brilliant idea to do something constructive such as taking out my laptop & typing my journal for my blog! Ha! Technology - don't you just loved it?

For those who came to see me off at the Airport today, you've no idea how much it meant to me - thank you! It was good to see all of you (except for one whom I hoped would turn up but did not...). Nonetheless, the photos taken; the conversation & laughter we had were all kept dearly in my memory bank - good enough to last at least for the 6 months away from home...

Though I "survived" the parting moment at the departure gate with a big smile & saying my good-byes - I didn't quite make it later when I was on board the plane, had my cabin bag stowed away in the overhead compartment & suddenly I started to tear... ok, delayed reaction perhaps... but the fact is: I'm going to miss my parents & friends and having to go to a foreign land to start a new work assignment with almost no friend can be overwhelming for me!

Some of you might agree with my dad when he said at the Starbucks that I'm not afraid of being alone - even I would say so to some extend - but I'm not even sure this is true now because we are talking about 6 months not 6 days... The truth is: I've my reservation about what to expect: staying alone, eating alone, traveling alone, spending my weekends alone, shopping alone & what have you... I'm not sure if I can cope with this... I can only pray it'll not be so difficult.

Anyway, guess the guy & his girlfriend sitting next to me must be wondering why I was crying... Then it's the stewardess to my rescue - serving hot towel - just the thing I need to stop my tears! Didn't want to embarrass myself, I found a roll of empty seats behind me & went straight for it. Thank God the plane is not full! So much for the sad things...

Flight was delayed by 20mins because they had to unload someone's luggage from the plane... Breakfast was served & it's time for Kris Movies! Nothing much though - the more happening movies are Cat Woman; Sharks Tale & Princess Diary 2 - which I've like watched 2 out of 3 already at G.V... Soon the in flight entertainment is not so entertaining anymore... took a nap & it's time for lunch - pan fried fish with potatoes & tomatoes! Was surprised when they served Belgium ice cream for dessert - vanilla flavor with strawberries coating... taste terribly sour (for me, at least)!

At altitude of 10972m, with outside temperature of -52 Degree Celsius & Adelaide right below me, it's another hour to Melbourne! There's a time difference of 3 hours between Melbourne & Singapore's time. Local time at Melbourne is now 1929hr while Singapore is only at 1629hr.

What else is there to say except "Melbourne, here I come!"

to be continued...

we are made ...

... for a mission. Jesus: "In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world." John 17:18 (MSG)

our fifth purpose in life is EVANGELISM - sharing the Good News! "You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV). who can be a better witnesses then we ourselves? there are 3 categories of people whom we are to witness to:

1. Jerusalem = the people closest to me (people who come in contact with us)
2. Judea and Samaria = the people near but different from us (people who are culturally & racially different)
3. Ends of the earth = everybody else

what must we do to complete our mission?

• we must share with those in my world

"'Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you.' So the man went all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him." Luke 8:39 (NCV). people are so important to God that He sent His Son to die for our sins.

• we must dare to reach beyond my world

"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law." Galatians 6:2 (MSG). christianity is healing those who are hurt and helping those who are in need in the way Jesus did.

• we must care about the whole world

"Send us around the world with the news of Your saving power and Your eternal plan for all mankind." Psalm 67:2 (LB). let us reach one more for Jesus!

we are shaped ...

... for serving God. "We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10 (NIV)

our fourth purpose in life is MINISTRY - serve God by serving others. it doesn't matter how long we live but how we live our lives. we ought to learn how to serve like Jesus did when he said, "Your attitude must be like My own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve..." Matthew 20:28 (LB)

• serving like Jesus means being available. "Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." Proverbs 3:28 (TEV)

however, there are 3 barriers that will stop us from serving:

1st barrier: self centeredness - "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Philippians 2:4

2nd barrier: perfectionism - "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done." Eccl. 11:4

3rd barrier: materialism - "No servant can serve two masters.. You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13

• serving like Jesus means being grateful for the opportunity to serve. "Serve the Lord with gladness." Psalm 100:2

2 barriers that will stop us from being grateful:

1st barrier: comparing & criticizing - "Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful." Romans 14:4

2nd barrier: wrong motivations - "When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from Your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1

• serving like Jesus means being faithful. "The one thing required of servants is that they are faithful..." 1 Corinthians 4: 2 (TEV)

It is the gratitude & rewards that motivate us to be faithful.

we are created ...

... to become like Christ. "From the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him - and He knew who would - should become like His Son..." Romans 8:29 (LB)

our third purpose in life is DISCIPLESHIP - becoming like Christ. "God wants us to grow up... like Christ in everything." Ephesians 4:15 (Msg). Growing up is a process & God uses 3 tools to teach us & help us mature:

1. God uses troubles/trials to teach us to trust Him
"... troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope." Romans 5:3-4 (NCV).
how to survive troubles?
(a) keeping a spiritual journal will help us record our progress & by reflecting what we have learnt through past experiences will encourage us to better face the trials ahead.
(b) remembering the reward will help us to endure through difficult times - as written in 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

2. God uses temptation to teach us to obey Him
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." Matthew 4:1 (NIV)
how to overcome temptation?
(a) keep focusing on good thoughts - "Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right." Philippians 4:8a (LB)
(b) get a spiritual partner - "You're better off to have a friend than to be all alone... If you fall, your friend can help you up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (CEV)

3. God uses trespasses (hurts caused by others) to teach us to forgive
"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive these people because they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 (NLT)
how to forgive others?
(a) by remembering that God has forgiven us - "Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ." Ephesians 4:32 (CEV)
(b) by remembering that God is in control - "You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done." Genesis 50:20 (NCV)

we are formed ...

... for God's family. "God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory.." Hebrews 2:10a (NCV)

our second purpose in life is FELLOWSHIP - loving God's family (ie. to love fellow believers). In 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NCV) says, "I'm writing... so you'll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church..."

there are 4 levels of fellowship:

1. membership - choosing to belong
"In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5 (NIV)
don't be a spiritual orphan! be part of a church family!!

2. friendship - learning to share
"All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other." Acts 2:44 (LB)
let's learn to share our experiences; homes & our problems with each other.
we are not make to carry our problems alone - share them!
you might have heard of this saying: "joy shared is doubled; problem shared is halved."

3. partnership - doing my part
"We are partners working together for God." 1 Corinthians 3:9a
everyone in God's family can contribute. we need to find what God has entrusted to us (eg. talents) & do our part!
remember: love is to shown in action, not just word.

4. kinship - loving believers like family
"Be devoted to each other like a loving family." Romans 12:10 (GW)
find practical ways to bless someone - start today!