Happy week =)

Seriously, one of the best things about studying in Perth is the number of visitors that pass through from home :) This week was just so incredible, being able to bring Stan and his friend Charles to Subi and Fremantle, the Swan River and Kings Park (erm actually it was probably like them bringing me around – especially Charles with his amazing memory for places and directions ;) Just being able to appreciate the fresh air and the cooler weather and the colours of the sky.. We definitely should do more to take note of the “little” things in life and give thanks for them too. Really hope they had a good break from work – think they enjoyed their trip down to the Margaret River immensely. Hm, maybe i should make a trip down some time ya while i’m here! ;P

Oh, and i've handed in yet another essay today :) Ok let's see.. So that means only 2 more assignments to go, 1 presentation, 1 group project and seeing my first client next Thursday. Tackle them one at a time right ;)

...Just so thankful to God for all His blessings :)

Temporary visitors

Last week the speaker at the OCF public meeting talked about how we feel the tension between our time here on earth and knowing we’re citizens of heaven because when Jesus first came, the time of God’s kingdom began. However, as the present world still exists, we’re in this awkward stage in between the "Already" and "Not yet", and God in His perfect will is delaying Christ’s return so that more people can come to know Him before then. Found this so true as i’m sure we all find it difficult living in the world but having the eternal perspective in mind. This is so well expressed by Steve Green that i wanted to share the lyrics of his song Sorrow Mixed With Light, from his new Somewhere Between album (thanks, Stan! :)

How beautiful and frail are all the days we share
How fragile is this breath of life
Like mist on the field will vanish in the wind
All we’ve come to know fades before our eyes

And what tomorrow brings who of us can say
Beyond this sorrow mixed with light
For somewhere in between the beauty and the tears
This is where we live our lives

Not every earthly tear that falls is wiped away
For some are like refining fire that turn my heart to You, my one desire

My eyes look to You, You’re the hope of my days
My eyes look to You as I cry out Your name
And I wait for all things to be remade

Surprises

Different people take to surprises in different ways. The best surprises usually take lots of planning, but even then often circumstances don’t pan out the way you would hope. And i guess in some way, surprises take away some of the pleasure of anticipation, which in my mind is often half the fun in itself..

Is it just me or do other people also find it difficult ‘being the person they want to be’? As in, so often, there are things i want to say and do but don’t, or i’ll look back on a situation and think about what i could’ve said or done… Perhaps it is sort of part of the process in which God is moulding our characters to be more Christ-like, but i’m so often reminded of the limited time we’ve been given here on earth and don’t want to have any regrets for missed opportunities. Don’t want to miss out on encouraging someone or sharing the Gospel if there’s any chance at all. But then again, it’s easier said than done…

God-Shaped Hole

Was quite delighted to hear the original version of God-Shaped Hole playing on our Christian radio station Sonshine FM yesterday. It’s actually noticeably slower than the way Agapella usually does it, same as If This World actually.. (heh poor Jam or whoever does the percussion) Anyway, i really do agree with the lyrics – everyone is searching for something to fill that void, whether they know it, or outwardly acknowledge it, or not. ..Even for believers – it’s hard to be totally filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in God’s way and be blissfully assured of His presence, peace and comfort all of the time. Guess that also ties in with often looking for a replacement of sorts in human companionship and love. After all, God made us to need other people, and He created us for fellowship. God did create Eve for Adam and He was the one who instituted the whole idea of marriage! But if God truly satisfies all our desires, and is our All in All, and is more than enough for us, as we so often sing, why is it so difficult to be content with whatever gift He has given us? At this age, especially when so many of our peers are getting married and parents (and other concerned parties ;) start getting worried for us, i thank God so much for friends who mutually encourage to wait on the Lord and be patient. I feel that i really am learning lessons in patience and contentment, even though there have been times in the past of empty loneliness and even bouts of hopelessness. Am keeping all my single friends in prayer - that we'll all be fully content and thankful for what we have been given and wait on the Lord, trusting in His good, pleasing and perfect will. And if we sit down to count our blessings, I’m sure we’ll see how bountiful they really are =)

Bed socks

Thanks to Auntie Mei, i have just realised the wonderful warmth and comfort of bed socks! Come to think of it, they're probably like the socks you get in an airplane, but i generally don't use those. Very glad i found out about them before winter ;)

Had a good short trip to Swan Valley on Saturday afternoon with Andrew Leong from BSF who was in Perth for work. The tour included a visit to Caversham Wildlife Park, a winery, and yes, Julian, the Margaret River Chocolate Company store! Will be nice to drive out there on our own next time - just a short distance away from the city to get that country-feel. Can't upload pictures onto my laptop so didn't even bring my camera with me :P

Sunday's sermon was, as usual, challenging. Using the example of Moses, Graham spoke about how God requires us to be both resolute, as well as broken-hearted before He uses us. And sometimes we never realise the great plan He has for us because we don't humble ourselves enough and we're not ready to serve in such a way. Definitely a call to re-examine priorities and heart motivation and what we really value on earth.

Staring too long at the computer

Wonder if Singapore is still showing those TV adverts for kids to take a 'vision break' once every 20 minutes to rest their eyes.. Really think i should do that lest i make myself even more myopic than i already am :P But then again there's nothing really exciting far away to focus on (maybe i do kinda miss high-rise buildings ;)

My Secondary School class mail has sort of re-ignited conversation again (it does so every once in a while, which i’m extremely glad about!) This time, some of the emails were about our ‘dreams’ while we were still in school and thinking about the future when we were ‘grown up’. It’s true – we’re all kind of on varied paths, some closer to what we expected than others, some in positions of what the world sees as success more than others.. Guess that brings us back to the position of being thankful for whatever situation we’re in..

heh not a very coherent thought-process i suspect.. I really am getting pretty busy with all the deadlines looming. So much for starting early on all the assignments :P

Weekend Refreshment

Erm no, this entry is not about food :P Just wanted to share what i learnt over this weekend.

Friday night’s OCF meeting was a combined fellowship (meaning all the Bible Study groups get together, and also the groups from Curtin and Murdoch) and we had a guest speaker to share on the topic of discipleship. Pastor Ron Nugent spoke about both making disciples (Matt 28: 16 - 20) and being a disciple (Luke 14: 25 - 32), and what stood out most for me was the point made that Jesus was never an "underhanded salesman" who tried to make people accept what He was offering by talking only about the benefits involved. Instead, He made it very clear the cost of following Him. And truly, it isn’t easy to be a disciple of Christ. We are asked to love God above all else, give up our comforts, worldly desires and dreams, and even willingly suffer for Him daily. But in return, He gives us peace, joy, and all the blessings of being a child of God, as well as sure hope for eternity.

Today’s sermon was on thanksgiving, which was really quite cool because i was thinking of 1 Thess 5:18 on Friday after being quite disappointed about the results of my open book mid-year exam, and finding it hard to put the verse into practice.. And today’s message further helped me understand how God uses our situations to mould our characters. So often i’ve asked, "What is God’s will for my life?", and here, as clear as possible, it’s written in Scripture! Basically, it’s a choice we have to make: we can choose how to deal with what we’re faced with in life – it’s in our own hands to be joyful and to give thanks. Graham made the point that the Bible says to give thanks in all circumstances; not for all circumstances. There’s a difference there too. And when we make giving thanks a habit, our hearts will be shaped; the process opens the door for joy to enter into our lives. Praise God for this timely message!

Hm quite a long post.. But just to end off with giving thanks to God for my mum, who teaches me to trust in the Lord always, who stayed at home to bring me up, and who continues to show me such a great example with her hospitality, gentleness, patience, love and care for others.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thess 5:16 - 18

The Da Vinci Code

The UWA Christian Union invited a guest speaker to their weekly lunchtime meeting on Tuesday to talk about the controversial book. I went along to hear what was said. The speaker Nigel Gordon made some good points. Basically, Dan Brown’s skill as an author is made clear by the fact that he makes everything seem so believable. Isn’t that the best way to confuse after all – to put a lot of truth in, and then add in some untruths of varying degrees of grey until it’s hard to tell which is which.. Nigel pointed out some historical inaccuracies in the book, and reminded us to treat the book as it should be – fiction! I might try to read the book some time (not during term time for i’ve been warned that once you start it’s hard to put down). But the speaker ended off by saying that Dan Brown had painted such a picture of Jesus that it’s hard to think of him as anything more than a mere man, an inspirational teacher. Whereas if you want to know the real Jesus, someone who is both totally human, as well as totally divine, you really should read the Bible and see what His closest friends had to say about Him in the Gospels.

Also, i went to a primary school yesterday to do some testing for the group project we're doing for our Research Methodology module. My first time in a school here. Very encouraging – the kids were great! :) Look forward to working more with the students here, and improving on my practice!