Fixing our eyes

Think I know what it means to have tunnel-vision – when you can only see what’s right in front of you and are so fixated on that one thing, so much so that you miss out on the other stuff happening around. Kinda feel that way now focusing on the thesis. Yup, only two weeks to the due date and the tension in our department builds, with people at different stages of stress and panic. It’s pretty easy to lose the proper perspective, and especially to know that God is in control and is the Giver of all Wisdom and Knowledge and the ability to do even this daunting task. Just like Peter who stepped out of the boat onto the water only to find himself sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus, it’s important to remember to keep our eyes fixed on the One who can sustain us, instead of being distracted by the wind and the waves around.

Made for Joy

This is the doll Steph and i made especially for a little girl called Joy, as part of the Subi church initiative for AIDS orphans in Rehema Orphanage, located in the Bungoma region of Kenya. The children at the orphanage are blessed with daily food, very basic shelter, and access to schooling, but most of them have little or no possessions, besides the clothes on their backs. Making the doll is really not difficult to do, if you know how to use a sewing machine, and if you have someone like Steph to help :) Such a privilege to be able to do something like this for someone far away, and we send it with blessings, as do the many other girls and ladies who have been involved in the project. It’s quite amazing how each doll turned out quite different, despite many starting from the same pattern – each one is unique, and perhaps a reflection of the maker’s creativity and personality. Wish i could show you pictures of some of the other dolls. Anyway, we hope Joy likes this one! =)

Last lap

Our worship leader reminded us on Sunday of Paul’s analogy of the Christian life being like a race. Or, more specifically, a marathon. I kinda feel like i’m in my final lap now, with just 6 weeks more ‘til the end of this semester, and therefore, my studies here in Perth. Of course, i realize that in the whole scheme of things, it’s just a little marker or pitstop – marking the next stage for me (whatever that might be). It’s exciting, but at the same time a bit scary, not knowing what’s ahead. And i know i’m not the only one facing that uncertainty at this point. Many who are graduating with me are thinking about future prospects; some of the overseas students consider the option either of staying here or returning home. Whatever decision we have, i’m comforted that there’s not one “right” way, but we still ask God for the wisdom to choose the best way. Just as He has proven Himself faithful in the past, so i know He will continue to be Faithful.

All Consuming Passion

Guess it’s something many would be able to identify with – emerging from Sunday rejuvenated from the time of worship in song, from the time of fellowship with sisters and brothers, and from the preaching of God’s Word in the sermon, and then struggling with living out that joy and passion in the daily grind. How to display passion and make God look good while doing a mundane task such as checking that i’ve entered my thesis data correctly, or while sitting at home at my computer all day working on my essay?? Reminds me of SCC’s song which basically says that at every moment of the day is a moment made for worshipping! Every moment that we live and breathe is reason enough to worship God for the life He has given, and so we should be able to use each moment to glorify Him, just as the trees of the field and the birds in the air are doing :)

Just started reading Ravi Zecharias’ book Jesus Among Other Gods. Haven’t got very far yet but really encouraged by his own testimony of how he found God, or rather, how God found him! I can identify so much with what he said – that search for answers to questions regarding the meaning in life, and how radical the change must be once we have really found that purpose!

Praise God for last night’s Bible Study on Exodus 13-14, about how God led the Israelites across the Red Sea. What a timely reminder that when faced with situations of desperation, we are to fix our eyes not on the advancing army behind us and the dead end in front of us, but the pillar of cloud and fire that’s guiding and protecting us, and to remember how God has delivered us in the past, and how He is faithful to continue to do so. In the end, He will be glorified! : ) I really am enjoying the fellowship and discussion in both the BS Leaders’ Meetings and my BS group. Pray we can apply the lessons learnt in our daily lives!

Thank God also for the Stats Clinic, which i visited yesterday, and was really helpful – quite comforting to know that it’s not the end of the world if the sample is not normally distributed! heh i would recommend the Clinic to any researching students (have already done so to my coursemates)!

And i thought it was quite interesting that we had our Campus Talk on “Do All Roads Lead To Heaven?” yesterday, and YCKC is having a similar talk back home this evening. Rory presented quite an interesting perspective on what religious tolerance is, and proposed that a world that practised true Tolerance would actually be Hell. Hope the talk got some people thinking about the claims of Jesus and other religious leaders, and start to search for the Truth.

It’s the UWA Study Break this week, and i have my work set out for me, besides quite a full programme of activities on the weekends.. May we all use the time wisely and to the utmost!

to anyone who knows anything about stats...

just wanted to complain a little to those who know what i'm talking about.. turns out many of my variables are not normally distibuted, which means i really can't do much with them until i normalise the distributions.. And some are quite badly skewed so the transformations i've tried don't seem to work either :s Shall go to the stats clinic tomorrow and hope they can give some ideas!

Funny how the time passes so quickly, even for me who wants it to ;P The stress is kinda building up in our MAD room (that's the proper initials for Masters in Applied Developmental for those who don't know) and Jo has been crossing off the days on our little blackboard 'til the thesis is due! Some of them seem to 'live' there (they do all their work there), and the atmosphere is quite abuzz with adrenaline almost, although that might possibly be the effects of too much caffeine from Rocket Fuel or another of the coffee shops from across the road ;P I'm not sure there's that much reason to be stressed - we're all at about the same stage in our progress although poor Tim has something like 174 variables to look at?! But it's nice to have people in the same boat, and everyone has been real helpful with the stats and willing to listen to ideas and all, which is such a blessing.. In a funny way, i'm sure we'll look back on this time with fond memories ;)

the road not taken

Yes, i do sometimes think about how life might be like if i had made different decisions along the way. Always intrigues me thinking about the might-have-been, especially when i reach another obvious fork in the road (or in this case perhaps, with many possible ‘routes’ to choose from). Guess this is not unfamiliar territory or they wouldn’t have made films like Sliding Doors ;P Today, praying for the various OCF Centres around Australia and being reminded once again of the many people around the world who don’t have the same luxury as our countries do in hearing the Gospel, it does inspire the question: Where is God calling me to go? Ken Duncan shared that life with Jesus is just one big exciting adventure – you never know where He’ll lead you next! So guess there’s not much point wondering about the forks in the road you’ve left behind, but just to look ahead and take that next step.

On an aside note, i just finished reading George Eliot’s Adam Bede. I do feel very happy for Adam. …But what about Seth?? :P