Friday, October 30, 2009

30-10-09 (Friday) "Reflection of a Future Life"

Having gone through almost a full year of university now, I've come to see that our lifestyle in university is a good reflection of how our lives will be in the future when in the workforce.

There're those who can't be bothered to cook, so they just eat out a lot (This applies more for self-catered hall residents).
Then there are those that spend most of their time trying to settle their work and try their best to avoid contact with other humans with work as an excuse.
Not forgotten are those that just find an excuse to not exercise or do anything physically demanding.
Also, there are those (albeit classified under 'Endangered', closing in on extinction) that work on their assignments the moment they're made available, and NOT a day or two before the due date.

Which leads me to my next point... God does not deserve the treatment we give Him.

How much time we give to God shows how high we rank God on our 'Priority List'. My heart cries out for those of us who only spare our excess time for God. When something of a certain level of significance pops up, we happily let it take over our "God-time". I am NOT saying this with a judgmental tone as I am in no position to do that. I am honestly pained by seeing my brothers- and sisters-in-Christ and myself in such situations and I pray that we eventually outgrow this, together.

After all... Which one is the one that will make you think, "I'm glad I spent more time on this back then" a few decades/centuries down the road?

I look forward to the day when I step off the plane and take you in slowly and firmly...
... Treasuring EVERY.SINGLE.MOMENT. With you...
... KAMPUA/KOLOK MEE!!!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

30-10-09 (Friday) "Thank God for Pain & Suffering"

Sometimes, I thank God for pain. (For simpleness sake, I refer to both "pain" and "suffering" when I mention "pain" in this post.)

If not for pain, I wouldn't be looking ahead to a better future.
If not for pain, I wouldn't have hope, as I would already be having an awesome time, pain-free. So why would I even have to hope?

If not for pain, I would not have learnt many of the things that I learnt.
If not for pain, I would not appreciate many of the things I am blessed with.

If not for pain, then heaven would be pointless, since we would already be having a blast here.
If not for pain, I wouldn't know that I'm human.

If not for pain, I wouldn't be able to tell others, "I know how you feel".
If not for pain, I wouldn't be taking care of myself as much as I should.

All in all... Thank God for pain and suffering. =)

I asked God for wisdom and I think the answer's sprouting inside my mouth.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

25-10-09 (Sunday) "Lack of Control"

I enjoy the fact that the more we learn, the more we realize we don't know. Together with that, I enjoy how refreshing it feels everytime to learn something new.

That aside, most of us try to be in control of our lives. We control what we eat, what we do in our free time, what to say at our next interview... Or do we?

Anyway... We all try our best to get everything sorted out and under control. That's what I'm getting at.

Scene of "daisies" blooming at B & G on a bright, sunny spring day. Lovely, yes.
I just felt a relief just now when it dawned upon me that some things are just out of my control. I can plan an event so perfectly and then the weather just cracks things up. I can have my perfect studying schedule and suddenly some incident happens that interrupts everything as it takes precedence over my academics.

Scene at 12 Apostles, Victoria.
On the other hand, I can be having the worst possible day of my life and decide to just let the rest of the day rot away and someone just does something extraordinarily awesome that makes my whole day seem perfect. I can be all broke and in dire need of food for the next day or two and I am suddenly offered meals/excess food by others.

Also at 12 Apostles
I'm glad we don't have everything under our control. :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

24-10-09 (Saturday) "Spring Aggression"

Seems like its not just the ducks and birds getting all aggressive and protective come spring because of the mating season...

It seems like EVERYONE is busy pairing up right now... B & G (or probably ANU in general) is like some matchmaking haven as spring arrives!

Its crazy I tell you!

Hmmmm.... I think all the blossoming flowers and pollen in the air are doing something to people's feelings and hormones. Hmmm...

Monday, October 19, 2009

20-10-09 (Monday) "Time Period Reversal"

Thinking back 5 years ago...

Wow... I was Form 3 only back then. Probably sitting for/just finished my PMR, enjoying myself totally, making fun of all the Form 5 seniors of ours... Maybe still having some crush on some random person... Still the obnoxious, annoying little brat...

Much has changed. Much. In that 5 years, God has taken His sweet time to mold and shape me into who I am now. My friends have changed. My circle of friends have changes depending on where I end up in... So much change...

Now, I imagine myself being 45 or 50 years old and THEN think back 5 years or so...

Over the same period, I'd imagine that things wouldn't have seem to have changed much. I'd probably still be working the same job, everyone in the family are about the same (unless there're children around...),

It IS relative to how long you've lived, isn't it? When I was kid back in primary school, a year seems like its never gonna end. Heck, sitting down in church for an hour would seem even longer than anything I had to endure.

Now... Hours just fly by without me realizing... Suddenly I'm at the end of my 1st year. Gonna be 21 years old in no time... My goodness... If only time would slow down for me catch up.

Onto the MAIN point... Think of our lifetime in view of eternity. We live to 60, 70, maybe 80 plus years old. Change seems to happen over a longer and longer period of time. When we were young, we learn to NOT do something within 10 minutes of doing it (parents spank us straight after we do it ma...). Then, it probably takes a few days to learn from a mistake we did in some relationship... Following that, it would take up to weeks or months to change an attitude or perspective... Eventually... Our whole lifetime is spent on correcting(hopefully) our character. When we start living into eternity... This short lifetime of non-stop correction would seem relatively short, just like how we learned from that first spanking. And we start appreciating all that happened in this "short period".

Are you living this lifetime to improve yourself? Feels like you're getting nowhere? Don't give up on yourself yet... It just takes time. Keep at it. "Fight the good fight". You'll start to appreciate all that happens in this "short period of time" soon enough.

Most importantly...

You're not alone. =)

"Fight the good fight of faith."
~ 1 Timothy 6:12a
The Bible

Thursday, October 15, 2009

16-10-09 (Friday) "Online Chatting"

Why is it that we don't like it when ppl are talking to other ppl when we're talking to them or... we don't like it when ppl r chatting away wif others over the net with others when we're on the phone with them or... we don't like it when ppl r doing other stuff while we're talking with them/on the phone with them....

Yet... When we're chatting with multiple ppl online... No one cares. Everything's okay. Go ahead. Chat with all 519 persons in your contact list. As long as you DO reply me.

Online chatting's doing something with our regard for relationships and communication, don't you think so?

Monday, October 12, 2009

12-10-09 (Monday) "i-Youth"

Was reading and looking through the i-Youth blog and Aunty Vivien's blog, eventually looking at all the slides of pictures that Aunty Vivien uploaded.

Suddenly missed all the times back in i-Youth.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING??!?!! Hoping and praying for the best in everything back there!!!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

10-09-09 (Saturday) "Firsts"

Today, I remember all the "milestones" over my past 20 years ++. Looking back to those days, I remember how small things now were once a huge step for the growing me. I don't wanna list everyth but only the things I really remember. They're not in chronological order. Just fit whatever wherever seems fitting. =)

My first day in kindergarten, Tadika Sri Indah.
My first day in kindergarten without my parents.
My first day in kindergarten without my parents without crying.
My first scar (i.e my "dimple")
My first birthday present.
My first day in primary school.
My first clique.

My first kena rotan in class. (And many to follow after that...)
My first time bringing back my report card *beams* (became a more frightening event over time...)
My first time getting caught by prefect. (Step on the grass on the slope at the toilet ah, remember? The prefect so sweet-talk somemore, made it sound like he's bringing me to some candy shop... -.-)

My first time donning a red tie.
My first crush. =P
My first time going on stage.
My first time getting an award.

*Fast forward* *BZZWWWZZZZHHWWWHHHTTT*

My first decision to get right and get serious with God.
My first time playing drums. (Sunday school)
My first time fiddling with a guitar. (OUCH!)
My first time praying out loud in a group.
My first time serving in the youth/main service.
My first time in KL.
My first time in Sunway Lagoon.

My first long-haul flight/travelling overseas. (New Zealand)
My first time touching snow.
My first national exam. (UPSR)
My first pimple. O.o#
My first chat online. (Neh... in mIRC ah... simple click a nickname in #mirians and then go "a/s/l?")
My first time playing Settlers of Catan.

My first time playing badminton/ping pong/basketball/football.
My first handphone.
My first time driving.
My first near-death experience.
My first physical loss of a friend.
My first time getting accepted for a scholarship.
My first camera.

My first time studying abroad.

My first (& only) laptop.

My first non-Sarawakian Malaysian friends.

My first church services in Singapore. (Geylang MC, City Harvest, Cornerstone and Christ MC)
My first time shaving. (Hair For Hope. A good cause la... =P )

Man I miss the room and the mess in VH. =P
My first 'A' Levels paper.
My first time in Australia!
My first meal prepared all by myself.
My first day being an undergraduate.
My first dSLR.

My first OCF gathering.
My first time serving in OCF.
My first time in Sydney.

My first Hillsong Conference.

My first paid work.
My first roadtrip.

My first time driving in Australia.
My first roadkill. -.-

The list IS exhaustible and I shall stop after all that.

I hope that in running through my own past, you also recall all the "firsts" that you had in your life. I ask you now to spend just a short moment thinking through those "firsts" and realize that its been a long way that you've come, and also to realize how blessed you are, in all that you had to suffer through, all the trials... That all those turned out to mold you into the character you are now... That you've come out stronger and wiser. See it now? I know I did and still do.


p.s. Oh oh... Black saves energy from your monitor display apparently... ;)

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the father of heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.

~ James 1:17
The Bible (NIV)

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

07-09-09 (Wednesday) "The Future"

Just got back from Kioloa for an OCF Bible Study Leaders' Retreat just now. Its been a great time of refreshment, learning and of fellowship.

With no regards to that, I've somehow been looking into the future these few days. My own, in particular. I wondered (and still am wondering)... What will I be doing after my degree? Working in Shell Miri? Working here in Australia?

What kind of life will I be having, 9-5 working hours and doing nothing but being a couch potato after that? Or maybe I'd still be able to squeeze in regular exercise then?

Will I maintain my marital status permanently? Maybe even be able to enter the missionary field or voluntary workforce because of the absence of family to hold me down?

Will I even start looking for girlfriends in the near future? What if I were to become a father? Would I be capable of bringing up God-fearing children, ideally through example? Should I even be thinking of this whole "issue"?

Will I have changed for the better much (I'm only hoping for the better, don't wanna think of the worse)? Will I have increased my capacity to bless? Am I gonna be a greater giver and a lesser receiver?

Thinking through all these stuff, I'm constantly reminded of having to trust in God to have THE BEST plans for me and my future (Jer 29:11) and not having to worry about it (Matt 6:34). Sure... That's true but... Can't help wondering every now and then, no? After all... I am only human. :\

Of course, I also ponder upon how interesting it is that despite knowing how insignificant all these will be in light of eternity, I will still hafta be putting in effort to achieve certain things.

And now, Colossians 3:17 pops up. Its all for you, God. All for you.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,
'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "
~ Jeremiah 29:11
"Therefore fo not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~ Matthew 6:34
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
~ Colossians 3:17
The Bible (NIV)

Saturday, October 03, 2009

03-10-09 (Sunday) "Victoria"

Went off on a roadtrip to Victoria with Hazwan, Sathyan, George and Katie last Monday. Gotta say I was just so awed by the beauty of everything we were seeing, all that was around us. Figured I'd show you some of the stunning places we went and fantastic stuff that we did.

The beach at Lorne
If there were places/stuff that I would recommend after going on this trip, it'd be... Lorne (a town along Great Ocean Road),


My favourite shot at this place
Phillip Island Wildlife Park (HAND-FEED animals, get up close to them),

Wombie wombie wombat...

BOTHSOCUTELA!!!IFEELLIKEHUGGINGTHEJOEYSOTIGHTANDNOTLETGOLA!!!!
Koala Conservation Centre (If you're lucky you get to see koalas just 50 cm away from you... WITH THEIR BABY KOALAS!!!),

OHMYGOODNESSHOWCUTEISTHISSCENE??!?!?!!?
the Penguin Parade (watch those cute lil' birdies waddle their way back as annoying ppl try to scare them) and Chill House (the budget accomodation we stayed on Phillip Island).

Chill House! Feels like Christmas at night with its drooping lights turned on.
Someone mentioned sth abt BGR along the trip that got me observing all the couples in my hall and I gathered that many of the relationships here are circled around the physical intimacy more than anything else. I made an assumption that many of the two-way relationships anywhere would be similar. (Notice I said "many", not "all". And I say "two-way" cos I think ideal relationships would bring God into the relationship.)

Lovely blue skies again...
Elaboration: I think that most of these relationships "happen" and "are sustainable" because of all the touching, embracing and probably some stuff that shouldn't be said here. Take away all these superficiality and... what's left? The lure of the physical side of it is doubtlessly strong and if put in the same situation, I'm sure I'd succumb to it too so I am not pointing fingers at no one, lest I end up pointing 3 back at myself.

I'm DEFINITELY not saying that there SHOULDN'T be physical intimacy in a relationship but... it shouldn't be all its about, right? It should go FAR DEEPER than that, no? Would relationships that be all about touching really stand the test of time?

I thought this jump shot was pretty cool... =)
... Well... I guess I'll be staying tuned to find out for the answer... :)

p.s Daylight Savings starts in 10 minutes. GMT +11 again.