birthday...

its a blessing to have the people around me.

at times when i doubt myself, they encourage me. learning from them and being able to get honest feedbacks from them as well.

comparing with the absolutely sour pie last year, my housemates did the most amusing by taking out a 3-day old meat pie from the fridge and light a candle on it. after blowing it out, they save the candle for future usage. hahaha... typical guys.

a simple yet meaningful celebration of about 20 people in a Chocolate Bean Cafe was about just right. a small group. definitely have to thank priscilla and moses for organizing lots of it. if it weren't for them, i'd be spending my birthday in the library studying.

the people i chose to invite (hope the elder ones don't bash me up) were the younger ones in OCF. i had a limit of 20, so those that i didn't invite, no offense yah... it was a group that i got to know better in the past few months though i met a few much earlier than others.

i was sharing that i believed in the younger ones because they carry on into the future of OCF. and giving an example of handy and i, about how close your 'family' in OCF can get.

so there's the 22nd birthday... may God bless everyone who has crossed my journey in life.

as the birthday's ending...
Sarah: Welcome to Olderism...
Bruce: the Carriage become Pumpkin already...
Danny: Birthday over... time to study .... (in a jokingly manner, he's caring)
Carter: but malaysian time still birthday leh....

last hurdle...

it is a last hurdle for me. or more of a last wall to climb. the last semester and last few weeks as a student... yeah... all those thoughts come to mind. but got to put it away though. and concentrate on the current and present exams coming up.

i didn't post. don't really have time to sit down and type as i reflect. i more of reflect in the morning going to uni, or on the bed, just before i sleep.

i can't remember whether i've mentioned this before but this last six months have really been interesting in a way. its like a test to whether i have learned anything in my past 3 years of ups and downs. i don't say that i've 'passed' all but that i felt it smoother and find myself more conscious of what i am always doing.

have a tough subject. portfolio theory management. it seriously scares me. i know i read everything and maybe understood (not to the point of memorization). but when i look at the past sample papers, no understand man. it really bugs me. i mean, there must be a way. A WAY!!! its not only about my irritation towards things that i can't find out, but its also about doing well, passing or failing.

Faith.

exam period for Adelaide Uni students are from the 17th June till 1st July.
Mine's on the 17th, 29th and 30th June.

guilt and fears...

had been busy again...

read a book 'Finishing Strong' by Steve Farrar. it is a good book and i can relate to many things in the book. here's one of the stories about guilt and fears that struck me and serves as a good reminder to what and how we are bondaged in our hearts with past guilts and shame and also unnecessasry fears.

Circus elephants

when the elephants are just babies, the trainer puts a shackle around one of their legs, with a chain attached to a stake. these babies are maybe three to four hundred pounds at best, and they will try and try to get away from that chain. but they can't.

The strange thing is that the massive adult elephants - which may weigh a couple of tons - can be held by the very same shackle as the one used on the youngsters.

how is it possible? number one, elephants really do have great memories. but number two, they aren't all that bright. the adult elephant remembers how he was staked up as a baby and couldn't get away from the stake. and at a certain point, as a baby, he became convinced that he could never get away. so now as an adult, he doesn't even try. that elephant is not chained to the stake; he's chained to the idea that he can never get away. that's how a ten-pound stake can hold down a two-ton elephant.

hui yin....

the days have been productive. doing work and recapping.

hui yin's farewell was today. and it really is a wonderful privilege to get to know her. she's a friend and an elder sister that guided me along the way whenever possible and also teaching and being an example to the younger sisters. OCF...
may God continue to guide her and bless her in her ministry...

been reading this book, 'the man in the mirror'. got the book from lynette and chong yau. its a really good book and i didn't know that there is a men's ministry for that book. in the middle of it. will type stuff about it.

easter camp 2006...

easter camp in tatachilla. for the first time, train was one of the transportation used.

the camp site was wonderful. a really nice place. it was cold and i was in shorts most of the time. quite a few thought i was pretty strong or more of the 'macho'ness. it was not really that. some people figured out why. i didn't bring enough long pants. hahaha.... i only brought one pair of slacks and the rest was short pants. and i was saving the slacks for the sunday night worship and monday morning worship cause i am playing bass guitar for those 2 slots. so must dress properly for worship.

as always, the worship always amazes me. serving in the worship ministry taught me many things. one of it was as long as everything(talent and all) is offered to God, God will use it and work through it. prayer should also be part of the preparation.

the programmes were well planned too. lots of new people were invited. everyone mixed around and hopefully no one was left out. fellowship there was meaningful. spent wonderful times with brothers and sisters. you know it's genuine and true. you know it's from their hearts. you know there is trust and love. its times like these that makes the tough times worth it. its probably a taste of heaven (wow!).

God was in the camp. everywhere. among us. in us. the camp theme is, 'Why Love?'

one thing though... i do miss the fresh air there. just walking about and feeling the freshness of the place.