BUSY week back in Sydney

Awww man there's so much I want to say but NO TIME throughout the week!!! Make use of this Saturday night since I'm not on tomorrow, dear "haha" kindly offered to play since I have to play next week and lead worship the following.. I'll make it a quick summary,more photos when I go over to Fiona's place for faster uploading!

Its been busyness since I got back to Sydney! Want to post the photos of my last day in Singapore with the 2 families, earthly and spiritual!

Tuesday: Clean room, Hehe (fiona) & Haha (priscilla) helped me reorganize things.. took photos in remembrance of the occasion!

This is one side of my room with the cupboard and stuff, with the two "hehe haha" duo threatening me if I mess up my room.. so fierce..







Arvo: Coles!!!(Local supermarket) to buy my favourite bread.. Helga's sunflower honey and oat bread and Sanitarium's So good Omega3- women's essential soy milk..
No.. I'm not endorsing them.. they're just healthy and yummy..Mum agrees with me.. she bought back 5 loaves to Singapore last time.


Wednesday:
Back to work. Over slept as I couldn't sleep the night before, used to sleep at 2am Singapore time staying up to chat with Mr Inky Doo, Guppy and Mervy from Island Hope.. Bedtime in Sydney is 11pm Sydney = 9pm Singapore! how to adjust!?
First day back: GI meeting! and heaps of foods to get organised for the kitchens. Hand out presents and found out that Kathleen is leaving, going to work for johnson&johnson.. sobz....

Arvo: Jogging with Kim kim, yeah! Back to my Glebe trail .. much easier to breathe.. hardly any perspiration all evaporated!

Pizza with Huhu (michael munkey tan) for dinner and catching up. He's been up to designing a fantastic website for his dad's business and also for the multicultural night coming in August our out reach event! Live music that night!

Thursdays:
Full-on clinic day. I had 16 patients booked in! AHHHH!!!see lah go on holiday.. next available appointment on the 18th of September! Siao liao!
Switch back to Aussie accent, one patient said I sound like a yankee??!!
So happy, 3 of my patients lost weight!!!
Saw my youngest patient ever! A 9 year old with high cholesterol, reckon its most probably genetic since he's normal weight for height!
And also a case that was out of my league.. Gallbladder problems with events that seem like a mini-infarct?? Besides low fat diet and a cholecystectomy(removal of the gall bladder) of which is not up to me to perform I can't think of what else to say? heard of foods causing body odour? told the patient I'll get back to her after I consult a specialist dietitian on food allergies and intolerances.

My consultation room : Took this between patients! I share this room with Dr R, he has heaps of stuff in his room. The weighing scales at my feet, a dietitian's essential tool!

After that met up with Dave R, Fearless leader Jack, Hehe & Haha, Rindy, Little Potato and Hammy to go to Fox Studios The Comedy Store to watch the Tripods!.

Comments: The first two stand-up comedians, let's say they stooped to the lowest form of trying to be funny using foul language and sex jokes. I think I need cleansing and the renewal of the mind after that!!
Thank God the main performers the Tripods; male trio that sings their comedy were really good. Excellent harmonies, the tallest guy plays the guitar and has a falsetto to rival the dude from beegees!
They sang songs like "the hotdog man" a regular good man who then suddenly turns into a Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde character!
Their repertoire included a song about cowboys, "Lingering dad" and the funniest was the "X-box" song which places the singer as a character who sings to his girlfriend to romance her but then keeps telling her to hang in there as he needs to complete another "stage" aka gaming!!then punch line of " this X-box is the best gift I got for u!" funny!

Friday:
Nearly didn't make it in time for work given the late time I slept!
Beautiful morning.. this is the view I get enroute in Sydney uni.



Main quadrangle at 630am

Enroute to the metabolic kitchens:

Met up with my shepherd Lisa at uni for a quick catch-up but she had to head back to work so we couldn't talk long..
Home quickly, Fiona and I went to Paddy's markets to get some fresh food. Came back to do a quick imitation of Chai Tao Quay.. white one..

Night: Combined CG! so fun to be back with everyone. Heard my co-leader Mr Carebear marcus marx froggy teach for the first time! Good job brother with ur teaching about the Prodigal son!

Ice-breaker: The egg and chicken game: Our dear unit leader in the middle in perfect pose!haha!

Teaching time:

Was taking so many picts that day, everyone asked me if I was going to become the next candra! ack!

Bunked over at He he and Haha's place.. their beee youutiful apartment..

Saturday:

Saturday brunch: Haha, Hehe and ME!

Lisa-mummy called.. doing her shepherding roster... inspired.. I need to plan mine too.. at least meet the girls once a fortnight.. last sem's spontaneity not too organized..
2-430pm: Came back home, meeting with Rindy and Dina about the worship team for worship team evaluation tomorrow..
Guess what.. I'm on Team A aka.. Team with the Rhodes boys, pastor's 3 sons.. the talented family team, David:drums, Peter: bass and Paul: guitar, Me: Keyboard.. Yeah.. we're going to be happening !

430-730pm: Met CGL Marcus, CG meeting.. so many things to do!! Looking forward to another exciting semester ahead... Vineyard looking forward to discovering the many gifts our people possess.. let us use it for glorifying the Kingdom of God..

Dinner: My housemate Dinasaru Heuw.. Indonesian chinese chick standing at a mighty 4'11" tall reaching my chin, cooking prodigy with child-sized hands and a voice to rival any black gospel singer.. cooked up a storm for her CG this morning and packed a portion for me: tempe, nasi lemak, potato, chicken and this indon vege soup!...topped up with her homemade sambal made with fiery chili padi ... Jack eats them by the bowl full !

The little one and me! This is the best picture I have of us two.. that's emma thompson and rindy sticking their face in at the back.. keke..

Night: Talking with Emma thompson Stick insect.. She sent me a photo of her favourite soccer team.. never seen them play but I reckon they are my favourite too!!..

Team Hope Sydney:

Front row(Left to right): Marcus Carebear Lin, Weng weng, Huhu Michael Tan, Waterboy Terence

Back row: Williiiiiiiam Ma , Fearless Unit Leader Jack aka Ah pa, David Botak Rhodes, Peter Cute Rhodes, Mr Potato Justin Chan and Mr Teapot Alex Chew

Uh-oh.. its 2am!!!

I got carried away short blog got more and more interesting..

Photo TIME!!

Hehe.. I'm so excited

Finally got a digi-cam with a mega large screen.. mum loves it cos it makes her look pretty in the pictures that I take of her..
Yesterday met Mr-Inky doo on the MRT, first thing after "Hi! what a surprise!" was " hey... did u bring ur camera.. " keke. Yes.. huge LCD screen.

Ok by night met the other 2 camera fanatic Mr Tiger and Mervy..who proceeded to test it out in an ultimately dark and smoky bar...
Some came out alrite..
Mervy and I nearly blinded Ming with out many attempts to test the power of the flash in a dark place.. esp when he made many funny expressions after he realised that the drink he ordered, a virgin mary is actually tomato juice and tabasco sauce with a celery stick on the side..
and uh hmm.. eating a lemon wedge.. He reciprocated the favour.. ack!

Then today.. went out with mumsy and little B to buy dinner, happily started to try out various functions with the two of them as my models..
I present my findings..
(better upload it all now before I fly back to Sydney on Monday.. back to dial-up wich is unheard of in Singapore)

Dear Vineyard... I'm going to pick up Ah can's legacy now.. keke..beware... First target.. the dancer.. looks like in every caregroup there's one!

1)Manual Setting by an expert: Paul D at Harry's

2) The Double Image effect on Mum & little B

3) The Black and White :Mum & B baring teeth

4) The Sepia

5) Macro on Tofu-man

6) Self-shot of Mum& I, Lister & I

Supposed to post the different looks on Mr Tiger and start a vote on the funniest expression but... will have to await his approval..

Christ in you, the hope of glory

What is your deepest fear?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you Not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the World. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Nelson Mandela 1994, Inaugural Speech

Heard that quoted by a rebellious basketball player from "Coach Carter" when the coach questioned him "What is your greatest fear?" each time he quit the team when it got tough..
Just when I thought I had enough of movies with inspiration coaches who take the team from nothing to victory after victory.. I was pretty touched by this one cos it talked about the value that the Coach saw in his players that went beyond just winning ball games.
He saw potential, the hope of glory..

Reading Mendela's statement, about being born to manifest God's glory that is in us, all of us.. reminds me anew what it means to believe in another person, not just believers but for all people. Challenged anew, no one is beyond the grace of God, no one is not worth the effort to reach out to, to believe in.. Inspired to shepherd more and not be scared to speak the truth..

My pastor Tim once talked about human relationships, not just the BGR stuff and this phrase he said that stuck with me since, was that it is a common hope that keeps us united, keeps us committed...

"Christ in you, the hope of glory.."

I believe in that.. idealistic though some may say but who is to blame me for being Hope-full! (no pun intended)

Once again, God amazes me !

Spent an awesome day out today, though in the morning I committed a blur act of double-booking myself for lunch.

Both appointments were at Raffles Place, both at 12noon...So cannot blame me for my blurness.. When my ah kor smsed me "meet at polar puff" I was like uh-oh.. I thought I was meeting Marcus for lunch today..
After a frenzy of smsing, it came down to meeting ah kor and my hunk brother Jamesy for a quick coffee/teh-c at Raffles place with Marcus tsk tsk-ing me and agreeing to meet tomorrow..

Meeting with my " adopted" brothers was great.. They both look so grown up with their nice office shirts and pants. I reckon guys look good in formal stuff =)
James struck up the usual "so Ah mei, when are coming back to where you were born and raised??and so what if you're aussie PR? "
When I kindly explained I am weighing up the "signs" of the Lord's guidance he proudly pointed to himself, " your brother here is one more reason that you should come back, I've been praying to the big man, going to be a Christian any time soon.. "

WOW.. for one moment with what Ah kor had shared with me previously about James and how he had been sharing with James but I didn't expect James to be so confident about talking about praying and about God.
Apparently God had been very gracious to him this past year with work and relationships and he claimed that one of the biggest things that got him thinking was how my Ah kor had changed.. no longer a " me myself and I" dude but ascribing to the Lord the glory due unto Him.
Indeed it is not by what one says sometimes that impacts those closest to us but by one's lifestyle, what we know as life transformation. But he has yet to take that step of faith..

Shared with James about the meaning of faith

Hebrews11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, of things not yet seen"

simply put, who needs faith if you need to see then you believe, that's what faith is, not seeing yet believing~! James was happy to finally understand what it meant.. Praying also for his search to reach that indisputable conclusion of " I need Christ in my life"

hehe.. after 5 years of prayer!! Well my 'brothers" abeit non blood related, I love them to bits.. were pple that God impressed on my heart to fast and pray for when I first came to know Jesus. Now ah kor is saved, water and holy spirit baptizedm, on-fire for God and James, Shel's next!

Indeed God's arm is not so short that it cannot reach them, funny thing is sceptical me thgt that Ah kor would be the last to believe since in my impression, he is a "self-made" man prototype.. but the Lord's ways are above ours and now he's sharing with James and also lead his current girlfriend to Christ!
This Saturday is beach volleyball days with the 3 brothers and their respective girlfriends.. I'm so excited!

Met Priscilla to go to little india to shop for Punjabi suits for the up and coming multi-cultural event in August. So tempted to buy a white one for myself too, who knows I may not be able to resist and go back to get one! Pris and I got two, one for Hammy and one for Fiona.. complete with bangles and bindis! hehe so fun..
I reckon I already have a kimono, a cheongsam, some morrocan suit my dear Lili sotong sister bought back for mum but kena rejected to choose from. Someone help me choose one!!
Michael asked me last night to host/MC for the event with Alex aka Mr Teapot... according to laughing gas, Mr and Mrs Teapot already have a matching Punjabi suit so I'm pondering whether to go with the whole indian theme or not... or shall I go Jap??

hehe... later.. Faith inspired once again

Piggy Day

OK guys I'm on holiday, though I'm supposed to be dietitian and blah blah..
this is what happens when u hang out with your best friend...
No barrs held:

I watched this television program about these 3 chicks running around hunting for Singapore's best noodles.. and it featured fishball noodles...

So I told Ah fa/Joel my best friend " let go eat he enh (fishballs in hokkien) " so we decided to go to newton...yummy I think the Singaporeans in Sydney are going to chop me soon esp caroline&ALex.

Strategy: fishball soup, prawn noodles, popiah, oyster omelette

Ah fa: " Wei Ah pui(Junior college nickname meaning fatty) are u sure we can finish that? Just two of us leh.. "

Ah Pui: " can one lah, unless u scared wanna call edwin out too.."

Didn't think edwin could fly down to town at such short notice so we decided to just go.

Received call from mummy that lister left her phone at dom's place so she'll be contacting me to go home together.. almost seemed immobilised without her phone..

Ah Pui: Eh my sister coming so can handle the food.

Ah Fa: heng ah ..

Reaching Newton Circus: we order 2 popiahs, one plate of oyster omelette, fishball soup, hokkien mee, BBQ sting ray and 3 glasses of sugar cane

Food came pretty quick, ah fa groaned when I pulled out the phone to take picts but it gave him an excuse to put food in his mouth to pose. *will post picts when i finally learn how to get the photos from the phone to the laptop, me techy-dumb*

Demolished it within 10mins.. we look around..

Lister: " 2nds? not that full yet hor?"

Ah fa: " Yah hor what do u'all want?" - stands up

Ah pui: " Popiah!"

Ah fa: " I don't mind more fishballs"

Lister: " Orh luah"

Ah fa: " wah all 3? U guys choose just two of the three.."

After some bickering we buy 2nd round of all three...

*groan* of those who overeat..

Ah fa: " Oii liling.. u finish ur orh luah hor... Don't drink the fish ball soup!!!"

Lister: " You'all help me lah, Jie didn't eat any."

Ah pui: " I had an oyster.. "

Lister: " No u didn't"

Ah fa: " she ate one, I saw her, lawyers dont' lie"

all: HAHAHAH

Ah fa: " that's it I'm taking off my belt.."

We stumble to the car and Ah-fa happily unbutton his pants...

Ah fa:" ahhhh, much better... Ah pui, you lah! I'm wearing the tight pants today!"

Ahpui: " I warned you..going to newton circus still wear tight pants, why are u so vain ??! "

Ah fa:" didn't know u girls are such monsters...can eat so much.. "

Girls can eat, just when they choose when that want to ... and yah they need to be comfortable enough around u to... only sue lyn will dispute that line I'm sure =)

Don't be deceived guys..

After he drops us off, he still can stomach more salt water taffy and Kahlua timtams, that guys is a pig but I still love him..

The result of such overeating?????? full til late late, stayed up late chatting to Mr Inky-doo about his love story of how he won chieftain wife and discussing baby names... hehe

Psalms

"O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons." - Psalm16:6-7

"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
I believed, therefore I spoke, 'I am greatly afflicted'.
I said in my haste, 'all men are liars' " - Psalm 116:5-11

Ahem.. what's the agenda?

Today's post, instead of reporting the liturgy of the day's events...
Share about the tap on the shoulder from my Abba, Father..

I have the sense of impending doom in terms of the weakness of my own "human nature" when holidays arrive, not that I don't thoroughly enjoy the sleep-ins, the spontaneity in the day's agenda and the luxury of being a princesss in my own home in Singapore. (no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning!)

The thing is, the danger in taking a holiday from routine is that it messes up with my daily meeting with Abba. The spontaneity of each day requires extra discipline to get away, feed on the word of God, get refreshed in the spirit, and yah due to my lack of discipline basically my transmission got interrupted.. no good no good.. I dont' know my agenda

Perhaps, that's one reason why the Christ was always so disciplined. He always made it a point to connect with the Father, the early morning get-aways before the rest of the world awoke.

Read John11 yesterday about the raising of Lazarus:
The lesson I learnt from this well-know story? Jesus always knew His agenda, even news about Lazarus His buddy's life-threatening situation didn't cause Him to leave what He planned to do.
This line baffled me;

" So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." - John 11:6

Doesn't one rush to see if He could go and help His friend? Why stay two more days?? After all He would be able to heal Lazarus.
Fortunately, Jesus knew the Father's agenda that through the miracle of raising Lazarus the people would believe that God the Father had sent Him.We know of it from what He said to Martha:

"Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" - John 11:40

Jesus then proceeds to pray then calls out "Lazarus comes forth!"and He raises him from the dead.

Ok, that didn't quite sound as spectacular as it should have but many believed in Christ from there.

More importantly, the miracle raised the attention of Caiaphas the high priest. A meeting was called in regards to it, "then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death." John11:53

Hence the plotting of the cruxifixion, the fulfillment of prophecy that Christ would die for the nation. That was the start of fulfilling Christ's ultimate goal, the death upon the cross for our sin. All in God's agenda, a step at a time, stay 2 days, go to Bethany to see Lazarus, raise him, get in trouble with the pharisees so they would plot to crucify Him etc..

The "Ahem" resounded during caregroup, in the midst of praise and worship when Tze Yee shared a word about idols, about distractions, about ideologies things that we've put in place of our relationship with God. We can still do church, still be anointed, still pray given skill or past experience but the authenticity of it is lost. I remember discussing the importance of authentic Christianity with Fiona during shepherding and its come back to remind me once again.

What is my false idol? My own agenda.

The dumb thing of the matter has re-occurred. I have gone one whole round or thinking, questioning about what is the agenda that God has for my life instead of going straight to the source. When I said I'll pray and seek God, it has all along been my own assumptions and evaluations i.e. head knowledge. The entertainment of thoughts and fantasies of the future that has distracted me from getting on my knees where I should have started from, to listen to that small still voice I know so well. Thank You to Tze Yee who boldly spoke that word! I have now gone once again seek Him about it..

He knows that we are but dust..

Hair-Cut

Finally went with lister yesterday to get a haircut...

According to my sister, I had succumbed to the hairdresser's favourite "Do you want a fringe" line..
Well everyone can see the result for themselves from this silly photo.
Mum & Dad said that I look like a kid now =(
Oh well... Vanity speaks: coloured the hair copper. Tee hee

After that, went over to Mr Inky-doo's place to practice this new song (well for me) "Centre of it All" by Hillsong London..
Very, whatchamacallit catchy, even lister commented that it was really nice when I was listening to it for practice.
Piano intro, with an up-key in the chorus. TY had to change the key twice to accomodate ease of playing and vocal range and Merv, Tiger and I tried to play it together.. Fun to play with a team.. I miss the Hope Sydney team...
Good stuff!

Went to NUS to pick Lister up and tried not to get too lost, and fly back to make it time for dinner with Daddy-O fresh back from China.
Dad was funny, gave us this soft doggy toys that sheraton gave him for company each night.. one green, one blue and one gray.. hehe my sheep will definitely know which one I got !
It was fantastic to finally have dinner all 5 of us again at home after a year.. Mum cooked up a storm.. I have to learn how to make that pork rib thingy from her... yummy..

Ended the night with family movie night.. Miss Congeniality 2 !! It was pretty funny but have to say the first one was better...
Bliss..

What time does the Sun rise in Singapore?

The sun rises at 6.37am in Singapore...

Or so I discovered it today when I crazily joined my sister on this Korean drama serial marathon.. Used many a tissue at the climax of the show where all hidden feelings were exposed and the truth was brought to light. We quickly sneaked into bed before mum woke up...

Next time I saw the sun was lunch time...

Wanton Mee, Chai dao quay *black*, lemon chicken rice from our favourite Ang Mo Kio avenue3 market.. then my favourite desserts bai guo yu mi, and Da mai! Thanks Mum! Who wants to do brekkie with me someday before I go back?

Then to SICC for swimming.. I proudly announced to my sisters " See, jie so clever to bring her swimmers back".. then realized no goggles .. so how? swim blind lor.. so scary..

One good thing about the sun in Singapore.. the pool's water was cool but not that goose pimply cold... *splish splash*

Praise redefined

Lord I wish I could praise You with adequate words but You leave me speechless;
And I so long to sing You the song You deserve but it would be endless
I long to move Your heart, bring You something new
Tell how great you are, til my praise to You is

Like an ocean breeze, blowing on Your face
Like the summer sun with its warm embrace Like a gentle rain plays a symphony
That's what I want my praise to be
Like a fragrant rose in the early spring
Like an eagles soars when it spreads its wings Whatever Lord You may need from me, that's what I want my praise to be to You

- My Praise, Phillips Craig and Dean -" Let Your Glory Fall"

Wow, have you ever wondered what Your praise sounds like to God? Have you praised Him today? Have u asked the question what is "praise"? Does my offering bring Him pleasure?

Listened to this song with Priscilla - pusila - maria - laughing gas taking her back after catching up at the air-conditioned prata place near my home. 2 Sydney-siders in Singapore ... *need aircon gasp* Keke...

Another day.. .

Good Morning Lord!

Yet another day.. I'm going to find nice stuff to do so I don't waste my precious 4 weeks, now 2.5 left in Singapore..
Youth day today so little B had no school.
We went with mumsy to play bowling, and both of us got whipped by mumsy.. If only I could show u the victory strike pose she does... superly funny.. Someone teach this techy-blur how to load a picture from my phone on the computer..
Lister dumped us for Dom..

Acclimatization
I need to acclimatize myself still to the humidity of Singapore..
An attempt to avoid the heat of the day going for run at 7pm, and yet could not escape the thickness of the air.. *gasp*

Even Chris O' Brien's voice couldn't distract me from the huff n puff..
Came back with a soaking wet t-shirt. I truly appreciate my Glebe run now, the stretch point that has a great view of the Sydney Fish markets and the Anzac bridge..

Remember when I first got to Aust where the air was so dry that I had difficulty breathing initially.. To acclimatize to each place..

Bestest Picture from Sydney

I know I'm going get smashed 10,000 times when my baby sister sees this on my blog but hehe I have to share with the world what dad and I think should be entered into a photography competition coined "Best greedy look!" or adopted by Musashi Japanese restaurant for their next drinks propaganda.

*Sorry B. You owe me bananas and don't tell me that Catherine Zeta Jones bought them all! *

Even in the Itty-bitty

This is like a diary...

I'm unoccupied and my two sisters are watching some Korean drama after I took them out for a feed at Thompson Plaza's Sushi place, do not eat the Jap curry thingy it tastes weirdly sour *bleh*

Today is the 2nd Sunday away from beloved Hope Sydney(not Sidney), missing my aussie family. Mr Inky-Doo (Hope Island Chieftain)told me on Friday that one week of my hols have gone by... that's fast!

Praise God for today! Woke up early to go to Hope Singapore to meet Tiger Ming and his sister (JunHui) for breakfast. Don't know where to park so blur blur parked at Yio Chu Kang MRT and took the MRT to Somerset though Mr Tiger told me to park at Holiday Inn (dunno where).

Breakfast:
First phenomenon of the day.. I've never seen someone eat and drink so fast, his sister readily nodded in agreement

Lift en route:
Met Sherry sunshine in the lift. Gave me a shock of my life who would whack me that hard! Yelped her name out! That girl .. what a pleasant surprise though.. a familiar face when missing Hope Sydney.

P&W:
They sang "Amazing Love", never heard that song live before besides hearing it on the Passion " One day" album for my own inner court worship... So excited that I flicked my novelty black & white ring somewhere and later forgot to look for it cos the CG was moving onward and outward to "starhub" ( which I later discovered that it wasn't that someone wanted to get some mobile thingy done but it was a sparkling new food court)

Announcements:
Reina (Hope Islander) passed out some nice cooking cds on rice ooooo.. hehe new inspiration for cooking back in Sydney..Thanks for ur generousity!
Growled at by Panthera tigris corbetti for not paying attention.. stuffed them quickly into my crumpler as he growled at Elaine(Head Chieftain) and the rest of the food enamoured.

"Borrowed" a later subdued tigris corbettis's bulletin cos I thought I had one the previous week so this week don't need already ( also stolen from Mr Tigris last week) cos I didn't know that there was a new bulletin out each week.. hehe paiseh to have ruined ur perfect bulletin collection..

Message:

Pastor Ben " God provides to the generous to raise their standard of 'giving' not 'living'. "

Bowled away by the testimony that was given about the BIGNESS of the heart of Hope Christians! wow.. must learn must learn.. to give more... since when can one give enough? One can never outgive God =)
Good stuff... Maybe that's why I got a 3rd job demonstrating in Sydney Uni lab classes, I'll be able to cook & feed more people 2nd semester.. To put a 8.8L pot to good use (thanks Vineyard and Cornerstone!... Please Alex & Caroline no more TYB... *scarred*)

Also wanna use the $$ to support Koorong's (aust christian bookstore) economy, I need to remember all my girls' birthdays, no more belated stuff; inspired to prepare prior! hehe who dares venture with me?!?! Where's Candra Khurana moonlight man when I need him to hit the $250 mark for a 10% discount.

Lunch:
Did u know that Hope Singapore helps their people readily access physical food by giving discounts at food court stalls in the vicinity? Though "Pig's organ soup" doesn't sound too healthy, remember what God mentioned about swine in Leviticus11:7-8?

Hmmm perhaps we should get Sue lyn to look into getting discounts at Sussex St food court, Shalom and Dixon food court... Keke

Reina, Junhui and I went a hunting for "healthy" food .. So healthy that the neighbourhood bug decided to make an appearance and caused 'fans' to go hysterical..
Inky-doo galantly hid the poor fella under a chili dish to restore peace.

Post Lunch:
Went to happily check out the Hope Bookshop..
Ohhh so that's where Pastor John and Lisa got quite a few of the resources that we're currently using now. TY ( Hope Island Chieftain's wife) showed me that they had a new updated version of the guide that we're using to teach new believers.
Spotted the Hillsongs' "For All You're Done" cd only $19 Singapore dollars as compared with $29.95 Aussie in Sydney. Hmm isn't Hillsong church from Sydney? TY said that it was cos Aussies are more affluent..

Happily got a copy of the "care group workbook" to look through, will discuss it with Mr Froggy beary power of the rabbit when I head back.. Looks like good stuff that would help us grow from good to excellent for the glory of God.

Got another exciting part on the next entry but that would take another page..
Looking back at today, isn't amazing how God has so much for us to experience in each day and what we observe when we stop and marvel at it =)

Duely joyful

Be like Cow Dung?!

"Christians are like cow dung, when they clump together they stink, but when spread out they fertilize the ground to produce good harvest"

-quote unquote Elaine, Unit leader Hope Singapore

Last night I had the privilege of attending Island Hope's caregroup from Hope Singapore invited by Mr Tiger.
Topic of the night the "E" word that still causes a tinge of "ouchy" in the heart of many a christian today.

Evangelism.

We were taught using the 3 parables from Luke15, the lost sheep, lost coin and the infamous prodigal son.

Why tinge of 'ouchy'?? (well at least for me)

Sharing the gospel is what we are ALL called to do. Though we're not ALL called to be Billy Grahams but the great commission by Christ is for all who believe:

" Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20

How funny the quote about cow dung? How true sometimes that we have a tendency to just "clique" together and enjoy each other's company and "build" each other up that we forget the rest of the world who need Jesus? WE need to "GO!"

Fear and complacency? Indifference and prejudice? or is it plain laziness?
What is it that stops me??
I've always thought of myself as a Barnabas, people builder, discipler of "paul" potentials, been doing that for quite some time now.

Then why the nudging?

" When He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know His voice." - John10:4

Looks like I need to join Willliiiiaaam and Sai more for street Evax, to fast and pray for harvest, to develop the heart of compassion for the lost.

3 major points that were discussed last night that are required for effective Evax
1)Compassion; 2)Effort 3) Persistance.
(The last point persistance, oh how good we are at starting a project but how many do we actually see to fruition? too seek til what was lost is found?)

Elaine brought up another excellent point last night.
What is the point of busy-ness, of running activities when in the end the achieves no goal? Makes me think now when we run a CG activity, what purpose does it achieve? C'mon Vineyard! Let's get creative for Jesus. Perhaps its time that we're Lighthouse?

I learnt heaps last night.. Thanks for having me Island Hope!

Lord give me eyes that I may see the value You see in each person
Lord give me compassion that I may be fueled to share Your truth
Lord grant me wisdom that I may do what is truly important.

Sepia photo of Little B &me

You Gave

This is going to be interesting.

" The only constant in your life is change"
- Reverand A R Bernard, Founding Pastor Christian Cultural Centre New York