DREAMS AND MIRACLES

How many of us can honestly say that we still believe in dreams and miracles? What is a miracle? Getting a parking space in a busy mall at peak hour? Is that all that He does or the greatest that He can do? Provide a parking space? Help you pass your exams or even grant you an A? What was the greatest thing that He has done for me? Get me a scholarship? Is that all? It isn’t a question we’d like to answer…because we don’t expect, therefore we don’t see…The world has taught us not to hope, no, don’t aim high, you’d most probably be disappointed…Oh, don’t dream big, you’ll never achieve what you want anyway…And we not only believe them, we even subject God to these lies…But no, it isn’t true…our God never disappoints, there is nothing that He can’t do…
We’ve been believing in lies all along…and still do…
Open our eyes to see truth in the midst of a world that is blind, that we may restore sight to a world where lies are truths and truth is considered too good to be true. How else can we show the way when we ourselves are blind?

THE STORY

I remember in standard one, we had to tell a story in Bahasa Malaysia, and how I stood up in front of the entire class and told the story of creation and the fall AND got an A for it (cos unlike the rest, I was spontaneous and didn’t need to read from a scrap of paper). No, the point of this post is not to brag about how I got an A, it‘s the fact that I was seven and I stood up in front of my class, and told a story from the Bible. No, I didn’t tell them how Christ died for us on the cross to pay for our sins then rose again on the third day (I doubt I really understood the significance of it then anyway). But still, it was a part of the Bible AND my classmates loved it. Then the very next day I brought my book of children’s bible stories to school, and showed my classmates...I was telling the world (then my world was my class) at the age of seven…And now, to just approach the subject of Christianity with non believers, a million what ifs would cross my mind. I try not to sound too offensive...Oh, you don’t have to believe it but this is what I believe…What has happened? The truth is, many would want to know…but we’re afraid of telling them. Why? When 16 years ago it didn’t require any thought at all, just tell…That was child-like faith. We’ve been robbed of it, because of the very way we’ve been brought up, we’ve been taught to fear…to fear talking of your religion as if it was the only true one, converting Malays, not living up to what we preach, being seen as pushy by others. A million precautions, taboos, what ifs…What has the world done to us? To me? We were called, not to have minds that can prove all the others wrong, nor to have that magnetic charisma that draws the crowd, nor superhuman organizational skills to put up the greatest, most perfect evangelistic meeting. Sometimes we think that so much is required of us, when all He wants is just child-like faith and a willing heart. Will I be able to get a glimpse of what it was like to be that seven year old kid again? They’re all lies, and we don’t even realize that we’re falling for them…
You said that You are the truth and that the truth will set us free…
To me then, it was just a great story, and I wanted to share it with my class..
Now I know, it wasn’t just any story, and the God in that story isn’t just any god, He IS God…why am I not sharing?
No, you don’t have to go sit down in some quiet place and close your eyes and concentrate really hard to hear God (not always). He’s in everything we see and hear…if only we’d take time to look for Him. It was just the memory of a book, the sight of it, the remembrance of an event…and everything He had to say about it…

THE POEM

Five months of longing, of being apart,
So much to tell, where shall he start,
He’s happy, he’s thrilled, he’s giddy, he’s gay,
Because he likes me, more than he can say.

So in poetry he writes, with poetry he'll tell,
Words from his heart, from his feelings as well,
That he’s fallen for me, it’s just like a dream,
Nothing’s quite real, or how it should seem.

He wants to hold me, to tell me he does care,
He’d like to assure me, he’ll always be there,
Yet he knows, the future’s not his nor mine,
It belongs to God, may His glory shine.

Through both our lives, through each of our days,
Yes, may we always be found, following His ways,
To seek His will, to seek His face,
To trust in Him, and find His grace.

That even if, we should be apart,
We’d be closer together, near to God’s heart,
Than we’d ever could be, choosing on our own,
To be together, and not be alone.

And taking this step of faith, yes I do fear,
But still will I choose, to be with my heart’s dear,
For though the future, it’s not ours to see,
In His great arms of love, forever we shall be.

ROTATIONS

It’s not that I didn’t have anything to blog about for the past two weeks; you could say that life in IMU has really hit me in the face. System courses, this IS the real thing (although CVS is supposedly the easiest system in IMU). Now I see why some become disillusioned, and studying becomes the main priority in life, this is when all they look forward to is a slip of paper that bears the lone triangle. I am reminded that I too, could easily fall into that, I have every reason to….to fulfill my dreams of a certain University, to meet the expectations of my dad and worse still my own, to live up to the image of a scholar and also the image of a Christian….but it’s not all about me, how much I try or even how pure my motives seem to be. It’s times like this that I realize in comparison, You never asked more than I could give, yet You asked for ALL that I have, along with all that I am. Hmm…..question is can I give my all? Yes, not by might nor by power, but by Your Spirit. I will hang on to that, I give my IMU days into Your hands….
Rotations is the perfect time for relaxing, but of course not a time to be idle, which I hope I will not be…please guard me against that, I have a tendency to oversleep these days. So far had lectures on sewage treatment (yes, it’s related to medicine…preventive side), just spent almost two hours studying pictures of parasites (those darn Plasmodiums…grrr), will soon be going off to the famous KKB posting where we’re sent to observe clinic settings for five days…then there’s always the Orang Asli mission trip in August to look forward to…bathing in the river, sarong and all…wonder if I’ll manage? The medical semester is almost nearing it’s end, now only the slaughtering of Sem5 left…I can hear the shouts of the Sem1 ppl getting their End of Sem results right now….that seemed so long ago…yup, the entire Sem2, in just one blink of an eye…but I’m glad.

GOTTA KEEP SINGING

Another rainy day
I can’t recall heaven’s sunshine on my face
All I feel is pain
All I wanna do is walk out of this place

But when I am stuck, I can’t move
When I don’t know what I should do
When I wonder whether I’ll ever make it through….

I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
You’re the one that’s keeping my heart beat
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
And that’s the only way that I’ll find me

Can I climb up in Your lap?
I don’t wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
I gotta keep singing…
You’re everything I need

(by:mercyme)

SIGH...

I have always prided myself in being dependable and trustworthy; paying attention to details and signing everything I do with a mark of excellence, or at least the best of effort. Today, I had a time frame of 30mins to borrow a red spot book for a friend. It’s one of those times when, no, I didn’t forget, I had everything planned out, go to the library at four, look for the book, borrow before 4.30. I think I saw the time wrongly when I decided to shower? I ran. Couldn’t find book. Found book. Brought to counter. 4.32pm. System closed. So close, yet so far. Of course my friend said that it was ok. But I feel terrible…worse than terrible, just disappointed at myself. How could this happen? No…
It’s not about the book, it’s the feeling of failing someone you never did before, of ever failing anybody, but most of all, fail to reach your own expectations. Yes, I expect a lot from others…there are people whom I’ve thought of as sloppy, irresponsible, careless…but I guess even the best of them will fail you at times, cos we’re only humans.
There is only One who will never fail us. May I never look for perfection anywhere else than in Him, cos I will find none. I prayed that He may teach me humility, and as have always happened before, He’d never miss the chance to mold us more into His image when we willingly ask….therefore, when you pray, be prepared of the consequences! Feel better, but still….
Sigh, I do have a tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill…

SYMPATHETIC STIMULATION

Stressstressstress….all because of one name: Rajesh. Oh, he’s our Cardiovascular system course coordinator who gives lecture notes with more than half of the essentials missing. It took me almost two hours looking for all the missing pieces of information for just one lecture, and he’s the one taking the bulk of our lectures for this system…arrgghhhh! Nice guy, intelligent fellow who laughs at his own jokes… but lousy lecture organization and notes! Help….It’s gonna be one loooonnngg weekend….
But the more stressful thing? PMS (not Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, but Pre-Matching Syndrome). Nah, it actually stands for Partner Medical School. Under the twinning program, we will rank the PMS of our choice from 1 to 23, and each PMS will also rank us from 1 to (?) according to their set of criteria - that is what you call the Matching Process. So here I am, determined to get to Melbourne form day one of my IMU life (because of one very silly reason of fulfilling a certain teenage dream), however now I realize that there are several obstacles in my way:
1. There are only 4 places in Melbourne, and worst case scenario (grossly exaggerated) about 100 of us who might want to get there.
2. JPA has made it compulsory for all of us to put Australian Us at the top of our list, which means competing with all JPA scholars who will undoubtedly put either Melbourne or UNSW as their first choice.
3. The recent policy change in the UK (foreign students are not allowed to do their post graduate degree there) means that I’ll also be competing with at least a quarter of my batch mates.
4. The matching process that supposedly gives a higher weightage to our preference may be random to a certain degree (owing to the fact that some good students don't the U of their choice which was given to the poorer students)
So yeah, it’s like God saying to me in my naïve days in Sem 1, “Do you think I can do this?”, and now the same question, with the addition of the above factors, “Do you still believe I can do this?”. I admit, I need a greater measure of faith. It’s like what Sarah was saying, “God, I don’t care if You put me in a U that I don’t want to be in, just tell me now!” Man, I’m gonna have PMS for a loooonnngg time, since I’ll never know for sure till 11/2 years from now. (We only undertake the Matching Process in our 5th Sem, um, ya, in certain things I look further ahead, the stress might go away in perhaps a month’s time, but the cycle will undoubtedly repeat itself every time my seniors get their PMS results)
All that and knowing that I am guaranteed of the U of my second choice (Queensland) if I write in now, as they come in a first come first serve basis cos Queensland is not in the Matching Process since you’ll have to do a degree in B. Med before going over…kinda complicated. To make it simple, I get second best if I would decide to go for it now and give up the best U which I have a very slim chance of getting into, and it’s one or the other, no second chance.
And I’ve decided to believe that my God is BiG enough to get me in Melbourne, but even if He chooses not to, He will make sure that I get into the BEST U, not my best, but His best.

I know this is really early, but here’s my 1 to 6:
University of Melbourne
University of New South Wales
University of Adelaide
University of Western Australia
University of Newcastle
University of Tasmania

If you would look carefully, it’s actually in the order (first four, or five if you include Queensland) of the cities in which a certain conference will be held, and the last two, in comparison of the amount I would spend on transportation to get to that certain conference. Call me mad, deranged, whatever…that’s my top six, for now.

THE LITTLE BOY

Once upon a time, there lived a little boy and his elder brother. They lived at the edge of a forest, on a little farm with a stream flowing not too far off. The little boy, being too little to concern himself with ‘manly’ duties, would tag alongside the elder as he went about his daily routine, always observing with the utmost attention. It would be a simple chore, such as cutting wood for fire. And the little boy would stare in wonder, saying to himself, “Wow, what strength big brother has, that he parts logs with just one strike of the axe! When I grow up, I’m gonna be just like him, and part logs with just one strike!” The little boy can’t very well lift the axe above his own little head, but is satisfied with carrying his elder brother’s axe for now, always glad to be of some help.
And so it would be, the little boy tottering along, taking two steps with his short legs for every step that his elder brother took. On the farm, he would watch intently as the elder went about feeding, tending, sheering and milking, thinking, “How knowledgeable big brother is, he know best how to handle each animal! When I grow up, I’m gonna be just like him and know all things!” In the meantime, he was content with carrying animal feed around, struggling with all his might with the big pail, proud that he was of service.
On another day, the elder would want to fish, but seeing that he did not bring his rod along, the little boy would quickly offer his, honored that the elder would use his humble rod. As usual, the little boy would sit by the elder, amazed with the like, “How well big brother can fish, bringing in the biggest fishes with such skill and patience! When I grow up, I’m gonna be just like him and catch many fish!” The little boy would then beam when asked to help carry home some of the catch of the day.
That was how it was, every single day. Now the elder brother would be going off to college, and little boy sits and wonders to himself, “Will I ever be like big brother, and when?”

THRILLED...AGAIN

I actually lost my pen drive two months ago…have been using my mp3 player as a substitute all this while. I posted up notices, but no news, so I took them down. I’d have given it up for lost, but now someone has found it and returned it. Did the person feel guilty? I will never know. I guess God was trying to teach me to hold on to nothing on this Earth but Him and Him alone. I may be robbed of many things, but no one can ever steal my God. Also that He hears and answers prayers….it may be two days, or two months, but He answers prayers definitely. He does have funny ways of doing things, I’m never in lack of surprises with such a God, ha ha!

THRILLED

Ha ha...IMU has replaced the computers with these super cool acer veriton, Pentium 4HT! I'm now downloading stuff from e-sword in 10 mins when even my streamix at home takes one hour! Sleek mouse, stylish CPU! Super fast!!!
CG today was on the Bible, evidences of it being inspired, formation of the canon, apocrypha and pseudegraphical books. I could feel the level of stress of my batchmates climbing as we went into the formation of the canon. Yeah, it was a little too deep perhaps, considering I actually took about a month on and off of reading...plus, there was a non-christian in our midst! Confusing for my CG mates, more so for her! But I explained as best as I could. Yup, it was challenging for them. At least now I guess they're provoked to find out more about the book which is the foundation of our faith, and to really know the Bible cover to cover, inside out and all around. And the girl is interested to read the Bible now! I just prayed on Wed itself, inspired by the SEM1 CG that has non-believers attending, that one day I would live to see the same thing happening in SEM2 CG. That was a very fast answer! And I used the term 'live to see'. Ye of little faith. Yup, it's my dream of dreams that CG will not only be a place for Christians to edify each other, but also be a place where the lost can come and find out more about God...I'm thrilled!
Yeah, long day today, with music practice in the morning for the coming high praise session, CG, lecture then PBL, which I had no time to prepare, only printed out something from the net to present. As my PBL mates were presenting their's, the facilitator shot out numerous questions for them, and this time, my stress levels went up with every minute. When it came to my turn, no questions from the faci, how odd, how relieved I was! Ha ha, thank you God! Saved again, by His grace...Anyway, my topic was on risk factors of tachycardia...so no big deal perhaps.
I better go back and study from the first week this time around...Another music practice in church tomorrow...Oh, did I announce? I bought a new toy!!! Sansamp GT2 amp simulator, RM 590. One word-sweet. Well, that was like two months ago d...

A HEART FOR PEOPLE

It seems that God really is breaking my heart for people. Going to Seremban Hospital, seeing patients all around, it does strike a cord deep inside. One 56 year old Indian lady, both legs amputated, had been there on the very same bed for five years. Her son visits rarely. Another old Chinese lady, told her life story in a jumble of Cantonese, Mandarin and Malay, related her life, wiping tears in between. Of how she met her husband (now gone) during the Japanese Occupation and how hard it was simply to live, but they had to go on, of her children, grandchildren…great-grandchildren, of this doctor who refused to receive RM2000 but only RM1000 for her surgery, how she feared for her life in the operation theater, but was reassured knowing that the surgeon was one of the best, and how every now and then in her life story, she’d always refer to that doctor, saying, “Good doctor, good doctor..” and that she’d always remember and be grateful. Of how she said life is filled with obstacles, but we have to be strong…and how it’s the heart that counts (“Must have heart…” ) as a doctor….
And I wonder, will anybody in the future ever refer to me as “Good doctor, good doctor..”? Will I, seeing patient after patient, be desensitized to their pain and forget that it’s the heart that counts, not medicine or surgery or the money? Will I see just physical bodies in need of a cure, or souls in need of a savior and not me, a mere doctor?
I don’t know, I really can’t tell…and I say that I WILL serve the full ten years and not ‘break the bond’, but am I even aware of the hardships I have to face if I made that choice to stay?
May I never forget why I was called…
Do I even realize the mere weight of it?
I’m beginning to…
And of course, the Petaling Street Feeding Program, how the plates of rice were stacked up into a mountain, how the people came…some singing and clapping along to the worship songs and others grumbling when food will be served. That these people lived with no security of food and shelter, sleeping where they would find a roof and eating where and when food was available…Jesus too, had no sure shelter nor food, sleeping wherever, and trusting the Father to provide...
Would these people know my Jesus better than this pampered, ‘rich’, city girl with cares insignificant to the their needs? To see a world different from what I was used to living in, a world that much of us would rather ignore and pretend that it did not exist, with people we would rather not talk to or associate with, people we call sinful and pass judgment on, without realizing our own sins of self-righteousness and apathy…until we are reminded, that He came for the very ones like these. And what am I doing here, complaining when I have a roof over my head and food to fill my hunger, a solid education and assurance of my future, although nothing is ever for sure…What do I know of pain and suffering? (But we all can and do suffer inwardly, regardless of how rich or ‘fulfilled’ our lives can be…just that I find mine to be as insignificant as dust now) And knowing that I have Hope, when most of them don’t…
Again, words are cheap, all say, no actions…what’s the point? That’s why I always admire those who live it out rather than just talk about it, or be ‘emotional’ about it for just a while. Will I be all talk and no actions as well? More and more, I’m determined to make a good doctor, also to do what I can while that dream is still so far away…

EGUITARIST TURNS SPEAKER

An exposition on Matt 20:20-28

What is greatness?

In what ways do you seek to be great?

Are you capable of COMPLETE surrender to His will in your life?

(Brought to you by Matthew Hoo and eguitarist this Wednesday)

RUNAWAY BRIDE

A play by the Footstool Players in ECF

1. The Wedding
Come wedding day, the bride arrives late and unprepared. She says “I do” hastily before the marriage vows are read. However, when she understands the full implications of a marriage covenant, the commitment and submission it involves…that if she truly loved the bridegroom, she would obey ALL His commandments…the words “I do” bring a whole new meaning, and she is unable to utter it…
Do I say “I love You” too soon? If I truly loved Him, I would obey ALL His commands…which I don’t.
2. Mc Church
The church is likened to a fast food outlet, where people come and go, activities and programmes are “packaged” and the consumers can pick and choose what to take and what to leave out. Something low on commitment but high in returns…Also that the church has no place for those who are really seeking God, the lost and weary, that the church is too engrossed in meeting the wants rather than the needs of people..
Have I placed more importance in the programmes, activities and temporal goals rather than help people find God?
3. Pharisee Boot Camp
The new recruit is orientated by a commander who stresses on justice, insensible rules and a parading of actions, who on the other hand classifies grace and love as “for sissies”.
Have I prided myself in all the things I do for God and judged those who do less? Has my life been a parade of how much I have given for God compared others? Set such a high standard of living that I have looked down upon those who don’t live up to them? I think so.
4. The Untouchables
A divorcee who is a drunkard, a lady who has had premarital sex and an abortion and a man with AIDS. Is there place in our church for one like these? The social outcasts and the rejected…..Will we love and accept them regardless of their background, or shun them as the world does? We are reminded that Jesus Himself identified with their pain and loneliness, that He too was rejected…Is there place in our church for even Jesus? Or will we reject Him by rejecting those He love?
I have rejected many…I have shunned people when I knew that He died for each and every one of them, I have closed my eyes and refused to care…I have made a joke of the cross…
5. Mercy General
A new young doctor in Sinai Hospital creates a fuss by practicing a different brand of medicine, contrary to the policy of the hospital that only admits healthy “patients” and shuts out the sick to avoid them from contaminating the state of the art hospital, the healthy “patients” and staff. This doctor even makes house calls to the boulevards and is rarely found in the hospital. The entire hospital staff goes searching for him and finds in in the centre of a mob of “filthy” sick people. Unable to convert him, the majority of the staff returns to the hospital. However, some stayed after seeing the pain and suffering of the sick, and they together with the doctor and the sick established another hospital, Mercy General, opened to all…Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy..
Am I just staying in my comfort zone, refusing to go out to meet the needs of those who really have need of God? Have I been ignorant to the pain and suffering of the sick and kept my distance instead of caring and ministering as I should?
6. Salt and Light
Have we forgotten to be salty or to shine? We are His feet, eyes and hands…What is salt if it isn’t salty or light if it doesn’t shine?
Have I forgotten?
7. Love Story
Modification of the book of Hosea. A preacher falls in love with a prostitute and convinces her to marry him. The prostitute at first refuses because of who she is, but says yes when she saw the hope and love in his eyes. After five years and three children, she gradually comes to accept herself as how the preacher’s family and friends saw her-worthless. Not being able to bear living with the husband who loves her unconditionally, she runs away and pleads that he does not come searching for her. But he did. For a long time he searched, and found her in the most degraded bar, being auctioned off for a mere 35 cents. He bids 545 dollars at first, then digging into his pockets for the leftover 18 cents even after he had won the bid. It was all he had. The wife refuses to come back, but looking into his eyes, she saw the reflection of a bride in white, not the woman with a dirty face and torn rags….and relents at last.
Who we are isn’t determined by what we have done or how society sees us, but it is found in our worth to God-priceless.

Repentance….of what? CF has been emphasizing on repentance, but I never could get it…not in the theme exposition, not in the camp. Turn back to God? My life revolves around God. Be not of the world? God IS my world, there is never a moment in my life which God isn’t apart of. I trust, I depend…I put serving Him before everything else…repent of WHAT??
And tonight, I saw myself in every one of the sketches…as the bride who says “I love You” too soon, the cashier who is accustomed to just “selling” packaged activities, the self-righteous commander, the church who shuns the outcasts of society, the doctor who shuts out the sick, the salt that isn’t salty enough and the light that does not shine it’s brightest…repentance now has meaning…What have I made Christianity into? A religion?
But once again, God’s love covers all…knowing that in His eyes, I am a bride in white, spotless, because He came all the way and bought me with a heavy price…
God’s love is described as EXTRAVAGANT, and rightly so…

If we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus is the way
(If we are the body, written by Mark Hall, performed by casting crowns)

WISTFULNESS?

Spiritual mother knows best. Therefore when she thinks that you’re suffering from wistfulness, no matter how absurd and ungrounded you think her claim may be, it usually turns out to be true on deeper reflection. So ladies and gentlemen, I confess, I am wistful.
Because it takes extra effort to smile, and I’m afraid to be alone (cos melancholics tend to dig a deeper hole for themselves when left to their own line of destructive thinking). These are the times when you say, yes, I have God, and so have surpassing joy. But yet, yet….we’re humans. And I am human too…

This is a song from United’s newest album, called None But Jesus.

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When you call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose

Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, In confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days

Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

Bridge
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore

No one to cry out to, no one to comfort thy servant…only You. The harder it gets, the harder I cling on…

MY SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff,
They comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil,
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23

Restore Thou me, Thou shepherd of my soul….

UNSPEAKABLE JOY

I”LL BE IN THE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT!!!!!!!!!
The whole band has been planned….only, we lack a bassist. Yeah, I know it’s a bit early, but we’re a bunch of enthusiastic people…
Returning people: me, Victor, Michelle and Catherine.
New people: Jeremy(Sem1) & Alvin(Sem3)
Yes, God is good to me, all the time…
Thank You for honoring me, You know how much this means to me…not so much of because I’m in again(bcos I've found my identity and security in You rather than in what I can do), but the fact that You care and know just what would cheer me up, at the right moment….the fact that I am significant to You. Thank You for fulfilling a child’s childish wishes....

HOME FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Yes, I made an effort to come back….See, I’m not such an inconsiderate child after all. It has been about 3 months since…The cat has gone missing, apparently the day after I left the last time. This is the second time something like this has happened, no more cats for my brother, oh no…no more….they always go missing!
THIS GOES OUT TO MY MUM: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Although we used to have our differences, I now see a different side of you. I’m thankful for you in my life, and for all the times you made a difference, no matter how small…

PARASITO AND GNOSTICISM

Dear God, why did you make sooooo many types of parasites? Each is different from the other, from its life cycle to appearance to eggs, how can there be so much to know about such little critters…nothing is insignificant to You it seems, not even those annoying parasites. My life would be easier if there weren’t so many…but You are a God of detail and diversity. Therefore teach me and make me a master of parasites, at least of those that are medically important…otherwise I dunno how I’m gonna study this…
I know I’ve been slacking for three weeks…I know I shouldn’t, can’t afford to, especially after Sum1, although, You’ve blessed me with an A. Does that mean that I can still attend Bible study?? I’ll just assume it to be a yes….THANK YOU!!!!! At least I have the whole of next week to catch up…cos it’s nursing week (This will be my first time visiting Seremban Hospital). He he…just give me Tuesday off…I can’t resist the urge of going to Borders again.
Ah yes, I’ve read Gospel of Judas….pure gnostic material, very short gospel…but so far, one of the hardest materials to comprehend if read without a commentary (shall I say harder than parasito?)…Well, the gist of it is that Jesus came to Earth not to die for our sins, but to enlighten "certain individuals" who possess the “spark of divinity” within them eg Judas, who was the only one who really understood Jesus. What separates us from the "true god" (note:not the God of the Old Testament) is not sin, but ignorance due to lack of knowledge(To understand this, you’ll have to sort of know a bit on gnosticism). Therefore, the real way of salvation is to escape this body and the God who created the Earth (who is a lower level god...heresy!heresy!) to return to the “heavenly realm”. Judas is a hero because he freed Jesus from his body by betraying him. Thus, Judas is now in heaven while the rest of us of the “ignorant generation” will become nothing when we die because we do not possess the “spark of divinity”. Other stuff in the gospel consists of something akin to greek mythology…the hierarchy of supernatural beings..etc..be prepared to be confused…See, the beauty of the simplicity of the True Gospel, compared to all those other stuff out there coined by the minds of men…(note: if you feel that reading materials like this might cast doubts upon your faith, by all means don't read! As for me, being brought up by a free thinker dad, my natural instinct is to find out for myself, what is real and what isn't. Articles and reviews will always be subject to the prejudices of the writer, who might even select or take certain passages out of context. The only way to be sure is to go to the source and decide for yourself where you stand. That's how I've always been thought. Personally for me, reading the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas has settled the uncertainties I previously had just listening to what others said, at least I know where I stand and why...Of course, I wouldn't read most other Gnostics, but this one was because of the recent hype and ppl asking me questions that I couldn't answer.)
The two things we’ll have to deal with it seems, with all these Gnostic gospels and even books like the Da Vinci Code is….who really is Jesus Christ, and the authenticity of the Bible. We know that they’re all crap, and most non-Christians, I think, would also agree that they are crap…but they sort of raise the questions…that perhaps who Jesus is was “determined” by the early church when they selected which gospels would be included in the Bible, and that the Bible represents what the majority believed to be true, but might not be true…
Which is why, I always tell people, including my friend who recently accepted Christ, “It’s not what I say, what the Pastor says or even which way the facts point…you’ll have to know who God is, and who Jesus is…TO YOU- Is He real…to You? If so, how real? So real that you’d believe it to be so even if the whole world says otherwise? You’ll have to find out, and know Him for yourself.” (I'm saying this believing that God will reveal Himself to those who seek Him in truth.)
I am thankful that I do know…that You are real, because You chose to reveal Yourself to me…because You chose to…

X......CAVATE!

Our very own definition:
1 make a total change by seeking God from the heart and soul
2 remove impurity to find true self

This is perhaps the shortest camp that I’ve ever attended (1 day and 16 hours), even though I only slept 7 out of the 40. For some, it was a time of rediscovering themselves, others…a time of fun and fellowship….me here, still wondering. I guess for me it was more of a time of relaxing (haven’t been playing guitar up till 3.30 am for a long, long time), of having nothing to distract me, not responsibilities, not studies, not friends…definitely not the drums (there wasn’t one)….nor having any other ‘agendas’. Just Him and me…plus my husband la…

Saturday night was the best! It still amazes me, how God being who He is, the majestic, awesome God, could love us with an unfailing love; that He is not a God distant and far away, but near to our hearts…that we can call Him Father and Friend. The whole conference room was an altar - campers coming to God, seeking Him on their knees, just where they are. That, and receiving news from the ECF side that another soul from IMU had come to Christ….wah, it was double joy for me! Ha ha! The very funny thing, being in camp, I was feeling a bit sick of missing all the crappy jokes in Friday cell, of not being able to drive ppl to church in the pajero, of the forceful beat of the drums during SNL (altho I heard imaginary drum beats in my head during camp too!) and of the late night suppers at Everyday. I never thought ECF meant that much to me. But it does. As much as CF, very much….

We even have our very own camp song! Written and composed in one day by my batch mate, Ivy Ang, it was an instant hit!

Who am I
Tell me why
I am here for
Cos sometimes I’m lost
Who will give
Me a lift
When I’m feeling weak
It’s your strength I need

Before the world began
You were on His mind
To love Him and be loved by Him
Oh what a sweet relief

Why am I – still worrying today
Why should – let sorrow stay
Come let’s be strong and courageous
Because….
He’s given – JOY PEACE LOVE and
STRENGTH to last for the day
His mercies – new everyday
Sufficient, Your grace is – A-MA-a-ZING
Oh thank You Father
For the mighty cross………
So that I am Yours……..
Mighty child of God…

First night was ice-breakers which lasted till about 1am (56 of us, six groups)… I came down with headache afte that cos have been up and about since morn, but then played guitar till 3.30 am afte supper – supper, the universal medicine…
Second day devotions at 7.30am, then had three sessions of talks (very basic and simple, yet to the crux of the matter) with games (me being me, decided to run without slippers in one of them and ended up with two very big patches of blisters..sigh) and treasure hunt (really going back and forth b/w the furthest ends of the camp site!) in between, and ended the day with a mass altar call afte last session…most of us slept around 2am bcos of the sketch that had to be presented on Sun. Again, mad guitarist slept at 3.30am…cos too overjoyed?…Nah, she’s just gone mad la…
Third day…devotions, sketch presentation…
Revealing of mortals (yes, we played that game), photo taking session(s)….

MY BATCH - The mad Sem Twos

ME & SEM 5 GANG - I'm so gonna miss them

ECF PEOPLE WHO WENT(Joseph spoiling the pic by not being in it)

Came back here 3.30pm, decided to take short nap till 5.30pm but woke up 6.30….am…
Don’t get jealous now, I had CSU at 8am today, then lectures and PBL presentation at 2pm which I did not have prepared till 1.55pm okay…. “I really have to study…” (Most quoted phrase in IMU)…

X-CAVATE CAMP COMMITTEE - see my signature?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1Pet 2:9

AWAY

IMU CF CAMP 2006 X-CAVATE

WHO AM I?

WHY AM I HERE?

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

Rediscovering ourselves by digging deep within:

What will we find?