| Monday, January 29, 2007 |
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I should really go get my bills paid. GAH. I keep forgetting to do so when I am in college, and always remember when I get back to my room - which is away from college.
The weekend was pleasantly busy - had bible study with some of the singaporeans, followed by the usual indecision about where to go makan. And um.. hahaha - we ended up in KFC. Can you believe it? But it was good because we were having a family feast meal and it felt like I was with my family of God - us making silly puns about things and enjoying each other's company. Walked around for a bit after that, ending up in deb's {lovely, big and comfy} room. Somehow got into the topic of how we came to believe in God. Its a amazing, the way in which things work... well, to be specific, how God works in our lives. We each had slightly similar starting points, but it was apparent that while He is MY God, He is also neh's God, kor's God AND deb's God - individual and personal to each of us. And that really stunned me. I mean, He was working at the same time in our lives.. (and trust me, for someone who loves to multitask) how cool is that? So friday night was really good - even though a tad late, since I had training the next morning. Sat began with hill sprints and my lungs almost falling out. Got back, polished essay a little and contemplated a nap [actually, was already in bed, but forget that]. Was surprised by kor calling, saying that he was in town and had time - perfect! We wandered around town for a bit before going to the Ashmolean Museum - it was my first time there and it was really fun just browsing through the different exhibits, learning bits and bobs about the history behind the artefacts and listening to what kor had to say about various topics.
The day ended with a screening of Singapore Dreaming by the sg society -which I was late to. But it was better than I expected and I felt that some of the real "issues", well, more like annoying/sad/true tendencies of the island nation.
Sunday was the day in which I was late to everything except church. Met val and her friend ali, then church, followed by rowing training and then down to the other end of town to ellie's place for lunch, and then to meet deb for walkie, back to church for bw study, met L to go to service, had dinner after and then went to cambridge terrace for their party thingy. As a result of the rushing, I think I almost got squished between a bus and (insert stationary object or another bus here) a gazillion times. I feel very mortal indeed. |
posted by wenster @ 1:29 PM  |
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| Saturday, January 20, 2007 |
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| The same wind that blows your hair in the right direction is the one that brings smoke into your face. |
| posted by wenster @ 2:24 PM |
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| Wednesday, January 17, 2007 |
| Thoughts. |
Had a very good Christian union meeting just now.. good not only because of the company and inevitable laughter and cake, but also because it got me thinking. Well, to be fair, God's the one who has probably gotten me thinking all through this week.
Met up with Valerie yesterday to pray and have dt sharing. It was very comforting because we were able to talk and share about things that we were happy with and thankful for, as well as things that were bothering us. I do firmly believe (and here I sound like I'm making a speech) that we need people in our lives who we can trust with the spiritual as well as trivial things... but at the same time, us humans are still fallen creatures who need someone higher ie God to trust fully, without restraint.
I've been realizing more and more that there really are only 2 ways to live - with and without God. And since I've chosen to live with God as my Lord and Saviour, it is only right that I live in a way that reflects His kingship - otherwise its hypocrisy is it not? Before images of nunhood flood in, the answer is no.. its not going to be a drastic change - well, yes and no. Yes because it means that before I do things and before I say things, I want to consider if it glorifies him. No because he isn't demanding that I sell everything and give to the poor, or shave my head and stop going out- the way I'm seeing it, its about my attitude and reasons towards the activities I participate in. And since there is a lot of I in the past ramble, I also want to make it less about me and more about him. I, after all, is the middle of sin - when I refuse to recognize him as my creator and Lord. Which is easy to forget, because the word sin really conjures up images of debauchery and massive evil e.g. murder and grand larceny etc. The thing is, its so easy to be in sin because its something that we don't even have to think about consciously. Beth, one of the girls puts it: "when I wake up in the morning, I just go, well God, this is my plan for today - I don't know about you, but this is what I'm doing" - which is sooo true. There is this verse... hmm... it says something like a man may plan his way, but God will direct his path.
So today we briefly talked about how it would be really scary if all of what we prayed for came true. Because the apostles in acts 4 prayed that they would proclaim the word of God boldly, and after they prayed, they did just that. And it begs the question, how often do we really mean what we pray? Well, honestly - I don't even want to answer that. It makes me ashamed to think of the number of things that I say I want to do and the way that I say I want to live, but do I really mean it? Because if I did, and he says "sure, go ahead" then what would I do? I'm not sure. Proverbs 16:2 - All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. A sobering thought indeed. But at the same time, its a thought that fills me with hope, because if God knows that I am like this, and he knew this even before I existed, yet he loved me to the point of sending his son to die for me... then he is a God that I am proud to call my own. |
| posted by wenster @ 10:22 PM |
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| Thursday, January 11, 2007 |
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Much can happen within a few days, can't it? And it usually does, doesn't it?
Got back to jolly ol england at 5am on Monday - and left for Wales at 930am the same day. Probably not the smartest thing in the world, as it meant that I forgot to pack gloves (not that big a deal) and proper boots (big deal). Went to Cefn Lea in mid-Wales for a christian union houseparty. As discussed with Dave on the very long bus ride back, my ideal 1 minute summary would go something like this:
" I spent a very good 3 days in Wales with other people from CU, getting to know God and them better. We played silly games and challenging talks, as well as fun mealtimes and a food auction at the end"
Other things that I would highlight would be walking in the countryside (and getting my nice clean shoes entirely coated in icky welsh mud) and almost being thrown off a hill (courtesy of two of my dear brothers in Christ). I think it was what I needed - getting away from other things and being in a place where I could contemplate my relationship with my father in heaven - and realising just how much I need him. Things have been changed of late - well, perhaps I've been changed. Certain things don't hold as much joy as they used to, and in some ways, perhaps it is a good thing. The problem is, what is going to take their place? I know that I've been neglecting to spend time with Him, so I really want to re-center on my numero uno. Everything will be a-okay then.
Was greeted by a very polite email informing me that I would have to sit a test on Saturday when I got back into Oxford on Wednesday. Lovely way to force me back into the rigors of academics. I think its what is needed at the moment, but at the same time, I cannot help but feel sorry for poor ol me who has to work butt off for the next day or so, at the risk of looking like a complete idiot in front of my tutor. Yet I can't seem to concentrate! (as I am proving right now... )
Oh well. Back to the papers - but not before I show y'all the beautiful rainbow that God gave us as a parting gift - its the first full rainbow I've seen!
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| posted by wenster @ 9:16 PM |
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| Wednesday, January 03, 2007 |
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The year in (my) headlines:
January: Fannie's birthday; celebrating and learning how to avoid flowerbeds
February: A [friend's] Valentine card can make your day
March: Brother invades sister's room in Wellesley
April: Ushering in 21 years of life with bubble tea
May: Farewell season brings good business to self storage companies
June: DIY tip #32: trees are favorite spots for merlions
July: 21st floor, Raffles City: live, work, play
August: China mania
September: Are you packed? How to be uber-prepared for England
October: A study in contrast- day and night in Oxford
November: Invading Italy
December: Christmas comes twice in some places of the world |
| posted by wenster @ 2:03 AM |
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