intermission

It's been a while since I blogged. A hiatus from the typing world. I haven't written anything for a while, and have not quite been regular, simply because, my brain felt drained. Nothing creative to write, or nothing inspiring to share.

However, I did read of some things interesting, and thought it might be good to share.

Especially for all those who may be feeling a little burnt out from over doing, and not getting anywhere.

What am I talking about?

Sustainability.

How to sustain years and years of what your are supposed to do.

In the book Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels (which I finally finished yesterday), he talks about
1) Knowing your calling
2) Having the courage to change
3) Surrounding oneself with 'safe' ppl
4) Looking at it from an eternal point of view

Not to say that I've fully mastered it, but 1,2, and 4 didn't impact me as much as surrounding oneself with safe people. Why you may ask?

I guess, I'm seeing the importance of just surrounding myself with like minded people. People who would say, come on, don't give up when I feel like it. People to cheer you on. People who work with you on the same page instead of going in a different direction. People who would agree not for the sake of agreeing, but for the sake of building together.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not whining here. I'm dreaming here. Having a vision of people working hand in hand and moving forward together. This are the people who would sustain each other through the tests of time, storms, disasters.

Ecc 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

People. We need to learn how to encourage one another full heartedly. No man is an island.

pics of New York (2)

At the park before boarding the boat to Liberty Island

This is south of Manhattan.

Statue of Liberty from afar

Just as we were queuing up to get onto the boat, my camera died.

pics of New York (1)

First day at New York from New Jersey. My mother and I were waiting for a train to go to a friend's place.

The hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station New York.

Some really nice paintings on the ceiling.

Heading to the statue of liberty. This is south of Manhattan.

new york new york

Yes. Blogging from New York. It's my last day here. Well, penultimate day, to be more exact. Instead of traveling an hour to downtown Manhattan, I'm at my friend's place. Resting.

Finally, being able to gather some thoughts, and relax for just a bit, I feel for the first time in 7 days, I'm actually adjusting to this place, and having some sort of affection for it.

Let me explain myself a little. When I left Malaysia for Halifax, as much as I knew I was leaving friends and family behind, it didn't sting that much. I was all excited, wide eyed to live abroad. Do different things, experience 4 seasons, see SNOW! And as much as I missed Malaysia initially, I didn't show it. What was worse I guess, was when I felt, it wasn't so much as to me leaving Malaysia, but it was more of Malaysia leaving me. Yeap. Weird as it is, it was somewhat true, as I saw the number of emails dwindling in my inbox.

This time around, as I left home for just even a brief moment, I missed it already. I'm unable to pinpoint, what exactly leaves me so longing for home.

Is it the people? Friends? Convenience and familiarity? Church? Leaders? Surroundings and temperature? Or have I finally grown to love HOME the way it is, because simply there's no place like home.
Truthfully, I do not know.

Sitting and waiting, and thinking, sometimes, is just not my best asset. As I sit to ponder whether I would have to go through it all over again, I am uncertain if I do want to, or am I secretly hoping that I do, as it means I am coming here?

Who knows?

Lots of searching to do.

blame

It's easier to blame than to be responsible. It's easier to create excuses than to own up. It's a piece of cake, to live in denial and not face facts or to accept things the way they are, and instead of improving or doing what's necessary to move on.

It's hard to look back and see how His mighty hand has moved, if we never accepted that there was something wrong to begin with, that needed intervention or a miracle. It's difficult to own up and say, it was out of the ordinary, because instead of hoping, deep down, that person stayed disappointed and in the end made logic of everything seen.

What's worse is, one who has never really given God the chance to come into their lives, and at the first sight of difficulty, first smell of trouble, they find fault in the one being they don't really believe in, or never bothered to get to know.

I choose to NOT to accuse. I choose to believe that He can do all things. All the more, I believe in Romans 8:28. I thank, not curse.

new years...

This time round, I'm wasn't around in Malaysia to celebrate the advent of the new year. Yeap. I was away. Tucked in my bed, in a hotel room, in New Jersey. I didn't even stay awake to countdown with the people on tv in Times Square. I was just too tired from my flight.

Wanted to do this yesterday, JUST as most people did before the year ended: a quick reflection of 2007.

This was a very odd year for me. Plenty of farewells, and parting of ways. Many weddings (though I did not get to go for many), many new friendships forged, and had friends who had pregnancies.
The first half of the year I was in a different continent, then in the second half of the year. My perspective, my outlook on things has also changed.

Honestly, I believe my second half of the year was really good. Who knew that as soon as I came back, I would jump into ministry and reach out to students. I guess after all the years of being a 'senior' student, trying to help 'junior' students, I've finally found a calling.

Leading. Mentoring. Shepherding. Dare I say it? Pastoring.

In the midst of wanting to do all this, I had exams. It did not stop me, however, as I already had made a decision to do what was important, and what God wanted me to do. I am glad that I had worked hard in the midst of studying, or else I would have missed out on a lot. I would have missed being God's instrument, and missed the joy of seeing some growing up, and KNOWING that I had a part to play in it.

Thank you God for including me.

If there were big words this year that I would carry to 2008, these would be it:
Decided, obedient, follow, lead.

Some verses that truly applied to me:

Matthew 6:
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Romans 8:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Phil 3:
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Happy new year peeps! May 2008 be a blessed year for many. Another year to push forward and grow!