Chosen Generation Dinner

haha.. just promoting the dinner involving all CGs of Hope Church..

Learning to say 'No'

Am happy coz the librarian reactivated my library account and cancelled the book on my account which i did not borrow.. yea, can borrow books already..

Just lately I noticed that I have a problem.. I can't say no to people (unless in certain situations like somebody asking me to go clubbing, or some place or do something i don't like).. I don't mind helping people.. eg I help friends back home (who are not doing medicine) with assignments where possible.. I don't mind helping to book tickets when I go out with friends for a movie.. I don't mind doing this and that (provided it's not asking too much) but sometimes I just felt that I am a little overenthusiastic.. I mean, like a 'I am willing to do this for you although I have my own problems but you are not willing to do that for me' type of situation..

Had a briefing on Community Partnerships Placement.. the coordinator gave a stern reminder on crossing professional boundaries.. i mean, while on your placement, what's wrong with taking a child with terminal illness to the beach to admire the scenery and sunset (assuming that he has never enjoyed himself like this before.. crap, i must be watching too many touchy-feely movies, getting too attached to people).. The coordinator said that last year there was a case where a problematic girl in a foster home got attached to a medical stduent on placement, and began to open up as she gained the student's trust. One day, she asked the student to drive her to a place and drop her off in front of a house. The student obliged. That girl in foster care was gang-raped and nearly murdered.

Hmm. same applies to my case as well.. what if that kid got lost or drowned in my company..

"This applies to all of you future doctors. Please do not try to think you are superman. You can't possibly help / heal everybody, otherwise you will be so exhausted and burnt out to function properly.." she said.

Hate that statement.. but need to snap back to reality and swallow the bitter reality of the situation.

Pre-exam blues

Congratulations.. I have this much of stuff to study before 1 November.. and you know what? On Saturday, I forgot to press the 'Finish' button on the screen of the library's auto check-out machine after borrowing a book, and some smart fella stole my identity to borrow an Engineering book. He did not return it before the due date yesterday. Thanks to that, I got fined and suspended from borrowing books (since my fines have reached AUD$25).. Worst case scenario might mean having to pay for the cost of that book. Just great..

Sometimes..

I suck at literature.. but i just want to ramble something off my mind..

Sometimes..
As we wander through an ocean of uncertainties, I just can't help but wonder..
Sometimes the things you want can be so near yet so far away out of reach..
Sometimes, you just feel rather disconnected from people around you, whom you would love to get closer to..
Sometimes you wonder what determines whether person A and person B click (become friends)..
Sometimes you wonder whether you know what in the world you are doing..
Sometimes you wonder why must certain things come to an end..
Sometimes you just feel that there is just something wrong with the way things are going..
Sometimes you just do not feel like wanting to care..
Sometimes you would like it better if someone does care..
Sometimes you wonder why do people change..
Sometimes you wonder whether it is you who has changed..
Are you the one standing on the outside in the middle of winter, admiring the atmosphere of warmth inside the house through the window..
Or are you the one refusing to open your doors to come out of your hiding.. afraid that people may discover skeletons in your closet..
Sometimes you wonder whether there is a lesson to be learnt..
Sometimes you just feel that you are thinking too much, and you need a break..
Sometimes..
Yeah, maybe I just do..

Preview: Shots from the Tulip Farm (more coming soon, probably after exams.. thanks Anto!)

Rants rants rants

I'm sick for 2 days already.. (diarrhoea, cold, headache and a bit of a fever).. I lack sleep..
I'm miserable coz got scolded by my dad yesterday for being indecisive over whether to take up the Sunway condo with a few friends when i go back..
I'm way behind in my studies.. (will post photo of amount of stuff to cover)
This is the umpteenth time i try to log in to my blog today, thanks to some problems with the computer's cookies..
And the last thing i needed was for a few more things that popped up today and made my blood boil..

still learning to let go.. still learning to forgive.. still learning to accept the fact that you don't need certain things to survive or make a difference.. God, help me..

Praying For Rain

Victoria (and most probably the whole of Australia) is suffering its worst drought in as many years thanks to global warming.. Water restrictions are imposed, dams are drying up, but most importantly, crops are failing.. millions of dollars worth of agriculture is hanging in the balance.. Farmers are being forced to make tough decisions: whether to sell off their land and move on.. For many, this is a challenge, as their livelihood and fate depends on whether it rains by today.. This should not be the way.. Not many clouds seem to be visible in the horizon.. but anyway pray for healing upon this land.. Pray for faith and perseverance.. Call out for it to pour down from the heavens today like it has never before..

CG Lesson: No More Excuses

Luke 12:47-48
"47That servant who knows his masters' will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

How do you define responsibility?
Dictionary's definition: involves personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority (ie able to make rational decisions without supervision)

"With great power, comes great responsibility."

- Peter Parker, Spiderman

What punishment do you think a person who falls asleep or forgot to do a job should receive?

The same applies with God. You know you are supposed to pray, do quiet time, fulfil your CG roster, read bible etc, but sometimes it does not get done.

Why is there a difference in the severity of the punishment between the 2 servants?

The first one receives heavier punishment because of his slack attitude (ie signs of rebellion), while the second one gets off with a slap on the wrist, so that he learns from his mistake.

Would the master sack the first servant? Probably not, because of grace.

Consider now your life, the responsibilities you have. Everyone should be responsible for 4 things:

1. Responsible for forgetting what is left behind, and pressing on towards the prize.

• You can't change the past, but you don't have to let the past rule the present. You can make a difference for the future.
• Sometimes we put the blame on various things (eg the way we were brought up in conservative cultures or dysfunctional families, guilt and past offences etc) but we should not use the past as a hindrance.
• Everything changes when you are changed in Christ (some people fail to understand that everything has been covered on the cross - ie redemption)
• Have we learnt to forgive ourselves and overcome past failures? If not, we suffer the consequences.

2. Responsible for today (Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.)

We need to do the best we can, realising that the choice we make today will influence what happens tomorrow.

eg There was a case of a church leader who admitted that the biggest mistake she made was marrying a non-Christian. They have been married for 20 years, and she is very active and passionate in church ministry, but why live a half-filled life and subject yourself to burnout, rather than have someone share and support what you do? Now her son wanted to move in with his girfriend ("It's a normal thing to do today. I want to take care of her." he said.) As a parent, how are you going to effectively teach your child about what is wrong, if you don't have the support of your partner?

3. Responsible for yourself (ie actions, words)

eg You know you have to study. You did not. You fail exams. (Action = consequence)

Each person is responsible for his own actions. Even if you have a poor shepherd / supervisor, it's your own responsibility to rely on God (ie do quiet time, read bible etc).

When you learn to recognise your own responsibility, there is no need for people to bug you.

(that is why the 2nd servant also gets punished although he pleaded ignorance)

Luke 6:45 - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the good stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Importance of keeping hands clean, thoughts pure and guarding our hearts.

Psalm 24:4 - He who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not lift up his soul to an idol.

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

4. Responsible for what you fail in or refuse to do

James 4:17 - Anyone,then, who knows the good he oughts to do, but does not do it, sins.

John 12:48 - There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

We are even responsible even when we know what we lack, but we let it carry on.

Eg. You know that you need to get things done. You know you have a poor memory and you might forget about it. You are lazy and did not take the effort to make things right / improve your memory (eg reminders in your handphone, mini notes on the fridge etc). Pleading ignorance does not help. In fact, this is worse than ignorance (can be classified as neglect and rebellion).

A lot of things will come along to make us compromise on our commitment to God. Although the world says it's ok, it's NOT. Imagine the analoogy of a fruit cake. A person notices that the sides are a bit unequal and decides to cut a bit of the unequal side off. Then he notices that the other side is uneven and does the same. Eventually the cake becomes so small that he decides to just consume the whole thing itself. The same applies to lying, when you get immune to it after a while.

Conclusion

I have been born to privilege, and with that comes specific obligations.

- Quote from 'Ever After'

Great gifts mean great responsibilites. Greater gifts mean even greater responsibilites. As one grows, more will be demanded.

Ultimately, all choices in life has its consequences.

There is a great commission to fulfil. There are no more excuses. When the day comes, we will all be held accountable.

CG Event - Mid Autumn Festival

It was mooncake festival yesterday (yay!!) CG 6b had a mooncake celebration. Basically a chance to invite friends and pre-believers for fellowship and sharing. We played some games, treasure hunt (Ivy's idea), a brief sharing by Ruth on the 'Lady on the moon' legend coupled with a lesson on grace and forgiveness.. Basically had a good time!

Lanterns are in the air (imported by Jason from Singapore)
(Left to right: Christy, Cheryl, Serene, Ting, Jason)
Dinner time (Chinese themed food) Chung Wei (far right) was trying to promote his hometown of Tawau.. well, at least we now know that Tawau has 3 escalators :p
Shots of the lanterns from a different angle
Trivia. Answer 3 questions correctly from those on the lantern and you will get a free lantern (to be returned for future use)
Going out to play lantern. Photos taken with and without flash.
Lantern with moon as backdrop, mooncake, box with more mooncakes

Accidental abstract - Supernatural

Don't ask me how I made this.. It just turned out like that..

What if a fire alarm switchboard gets infected with herpes virus?

Royal Melbourne Show Part 3 - Miscellaneous

Now that's something you don't see everyday..
ROAR!!!!
Concert Stage

Royal Melbourne Show Part 2 - Animal Displays

Cute rabbits
For people who do not know what a quail looks like..
Hmm.. somebody's birthday is coming soon.. lolz
Me and __________ (basically self-explanatory)

Unretractable

Freedom of speech.. sometimes it's just hard to understand why people say the things they say.

There was a friend of mine called X, whom I came to know last year. He's a nice guy. Unfortunately, something happened where he lost a very close family member. Earlier this year, me, R and X went to Bukit Bintang to hang out, since it's the break after the exams (it was X's invitation).. X called his long-time friend to come along. However, X decided to go with his friend to Imbi Plaza to have a look at electronics, leaving me and R to wander around aimlessly in Sungei Wang. When it's around evening, we msged X to arrange for a place to meet up (perhaps have dinner), then go back. His reply was for R and myself to go back ourselves first, since he has something else to do. Both of us felt cheated, especially R who was feeling rather discontented. Somehow, X found out that we were a bit unhappy with his conduct since R was grumbling away (R probably thought he was just saying something which is to be treated lightly as a joke, just to deliberately make X feel bad). Unfortunately X kind of took it on a personal note, and when we offered to visit him to check on him and explain our actions, he politely declined. He returned to his hometown before we even knew it. Recently I heard a rumour that he already left the place where we used to study. Don't even know whether I will ever see him again..

Maybe some benefit of the doubt and patience should be the way back then. Maybe I could have comforted R to prevent the unnecessary outburst.

We only think of the "Maybe's" and "could have beens" after irrepairable damage has been done.

Flinders Street Station at Dusk and at Night

Royal Melbourne Show Part 1 - Fair Attractions

Last Thursday I went to the Royal Melbourne Show (just to see what all the fuss was about, since I will only be here for a year).. most of my batchmates didn't want to go (studying for exams.. what in the world am I doing here?) Actually turned out to be quite disappointing and boring ($16 aside for the entry ticket, we actually have to pay $6-7 for each ride.. plus food some more.. wasting money).. sigh, but well, here's the best of what i tried to make out of it through pictures..

Inside the Grand Pavillion (marketplace selling food and stuff)















The pie from Mars has landed :p
The rides
Showgrounds
More rides..