Ok, I've been pretty buried in light work recently. I've also been not at home during the time I normally blog, so ya. This will be a summary..?
Thursday:
I honestly don't remember much about Thursday. >.> I'm pretty sure it was a jam packed day of classes and labs. I think I wasted a lot of time again on facebook and youtube and was really feeling guilty and upset with myself for all of the time I have wasted this week. I still had a lab report due on Friday and I really hadn't done very much of it. By this point I was hoping to have been done and able to start the next lab report which was due monday. I don't think I stayed up too late..?
Friday:
I walked to school because I had planned on not biking home. My first discipling with LT. He had bought a new camera app for his new phone. Well, he also had this really cool smart alarm clock app that measures how much you roll around while sleeping and from that tells when you are in REM, light or deep sleep and wakes you up when you are almost awake up to half an hour before your actual alarm time. It seems really cool. We started going over my personal development plan. As JW knows, I'm not always the most responsive or thoughtful person, and when it got to the question about which verse or promise you'd like to claim for the year, or which command or exhortation to keep in mind, I had nothing. I prayed about it. I had two phrases come to mind: 'feed my sheep' and 'keep in step with the Spirit'. >.< Hmmm... LT thought that the first one might have something to do about loving God more, which is definitely something I need to grow in. I really don't know why these came to mind. I hadn't read those verses in a while. I intend to reread them soon.
I then left to go to my meeting with KC. Today's lesson was about our relationship and fellowship with God. Our relationship as children of God, offered to all who believe, is not broken ever. However, unconfessed sin can break our fellowship with God. When it came to 'repentance' and the definition given being 'a change in attitude which will result in a change of action', I asked if he could give an example. He, ya, didn't think the same way I was asking the question, I meant, like based on this definition is there a 'real-life' (meaning not sin-related) example that fits it? So, I gave this example about how I use microwavable plastic containers. My housemates keep telling me how it's not healthy. My change in attitude towards the plastic containers would lead to me not using them anymore. (Fyi, my attitude to microwaveable plastic containers has not changed, so kinda a bad example, but anyways...) I'm excited to continue meeting with him and I really hope God changes him and does great things through him.
Chem lab- shorter than usual.
Then I got to help LT carry pumpkins into the C4C weekly meeting room. Then I was official greeter. !!! Two of the guys I followed up with back in the beginning of September finally came to Weekly Meeting!!! Not that this is the only way to get involved, but it's the fastest way of integrating, making new friends, seeing what C4C is about and feeling the full experience. BS and MdS! Anyways, during Weekly meeting JB gave her first talk. Later we carved pumpkins! They were really cool and it was a lot of fun. Then we smashed two of the four pumpkins because no one wanted them. We went to Loeb and stood on the roof and dropped them like two floors. XP (We cleaned it up.)
Then me and AL bussed to EE's house. She was having a movie marathon. One reason we went was actually just so that we had somewhere we could be during another video chat with our EA family. This was done mainly for MC who wasn't able to join us last time, however, she couldn't join us again. lol. I got to see PW finally!!!!!!!!!!!!! T.T Typing this right now is making me tear too... I swear, that was like the saddest moment ever (recently), leaving her alone at the hotel and bussing to the airport without really having a good goodbye... and she was crying... T.T But she was her happy, crazy, super asian self again. T.T (tears of joy) We'll need to do it again for MC and because not everyone was on at once. xP
So, in the end, at EE's I ate a pile of candy (my main meal of the day), watched part of 'Psycho' and the start of 'the Shining', video chatted in EE's room, and slept through the rest of 'The Shining'... lol... We got a drive home from AL's nocturnal (I'm exagerating) dad at like 4am.
(more summary to come later)
31.10.11
26.10.11
Vulnerable
Exploitation of Vulnerability. That is the simple definition of Human Trafficking. Whether it applies to Eastern European women being abducted and sold into the sex trade, or children sold by their parents in Cambodia, or women who earn more by being in the sex trade so they can provide for their families, it's all exploitation of their vulnerability.
Yesterday I went to a Young Adults group out in Glocester because of a facebook invite to it. They were showing a movie about human trafficking and the sex trade. It was a documentary called 'Nefarious: Merchant of Souls'. It was a very powerful movie. They interviewed many experts in the feild, they visited different countries, they interviewed victims of abduction, prostitution, they interviewed johns and traffickers, they got a very unbiased view from every perspective and it really shows how wrong it really is. Some of the statements in the movie were pretty strong. Like prostitution of women is as simple as men masturbating into a woman and nothing more. The imagery and reality of what is happening worldwide is shocking when we live in a country so separated from most of the obvious symptoms, but it's very real in North America too.
The movie kind of kept going in a negative spiral and it kept going until it got to this one point near the end and hope entered into the movie. A real life transforming hope and new life for the victims (not only the women and children, but even the men trapped in this system). God loves each and every one of us. He values us as His precious children. No matter what we have done or how far from him we have strayed, through all that He has done, He offers freedom and abundant life to all that believe in His name.
Ya, it was a really good movie and I recommend it. It also is getting me really excited for our January campaign 'iCrave Freedom' to raise awareness about human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Ya.
Today I went to the end of the month prayer meeting for the first time since June. It was good. We were mainly focused on our building search because by March we will have to find somewhere else to worship and gather, so we've been praying for God to show us where to go. This week a building on Richmond has come into our sights and so tonight we went there and prayed. It's a very warm and cozy building. It's very well kept too. The only thing is that it might be a little bit small. We can probably fit for joint services and stuff, but big meals where we invite other people too may get a bit crowded. Its definitely an interesting short-term option.
Ya.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. France and Croatia!
Yesterday I went to a Young Adults group out in Glocester because of a facebook invite to it. They were showing a movie about human trafficking and the sex trade. It was a documentary called 'Nefarious: Merchant of Souls'. It was a very powerful movie. They interviewed many experts in the feild, they visited different countries, they interviewed victims of abduction, prostitution, they interviewed johns and traffickers, they got a very unbiased view from every perspective and it really shows how wrong it really is. Some of the statements in the movie were pretty strong. Like prostitution of women is as simple as men masturbating into a woman and nothing more. The imagery and reality of what is happening worldwide is shocking when we live in a country so separated from most of the obvious symptoms, but it's very real in North America too.
The movie kind of kept going in a negative spiral and it kept going until it got to this one point near the end and hope entered into the movie. A real life transforming hope and new life for the victims (not only the women and children, but even the men trapped in this system). God loves each and every one of us. He values us as His precious children. No matter what we have done or how far from him we have strayed, through all that He has done, He offers freedom and abundant life to all that believe in His name.
Ya, it was a really good movie and I recommend it. It also is getting me really excited for our January campaign 'iCrave Freedom' to raise awareness about human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Ya.
Today I went to the end of the month prayer meeting for the first time since June. It was good. We were mainly focused on our building search because by March we will have to find somewhere else to worship and gather, so we've been praying for God to show us where to go. This week a building on Richmond has come into our sights and so tonight we went there and prayed. It's a very warm and cozy building. It's very well kept too. The only thing is that it might be a little bit small. We can probably fit for joint services and stuff, but big meals where we invite other people too may get a bit crowded. Its definitely an interesting short-term option.
Ya.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. France and Croatia!
24.10.11
No Time to Waste
And so once again I have wasted countless hours on youtube, blogs, facebook and etc.
It's really frustrating.
I know I could have done so much more work during those hours.
Every second we have is a gift from God. This week of lowered assignment density is definitely very much appreciated, but I'd like to do something to lower the amount of work I have to do in the near future so that I can do other things like hang out with my friends, go to sleep by 1am, or even just spend an extra couple minutes doing a Bible study or reading a book.
This evening was a bit more productive though.
Anyways, this afternoon was the first DG (Discipleship group) of the year and it was cool. I'm in a more intense DG, so it seems like there will be a bit more work than last year, but it will be good. We will be reading through Ephesians on our own and writing reflections (punishment for not doing it is buying everyone dinner). We will be reading a book about fuel and fire, meaning building our relationship with God and then doing outreach. We will discuss it briefly every other week. We will be doing testimony and hot seat at the beginning of meetings to get to know each other. We will be doing outreach planning. Every other week someone will be planning an outreach and we will do it. It's pretty cool because the three of us will all be in school at least another two years. A lot can happen in that time if we really rely on the Holy Spirit and ask faithfully to see God work on this campus. It's gonna be a real growing process.
Anyways, one thing I've been thinking about is how there are certain parts of the Bible I am really looking forward to. Since this year began I've been waiting to read Daniel. I started a couple weeks ago. It's really interesting seeing how God used dreams and Daniel and everything for His glory in Babylon. The other book I can't wait to read is Hebrews, which will be sooooooo awesome after having read the Old Testament fully. Every single time anyone quotes Hebrews it is awesome and I cannot wait to read it.
I was actually looking at the Bible reading plan I'm on right now and December looks like a lot of fun. xP. After Dec 7 I am scheduled to read minor prophets until new years. xP
Yup.
My life is a crazy ride. xP... I'm thinking of starting my project application. The only thing is what if I suddenly can't go because of Co-op or something..? What if I'm in the middle of support raising and I switch plans? There are non-refundable airplane tickets. Maybe I just pay those myself and anything I'd raised go to supporting East Asian students going on missions projects..? I don't know. >.< I wanna go on project.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. God is Love.
It's really frustrating.
I know I could have done so much more work during those hours.
Every second we have is a gift from God. This week of lowered assignment density is definitely very much appreciated, but I'd like to do something to lower the amount of work I have to do in the near future so that I can do other things like hang out with my friends, go to sleep by 1am, or even just spend an extra couple minutes doing a Bible study or reading a book.
This evening was a bit more productive though.
Anyways, this afternoon was the first DG (Discipleship group) of the year and it was cool. I'm in a more intense DG, so it seems like there will be a bit more work than last year, but it will be good. We will be reading through Ephesians on our own and writing reflections (punishment for not doing it is buying everyone dinner). We will be reading a book about fuel and fire, meaning building our relationship with God and then doing outreach. We will discuss it briefly every other week. We will be doing testimony and hot seat at the beginning of meetings to get to know each other. We will be doing outreach planning. Every other week someone will be planning an outreach and we will do it. It's pretty cool because the three of us will all be in school at least another two years. A lot can happen in that time if we really rely on the Holy Spirit and ask faithfully to see God work on this campus. It's gonna be a real growing process.
Anyways, one thing I've been thinking about is how there are certain parts of the Bible I am really looking forward to. Since this year began I've been waiting to read Daniel. I started a couple weeks ago. It's really interesting seeing how God used dreams and Daniel and everything for His glory in Babylon. The other book I can't wait to read is Hebrews, which will be sooooooo awesome after having read the Old Testament fully. Every single time anyone quotes Hebrews it is awesome and I cannot wait to read it.
I was actually looking at the Bible reading plan I'm on right now and December looks like a lot of fun. xP. After Dec 7 I am scheduled to read minor prophets until new years. xP
Yup.
My life is a crazy ride. xP... I'm thinking of starting my project application. The only thing is what if I suddenly can't go because of Co-op or something..? What if I'm in the middle of support raising and I switch plans? There are non-refundable airplane tickets. Maybe I just pay those myself and anything I'd raised go to supporting East Asian students going on missions projects..? I don't know. >.< I wanna go on project.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
PS. God is Love.
23.10.11
Sometimes I'm Bipolar..?
Yo! This morning was really awesome. So, I was worship leader this weekend because the YApro went away on a retreat thingee and so I took over as leader. I was choosing songs at midnight Friday and I wasn't satisfied with my song selection. I had a lot of really awesome gospel centered songs, but I thought they were all too slow and that the congregation might not know them too well... I wanted to find an awesome fast paced song that is well known for the set, but I couldn't find one because I'm kinda bored with the standards that fit that description and didn't think they really fit... So, 1am came and I gave up and finalized my selection even though I wasn't 100% behind the choices made.
Practice yesterday was great. It's weird being in charge. SM, NC and JC were on team (only JC was actually scheduled. The other two were replacements like I was). It was SM's first time on team at OCBC! He's really good at playing piano. He didn't know a couple of the songs, but he figured them out within the practice time. God got me to choose the call to worship really quickly and I was well satisfied with it. Psalm 66.
Anyways, this morning went really well. People kept telling me that the song choice was good. I really like Christ is Risen. Especially the bridge. Heehee. I think I am setting a precedent as to the type of set that I choose when leading. The sermon was about Jesus and sacrificial substitution present throughout scripture. There were a couple things I hadn't thought of before. Like, the very first death was done by God on some animals to make clothes for Adam and Eve and by it's death the whole sacrificial atonement system started. Also, Barabbas. His crimes and notoriety led him to a death sentence, but by Jesus' death, he was freed.
Ya. Me, JS and CW went to Farmer's Pick after we got home from church.
Then I got to work on a Phys chem assignment that made me really really really furious at thermochem. >.< I was sooooo mad. I felt like I should destroy something. I feel really bad when I get in those moods. How did it go from awesome worship in the morning to being so filled with anger and rage (at simple algebra no less) that I want to destroy everything around me. >.>
Acts class was good. JS might be going to seminary! She graduates this year and it's an option. We read Acts 3-8 and discussed it. Stephen's trial was cool. He talked all about how God is always moving with His believers.
Ya.
Oh! I had a really cool video chat with my EA family (well most of it. TT.TT)! We'll be doing it again soon since PW, MC and the staff families weren't involved. It might get super laggy though... xP
Ya. I was kinda almost crying when I was walking to AL's for the video chat. They are all leading DGs. >.> God will use them all in amazing ways.
Yup.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
Practice yesterday was great. It's weird being in charge. SM, NC and JC were on team (only JC was actually scheduled. The other two were replacements like I was). It was SM's first time on team at OCBC! He's really good at playing piano. He didn't know a couple of the songs, but he figured them out within the practice time. God got me to choose the call to worship really quickly and I was well satisfied with it. Psalm 66.
Anyways, this morning went really well. People kept telling me that the song choice was good. I really like Christ is Risen. Especially the bridge. Heehee. I think I am setting a precedent as to the type of set that I choose when leading. The sermon was about Jesus and sacrificial substitution present throughout scripture. There were a couple things I hadn't thought of before. Like, the very first death was done by God on some animals to make clothes for Adam and Eve and by it's death the whole sacrificial atonement system started. Also, Barabbas. His crimes and notoriety led him to a death sentence, but by Jesus' death, he was freed.
Ya. Me, JS and CW went to Farmer's Pick after we got home from church.
Then I got to work on a Phys chem assignment that made me really really really furious at thermochem. >.< I was sooooo mad. I felt like I should destroy something. I feel really bad when I get in those moods. How did it go from awesome worship in the morning to being so filled with anger and rage (at simple algebra no less) that I want to destroy everything around me. >.>
Acts class was good. JS might be going to seminary! She graduates this year and it's an option. We read Acts 3-8 and discussed it. Stephen's trial was cool. He talked all about how God is always moving with His believers.
Ya.
Oh! I had a really cool video chat with my EA family (well most of it. TT.TT)! We'll be doing it again soon since PW, MC and the staff families weren't involved. It might get super laggy though... xP
Ya. I was kinda almost crying when I was walking to AL's for the video chat. They are all leading DGs. >.> God will use them all in amazing ways.
Yup.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
21.10.11
The Warmth of Love
Okay, so I have just had two meetings and they were awesome. lol
First was a meeting with LT and B(?) concerning discipleship groups and one-on-one discipling, which is awesome. xP I really wanted to have a discipler, and LT is really cool (and a ninja, just saying) so that will be great. Part of discipling apparently is helping the disciple accomplish goals and help them fuel their personal passion and vision. So, LT will be helping me with what I see God calling me to, how I think God can use me to reach this campus and the world. Of course, this is all by God's grace and Holy Spirit in our lives empowering us. It's not me learning to be LT, it's both of us working together to take God at His word and encourage each other, etc. So that was cool. I also got to share about East Asia and how the students we met when they received Christ were so excited and found a hope and strength.
Anyways, next I had a meeting with KC. As I have said before, I haven't been able to really talk with him about God or spiritual stuff in a while and how he has developed a social anxiety. We got to meet up in a quieter location and have a good conversation. From this meeting I have seen how we are in fact friends (which is something I've been having trouble with), the fact that God never leaves us, and I got to hear what he thinks is the major difference in his life. So, we talked a bit about school and this week and stuff, then pretty bluntly "I wanted to ask you, since praying to receive Jesus last year, how has your life changed?" lol. (JW. lol.) He answered about how his life feels 'warmer' now and how he has been brought from isolation into community. That's awesome. We were not meant to live in isolation, but live in community. We were made for relationship. I also found out about how he has been talking with his aunt whenever he has problems and how she helps him by giving Biblical advice and praying for him. Also, very awesome.
We also did the first lesson of follow-up material that we used in EA. It was about how God never leaves us, how we are His children, how nothing can separate us from Him and how we have been given eternal life. These lessons are highly packed with Scripture, which is great because it's God's word and God speaks to us through it. KC read all of the verses (and there were a lot. lol) There will be a lesson later on the Bible, but I told him about how it is God's word and true, which is why we can look to it and find truths. The lesson is pretty straight forward, only really two or three open ended questions and the rest can be answered verbatim from the verses.
It was good. Excellent. I'm so glad that we finally got to do this and that he wants to continue doing so.
Also, he prays for his friends. So good.
Anyways, God is awesome. Even when I thought KC might have drifted a bit from God and lost the peace that God gives us, the hope He gives us, the love we experience; He hasn't. God is always with us even to the very end.
PTL
=D.Fa
First was a meeting with LT and B(?) concerning discipleship groups and one-on-one discipling, which is awesome. xP I really wanted to have a discipler, and LT is really cool (and a ninja, just saying) so that will be great. Part of discipling apparently is helping the disciple accomplish goals and help them fuel their personal passion and vision. So, LT will be helping me with what I see God calling me to, how I think God can use me to reach this campus and the world. Of course, this is all by God's grace and Holy Spirit in our lives empowering us. It's not me learning to be LT, it's both of us working together to take God at His word and encourage each other, etc. So that was cool. I also got to share about East Asia and how the students we met when they received Christ were so excited and found a hope and strength.
Anyways, next I had a meeting with KC. As I have said before, I haven't been able to really talk with him about God or spiritual stuff in a while and how he has developed a social anxiety. We got to meet up in a quieter location and have a good conversation. From this meeting I have seen how we are in fact friends (which is something I've been having trouble with), the fact that God never leaves us, and I got to hear what he thinks is the major difference in his life. So, we talked a bit about school and this week and stuff, then pretty bluntly "I wanted to ask you, since praying to receive Jesus last year, how has your life changed?" lol. (JW. lol.) He answered about how his life feels 'warmer' now and how he has been brought from isolation into community. That's awesome. We were not meant to live in isolation, but live in community. We were made for relationship. I also found out about how he has been talking with his aunt whenever he has problems and how she helps him by giving Biblical advice and praying for him. Also, very awesome.
We also did the first lesson of follow-up material that we used in EA. It was about how God never leaves us, how we are His children, how nothing can separate us from Him and how we have been given eternal life. These lessons are highly packed with Scripture, which is great because it's God's word and God speaks to us through it. KC read all of the verses (and there were a lot. lol) There will be a lesson later on the Bible, but I told him about how it is God's word and true, which is why we can look to it and find truths. The lesson is pretty straight forward, only really two or three open ended questions and the rest can be answered verbatim from the verses.
It was good. Excellent. I'm so glad that we finally got to do this and that he wants to continue doing so.
Also, he prays for his friends. So good.
Anyways, God is awesome. Even when I thought KC might have drifted a bit from God and lost the peace that God gives us, the hope He gives us, the love we experience; He hasn't. God is always with us even to the very end.
PTL
=D.Fa
20.10.11
Childhood's 'Future Career Choice'
God is a way better artist than I could ever hope to be.
The following took me over half an hour with countless 'undo'ing which is not shown. It is also very surface level and a large portion of it is based on semi-random splatters. There is no life in the picture. There is no depth. There isn't a lot of things.
God only took 6 days and he created absolutely everything in the universe down to the atom. So much more creative, intricate, meaningful and amazing. He didn't leave out a single brush stroke from every sunset. Nothing was random. He created life.
Anyways, here is the link to my painting. lol.
My Painting!
I encourage you to pay attention in your statistics class, but if you really really want to, please give artpad a try.
=D.Fa
The following took me over half an hour with countless 'undo'ing which is not shown. It is also very surface level and a large portion of it is based on semi-random splatters. There is no life in the picture. There is no depth. There isn't a lot of things.
God only took 6 days and he created absolutely everything in the universe down to the atom. So much more creative, intricate, meaningful and amazing. He didn't leave out a single brush stroke from every sunset. Nothing was random. He created life.
Anyways, here is the link to my painting. lol.
My Painting!
I encourage you to pay attention in your statistics class, but if you really really want to, please give artpad a try.
=D.Fa
Fasting and Prayer..?
Ok, so I honestly don't have a full or clear picture of fasting why or how, but I have read a couple verses on it and it still confuses me, but anyways...
Ezra 8:21-23
"There, by the Ahava canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possesions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we told the king, "the gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."
In Nehemiah, he fasts and prays day and night and God answers his pray.
Also this week I heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 again:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Another thing is that a lot of the time in Scripture it may describe things that they did, but not fully. Like it said they fasted. Sometimes it says for various lengths of time, sometimes it's food and water, sometimes it doesn't describe it at all.
At the same time Jesus says that we will fast. Matthew 9:14-15 "Then John's disciples came and asked him, "how is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesu answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.""
The other thing is that God hears all of our prayers anyways, right?
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" 1 John 5:14-15
In either case, fasting strengthens prayer or something. I think. Whenever they fasted and prayed, they were heard and answered. >.<
So many things to pray for, not enough time...
[I like how my friend put it. "Whether or not one chooses to engage in a fast is optional, and whether or not one benefits from a fast is conditional -- it is all about the heart. It may not be imposed as a divine duty upon others, nor should it be used as a public display of one's piety. Jesus says to do it in secret ... after all, the only response to your act that matters is God's, and He is looking at the heart." It really depends on how you see it. I have definitely seen it put to use in good ways and I have also seen it upheld legalistically to no avail. I have also seen fasting where you don't really care and nothing happens and I've also seen it strengthen your own prayer.
So, ya, it's up to you. Some people can't fast, physically, so it can't be required. Also, ya. You don't need to do anything to be loved by God. No acts can save you. Only God's acts and gift of life through Jesus' death and ressurection.]
Ezra 8:21-23
"There, by the Ahava canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possesions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we told the king, "the gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."
In Nehemiah, he fasts and prays day and night and God answers his pray.
Also this week I heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 again:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Another thing is that a lot of the time in Scripture it may describe things that they did, but not fully. Like it said they fasted. Sometimes it says for various lengths of time, sometimes it's food and water, sometimes it doesn't describe it at all.
At the same time Jesus says that we will fast. Matthew 9:14-15 "Then John's disciples came and asked him, "how is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesu answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.""
The other thing is that God hears all of our prayers anyways, right?
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" 1 John 5:14-15
In either case, fasting strengthens prayer or something. I think. Whenever they fasted and prayed, they were heard and answered. >.<
So many things to pray for, not enough time...
[I like how my friend put it. "Whether or not one chooses to engage in a fast is optional, and whether or not one benefits from a fast is conditional -- it is all about the heart. It may not be imposed as a divine duty upon others, nor should it be used as a public display of one's piety. Jesus says to do it in secret ... after all, the only response to your act that matters is God's, and He is looking at the heart." It really depends on how you see it. I have definitely seen it put to use in good ways and I have also seen it upheld legalistically to no avail. I have also seen fasting where you don't really care and nothing happens and I've also seen it strengthen your own prayer.
So, ya, it's up to you. Some people can't fast, physically, so it can't be required. Also, ya. You don't need to do anything to be loved by God. No acts can save you. Only God's acts and gift of life through Jesus' death and ressurection.]
17.10.11
Function and Form
So, whenever I don't blog regularly either I'm pretty busy or I'm turtling and hiding from sin issues in my life. This time it was business. Or rather, just not being at home this weekend and then being busy.
Friday. lol. Umm. Ya. Then I got to school and had things booked until Saturday at 3pm. What? Ya, Raven's Log meeting, A scheduled discipleship meeting with KC (he had errands), a lab with associated report I had to hand in and wasn't done because I slept in, Campus for Christ Weekly Meeting and then off to church. The RL meeting was short so me and TJN went to SC/RP's dorm and worked on our labs. lol. Good times. I managed to get the lab report done and get to it on time. The lab was pretty interesting. Liquid-Liquid extraction. =P Ended early, a bit. C4C Weekly Meeting was awesome. DP[not the same DP. a similar DP. lol we both went to EA, but this DP was on a different team] was there! and S(?)!?! He was in my Japanese class back in grade 12. I never really knew him very well though, so, I guess I don't actually know him. xP It's still cool.
Then we hung out in Oasis and when they were all going to McD's to get McFlurrys I was going the opposite way off to church. You see, we are still in a temporary location. Actually this March we will most likely be the very latest we can stay here. Although it's huge and has been a real blessing to have, it really is falling apart, so buying it was probably a bad idea anyways, so thanks God for not having that happen. Ya, there are a number of short term possibilities in schools or universities. There are also the two main long term possibilities now on the radar. 1. Buying a piece of land in Centrepoint and building a new church there. (The government is very very slow) 2. Buying a church building from another church who aren't able to stay in their own building at the moment. We want to ask God for his guidance, opening and closing doors and really getting us where he wants us to be, so all month we are having '30 days of prayer' for this and this weekend we were having a '24 hour prayer chain' meaning 24 hours where someone was always in the church praying for the building search. For the middle of the night shifts we just had a youth and young adult sleepover party at the church.
We played games and worshiped and skyped and watched a movie and prayed and worshiped some more and slept a little and ate muffins for breakfast. The movie was 'highschool musical China'. It was really funny. xP I had the 3:30-4am prayer shift, so when the movie finished I just did more 'late night' worship with FL and R(?). The way worship worked was that someone calls out a song and we use Ultimate Guitar to get the chords / lyrics and project it onto a large screen so that everyone could see including whoever was playing. xP So good. I got to sleep a bit. I wasn't really planning on it, but everyone else (except Z(?)) was asleep, and I was pretty tired after only getting 5 hours the night before. I got two hours from 5:15-7:15 on a cold carpeted floor. Z(?) is really nice. He gave me his hoodie and then his sleeping bag when I was super cold in the morning. >.< He's pretty mature too. and responsible.
Worship practice started at 10. I wasn't on team, lol. At 1 our worship leader study continued from where we left off in April (or maybe March..?), except that we will be going at a faster pace since reading one chapter a month would take us nearly three years... >.> Ya, it was good.
Then I bussed to school for a really bad audition. She seemed enthusiastic that I could sing though. >.>
Then I bussed home (so much harder this year and especially on the weekends), had a rather large meal and watched too much anime then apparently I passed out on my bed at 8 instead of doing my Phys Chem prelab and playing guitar as I had planned to do... I awoke at 3am to find that I had done as such. I continued to sleep until 6.
Worked a bit on my prelab then bussed to church. You have to leave an hour before church to get there with the current bus system, which is kinda annoying. But, ya, not that bad. Sunday school was good. Service was good. AL invited JC and she enjoyed it. Although it was a bit awkward sharing my Bible with her... >.<
I got a drive to work since JS and I neeeeeeeeeeeeded rice and DZ lives near there. I checked my schedule (no work this week! w00t!) and my coworker tried to pursuade me to work more since my 'replacement' isn't the best at working hard and getting things done. I did a bit of grocery shopping and in the end bought the last remaining Rooster brand bag of rice (40lbs) and bussed home with it.
I can't wait to stirfry. Hehe =P
Umm. Lunch. Prelab. One Piece. Bus to church again. Leader Study on the book of Acts. Pretty interesting. When I finally got home we had a house meeting. Very funny. lol.
I have a BIOL assignmnet due tomorrow, so Ttyl!
D.Fa
PS. Portugal!!!
Friday. lol. Umm. Ya. Then I got to school and had things booked until Saturday at 3pm. What? Ya, Raven's Log meeting, A scheduled discipleship meeting with KC (he had errands), a lab with associated report I had to hand in and wasn't done because I slept in, Campus for Christ Weekly Meeting and then off to church. The RL meeting was short so me and TJN went to SC/RP's dorm and worked on our labs. lol. Good times. I managed to get the lab report done and get to it on time. The lab was pretty interesting. Liquid-Liquid extraction. =P Ended early, a bit. C4C Weekly Meeting was awesome. DP[not the same DP. a similar DP. lol we both went to EA, but this DP was on a different team] was there! and S(?)!?! He was in my Japanese class back in grade 12. I never really knew him very well though, so, I guess I don't actually know him. xP It's still cool.
Then we hung out in Oasis and when they were all going to McD's to get McFlurrys I was going the opposite way off to church. You see, we are still in a temporary location. Actually this March we will most likely be the very latest we can stay here. Although it's huge and has been a real blessing to have, it really is falling apart, so buying it was probably a bad idea anyways, so thanks God for not having that happen. Ya, there are a number of short term possibilities in schools or universities. There are also the two main long term possibilities now on the radar. 1. Buying a piece of land in Centrepoint and building a new church there. (The government is very very slow) 2. Buying a church building from another church who aren't able to stay in their own building at the moment. We want to ask God for his guidance, opening and closing doors and really getting us where he wants us to be, so all month we are having '30 days of prayer' for this and this weekend we were having a '24 hour prayer chain' meaning 24 hours where someone was always in the church praying for the building search. For the middle of the night shifts we just had a youth and young adult sleepover party at the church.
We played games and worshiped and skyped and watched a movie and prayed and worshiped some more and slept a little and ate muffins for breakfast. The movie was 'highschool musical China'. It was really funny. xP I had the 3:30-4am prayer shift, so when the movie finished I just did more 'late night' worship with FL and R(?). The way worship worked was that someone calls out a song and we use Ultimate Guitar to get the chords / lyrics and project it onto a large screen so that everyone could see including whoever was playing. xP So good. I got to sleep a bit. I wasn't really planning on it, but everyone else (except Z(?)) was asleep, and I was pretty tired after only getting 5 hours the night before. I got two hours from 5:15-7:15 on a cold carpeted floor. Z(?) is really nice. He gave me his hoodie and then his sleeping bag when I was super cold in the morning. >.< He's pretty mature too. and responsible.
Worship practice started at 10. I wasn't on team, lol. At 1 our worship leader study continued from where we left off in April (or maybe March..?), except that we will be going at a faster pace since reading one chapter a month would take us nearly three years... >.> Ya, it was good.
Then I bussed to school for a really bad audition. She seemed enthusiastic that I could sing though. >.>
Then I bussed home (so much harder this year and especially on the weekends), had a rather large meal and watched too much anime then apparently I passed out on my bed at 8 instead of doing my Phys Chem prelab and playing guitar as I had planned to do... I awoke at 3am to find that I had done as such. I continued to sleep until 6.
Worked a bit on my prelab then bussed to church. You have to leave an hour before church to get there with the current bus system, which is kinda annoying. But, ya, not that bad. Sunday school was good. Service was good. AL invited JC and she enjoyed it. Although it was a bit awkward sharing my Bible with her... >.<
I got a drive to work since JS and I neeeeeeeeeeeeded rice and DZ lives near there. I checked my schedule (no work this week! w00t!) and my coworker tried to pursuade me to work more since my 'replacement' isn't the best at working hard and getting things done. I did a bit of grocery shopping and in the end bought the last remaining Rooster brand bag of rice (40lbs) and bussed home with it.
I can't wait to stirfry. Hehe =P
Umm. Lunch. Prelab. One Piece. Bus to church again. Leader Study on the book of Acts. Pretty interesting. When I finally got home we had a house meeting. Very funny. lol.
I have a BIOL assignmnet due tomorrow, so Ttyl!
D.Fa
PS. Portugal!!!
12.10.11
Struggling
Yo. So today and yesterday were pretty hard. I mean, I had three midterms today and without going into too much detail they were hard, easy and weird, respectively. I did however survive them.
I stayed up really late reading my Biochem textbook. I woke up early to continue and finish my phys chem equation sheet. Off to school for those two. Then I decided studying for plants was boring so I spoke only in Japanese for about 30 minutes with JXW who knows [very little] Russian and is learning Korean, but not Japanese yet. She wants to take intensive next year. Why are leaves and cancer similar? They are often terminal. Serious face. That was an answer I selected... The choices were like "green" "photo synthetic" and a couple other random ones...
Anyways, I thought my Biochem lab was due tomorrow, so I worked on that lab quite a bit.
Makeshift 22's first bi-weekly social was tonight. It was pretty interesting and a lot of fun. We got busted by the campus cops though... Not because we were doing anything illegal, but because they were worried for our safety. It was just becoming awesome.
Ya, so. Sin sucks. If I can't even carry the weight of my own sins for a couple hours, imagine how Jesus felt on that cross bearing all our sins. I'm so glad I have a Saviour who has paid for my sins and the sins of the world because there's no way I can ever pay back on my own for the sins I commit.
Whenever I fall down, I fall far and it's bad. I give the devil a foothold and he goes miles with it. For two days it's just been pounding on me in my thoughts. I've felt really bad, but I know not to rely on my feelings, but with faith on the things God has written in the Bible.
Anyways, I'm gonna go sleep for more than 5 hours!
Ttyl.
D.Fa
I stayed up really late reading my Biochem textbook. I woke up early to continue and finish my phys chem equation sheet. Off to school for those two. Then I decided studying for plants was boring so I spoke only in Japanese for about 30 minutes with JXW who knows [very little] Russian and is learning Korean, but not Japanese yet. She wants to take intensive next year. Why are leaves and cancer similar? They are often terminal. Serious face. That was an answer I selected... The choices were like "green" "photo synthetic" and a couple other random ones...
Anyways, I thought my Biochem lab was due tomorrow, so I worked on that lab quite a bit.
Makeshift 22's first bi-weekly social was tonight. It was pretty interesting and a lot of fun. We got busted by the campus cops though... Not because we were doing anything illegal, but because they were worried for our safety. It was just becoming awesome.
Ya, so. Sin sucks. If I can't even carry the weight of my own sins for a couple hours, imagine how Jesus felt on that cross bearing all our sins. I'm so glad I have a Saviour who has paid for my sins and the sins of the world because there's no way I can ever pay back on my own for the sins I commit.
Whenever I fall down, I fall far and it's bad. I give the devil a foothold and he goes miles with it. For two days it's just been pounding on me in my thoughts. I've felt really bad, but I know not to rely on my feelings, but with faith on the things God has written in the Bible.
Anyways, I'm gonna go sleep for more than 5 hours!
Ttyl.
D.Fa
9.10.11
Testimony Time!
So, today was church. Bussing takes forever. I left around 8:35, shortly after meeting MM's family. (so funny) I got to church at 9:24. CW, my roommate had left half an hour after me and got there before me. I'll bike next week. I had bussed for a reason. I had work immediately after church, like ASAP, so I needed a drive from someone the second it finished. If I had biked I'd have to leave my bike there...
Anyways, I was in a really really bad mood this morning.
Sunday school was cancelled because KK forgot the cheese, T(?) was playing piano and JS was in Hongcouver with his girlfriend, so we hung out for a bit and then went to Starbucks. Talking with JW, I got a free Caramel Macchiato cause they made it wrong for a woman who ordered it.
We got back, set up some chairs, then service started. Guest speaker. Prodigal son. Worship. Still in a bad mood.
I knew I needed to just give it up and ask God to give me a better attitude, but I wasn't...
I was kinda forced to humble myself though, I mean I had to give a testimony. I had written a page, but that was two days ago and it was 11pm when I wrote it, and I'm not good at presenting things, especially testimonies, so I needed the Spirit to help me.
I think it went pretty well. It helped having a translator interrupt me and give me time to think. xP
So, I was thinking, 'dang, I want to share this testimony... I'll have to type it up... >.> Oh! I typed it to begin with! (out of D.Fa character.)'.
Herewith:
"Hey everyone! My name is Dylan and I’m in second year biochemistry at Carleton now and I was blessed to be a part of this year’s VBS to Charis EFree in Scarborough this August. I had just returned to Ottawa for the second time this summer and just a week later I was gone again. I was definitely planning that week as a break, as a relaxing time to refresh and refocus again. I wanted to spend time with my family and friends and I wasn’t preparing nearly as much as I could have. You see, since we were doing the same VBS material as last year when OCBC went to Brooklyn, I had assumed it would be easy, but I was given the role of telling the Bible Stories. I do not normally consider myself someone who can tell good stories, teach people things, clearly explain things and it was a lot to memorize too, so I really did need work. The entire week I spent hours each day working on how to tell gospel centered Bible stories. I still did not feel prepared.
Aside from the preparation before VBS, we also sat down and talked about what our goals in this week were. Our main mission was broken down into a three-letter acronym, UPI. Understand, Provide, and Inspire. Help the children come to an understanding of the gospel, of God’s love and the gift of eternal life through Jesus death and resurrection. Provide each child with their own copy of the Bible. And inspire each child to share what they’ve learned with others. We prayed that God would really use us to accomplish this and to be an encouragement to the church.
Throughout the preparation and the week we saw God answer prayer. I saw God answer prayer in placing me outside my comfort zone and growing me in an area of weakness. I saw God bring the 10 children we were praying for to the VBS this year whether they were church going children, or not, or even if it was their first time in the church, God gathered His children and answered our prayers on Sunday. We saw Him delay the storms Wednesday so we could go to the park and be a light in the community. We saw the children and youth come to a greater understanding of the gospel. We saw every child receive a New Testament. And I only found this out this week, but one of the mothers of a child at the VBS was exposed to the gospel for the first time through conversations she had with him. Also, the youth grew so much that the church even got a new youth worker for them.
Even though we weren’t fully prepared, even though we aren’t there to do follow-up or see what is happening right now, even though we aren’t perfect, God chose to use us, God uses his Spirit in our lives to speak his truths to others, God did so much more than we could have asked or imagined and He is still doing so much.
So, ya, I have been really encouraged by what I have seen happen in the lives of the children, in my life and just everything He is doing through the steps we take in faith. I’m really glad I got to experience this this year and if the opportunity comes up again, I would be really excited to go again.
Thank you for supporting us in prayer and sending us out!
D.Fa
"
And that's a rough copy of it, but ya. God is awesome. He really helped shift my attitude and when I went to work I was ready to glorify God. I worked super hard until 6:30 then I went home for supper, went back to work, came home for pie and now I'm at my house with a large pile of leftovers. lol.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
Anyways, I was in a really really bad mood this morning.
Sunday school was cancelled because KK forgot the cheese, T(?) was playing piano and JS was in Hongcouver with his girlfriend, so we hung out for a bit and then went to Starbucks. Talking with JW, I got a free Caramel Macchiato cause they made it wrong for a woman who ordered it.
We got back, set up some chairs, then service started. Guest speaker. Prodigal son. Worship. Still in a bad mood.
I knew I needed to just give it up and ask God to give me a better attitude, but I wasn't...
I was kinda forced to humble myself though, I mean I had to give a testimony. I had written a page, but that was two days ago and it was 11pm when I wrote it, and I'm not good at presenting things, especially testimonies, so I needed the Spirit to help me.
I think it went pretty well. It helped having a translator interrupt me and give me time to think. xP
So, I was thinking, 'dang, I want to share this testimony... I'll have to type it up... >.> Oh! I typed it to begin with! (out of D.Fa character.)'.
Herewith:
"Hey everyone! My name is Dylan and I’m in second year biochemistry at Carleton now and I was blessed to be a part of this year’s VBS to Charis EFree in Scarborough this August. I had just returned to Ottawa for the second time this summer and just a week later I was gone again. I was definitely planning that week as a break, as a relaxing time to refresh and refocus again. I wanted to spend time with my family and friends and I wasn’t preparing nearly as much as I could have. You see, since we were doing the same VBS material as last year when OCBC went to Brooklyn, I had assumed it would be easy, but I was given the role of telling the Bible Stories. I do not normally consider myself someone who can tell good stories, teach people things, clearly explain things and it was a lot to memorize too, so I really did need work. The entire week I spent hours each day working on how to tell gospel centered Bible stories. I still did not feel prepared.
Aside from the preparation before VBS, we also sat down and talked about what our goals in this week were. Our main mission was broken down into a three-letter acronym, UPI. Understand, Provide, and Inspire. Help the children come to an understanding of the gospel, of God’s love and the gift of eternal life through Jesus death and resurrection. Provide each child with their own copy of the Bible. And inspire each child to share what they’ve learned with others. We prayed that God would really use us to accomplish this and to be an encouragement to the church.
Throughout the preparation and the week we saw God answer prayer. I saw God answer prayer in placing me outside my comfort zone and growing me in an area of weakness. I saw God bring the 10 children we were praying for to the VBS this year whether they were church going children, or not, or even if it was their first time in the church, God gathered His children and answered our prayers on Sunday. We saw Him delay the storms Wednesday so we could go to the park and be a light in the community. We saw the children and youth come to a greater understanding of the gospel. We saw every child receive a New Testament. And I only found this out this week, but one of the mothers of a child at the VBS was exposed to the gospel for the first time through conversations she had with him. Also, the youth grew so much that the church even got a new youth worker for them.
Even though we weren’t fully prepared, even though we aren’t there to do follow-up or see what is happening right now, even though we aren’t perfect, God chose to use us, God uses his Spirit in our lives to speak his truths to others, God did so much more than we could have asked or imagined and He is still doing so much.
So, ya, I have been really encouraged by what I have seen happen in the lives of the children, in my life and just everything He is doing through the steps we take in faith. I’m really glad I got to experience this this year and if the opportunity comes up again, I would be really excited to go again.
Thank you for supporting us in prayer and sending us out!
D.Fa
"
And that's a rough copy of it, but ya. God is awesome. He really helped shift my attitude and when I went to work I was ready to glorify God. I worked super hard until 6:30 then I went home for supper, went back to work, came home for pie and now I'm at my house with a large pile of leftovers. lol.
Ttyl.
D.Fa
Surprise!
Yesterday's plans were pretty relaxed.
Driving. Homework. Dinner at my parent's. Praise team practice. Textbook reading.
I got to ride my bike a lot. The weather was so nice. It was basically a dream come true. Well, I was watching some butterflies when I got the call. My day was completely changed. I had work from 2-10, except it was 3 when I got this call. I had to switch worship practice, I had to miss my family dinner, I had to go to work.
This was largely my fault for assuming things and not checking my schedule until 10am on Saturday, but there was no problem. My boss doesn't really care if I'm late as long as everything gets done. I'm gonna be late today too actually because of thanksgiving lunch.
Anyways, I'll talk to you later.
D.Fa
Driving. Homework. Dinner at my parent's. Praise team practice. Textbook reading.
I got to ride my bike a lot. The weather was so nice. It was basically a dream come true. Well, I was watching some butterflies when I got the call. My day was completely changed. I had work from 2-10, except it was 3 when I got this call. I had to switch worship practice, I had to miss my family dinner, I had to go to work.
This was largely my fault for assuming things and not checking my schedule until 10am on Saturday, but there was no problem. My boss doesn't really care if I'm late as long as everything gets done. I'm gonna be late today too actually because of thanksgiving lunch.
Anyways, I'll talk to you later.
D.Fa
7.10.11
Wow.
Hey,
I was just looking through some of my EA papers and I found like 4 more instant messaging addresses I thought I didn't have, which is awesome!!!!!
Also, I just found a paper of 're-entry questions to ask yourself'. I was reading a couple thinking I should answer these sometime. #3 said 'What changes, real or imagined, will people close to me observe or sense? How can I get them to accept me as I am now?' I was thinking, what would I have written. I hope I didn't write that I am more asian or 'FOBy'... It looked like I hadn't answered the questions. Then I checked the back. On the back there were some answers.
Answer to number 3: I hope that God has really stirred me up for his Great Commission and just to be a life long labourer, that people would see this, be encouraged and excited.
And I realized that's what happened when I went to Quebec, I had been stirred up, I was there with this desire to share the gospel and change lives there. I was not content to sit back and watch things happen.
Ya. I think that God has changed me. It's all through his Holy Spirit.
D.Fa
I was just looking through some of my EA papers and I found like 4 more instant messaging addresses I thought I didn't have, which is awesome!!!!!
Also, I just found a paper of 're-entry questions to ask yourself'. I was reading a couple thinking I should answer these sometime. #3 said 'What changes, real or imagined, will people close to me observe or sense? How can I get them to accept me as I am now?' I was thinking, what would I have written. I hope I didn't write that I am more asian or 'FOBy'... It looked like I hadn't answered the questions. Then I checked the back. On the back there were some answers.
Answer to number 3: I hope that God has really stirred me up for his Great Commission and just to be a life long labourer, that people would see this, be encouraged and excited.
And I realized that's what happened when I went to Quebec, I had been stirred up, I was there with this desire to share the gospel and change lives there. I was not content to sit back and watch things happen.
Ya. I think that God has changed me. It's all through his Holy Spirit.
D.Fa
6.10.11
Can you be sure?
You know, it has been proven that you learn things better when you teach and I'm pretty sold on this idea. Last year I heard many many times 'you remember 95% of what you teach someone else'.
In either case, whether it is true or not, there is one thing that has been coming up over and over yesterday and today. Aside from all the semi-stressful school work I have been able to go out on campus and talk to some students about spiritual topics. Yesterday me and MW went out and talked to two guys, C(?) and B(?). Both of them were from Christian backgrounds and would say they are Christians, yet there was one thing, one question which they both answered the same way. "If you were to die tonight, how sure (on a scale of 1-10, 1 being not at all and 10 being 100% sure) are you that you would be going to heaven?" or something. And they both answered between 1 and 6. Neither was sure.
Today too, me and AL got to meet this Muslim girl, L(?). We had a very long conversation about Islam and what she believes. We asked questions about the nature of God, if we can have a relationship with God, if people are perfect, about Islamic belief concerning sins, punishment, judgement day, and what she prays about among other things. Although in some places we disagreed, I think we mainly agreed.
We agreed:
God is perfect (Matt 5:48).
God is loving (1 John 4:19).
God is just (Deut 32:4).
People all have sin (Rom 3:23).
There is no one who doesn't do some sort of sin (Ecc 7:20).
You can't 'out weigh' your bad deeds with good deeds and earn your way to heaven(Eph 2:8-9).
People who 'do what is right' their entire lives won't necessarily go to heaven and people who didn't know of God or lived a terrible life of sin can still be saved before the end (Eze 33:12).
God forgives. Amen. However, how can God forgive people in Islam?
This was a question that I don't think she fully understood what I meant. I mean, if God is perfect, he can't be around us, who have sin. On top of this, we can't even deal with our sin ourselves, once we have it, we can't just erase it, we can't over power it with good deeds, we can't. We can however ask God for forgiveness and through Jesus' death and resurrection we can have faith and trust that God forgives us and that there is hope that we can live again (1 John 1:9). Our sins have been paid for and dealt with. Our sin's punishment has been placed on Christ and we have been given the gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23).
We don't need to guess at whether we have salvation. We don't need to wonder.
John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
If we place our trust in Jesus, we
shall not perish.
This is a promise from God.
I really pray for L(?). I could have sworn that I saw her eyes watering. I really wanted to see God break down the lies that cover the gospel in Islamic belief. She kept saying adamantly 'Oh, there is hope. There is always a chance that after a life of doing good things and truly repenting of your sins to God that you may go to heaven, but you never know. Only God knows.' or something. Basically, there is no way to know, but you should live a good life anyways. I wanted to see her break down in unending tears of joy at knowing that God's love is stronger than sin, that God's justice is not fickle, but He still has authority to forgive us through Jesus' death on the cross and that by His resurrection we can have hope.
Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
In either case, whether it is true or not, there is one thing that has been coming up over and over yesterday and today. Aside from all the semi-stressful school work I have been able to go out on campus and talk to some students about spiritual topics. Yesterday me and MW went out and talked to two guys, C(?) and B(?). Both of them were from Christian backgrounds and would say they are Christians, yet there was one thing, one question which they both answered the same way. "If you were to die tonight, how sure (on a scale of 1-10, 1 being not at all and 10 being 100% sure) are you that you would be going to heaven?" or something. And they both answered between 1 and 6. Neither was sure.
Today too, me and AL got to meet this Muslim girl, L(?). We had a very long conversation about Islam and what she believes. We asked questions about the nature of God, if we can have a relationship with God, if people are perfect, about Islamic belief concerning sins, punishment, judgement day, and what she prays about among other things. Although in some places we disagreed, I think we mainly agreed.
We agreed:
God is perfect (Matt 5:48).
God is loving (1 John 4:19).
God is just (Deut 32:4).
People all have sin (Rom 3:23).
There is no one who doesn't do some sort of sin (Ecc 7:20).
You can't 'out weigh' your bad deeds with good deeds and earn your way to heaven(Eph 2:8-9).
People who 'do what is right' their entire lives won't necessarily go to heaven and people who didn't know of God or lived a terrible life of sin can still be saved before the end (Eze 33:12).
God forgives. Amen. However, how can God forgive people in Islam?
This was a question that I don't think she fully understood what I meant. I mean, if God is perfect, he can't be around us, who have sin. On top of this, we can't even deal with our sin ourselves, once we have it, we can't just erase it, we can't over power it with good deeds, we can't. We can however ask God for forgiveness and through Jesus' death and resurrection we can have faith and trust that God forgives us and that there is hope that we can live again (1 John 1:9). Our sins have been paid for and dealt with. Our sin's punishment has been placed on Christ and we have been given the gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23).
We don't need to guess at whether we have salvation. We don't need to wonder.
John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
If we place our trust in Jesus, we
This is a promise from God.
I really pray for L(?). I could have sworn that I saw her eyes watering. I really wanted to see God break down the lies that cover the gospel in Islamic belief. She kept saying adamantly 'Oh, there is hope. There is always a chance that after a life of doing good things and truly repenting of your sins to God that you may go to heaven, but you never know. Only God knows.' or something. Basically, there is no way to know, but you should live a good life anyways. I wanted to see her break down in unending tears of joy at knowing that God's love is stronger than sin, that God's justice is not fickle, but He still has authority to forgive us through Jesus' death on the cross and that by His resurrection we can have hope.
Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
4.10.11
Splash!
That's the sound of jumping into something such as a large body of polar molecules in a fluid state. In other words, not dipping your toes in and testing the waters, but taking a risk and just going for it, not knowing if the water is cold, warm, water at all, or if you can swim in it.
But, you know, God never fails us. He is always there to pick up the pieces and put us back together again. He supports us and loves us and when we rely on Him he always provides.
This morning me and MK went sharing on campus. Actually at the same time there were three groups going. It's awesome seeing God work on campus. We all prayed for our time and that God would lead us to the right people. I haven't talked to the other two groups yet, but our meetings went well.
First we met T(?). He comes from a strong Christian background and has seen what could be called miracles in his life and his father. He was run over by a truck and there was a problem with fluid drainage in his brain or something as well as his father had a baseball-sized tumor in his head. Despite the odds they are both fully functional. He said he was back to normal three weeks after being run over by a huge trailer truck at the age of three. What the?!?! And yet, he seems to have something prevent him from being in a close relationship with God. It's good to know that his parents are close with him and that they know God. We invited him to the discussion groups. Pray that he'd be rethinking how God does love him and all he has done for him including Jesus dying on the cross for his sins.
Next we met M(?) who strangely enough is in my Organic chem class. It was cool. She also comes from a Christian background, but it's a bit weaker. Only her mom still goes to church. She seemed more open to the idea of having God in her life. She said it did matter to her.
So, that was that. God helped us meet two of his children who have drifted away. Both of them said they were interested, but not now, maybe later. Lord, I pray that you'd open their eyes and show them how now is the best time to be in a relationship with you. How now is when they need you. We always need you and you always help us.
So, while at Summit I took note of three songs we sang and I decided to play them tonight. Praising God with guitar and singing is just the best. 10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), Glory to God Forever, and God is Able. All great songs.
Ya. I've really got to get this assignment done. lol...
Ttyl
D.Fa
But, you know, God never fails us. He is always there to pick up the pieces and put us back together again. He supports us and loves us and when we rely on Him he always provides.
This morning me and MK went sharing on campus. Actually at the same time there were three groups going. It's awesome seeing God work on campus. We all prayed for our time and that God would lead us to the right people. I haven't talked to the other two groups yet, but our meetings went well.
First we met T(?). He comes from a strong Christian background and has seen what could be called miracles in his life and his father. He was run over by a truck and there was a problem with fluid drainage in his brain or something as well as his father had a baseball-sized tumor in his head. Despite the odds they are both fully functional. He said he was back to normal three weeks after being run over by a huge trailer truck at the age of three. What the?!?! And yet, he seems to have something prevent him from being in a close relationship with God. It's good to know that his parents are close with him and that they know God. We invited him to the discussion groups. Pray that he'd be rethinking how God does love him and all he has done for him including Jesus dying on the cross for his sins.
Next we met M(?) who strangely enough is in my Organic chem class. It was cool. She also comes from a Christian background, but it's a bit weaker. Only her mom still goes to church. She seemed more open to the idea of having God in her life. She said it did matter to her.
So, that was that. God helped us meet two of his children who have drifted away. Both of them said they were interested, but not now, maybe later. Lord, I pray that you'd open their eyes and show them how now is the best time to be in a relationship with you. How now is when they need you. We always need you and you always help us.
So, while at Summit I took note of three songs we sang and I decided to play them tonight. Praising God with guitar and singing is just the best. 10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), Glory to God Forever, and God is Able. All great songs.
Ya. I've really got to get this assignment done. lol...
Ttyl
D.Fa
3.10.11
Sum it up!
So, guys, Summit was this weekend.
I guess I kinda kept comparing it to last year's Summit. In comparison, well it can't even be compared. I have changed so much through God's work in my life. I mean last year at Summit I was so focused on worship and couldn't even sing (which was actually humbling). I didn't really meet anyone other than the guys. I slept through a couple sessions. It was cold and there was a large competition between campuses leading to isolation rather than unity in many cases. Even through all that God really enforced that I should share the gospel with my friend KC and to just take a step in faith and share my faith for the first time with someone. So, I went for it and just asked him one day when we were walking in the halls. He accepted Christ into his life and he began an exciting new life.
He started going to church and Young Adults fellowship. He went to a discipleship group a couple times.
He began growing more distant from these things for reasons such as work or other things.
I wasn't in his classes anymore in second semester and I didn't end up seeing him very much at all the rest of the year...
We texted each other here and there, but I wasn't in Ottawa during the summer and ya... When I got the follow-up material in East Asia, I thought about going through it with him. God placed it on my heart. I know he hasn't really read very much of the Bible and has drifted from fellowship. God kept telling me to disciple him one on one.
When I got back this year I found out we had a class together! Yay! We have been talking a bit after every class. He has developed a social anxiety and has trouble with people now. This put a halt on my plans to reintegrate him into C4C or church, but reemphasized the one-on-one discipling... I was kinda scared of the idea and didn't know how to bring it up. I prayed for it semi-reluctantly, but kept pushing it off.
I was doing follow-up of people who said they'd like to meet up with someone from C4C and I was going all out and burning out. No time for KC.
Then it was Summit time again. I'm so glad I got to go and fellowship with everyone. Although I didn't know anyone from the other four campuses, everyone was warm and welcoming (there was no stupid balloon competition and the rival schools were in the same cabins as each other so there were no pranks) and it was a great weekend. The new national director spoke about Thessolonica as a world-changing community and God was there that weekend.
At the end as usual were the faith barriers and asking God to help us break them down. There were a bunch of smaller things, but I didn't know what to do. I ended up writing a huge paragraph of ways I could be more faithful than I am now and then writing a similar, but different version on the front of my Bible (I will post it seaprately). Oh, also I got to see GS grow in his walk with God and JH too. They both didn't know where they stood or what they believed, but they came to summit and I'm sure they were changed.
Anyways, one of the things I wrote down was to disciple KC. I need God's help on this. I am not a natural teacher. However, there is hope and God has given us his Spirit as helper. At summit there was this girl from Carleton who gave her testimony. Last year she wouldn't have been able to come to Summit, let alone speak in front of 100 people. She had social anxiety, but she prayed that God would heal her. She couldn't keep living the way she was. God can heal KC.
Yesterday I had class with KC. I accidentally forgot I had it and was half an hour late. >.> Way to start. After class we were talking. I had (short notice) invited him to Summit. He ended up playing video games and doing readings and staying home the whole weekend. But we ended up on the topic of the discovery groups were were having or something and he said 'I don't really know very much about the Bible, so I wouldn't have very much to say' or something and so I asked 'Well, I actually have some lessons I was thinking of going through with you, if you'd like. Do you want to?' or something and he enthusiastically said yes with a smile on his face!
Awesome!!!!! Day 1 back from summit and even though I was late to class, dying tired and pretty hungry the only conversation I had with him ended up with the discipling lessons even though I was not the one to ask him directly out of context, what he said led to it.
My God is awesome, yo.
=D.Fa
I guess I kinda kept comparing it to last year's Summit. In comparison, well it can't even be compared. I have changed so much through God's work in my life. I mean last year at Summit I was so focused on worship and couldn't even sing (which was actually humbling). I didn't really meet anyone other than the guys. I slept through a couple sessions. It was cold and there was a large competition between campuses leading to isolation rather than unity in many cases. Even through all that God really enforced that I should share the gospel with my friend KC and to just take a step in faith and share my faith for the first time with someone. So, I went for it and just asked him one day when we were walking in the halls. He accepted Christ into his life and he began an exciting new life.
He started going to church and Young Adults fellowship. He went to a discipleship group a couple times.
He began growing more distant from these things for reasons such as work or other things.
I wasn't in his classes anymore in second semester and I didn't end up seeing him very much at all the rest of the year...
We texted each other here and there, but I wasn't in Ottawa during the summer and ya... When I got the follow-up material in East Asia, I thought about going through it with him. God placed it on my heart. I know he hasn't really read very much of the Bible and has drifted from fellowship. God kept telling me to disciple him one on one.
When I got back this year I found out we had a class together! Yay! We have been talking a bit after every class. He has developed a social anxiety and has trouble with people now. This put a halt on my plans to reintegrate him into C4C or church, but reemphasized the one-on-one discipling... I was kinda scared of the idea and didn't know how to bring it up. I prayed for it semi-reluctantly, but kept pushing it off.
I was doing follow-up of people who said they'd like to meet up with someone from C4C and I was going all out and burning out. No time for KC.
Then it was Summit time again. I'm so glad I got to go and fellowship with everyone. Although I didn't know anyone from the other four campuses, everyone was warm and welcoming (there was no stupid balloon competition and the rival schools were in the same cabins as each other so there were no pranks) and it was a great weekend. The new national director spoke about Thessolonica as a world-changing community and God was there that weekend.
At the end as usual were the faith barriers and asking God to help us break them down. There were a bunch of smaller things, but I didn't know what to do. I ended up writing a huge paragraph of ways I could be more faithful than I am now and then writing a similar, but different version on the front of my Bible (I will post it seaprately). Oh, also I got to see GS grow in his walk with God and JH too. They both didn't know where they stood or what they believed, but they came to summit and I'm sure they were changed.
Anyways, one of the things I wrote down was to disciple KC. I need God's help on this. I am not a natural teacher. However, there is hope and God has given us his Spirit as helper. At summit there was this girl from Carleton who gave her testimony. Last year she wouldn't have been able to come to Summit, let alone speak in front of 100 people. She had social anxiety, but she prayed that God would heal her. She couldn't keep living the way she was. God can heal KC.
Yesterday I had class with KC. I accidentally forgot I had it and was half an hour late. >.> Way to start. After class we were talking. I had (short notice) invited him to Summit. He ended up playing video games and doing readings and staying home the whole weekend. But we ended up on the topic of the discovery groups were were having or something and he said 'I don't really know very much about the Bible, so I wouldn't have very much to say' or something and so I asked 'Well, I actually have some lessons I was thinking of going through with you, if you'd like. Do you want to?' or something and he enthusiastically said yes with a smile on his face!
Awesome!!!!! Day 1 back from summit and even though I was late to class, dying tired and pretty hungry the only conversation I had with him ended up with the discipling lessons even though I was not the one to ask him directly out of context, what he said led to it.
My God is awesome, yo.
=D.Fa
2.10.11
'Be Faithful, Yo!'
Pray faithfully knowing God can and will do more than we ask.
Never hold back.
Don't just win, but build and encourage others.
Let the Light shine through your life.
Be faithful wherever you go!
EA, DR, work, school.
Everywhere.
(from the cover of my Bible that I wrote after writing out my faith barriers.)
My Friends' 'Poetry'
So, my friends/brothers DP and TL enjoy sending me long texts one word at a time.
This messes with my phone (and I will not tell you this again because I feel I have already told you and it is not a fun explaination). It usually does not recieve the messages in the correct order if sent rapidly. Also, duplicates (if I don't read the text before the same text is sent again) end up stacking into one text. TL and DP who were at the UoT Summit (more on summit in a different post) wherever that was decided to text me one text message one word at a time, but alternating who was sending it, so it got really messy and abstract.
Here is the first 'poem':
Hi This T(his name) Sunshine And D(his name)? How is? Awesome Your Toilletries :) Summit We Hung Are An At Time Our W/ Did You Shave Today? Transformers Shirts :) :) Long? :-) I Wish That Had Some Keep Warm Me :) How Is Your Chest Fur I Some to Its Here Freezing :) Is How And A(AL's name) R(RW's name) Shi Ni Ba Ba R(RW) De :) (and then they laughed quite a bit such as Ha Hahaha Ahahaha Tewehee Hehe Ha etc.)
'Poem Two':
I Tried To Shave Fur But I Have No Down South Are How Those Those Pasty Yeow!
I have no idea what they meant by that second one... There's no noun for pasty to describe... >.>
Anyways. I love TL and DP. I miss them, but we'll see each other soon enough and for eternity. They are my awesome (however sometimes ridiculously crazy) older brothers in Christ and they have impacted my life.
D.Fa
This messes with my phone (and I will not tell you this again because I feel I have already told you and it is not a fun explaination). It usually does not recieve the messages in the correct order if sent rapidly. Also, duplicates (if I don't read the text before the same text is sent again) end up stacking into one text. TL and DP who were at the UoT Summit (more on summit in a different post) wherever that was decided to text me one text message one word at a time, but alternating who was sending it, so it got really messy and abstract.
Here is the first 'poem':
Hi This T(his name) Sunshine And D(his name)? How is? Awesome Your Toilletries :) Summit We Hung Are An At Time Our W/ Did You Shave Today? Transformers Shirts :) :) Long? :-) I Wish That Had Some Keep Warm Me :) How Is Your Chest Fur I Some to Its Here Freezing :) Is How And A(AL's name) R(RW's name) Shi Ni Ba Ba R(RW) De :) (and then they laughed quite a bit such as Ha Hahaha Ahahaha Tewehee Hehe Ha etc.)
'Poem Two':
I Tried To Shave Fur But I Have No Down South Are How Those Those Pasty Yeow!
I have no idea what they meant by that second one... There's no noun for pasty to describe... >.>
Anyways. I love TL and DP. I miss them, but we'll see each other soon enough and for eternity. They are my awesome (however sometimes ridiculously crazy) older brothers in Christ and they have impacted my life.
D.Fa
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