Walk With Me
Lately i've had the joy of hearing from some of you guys, some people i haven't seen or heard from for a long time, and i wanna just say thanks for being interested in my life and what God's doing in, through, and despite me. That's a real encouragement - to know that i have family back home in Singapore, and greatly look forward to seeing you guys (and the BGB kids whom i miss heaps) when i come home for 2 months in Dec. Some entries will be moans and groans, mostly about my sinfulness and my dire need for God's grace, and other days will be little updates of my life, trying to take you around town and give you a glimpse of what Auckland and my life in Auckland is like. Whatever it is, do walk with me on this journey heavenward remembering that all things were made through Jesus and for Jesus, and everything is for His glory and not ours.
A few weeks back, my family and i went for a short holiday on the East Coast of the North Island to a place called the Coromandel. We had a good time in the sun... and we did our usual little family thing - the Singaporean Holiday. (aka. sightseeing all the way!) We need to learn to lie down on the beach for a whole week reading books and getting tans... but i guess it won't be too long before that becomes inevitable for my parents... but for now i think they're gonna see as much of the world as they can, in as little time as possible! Haha. It was a nice, harmonious time and we enjoyed ourselves. Will put some pictures up for you later. There were some nice ones but i chose to take my top off in the sun, and won't put you through the torture of viewing those. Sigh.
A couple of months ago, i did 2 essays in 2 weeks for uni - one was for the media communications paper and the other for a pop culture paper. Don't ask me what they were on. I might even have blogged about it at the time. The first essay was done from 1am after work at Woolies, until 6:30am and it was due in at 10. The second one was typed up(1st draft) at breakneck speed from 2:30pm-4pm on the computer, the internet submission deadline at 4pm. I didn't even have time to read through it again. Good going, El boy!!! Anyways i thought i would fail them both, but i got good grades for them thanks to some serious divine intervention, which i'm very thankful for... As i juggle the numerous ministries i have (and take on some more), this is a great reminder that God is very interested in my uni work and wants my best of it, and will help me out (even when i don't deserve it). Anyways, i'm pretty sure that the next time i do an essay (one due on Monday, haven't quite started it yet but i'm getting there) if i start too early, i won't be doing too well!! haha :) Only joking
This past week i've had 3 coffee-conversations with people, and have been able to communicate the Gospel to 2 of them at varying degrees. There was Mel the Samoan girl who shared that she'd been to church heaps as a kid, but kinda stopped after moving to Auckland from Samoa... then there was Tim, a friend of Sarah, the Singaporean girl from CF, who had heaps of skeptical questions about christianity, and we sat down for an hour after CF on Tues to chat about it which he says helped lots. I didn't have answers to all his questions, obviously, and it was a real brain workout for poor me... anybody got a good website on apologetics, particularly on science/evolution? And there's VJ, my neighbour, whom i've become friends with and we go for coffee together regularly. She's a chatalot and it's real enjoyable hanging out with her as i don't have to keep working hard to think up conversation, i feel like a girlfriend tai-tai type, telling stories to other girlfriends/taitais for ages over coffee. However, VJ's a tall pretty blonde, the kind of person i wouldn't dare to say hi to in uni because i wouldn't think she'd bother about me and hence i wouldn't naturally gravitate to... and so sharing the Gospel with her is slightly difficult because i don't wanna rock the boat and risk upsetting her or losing the friendship. She's been quite open though, asking questions about church and my dad's ministry etc. Pls pray for boldness and that she'd be open.
2 nights ago, i had the immense joy of taking my dad to a Tommy Emmanuel concert. (if you see Kevin Tong, tell him!) He's a 'C.G.P', a Certified Guitar Player, ahem! Well, he's one of the top 3 fingerpicking guitarists in the world and he's simply sublime. The best guitarist i've ever seen in my life, by far, and it was real humbling to be in his presence. In some ways, his gig was better than Jamie Cullum's, or Alicia Keys' because he was so brilliant at his instrument. Every song he played was at a breathtaking standard; tuneful, melodious and executed with divine skill. He was also very down-to-earth, charismatic and honest, and he sang a song about missing his dad that made me wilt, and that was an element of honesty that admits a need, a need for a Father-relationship. I wished i could tell him about Jesus. Whenever i encounter brilliant musicians, i always find myself begging them to say something about God, or to acknowledge where their wonderful gift comes from, because it all belongs to God, who created all these gifts and gave it to them. Jamie Cullum's gig left a slightly bittersweet aftertaste in my mouth because he was quite cocky and was clearly loving himself... while Tommy Emmanuel was more humble despite his wonderful career and recognition. Anyways, i had a good time with my dad, who really enjoyed it, which made me real happy. Things are good with my dad now, and words can't quite say how thankful i am. Hopefully it'll stay this way.
Okay. Should sign off now and work on that essay! Do pray for the CF. Over the next few weeks, other people will be trying their hands at BS leading for the first time, some i trust more than others. Pray for humility, and that i won't hijack their studies, and that i will be patient and encouraging and all the rest of that - in my passion, i can be dampening, as i've readily admitted earlier. Pray for church, the youth/students of the church are going through transitions, and i'm 'involved' in them. Honestly, it's a real struggle for me to love them, to be patient, to give of myself, and often i think, 'what's the point, sod this...' But i gotta remember that it's the Lords' ministry and not mine and i must not think of myself as the centre of the church.
Later, guys! Hope you like the pictures.
A few weeks back, my family and i went for a short holiday on the East Coast of the North Island to a place called the Coromandel. We had a good time in the sun... and we did our usual little family thing - the Singaporean Holiday. (aka. sightseeing all the way!) We need to learn to lie down on the beach for a whole week reading books and getting tans... but i guess it won't be too long before that becomes inevitable for my parents... but for now i think they're gonna see as much of the world as they can, in as little time as possible! Haha. It was a nice, harmonious time and we enjoyed ourselves. Will put some pictures up for you later. There were some nice ones but i chose to take my top off in the sun, and won't put you through the torture of viewing those. Sigh.
A couple of months ago, i did 2 essays in 2 weeks for uni - one was for the media communications paper and the other for a pop culture paper. Don't ask me what they were on. I might even have blogged about it at the time. The first essay was done from 1am after work at Woolies, until 6:30am and it was due in at 10. The second one was typed up(1st draft) at breakneck speed from 2:30pm-4pm on the computer, the internet submission deadline at 4pm. I didn't even have time to read through it again. Good going, El boy!!! Anyways i thought i would fail them both, but i got good grades for them thanks to some serious divine intervention, which i'm very thankful for... As i juggle the numerous ministries i have (and take on some more), this is a great reminder that God is very interested in my uni work and wants my best of it, and will help me out (even when i don't deserve it). Anyways, i'm pretty sure that the next time i do an essay (one due on Monday, haven't quite started it yet but i'm getting there) if i start too early, i won't be doing too well!! haha :) Only joking
This past week i've had 3 coffee-conversations with people, and have been able to communicate the Gospel to 2 of them at varying degrees. There was Mel the Samoan girl who shared that she'd been to church heaps as a kid, but kinda stopped after moving to Auckland from Samoa... then there was Tim, a friend of Sarah, the Singaporean girl from CF, who had heaps of skeptical questions about christianity, and we sat down for an hour after CF on Tues to chat about it which he says helped lots. I didn't have answers to all his questions, obviously, and it was a real brain workout for poor me... anybody got a good website on apologetics, particularly on science/evolution? And there's VJ, my neighbour, whom i've become friends with and we go for coffee together regularly. She's a chatalot and it's real enjoyable hanging out with her as i don't have to keep working hard to think up conversation, i feel like a girlfriend tai-tai type, telling stories to other girlfriends/taitais for ages over coffee. However, VJ's a tall pretty blonde, the kind of person i wouldn't dare to say hi to in uni because i wouldn't think she'd bother about me and hence i wouldn't naturally gravitate to... and so sharing the Gospel with her is slightly difficult because i don't wanna rock the boat and risk upsetting her or losing the friendship. She's been quite open though, asking questions about church and my dad's ministry etc. Pls pray for boldness and that she'd be open.
2 nights ago, i had the immense joy of taking my dad to a Tommy Emmanuel concert. (if you see Kevin Tong, tell him!) He's a 'C.G.P', a Certified Guitar Player, ahem! Well, he's one of the top 3 fingerpicking guitarists in the world and he's simply sublime. The best guitarist i've ever seen in my life, by far, and it was real humbling to be in his presence. In some ways, his gig was better than Jamie Cullum's, or Alicia Keys' because he was so brilliant at his instrument. Every song he played was at a breathtaking standard; tuneful, melodious and executed with divine skill. He was also very down-to-earth, charismatic and honest, and he sang a song about missing his dad that made me wilt, and that was an element of honesty that admits a need, a need for a Father-relationship. I wished i could tell him about Jesus. Whenever i encounter brilliant musicians, i always find myself begging them to say something about God, or to acknowledge where their wonderful gift comes from, because it all belongs to God, who created all these gifts and gave it to them. Jamie Cullum's gig left a slightly bittersweet aftertaste in my mouth because he was quite cocky and was clearly loving himself... while Tommy Emmanuel was more humble despite his wonderful career and recognition. Anyways, i had a good time with my dad, who really enjoyed it, which made me real happy. Things are good with my dad now, and words can't quite say how thankful i am. Hopefully it'll stay this way.
Okay. Should sign off now and work on that essay! Do pray for the CF. Over the next few weeks, other people will be trying their hands at BS leading for the first time, some i trust more than others. Pray for humility, and that i won't hijack their studies, and that i will be patient and encouraging and all the rest of that - in my passion, i can be dampening, as i've readily admitted earlier. Pray for church, the youth/students of the church are going through transitions, and i'm 'involved' in them. Honestly, it's a real struggle for me to love them, to be patient, to give of myself, and often i think, 'what's the point, sod this...' But i gotta remember that it's the Lords' ministry and not mine and i must not think of myself as the centre of the church.
Later, guys! Hope you like the pictures.
posted by elliot at 4:33 PM
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