God Only Knows - Joy Williams

You're in one of those seasons
Everything seems to go so wrong
Wish I could give you a reason
But even I'm barely holding on

When it's hard to find the answers
Let this be your hope

C:
God only knows all your broken pieces
Only He knows what you're going through
God only knows what you hide inside
And He's holding onto you
God only knows

You've had your fill of questions
There's so much that you need to know
I don't blame you for asking
But it's time to let go of control

And I'm sorry for what you're feeling
Please hold on to this hope

Come on, come on, He knows your pain
Come on, come on, hold onto faith
Come on, come on, you're on your way
My friend, your struggle has an ending day

Ramblings

Now with Plurking, blogging seems to have taken a bit of a backseat - hence there's been less posts. It's definitely easier to type in one-liners rather than a paragraph or several paragraphs. Nevertheless, have no fear, I'm endeavoring to keep on posting from time to time.

Lots have been going on especially in the last week. Patches, our family dog died cos she was run over by a car just outside our house. It's been a little hard for us not to see her cheerful expectant face whenever we are in outside our house. I opted to sit outside the gate while waiting for my sis to pick me up cos it was just weird. The garden seems so empty without her.

Also, we had a bit of a scare - mum contracted a rather high fever that wouldn't go down and flu on Saturday. For a moment there, the doc said there was the possibility of her getting H1N1. She had just come back from a trip overseas - so it didn't seem impossible. Her fever has thankfully gone down and she's now up and about again.

I'm definitely in a much better frame of mind in the last few weeks. Despite the busyness of life (last week I had pastoral group duty, steward group duty, extra night class and extra TEE class to attend, a presentation due - all these on top of my usual workload), I'm glad to find that I'm still standing - something that I'm not taking for granted.

Other interesting stuff happened - with my second cousin (whom we are all very fond of) and it was good to hear from a friend I've lost contact with for a long time now(reminded me of the good ol' days of music jamming and just good fun).

This coming week's not going to much different from the last (except for the presentations and group duties). It's a crazy semester for me - lots to read and write within a short time. It seems that the for next few weeks, I'll be camping out in the library or being sequestered in my/lucy's room whenever I have no classes. I'll also try to drop in on some lecturers whom I've not been 'visiting' during my break. :)

Patches

I heard the news yesterday that our family dog of 8 years, Patches, was run over by a car. She has been our favourite dog because of she is super intelligent and is rather human-like behaviour. She will be greatly missed by our family. :(

Week 6!!!

Week six is officially over (in STM).. It's generally a crazy week for me!! I had been preparing for my presentation on Thurs for my counseling class. It consisted of preparing a ONE HOUR presentation of counseling youth in the issue of parental divorce and another hour of facilitating a case study(I have to do another one on depression in a few week's time *groan*)... An extra 3 hour class of Theology in Asia last nite and have a whole weekend of classes.

It's pretty much the same for me in the coming week - the only diff is I don't have a presentation. :p Have been doing much better overall, coping with things much better and am more or less out of my shell!! Am finally back on the track and am scrambling to catch up on a lot of things - but more doing a fast walk in order not to overdo and to strain myself too much. I look forward to my Sabbath this coming Monday - it'll be the first in the long time where I can really have a break - I'll definitely need it by then.

Quote of the day

Don’t have a dial-up connection with God when you can have broadband. The sad fact is that many of us operate on dial-up connection with Him when we can have a broadband connection.
- Dr Chew Tow Yow

The Medium Makes the Church

My friend, Channel C, highlighted this article in facebook and I thought that it's pretty good.

The Medium Makes the Church
by Meredith Whitmore

Excerpt:
Reflection vs. Formula
It's more than a little interesting to compare contemporary Christian books such as The Purpose Driven Life with the works of Edwards and his predecessors. I'm not criticizing Rick Warren or authors like him. But I do want to establish the typically massive difference in style, tone, vocabulary, intricacy of thought and even theology—between them and the older pieces.

Styles change, certainly. But such differences are deeper than mere preference. They seem to indicate that our very thought processes and concentration levels have changed over the centuries—and drastically over the past 50 years.

With today's American sermons usually clocking in at 30 minutes or less, how would modern churchgoers fare in Edwards' day of three-hour-or-longer services? (Or Nehemiah's and Ezra's day-long readings of biblical law?) And what accounts for our shift from theologically dense hymns and liturgies to more emotionally based praise choruses? How about worship services that include dance and even painting? Though Jesus captivated listeners for hours on hillsides sans microphone, backup singers and video screens, the prevailing fear among pastors now is that their churches—buoyed by hilarious skits, rock bands and audiovisual effects—will still be thought of as dull.

So what's caused these intellectual and spiritual shifts? Any number of sociological and technological factors, to be certain. But the biggest culprit is likely media; churches are competing with television, movies, cell phones, video games, concerts and the Internet for people's attention.

This isn't a positive thing. (Read more here)

Time

From: www.comics.com

A good weekend

It's been a rather hectic but great weekend - Irwin and Vanessa's wedding was on Sat and was worship leading on Sunday. Spent most of today re-organising stuff in my room - someone gave me a nice big desk and I had to assemble it with my dad (it was super heavy)!

My dad was in a pretty good mood and so I had a great time hanging out with him - when I was not at church. Also, my highlight was my tuaku (mum's oldest brother) came over on a visit on the way back to Melbourne. I used to live with him and his family for a couple of years while I was living there and it's been a long while since I saw him and my aunt. I really enjoyed the time I had with them both and it was really good to be with them again.

When I think of the stuff that's been going on the last few months, this weekend has been a really awesome one overall!

Be Thou Near To Me - by Selah

Oh Lord I come with heart here open
For in my hour of darkness I may be
Seeking the joy of love unspoken
Oh Lord, be Thou near to me

C:
And the holy voices sing “Hallelu!”
Ever will Thy reign be
As I wander through this life
Oh Lord, be Thou near to me

Though in this burden of my making
Yet in the shadows still a light I see
Maker whose love is not forsaking
Oh Lord, be Thou near to me

NT Scholar - first EFC Holy Communion @ STM chapel today

Today, my friend the nt scholar and newly ordained Reverend was the celebrant for Holy Communion at Chapel - it was the first time in EFC style. :) As usual, he looks super serious.. *grin

Quote on inner circles

"The people in the ring are loyal to the ring-not to the people in the ring" - Allen McClymont (Thurs Chapel - 2nd July 2009)

Lead Me To Calvary

My Current Favourite Hymn

Random

I cannot believe it.. Fourth week of final sem is starting... I bet it'll be another blur of a week... :p

Most memorable Holy Communion Service @ STM

Last Thursday(two days ago) was a pretty memorable Holy Communion Service. We had it in Presbyterian style - which meant that the elements would be distributed to the congregation.

Lucy was seated nearer the aisle and had a funny look on her face when the bread came to her. I saw the reason for her look when I looked into the small basket - the bread was flattened and had been cut into some weird shapes rather than the usual square-shaped bread. We both chalked it as leftovers as we were sitting almost at the last row.

Next was the grape juice. We were served with undiluted Ribena rather than the usual grape juice! Apparently the person who prepared the elements forgot to mix it together with water. Everyone was trying very hard not to laugh after drinking the juice - Holy Communion is usually a rather solemn and reverent moment after all. Unsurprisingly there was a lot of Ribena jokes going on that day. ;)

Quote on family

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. -Desmond Tutu

Sometimes our hearts get tangled
And our souls a little off-kilter
Friends and family can set us right
And help guide us back to the light.
~Sera Christann

In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb

Illustration on purposelessness

I always think that my Senior Pastor has pretty good sermon illustrations. During his sermon two Sundays ago, he gave the illustration of how the Nazis gave the prisoners the task of moving (heavy) stuff to two different places for no particular purpose.

On the first day, they were asked to move the stuff to Area A and it took them the whole day to do it. On the second day, they were to move it to Area B. On the third day, they had to move it back to Area A. Then they had to move it to Area B again on the fourth day. And this went on and on, day after day.

The purposelessness of the task drove the prisoners crazy until they even begged the guards to shoot them. Death was preferable to them then to keep on going on.

Abide with me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

I Stand In Awe (Who Can Know)

My Current Favourite Song


Verse 1:
Who can know the mind of our Creator?
Who can speak of wonders yet unseen?
Who can reach the height of understanding?
To play the notes of Wisdom’s melody?

Verse 2:
Who has weighed the dust of every mountain?
Who has walked the mysteries of the deep?
Who has laid the earth on its foundation?
And who conducts the waves upon the sea?

Chorus:
I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
So glorious and true
I stand in awe
I stand in awe

Verse 3:
You have seen the end from the beginning
You have been before the world began
You have reached to me within my darkness
And in the light of mercy now I see

Prayer

Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
- Psalm 4:1 -

Thought

I was watching a show the other day which addresses the issue of suicide. I find it interesting that those around the person was not aware that the person was depressed even though they saw him every single day. They were shocked when he committed the deed. Apparently it’s quite common.

As I think about these last few months, I am struck again and again about how I too, just can't seem to say anything to anyone when something is going truly wrong. Many things seem to be an understatement with a lot of stuff churning beneath. It's seems weird because I generally try to be as open as I can be with those who I am close with.

It's so much easier to put on a mask. You figure that those that don't know you too well will take it at face value. On the other hand, those that know you well enough, may know that something is wrong. You put on the mask anyways, hoping that it's convincing enough cos you don't want them to worry overly much about you...