Sharing is Caring
(Caught in the middle of a scuffle between Aimee and Kaitlyn, my attempts to prise the doll away from them were drowned by screams of protests and kicks of indignance. At last, with the help of their older sister, Renee, they were physically separated. As I calm the upset Aimee, Renee approached Kaitlyn, who was still fuming with the ‘injustice’ that had befallen upon her. Collapsed on the couch, arms folded and pouting, Kaitlyn was not being easy. But Renee had her way. Stroking Kaitlyn’s hair gently, she spoke these few words of knowledge, “… sharing is caring.”).
Just a few weeks ago, on the 8th of August, our first back-to-back service at UWA passed by in a flurry of activities. All at once, there were many different things and different groups of people working together at the same time- the ushers, projection team, booth holders, sound team, and service coordinators overseeing the entire process to ensure that the service flows smoothly and on time. All these behind-the-scene moments that many of us often overlook suddenly seemed more pronounced at this particular service. Perhaps it was our unusual swift exit out of the Social Science Lecture Theatre that made it so.
We could say that we’ve been good hosts, extending our love and ‘service hall’ to our brothers and sisters of Curtin zone, lending our resources and services to others in times of need. But I invite you now to consider this perspective- we do not lend, we share.
Now you may wonder, perplexed out of your mind, what is the difference between lending and sharing? Well, we lend with an expectation of reciprocation, but we share out of generosity and love without any expectation. Do we say to our siblings, “Eh, I lend you my stapler, now, you have to return to me the exact number of staples you used okay??” (If anyone of you admits to this sort of mentality, remember there is no condemnation!) Of course not! We would and should gladly offer our whole pencil case if need be!
The same goes to hosting the Curtin zone. Being our direct ‘siblings’ (because we’re all in the same church), we adopt the sharing mentality, and offer this little bit as an act of service. At the start of the year, UWA-zone was blessed with a bigger and prettier venue, a swop of service timing to worship on glorious Sunday mornings, and not forgetting the dim sum lunches after service. The blessing does not stop there, and I can go on and on for how much each ministry has benefitted from the Lord. But the bottom-line stands that as we received freely, we also give freely. We are filled with God’s blessings and love so that we can share what we’ve experienced and know to be so awesome and real.
Isn’t this the same with what God has done for us and has called us to do? To share the gospel? To love one another?
Wherever you are placed in this season of your life, it is by no means a coincidence. It could be the course that you’re enrolled in, this particular cell group, a specific friend you’ve come to know better, or even a painful period that you’ve just gone through. It is not a coincidence! God brings you through all these for a reason and I encourage you to realise that this is your ‘mission field’ in this season of your life. There is no other person in this entire world that has the exact same experience as yours.
Use your circumstance to share the good news and the greatness of our Lord, as what our guest speaker, Ms. Lily Foo has been doing. Due to a severe accident, Lily was bed-ridden for a period of time and is temporarily using a wheelchair to get around while her body recovers. Amidst all these, Lily continues to rejoice and testify to God’s amazing grace and love.
As we carry on with our day-to-day life, busying ourselves with assignments, work, meetings and friends, let us not overlook the people in our lives; the ones who are crying out for a word of encouragement, a touch of friendship or a moment of attention. As aptly put by Sanger, “A person’s spiritual walk is like a chain, with links of encounters. You can be any link in the chain; JUST DON’T BE THE MISSING LINK!”
I want to encourage all of us not to be afraid of rejection or the opinions of others. Instead, allow yourselves to be filled with childlike faith and act upon your instincts, not letting our inabilities stand in the way. Why share? In the wise words of 5-year-old Kaitlyn Chen, “… because people believe in other Gods and people need to know that Jesus is real.”
As we all take a bigger step to spread the word and share His love, let’s begin to prepare our hearts and pray for the people we are inviting; may their hearts be open to encounter the love of Christ. You might just be that missing link!
Written by blog writer,
~Debs~
Have a question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
(Caught in the middle of a scuffle between Aimee and Kaitlyn, my attempts to prise the doll away from them were drowned by screams of protests and kicks of indignance. At last, with the help of their older sister, Renee, they were physically separated. As I calm the upset Aimee, Renee approached Kaitlyn, who was still fuming with the ‘injustice’ that had befallen upon her. Collapsed on the couch, arms folded and pouting, Kaitlyn was not being easy. But Renee had her way. Stroking Kaitlyn’s hair gently, she spoke these few words of knowledge, “… sharing is caring.”).
We could say that we’ve been good hosts, extending our love and ‘service hall’ to our brothers and sisters of Curtin zone, lending our resources and services to others in times of need. But I invite you now to consider this perspective- we do not lend, we share.
Now you may wonder, perplexed out of your mind, what is the difference between lending and sharing? Well, we lend with an expectation of reciprocation, but we share out of generosity and love without any expectation. Do we say to our siblings, “Eh, I lend you my stapler, now, you have to return to me the exact number of staples you used okay??” (If anyone of you admits to this sort of mentality, remember there is no condemnation!) Of course not! We would and should gladly offer our whole pencil case if need be!
Think about it.
Isn’t this the same with what God has done for us and has called us to do? To share the gospel? To love one another?
“The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Isaiah 61:1
Wherever you are placed in this season of your life, it is by no means a coincidence. It could be the course that you’re enrolled in, this particular cell group, a specific friend you’ve come to know better, or even a painful period that you’ve just gone through. It is not a coincidence! God brings you through all these for a reason and I encourage you to realise that this is your ‘mission field’ in this season of your life. There is no other person in this entire world that has the exact same experience as yours.
As we carry on with our day-to-day life, busying ourselves with assignments, work, meetings and friends, let us not overlook the people in our lives; the ones who are crying out for a word of encouragement, a touch of friendship or a moment of attention. As aptly put by Sanger, “A person’s spiritual walk is like a chain, with links of encounters. You can be any link in the chain; JUST DON’T BE THE MISSING LINK!”
I want to encourage all of us not to be afraid of rejection or the opinions of others. Instead, allow yourselves to be filled with childlike faith and act upon your instincts, not letting our inabilities stand in the way. Why share? In the wise words of 5-year-old Kaitlyn Chen, “… because people believe in other Gods and people need to know that Jesus is real.”
As we all take a bigger step to spread the word and share His love, let’s begin to prepare our hearts and pray for the people we are inviting; may their hearts be open to encounter the love of Christ. You might just be that missing link!
Written by blog writer,
~Debs~
Have a question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
I've got heaven on the inside of me
peace and JOY
God has set me free
Heaven is a reality
Abundant life flows out of me
I've got a SMILE on my face
glide in my stride
tastin' His grace as I'm walking by faith
I've got heaven on the inside of me
I've got heaven flowing out of me
I've got heaven into this world!
What is JOY? Personally, I think all Christians have a reason to rejoice because JOY = Jesus owns you. Get it? Jesus Owns You! And for the creative minds, just by denting the “O”, we get a ♥! So it’s also Jesus ♥ You! Thus, there are 2 great reasons to rejoice, because not only does Jesus Own You, Jesus ♥ You as well!!! (A round of applause for these amazing acronyms please!)
There are always 2 ways of viewing things: with optimism or with pessimism. Happiness is a choice that all of us can choose to make and you can begin by going about all your daily tasks with JOY from today onwards!
For instance, studying can be a pain for some of us, but if you concentrate on the sense of satisfaction and joy you feel when you do well at the end of the semester, and how pleased your parents will be, wouldn’t you feel more JOY when doing it? This method certainly works for me! Through positive thinking, I was able to complete the 4 hours of practise with joy rather than dread!
I’d also like to talk about feeling JOY when serving the Lord. Serving in church ministries is never an easy task, especially when there are people involved. It is often difficult to get every member to be passionate about serving while ensuring no one is left behind.
Recalling my first time being in Zion as a freshie, I could feel the friendliness and passion of the people serving in Zion. Ushers were smiling to every person attending the service and I remember Deborah, Faith and Lynn amongst the many who came to speak to me on that first day. To this day, I can still feel the warmth, unity and passion exuded by Zion Praise Harvesters and the JOY in them when they serve the Lord.
The next group of people worth mentioning and giving credit to are the people involved in transport. I personally have benefited LOADS from this because it is really difficult to get anywhere in Perth without a car. Staying in ECU student village makes it even harder for me to get to UWA for Sunday service as public transport is not the most frequent on weekends. I am extremely thankful to all the drivers who helped in transporting people around for events and outings. They certainly have made a lot of difference to my life here in Perth and I’m sure many others can say the same as well. 3 cheers for the drivers!
In Zion Praise Harvest, I am learning to experience the JOY in serving the Lord. Many people have inspired me to serve. The drivers, members of the worship team, and the projection and sound ministries who get in at 6am in the morning just to set up and make sure everything is ready for the service. I believe getting up at 9 am is a big “no no” for many sleepy-heads on a Sunday, let alone being at UWA by 6am!!! Only JOY and Passion to serve in His house can be the driving force for these people, to be disciplined enough, to be up and ready to serve almost every week.
I have since then, been motivated to serve and very recently, joined the PA ministry. Now, I wake up at 6am on Sunday mornings and feel that unmistakeable JOY knowing that I’ll be helping PA prepare and set up for service. Feeling JOY getting up at 6am? Are You SERIOUS???!!! Yes I AM!!! I'm surprised by myself too, but it is true!
In a nutshell, JOY ( Jesus Owns You & Jesus ♥ You ) is the key to happiness in all areas of our lives, be it when serving the Lord or going through the motions of mundane tasks. I have definitely experienced this JOY for myself. HAVE YOU? :D
Written by blog writer,
~Esther~
Have a question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
Have you watched the 2010 British Superhero film named “Kick-Ass” which was released in April? It is unarguably a nice action-and-violence-packed comedy, but I am not too sure about the ‘superhero’ part – the supposed superhero is just way too far from my own generalized perception of one (sorry to all those die-hard fans of ‘Kick-Ass’ out there)! Anyway, just to let you have a brief idea, the movie is about Dave Lizewski, a normal unnoticed high school boy who one day simply and suddenly makes the decision to become a real-life ‘superhero’ to fight the crime out of his realization that the world does not have, and in fact, needs a superhero; in spite of having no skills or superpowers of his own……
What am I getting at? Simply this: Be the ONE!!!
You guessed it, I am here to share about CreateOne Leadercast 2010, which is coming up in less than one week’s time! For your information, the CreateOne Leadercast (previously known as Maximum Impact Simulcast ever since it was born in the year 2000) is a one-day leadership event featuring the world’s best leaders speaking about the leadership principles that matter most. It is led by John C. Maxwell, an internationally recognized author, speaker and leadership expert, with his vision to create a different kind of leadership conference that is affordable and open to leaders from all levels and backgrounds. With great enthusiasm (yep!), I hereby encourage you to come and join this conference in which to “BE THE ONE” will be the focus for this year!
Here are the details of CreateOne Leadercast 2010
Date : Sat 28 Aug 2010
Time : 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Venue : Elizabeth Jolley LT, Curtin University
“Our focus for this year’s event is to help you be the one leader to make a lasting impact in the lives of those you lead. Set your sights on being the one to make all the difference by living out the leadership principles that guide your decisions and your life.” [Cited from http://leadercast.com.au/]
I believe that leadership is not about a title or a status, but it is about the life-long process of learning, growing, serving and ultimately, influencing (in a positive and godly way of course!) the lives of those around us. Contrary to some people’s belief, leaders are not only confined to those who are conventionally known as leaders in companies, churches, organizations or nations – every single one of us is a leader in some way or another! All of us can make a difference and a positive impact in the lives of people around us, be it in your family, your study place, your workplace or even among your friends! Guess what? You’ll be surprised to find that all the ‘leadership principles’ you’re about to learn in the conference are actually valuable and applicable life-lessons that you can relate to or benefit from in any stages of your life!
Let us come back to what I shared about the film “Kick-Ass” just now. Do you realize that Dave is JUST a normal unnoticed person who SIMPLY makes the decision to be the one in spite of having no skills or superpowers? You see, we don’t have to be CEOs of big companies, chairpersons of any organizations, zone supervisors or even cell leaders to be able to make a lasting impact in other people’s lives. My point is, God has unique callings for each and every one of us, but always bear in mind that no matter where you are, God has placed people around you whom you can influence and inspire. Many of us are just another Dave, normal and unnoticed, but have we made the simple and conscious decision to be the one? Not the one who stands out, but the one who is willing to take the stand? What we do may change other people in the future just as how Dave’s endeavor inspires a new wave of superheroes at the end of the movie!
[P/s] A friendly reminder: Make sure you get enough sleep on the night before Leadercast or bring some sweets along with you – it will be a day full of inspirations and experiences that you won’t want to miss anything out by ‘accidentally’ falling asleep. =)
Written by blog writer,
~anony’W’ous~
Freo FTW (For-The-Win)!
So just the other day, I was having lunch with a couple of friends over a fusion of hot and spicy kimchi squid, lightly battered tempura tofu, nicely accompanied with steamy soft rice and salty miso soup. And over this blend of explosive tastes in our mouths, we started talking about some of the best food hunts in Perth.
And yes I know what you’re thinking, “Perth? What has Perth got to offer? It’s no Kuching where the food is super GENG!” But oh snap, you may be surprised to know, Perth has plenty to offer you.
As we started naming a few restaurants, places like San Churro, Char Char Bull, Cicerellos, Kailis Bros were among the first few we listed. And we realized there was one thing these incredible eateries had in common. That’s right, location location location! They all happened to be nicely and comfortably situated in the heart of Fremantle.
Fremantle, if you didn’t know, is a port city located at the mouth of Swan River on the West Coast of Western Australia. “Freo” as it is fondly nicknamed, is a city with rich history and heritage sites combined with contemporary and modern culture/fashion spots and vintage markets. It is one of Perth’s highly rated tourist spots, which boasts a wide selection of shopping districts, eateries, and tourist sites.
So Thursday night (29 July), we decided to explore the mouth watering and tantalizing aspect of Fremantle. That’s right, FOOD! We started with dinner at Cicerellos, situated right in the heart of the habour and Mandurah’s Peel Inlet, serving affordable freshly caught seafood. Together with a perfect view of the port, we occupied the entire upper level with our new and old friends, beautifully littering the tables with an array of seafood cuisine such as clam chowder, seafood pasta, chilli mussels, and of course its famous fish and chips! Some may say “Pssh its only fish and chips. Everywhere is the same really.” I for one beg to differ. In my humble opinion, Cicerellos serves the best fish and chips in the whole wide world! (Ok I exaggerate. But in support of this entry, I am going to stand firm on my statement.)
After happily filling our tummies with scrumptious seafood, we decided that it was not enough. We simply couldn’t drive all the way to Fremantle and stop at one restaurant when there were so many more luscious desserts calling our names. So of course we gave in to the nature of our greedy cravings, and headed down to Market Street, home of the famously sinful San Churro.
For some the journey to the delectable dessert shop was slightly longer than others due to poor directional skills and wrong choice of transportation (walking definitely took a lot longer than driving! But it did make us feel less guilty devouring all that sugar and calories after 9pm.) San Churro without a doubt did not disappoint with its extensive menu of chocolate comforts. Its famous churros and melted milk chocolate dip made our top list followed by the timeless favourite hot drink, Spanish Classic. This hot chocolate drink is the most luscious and palatable liquid guaranteed ever to touch your lips. I felt like I was drinking an entire chocolate block, only more liquid-y and less solid-y.
For those who prefer a more frozen but equally sinful delicacy, chose instead to head to Cold Rock where it boasts a varied number of ice cream flavours meshed with your choice of mix-ins. One of my favourites, Cookies and Cream ice cream fused with nutella and maltesers, makes it seem like a party in my mouth every time. I love!
That night, I went home feeling satisfied, contented, and a few million calories heavier. Wonder how many miles I need to be jogging tomorrow? Haha.
But as you can tell, I heart eating food, food, and more food, especially ones in Fremantle. I strongly encourage everyone who has not yet been to Freo to pay a visit to this amazing port city that has plenty to offer you in eats and so much more!
Written by blog writer,
~Isabel~
~Isabel~
When I was young, I often asked myself “why am I who I am?”. Yea, I know, it’s a lil’ freakish but it’s true. Well, I guess I didn’t quite have a normal life like everyone else. I remember there were nights where I just stared at the stars and soon my vision blurred, as hot tears welled up in my eyes. I’ve always wished that I wasn’t born, constantly feeling rejected. At times, suicide seemed like an option.
I knew what forgiveness was, but it was just so hard to let all my memories go. Hurt turned into bitterness, and it became rooted in me. As years went by, I thought I had finally put my past behind, you know, wanting to start anew. Then the day of ‘truth’ came and I had to deal with all my hurts. Below is something that I had written on that very day where everything seemed so hopeless.
Sometimes I think people are better off not remembering some of their past, those unpleasant thoughts, those things that haunt you, like leeches sucking the blood out of you. It comes creeping in the night, sneaking its way up to you, from your mind it spreads to your soul, little by little you feel the warmth in you fading away, things start to look bleak......
It tears you up slowly, inch by inch, inflicting maximum pain and torture, then without much of a warning, it rips you apart, you could feel the burn, like your heart is no longer yours, no longer intact. When the days pass, you start to grow immune to the pain, you start to not feel, then the wounds turn into scars, marks of torture that naked eyes can't see......
Life goes on, you move on, or so you tell yourself. Everyday life is a routine, you do things like many, you even have dreams and goals, you succeed in life. But one day, one gloomy day, it all comes crushing back. Something happened and it sends nerve impulses way through your brain and spine. You would feel adrenaline pump in you, blood rushes to your head, your heart aches so badly till you wonder if it had stopped for good. You are no longer here, you're flooded with your past, with memories you thought you had pushed away, with the painful events that marked you past.
Sometimes it's so much easier to just forget, as what people like to say, "Move on", the two words that hurt most in times of ...... bleakness ( for the lack of a better word ). Sometimes, ‘deleting' those unwanted memories would be best for most people.”
How many of you had gone through what I have written above? It might not be exactly the same thing and feelings but the underlying facts are there, hatred, bitterness, hurt and unforgiveness. I can’t say that I am perfect now and I definitely do not believe in ‘forgive and forget’. Memories are memories, we can’t make them go away, but we can use them for the better.
I thank God for what I’ve been through, for it has made me rely on Him more. My experiences have made me realise that God is real. My past gave God an opportunity to work wonders and miracles, to let me know that He is my Abba Father and that I am His princess.
Our past has helped shape our characters today. It is a journal that would never be deleted. And guess what is most amazing about our past? It is all part of God’s great plan for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us.
So, I would like to challenge you today to take a step of faith, to face your past and deal with it. Until we have made peace with ourselves, God can never use us. It won’t be an easy thing but with God’s grace and mercy, I believe we can do it.
If God is calling you today to serve Him, hesitate no more! Do not let your past define you. Do not tell yourself that you are not worth it or that you are good for nothing. For it doesn’t matter who we are because what matters most is who God is.
We are defined by Jesus Christ.
Written by blog writer,
~Julia~
Have a question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
Hey guys!
What if I told you that for one day, you'll be able to learn things you’d normally only dream about? That for one day, you'll be able to try things you’ve never tried before, but always wanted to? And that for that one day, one afternoon to be exact, you can put your gifts and interests to the test and see if there's anything else you can do to hone those talents and make it better?
Well, look no further!
On the 22 August, ZPH will be conducting our CAM vision day.
CAM stands for our Creative Arts Ministry.
There will be 6 different electives conducted in a single afternoon, namely...
1. Finding your voice
2. Worship Leading in cell
3. Photography 101
4. Dance for life
5. Techie (PA)
6. Songwriting (with Guest Speaker: KC Gan from City Harvest Church, Singapore! pix below)
It doesn't matter if you're not looking to join any ministry at the moment. Just come! You’ll never know what you might find there, be it a newfound interest or an added skill. For those currently looking to join a CAM, this will be THE place to be with all our different ministries under one roof! Even if you think you're not talented enough, just come along! You'll be pleasantly surprised at what gifts He has blessed you with!
If you honestly have never thought about what God has blessed you with, and what your gifts are, I strongly encourage you to come.
It's about time you found out. =)
To end it off, I shall leave you with a verse.
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Why don't you use what God has gifted you, and serve today? Know and trust in Him, for He has a plan for you.
God bless, and have a good week ahead!
Written by blog writer,
~Johnson Tan~
Have a comment, question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
~Johnson Tan~
Have a comment, question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
You probably don’t know this, but yours truly isn’t a UWA student. However, I am probably the university’s biggest fan and would definitely go there, if only to be amidst the gorgeous, sprawling campus and all its aged charm. Anyway, favour me with your attention as I walk you through my (imaginary) first day at the university you’ve probably come to affectionately refer to as “U-Dub”.
Thank goodness winter’s weaning off, the nasty chill easing its way out the back door of the season. It’s lovely outside, with blue skies dotted with puffs of clouds, the sun feeling comfortably warm, an amazing remedy to the breeze that often causes you to shiver uncontrollably. Perhaps I’ll do what all sun-loving Aussies do- lie on the grass and just unwind, relax in the brilliant sunshine. Admittedly, I wouldn’t mind exploring the rest of the campus, maybe sit and revel in the stillness and silence of the library, taking in the novelty of the aged shelves and even the worn tomes that sit atop them. Nah. I couldn’t be bothered moving from where I am, sprawled out in the sun, a spectator to the symphony of the fountain, birds, even the whistling wind. Was there ever a day as perfect as this?
But wait. What’s wrong with this picture?
The imaginary me frowns slightly at this intrusion, exploring the ideas of what could be amiss. Deciding that it’s just some mild paranoia playing up, I lay back again, looking up at the sky. “Hey,” I say, lifting my hand to point upwards. “That cloud looks like a- ”
Oh.
Blushing, I purse my lips together, as if to eradicate all traces of my monologue.
Because there isn’t anyone I could’ve been talking to (aka, I realised I was talking to myself out loud...embarrassing!).
“It’s very possible to go through an entire course at uni and still be invisible.”
If you’ve read enough from me, you’ll probably be aware that I’m not out to scare you silly, but when my cousin said those words to me at the very beginning of my university experience, I never considered how true they could be. And believe me; I’m glad that he pointed it out.
Of course there isn’t anything wrong with exploring and unravelling the expanse of impressive scenery, to take a moment to appreciate the spectacular architecture and whatever attributes of the campus that strike your fancy. And of course lying in the sun in blissful contentment is certainly no crime against humanity. But what is worrisome would be a lack of human companionship.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 28:19, NLT
Now I’m sure there are few of us who would rather be alone than with at least one companion. But if not for yourself, may I suggest that you step up and be social for the sake of your faith? As ambassadors of Christ on this earth we’re called to be bold and steadfast, out there and not hiding behind the person in front of us, hoping to go unnoticed and unobserved.
Yes, I do realize that not all of us are social butterflies who grace the world with their fluttering ins and outs, but consider this: wouldn’t it be sad if you had been in a class for (at least) three years and no one knew you? That they could look at their graduation photo years later and wonder “Hmm... who was that?”.
And perhaps you’re shy, and of course, understandably so. I mean, you’re away from home, from your closest support groups, from the people who have come to know and love you, into an entirely new and socially-dry place. But think of this as a chance. A situation overflowing with opportunity and possibilities. Think of all the new people and cultures you can be exposed to and learn from.
Think of the lives you could touch.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”- Matthew 5:16, ESV.
Even having said that, we, the lights that should illuminate and display the form of our Saviour seem to be dim and waning. Perhaps we even put our hands over our brightly-burning flames hoping that being a little bit more conservative, low-key, and to just simply blend in with the crowd will allow us to be more socially accepted and inept.
“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.” Luke 8:16, NLT.
And even if you may reflect internally and consider your own faults and failings (not that I am to judge), you may think that your light is weird.
It’s awkward. It sways funny, and goes a weird colour when in certain conditions. My hair isn’t straight enough, my teeth are too crooked. I’m not smart enough. My accent is weird and I have issues speaking in public. How can I show the world a flame like this? How can a tiny feeble light like this possibly light the world?
Well, firstly, consider that you’re not alone. Like I’ve mentioned in the other instalment of the series, besides an awesome and all powerful God, you’ve brothers and sisters in Christ who are always here to help you along, to support, encourage, and motivate you. Also bear in mind that your light isn’t of you, but of God. A God who is flawless and entirely lovable. You may see flaws in you that you reckon would repulse and put off others, but you’re perfect, complete, whole, and more than just presentable. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), the flawless craftsmanship of the master craft man, ready to emerge and not only be accepted, but be applauded by and marvelled at by others.
...So how many new friends have you made?
Look who’s stepping out today. ;)
Yours in all companionship,
~Su-lyn Y.~ =)
Have a comment, question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
Today, I woke up to a faulty Blackberry whose backlight decided not to light up anymore. And I tell Sarah-Ann, my bestfriend, I hate my blackberry, I’m gonna get the iPhone 4. And now, as I sit here typing on my 2 year-old MacBook, whilst also being very annoyed at how laggy it is, I think to myself, I need a new laptop.
But HALT! Before you decide to go Ew, spoilt brat! or Ha, it’s Vera, what do you expect? I think you might want to reflect on yourself. Like it or not, we’re ALL guilty of that. And as I proceed into le state de self réflexion, a medley of regretfulness and remorse consumes me.
Within two minutes, I could come up with a gazillion things I absolutely detest, ten of which include:
- Being Fat
- Waking up early in the morning
- Studying
- Exercising
- Eating Vegetables
- Doing laundry
- Feeling left out
- Traffic Jams
- Being controlled by my parents
- Mess & filth
Then something began to blow my mind.
THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE THEY’RE TOO SKINNY AND I HATE BEING FAT?!! SOME PEOPLE CAN’T EVEN WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY AND I HATE WAKING UP EARLY?!! SOME PEOPLE CAN’T EVEN AFFORD EDUCATION AND I HATE STUDYING!!! SOME PEOPLE DON’T EVEN HAVE THE ENERGY TO SIT UP AND I HATE EXERCISING????! THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING OF STARVATION AND I HATE EATING VEGETABLES! THERE ARE SOME WHO DON’T EVEN HAVE CLOTHES AND I HATE DOING LAUNDRY!!! SOME PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE A FRIEND AND I HATE BEING LEFT OUT AMONGST FRIENDS?? SOME PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVER SAT IN A CAR BEFORE AND I HATE TRAFFIC JAMS!!! SOME PEOPLE DON’T EVEN HAVE PARENTS AND I HATE BEING CONTROLLED BY MINE?! SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN SLUMPS AND I HATE MY ROOM BEING MESSY?!!
??!!!!?!?LOSS!??!?!?!?!??!?!?
??!!!!?!?!??!FOR?!?!??!?!?
??!!!!?!?WORDS!??!?!?!?!??!?!?
So, just as a picture speaks a thousand words, here’s one to sum it all up:
Except, mine will look more of something like this:
Now now, on a more serious note, THIS is the kind of world we live in today. We can’t afford to go to Europe for a holiday and we think the world’s crumbling down on us. We put on 3 kilograms and we feel it’s the biggest problem in the world. We don’t have enough money to buy the latest Louis Vuitton bag and we think life is so unfair.
Yet on the other extreme of the spectrum, we have over 1 billion people who don’t even have the basic necessities of life! Things like water, food, and a home are foreign to them. We ARE indeed very blessed pals, but that doesn’t give us the right to forget about the less fortunate. And before we fall deeper into this trap, let us remember that whatever we have is all God’s and not ours to keep, but ours to SHARE.
I believe that 40 hour famine is not only an annual fund-raising event but a life lesson. So let us take this opportunity to learn to really appreciate every bit of whatever we have and share God’s blessings upon us with others. That said, it is my prayer for us all that a burden be placed in our hearts for the billion over souls who need us.
Yet on the other extreme of the spectrum, we have over 1 billion people who don’t even have the basic necessities of life! Things like water, food, and a home are foreign to them. We ARE indeed very blessed pals, but that doesn’t give us the right to forget about the less fortunate. And before we fall deeper into this trap, let us remember that whatever we have is all God’s and not ours to keep, but ours to SHARE.
I believe that 40 hour famine is not only an annual fund-raising event but a life lesson. So let us take this opportunity to learn to really appreciate every bit of whatever we have and share God’s blessings upon us with others. That said, it is my prayer for us all that a burden be placed in our hearts for the billion over souls who need us.
No doubt, we cannot do everything, but we can do SOMETHING.
And that starts with 40-hour famine!
Have you signed up yet?
Have you signed up yet?
*40hr Famine booklets are available outside SSLT after UWA Live! Come to the booth or approach your Cell Leaders if you have any enquires! *
Written by blog writer,
~Vera~
Have a comment, question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
It is NOT mere coincidence that you are reading this. [So, just keep reading! =)]
Hello everyone! How’re you doing? If you’ve been here for quite some time and are now back for another semester, welcome back! Hopefully this has been a good beginning for you so far and be assured that God is by your side even though you may find studies stressful. However, if this is just your first semester here in UWA – CONGRATULATIONS! Yep, you’re the one that we are searching for; you’re who we call a freshie!
To be honest, when I first came to UWA, I felt a little insulted being called a freshie, ‘the noob’, I thought. Haha. But hey, tell you two good things about bearing this title. Firstly, you will for sure get help more readily from us (not that you won’t get any if you’re not one, haha). Secondly, we’re having a wonderful celebration specially for all of you freshies, which is what I am going to tell you more about now:
Freshies’ Welcome Sem 02 Year 2010!
If you don’t know what Freshies’ Welcome is, it is basically something that we do at the beginning of each semester to welcome those who have just started out their university life. It is a church service, but we would like to see it as more than that – it is a great opportunity for us to make more new friends and get to know you better (something we love to do), with the objective of making you feel welcome in this new foreign land, away from your family and hometown.
Of course, if you think that church is a boring and dull place to be – you’re WRONG! On the day itself, you can expect to see many lovely, friendly and dynamic people putting on different performances (yes, in a church!), from the energetic dance team to the gently-inspiring choir and of course, the awesome drama. It’s not our profession to put on a show but we are going all out to entertain you and make you feel at home! Moreover, who can resist the offer of a complimentary dinner (in other words, $0!) after that?
Here are the details of UWALive! Freshies’ Welcome Sem 02 Year 2010:
Date : 14 August 2010 (Saturday)
Time : 4.30 pm
Venue : Social Science Lecture Theatre, UWA
Well, if you still cannot make up your mind whether you are coming, or if you think this has nothing to do with you – why not just come and check it out? Remember the first line of this article? It is NOT mere coincidence that you are reading this! I believe the fact that you have come across this invitation means that there is something wonderful waiting for you here – be it an authentic friendship, care and support in times of need, a seem-to-be-uncertain life purpose or a message of hope and love from God! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Christian, whether you’re lonely, whether you’re burdened or whether you’re all-good – we just simply want to help you, love you and connect with you in the same way that God has first loved us (and He does and will still do although you may not understand it now). We’re not perfect, but as Christians we are called to love one another, so we hope you’ll allow us to reach out to your world.
As for those of you who have been in this family for some time, I just found out something interesting recently. Not too long ago, one night after I watched the movie “Inception” with some of my friends (sorry for spoiling the fun if you haven’t watched it yet, lol!), we were discussing about the movie on our way back home. The movie ended (‘annoyingly’) with the totem spinning on the table and just as we were catching our breath waiting to see whether it stopped spinning, the movie ended! This means at the end we didn’t know if Cobb succeeded in getting back to reality (the totem will wobble and halt) or was trapped in his dreams indefinitely (the totem will never stop spinning). And you know what? After the discussion, I discovered that everyone secretly likes a GOOD ending, haha!
This brings me to my last point. We all like a good ending, don’t we? May be some of you will think that this is just another Freshies’ Welcome, just another event that we do every semester. However, think of it this way: your one invitation, one smile, one handshake, one encouragement out of love and concern can mean a lot to one person – it may turn someone’s world upside down beyond your imagination! While Jesus is the author, aren’t we called to love and be the link in a person’s journey towards salvation? What a beautiful ending that would be!
Yes, this is just another Freshies’ Welcome…… UNLESS you do something about it to make a difference! Invite your friends, housemates and families. Talk to someone new and listen to them.
Can’t wait to see all of you there! God bless! =)
Written by blog writer,
~anony'W'ous~
Have a comment, question or suggestion? Email us at uwalive@gmail.com!
