I work at Crop and Food Research for almost a week now. I'm still adapting to the work environment, the work atmosphere is really laid back, and my supervisor talks alot. Gosh, people are very talkative. The first day of work, morning tea, lunch break, and afternoon tea are very much encouraged to go. I found it very strange and funny because when I was working in Pak'N Save you have the impression that "Dont you even think of having a break!" Haha. But, you know why, they are trying to get you to be sociable, know your colleagues well, cos CFR kinda forming a bit of a community. This is really scary for me. I was not ready to say "Hi" to many "strangers" during morning tea because they are much older than me and most of them know each other very well. So first day work was not good. I was so tense, trying to get and say everything right, and not ready to open myself for others. I've listened to many people in CFR (of course, I had to say hi to a couple of people and talk a wee bit).
I really want to be myself and let them know somehow that I'm a christian and not ashamed of it. Current challenge is to say grace before my lunch. Obviously, you'll be sitting with people that you dont really know and they are your colleagues from different culture and background. There is this fear of being rejected. Last time, I managed to do that in front of my supervisor (which give me such a relief actually) because I have been stressing out if he really knows who am I, he'll probably wont like me. Though very little he knew me, suddenly a person talked about listening a radio in the morning and they got the american church broadcast. My supervisor's reaction was to say "Christians huh, these snobbish evangelists". But, I didnt get to say anything. I was so thankful If I could meet the challenge at the moment to witness Christ through saying grace.
I thought that my supervisor seems to be a carefree person. Eventhough He appears to have long years, He still pursuing career in Food industry. Just strucked by what He said last time that soon a couple of projects will fund him and it'll be the climax of his career. Last week, his mother in law was very sick and getting older. Then I said we are all getting older everyday. But, He said that he is becoming older but I still have a long years to go. I wished I say that "No, we do not know, only If God allows."
I had a chat with his wife which is the lab technician. She said during the morning tea that in every organization you should come for morning tea and that's when you meet people. She then said that it is easier to ask favors to them. The thought of meeting people (socializing) is good but the thought of using others is rather selfish. I thought she'll be a kind of person that is quite perfectionist, you can tell from the way she does the experiments and handling her lab "toys". Well, today i broke seven tubes not in a row though. I tried to fit these tubes to centrifuge bucket and spin them. But, the first centrifugation resulted in two broken tubes. Because the solutions were not separated enough, the tubes were spun again and I did check the fitness of each tube in the bucket. I asked her a couple of times too before running it. After coming back from lunch time, the disaster happened. Another 5 tubes were broken after centrifugation. So, the wife was not happy at all. That's alot of tubes broken in one day. But, my supervisor comforted me, telling me not to worry and it was not my fault. I was so thankful for that cause I was nervous and feeling bad. But, I did not know what was wrong with it and If i was wrong where did I go wrong. Now, they entrusted me plastic tubes instead. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
30 November 2006
24 November 2006
A call to persevere
Again, a great way to memorise the scripture: post it! Hehe. The Word of God is amazing and wonderful:
"Remember those earlier days after you had recieved the light, when you stood on your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes, you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; other times you stood side by side with who were so treated. You symphatized with those who are in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property because you knew that you yourself had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will recieve what he has promised. For in just a very short while,
He who is coming will come and will not delay,
But my righteous one will live by faith
and If he shrinks back
I will not be pleased with him
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:32-39)
"Remember those earlier days after you had recieved the light, when you stood on your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes, you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; other times you stood side by side with who were so treated. You symphatized with those who are in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property because you knew that you yourself had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will recieve what he has promised. For in just a very short while,
He who is coming will come and will not delay,
But my righteous one will live by faith
and If he shrinks back
I will not be pleased with him
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:32-39)
Captivating
I have been reading the book called "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge. In the beginning, when I read the first couple of chapters, I have a saturated mind with "Is this true?" question. So I went to their website and read their statements of faith. You can check it as well at www.ransomedheart.com
After I read their beliefs, I felt more comfortable reading the book. Most of the concepts: their view of Adam and Eve roles in creation, particularly Eve are new to me. If all that were said are true and I'm fully convinced, I think I will live a different life. I'm still reading and trying to check it with the Word whether their statements are consistent with it. Anyway, I particularly like this quote:
[Women], you are passionately loved by the God of the universe.
[Women], you are passionately hated by His Enemy.
(Eldreges, 2005)
After I read their beliefs, I felt more comfortable reading the book. Most of the concepts: their view of Adam and Eve roles in creation, particularly Eve are new to me. If all that were said are true and I'm fully convinced, I think I will live a different life. I'm still reading and trying to check it with the Word whether their statements are consistent with it. Anyway, I particularly like this quote:
[Women], you are passionately loved by the God of the universe.
[Women], you are passionately hated by His Enemy.
(Eldreges, 2005)
23 November 2006
A Trustworthy Saying
I'm memorising this passage so I thought I post it which will probably help me to memorise (obviously without looking at my bible or any online/audio bible! :D).
Paul also said that these things (he is refering to the passage) are excellent and I remember in Phillipians 4:8 that we ought to think such things. So here is our amazing hope:
"At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, decieved and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But, when the kindness and love of God our saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our saviour. So that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7, NIV)
Paul also said that these things (he is refering to the passage) are excellent and I remember in Phillipians 4:8 that we ought to think such things. So here is our amazing hope:
"At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, decieved and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But, when the kindness and love of God our saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our saviour. So that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7, NIV)
22 November 2006
Learn to be humble
Just a couple days ago, God made it clear that I messed things up. Haha. I was surprised and finally understood that without His grace I can not do what is right. I am really thankful that I "saw" it and can truly ask God to take control over things and rely on Him. Previously, I have been trying really hard to make things perfect and some things had gone well but I just did not see that it was God's power to be frank. I gave the credit to God but I actually dont think that God's power had been working and of course, I am tired after striving. But now, I wanna acknowledge God all my incapabilities and ask His grace to bring me to His standard. Because that's the only way, allowing Him to work so that His power may be seen.
20 November 2006
"Tim Tim" @ SLC 06
I have been to SLC for three times now. It has always been great to come to conference to be strengthened by other brothers and sisters. During SLC, I always looked forward to "Tim Tim", the small group in the afternoon studying 2nd Tim and Nigel's talk in the evening.
It was so awesome to study the passage with others because you just learn so much. We went bak to the book of Acts, other Paul's letters, and some bible dictionaries trying to understand how was back then and there. We had so many questions abt d passage and helping each other to answer them. Personally, I was amazed to identify the history and culture behind the letter and how the letter became sensible. It's really exciting.
Going back to the persecutions that Paul suffered in Iconium, he and Barnabas were almost stoned but they found out and fled. In Lystra, Paul was stoned but then he managed to survive and went back to the city. After all this, Paul acknowledged that God rescued him from all the troubles which was true. He wasnt freed from all troubles, he went through it and was saved from it.
Other questions I had was how Paul knew that his time of departure has come. I was reminded that paul was in prison that time and the caesar ruling was Nero which was threathened by Paul's message. At that time, Caesar was worshipped as god and to preach persuasively about worshipping Christ was regarded as a crime. Paul had escaped his first trial and sensed that his life on earth was near the end. These are some of the answers I got during Tim Tim group.
It was so awesome to study the passage with others because you just learn so much. We went bak to the book of Acts, other Paul's letters, and some bible dictionaries trying to understand how was back then and there. We had so many questions abt d passage and helping each other to answer them. Personally, I was amazed to identify the history and culture behind the letter and how the letter became sensible. It's really exciting.
Going back to the persecutions that Paul suffered in Iconium, he and Barnabas were almost stoned but they found out and fled. In Lystra, Paul was stoned but then he managed to survive and went back to the city. After all this, Paul acknowledged that God rescued him from all the troubles which was true. He wasnt freed from all troubles, he went through it and was saved from it.
Other questions I had was how Paul knew that his time of departure has come. I was reminded that paul was in prison that time and the caesar ruling was Nero which was threathened by Paul's message. At that time, Caesar was worshipped as god and to preach persuasively about worshipping Christ was regarded as a crime. Paul had escaped his first trial and sensed that his life on earth was near the end. These are some of the answers I got during Tim Tim group.
06 November 2006
EXAMS! Aiks!
I've still got two exams to go. But, I have got so many distractions following me around. Most of them are worries. I want to go to SLC. I hope my dad will be happy for me to go and learn the bible. That's all I want. That will mean alot.... lots lots to me. I guess I should go back to do my study. I've got a couple of lecture notes that need reviewing and now it's five to eight pm....
- Sign off -