OCF South Australia's first meeting for the year 09...and my first time playing guitar with Sherny

And yes, it was a historical moment. Not only was it OCF SA's first meeting for 2009 (thank God for the many who came, i think we hit 150 or maybe slightly less), but it was my first time playing the guitar with Wei Shern (yes, he is taller than me) for worship and it was something which i won't forget for a long time.

...althought the guitar went out of tune a bit suddenly, and i played the wrong chord somewhere...and maybe might have overstrummed a bit for some parts...ok..a lot...haha...but

nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience.

I grew up doing more of the leading worship part and not really playing any musical instrument. Only when in Adelaide did I start seriously exploring playing the guitar for worship as something that i can serve God with...and it really has been a humbling experience. Like how important it is to listen to one another (each other's musical instruments to make sure that all is in sync and not to overpower one another), how important it is to humbly submit to authority and to follow the leader (worship leader in this case) and how to make sure that God is reigning in our hearts and to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us as I've come to discover also how our playing the instrument can actually be an expression of the work of the Spirit or whether we allow Him to use us. .

Thanks to Woei Shyang for the pics.

currently reading up on how pain is managed in Parkinson's disease..ish ish

somehow i cant seem to get spaces btw the paragraphs. i apologize for the messy look.

The Call to prayer

Would you join me to pray for the country of Malaysia for the next 2 weeks. A transition of leadership from one individual to another is said to happen. Much has been talked about it but I trust in His Sovereign will. 

Reading news of how the global economy is worsening and its implications on the country of Malaysia, the necessity for strong and stable leadership has never been greater.

On a separate note, there has been a change in leadership in Madagascar.

2 Chronicles 7:14

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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Updates

Currently icing the knee watching 'The Guardian' on tele. So inspiring. :) I hope to have the same attitude as the US Marines Coast guard tag line 'so others may live'.

Just an update to say that i can finally receive mms'. So to all ya'all out there who relies on free mms', yup, i can start receiving em. Must've been pretty annoying to always receive replies from me saying that, 'oopss, sorry, i can't read your mms'.

I was just reading the local newspaper today and found out the most interesting piece of news today. In spite of the recent economic downturn, there is an increase in the number of international students in Adelaide. It was a whopping 26, 000 last year but this year, it has increased to  a massive 30, 000, injecting about $740 million into the state's economy. One third of them are from Mainland China, 5000 from India and about 2200 from Malaysia and the remaining from other countries. There is an annual increase of 29.2% of international students studying in Adelaide, 4.4% ahead of the national average.

Just looking at things from the outside, i belong to a generation where our parents made sacrifces or wise economical decisions to ensure that their children will be able to continue their education in a foreign land. It's not only a Malaysian-thing, clearly, it's across different cultures and nationalities. We definitely have a lot to be grateful for.

On a personal note, just finished reading 'Piercing the darkness' by Frank E. Perretti. Definitely gave me a different perspective on spiritual warfare. Might start 'Contemporary Christianity' by John Stott soon. Been on a reading spree. Some of the books that i have just recently finished,

'Dangerous Act of Worship' by Mark Labberton, 'Postcards on a Journey' by John Mallison, 'A hitch-hikers guide to missions' by Ada Lum and not to forget, 'Grand weaver' by Ravi Zacharias.

Had the most intense kau kau com meeting thus far this afternoon. Definitely looking forward to more.

The dash

Stumbled upon this the other day.

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstonefrom the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birthand spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the timethat she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enoughto consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,and show appreciation more
and love the people in our liveslike we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash?

Autumn's here. . .