Mylife

Saturday, September 29, 2007

ZhiKai: Hey, do you want to go to wilson's prom?
Daniel: Who is wilson?

And so began my two day road trip to Wilson's Promontory. It was a long long drive, and the trip was so fun, so once again I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Our three photographers deployed to snap away at every stop.

Ken Chin posing to show he's conquered the playground.

The cute sheep dog at the place we were staying. Reminded me of Tessy(my old dog).

The lodge. It was HUGE!! and this picture does not do justice to it.

A map of the prom.

The beach near the lodge. It was super super windy!!

So windy and cold, I buried my feet in sand to keep warm...

...and I wasn't alone.

We started drawing in the sand after that...and I got my own square..like those in hollywood.

Our fine dining dinner. Very elegant right?

ZhiKai and I made wasabe sandwich.

After that we climbed a mountain, and this is the view at the top!!Awesome isn't it?

Even at that height. God's creation still never ceases to amaze.

Finally the picture to top the trip off.

Dan
11:04 pm

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I'm back from the trip, and I'll dedicate a separate post for the trip later on, once I get the pictures uploaded. I've been worrying this whole holiday about my finance assignment, and today I got an e-mail from my lecturer giving out hints for research after many students have requested help. Persistence pays off. So now I feel a bit more relieved about that assignment.

I watched Evan Almighty and Rush Hour 3 today. It's been awhile since I had a movie marathon, that I had to take a nap between the two movies. Signs of old age. Evan wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Rush Hour 3 was good comedy, but very cliche. I supposed those in Singapore would know since these movies all opened there first. It sucks being the last to have everything.

Holidays are ending, and each day is one day closer to the end of my first year!! It's so fast. I can't believe I'm doing it.

Dan
10:05 pm

Saturday, September 22, 2007

I've got so many things on my mind, so many things I want to say. My assignments have been going very good so far. Done with one, almost done with another, and I am about to begin my third. The timing couldn't be better. I got so worried that I would not, and probably will not have time to do any revision this holiday because of the stupid assignments, but I was shone light upon the fact that once the assignments are all done, I can actually begin my revision to ease my fear. Yes I know, I'm eccentric, but I think studying is one of the few things that can keep me sane and on my toes.

The book of Mark has been the topic of bible study, and last night we went through some of the more famous stories of Jesus, such as his burst of anger in the temple courts, and the fig tree, to name a few. I am sad to say that I took the stance of I already know these stories so I didn't think much, but I was in such awe when I realised how much I did not know, such as Jesus showed restraint before bursting in verse 11 I think, and nobody stopped Jesus when he was throwing people out, no police, no opposition from religious leaders. I never realised that. And the fig tree...for the life of me, I do not know why I could not see the link in the fig tree. I knew it was there somewhere. But I'm not so bothered by the fact that I could not see the link, but more amazed at what the link actually was.

OK, me and my antics. I've just skimmed the surface for Econs, and each lecture I learn something new I'm filled with awe at how simple yet complex the models get. I've just skimmed the surface for Finance, and each lecture I fall asleep, but when I read, I'm mystified by the wonder of markets. I've just skimmed the surface for Accounting, and each day I develop more and more hatred toward the cursed subject. But I've been exposed to the Bible, and to it's teachings for 20 years, and everyday I remind myself of how much I do not know.

On a separate note, where do we draw the line between what we have to do, and what we want to do? Our conscience, perhaps our responsibility...I don't know.

Dan
2:54 pm

Friday, September 21, 2007

The holidays have begun, and it's been a big rush trying get my assignments done. I hate accounting more each day, with its so frustrating assignment. The questions look so simple and straightforward and yet they are so hard to answer. Today was another dinner at Neil's and I had the pleasure of sitting next to this China girl. We were communicating in English for a fair bit of conversation before she found out I was from Singapore, and started to commute in Chinese, even after I said I was a little rusty. So there she was babbling off in her fluent Mandarin and I was struggling just to keep up. Then she started on the history of China, and why some Chinese speak Chinese that is so hard to understand. I felt like I was doing listening comprehension all over again. I was lost half way through the conversation, then found out the meaning at the end.

Dan
12:02 am

Monday, September 17, 2007

I don't think there is anyway I can describe my experience at YFC, and the fact that I still think about it even though it's been months since I left there just goes to show how much of an impact it had. I got many things out of YFC, such as the discipline to do daily QT, I found the joy in studying the bible, just to name a few. Today during QT I was reading 1 Cor 12, about spiritual gifts, and the body of Christ. It's a familiar passage to all, but I was just in wonder when I came across this small section in my bible. It's a study bible, so every few pages it has some things to explain or teach or points to highlight. The one I came across was about Spiritual Gifts vs. Spiritual Responsibilities. I was amazed because I've made it a aim for myself to finish reading all the epistles come end of this year, and second because recently I've been thinking whether I have what it takes to teach/lead. I always felt this fear that things might go wrong but here's what it said.

Spiritual gifts are extraordinary abilities that the Spirit gives to build up the church. Even though such attributes as faith, teaching, and giving are considered gifts, all Christians are exhorted to develop these traits.

Some Christians are given...

1.Divine Wisdom (1Cor12:8)

2.Extraordinary faith (1Cor12:9)

3.Special teaching Gifts (1Cor12:28; Rom12:7)

4.Supernatural ability to help (1Cor12:28)

5.The gift of exhortation (Rom 12:8)

6.The ability to give with liberality (Rom 12:8)

7.Divine power to show mercy (Rom12:8)

Now here's the part that blew me away, because I've read all the epistles less Romans, and 2Corinthians, and every point below I've read at some point or another. It's like everything falling into place?

But all believers are called...

1.To live wisely (Rom16:19; Eph5:15; Col4:5)

2.To walk by faith (2Cor5:7) and abound in faith (2Cor8:7); to take up the shield of faith(Eph6:16) and pursue faith(1Tim6:12; 2Tim2:22)

3.To teach others the truths of God (Matt28:20; 2Tim2:2,2:4)

4.To serve one another in love (Gal5:13) and to minister to others (Rom12:7)

5.To exhort one another daily (Heb3:13)

6.To give "not grudgingly or of necessity" but cheerfully (2Cor9:7)

7.To be merciful (Luke6:36; James 2:13)

Dan
12:19 pm

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Friday nights bible study discussion was good, and it made me wonder why I had to travel thousand of kilometres to another continent to realise how deep, meaningful, and rewarding a good bible discussion is. Maybe it's the preparation done by the leaders, or the participation of the members, but I think more so it is the desire in the hearts to want to know more. It's strange that when we leave our home, our comfort zone, that we start to experience Him more and realise that in times of distress, He is the only one who will surely come through.

One question asked during Friday's discussion was where the fire in our hearts had gone to. The initial fire when we had first become Christians. Some of us may say that the fire never went out, others perhaps a new flame had ignited, and for others only the ashes of the flame remain, but whatever the case, we can all agree that the flame is no longer the same. It either became bigger, smaller, or evolved in other ways. I was thinking about my flame, and then this old worship song came into my head, I'm not sure of the title, but it has the lyrics, "I'm washed, in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the lamb." And I realised that my initial flame, excitement, joy was knowing that I was washed from sin by Christ's death on the cross, and then years after that day, I seemed to have lost track of that for awhile, and therefore my flame became smaller. But now, I'm slowly learning the truths, slowly gaining knowledge, and slowly increasing my faith. It's refreshing.

On a separate topic, I shopped at Chadstone today, and ended up getting the Frasier collection!!! Many might know me as a crazy Friend's fan, and I think after this semester I might become a Frasier fan as well!!! I miss the classics...stupid reality TV.

Dan
11:30 pm

Friday, September 14, 2007

My last post was a bit sensitive I feel. Well really it was just a matter of opinion, and I guess everyone is entitled to their own. To be honest I wrote it as part of a dare, and I guess I won. But I would have blogged about it anyhow. The holidays are looming and I'm excited at the prospect of not having to wake up at 9am for lectures, though I think I'll still end up waking up at 9am, but for different reasons. The assignments have come in again, and I'm glad to say that as of tomorrow one of them will be done, the easier of the lot naturally. I've been planning my 2 weeks holiday for a long time now, trying to make sure that I have enough time to cover the assignments and to cover my revision too, and I realised how short 2 weeks is. Last semester the break was only a week long, and I felt that it was more than sufficient, and this semester I've got a week more, but it feels like a week too little. Anyway I just hope it all goes smoothly, it seems almost impossible, or maybe I'm just planning too much in that two weeks.

My holiday verse to see me through will be Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Dan
12:43 am

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Dating has changed with the times, and I think that many will agree. Gone are the days where couples will sit in the streets sharing a bowl of noodles, or ride on bicycles meant for one. Dating today is a movie at the cinema, a walk in the park, dinner at a fancy eatery, but most importantly dating today involves cash. As the famous saying goes, in a world that is always changing, the only thing that doesn't change is change. And whilst that may be true for most instances, there will be many who will argue that that is indeed not true. Though dating has changed with the times, with improvement in technologies, and communication, some things in dating will never change.

Such as, its usually the guys who make the first move. Though women fight for equal rights in the workplace, and the alpha females will always insist that girls are not as weak as the world makes them out to be, when it comes to the dating scene, girls will always want to be the passive one, at least initially. Now what is to come next might offend some, so my advice is to take it with a pinch of salt, and to realise that it represents only one opinion out of the many in this world.

Personally I find the concept of a guy dating an older girl to be seriously skewed. I had a good discussion in which many arguments were put forth, and to recount it all now will prove too difficult...because I'm lazy, but the strongest of all these was that guys in general mature at a slower rate than girls. By this I refer to aspects such as spiritual growth, emotional growth, mental perhaps, and so when older guys date younger girls, it is hoped, and usually true, that they are at least on par in these areas, or there abouts. However, if the situation were reversed the gap would be even bigger. This gap could prove to be what causes the relationship to fall apart, because these are areas where strong, long lasting relationships are built on.

The argument put forth above is a simplified version and is in no way complete, or representative of the discussion I had.

Dan
11:19 pm

Monday, September 10, 2007

Picked up a few lessons during Melvin's sermon on Job on Sunday. I think it's awesome how we find gems in God's word. Everybody will find them eventually, but few ever find them the same way. Did that make sense? The first lesson I learnt is that we should not be 'square believers'. By that I mean that there are Christians who know the Bible, and who follow it to the letter, and people who see these Christians will be amazed at their...knowledge? Square believers tend to be narrow in their thinking, a bit like the pharisees, who until recently I learnt are supposed to be the Biblical teachers of the time. OK, not a complete argument but I think you get what I mean.

Second lesson is as Christian's we should not presume to speak for God. Sometimes we feel that when people present their dilemmas, their life problems, we have a duty to answer it. I fall into that trap sometimes, and it takes a lot of will to snap myself out of it, because it's one of the ways the evil one will cause us (Christians) to fall. I'm not saying we should not try to help, but to the extent and degree which the Lord has allowed us. I want to give a for instance, but all seem too lengthy for a blog entry. I think that the people most prone to fall for this are leaders, and also probably the very people the evil wants to fall.

But that's not all I did on Sunday. I went to St Kilda!!! It was a awesome trip, and I know it sounds far but really it isn't. The walk on the pier, where I saw the tannest man ever, he could have been an attraction in itself. The clear water, the STRONG wind, the awesome cake shops, the soft sand. I think words cannot describe it, just as words cannot describe beauty so I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

The beach

The lighthouse

ONE of the three cake shops...look at all those cakes!!!

Black forest and PLAIN cheesecake...

The one who gave the trip its icing on the top.

Dan
11:32 pm

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Soccer was fantastic. Though we lost, but it was a good match. I didn't score though...I flew, after being viciously tackled by the keeper while running for the ball. OK so maybe it wasn't so vicious a tackle, but I did fly according to bystanders...very dramatic. No physical injuries thankfully, but I do have a lot of sore muscles. Aching all over...like an old man. I would post pictures, but I haven't received any yet, and I didn't bring a camera...which reminds me, my next thing to buy on my list should a be a new camera.

Dan
12:57 am

Friday, September 07, 2007

Today will mark the end of my assessments for the first semester!!!So don't expect me to be doing much work for awhile after today, it's time to enjoy. A letter was written in recently to the forums by a 15 year old student, which I think is ingenious. Shutting the adults up at the source of their complaints site. This student criticise a previous letter (which I've yet to read), about supporting teachers who act on unruly students. I reckon the situation will end there, because any fool who will response to such a letter by the student themselves is just courting trouble.

Speaking of courting trouble, yesterday I successfully memorised 40 odd law cases for my test today. Shocking? I think so. I've not memorised much since...secondary school? So much for a creative education system, but it was taxing, though fun. Memorising is definitely so much less fulfilling that understanding...but also so much easier to do.

HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!OK...holidays are near, but whats the difference?

Dan
8:32 am

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

In Job31, he puts forth a "if-then" argument with God, a cause and effect chain of events. That was one of the things highlighted during the sermon on Sunday. I found this fascinating because in our lives now, we always do that with God as well. If He gives us the good grades, we will go to church more often, If he helps us with our assignments, we will do our quiet time more often. When we are going through trials, we question, God where have we gone wrong to deserve such misfortune? I think there is nothing wrong with conditional promises with God, but I think the mistake lies when we restrict God to just those few aspects of our lives, because He wants to be apart of everything in our lives. But do we let Him?

The following story is fictional, and any resemblance to any real life situations is purely coincidental.

"He ran through his thoughts in the shower. It was the first time he was going to do this, and fear was toying with his mind. He could not help but think of all the possible scenarios, strangely they were all negative. He turned the water a bit warmer, as he stood under the shower head picturing it in his mind. Placing one hand on hers, the sun reflecting in her eyes. I like you. Then his mind went blank, for imagining her response was too hard for him. He got out of the shower, and prepared to leave. It was now. He walked down to her apartment.

She rose out of bed to see the sun high in the sky. It was a bright beautiful day, and it felt like it was going to get better. She let the water run all over her body for awhile in the shower, thinking about what they would do when they met. He should be on his way now. She took her time to get dressed as she got out of the shower, he would knock when he arrived anyway. Her thoughts were disturbed by the siren of an ambulance as she combed her hair. It was the fourth time this week, couldn't people be more careful she thought. It was almost time and he still had not arrived, perhaps he was waiting downstairs.

As she reached the lobby of the building she saw a crowd gathering outside, and the ambulance at the junction. Curiosity filled her, and she needed to know what had happened. Squeezing her way through the crowd was messing up her hair, but she was so close now, then her heart sank. His body on the road, with the tram and cars all piled up around. Time froze as she starred at his lifeless body. Flowers, and card in his hands, she could not believe the sight that was before her. She ran forward, and sobbed over his motionless body, hoping her tears would bring him back to life, just like it had cured him of his back pain, and his pimples. She pulled the card from his grip hoping to read the last few words from him.

The past week has been the most exciting week of my life, and I would not trade it for anything in this world. Being with you erases my worries, and makes life seem so clear and definite. But I don't want that feeling to last a few moments but a lifetime. I don't want my worries to come back, but to disappear forever. I don't want my mundane life, but a life of excitement with you. What I'm trying to say is...

He had left the last three words to be said in person. It was perfect, as he did not know if he would have the courage to say it after expressing his feelings. It was 11.55am! He was late!!

Dan
11:27 am

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Education was part of the discussion during Econs lecture today, and it was argued that since education increases average productivity, people should be willing to pay an economic reward to increase education, because an increase in average productivity will increase GDP per capita, and therefore increase standard of living. In the forums, a complaint was made about school libraries who refused entry to students unless they had a valid reason. It's a sad reality that in the process of trying to retain the "studious" atmosphere within those four walls, some inquisitive minds are kept out because they have been classified as without a future, such as normal stream students.

To be cotinued...

Dan
5:40 pm

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Are we constrained by our own human understanding that we do not understand God? Sometimes I feel that our lives are so hectic, that we have been too influenced by the media, that we set our expectations by the world. We have issues in life, we turn to friends. We are sick, we attend school, and skip church. We are stressed, we hit the pubs, and listen to jazz bands. Then when things are not going our way we question God why? Maybe it's just me, maybe no one else does it. In the end I think it all boils down to one question: How important is it to us to live righteous lives?

"His heart was heavy, and his mind was burdened with a single thought. He needed to get it off his chest, but how was he going to find the words to express how he really felt without conveying the wrong idea? It felt so hard, opening his heart, his feelings, his emotions to someone else. Being totally honest to the one who mattered most to him. It was strange, yet wonderful.

They sat like two fools sitting on a bench in the cold, his arm around her, while she sipped her cold coffee. His mind was tired, and thinking of the words to express his burden was just too much. Perhaps telling the truth, and how he felt was the way to go. His heart skipped a beat as he opened his mouth to begin his request, ".......I don't want this to end." But that was not enough to express how he felt.

I treasure what we have, and I want it to be deep and meaningful. History is repeating itself for me, and I fear what will come after. Communication and commitment are important for sustenance, and though they are new to me, you can be sure that I will work to perfect them both. Paranoia fills my mind, and fear grips my heart, but when I hold you close, and learn to commit it to the Lord, I can only pray that peace will takeover and help me let go. Do you understand?

Dan
10:31 pm

Saturday, September 01, 2007

The week has been well paced, and I think that slow and steady is the way to go in life, than fast and erratic. If I ever became the governor of the reserve bank I think I would be seen as an inflation dove given the way I like things done, so I guess I'll never be the reserve bank governor because they tend to hire inflation hawks. A random thought that came to mind. I don't think it's of much concern, but last night in my dream, I dreamt about applying my business law to some drink I was drinking...IN MY DREAM!!! Studying too hard? I'm barely studying at all...or maybe I am studying too hard?

Are our expectations of God high? It was put forth last night during the sermon that the Jewish people had several expectations for the messiah, and these expectations, over time, became very skewed ideas as to who the messiah was, hence the pharisees constant tests on Jesus and his disciples, and also why people were blind to who Jesus really was initially. We have the benefit of the Bible, but have we become blind as well? Have we raised our expectations of God so high that when He does the little things in our life, we forget to thank Him?

A little thought for the weekend.

Dan
11:35 am