Sista's Graduation

@ Perth Convention Centre - 27th Aug 2011

Happy Graduation sis! May this be a stepping stone for you to pursue your interests and reach for greater heights! Currently in Perth, spending time with the family and visiting old but familiar places. Making good use of "30 Hearts". Can't wait to show you guys what I can cook up with this new toy. Yea, I do miss Melbourne. Just a little.

~ mm listening to Sara Bareilles ~

30 Hearts

Life has always been about pleasing my parents. Getting good grades, being a good boy.

Life has always been about pleasing others. Don't talk back, don't ask questions, just do. 

Life was... simple.

When did life become so complicated?

My parents wishes for me to live a happy, comfortable life. 

Which parents wouldn't? 

I would want the same for my children too. 

So what seems to be the problem?

Money. 

And I'm sure that deep down inside, each and every one of us agrees that money = happiness + comfortable life. You need money to feed yourself. You need money to support your family. You need money to socialise. You need money! And you need more of it! But is money really the problem?

When did life become so complicated?

When I stopped getting good grades?
When I stopped being a good boy?
When I began to question?

No.

Life became complicated when I began to yearn for more. 

Surely, there's more to life than pleasing others.

Surely, there's more to life than earning money.

Surely, there's more to life than "getting it right".

I've been caught in between the limbo of chasing my dreams and pleasing my parents for far too long. I have the understanding, I have the willingness - and now the capacity. It's time to take flight. 

I'm gonna please my parents by chasing my dreams. 

How that's gonna work out, I don't know. But some things are worth fighting for. I pray for who ever that's reading this, may you find something worth fighting, crying, breaking the rules for. Cause we deserve it. As much as we deny, shy away from it, we very much deserve to chase our dreams and hope for greater things. Never tell yourself otherwise.

HA! What bold statements. But that's, well.... my revelation. 

21st [Take 2]

Thank you for believing in me. 

For all the encouragements and prayers. 

Thank you for your generous hearts.

For investing into my passions and dreams.

I am truly blessed to have you all in my life.

Thank you.

Love,

Jules

~ holding onto 30 Hearts ~

Celebration

.... rhymes with graduation!

"He does eye things"  - 13th Aug 2011

Ms Bachelor of Arts - 15th Aug 2011

Shout out to Chris Law, Mich Lim, Melissa Wong and Cherie Voon.

Am honoured to celebrate this milestone with you guys. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavours. Cheering you on. Congrats!

~ more celebrations to come ~

Love Wins

Just finished reading Love Wins. Incredible book.

Love Wins talks about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Rob Bell's views on these topics challenges the common belief of the Christian faith. And it's a book riddled with questions.

Questions we fear to ask.
Questions behind the questions.
Questions no one has the right answer to.
Questions we wouldn't otherwise..... question.

This book has garnered tonnes of controversy. But for someone to finally ask these questions out-loud and share his honest views on them, that takes guts. I like this Rob Bell guy. I rather you find out for yourself what's written in this book rather than sharing it here. It's definitely a book worth reading.

With that said, I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone. This book is by no means the answer to life's biggest questions but may it inspired and give you a new perspective on life itself.

__________________________________________________________________________

Now for me to jot down snippets from the book for my own reference:

So when the gospel is diminished to a question of whether or not a person will "get into heaven," that reduces the good news to a ticket, a way to get past the bouncer and into the club.

The good news is better than that. (Rob Bell 2011, p.178)

As Paul writes in Philippians 3,
"Let us live up to what we have already attained." (Rob Bell 2011, p.188)

Forgiveness is unilateral.
God isn't waiting for us to get it together,
to clean up, shape up, get up -
God has already done it. (Rob Bell 2011, p.189)

"It's only when you lose your life that you can find it, Jesus says." (Rob Bell 2011, p.190)

Ahh Matthew 10:39, we meet again.

God's gonna do something.


~ look at me referencing like a good boy. wheee ~

Something's Brewing

Matthew 10: 37-39 (NIV)
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

I think God's trying to say something.

Been watching the Planetshakers Conference 2011 DVD together with the housechurch and today we were watching Reggie Dabbs' sermon. Interesting how this verse that he brought up resembles what Pastor Tim shared about two weeks back.

God's trying to say something.

I had a funny dream recently. I vaguely remember the setting of the dream. We, a girl I knew and myself, were sitting against a wall, chatting (I think). It was an open area, probably outdoors.

She was holding a knife. 

Just a tiny one, almost pen-sized. As she showed me the knife, she told me, "You're the only one who knows about this knife."

That was when the dream ended and a new one began. I dreamt that YahwehAG had opened a branch in Kuching and that it had four cashiers. Bliss.

I digressed. 

How I interpreted the dream: That girl has what it takes to hurt me. 

God's saying something? Nahh must have dreamt about knives because of all the cooking I've been doing of late. Or maybe it's just a reference to Alice: Madness Returns. 

Alice's got a knife!

I'll let my dreams be dreams.

~ still processing my thoughts ~

The Words Of A Dying Man

Pastor Tim has been preaching from the book of 2 Timothy for the past month. He appropriately entitled the series "The Words Of A Dying Man" as it was the last letter that Paul wrote before he was beheaded. Poor guy.

A couple of things/questions that I took away, thus far:

Number one - Am I able to love God more than my family, friends, above all else? 

No.

It pains me to say it, but No, I don't think I can. Really? Can you love God more than your mum, your dad, your wife, your MacBookPro or your need for control? Can you love God instead of loving the things He does? What does it mean to love someone/something that isn't tangible, out-of-sight and at times just seems so far away? Can you? How?

Faith.

But how much? 

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

The Bible knows best.

Number two - Hold On, Guard It, Be Strong, Entrust them with Truth.

Sounds like the most awesome tag-line to a movie. Hence, the movie-esque poster. Unfortunately, I don't remember anything else from that sermon. I should start taking notes again. Before Tim ended the sermon last Sunday, he briefly mentioned the 40 day fast. Too quick! It's amazing how fast the year has gone by. Alas, we can only, and we should, press on. Hmm still finding time to gather my thoughts. It'll come soon enough.

~ time to pick up my slack. ~

Thank You

Keep It Real

The first time I watched Clara perform was 2 years ago at Cafe Crema. Since then, I've become quite a fan. Clara Rhoden is a powerhouse. I love how her vocals are accompanied with equally powerful lyrics. Lyrics which are genuine, honest and real! Clara's music is, at the very core, rock. So for those looking for something heavier or music which doesn't explicitly talk about sex, booze and partying, you might enjoy this album. My favourite songs from this album are "Real Again" and "One More Chance".

"Clara's debut album Keep it Real is a challenge to us all to live unreservedly and wholeheartedly as the people God made us to be." - clararhoden.com (Biography)

Check out her website and listen to her previews here. It's not too late to join the real revolution!

~ in support of melbourne's local music scene ~

21st

I think everyone's expecting a long-winded, warm-felt post - but for now, a photo will do. Thanks to Kel for organising and everyone who came along for the free pizzas. It was fun. We should do this again.

~ today begins the first day of the rest of my life ~