New Horizons

Check out the view! It's been three weeks since we moved to the new space. We're settling well but I'm still getting used to the distance. Cycling is no easy feat and the frequency of trams traversing the docks is scarce. But it's all just a matter of getting the timing right and building stronger legs and buttocks! Hmm.. getting the timing right will be much easier (and less painful). 

Uni - I'm loving my 3 day, 13 hour week this semester. To make things sweeter, I have great lecturers and the units are much more stimulating, in contrast to last semester (dry and boring). Currently taking Alternative Animation as a elective. A much needed outlet to explore and expand my artistic side. With all the extra time at hand, I'm planning to make it a habit to revise and keep on top of my uni work. Praying for wisdom to use my time wisely.

I pray for spiritual growth this semester. With all that's been happening, I've finally come to the point where I can say, "yea, this is important and this is what I want". It's no coincidence that I got dragged into a discussion about spiritual growth with Pastor Tim and a few others. Oh, the random things I get into. Love it!

Spiritual growth. Let the adventure begin.

~ anyone lovin' the new header? i know i am! ~

Worship - A Drummer's Perspective

Had the chance to share last Sunday. Have you guys felt the same way before? Yes? No? Maybe? I don't care? Hopefully this sharing will inspire and challenge you.

Today I'll be talking about worship - worship from a prespective of a drummer.

What is worship?

Why do we worship?

How is playing the drums worship?

Is worship just 2 fast songs, 3 slow ones?

Is worship how fast or how loud u can play the drums?

Is worship coming to church early to practice for Sunday mornings?

If worship is just doing that, I reckon I do worship very well.

I've been serving in the worship team for the past 2.5 years. Each time I'm scheduled to play, it's definitely something worth getting excited about. I'm excited to play the drums. I'm excited to play together with friends. I'm excited to try out that new song. I'm excited to worship.

Two Sundays ago, I reached a listening point. This was after playing the drums for 8 Sundays in a row.

"I'm tired".

Tired meaning i was lazy, i wasn't excited, i wasn't worshipping. This is where things get dangerous, so listen up!

When u begin to worry more about how good u sound, rather than being sensitive to the spirit, beware. When u begin to think that u're just putting on a *show*, beware. And when u become good enough to rock up on stage and just wing it, beware. *Cause u're gonna end up tired*

So it was good that I realised this sooner than later. And when i did, i had to ask myself, "Jules, why do u play the drums?" and ultimately, "How is playing the drums worship?" I find it easier to worship by singing cause u're using words. But with the drums, all u're using is *beats*

I remember Sam telling me once. Everytime he hits the 'snare', he pictures hitting the devil in the face. Pretty cool right? And that got me thinking about what it meant to worship drumming.

This is what i got.

I think that by playing the drums i'm ushering in the holy spirit. Pushing back the demons that encages us. Lifting up the spirits of those who are downcasted with worries and regrets. Creating a space for people to lift up their hands and proclaim:

"You are stronger, you are stronger"

"The same power that conquered the grave lives in me!"

And if i can do all that just by hitting a few drums, i will gladly use this talent to glorify God.

Today i want to encourage and challenge you guys to find out for urself what it means to worship a God we call father, saviour, the almighty. Doesn't matter how u express it or if u're up on stage or not, ask urself, "Why do u worship?"

If you're not sure where to start, just picture hitting the devil in the face. Thanks for listening and don't get tired.

Love,

Jules

~ discovering worship in the norm ~

See You Soon. Young.

It's hard to describe what I'm feeling right now. Excited? Not really. Nostalgic? Maybe. Worried? A little. Results are coming out next Monday. I've yet to receive any email from school saying that I've failed. So that's a good sign yea? It's funny how easily my faith waver over such matters. I've worked the best I could, now all I've gotta do is have a little faith. Pray with me, I need it.

BIG changes up ahead! We're packing our bags and moving out once again. New beginning, new neighbourhood. But as always, I'll adapt - we'll adapt. It's been fun playing house with Winston. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Thanks for all the meals, late night conversations and the lulz. Be good. God's watching you.

~ off to the docks ~

My Thoughts You Can't Decode

Had the privilege of filming and editing JoshuaPuiMusic new music video. Was having difficulty synching the video with the music because of a fatal mistake. I forgot to have the music playing while we were filming. Lyrics were wrong and the tempo was off but that's where the magic of editing comes in. All in all, I think it turned out ok. Lesson learnt - the next one will be better!

~ Woohoo! Holiday well spent. ~

Little Ewan

Date: 28/06/11 - 26hrs old

First time holding a new-born child. Very precious. Congrats to Kenny and Krystal! Eammon's now a big bro. Can't wait to see these boys all grown up. Though I reckon the same can't be said for most parents.

I pray for divine protection over baby Ewan. That he will grow up to be a man after God's heart. I pray for the Loke family. That they will continue to grow from strength to strength in your grace and mercy. I thank you for their guidance and may they continue to inspire and speak love into our community. Amen!~

~ imma need to work on my baby handling skillz ~

What Now?

Exams were 50/50. There were some good ones, some not-so-good ones. All I can do now is wait and see. Annual Dinner is happening again tmr! Gonna be fun.

Still waiting on Jo to post up the newest promo but this will do for now.

Winter break will most likely be occupied with moving in and furnishing the new place. But that's alright cause I'm really excited about finally settling down. It'll be... good. Other plans for winter break? Hopefully a couple of video-ventures, maybe some night rides around Melbourne, read a book, get a haircut. Will be nice to rest and still be productive at the same time. Just gotta find the right balance.

As for Operation C*rry, now isn't the right time. It's all new and exciting but I should be clear about my motives and hope for all this. It's never a bad thing to play it safe yea? Of course, there will come a time where risks must be taken. When that time comes, what ever the outcome may be, may I find peace and clarity.

(Oh don't you just love it when I'm all cryptic. You can't decipher me you stalkers!)

Despite the bitterness of uni, overall, it's been a good semester. But that's a blog post for another day. For now, lets savour the ice-cream.

~ holidays make me reflective ~

Waking up Strong in the Morning!

Still kinda bumped about Silverchair's "Indefinite Hibernation". Would have loved to watch them live. But it's good that they're happily working on their own projects at the moment. Thanks for all the years of music and looking forward to what these guys have in store.

Having a paper later in the afternoon and one more on Wednesday! Kinda getting lazy BUT I must persevere! Just like what my high school motto says - Learn, Persevere, Succeed. Hmm kinda lame but it makes sense.

~ almost there! ~

Legacy

I love the idea of legacy. The handing down of a property, a seed, an idea, a hope or momento by a predecessor.

Or in my case, a pair of drum sticks, a bow-tie, "Project Clockwise" and a bicycle.

People come and go but these things will remind me and keep me close to them. When I play with the drum sticks, it'll remind me of my time back in Zion. When I wear Aun's bow-tie (or do my top button up), it'll remind me of a mentor who is selfless and ever presence. When I play together with Project Clockwise, it'll remind me of Guo Jin's vision to teach and build-up other musicians. When I cycle down the streets of Melbourne, I'll remember what Keith said about God rewarding the generous heart.

I love the idea of legacy. I wonder what kind of legacy I'll leave behind one day.

Anyways, here's me signing off with a quote I very much agree with.

"I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail" - Wilson, Woodrow T.

~ what kind of legacy would you wanna leave behind? ~

Things are Looking Up

It's been an interesting past 2 days, so I better put this down before I forget.

I've realized that I've been selfish. Selfish that I'm only concerned about what I want. I fail to see the bigger picture. The plan has always been to finish my current studies and enter the workforce while pursuing my passion on the side. But what's the point of completing a course if I'm not interested in it? I would just be wasting my time, my energy and wasting my parents' money.

I've been selfish. Chasing my dreams without caring about what my family thinks. I know that they want what's best for me. For me to have a stable career, to be able to provide for myself. Studying Geomatics is definitely the "safer route" and I should be thankful for the fact that I even have an education to begin with. I've been blessed with so much and yet I choose to satisfy my own selfish appetites.

I've been selfish. It's about time I learn to appreciate what I have.

I pray that I'll learn to enjoy what I do. God, help me find meaning in the things I do, every assignment I submit, every exam I study for. I believe with Geomatics, one will be able to do so much good. Help me believe that with Geomatics, I'll be able to do much good. I thank you for friends on this journey. Friends who share my burdens, friends who listen to my whining, friends who encourages me. I thank you God and may I too be a blessing in their lives. Amen~

________________________________________________________________________

It's crazy! The moment my mindset shifted, good things started to happen, one after another. Reminded me about what Eugene shared in church last Sunday about "The Advancement of God's Kingdom". About having to renew our minds daily and that Heaven is as large as our minds allow it to be. Listen to the podcast here.

So even though I didn't do well for my 1st paper and forgot to bring my keys to work, it's be a good 2 days. Looking forward to many merry days ahead. It may be the start of Winter but Spring doesn't seem to far off.

2 papers down, 2 more to go! Hurray for a one week break.

~ don't let ur mind restrict what God can do ~

Hey June!

May was a tiring month. But the worst is (sorta) over. Now to conquer my exams and after that, rest. Rest sounds nice. Looking back at May, it wasn't too bad.

Ran 50ks with the lodgians. Team BackByMidnight!

Mini-golf with the Clan.

Worked together with Meld to produce this video:

ProjectClockwise!

Performed at The Swept Away Fundraiser Concert:

Just a run down of events that happened over the past month. I'll probably share about more intellectual and deeper issues after exams. Then till, stay safe & study smart!

~ consolidating feelings ~

Limit Break

BIGGEST. WEEK. EVER.

Let's mosey.

~ don't lose focus! ~

BIG HYPE! big letdown?

I think I made the wrong move when I got a bunch of friends a little too excited about a certain "event". Cause right now progress is slow and probably won't be heading anywhere, anytime soon. So apologies for the big hype!

Right now, I'm preoccupied with lots of things, mainly uni. And that should be my (every student's) main focus. 2 weeks to exams but before that, heaps of assignments to clean away. Not forgetting the Meld Magazine video I'll be working on, promo plus dance item for annual dinner and the fundraising event for Japan that's on next Friday! So from now till the end of the June, I'll be busy busy busy.

That means Operation C*rry will be on hold. Indefinitely.

Big letdown? Nope.

If this is for me, the wait will be worth it! If not, God will shut the door.

~ i need a holiday! ~

A Year of Breakthroughs

It's amazing how much has happened over the past year. Who knew that a simple lunch with two friends would turn out to be a life-changing experience. God works in the funniest of ways. I'm proud to say it's been a year of breakthroughs but I'm not done just yet! There's still so much more to live, see and experience. This journey hasn't been easy and it's only going to get tougher, but God is faithful. At the end of the day, I know that it's gonna be ok.

Teach me to be brave. Teach me to have faith. Through the good and the bad times. Teach me to forgive. Teach me to love. Because every minute of living is worth it!

Very exciting stuff. I wonder how things are gonna turn out. Who knows? Things might be different in another year's time. But for now, let's take it one step at a time.

~ happy SF anniversary! ~

Life is like a Cup of Affogato.

Bittersweet.

Right now is definitely an unhappy season of hard work. Work is boring, confusing and yea, it sucks. Curious about what my other course mates think, I decided to ask a few of them today. And surprise, surprise. They all feel the same way I do and they're all looking forward to next semester.

I wonder what I'm looking forward to?

Thank God for friends on this journey. I would be so lost without their guidance and encouragement. I've definitely come too far to lose momentum now. So I'm looking forward to a better semester and winter break!

"... I hope you grow to like your work a bit more each day, each hour you study it... If you did well in yr1, no reason you can't in yr3. Bite the bullet :)"

Time to down the espresso. The ice-cream is waiting.

~ biting the bullet ~

...Ain't Gonna Bring Me Down

"Joy comes in the mornin, juls, tmr will be a better day. Ur not powerless, ur awesome, and God always has surprises for u, so chin up. Holdin hope with u!"

"We never have it all figured out, we just get shown a bit then run towards that. Steward as best we can what we know. Chin up!"

Tay a reminder:

What will you become if you lose your future career as a geometrician? Is this the defining factor for your very being? Or is it your identity in Christ?

But seek first the kingdom of God and Hir righteousness and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

I believe that God has the perfect plan for you. Don't worry so much about having your life figured out. Put your hope and trust in Him, spent time with Him, stay in tune with Him, so that when He shows you His plan, you will not only be available but also ready for it.

_______________________________________________________________________

Geez! You guys just won't give me time to mope, would you?

Thanks for the encouragement! FIGHTING!

~ btw, it's geospatial scientist or geomatician ~

One Bad Day...

and suddenly I'm back to zero.

It funny how as soon as I think I got everything figured out, my hopes and dreams comes crashing down. Suddenly my confidence is shattered and I'm stuck again. This definitely speaks volume about my foundation - weak!

I hate it when I can't bring myself to take uni seriously.

I hate it when I worry about a situation but do nothing about it.

I hate it when Kel points out things that I already know.

I hate it when I feel powerless.

I think... uni is taking a toll on me. I have no passion, no interest in what I do. I dread it. But then again, it's my fault that I'm where I am today. Will I learn to love it? I don't know. I'm not even sure if that's what I want. But without it, what will I become? I really don't know.

I thought I had everything figured out. I guess I thought wrong.

~ tomorrow's a new day, let my hope be renewed ~

Love Inspired, Faith & Hope Empowered

I've never realized but the lyrics to Saviour King is beautiful.

I love You Lord, I worship you,

Hope which was lost, now stands renewed

I give my life to honour this,

The love of Christ, the saviour king.

I love Easter Camps. Each year is always different and each year I learn something new. This year's theme was Engage, Embrace & Empower. Three very powerful words. Three actions I hope to adopt.

I'm impressed by how relevant this year's message is to me. I've been so so blessed to be a part of the LifeExpedition community. It has given me a space to grow spiritually, mentally and emotionally as a person. And also the opportunity to express my passion for dance, music and film.

After receiving so much goodness, it's about time I start giving back. For a while now, I've been wanting to invest into the lives of the younger generation in the community. Giving the other members in LifeTV a chance to lead the video productions is a start. But I'm sure I can do more.

Use me God as a vessel to shine your light in the lives of the people around me. To not be ashamed of my faith but wear it proud like a medal. Make me a person capable of leading and building this generation. To empower them to become people who are loving, brave and hopefully live their lives to its fullest potential. Believers and non-believers.

Teach me to live a Lifhe which is Love Inspired, Faith & Hope Empowered.

I pray for courage God.

To take the risks I've never taken before.

To fight for what's important.

To engage, embrace and empower.

BIG Prayer! But You are faithful God. AMEN!~

I think I'm getting lazy. Didn't even take a single picture at Easter Camp this year. Meh. There's always facebook.

Blessed Easter everyone!

~ let hope be renewed, let hope be renewed ~

Chains be broken, Lives be healed

Ok, I lied. Looks like I won't have time to share about all that before Easter =( But I'm glad I've shared my stories personally with a couple of close friends throughout the week. Right now I'm really pumped for camp. It's gonna be a blessed 3 days and I believe that God's gonna move in the hearts of many.

As Shin Yi have prayed over me today, "God will refine me through His flames", I receive it and anticipate God to work His will through me. So for those of you going off to Easter Camp, go with an anticipating heart. Good things will come your way.

Happy Easter everyone!

~ i'll pack my bags in the morning ~

Where Do I Begin?

I've got soo many stories to share but no idea where to begin. But for now, a sneak peek of what's to come.

Life* 101 Revisit.

Trying VS Living.

Dreams & Ambitions.

Powerless.

First Dates. First Date.

Reading the older posts on this blog, I've realised that I've grown. I'm no longer the kid who's struggling to find his identity. I think I'm comfortable with who I am and where I am at the moment. The moment is good. Very good.

So hopeful I get to share about all of this before Easter Camp!

What are you doing this Easter?

~ hmm... i need to take more pictures for this blog ~

You Could Be Your Own Spotlight

Super excited about Patrick Stump's new solo album, Soul Punk! Loving the new look & sound. Did you know that before FOB he was a drummer? Due to changes in the line-up he became the reluctant lead singer and began playing the guitar. Aren't we all glad he did.

Just bought his Truant Wave-EP. Totally un-FOB, but completely his own style. Prepare to be stumped!

~ check out his youtube channel for more ~