Quotes from P-Loo's Nov 8, 2009 sermon

So yesterday's "Language and Intimacy" sermon was pretty interesting. Pastor Loo talked about how it was through language that we develop intimacy. For example, when you name something, you are somehow drawn closer to it (i.e. "that is a bunch of dogs" vs. "that is a labrador, that is a poodle, that is a labradoodle") Because you assign them different names to differentiate them, you are paying more attention to each one individually. (see Genesis 2: 19-20 - where Adam names the animals)

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. It is only through relationships with others that we can be truly human. (God made woman of man, to make man a suitable helper - we are meant to be community-based, rather than individual-oriented).

Anyway, I'm sure a missed a lot of points that puts this all into context, but I leave you with these three quotes that I really liked:

"If there were no God, there would be no atheists." - G.K. Chesterton

"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, and only God can fill it. " - Blaise Pascal

"The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God." - Bruce Marshall, 1945

count your blessings

... but don't put all your eggs in one basket

so the first 2 days of work at 1941 have gone pretty well. yesterday was exciting. not only was it store grand opening, but I made a ridiculous amount of sales, possibly more than all my sales put together at my last retail job. unfortunately there were instances where i was not very please with the behaviour of my co-workers. hopefully this will sort itself out in the weeks to come. which brings me to my next point.

today. while canvassing for CFS, i discovered that a store at Masonville has been waiting for me to come back because they want to offer me a permanent position with them. a month ago, i would have jumped at this opportunity because i've been working at it for a year. today, it is a struggle to make a decision because of 1941. and thus begins the dilemma:

• 1941 is an awesome job; it's fun, it looks good, good potential pay, good potential benefits.
• LVER: the manager, assistant and one of the associates already like me and want me to work with them
• 1941: probation period of 90 days. a store opening pretty much guarantees cuts. can't tell who is going to get cut. everyone is hard working, and no one has slacked yet. everyone is pretty on par so far.
  
• LVER: this is a guaranteed permanent position.

I've got about 2 weeks to make a decision. She wants me to start beginning of November. Maybe that time will tell me how Coach turns out. Maybe I can arrange my schedule to manage both. (Probably not). There is hope?

There is God.

namesake.

i should be thankful.
but to be completely honest,
i am so

s c a r e d

l'ecole- so far so good. nothing to worry about, just need to muster up the motivation to complete assignments on time (to keep to a schedule, work ahead of time instead of cramming) and to stay on top of readings.

CFS - i FINALLY got a position within the team. i've been working to find a way to get in on this whole operation since first year, and finally (in what should have been my last year) i have found my outlet. i'm hoping that it'll be everything i dreamed it to be and more than i expected. i'm super excited and looking forward to every last bit of it.

1941 - i got a job with a company that i am not very familiar with. i have no history with this brand, and yet there is something about me that the manager found so to hire me. what is this thing? i am not sure. i have to discover this and exploit it. i need to learn the tricks of the trade. finesse my sale skills. establish lasting relationships..

but what if this doesn't last?
what if it gets taken away?

let go.
let God.

easier said than done.

Cinderelly, Cinderelly

so it seems like my life it pulling itself together. school's alright (so far). just got a job. going to retreat. meeting frosh. made friends at summer camp. captain-ing ultimate. looks like things are going good. it's like "i have a purpose", as cliche as that sounds. i have a flexible schedule with enough time to get everything done comfortably. yet, as odd as it sounds, i feel a l o n e .

i know that i probably don't make enough effort to keep in touch with a lot of people, but i thought that having a core group of people would be Enough. that there was some sort of hierarchy of friendship and that i had figured mine out. but i think, i've let some people slide into the shadows.

for the past two days as i was cleaning the house, it as invigorating, the feeling of getting rid of the clutter and having a bare floor to show. it doesn't make a room empty, but presentable; clean, but with just enough flare to brighten it up.
i've realized that when i procrastinate, I tend to think, and then i cope by cleaning. so perhaps, instead of just cleaning up the physical mess that lies before me, I should tackle the wreck within instead of moving the piles from one place to another.

~
~
~

maybe i'm too hard on myself. (i've heard that many times). despite all the accomplishments i've made for myself, i still feel that it's not enough. Enough for what? i'm not sure. but perhaps the problem lies in the sentence itself. maybe all my accomplishments were not for me, but for other people. to prove that i am capable, to prove that i am strong, to prove that i am w o r t h y.

when i think of the things that i've done, they've all been pretty awesome experiences. some things, none of my friends have done before. and at the time, i was pretty psyched about them, internally. that's one problem: i don't express my feelings outwardly. not nearly enough. sometimes what i do let out, doesn't come across as appreciative. i give off an air of nonchalance. as if i don't really care about it, cuz it's no big deal. people have done greater things. and honestly, people have. but i think the issue is, that it seems to other people, that i take things for granted (and maybe i do) and i need to fix that.

i fill my plate with all these things to do, these things to get done; goals, projects, events. i don't know how i balance it, i just get things done. and then i get this feeling of being overwhelmed, that nobody is helping, that i have to do things alone, because help just isn't good enough. i need to let go, need to stop holding on to things, and just let things happen. i can't control the world, i can only control myself.

still Better(ing) The World

Hey Reader,

It is now the month of July. People are still joining Better The World to help raise awareness and funds for various causes worldwide just by surfing the web!

It's been a while since I've written, but since then I won the Better The World's May Contest (which was a MacBook Pro) and Better The World has donated textbooks to a classroom in Africa on my behalf through the care of Lewa Education Program.

I strongly encourage everybody to join Better The World, download the sidebar, recruit friends and starting playing their part in bettering the world together :)


Click here to get started:

Better The World

Dear Reader,
You may or may not have already gotten emails regarding this, but please check this out.
Better the World lets you raise money for charity just by surfing the web; you get to choose the cause that you want to support, they give you these simple actions to take, and that's it!

This site was started by my friend's cousin. So don't worry, it's legit =P


http://www.bettertheworld.com?refid=1238634387860728&reftype=user&refpref=0

trust. hope. faith.

God will provide sufficient counsellors for HYPE
God's plan for my future is far better than i could ever imagine
i can continue to be faithful and not doubt
Love will prevail

～～～

i know they need a leader, but i am weak and tired. i am afraid that i can only do more harm than good. an unwilling heart is poisonous. i must have faith that He will provide when there is need. but at the same time, we cannot sit back and wait for Him to work. we must do part and He will do His. what is my part?

i know i want to be a part of the group. i want to feel accomplished. i want to be able to say that i've done it. i know i can do a great job. i will be dedicated to the cause. i need the feeling of knowing i am wanted. and yet i overlook all the things i have done. i toss them to the wayside in pursuit of this goal. perhaps i have lost my way. what are my reasonings? what is my motivation? why have i made Your people less significant than the lost?

i know i wasn't meant to be external. i've accepted that fact. the first time, i thought it was because i wasn't ready. the second time, i knew it simply wasn't meant to be. but i trust. that things will work according to His plan.