It's only the fourth day I've been together in the same land with my dear. Sometimes, it feels like we've been together for a looong time... Been doing things together and at most times, it's the most normal things, like walking down to the city for dinner, shopping at Myers and just taking a slow walk to Il Dolce Freddo for gelati. Though these things are beautiful in its simplicity, the real beauty is in the girl whose hands I hold.

After tonight, it'll be exactly 6 and a half months we've been together. And I would never exchange anything for this :)

Thank You, Jesus once again. For dying for me on the cross. You took my sin and shame and clothed me with love. There is no one, there is nothing that compares with You. Let me remember Your wondrous love, grace, and mercy everyday of my life, not just in Christmas. If it weren't for You, I would just be a thought. But with You, I can do all things because You strengthens me. You strengthens us!

Only 6 days before this year ends, but everyday is like an amazing gift from Dad, eagerly waiting for us to unwrap the gift He prepared all year. Having S k y e back in Melbourne after more than 6 months is nothing short of amazing. The time we have spent have been wonderful and it gets better. As we walk into the new year with Dad, who holds our future. I can't wait to see all that He has prepared for us.

Out of the many different gifts that my girlfriend gave me was this new Delirious album 'Mission Bell'. There's a line in the song called Miracle Maker that goes:

"I'm holding on
With Your life in mine
Living waters comes
And You've rearranged me."

That's what we've done and that's what we are gonna keep doing until the day we see You face to face. You've rearranged our lives and You've orchestrated all of these. There is so much that You have done in us but there is so much more that You wanna do. Help us to obey.

To walk towards the face of the Miracle Maker
To stand before the feet of the Miracle Maker
To walk in the faith of my Miracle Maker.
Only You, Lord. Only You.

It's been an awesome 3 days together with my dear. But I know and we know that it will just get better and better. We serve a God of 'ands'. The God of no limits. The God who surpasses all boundaries and who has given us the Promise Land. Hold us and never let us go, Dad. Walk us into 2006 and beyond. For You have prepared something that our mind could not contain.

Our Dad and our Miracle Maker, we love You!

Aaahh!!

As I'm writing this, I'm waiting for S k y e's SMS so that I could call her one last time before she boards the QF10 Qantas plane to Melbourne. The timer on my lappie says 8 hours and 13 minutes before I meet her again! This is flippin' surreal!

Lord, it's finally here! The finishing line is right in front of us. It's one. more. sleep before I wake up and drive to the Tullamarine airport to pick her up :) The last memory of that place was when we were there right in front of those heartless metallic doors saying our goodbyes and seeing her walk into the departure hall and then seeing those doors close before me. It was very hard.

In a few hours, after 6 months and 4 days of waiting, she's here again! We'll have new memories together, we'll embrace the past memories and walk into the new year knowing from the depth of our hearts that God has got something so glorious prepared for us, and He's just waiting for us to walk through the doors called Faith.

God, You're awesome and so good to us! It's already been a great year but I know that You've something so great in store for the next 8 days before 2005 officially ends and You'll blow our mind again with everything that You have for us. And as we walk into the new year with each other and more importantly with You, our First Love, You'll hold our hands and walk us into the destiny You've prepared for us.

It's Christmas this weekend, and Planetshakers City Church will be having a Christmas Eve Service at the Melbourne Town Hall. Jesus, You're the reason we're here to have this awesome priviledge to praise You and celebrate all that You've done for us. Thank You for loving us and always been there for us.

It's all happening as the year draws to a glorious end.

Thank You, Dad. You're the best and we love You!

Dinner at Papa Gino's with Ps Matt, Peter and Peggy Wong. There's something about the conversation this evening that warms my heart. Makes me smile inside. Makes me feel grown-up. Not that I'm not already experiencing the attachments that come with adulthood, but the conversation that we had was good and it felt different.

Was talking about the apartment that Peter and Peggy bought in the city called Flinders Wharf. A third storey, two-bedroom apartment facing the Yarra River, next to Holiday Inn. Nice. There's something very heart-warming seeing a couple going through life and still laughing at some of the jokes that they shared when they were first dating. Still holding hands walking down the street, and it's awesome seeing two people God-destined going through life together. Having their first home, and having them share things like how they always walk down the promenade opposite their apartment, on the other side of the river, sitting down and looking at their apartment, thinking what are the future plans that lies ahead of them. Very nice and heart-warming.

But also with that, four or us were also sharing our vision and expectations for ministry. Was chatting about the future plans of planetu n i and how they can be a part of that. Again, the notion of having a couple share their love for each other and also their love for God and translating that into ministry and service to others is just awesome.

On a separate note, it's been 6 months and 6 days since S k y e and I got together and my timer says 2 days and 7 hours before I meet her. Bliss. It will definitely be a great end to a great year. Can't wait for 2006 to come. There's so much more in store, so much more to be discovered and so much more for God to blow our mind. Bliss.

Random moments in the office:

1. Walking into Fu Long Restaurant on Monday with Ps Matt and Scott, thinking that we would save some dough from eating at the usual food court. We were sharing the effects of Christmas shopping. haha. Had an unintended yum cha session and 3 of us shared a big plate of chicken and salted fish fried rice. Interesting lunch session, I say.

2. Hilarious intercom moments in the office. Among my favourites were: "Mark, please report to the basement now." Loved how random that was! "Price check on register number three please" and the winner was "Charlie, please report to the chocolate factory now." What a cracker the PS office is!

3. Seeing Mark's reaction telling everyone in the office he got butter cookies from an old lady he helped. It was funny because Ps Matt was sharing on stage on Sunday that butter cookies is what you give when you don't like a person, and just wanna buy something because it's Christmas.

Good news that make hearts merry during Christmas.

PRIME Minister John Howard wants to put Christ back into Christmas. That sounds like good news to me. Like bring it on! It's time when a prominent leader has the guts to stand and put a stop to all the politically correctness in the society today.

Dump Xmas. Bring back the true meaning of Christmas.

Some of the quotes from the PM that are note-worthy: "I hope some department stores would have the courage to bring back nativity scenes and not just Christmas trees." And when the Prime Minister of the nation actually says that, people listen. It attracts the media. It's high time when the true meaning of Christmas and Spirit of the season dominate the media.

There's a shift in the spiritual atmosphere. It's not just another season. It's the season of the Promise being fulfilled where God wants to reclaim the land and to take authority wherever your feet takes you.

Jesus Christ. He's the true reason for the season.

But when I look at the stars I see someone else
When I look at the stars I feel like myself
Stars looking at a planet watching entropy and pain
And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives
could pass as sane
- Stars, Switchfoot.

Stars. That's you and me :) God has made us shine in a place where there's so much darkness. Ever wonder how black holes come about? Here's a little National Geographic for you - Black holes exist when stars stop becoming what they are and they evolve into black holes. And for those who don't know, black holes, well.. suck. That's what they do basically.

Be what God has called you to be today Choose: Star or Black Hole.

Jesus died so that you could be a star. That's who you are when you wake up and look at the mirror. Even though, it's true that for some it's harder to imagine than others. haha.. When you look up at the nightsky and finds a star. Remember, God has placed it there for a reason. And it could be there to remind you that you're one. Spotting the Orion's Belt still amazes me and puts a smile on my face. How God's beauty reminds you of other beautiful things is... awesome!

When I look at the stars, I see you and me :)

This will be a long post about the final internship meeting on Wednesday, 14th December 2005.

Everyone in the internship knew it was gonna be the last internship meeting that we'll ever have but nobody knew what was gonna happen. We didn't have a meeting in the morning at the Kew Building as usual 'cause Ps Chad messaged everyone telling us to meet at his place at 7.30pm. There was such an air of mystery. Not even Ps Tiffany knew what Ps Chad has up his sleeve for us! I left the church office with Ps Tiffany and Ben Hallam at 6.30pm and we drove to Ps Chad and Tiffany's house. We reached there at about an hour later.

Ps Chad and Tiffany has got a very nice-looking house, a lot of green around it. Drive another 20 minutes and you'll reach Ps Russell's house. Walk around the corner it's Ps Ben's house and furthur down the road is Ps Mike Gugs' house. Another 10 minutes down Maroondah H'way, make a left turn, and it would be Ps Matt's. Some refer to it as the 'holy-zone'. haha! At about 7.45pm everyone was there. All 21 of us. It was amazing just seeing everyone again. Although there were some that were not there, like Ashley who went on a holiday and Jamaal who's in US now, there was something about all 21 of us there sharing the last few moments of internship together with Ps Chad and Tiffany.

When all of us were gathered together at the living room, Ps Chad was saying that he was planning to do something special for us since it'll be the last internship meeting we'll ever have together. After that, we all hopped on the 20-something seater bus, the ones they usually use for Boom. We were all so excited and everyone had a smile on their face. We looked as it we were going for an excursion. It was cute. One of the intern girls who only joined us in June and will continue on internship till July '06 was driving the bus. We were in the bus and nobody had any idea where we were going. Until about 30 minutes later, we figured that we were going up to the top of Mount Dandenong! :) The ride up there was fun, we were all wondering if the bus could handle all of our weight 'cause the bus was moving so slowlyyy. But thankfully, it did and before we know it, we were up there. When we got down the bus, it was almost sunset. It was beautiful up there at that time. We walked up a flight of stairs and on the grass area, Rudy was already there much earlier setting up the place. There were rugs on the place, and 2 chairs with a guitar.

It was about 8.30pm, the sun was setting and Ps Chad began to share with us for one last time. Rudy was playing the guitar softly the whole time. I have to admit that the combination of all that really stirred up an emotional mood for all of us up there. Ps Chad began to share while we were looking at the sunset. He was sharing on how as we're looking at the sunset now, it's figuratively speaking the sun is setting in one chapter of our lives. All of the time we've spent together this year have led up to this.

"I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

- Philippians 3:7-14 [NLT]

He went on sharing about how whatever that we do from now, depends on us. When Elisha was separated from Elijah, it was all up to him. He picked up the cloak and struck the river with it. As the internship draws to an end, we gotta pick up the cloak, the mantle, the deposit that God has given us and run with it. Although we don't know where we're heading to yet, it doesn't matter, 'cause God will reveal that as we remain faithful in Him. But all we must do is to hit something.

Ps Chad ended his sharing at about 8.45pm, and that was when the sunset was right at the horizon, when I looked back, I saw the full moon to my amazement. All the trees, shrubs in front of the sun began to fade into a silhouette. It was wonderful to see God's beauty overshadow everything else. We sat there for at least 20 minutes quietly absorbing the final moments of the internship in that beautiful moment. Looking at the sunset. Nobody said a word, but yet it was so filled with awe. As the sun finally set in the far horizon, it was like 'That's it... That's the end of internship.' Yet in Ps Russell's words it isn’t the end, it's just the beginning of our lives. At that point of time, sitting on the hilltop of Mt Dandenong, there was a tinge of sadness knowing that this was gonna be the last time the whole group was gonna be together in a setting like this.

We packed up at about 9.30pm. All of us hopped on the bus again and we headed back to Ps Chad's. Along the way, there were hilarious moments that totally cracked me up. We stopped by Domino's to take-away 6 pizzas. The wait grew so long that Justine was saying that if she ran from here to the house, she would reach there earlier than us. Ps Chad dared her to do it for $50. Sarah later joined her and they started running into the darkness (literally). haha! How I love random and spontaneous moments like that! Finally when we got the pizzas, we raced home. Man! It wasn't near at all! We were swaying from side to side, cutting corners and all. It was all fun.

We hung around Ps Chad's and demolished all 6 pizzas in less than 5 minutes! hahaha.. Is it really true that interns are always hungry?! Funny as. Some of the guys were later playing Sting Pong: a variation of ping pong. Let me explain briefly, basically in Sting Pong, two people will play a 5-point ping pong match. The person who lost by having a score of nil or one will have to be 'stung'. In which, he will have to lift up his shirt, face his back on the other opponent and that person will hit the ball as hard as possible with his bat onto his bare back. There you go - The Sting Pong.

As I was saying, since the interns are always hungry, some of the girls later drove to Coles to buy some snacks, chocolates and ice cream. Which were also all demolished in a flash. We spent the night chatting away, watched and laughed at random TV programs. He sat around till almost 1am, when we decided that it's time to go back home. Sarah Dwyer (who's going back to Sydney this Saturday at 10am) drove Vonnie and I back, with Bettina and Kanna in the car while chatting and listening to a Dean Martin Christmas carols (goood sounding carols) heh ;)

That was the account of the final internship meeting that we have. For everything that has taken place this year, good or bad, there is nothing that would make me wanna trade the internship for anything. How God has shaped me and dug deep into my foundation has been a milestone in my life and for 2005. So, bring 2006 on! Because God's saying when He's done with fixing and building the foundation, it's time to build!

Thank You, Lord for bringing me through internship. It has changed my life and thank You for all the fellow interns that You've placed around me. Each of them are precious and I know that we all will be shaking the planet for You!

Thank You, Lord!

Don't blink. Or it'll be 2006 already.

People make new year resolutions, some keep them, some don't even remember what they are in the first place. Why? Resolutions are kinda like milestones of achievement in one's life. It's like if I'm able to achieve that, then I have done something with my life this year and I've moved on. I, for one, do not make new year resolutions. I believe God has prepared a life more abundant and wants you to overcome and experience countless victories in your life, much more than those you can overcome by yourself. That way, God receives all the glory. That man should not boast about himself, but about the One who chooses to work through him.

There's something about celebrating new year with your loved ones. Especially when you celebrated the coming to this year on New Year's Eve the year before with each other. There's such significance in spending the last few moments of a year together and welcoming the first few moments of the new year together. I reckon, God who's our First Love wants to do that too. I begin to picture him as a person, an individual. We spent the whole year with him, laughing, crying, talking and walking with him. But come new year eve, we leave him alone in a corner. His heart's desire is saying "I wish I can be the one holding you when the countdown ends, but.. you seem a little too busy for me." I can imagine tears flowing down his cheek when we decide to put him on a shelf come new year. Let him be the one that hold you this year. He's longing to do that. There's nothing and no one who would give you a better year without him by your side through it all.

God, our Father in heaven wants to hold us and tell us that it will all be ok. There are some things that are still cloudy, but they will be revealed in due time. Just believe. Don't let go of His hands. Remember those times when He held your hands and led you through the valley, and with the same hands he held you close to Him, listening to every word you have to say. Just believe.

In response to the words 'Hold me, never let me go', Ps Russell shared that the Holy Spirit's response is 'I've never let you go. I will never do that. I'll never leave you or forsake you. Yes, sometimes it's quiet, but even in your room, I'm there. Just feel me, I'm there with you.'

He just wanna spend time with you. Hang with you. Only if you let Him.

Yet another farewell party for one of the interns. This time, Sarah Dwyer. There were heaps of people, mostly from Boom and the internship class of 2005 of course :) Sarah, who's going back to Sydney to shake the planet is leaving us this Saturday morning. Somewhere next week, Kanna will be leaving us too. That makes three, after Jamaal who is in Oklahoma, USA now shaking the world for Jesus.















Life is your friend.

Quoted by Ps Ben Fewster in the sermon today. It was his first time preaching in church and he totally blitzed it. I reckon that was probably one of the best preaching I've heard this year. So authentic and so power-packed with God's anointing. There's a certain wow-factor in hearing my former urbanlife leader whom I gleaned a lot from preach. He's definitely one of the best leaders/friends I've had a personal relationship with, in church.

My legs are feeling the effects of jumping around like crazy in church, that was when we had the extended praise during the third service. It's been a great weekend. Currently, Christmas jingles playing in my head. Hmm.. Christmas bells don't exactly constitute bedtime music for me. Alright peoples, I better stop rambling and focus on getting some rest. Sounds like a good idea :)

Life is your Friend. Embrace it.

:)

2

weeks before I see her again :)

There's every reason to be merry this Christmas!

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
- Psalms 91:14-15 [NIV]

How great is Your love, Lord! I'll never comprehend and understand the extent of Your love for me. Yet when I wake up in the morning and think that it's too hard to go on, I'll tell myself "I can do it, I can do it, Yes, I can do it!" Because You love me and You'll deliver me, rescue me, protect me and save me from all circumstances.

God is love. And God responds to love. God responds to hurts. How many times have we made Him cry yet He still says that He loves us. But when we say that we love Him and magnify it through our actions, He responds to that too. Our God is awesome!

This week has been awesome, first started of by an internship breakup dinner at Ps Russell and Sam's house. It was the most amazing time we could spend as fellow interns with other pastors there as well; Ps Mike and Amanda, Ps Matt and Lisa, Mark Penny, Ian and Debbie Prescott, Ps Rob and Assunta came for awhile, and so did Henry. There were just so much food on that night, and I was pleasantly surprised when I realised that Ps Sam actually prepared all of them. From the starters, like the various salads and such, through to the barbie, and then the dessert, which saw 4 different kinds of cakes all sliced and decorated on small plates. Their house was very nice and cosy to say the least. It was sprawled over a generous piece of land surrounded by abundant flora all around. They have a large backyard/garden with a heated pool and a tennis court at the side of their house! The evening was amazing, with Ps Chad and Tiffany giving each of us gifts. My gift was a black T-shirt that has the word 'Australia' over the chest. haha.. Ps Chad was saying that this is so that I can remember Australia as where it all started wherever I go in the future. Ps Russell and Sam then shared with us for awhile and then the interns did some pressie-exchange. My secret santa was Brad and he gave me a Planetuni T-shirt at first, then he said that the 'serious' one was 2 boxes of Cadbury chocolate :) He crack me up all the time! Both were wrapped in pink Barbie wrapping paper too! It was painful to hold but easy to rip it apart. hahaha! After that, we were sitting at the side of the pool having drinks while most of the guys jumped into the pool, entertaining us with their 'stunts'. We left at about 11.15pm and reached home close to midnight.

Ps Chad was mentioning in the internship yesterday that it was an amazing and special night for all of us at Ps Russell's because to have all of us at Ps Russell's house as interns will never happen again. Because next year when internship double in the numbers, the breakup wouldn't be at their house anymore, because it will be just too many people. So, it was a special moment for us to share that 'intimate' moment with them at their house. Speaking of internship, yesterday was the last time in history we're going to meet together in a group and we were just sharing with each other what were our 'last words' for the group in a setting like that. Later that evening, I made a trip back to the city, then to Bridge Road and St Kilda to do some Christmas shopping for S k y e love :)

It is only FIFTEEN DAYS before I meet her again. Can't wait. This will be an amazing month for me. It already is but it will just get better and better! Never have I looked forward to Christmas Eve so much in the 24 years of my life!

Interns Class of 2005

Front Row (L-R): Ben Hallam, Justine Hart, Brad Hooker, Ian Lee, Yvonne Lee, Katie Mallett, Nathan Mallon, Jessica Neden, Ben Prescott, Elizabeth Prescott, Jamaal Richardson, Shobana Sebastian, Lisa Short, Bettina Vajay, Janet Walker.
Back Row(L-R): Jeremy Gaschk, Kanna-Joy Andres, Todd Gawn, Ps Chad Harding (Internship Pastor), Ashley Gazel, Sarah Dwyer, Me :), Shaun Bergin, Ps Tiffany Harding.

4th of December 2005, the first batch of Interns graduated. It was two minutes to 7pm in Storey Hall when we were standing in a line at the right side of the stage. Ps Chad was holding a mic in his hand, followed by Ps Tifanny right behind him, waiting for the cue from Ps Sam. The only word that I could describe when all of us were standing together waiting to go on stage was electrifying. There was such an atmosphere were we were looking at each other, giving hugs, and nods of we've-made-it-this-far. Some of the girls standing near the door were tearing while being consoled and hugged by other intern girls. Ps Chad often looked behind at us, with the gaze of a pastor, our leader and in a many ways than one our interns 'dad'.

At about 7.10pm Ps Chad and Tiffany went on stage. They made an introduction of the internship and later called our names one by one to go on stage and receive the certificate from Ps Russell. When the certs were all handed out, we were being prayed for, Ps Russell spoke for a short moment, the people stood up for an ovation, clapped, cheered and it was about that time when the graduated interns walk down the stage.

For all the ups and all the downs, it was been the 9 months that changed my life! If there is one thing that I would thank God for is that He directed me to do the internship in 2005. The moment when Ps Chad walked up to me after a leadership meeting at Arrow to tell me the good news that I was accepted, my heart never really stopped beating at such a fast pace. I knew that it was gonna be a year that will change my life. There has been much stretching and some full-on discipleship and inputs every week leading up to now. There has been times when you rejoice knowing that you're doing what God has purposed for you to do, so come what may I will brace the storm, but there has also been times when you sit down and wonder what have I put myself into? Some people think that being an intern means you have priviledges and such *press the buzzer* oops, sorry, very wrong answer yet again! Being an intern means you gotta learn how to serve. And keep serving, and keep serving.

Praise JESUS for my fellow interns that has jumped on the boat this year. People like them made it so much more possible. Sometimes I feel like we're the modern-day 12 disciples. I reckon everytime when the disciples met together, there are times when they messed around, there are times when they prayed for each other, there are times when they had to cry with each other, and bear each other's burdens. There are times when they sat around Jesus and listened to His teaching, yet there are times when they had to disperse and do the ministry of Jesus among the people. It was my absolute priviledge and honour to know men and women of God who will definately shake the planet together.

2005 has been a year where God had to put me through the fire. So that the pure gold could be separated from the dirt. It has been a time where God prepared me, and had to put me through that process of refining and strengthening the foundation in my life. Now, it's time to run into 2006. It's time to turn the heat in 2006 and not let everything that God has done in my life to go to waste. It's time when interns graduate to fighters and champion overcomers for God.

In the words of Ps Chad when I started internship early this year, once you're an intern always remember that wherever you go, Planetshakers is your last name.

Let's shake the planet together.

Second of December two thousand and five.

In four days, it would be brother's nineteenth birthday. Two days after that, would be my mom's birthday. It's been a while since I celebrated their birthdays. It's been a while since we celebrated birthdays as a family actually. My brother messaged me thirty minutes ago asking me when I'll be touching down. It'll be great to see them. All of them. It will be great to go to DUMC as a family too :) Which will soon be renamed to Dreamcenter. Nice! You go, Ps Daniel Ho. I remember beaming with pride as I read the brochure explaining the various structures in the new building. I was like you mean that's my church? haha.

By the end of this year, I would be in Planetshakers City Church for twenty two months. Still remember the first time standing on the balcony while Henry Seeley and team belted out songs like 'Reflector' and 'How I Love You'. My thoughts then we like if these people kept jumping like that, won't the balcony fall apart in six months or something? hahaha, no... it didn't fall for sure. We're all still here. Remember one time I went to Hungry Jacks and Rudy came up to me and asked me if I want to help out doing pack up. I was like you mean I get to touch Planetshakers gear? hahaha.. silly me. Remember the first time I walked to the alter call and Ps Ben prayed for me. Remember going to my first urbanlife in September '04 sitting in the core group meeting with twenty other people. Having Ps Ben calling me every other day to discuss about urbanlife. Going to his office at Salvos making seventy to a hundred calls between both of us. It was fun actually. Remember Ps Ben and I going to Safeway at Lygon to buy sausages, drinks and food for our barbeque end of the year. We were still in his small maroon Hyundai Accent. Remember Ps Ben calling me up early this year asking me to take over the group. Remember standing on the stage with butterflies in my stomach and sweaty palms while I shared a 5 minute (or so) testimony. Ps Russell and Sam's response were classic! Especially with Brian moving closer to the keyboards to 'prepare' just in case. lol! You people crack me up! :) Remember how Ps Matt moved to Melbourne in February and everything was like a dream come true. Remember the time when he went on stage and was introduced as the University Pastor. wow. Remember one time I went to his place after internship and played a car racing game! hahaha.. I beat him by one second! woohooo! But he beat me heaps of times though. I reckon, he practiced! hehe. There's so many other memories that are worth mentioning but if I would it would take up the whole blog. Like DNA retreats, going to church after my accident, standing right in front of the moshpit with my buddy Narmit, delirious easter concert, etc. For the record, remember Ps Chad walking up to me and saying that my internship application has been approved. Don't know how to react then, but to ask him can I hug you? haha!

There's nothing I would do that would make me want to exchange those memories for anything. The time when God orchestrated everything with S k y e and me. And how he is still doing an awesome work in us. How He'll be bringing us into the sixth month since we're together and beyond. There is nothing that I would do to trade those moments. Remember the time when we got together like it was yesterday. How we met Ps Matt at church then Brunetti's to hear his say.

It's been a ride.

And it's only twenty nine days before we welcome two thousand and six.

" Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not his benefits -

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
- Psalms 103:1-5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

There it is! The ultimate recipe for success in life, the blueprint to having the fullness of life lies in trusting Him. Forget Oprah, forget Dr. Phil, forget the self-help books that do nothing but make whoever writes them filthy rich. Our trust has to yield to the One and Only, the Almighty God. Not in giftings, skills, situations, the degree that you worked hard for, not in the bank account balance, not in people and institutions, not in societies and governments, not in anything but GOD. Why? Have you ever thought about it? Could it be because He invented life itself. But it's not enough to just trust Him, because we are good at trusting partially, half-heartedly. But God says to trust Him with all your heart. When God has your heart, He has everything, all of you. When you give Him your heart, He is able to take you and mold you. Breathe into you the very same breath of life that gives life to everything in this world!

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

There's the word again: all. God's pretty much into 'all' ain't He? I guess it's so easy to fall into the trap of pride in a man's life. To acknowledge ourselves, corporations, the supposedly gurus of this and that. But God, the One who gave life and breath to everything takes the backseat. There is something that is not right with the picture! God has to be made famous, He has to be on everyone's lips. The enemy is very good at diverting attention to anything and everything else except God. 'Cause He knows that when God is in the picture, there is no place for him to stand. So, we see heaps of pictures and information on other stuff. It. is. just. stuff! Let me give you a definition of stuff: Little things in everyday life that don't matter, but they have the ability to trip you. So, every single day, we see stuff getting mentioned. Where does God stand? Still in the box called church the world decides to put Him in. How wrong!! The Word says acknowledge Him. Acknowledge Him. Speak of Him like He's the biggest thing that happened to you. I just don't get when people talk about God in a mellow, O-He's-so-holy-I-must-be-solemn-forever mode! No, no, no, no, no.... missed the point! *press the buzzer* wrong answer, mate! sorry! 'cause every single human being get excited over something in life, at least one thing. But how come when it comes to the Creator of the world, the Saviour of our soul, our Father in heaven, we tend to mellow down and give that attitude of it's uncool to talk about religion and God. No, acknowledge Him in all your ways. For there is a promise that comes after that.

And He shall direct your paths.

When you go to a foreign country, you either get the help of a tour guide or you call someone you know who stays there. Otherwise, you get lost! How many times when you have all the gear and map, but still you find yourself getting lost and confused. If that's not you, good. You're either Crocodile Dundee, Tarzan or some superhuman with some in-built GPS chip. But in this life, how can you go ahead without the help of the one that created life itself? Makes no sense when you put it that way isn't it? But it's so true, that we do it in our lives, every single day! I imagine as a parent who gives birth to the baby, but when the baby grows to an age where he or she can reason and rejects the parents. How sad would it be? How sad our Dad is when we decide to break His heart by going our own way. Thinking we've got it all together.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
And nourishment to your bones.

Honour the LORD with your wealth,
With the firstfruits of all your crops;
Then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
And your vats will brim over with new wine.
-Proverbs 3:5-10 [NIV]