The Battle Within!

For the past 2 years, spidey movies have been released within a week of my birthday. I do feel it's apt that the producers and that Hollywood as an industry considered my intense feelings- since Spidey is and will always be, my favourite super hero.

Well, i like him not cos of the fact that he's agile, has a great sense of humour (very important for a super hero!) and can swing from building to building. Not to mention his spidey sense- very handy, this one! I like how he is human and fallible. Like how he can lose his powers when he lacks a sense of meaning and purpose of why he has powers in the first place. (reminds me of the parable of talents-"For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Matt 25:29) i like the use it or lose it imagery! haha.

Well, spidey 3 is encapsulated by "The battle within"=) sounds quite like the battle between spirit and flesh in the bible as well!
i like that phrase, and i'm quite excited to watch the film!

Always... Continually... Give thanks.

Gratitude for Ungrateful Days
by Max Lucado

“Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NCV

Look at the totality of those terms. Always be joyful. Pray continually. Give thanks whatever happens. Learn a lesson from Sidney Connell. When her brand-new bicycle was stolen, she called her dad with the bad news. He expected his daughter to be upset. But Sidney wasn’t crying. She was honored. “Dad,” she boasted, “out of all the bikes they could have taken, they took mine.”

Make gratitude your default emotion, and you’ll find yourself giving thanks for the problems of life. Need spice in your day? Thank God for every problem that comes down the pike. Is any situation so dire that gratitude is eliminated? Some of the ladies at the Women of Faith Conference thought it was. This great organization fills arenas with women, and women with hope. The president, Mary Graham, told me about one particular weekend in which a shortage of space tested everyone’s patience.

The floor had 150 fewer seats than needed. The arena staff tried to solve the problem by using narrow chairs. As a result, every woman had a place to sit, but everyone was crowded. Complaints contaminated like feedlot fragrance. Mary asked Joni Eareckson Tada, a speaker for the evening, if she could calm the crowd. Joni was perfectly qualified to do so. A childhood diving accident had left her wheelchair-bound. The attendants rolled her onto the platform, and Joni addressed the unhappy crowd. “I understand some of you don’t like the chair in which you are sitting. Neither do I. But I have about a thousand handicapped friends who would gladly trade places with you in an instant.”

The grumbling ceased.

Yours can too.

Impossible, you say? How do you know? How do you know until you give every day a chance?

From Every Day Deserves a Chance
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado

Teary eyed...

After a long day at Balga for pract... i came home to 3 beautiful cards =) Such a precious reminder of love! Came home @4pm dreading the fact that i have to get my butt over to the library for my shift later at 5pm, but i was soooo drawn to tears by the birthday cards!! *such a softie i am* Thanks mom, dad, josh, jon and Gu ma! i love receiving and reading cards! Am so so touched.... the last thing on my mind this week is that my birthday is coming.... So much work, programs to be written, teaching logs to be filled in, reflection journals to be handed in... But the reminder that i'm above all of this.... the reminder that i may feel pressured cos of workload, but i'm not overwhelmed nor does my identity or security come from by performance. Such is the beauty of being a child of God.

Colossians 3:23-24
" Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men."

My boss is Jesus... Amen!

no particular point. just random...

mishi says:
ooo
me want food
you enough

.:marianne:. says:
not yet cooked
so I guess I could make more

mishi says:
help need?
mishi go.

.:marianne:. says:
nah, not really
unless mishi want make salad

mishi says:
tired you?
massage want?

.:marianne:. says:
or other companion dish
me tired

mishi says:
salada righto!

.:marianne:. says:
ooo

mishi says:
salad mishi make

.:marianne:. says:
maasage, want!
mishi make salad
mishi mad




mishi says:
no. no mad
mishi MAKE salad... no mad.
after make, den mishi madE salad.
okay massage oil bring.

.:marianne:. says:
but marianne cooking
unless mishi want to add massage oil to cooking?

mishi says:
haha
eeeew
k time?

.:marianne:. says:
call you in a while?
when the food is about to be cooked

mishi says:
pokies okies
me bring salad
got drink?
drink i have.

.:marianne:. says:
only the leftover

mishi says:
roger that
btw...roger moore was a lousy james bond.
see you later.

.:marianne:. says:
see you

1,100th post.

Echoing Servant Leadership

well in a reflective post... Teck Hong (my brother, josh's mentor's mentor??) put it very aptly....

"Leaders should identify and meet the needs of their people and serve them. They should not try to meet the wants of their people, be slaves to them. Slaves do what others want, servants do what others need. There is a world of difference between meeting wants and meeting needs."

Non-Negotiables.

The MUST DO-s of DAILY living.

1. Read and/or Write the word of God
(One effective way of doing this, i picked up from my mom... she would sit and write a passage of scripture every night in her notebook. And as i watched, i realised that's how she processed and absorbed the word, by writing it out in black and white. And maybe, just maybe... at the end of our lives we can say we've touched on or at least seen a majority of God's word and etched it in our hearts. Like what Ps Michael Battersby touched on, if we nourish our bodies with physical food, what less feeding our spirit? Isn't that more important? "Man shall not live by bread alone...But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God Matt 4:4")

2. Eat healthy meals.
(Just started doing this, trying to cut down on snacks/ coffee. And including salads and fruit in my diet. The perils of growing up/old--- delete where appropriate.)

3. Get enough sleep.
(how much is enough? Well, for a pre-service teacher nothing is enough. But 7-8 hours is wise)

4. Stretch.
(Research proves that stretching (legs and arms) keeps you flexible, helps blood circulation and is an idiot proof method to staying agile and nimble.)

5. Brush my teeth
(Okay, sometimes when i'm tired i admit that i don't always do this. BUT i'm going to make it a must before my dentist- who sees my teeth once a year- flips!)

So 5 non-negotiables seem do-able.
I'm not intending on increasing this list anytime soon. Less is more! HOO HAA!

Only to discover

Bright and early morning....
i walked to the stairs only to discover i had forgotten to bring my notebook for class....
So i walked back up to take my notebook.... closed the door, went down to the bike...
Only to discover i'd left my bike keys on the dining table!

So i walked back up again to grab my bike keys... grabbed them... went back downstairs...
Only to discover i'd left my jacket upstairs when i went to take my notebook...
So i walked back up to take the jacket (this time trying not to forget anything else).
Back at the bike (finally) and very sure i hadn't forgotten anything now....

was 5 mins late for class =(

...... and..... i had forgotten to bring a pen to take notes with ???!!!?

A week before my 24th birthday and i'm losing my memory!!!!

okay the worst case scenario.... was last night when we were on our way to CATS at regal theatre in Subi... we were all in Roy's car at the traffic light in front of Chutney Mary's... and only to discover...upon seeing the flashing lights of the Regal theatre...that i'd forgotten to bring the tickets (yes, i pre paid and bought everyone's tickets... all freaking 10 of them!!!) i choked on the mint i had in my mouth for 10 seconds b4 yelling out "the tickets are at home!!" and to add to the chaos... my house keys were at Marianne's place...

O the horrors. Then Roy managed to get us to Nedlands from Subi in like.... 5 mins??
Upon reaching Nedlands (and getting the keys from Cass, thanks girl).... David called up to say we could get in without tickets anyway, we just had to tell the counter my name and clarify we bought the tickets etc.... So we zoomed back to Subi in like 6mins???

ok, there's no moral to this anecdote... just don't ever try making this into a movie. haha. Anxiety levels are too high, plus the horrible lack of plot.

Meow!

We watched it!!

sometimes its just us.

Leftovers

Been getting into the habit of varying my leftovers from dinner for lunch =)
Today, i've got yummy pasta with asparagus and bacon with cheese and mashed potatoes.
Eat hot pasta! cold pasta is a no no.

Was also chatting with a couple of cell members about The Parable of the Talents. (i know it's been overused, but it's these things that are overused that highlight the point of revelation and how teachable we really are)

So service to the Lord cannot (and will not) be defined by ministry within the church. Yes, serving in church helps us to grow and learn and "stretch", but it is our rship with God and our lives outside of church that really reinforce what it means to be a christian. So often we forget that God has called us to reach the unchurched, to be a light where there is darkness- how do we do that if we're always in church? On the other hand, don't try to be of the world- yes we can be relevant and stay "trendy" to appeal to the unreached but it doesn't mean we become like the world. There really is a healthy balance.

And we were also chatting about how all of us have gifts and talents- whether on stage or off, whether some talents are more glorified/popular compared to others.... God sees the heart. You can have a voice like Mariah Carey's or Whitney Houston's - and when you sing worship songs, people are ministered and you facilitate the presence of God. Thing is, your intimate rship with God must be that foundation upon which you build your 'talents' on. We will just be 'clanging cymbals' or hollowed out people. Or as the bible states that our arrow head is sharp and piercing but our wooden shaft that follows is crooked.

The life that i live must back up the service which i offer to God or else all is naught. Don't give God your leftovers. He deserves much more- he is worthy of your 'first fruit'.

Pastor preached about Child dedication and praying for your children. And all i could think of and be thankful for was the fact that i've been so blessed to have parents who first gave. I strongly believe i'm blessed today and my brothers also- because of my parent's faithfulness and obedience to God. It has/ and will not be easy for mom and dad... but they still want to please God's heart, they know what it means when obedience is required more than sacrifice.

I'm so blessed. =) Thanks daddy and mommy.

undignified??

hey mishi

Thanks for all the _______ all these last few years. My life is certainly richer because of you.
We see each other every day now (and sometimes more than once in a day).
I'm still not sick of you.... yet.

Love M.E

-P/S this is from the girl i see more than my boyfriend. =)

Awwww.... Hugs to you too!

HAHA

On a day like today

Today is quickly becoming one of those days i wished i slept a little earlier the night before, or at least drowned myself bright and early in coffee to begin my week with. I always try to look presentable when i step out despite the fact that i wake up very close to the time (15mins??) i absolutely must leave the house by. (Some of my friends argue that is a skill, but my daddy would comment that it is more of a bad habit). My hunk of a man says it's alright if a girl doesn't comb her hair or anything, as long as you can pull it off. Today is also the day i realised that I used to wear earrings, but got sick of it after secondary school- also because we can't have watches or studs on the court. So i did wear some dangly ones at uni or on special occassions, now they've just become unique display items in a nifty box. It's also a 'girl phenomenon' to want to look nice now and then, so guys: do compliment the females in our zone. It's the gentlemanly and right thing to do! Affirmation is number one! (note to abel-not sarcastically okay)

Today i also got back the feedback for lesson plans and microteaching. This is all beginning to become very daunting for me. Got a pass for my TESOL one, i felt that i could have planned it all with more details but i was hung up on the fact that my technical knowledge of grammar, tense and the 'mysterious inner workings' of the english language were inadequate. Told my mom last night, for us as (almost) native speakers of english- we don't necessarily quote the rules of the language to correct a sentence. We just know that the sentence "sounds" wrong, but we can't tell you where exactly and why. I think that is my biggest challenge.

Today I also got pleasant feedback for my microteaching session. Highly Satisfactory. Nice sounding words. Essentially you've got to be enthusiastic when you're teaching something. Students pick up boredom fairly quickly. Today, when i woke up... i was also thinking about what pastor mentioned in his message about children- and about committing them to the Lord. And i immediately thought about my girls. In alot of ways i feel more like a spiritual mother today, more than 4-5 years ago when i had tonnes of girls under me. I feel that my girls are a gift from God, they are eager to learn... not just that, but sometimes are self-correcting, teachable, resilient, punctual, modest, brilliant note-takers, and lots more... Everything a 'mom' becomes blessed with.

I can't remember what else i was going to say about today.
Today today today.... is not over yet.

@ work

Perks of my job

- i can use the internet and surf.
- i can use the computer to do uni work, or plan lessons.
- I can (if i want) use the laser printer to get my notes online.
- i can read a book.
- i can watch youtube with head phones.
- Best of all, i get paid quite abit for not alot of strenous work.

'Musts' of my job

- I have to complete shelving, rearranging of books before i get to the above.
- The books just get heavier and broader.
- I get asked questions to which sometimes i have no answers to.
- I must be detail orientated.
- I must be alert. (apparently in case of fire or emergencies, i wear a red cap- literally)
- I cannot be sensitive to dust. (plenty, esp on wednesdays)

BINGO

I love Anagrams

The following are Women in the Bible!
See how many you can get!


1. A rash (e.g Sarah)
2. Aargh!
3. Brake! Eh?
4. Heal
5. A tram
6. Rim aim
7. Bad hero
8. Hide all
9. Amino
10. Sabbath, eh?
11. Threes
12. Bite heals
13. At harm
14. Cars do
15. Daily
16. Clips rail
17. Soil
18. Has a dash
19. Rap a ship
20. Habitat
21. Hash tune

Breakfast to signal end of Break.

Had brekkie with Ting and Mari this morning at Funtastico in Subi=)
Didn't know they served breakfast- actually alot of cafes do, but i'm most ignorant when it comes to the first meal of the day.
Had poached eggies, bacon, mushrooms... *drools*

Making Tiramisu and Avocado Shake for cell tonight... =)
Decided to go luxurious on sweeties.

It's been a relaxing 2 week break.
Had a teaching session at Taylors' college yesterday! Really a good first time "hands-on" experience, and i'm sure mari wanted a taste of it before actually starting her pract in Taylors' as well! So it was quite pressurizing also cos we had 2 supervisors sitting at the back of the class watching us teach! =p

i'm happy to welcome the working week back on monday with open arms.
I think i work better under pressure. Too relaxed, no increase in productivity.

Your Courts

Was preparing for cell's word today, and this song popped up.

How lovely is your dwelling place
O lord God almighty
My soul yearns even faints, for the courts of the Lord
My heart and my strength cry out for the Living God
How lovely is your dwelling place.

i want to be in that place.

Motivation!

i will do 12 kms a week if i had this!!!!!
Read more about it here
all you need to do is slot a plastic chip into the sole of your shoe, attach a small device to your ipod Nano and you're all set!!?? It will tell you how much distance is covered, your pace and time... and estimated calories burnt as well (altho i won't need to know that last bit of info).

Mishi likes it very much..... *hints*

Captivating

"Your heart matters more than anything else in creation. The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel as a woman--they are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to come now as the Hero of your story, to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman. A woman who is truly captivating."

-Book by John and Stasi Eldredge "Captivating"

....

The disenfranchised masses.

Puppy fat!

Mom says jean is putting on weight. =)
i miss her so!

Tagged by melumosmaxima :)

Part 1: on the outside
name : mishilau
date of birth : 6 May 1983
current status : i still have my maiden surname thanks
eye color : Dark brown
hair color : black with some brown
right of left handed : Right
zodiac : Taurus

Part 2: on the inside
my heritage : Cantonese (Dad) and Teochew (mom)
my fear : Rejection
my weakness : being forthcoming
my perfect pizza : what has pizza got to do with the inside? haha. anything woodfired.

Part 3: yesterday, today & tomorrow
your first thought waking up : Get up first, think about it later.
tomorrow : I will drink more coffee
your bedtime : must develop regular hours
most missed memory : Playing Tug of war with Jean

Part 4: your pick
pepsi or coke : None
mcD or burger king : Macs! love the fries!
adidas or nike : Nike's always tops for me.
lipton tea or nestea : Any tea is good
chocolate or vanila : Vanilla
cappuccino or coffee : Flat white? latte?? milk goes well with coffee

Part 5: do you..
smoke : No
curse : under my breath, muttering (nothing too repulsive)

Part 6: in the past month
drank alcohol : Yes (wine mainly)
gone to the mall? : Yes (shuffles feet)
been on stage : Sort of. Easter weekend.
eaten sushi : Once i think.

Part 7: what were you doing
1 minute ago : Shelving books in the library
1 hour ago : still at work
4 1/2 hours ago : Walking in the City with Mari
1 month ago : Adapting to Uni life in a competitive Grad dip program
1 year ago : Pulling my hair out over writing my thesis introduction

Part 8: finish the sentence
i love : being underwater, in water...
i feel : itchy and sunburnt.
i hate : cold toes.
i hide : my cold toes under my butt when i sit down
i miss : scuba diving and the quietness of that world.
i need : to travel!

Part 9: Tag 5 people!
Zi
Ting
Ray
Abel
Jon
Jo
Mavis
(okay i know i can't count...)

Passion

Really, as we grow older... what does this word mean?
Is it true that older, more mature people don't go jumping around or vibrantly expressing their views or desires? Is it presumed that they just behave in a socially acceptable manner, and make everything seem "contrived" (that's my new recent favourite word)? Regardless of your age has your passion simmered? Has it wilted away into a corner? Do you know why you are even where you are, doing what you are? It's not about the external, but you cannot put a lid on passion- it overflows!

I want passion. I want to do things with new fervour. Why? because i have purpose and meaning in life, in relationships, friendships, family, ministry, worship. Looking back on all the years of service, the highs and the lows- the non existent servant (me). Even when i got tired, disappointed, weary and lacked much talent or ability. God will still choose to use broken vessels, He will not despise a broken spirit.

Because we have a God who is passionate about people, about lives. Because we are the earthern vessels- so fallible and weak, but He is that treasure within us. Because God will choose the weak things in this world to confound the wise. He operates well in broken vessels. Because charisma without character will not last. Because your image is not found on tv neither on magazines, You were created in His image. You are more than a conqueror in Christ.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed....Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4: 7-8, 16-18

The long and ardous journey

Firstly, easter camp was a blast! Met new people, great games (pat on the back Josh!), fun fellowship. Would have liked to stay the last night tho! i think it will take another post about the NEW things/ dreams/ visions God has planted in my heart. "See, i have made all things NEW" says the Lord. Had loads of fun in Weijun's team! Food could have been better, but was supplemented by the uwa people going out for Boost and Maccers. =) Seen the best dancing ever- award winning by David Tang! hahahah. amazing. And the UWA guys are too hot for the dance floor okay! don't play play.

Some pictures from the exmouth trip below! No underwater pictures this time- cos no camera and casing! but i have some sample pictures of what some of the fish look like, which i will post separately also!

20 hour bus ride~ Hot and dry weather!~ Great company~ good food~ Very happy to be diving again~ Swimming with large creatures~ Showering in weird places (like public toilets)~ watching Zi eat, alot~ mixing nitrogen with a bottle of Strongbow (giddy)!~ meeting many people from all over the world~

Dive Log
- Guitar Shark- Moray eels- Manta Rays- Loggerhead turtle- Hawks' bill turtle- octopus- White tip shark- nudie branch- many crustaceans (camouflaged kind, with some sort of coral on their backs)- lion fish- cat fish-

Going.

Camp was AWESOME!

Going off to Exmouth now! See you when the week is out!

Concealed Pride.

"The pleasure of pride is like the pleasure of scratching. If there is an itch one does want to scratch; but it is much nicer to have neither the itch nor the scratch. As long as we have the itch of self-regard we shall want the pleasure of self-approval; but the happiest moments are those when we forget our precious selves and have neither but have everything else (God, our fellow humans, animals, the garden and the sky) instead...."

C.S Lewis explains how one of the manifestations of pride is the craving for human approval. The itch of self-regard craves the scratch of self-approval. That is, if we are getting our pleasure from feeling self-sufficient, we will not be satisfied without others' seeing and applauding our self-sufficiency.

Hence Jesus' description of the scribes and Pharisees: "They do all their deeds to be noticed by men.... And they love the place of honour at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi" (Matt 23:5-7)

The Void of Self-Sufficiency

This is ironic. Self-sufficiency should free the proud person from the need to be made much of by others. That's what "sufficient" means. But evidently there is a void in this so-called self-sufficiency. THe self was never designed to satisfy itself or rely upon itself. It can never be sufficient. We are but images of God, not the real thing. We are shadows and echoes. So there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self.

Jesus saw the terrible effect of this itch for human glory. He named it in John 5:44, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" The answer is, You can't. Itching for glory from other people makes faith impossible. Why? Because faith is being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus; and if you are bent on getting the satisfaction of your itch from the scratch of others' acclaim, you will turn away from Jesus.

But if you would turn from self as a source of satisfaction (=repentence) and come to Jesus for the enjoyment of all that GOd is for us in Him (=Faith), then the itch would be replaced by a well of water springing up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

The Irony of Weak Pride

The irony of this insatiable itch in the self-sufficient soul becomes even more evident when pride cannot get what it wants and begins to flounder in weakness. This calls for discernment. Weak pride is not easily recognised. It sounds like an oxymoron- like round squares. But it is not. Consider this relationship between boasting and self-pity.

Both are manifestations of pride. Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering. Boasting says, "I deserve admiration because i have acheived so much." Self-pity says, "I deserve admiration because i have sacrificed so much." Boasting is the voice of pride in the heart of the strong. Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak. Boasting sounds self-sufficient. Self-pity sounds self-sacrificing.

The reason self-pity does not look like pride is that it appears to be needy. But the need arises from a wounded ego and the desire of the self-pitying is not really for others to see them as helpless, but heroes. The need self-pity feels does not come from a sense of unworthiness, but from a sense of unrecognised worthniness. It is the response of unapplauded pride.

John piper, Desiring god: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

When pride is not strong, it begins to worry about the future. In the heart of the proud, anxiety is to the future what self-pity is to the past. What did not go well in the past gives us a sense that we deserve better. But if we could not make things go our way in the past, we may not be able to in the future either.

So becareful when you are anxious for nothing. Turn from self-reliance to God-reliance, because one hindrance to casting your anxieties on God is pride. Pride does not like to admit that it has any anxieties. Faith admits the need for help. Pride won't. Faith banks on God to give help. Therefore the way to battle the unbelief of prise is to admit freely that you have anxieties, and to cherish the promise of the words, "He cares for you."

Something to think about

"Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches. But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for i delight in these things, declares the Lord." Jer 9:23-24

How do you fight pride? Be amazed and satisfied that we know God- and that He knows us. This "all-satisfying admiration" of all that God is for us in Jesus becomes the end of ourselves and the start of making much of God and who He is!

Bulks of passages taken from John Piper "Future Grace"

Isaiah 53: 4

Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

smitten by Him and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities,

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.

and by His wounds we are healed.

Fish Eating Fairy

"Not I, not I" cried out loud
But so it seemed, still I he found
That hand! reaching out and clutching air
I started to run quickly somewhere
But too slow was I, violated and disregarded
People should read signs when posted
"Do not touch the penguins" it read
Next time he should give me some bread.

My new home

i realised i haven't posted up some pics of my new place... =) Also for my dad n mom back home to see that i'm settled in and cosy.

My Room! which was a balcony converted into a room.
The bed and my stuffed-toy home.
My dining Area and my workspace on the right.
The kitchen.
And the toilet!

Heavenly Father's love

When i want to understand or fathom my heavenly Father's love, i just stop and think of my own earthly father's love to get a glimpse of God's unconditional and all-accepting love.

Had this conversation with my dad before i left singapore.

Me: Dad, we won't give Jean away if she gets old and becomes a hassle right?
Dad: Why? are you afraid we will?
Me: Nods.
Dad: When we brought her into our family, we've already decided that we will keep her no matter what. She's part of us now.

And that was just so re assuring. So secure.
No matter how much of a hassle or trouble we may cause, God will never give up on us or kick us out of his family. We are secure in Him.

Macbeth

haha, i remember i did William Shakespeare's Macbeth at O levels and i loved it.
When asked which of Will's work i like best, i can safely say Macbeth has it all. (i loved The Tempest when i did it at A levels as well.... hard to decide)
Plot intrigue, murder, betrayal... alot of the quotes i can still remember!

Anyway, i just watched Geoffrey Wright's 2006 version of Macbeth on dvd. It was filmed in Melbourne and released in September last year. Typical replacement of swords with guns, like in Baz Lurhmann's R&J, but the lines are said exactly as in the text and... no surprise, in Australian accent! It features King Duncan as a mega crime boss and Macbeth as a loyal drug dealing henchman. Well, it follows the original in every sense of the plot as Macbeth takes the leadership of the gang by murdering Duncan and maintaining his power with his tyrannical but self-destructive rule. I particularly like the portrayal of Lady Macbeth in this version. And we all know she becomes a raving lunatic at the end, and her acting is really good! (actress' name is Victoria Hill, she was co-producing the show with Wright)

okay, my favourite quotes from the play!!

"There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face" 1.4

"I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,
And falls on the other. " 1.7

"Out, damned spot! out, I say! All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. " 5.1

And my Favourit-est! (there's a line in The Tempest which echoes this as well!)

"Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing" 5.5

guess whooo

Don't ever do this to your dog.

06:52pm 30th March

"Just to let you know i'm too tired for games tonight...."

- Protected Identity

Very funny how you mean to say something, but the effect of what is being said is unintentional.

Hahaha, i froze after i read it and then burst out laughing for a moment!

On listening

Student: I feeling bad. My grandfather he die last week and i am....
Teacher: no, not 'die'- say 'died' because it's in the past.
Student:... he died last week....
Teacher: Excellent. Now, did anyone else's grandfather die last week?

Don't just hear what people say. L.I.S.T.E.N.

Easter reflections

My Hope is Jesus

Some hope in chariots, some hope in wealth
My hope is Jesus and nothing else
O such love, such love and grace
Leads me to seek my Saviour's face

Some hope in armies and strength of men
My hope is Jesus who calls me friend
He bears me up if i should fall
My everything, my all in all

What love is this
That knows no bounds to faithfulness?
What help will he not give?
The Son of God through whom i live

Some hope in fortune some hope in fame
My hope is Jesus, salvation's name
For there He hung and bore my sin
THat i might live and bear His name

What love is this?
The saviour's blood, my righteousness
His wounds to make me whole
His sacrifice to save my soul

What love is this?
That knows no pride or selfishness
Poured out upon my need
Love's work is done and i am free

My hope is Jesus

Author: Adrian Lewis, Hillsongs Publishing

Family=)

Found some pics of our recent family trip to Brisbane=) Just this little bit to remind me of home.

itching.

Did another gift finder feature on the visual DNA test (which i found on the Yew's blog) and it came up with this extensive gift list....

Anyway, i've got heaps of assignments and presentations all coagulating this week. (not sure if that was a correct expression). But yeah.... 3 sose lesson plans (with content), one microteaching on wednesday, and another presentation on thursday on resources =(.
Busy busy! but most are planned out already, i'm just itching to get this week over and done with!

I want to watch a dvd and curl up on my sofa tonight!! Because i've worked 4 hours and i finish in 20 mins! By the way, Daylight savings has ended and we get our hour back.... to all those who forgot to turn your clocks back, or your laptop, microwave clock, wrist watches... etc.

Rethinking Colour

... and what it means in our society today.

The Yews have a great post on how in 1968, a teacher in Iowa taught her 3rd graders about discrimination- i like a particular quote she used "Keep me from ever judging a man until i walk in his mocassins (shoes)".

The videos are impacting and raw- i highly recommend you to watch them here.
What really touched me was the lengths to which the teacher was willing to go, in order to instill in her 3rd graders the real meaning of discrimination and how others felt being treated as lesser based on their colour.

= )

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Limestone fingers!

Mari and i went for a spur-of-the-moment bouldering at Point Walter! It was really good weather- slightly cooler towards the later part of the afternoon by the seaside =) We've got some pictures and videos.... i couldn't video myself- so most of the videos have Marianne's face (exhausted face, i might add). haha. we were poooofed at the end of it. There was a tough overhang at the end bit.... we ran into a couple of climbers who dropped into the water at that particular section. I couldn't afford to drop (and for good reason) cos i was carrying the camera! =) enjoy the pictures, and we're definitely going again soon- who wants to come along? it's free, and a great workout as well! =)

Sculptures by the Sea

The week and it's end.

Week has been pretty hectic i must say... The course is kicking in at full force and Easter services are 3 weeks away! so everything is packed and back to back. =(

1) Had a visit to Taylors college on thursday-- We'll be doing some pre-practicum lessons with TESOL classes very soon....
2) Ja came back on Wednesday! she's been busy packing her stuff and selling things as well. (anyone want to buy a study table and a high back leather chair?)
3) I've started my Sose lesson plans due next week- Still doing research and struggling to plan out what i need to cover in 3 x 60 min lessons.
4) It's been really hot! like burning, i-can-hear-my-skin-sizzle kinda hot.
5) I've seen and i must say, there's no guy more attractive than a man who is after God's heart=) And i'm glad he's my man! *grins*
6) Ja's convo is coming up on tuesday=) All who know her are invited!
7) And lastly, who's interested in a trip up to Exmouth with Yingzi and I? - we leave Wednesday 11th April and head back to perth on Friday night 13th April. =)

Collective nouns

There once was a murdered crow,
who went to school with fishes,
who giggled and gaggled with geese
and developed great pride when feasting with lions.
The foxes skulked the prairie with him,
and he sat on parliament with the owls.
The Larks exulted him in their eulogy,
his body was cultured with bacteria.
As he lay on a bed of oysters beneath the sea,
they placed a bouquet of Frangipanis;
on the deck with farewell cards.
A faculty of Academics lauded his life's work,
and Angels repeated the Chorus of Amazing Grace.

Can you spot the collective nouns groups? (e.g a deck of cards)

Strength.

Lesson plans, assignments, practicum, Easter drama, Cell group, friends, family, You.

Strength.

Snapshots!

Convenience vs Conviction

Teaching on the topic of Simon Peter as one of Jesus' most prominent and historically most important disciples was something i found quite unique and relatable. haha, i also wanted to apply in cell group some teaching techniques i had picked up in my education classes- especially those related to intrinsic motivation, grasping new information and doing reflection after.

I did not know the full 12 names of Jesus' disciples til 2 days ago! And i thought that was a good ground to make a start!
For those who are interested: Simon Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Thomas, Philip, Nathanael, Thaddeus (a.k.a Jude), James (son of Alphaeus), Judas Iscariot, Simon the Zealot and Matthew.

We did brainstorming and a little facilitated discussion on who we thought Simon Peter was... his character, some major events he was involved with in the bible (e.g. impulsive and rash, Walking on water, cutting off the guards' ear, denying Jesus 3 times, being the 1st to recognise Jesus as the Messiah etc.) We read passages on those few key events.

Application: Even such a man as Peter struggled with living a life of conviction- when sometimes faced with circumstances in which you would rather take the convenient or easy way out.

Anyway, for me... it was a really refreshing time- thinking about what conviction really meant and how many times we take the convenient path rather than stick to those lighthouses and values that we had took so long to ground in our lives. See my previous post on Personality vs Principle-based Character.

Food for thought!!

Unforgettable

Drama

"Christian drama
helps us to emotionally empathize when it shows us a character's struggles and choices.
Like a fragrance, it subtly directs us to the source of our passions.
It draws us in and stirs our memories, reminding us of what we know to be true.
It challenges us to think and dares us to feel."

-Actor/ Writer Bob Hoose

"Slowly the Church is winning back the arts. We are becoming diverse in our artistic abilities to express ourselves. Music stirs the soul, stories make a point, laughter heals broken hearts, dancing motivates the spirit, movies illustrate.... from paintings to plays-- we are learning that God intended to be a part of every expression to 'draw all men' unto Himself."

- Comedian/Writer Chonda Pierce

This is what pushes me to want to be a better writer, a better actress, a better director. The essence of drama in the church- the body of Christ is not peripheral to the world. We are the head and not the tail. Remember that!

'Nuff said

Perth weather Today

Max 35 degrees celsius
Min 23 degrees celsius

Currently? 39 degs celcius!!!

Motto

Something i put up on my wall....

1. As educators, we are role models for students.
"Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might." Eph 6:10
2. We have an immense responsibility to teach truth.
"Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength God supplied; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever." 1 Peter 4:11

3. Tensions in public education increase daily.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in your weakness... Therefore, i am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christs' sake, for when i am weak, then i am strong." 2 Cor 12:9-10

4. We often experience a sense of being alone.
"For momentory, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Cor 4:17

5. As educators, we require a constant renewal of our calling.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." 2 Cor 4:16

6. We deal with students, staff and parents daily.
"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in times of need." Heb 4:16

7. We need to be encouraged, equipped and empowered.
"May the God of peace... equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ... for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline." Heb 13:20-21, 2Tim 1:7

Ha