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| | Woke up at 8, cycled to church and today is church cleaning day. CCF was responsible for the fellowship hall while Timothy was responsible for the hallways and restrooms for 2nd floor. I mostly was with the CCF people. Worked until past 11. Then went to Kirin Court to Yum Cha. After that went to visit Vincent. Haven't visited Vincent for a while, since he was sick. Glad to see him and talk a bit today, next week won't be able to go again due to the outing with the elderly fellowship. Back home, updated xanga, lots to recover. Recovered all my past entries and also some private entries before 6. Ho gor came to pick me up not long afterwards, and I went to his home. Today is mid-autumn festival and Ho gor's mom invited me to their place for dinner, together with Victor, a non-believer whom I've already met before playing tennis in UTD. The food was really good, with roast pigeon, haven't had that for so long and it's really satisfying. Ho gor's mom is already known as a good cook and it's the first time I really had a more formal dinner with her tasting her food. Really thank her. Afterwards, went to meet Lareina and Sharon. I decided that won't hang out with them and the rest, and would return home, so they dropped us off back home. I need to prepare for the sunday school tomorrow. However, actually MSNed with different people until 1, when I finally started to prepare. Actually as I began to prepare for this session, I found out that I could have done a lot better in many respects for the last session in light of how I am planning to do the coming session. So revised the notes for the last session a bit at the same time, which consumed a fair bit more of time for me. Finally finished everything past 5, and slept before 6 after daily devotion.
Friday, October 2, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at 9. Had a really weird dream last night. It was like I have already graduated and went into ministry in a setting which is foreign to me. And somehow I was with mom and dad. Long Sum was not in the dream, and somehow through my interaction with my parents, I found out that they were having some problems and in the end found out that actually they are going to get a divorce. So in the dream I was angry and questioned them why they never shared anything about their relationship with me, such important things, it's just like not treating me as a close family member. Then my parents told me that actually I am having some sort of mental disorder, due to the pressure in ministry, which I am not aware of that myself. They know that and knows that I won't be able to bear this news if I hear it with my mental health, that's why out of love they aren't telling me... then in the dream, I just cried (both knowing that my parents are getting divorced and I am having mental disorder). A pretty weird dream. And I woke up as I cried hard in the dream. Actually was still thinking about it as I woke up... Shower and breakfast and then called back home. Actually was a little late since por por was using the phone at half 9. It was a long chat today, talked for more than 2 hours. It was a very very nice family time where grace and the love of God was shown. Also, it's the first time that it was made very explicit that my parents see me as a mature adult member of the family, relating to me as a peer rather together as a parent. Got affirmation from them that I have really grown up. I am very happy that I am in this family and hope that I can be an asset to the family too. Actually it's such a coincidence that I had a dream about my parents yesterday night, haha. After the chat, had lunch and then prepared for the bible study I'm going to lead this evening. Just revised a bit of the material I already prepared last year. Received the class schedule for Spring semester and started planning of my registration of classes. There's one class called "Biblical Theology of the Law", that I really wanted to take, but fear that Long Sum will come around that period of time, so shall see, but I don't know if it will be offered again within the next two years that I'm still here. Drove to Panera Bread for dinner. Tried to buy a cake for Cynthia Han since it's her birthday yesterday, drove to Braums in Campbell just to find that it was closed down already... really can't complain it's a waste of gas since this tank of gas is from Eva with the car... Had dinner with Vivian and Sharon in Panera Bread, then drove back to church. Today there weren't any non-Christians, so studied it rather in a Christian way, still pretty good, apart from the latter part. Drove home, rested a little, and slept around midnight after daily devotion.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
The alarm went off at quarter past 6, however, I stayed in bed until 6:40... so shower, ate something quickly and set off to school by quarter past 7. I was still 5 minutes late for class, since there was a bit of traffic on highway 75. Ecclesiology class on church and the kingdom, how the church is distinct from the kingdom God promised to Israel and how the church fits in the whole kingdom programme of God. Pretty good. Dr. Kreider is really different style of teacher than Dr. Horrell, Dr. Horrell is pretty teacher like and gives you good info. Dr. Kreider is more motivating, less giving information or comprehensive details but tries to move you in your practical life more which Dr. Horrell does much less. Nice to try out different theology profs. Went to read on the Kingdom revelation in the gospels, then went to chapel, and then back to reading. By 1 went to class on Kingdom and Covenants, today Dr. Pentecosts just stressed the centrality of the Abrahamic Covenant in the whole bible. It is true that nearly everything is based on the Abrahamic covenant, the Exodus, conquest of Canaan, return from exile, coming of Messiah, and even future hope. However was a bit boring as he just went through all the passages... Greek class was even more boring again... really counting down again... Drove back home after school. Rested and ate, just did some less intensive study and work at night. Was very tired because last night only slept for around 2 hours. Slept before 2 after daily devotion. Today's the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, however, I didn't really track it and take a look at what the parades are like etc. on TV, since I'm just not so interested or passionate. But it does mean something to me. 60 seems a long time in one sense, but also it's like not long ago too.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up past 9, ate a bit, shower. Did the reading for the class today. But didn't finish it. Had lunch, drove to school, went to Luke's pantry, got food, also to the library to borrow books and put them in the car. Finally don't have to carry them all the way in a bike, which I need to use my leg muscles to move them. And it actually took me less than half an hour to get to school today. Went to the pastoral theology class, finished up the vision part and went into the disciple making process part. Make me think about what it's like in Yanfook. DCBC clearly doesn't have any. Makes me think about CCF and Timothy too, how that can develop, and I wonder how CCiL Cantonese Congregation is doing on this, they have started something, but not sure how it's going. Does seem that my studies are moving me to act. After class drove to Tian Tian to buy some groceries. Then back home. Cooked and ate dinner, just simple dinner. Did some of my Greek reading. Then set off to church for prayer meeting. Was pretty nice prayer and KP and Ceci both came to prayer meeting to my surprise. After prayer meeting, cycled home and finished up my Greek reading. Actually Ho gor and Bennett came very late past 10... We read 1Samuel, started it today. It was a pretty good read together. Applied some of the methods I taught during sunday school. Then had a long sharing. In fact the past few days God has been like burning my heart on various things, through Andy Ho, through chapel and through my classes. Clearly I have lost the aggressiveness I used to have when I was in CCiL. Maybe because the CCiL experiment proved that no matter what legacy I leave, with just a few years, the achievement is still very limited, so makes me think it doesn't worth to be so aggressive afterall if I just have a few years in Dallas. Also no doubt my workload in Dallas is heavier than that in London. I'll say my workload and my passion is no less here in Dallas compared with London, just that I have turned much softer than I used to be, not pushing things forward and trying to make the difference that much, rather just work with the system and the status quo. Should I continue like this so to save more energy to study or should I find once again the aggressiveness that I used to have? Don't have any answer yet. But talking about these things, and also Ho gor's stuff made me us chat until like 2... And after that I still had to finish up my Greek. So finally slept past 4 after daily devotion.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at 6. Had breakfast and got everything prepared. First day to drive to school. Set off at quarter to 7, was a little nervous, turned out pretty good actually. Got my vehicle registered with the campus police. Was still a little early for class. Today talked about the one catholic apostolic church, on church unity etc. Pretty good. Then reading on the New Covenant in the prophets. Chapel, the speaker talked about youth ministry and he was so passion and his passion really infects. Feel moved by him. After chapel continued on the reading on the New Covenant. Seems like now both times before and after chapel will be used for reading for the Kingdom and Covenants class. Soon I'll finish much of the readings for that class and can focus on the readings of other classes. At 1, the Kingdom and Covenant's class, talked about Passover and Exodus and the giving of the law. Greek class, nothing really special, actually really getting bored with the Greek class, not learning a lot. It's rather the reading that makes me learn a lot instead. So was counting down when I can go home... Drove back home safely for the first time. I'll say it's pretty good. But there was some traffic on my way back, which actually delayed my time a lot. Back home, rested, then prepared a bit for tomorrow's class, slept early around midnight after daily devotion. Devotion on Psalm 116, and truly God has been so good to me, that I really nothing can stop me from living for Him... similar to what the Psalmist feel I guess.
Monday, September 28, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at around half 9, seems like my biological clock is rather set, that I'll wake up around half 9 if I don't set the alarm. Had breakfast and then did a little miscelleneous things, until I cycled to church to find Andy Ho. He was very occupied today with a phone call on a complicated matter. So at first I was waiting and then I found Dr. Buehler next door and we chatted for nearly an hour while Andy Ho was talking on the phone. It was nice that I got this hour to get to know him, talked about various things. Afterwards Andy Ho brought me out to a Middle Eastern restaurant to have lunch buffet, actually it's not so middle eastern I feel... but nice time with him, talked about a lot of things too, about CCF, and Timothy. He told me not to put my focus that I only have two years left here and he expects me to shine. This really led to some reflection on my part, as I compare my situation now with my final two years in London. It was only by the second year in London that was I beginning to step up and make an impact, I have already had an earlier start in Dallas... After that, Andy drove me back and the phone rang just as we planned to pray. So left as Andy continued to talk on the phone on the same complicated matter. Cycled back home, it was already late afternoon by the time I arrived home. Just rested mainly for the rest of the day. Slept early past by 11 after daily devotion, got to reserve energy for driving tomorrow to school!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at half 7, followed auntie Annie back to church. At half 8 met with the Vancouver STM team for de-brief with Dr. Buehler and PJ (Pastor Jireh). However, it wasn't really a de-brief but more a teaching session from the two pastors concerning tongues and the work of the Holy Spirit... I wasn't very interested to be honest, so didn't respond a lot. Mostly I do agree more with what they say than the practice of the charismatics, but still not everything, but basically just sat there most of the time, and with the fact that I am quite sleepy too with not a lot of sleep last night. Afterwards there's still a bit of time, so chatted with the team people before going up to teach sunday school. Today was teaching on reading narrative, and it went pretty well. Just that I didn't give time for them at all this time to do exercise in class, which hopefully this will not go on in the future sessions. So far the sunday school teaching experience in the past few sessions has been pretty good. Just that today there were more people coming, already more than 20 in the class, which changes the atmosphere and makes it harder to control especially when classwork is given. I hope that the class will not be so big to maximize the class' effectiveness, but on the other hand, more people come, more people be blessed by my teaching, that's good as well, so coin of two sides... don't know. After sunday school, went to Mandarin service, since I missed Cantonese service due to the "de-brief". I was fishing during the service in fact a lot of times... After the service, did pre-study with Ceci and Sharon for CCF. It's a pretty easy piece of scripture this time. Then Eva came and picked up the car. Drove from that place to Vivian's home where Ryan, Patrick, Lareina was already there. After hanging out a bit there, went out for dinner together to an Italian restaurant. George, Ho gor, Sharon and Jacquie joined us too. Patrick and Ryan left early since Patrick is flying back to Arizona. The rest of us walked to a two stores nearby to look for stuff we're going to us as gifts for the elderly as we have joint fellowship with them two Saturdays later. However, one of the stores were already closed and there weren't anything we wanted in the other store. Eva called that she gave me the wrong sheet of insurance paperwork so went to the gas station at 75 and McDermont to exchange for the right one. Then drove home. Driving really feels like flying, especially on the highway, it's so quick! Returned home safely, real tired so slept not long after around 11 after daily devotion.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at half 9, breakfast and shower. Chatted with dad and mom for a little while, since the reception was not good, didn't chat very long, just less than half an hour. Worked on CCF's bible study leading pre-study on Sunday and also leading singspiration in Timothy today. Had simple lunch. By afternoon people started coming for Amanda's baby shower, which is held at auntie Annie's place. Apart from being a bit noisy, wasn't very distracting. Rather some times people knock and come to find me. And Ho gor and Patrick also once came to find me who came into my room too. Jeffrey and Belinda also came so had some chat with them too. Managed to finish preparing for those before 5. Cycled to chuch. The set up of my laptop with the projector had some problems, which delayed the fellowship. But turned out OK. Also my laptop battery didn't have enough power so in the middle of the bible study it hibernated. Nice that today's bible study's structure is very simple and I could do it even without the notes. There was very good interaction and discussion on the application. I feel good about today's bible study. Afterwards chatted a bit, Lareina came to Timothy too today and expressed some of her bitterness and pressure. Cycled back home. Cooked and ate a late supper. Prepared for tomorrow's sunday school until 3. Slept before 4.
Friday, September 25, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at half 9, checked email and knew that my parents won't be free to chat tonight... I would have slept longer if I have known that earlier... too bad, now I am awake. Worked on Timothy's bible study for tomorrow. Rested and dealt with miscelleneous things. In the evening cycled to wendy to have dinner together and then to church for CCF. Today is prayer meeting. Nice time of sharing and prayer with Mei and Ceci. Really didn't get much chances to talk with them since I came back from Alaska and Canada. Maggie and Lareina later joined in. And basically I already knew what's happening seeing Lareina's sad face, since Andy Ho talked with me about her. But surely she is really sad today. Cycled back home, slept around 11 after daily devotion.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at quarter to 6. Breakfast and cycled to school. As I got off the train and cycled to N. Washington Avenue. One of the screws that secures the rack on my bike was lost... Luckily there was nothing in the rack so nothing fell off and the rack didn't bump onto my tires, if not I might have fallen off my bike. It just rubbed my tired with a little bit of friction, and that's how I knew I lost a screw. Luckily it was just a minor screw, with a little adjustment, I was OK to ride the rest of my way to school without a problem. Was still on time today, which I'm very grateful. Ecclesiology class still on definition of the church. Then studied Greek, praise chapel which was fine. Then did readings on the kingdom and covenants class. Went to that class by one, about burning bush and God calling Moses and started on Exodus today. Then Greek class, nothing really special. I feel that I'm starting to count down for these Greek classes this week because I so wanted to go back home and eat. The post-fasting syndrom is having effect, makes me really want to eat. Went to find help from the Campus police and the plant and facilities department for help for screwing my loose rack up again. Received friendly help from the schoolmates working in the plant and facilities, finding me the right screw and screwed it back up securely. Cycled back home after class, ate. I think by today finally felt a little bit of fullness in food, and the post-fasting syndrome is near to an end. At night just rested mostly and slept early.
Wednesday September 23, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at around 10, slept a lot last night, like 11 hours. Set off to school by half 11. Went to Luke's pantry. Then the library to borrow a few books. Went to pastoral theology and leadership class. Talked a lot concerning a Chinese church that Dr. Malphurs is working with, discussing with us some of the issues and also exchanging ideas. It's his first time working with a Chinese church, so as a Chinese, played some role in giving him ideas, especially towards Chinese church culture and Chinese culture as a whole. It was nice practical discussion. We tried the storyboard process of discovering core values today as well and talked about vision too. Cycled back home. Cooked and ate dinner. Still quite obsessed with food this week with the post-fasting syndrome. Always tend to eat more. At night, went to prayer meeting, and then returned home. Studied Greek, didn't have brother's group since Bennett is away in Ottawa, and also I wanted to finish up my Greek early. Slept around midnight after I finished my Greek.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
(recovered as at Saturday, October 3, 2009)
Woke up at quarter to 6. Breakfast and cycled to school, no problem today to be on time. Ecclesiology class, finished up Greek, chapel by Dr. Ron Allen, readings on kingdom and Covenant. Class on Jacob and Esau, and also Joseph. Finished up Genesis basically. Then Greek class. Really wanted to return home and eat... so was counting down... and really the Greek class is pretty boring... just introducing the grammar, which I have already read about, and then translating verses... Back home, did readings for tomorrow's class. Cooked and ate dinner. Slept early before 11.
| | | Posted 10/3/2009 3:25 PM - 4 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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