Faith response! Practice & stretch it!

Miracles! This word is what I am seeking now. So you might ask, “What is miracle?” and I could only think of an answer given by Jesus.

Luke18:27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Yup, it is the impossible that God brings forth that I count it as miracle, cause like I’ve once said, if things get harder, or more difficult, we can still worker harder & put more effort & we can still make it. But it is when we face “the impossible” in our lives that we realize things are out of our control and we need God’s miracle to come true.

I am in a season of impossible now. Everything seems to be out of control ever since I got to Melbourne. I can’t say what is it but I am 100% out of my comfort zone. It is as though I am walking alone in the wild, hoping to find a right path, a path that I could cross the thick forest comfortably, with the least bushes that I need to path my way through; where the path is dry and free from leaches; where the path is a flat ground without any obvious inclination. A path that can lead me out of the forest back to where I belong, back to a place where I can call home and feel at ease.

My only source of direction is light from the sun during the day & moon at night. & that is what I am looking up at heaven & asking God for. A miracle as I journey through the thick forest. A direction. A way out to home.

Before leaving, I remember Ps Tim prayed & prophesy over me, saying that I will encounter another side of our “Mighty God” so to speak… That I will taste another side of God & see that it is good (Ps34:8) All I can do now is just pray, & hold on firm to Him.

Heb4:16 Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need.

I am in need. In desperate times to see God’s provision & favour, His deliverance & MIRACLES! With my limited mind, I can’t fathom why I am in my current situation but He knows what is His plans for me; that is to prosper me & give me hope for the future (Jer29:11)

Psalms77: 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Praying for this verse:-

Ps81:6 God says, "I removed the burden from your shoulders; your hands were set free from the basket. 7 In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud;

Told the leaders about my condition & Ps Tim replied and quoted:-

Gal 3:12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

“I know it refers to if you practice law, you will then live by it .But on the other hand, if we practice Faith, we will live by Faith as well!!”

What a powerful mail… I am edified! Thank God for sending me Ps mail. Not gonna let circumstances defeat me, but let God overcome my circumstances! Not gonna let anything hinders me for living loud & strong for Him!!!

Werribee mansion & safari!

Entrance to Werribee park & mansion
Some weird human-look-alike at the park
Jumping excitedly in front of the massion lawn
Upper floor of the mansion
Corset that the olden girls have to wear to keep a "nice" body curvature. Note the pic next to the corset. Her waist is almost insignificant. Wonder where her gut goes?
Group pic at the safari
Standing on an ant's nest
Close encounter with the kangaroos
Horn Horn!

Crazy day!

To those who know Melbourne well enough, they will get a clearer picture who I am about to describe in this post.

Today, I decided to be “friendly” and took part in one of the pre-organised orientation event, which is called Magical Mystery Tour. It was nothing magical, because all we did was just run from International House (that’s where I stay) to Melbourne central business district. And as we run, we holler our cheer at the other residential colleges, in our university, and in the tram all the way to city and from fast food chains to HMV (video centre similar to EzyVideo). We did our orientation dance in front of the public and screaming our lungs out confessing we are a “true IHers”.

After a tiring walk/run/skip/jump/cheering, a small portion of us decided to head home while the rest of the group continues the next activity. Being the “anti-tram $$$” guy, I came up with a suggestion that we jog all the way back to IH from Federation Sq. Normally walking takes about 45 mins to an hour. My idea was supported by Jason (aka Cp) psycho-ing the rest about “All men are brothers! Let’s do it together!)

So we began our madness idea of exercising, jogging all the way back home. Considering the fact that I haven’t been on training since IMU exams preparation, I was worried at first about not being able to complete the jog. But hahaha, I found out that I am still fit. I reached at the same time as the girls who took the tram. Recovery was blissful and after a short rest, all of us head off for a game of pool.

So proud of myself. To those who are checking on me, wondering if I am exercising, I did it all today. & it does feel good. Don’t mind another round of it. My muscles are still fine, without any signs and symptoms of aching.

Chinese New Year's Eve

Dinner at Kimchi Grandma (Korean's restaurant)
Fire crackers at ChinaTown
Chinese New Year's stalls at Crown's Boulevard
Choc Strawberry Cake at Grecco
Won 4 bucks each from casino from e-roulette
Light show at Crown's hotel
Year of the pig!!! Cutie

Wish all of my love ones Happy Chinese New Year!!! To those who wish to give me ang pow money, pls feel free to do so in AUD either thru Telegraphic Transfer or Cheque or Cash!

Weird stuffs that I consider normal!

Thanks to Ch who tagged me for no reasons, now I have to go through my life to dig out 6 weird stuffs about me that I consider normal but for the sake of completing the list, here are the 6 areas:-

1. I am a person who loves the most fattening food in the whole wide world. I love bacon and ham a lot. I eat it like almost everyday back in KL for breakfast, or supper. Whenever there are supplies in the fridge, I’ll start feeding on them. I love cheese a lot. If you noticed, I put a few slices of cheese in my sandwich & I’ll prey on the cheese section a few times whenever I go for buffet. I am a chocolate fanatic. If it is not for pimples, I’ll eat it every day & night. A chocolate or cheese fondue will just melt my heart totally.

2. Astro & American series are essential in my life. I can go on and on about it without stopping. Even at home, when I am not watching TV, it has to be on. When I am studying, it is in silence but on. The noise projecting from the TV somehow sustains my day. Being in Melbourne now without TV by my side somehow makes me few uncomfortable.

3. I love highways (when they aren’t any jam). They are my best friends when I travel around KL in my car. It is fast, convenient & less cars. Feel that the entire road belongs to me. I don’t mind the toll price as long as there isn’t any traffic.

4. I hate coffee. I sometimes get headache when I smell the aroma. I remember the times when I took coffee in A Levels just to stay up for Physics tuition & revision. It has no effect on me. I still got caught in my dreams.

5. I collect shopping bags, especially bags from designers. I don’t use them but I just like keeping it in my cupboard.

6. I don’t read fantasy or sci-fi books besides Harry Potter. Many people told me it is interesting but I don’t have a vast imagination & patience to bring myself to read a fantasy novel. It’s just so unreal!!!! Know Harry Potter is fantasy too, but somehow I just like it because it brings out the childhood in me whenever I read the book.

p/s:- Chuen, to have a best friend like me is not weird but a blessing from God k. Appreciate it :)

Are you carrying it?

Luke14:27 Anyone who does not carry his cross & follow me cannot be my disciple

A verse that is not foreign to me, but sometimes, I do take it lightly. Back in 2000 years ago, where the people in Jerusalem lived under the Roman’s empire were following Jesus’ teachings.

The Roman’s soldiers will go around asking the people this question “Is Caesar Lord?” & the people will respond “Yes, Caesar is Lord!” But for those disciples who were living as disciples of Christ, they will respond “No, Jesus is Lord!” Those who didn’t claim “Caesar is Lord” will be put to death. Or they will be arrested and used as bait for the shows among thousands of people in Coliseum. There’s where Romans10:9-10 came about, where you confess with your mouth & believe in your heart, you are saved.

Like I said earlier, many of us take salvation for granted sometimes. Not that we deliberately do that, but somehow, we just got carried away. I am guilty of that. For those disciples back in 2000 years ago, they really counted the cost & take up their cross when they say they are following Jesus.

How bout us today? Will our Christian life be only half built & then abandoned because you didn’t count the cost of commitment to Jesus? When Jesus said “Follow me”, it was not merely just words, but also in action!

St. Kilda Festival

Look at the street-it was filled with people
I think the entire Melb came down to St Kilda
Crowd sitting watching a live concert
Us withstanding the furious wind at the beach; the sand was blown off by the wind & it hit us painfully
Us again at the pier-at one moment I felt my body lifted up

Overall, it was a fun day. We had la porchetta again. It is an italian restaurant with good food & it is affordable. But service is totally down the drain. Warm but windy day. Class is starting today. No more visitings, no more outtings. Plain study bootcamp... :-(

Chocolate indulgence in Koko Black

I think this will keep all the choc lovers mouth watering. No kidding, after I finished eating the platter with my ice choc (by the way, I shared the platter with cp), I felt like puking. Felt so milky & full of choc in my stomach. But the choc is amazing; somehow godiva doesn't taste as good as before anymore.

UniMelb, Dockland & Max Brenner

Walking along the corridor of the Art's Building
Another side of the art's building
Lawn in UniMelb
One of the clock towers in UniMelb
Chun Peng & I in front of the Arts Building
Dockland-funky design condo right?
Me & Lilly (from Indiannapolis) on a femur
SS pics

Foong Mun & I at Max Brenner
Drinking my dark choc saktou
Yummy yummy

Check out my wonderful university. The pictures taken are just part of the university, to be exact, it is still at the corner of the university. Imagine how big is the place. Friends in Adelaide, don't get the jealousy going.

Went to dockland after dinner for sight-seeing. Nice apartments & condos around there with posh restaurants & fine dining at the ground floor. The apartments are overlooking the dock, which yachts & boats parked at their respective area. Do desire to stay in such lifestyle someday.

Check out Max Brenner. This is a place you guys have to go. The saktou is really good. It is this fire thingie heated by tea candle and you slowly add choc into the milk & stir it til it become hot choc. Yummy for cold weather. Guys in adelaide, are you regretting the boring & empty lifestyle of adelaide. I have to say, even KK sounds more happening. :-) But will bring you guys around when you all get here.

Everyone at home, miss you all alot. Wish I'm there to spend the Chinese New Year with you all. Do enjoy yourself and remember my red packets.

A trip down to Crown hotel & casino

Front entrance of International House-can you see my room? it's on the 3rd floor
Garden of IH
Parkville's sidewalk-IH is on my left
Flinder St train station
Hourly fire display at Crown
Check your alcohol level? Just give it a blow

A very nice casino which is not smoky, unlike Genting's... The casino is so big & of multiple levels. It is a different sight all together as here, you see youngsters like my age gambling... Will be going night market at Queen Victoria tomorrow.

Impromptu St Kilda

3 of us standing at the pier talking in the 15deg strong wind weather in our shorts & slippers..
Bourke St, Melbourne city
Do I look like I put on weight? My face seems more chubby.
Along Bourke St walking twds Swanston.
Chung Yu, Darren & I at St Kilda
St Kilda beach pathway & restaurant
Strong wind & waves

After a long day of enrolling session in Uni Melb, we traveled back to our beautiful & cozy but expensive IH. As we walked in the scorching weather of 36deg:-

Me:- Hey cp, lets go out tonight after dinner. Since the tram is AUD3.20 for all journeys after 6pm.
CP:- Why not? Ok. Set then!

As we continue walking, suddenly I have this brilliant idea popping in my mind.

Me:- Why not we go St Kilda (it’s a beach side town to those Adelaiders who were wondering if Melbourne has a beach). We can see sunset from there. Plus, our tram can get us til there.
CP:- Oh yah. Let’s go there then.

After dinner, CP, Darren, Chung Yu & I set off to the beautiful beach south of Melbourne. As soon as we reached there, Cp ran to the beach like a horse craving for the finish line during a horse race & 3 of us running behind him with a funny gait coz the wind is blowing furiously & the temp felt like 15deg or below. We saw some of the locals swimming in the sea, while we try to reduce as much surface area of our body as possible in order to minimize heat loss. Missed the sunset as the clouds were blocking it, but we had an amazing time standing against the cold southern wind at the pier.

A glimpse of Melbourne journey!

Flinders Street Train Station
National Library... Fallen?
Guess what is that?

Today, we went around the city, shopping for calling cards & mobile number.

Found out that my calling card was a total cut throat after being convinced by the price that I will pay 1/2cent each min when I call back home. Worse, it was a girl aged 12 who sold us all the calling cards. Never mind about this.

Bought my prepaid number from Optus, & we took the 2nd package where we will get 300 free talk time mins with other Optus prepaid number, but once our phone got activated, the number shown was only 100.

Had both lunch & dinner in Chinatown, lunch some HK restaurant & dinner in this Vietnamese restaurant. Portions were large & price was average. Bout AUD7-8.

Tram is like the main mode of transportation. But honestly, it’s freaking expensive. Since we aren’t locals, we are not entitled to the concession fees which cost half of what we paid. Pre-trip for 2 hours cost us AUD3.20. We bought a Sunday saver ticket which cost us AUD2.50 for tomorrow. Last us the entire day. But all in all, it is freaking expensive.

Temperature is freaking cold today. Not freaking but a much colder than yesterday. At least about 17deg. We being the “smart” IMUers, think that we could handle this so called aircond temperature, but when the wind starts blowing, it felt like refrigerator. Tomorrow, the weather is turning the other end, with forecast temp of 38deg. Pray for a miracle k. Prefer cold than hot.

Visiting this market called Queen Victoria Market. It’s the largest in the southern hemisphere. Will be going over to planet shakers tomorrow. Take care ppl.

My mobile no is 0431 207 838
My room number is +613 9345 7376