RE: GOOD....

It happened again! Around the same time, almost like a week ago! 10:20AM today!

Me: "....same thing I said last time...." [in my mind I was like... "Eerrggghhh!"]

The other end: "Ohh.. that's a wishful thinking, {laughter}... I know it's Friday.. {more laughter}."


Weekend symptom!

Y-T-T

Yesterday someone caught me in a bad timing when he told me a bad news while I was kinda in a bad mood, so basically it didn't help! I got really upset and wrote back an email with strong words about the particular news. My patience is being tested, and I think I'm done putting up with people's irresponsible being. Please!

Today my 2 students are sitting for their theory exams. Two very different students indeed. Truly wish them the very best! As a teacher, I could only do that much, the rests are their hardwork. Being a music teacher for more than 3 years now, I can confidently say that it's been an interesting journey of learning and experience. All my students have been so unique in their own ways, good and bad, they've taught me lessons too. Anyway, the rest of the infos are confidential...

Tomorrow... who would really guess, though one thing I know, Jesus holds my hand with great promise! I've got a plan for next year which is particularly looking like a hard process, if God wills, it will happen. If not, then I know God has a much bigger plan for my life.

GOOD....

Hillarious phone conversation @ 10:50 AM today:

Me: "Good after... uh.., good morning, TCF services Jenny's speaking."

The other end: "Hi, good evening!"

THE CALL

How do you know God is calling you?

Inward call:

• Through Holy Spirit - God speaks to those He has called.
• Those He has called know it by: sense of leading, purpose and growing commitment.

External call:

• God uses the congregation to call out the called to ministry.
• As a family of faith, take responsibility to encourage those whom God has called to respond to that call with joy and submission.

Do you sense that God is calling you to ministry, whether as pastor or another servant of the Church?

Do you burn with a compulsion to proclaim the Word, share the Gospel, and care for God's flock?

Has this call been confirmed and encouraged by those Christians who know you best?

God still calls . . . has He called you?

HOW CAN THEY SEE JESUS, IF NOT IN YOU AND ME

I recall a song by Steve Curtis Chapman, something titled "Jesus lives in me", ...must have posted the lyrics somewhere in here. It's just a great reminder of how we live as we confidently claim ourselves as God's children and that He lives within us for all other to see.

HECTIC LIFE n I NEED GOD

Looking at my daily schedules, I wonder how I have managed it all so far, it's been quite tough. I work 9-5 in the office, and teach almost every night; leaves me with a couple of hours to relax before going to bed. In a week or two, I'm going to start a part-time work from home as part of the assignment from work place. Sometimes or if not lately, I wonder if I've become a workaholic person (I always view this as a negative thing). Before it was like 'study study study' for me, now it's 'work work and work' day and night. But still... thanking God for every opportunity. Pray that I won't let busyness get in the way of my relationship with God.

ROAD OF LIFE

Maybe I can relate to this picture which I found a while ago, quite interestingly representing my life (perhaps yours too). I'm such a broken instrument in this world yet He loves and wants to use for His purposes.

JOURNEY IN BALI (17-25TH JUNE 2006)

Felt like I was just packing up my summer clothes and all the goodies, looking forward and being excited about the trip to Bali, ...and now it's all past and done! Loved this trip, one of the best, short but long... it felt really long because it was full of activities in every second of it, yet short for only 8 days.

Flash back...

It was one freezing cold Saturday morning dated 17.06.06 when Victor and Ipung drove me to the airport, but inside me was all warm and excited, as you would imagine, having a holiday (well sort of) after a long time. It was unexpected to see all my great mates turning up at the airport one after another to send me off.... eerrr nah, I would fool myself. As a matter of fact, they were there to wish our beloved and most dearest friend Victor Layata a.k.a Viclay, a wonderful journey ahead in Bali as he left us for good this time. We (Vera, Vic and I) were leaving on the same plane (my first time flying with Garuda), it didn't feel like a good-bye as yet, still had another week to spend it with Vic in Bali, so I wasn't all overwhelmed at that time...




I arrived in Bali on the same day in the afternoon at roughly 1pm Bali time (2 hours later than Sydney). First impression? - *Yes I'm going to love this!* Bali is a GORGEOUS city indeed. You can just feel the warmth of the people there. Talking about warmth, weather was excellent, it was warm at probably around 25-28 degree celcius across the week, not sticky as I suspected... it was beautiful, like Nike - it's just right! However you don't get this kind of weather often, it only happens during winter time in Australia, Bali's somehow affected by the low temperature, otherwise it could be like a normal Indo weather, hot and sticky... ewww...

I was invited to stay at Vera's house for the first 2 nights before checking in to the hotel for music camp. After settling our luggages at home, we ordered lunch and ate together. This is what we did straight after - Vera asked me if I would like to go to a hairdresser and I was like.., "Great idea! Haven't had my hair done for months...". Off we went, went to this Japanese hairdresser called Anzhu, and they actually speak Indo. I had never encountered a Japanese who could speak Indo quite reasonably, although with some accents. Anyway... they offered this Japanese massage service and I thought 'GREAT! Just what I needed.' So we had our hair done, in between they served us some good 'head, upper back, hands' massages, I fell asleep, so good...

WITH THE LAYATAS

Late Monday morning, I checked-in at the hotel where the music camp was going to be held at, SANUR PARADISE HOTEL (SPH). Camp didn't start until Tuesday evening, I got an extended overnight stay package and breakfast in the morning. I had the room all to myself that night which was really nice. The fact that there were about 1000 participants of this camp including the speakers and teachers, all the international guests had to stay at another hotel at INNA GRAND BALI BEACH HOTEL just next to SPH about 2 mins away, they provided suttle busses in between hotels. Had to move hotel the next morning. I woke up Tuesday morning with a smile on my face, feeling great and refreshed (I can almost remember how it felt like!), took a long shower, got myself ready, enjoyed the views as I walked down the stairs for a breakfast. I knew no one at the time... so I was having breakfast alone, absorbing the views around and just watching people, it felt good... though I wished I had someone to chat to.

HOTEL ROOM

HOTEL VIEWS

BREAKFAST LOUNGE

(Continuing updating again today, Thursday 03.08.06).

Music camp didn't start till Tuesday evening. 6:30pm - welcoming dinner. Chatted and tried to make new friends, too many, after a few minutes you wonder what their names were again, anyhow it was a great experience. Then it was followed by an Opening Ceremony where 1000 or more people gathered in the conference room (awesome!), Balinese traditional music and dancing were all happening at the begining, telling the story about God and creation, unique! It finished around 10pm, went back to my room, chatted abit more with my roommate, she was from Riau and apparently she could speak hokkian and Mandarin, a very nice lady.

6am Wednesday morning - woke up fresh and looking forward to the day! Devotion time, breakfast, morning worship, morning tea, classes and rehearsals, lunch, workshops, afternoon tea, break time, dinner, evening concerts. That would sum up all the activities we did everyday Wednesday to Friday, for Friday evening we had revival service with Rev. Stephen Tong as the preacher, followed by holy communion and closing ceremony.

Some of the topics I picked and did for my classes and workshops (if I still remember), were:

• Influence of post-modern music in church: Hot topic being discussed in the world in accord with the popularity of lifestyle being embraced by young people today: individualism, hedonism and ignorance. Discussing the meaning of post-modern, and the influence in church and also seeking solution to anticipate those influence especially in music.
• Problems in congregation singing: how to pick the right song to congregation's preference and event. Worship leader and accompaniments role in leading congregation to sing, especially in leading unfamiliar or difficult songs: melody, tempo and rhythm.
• How to lead a worship: For worship leaders; teaches about the function of worship leaders, and tips to enhance leadership in leading a worship to lead congregation into a worship experience to equip them for everyday life.
• Vocal group: How to organize and shape a vocal group, choosing the right repertoire and a vocal ensemble style in line with Christian character for service.
• Santuary choir: Understanding about the importance of Sanctuary Choir role in worship, where and how to choose the right repertoire for every church events and liturgies.
• Vocal - advance: In-depth analysis in voice mechanics, discussing knowledge of how to create beautiful and brilliant voice. Includes diction and expression.

We also did choir rehearsals (singing with other 1000 ppl, loved it, sounded YEEEAAAHH, now I could really imagine what it's like singing in heaven!), we got to meet the composers too!

[Music camp pictures to come]

When I got back alot of people asked, "...so, what did you learn, Jenny?" I honestly had hard times summarising them into a sentence or two. I did learn ALOT, not just the fact of learning, but also the fact of being reminded and rebuked altogether was a whole lot of amazing experiences for me. Music ministry is a whole lot more than just about music. My understanding of music would be irrelevant if my heart isn't right with God.

This weekend I get to share some choir stuff with choir members, so hopefully I prepare it well and they too can be blessed through it.

Ok, now just a bit of how my journey in Bali ended. I was supposed to be leaving on the Saturday, but couldn't resist Bali and didn't get enough of it, AND on the Sunday was Vera's birthday, they insisted I stayed, so I did.., I was pretty excited at that time, yeaayyy 1 more day! :D

After all those fun and excitement over the trip, it had to come to an end, I was finally flying home. Got really uncomfortable in my stomach and sick-feeling kicked in all the way on the plane. I didn't eat at all up there. Arrived in Sydney safely but (again) uncomfortably. I felt really really cold, wonder how Sydney could become so cold this time round, and I didn't have with me a thicker jacket, great!, so I just put up with it. Got home and collapsed on my bed without any delay, felt really sick and weak, slept all day, I didn't eat just drank lots of water, and I got lost track of time (jetlagged). And well... that spoilt it! Nonetheless, as I said... one of the best trips ever, I would really like to go back to Bali again one day.

Big thank yous go to: most of all..the Forever-Faithful-God; beloved IPC Randwick for funding the whole trip, the Layatas for the hospitality, care and love; and all my wonderful friends for your prayers and wishes. :)