F is for Facebook!

Lately everyone from Alaska to Zimbabwe (with access to internet) seems to have joined this "social utility" which is no more than Friendster with less customising but the convenience of looking at other people's profiles and comments left by THEIR friends who we want to know all about in order to see how popular we ourselves are compared to them within a few clicks. Admit it folks, this is exactly what we use it for.

Well its worked wonders, unlike other blog sites, social networks whether one logs on only to become disgruntled by the lack of comments and logs off, facebook tells the world that "leave comments for other people= other people leave comments for you= looking good :)". In turn its led to visitors browsing for hours not only writing on other peoples "walls" but reading each little detail of what other mysterious strangers, whom we've known for our entire life but never KNOWN in person was actually the friend of a friend, wrote as well.

I'm totally addicted, from the start, when I discovered friends from primary school, high school, church, uni, other organisations, work all gathered on one place... however the best feature must be the groups and events function tho, where its much more effective than sending emails.

Hold on, email from facebook...must be some post on the wall or a new friend request...

UQ Law Revue 2007 - Grotesques

If this doesn't crack u up breathless I dunno wat does, its quite lame tho...

Hectic

Upon writing the title to this blog I decided to be philosophical, I looked up the definition of 'hectic' and I was returned with this: feverish: marked by intense agitation or emotion; worked at a feverish pace. So it would be reasonable to say that feverish is the synonym to hectic. There I embarked to define feverish and rendered this result: having or affected by a fever. So I became confused. If A infers B, B infers C then A should infer C, but wait...that doesn't make sense. So I stopped.

Now to the real post, this week has been in so far the most hectic week of the semester if not the year. Week 5 of uni, a backlog of study to be done that rivals the length of the Great Wall, the Sunday School play is up for show this Sunday and props must be finalised. As conventionally done, I'm the interpretor for the principal during the service when its Sunday School Sunday and his report rocked up to my email inbox this morning.

The flu season has taken its toll, the paralegal today fell victim as the 4th casualty of our firm. Me being the only member left yet to be plagued steps up to take two jobs for the week, court documents to be drafted for 4 clients, 2 sets of disclosure to be copied and sent to the Defence, whole weeks worth of filing and a tired mind.

A few new contacts that may add to the continously dormant fellowship need to be contacted and encouraged, both done today. Doubtless it gave an extra edge of confidence to my commitment in ministry. However more headaches come the way of chasing up and getting attendance finalised for camp and Youth Alive from people at uni and other branches of society.

Karl just tells me he's going away in 5 days, duty calls to fare him well. Obliged to organise something. URGENTLY.

Housekeeping matters continuously trek the back of my mind. Rainwater tank rebates, Father's Day gifts, auto insurance...

What helps now is that trick monkey magic uses, he pulls a strand of hair from his body, blows into it and POOF! 72 more monkies start the job.

A restless mind, out~/

Belonging

Week in, week out, I labour to bring revival to this fellowship. I've seen all too much of the strife and tension that cripple the foundation of God's most vibrant and energetic ministry. Am I the one to change it? I was so sure about it last yr, was sure about it last month. Now, I trust in that no longer.

Perhaps it was God's intention that I see the fragility in my own abilities, but my zeal has lead to disappointment. How each day I dedicate my life to Him, but the ministry remains dormant, maybe its time to move on. Maybe its God's will that a lesson be learnt here. Did Paul end up convincing Corinth to move on and revive? I have not searched the answer to that question, but I am not Paul either.

2yrs I've been facing this dilemma, do I just capitulate and leave, join one of the number of Youth ministries more suited to me (CCCB, Hope Brisbane, ICC, EMP methodist) or do I linger and take the initiative to bring revival. Can I really make a difference? Time after time I sought comfort from the above Bible verse in Psalms, time after time I listened to the song "I want to run to the alter and catch the fire...we will make a difference bringing hope to this land."

I think its time to move on and stop lingering in the past, even if just for a break. All this yr of burden and intuition is exhausting. I'm going to say that at least for now, I wish to leave Sherwood Methodist and follow in God's plan for me wherever it may be.

My King!

How great is our God!

Testify to love

Our duty to God in a most poetic fashion.

Ab initio

In the beginning, we were blonde. Legally blonde.

No amount of Law school, mooting nor GPA 7s could adequately prepare one for an actual job, in persona.

Whatever knowledge that was learnt from reading Lord Atkins or HLA Hart becomes obsolete in the situation where 10,000 piece of correspondence papers, medical certificates, tax returns, public authority archive searches, all in triplicate, plus the odd Further Further Amended Statements of Claim stare at you in the eye, teasing your shortcircuited brain which before this very day you thought more than brilliant enough to change the world.

Forget the thoughts of office desk, free coffee, looking smart and walking straight and tall whilst juggling the word justice with both hands. Each file you handle dates back to when you were still giggling amongst a group of gossipy teenagers in 10th grade, if not earlier, like...last millenium. When each piece of correspondence has to be checked, distinguished from privileged and discoverable, useful evidence or 'without prejudice' and until each tax return has been analysed and an estimate figure of loss and damage materialises, the new clerk boy isn't making his $17/hr worthwhile...... lunch breaks, well...think again.

So those ambitious friends or wannabe law students out there, this is one big fish, don't throw the line if its not the one you're after... ...afterall, I'm not sure about it anymore myself.

Looking back- the inaugural season for Urbanites, a baptism of fire

Feb 2007, the Urbanites enter an unfamiliar ground for the first time, not all of the team were present, I grabbed a couple of feisty if not skilled friends to fill in for some who were still away overseas on holiday. Only the captain, Sun Yu(hereafter as Sunny) and I played the rest of the season.

We started well, almost 4 attempts on goal in matter of minutes, the captain broke the deadlock, I think it was my assist but can't be sure. More opportunities came our way, more and more rules were infringed, since we were only just getting used to this pacey, close quarter, furious style of play. We ended up regretting not taking our chances, 4-2 to the opposition. Unfit. Unsatisfied. We wondered whether we'll build up some form.

Wk 2, the rest of the team is back, a total restructure of the team. For so many of its new permanent members, the constant chirping of the whistle, the smell of perspiration on tired men and the nauseating glare of the flourescent floodlights was a first-time experience. Too much to bare. We fought but were in vain, we asked questions but were not answered. Too inexperienced. Still unfit.

The rest of the season saw some consistent improvement but to compete with these other team's 'so called' seasoned veterans we stood no chance. A victory against the top team sparked hope, but lack of unity and understanding remain the key problems. An injury to the keeper's wrist caused an absence of our imposing figure for almost 4 wks.

Finally broke the duck during the 4th last game, scored a vital goal that sealed us victory, scored 3 more times in the next 3 games and some satisfying assists gave me some faith for a better Sem 2 season. Though Derek will now go back to Singapore, the keeper role...hmm, will need to be filled. The team is bonding, Alvin and I can get on the same wavelength much more often, Sunny's switch to defence saw a little spice added to our orthodox halfback-which at the time was me. Goals were coming more often, the opposition were always having to fight to get their goal... ...we did well. Especially since two of our members never played soccer prior to this.

(Photo from left to right: Me, Tim, Jason, Brian, Alvin (c), Sunny, sitting Keeper Derek)