Random - Empathy

What is tithing? According to the Bible, the people of Israel gave ten percent of what they received back to the priests. This offering became a token of appreciation, from the people to God, for all that is given. When I read that passage earlier this term, I remember thinking to myself, “Hey. 10%. No problem. Money’s just money. God will provide”... yet, when I sat there, staring at my first paycheck ever, those words were the last things on my mind...

I was at a computer store yesterday, with a few friends, checking out computer equipment. Someone needed a set of headphones. A better sound card. A bigger monitor. Me? I was checking out external HDs and DVD burners, which I never ended up getting. But anyways. While I was there, I ran into a co-worker (who lives in Waterloo, so that’s not too weird) and a team-mate from Midnight Sun. Kind of amused, that three our of the four (fourth of course, being studying) aspects of my Waterloo university life can be symbolized to be gathered there. Co-op, Midnight Sun, and CCF. We were all looking for something to supplement (or replace) our current systems. A good example of capitalism at work there.

This flow is always happening. Without it, our very economy will fail. I’m not going to talk about economics or corruption of money or how we shouldn’t have it. The fact that I have food in my fridge or a bed behind me right now is because of this economic exchange. As a student on a budget, we understand that we can’t sit back and criticize the system, especially when we’re part of the system... rather, I’m simply going to point out what I was trying to relate to above.

I think, we often have preconception about things (looking up tithing), before experiencing it (getting the paycheck) and realizing that reality is a little different than what we first expected (more concerned about computer upgrades and saving up money). I think it’s simply another case of thinking before speaking. Experience is a through (if not sometimes painful) teacher, which is what makes empathy such a powerful weapon. I think I’m starting to understand what Auntie Maureen was talking about...

CCF Grad 06 - Words of Johnny Au

Really consider waiting and praying...there is always a purpose for that. There is always a bigger picture. We are kind of like birds in a cage that we cannot see what is outside. There may be a cat outside, waiting to chew us up, but God as the Owner would not let us out, just because He knows and we don’t.

- Johnny Au, in reference to post-grad future

Patience. I have often heard the following quote: Patience is a virtue. Yet, I never hear the same status applied to any of the other virtues. Is it any more important than kindness? Or humility? Or diligence? No. All virtue are important. Yet... Attitude colours any situation. It is amazing what a little bit of patience can achieve. It can prevent devastating anger from smashing. Stop unintended words from cutting. I will even go as far as setting patience = perseverance, and think of the rewards of training (for hockey, lets say), or studying (marks is always a good motivator), or a long and difficult project (dreading upper-year lab reports...) Yes, a little patience can go a long way.

PDEng 15 Module 2 (yes, I know, but isn’t being open-minded patience based as well? Well...I can say that now that I’m actually done this week’s PDEng...anyways...) refers to a “24 hour rule”...if you’re angry at someone, wait a day before giving this person a piece of your mind. Chances are, you’re not mad anymore. In our emotion driven selves, we often act with not enough thought...or without enough of the larger picture. We run ahead of ourselves, believing that we know what we want, and begin to pray and ask for things. When we don’t get it, we simply pray harder. Till one day the event has past and gone. In hindsight we might realize that it probably was a good thing that certain things didn’t happen, even if we wished with all our might that it did at that time.

Often what we want to have, isn’t what we need to have.

- Samuel Chen

God is the Dude that’s holding the box with the picture to the puzzle. We hold one piece. How much does one piece tell us in a 11 thousand piece puzzle? Or 3 million? Or 12 million? Or 32 million? We see a little bit of the picture and we ask for things (and how often do we really know what we're asking for?), but He see the whole thing, and knows the better course of action. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve made mistakes , but He sees them all. If that’s not patience, I don’t know what is.

Indeed, we often don’t know what’s out there. We don’t realize the bigger picture, being stuck in the here and the now. Right now, I think we can split situations where we want something (that will turn out unlike what we expected at the end) into two types. Either we don’t get what we want, and thus shielded from the consequences, or we venture out of our cages, and scramble for the safety of the cage when the cat comes down on us. Which one would you prefer? Neither of them are any cool...hmm... So what can we do? I’ve come to realize, the more of these I write, the more often I get a same answer... pray. Pray. And pray.

Reference: Johnny Au (CCF), Samuel Chen (mCCF), both Graduates of 2006
Seven virtues of Prudentius (also found in Dante’s The Divine Comedy): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_virtues
Stats Canada: Population, 2005: (Waterloo, Alberta, Ontario and Canada, in that order) http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo02.htm?sdi=population%20canada

Random - relationships (general)

What is this world about? There’s a very commonly used quote... No man is an island. Indeed. Everything we do is about relations. Relations with family. With friends. With classmates. With co-workers. Even here, as I sit in front of my computer, half-effortly reading my PDEng book (tempted to write a entry on why PDEng suck, but that’s not insightful, so I won’t ><)...I’m interacting with people. With CCF friends and a classmate on MSN. People’s blogs. Email waiting to be read. Even the songs I’m listening to (just heard one of the grad’s audio clips. lol)... so even sitting here by myself, I’m drenched in the amount of relations I’m connected to...

Just last Friday at CCF, we had a massive prayer event. One of the things we prayed about was people of the campus. I have been told that Christians carry themselves a bit...differently from other people. We have all these stereotypes associated to our names. When I step out of line, I sometimes even have my non-Christian friends question my behavior, even though if someone else did it, no questions would be asked. We consistently forget the other people are watching. Though all these relationship and links, we are watched. By friends and family. Classmates and co-workers. And so we can’t let our guards down. Often we lead by example. Are you a Christian that you would like to follow?

On a slight sidenote...PT said something that stuck in my mind for a while...Growth of a church shouldn’t be measured by the size it actually is...but by the percentage of the people serving in it. Most churches don’t exceed 10%. Then he laid down a challenge...for a 50% church. People of CCF, what do you think? Possible?

Reference: Pastor Timothy Wai, of KWCAC

Generations – Words of Maureen Wu

I think, before I reached university, I’ve taken the advice from adults for granted. Sure, I listened carefully when it came to university advices...or cooking advices (a few of them definitely didn't go over too well...) or what not. But I've definitely turned away what could've been potentially very good advice from too many adults. Parents. Aunts and uncles. Teachers. Even councilors and a youth pastor. I could look back now and regret not heeding more carefully, but I think, we're given other chances to listen, if we really wanted to, and today, I got one of those.

So Mrs Wu, Joanna and Heidi's mom, works in Stratford, and was kind enough to give me a lift back to Stratford. In the 45 minutes or so, she just started asking me a few questions and talking about stuff. I was actually kind of surprised. Most people wouldn't chose to talk "deep" with some random people...especially some kid you just met yesterday. Yet...as soon as I got into the car, she got into the heart of things: service. fellowship. leadership. opportunities.

I think, from that session, I've learned mainly two things from Mrs Wu's words: passion and empathy. Leadership is often mainly one thing: a person or group of people you look up to. Role model. The dude (and dudette) that seems to be able to do everything. They're capable, sure. Often that's all we see. Yet...

She pointed towards passion. Towards dedication. There will be people who can exert 20% and still do better then people who exert all their might, yet without dedication, without drive, you don't put your all into it. Even if you are better, you'll eventually pass it up. The movie Gattaca (awesome movie, btw) comes to mind. You can be taught skills. You can't be taught passion. CCF's size is both a blessing and a curse. If we come together, there's more then enough of us to paint the campus blue. Yet...bystander effect comes at full blast when it comes to service. But unlike words of Elaine, I'll take it from Auntie Maureen's point of view. Perhaps we don't serve because we don't think we're good enough. Or as Joanna put it: "super Christian". I think everyone who's familiar with the committee of last term would know what we're talking about. People like Eric. People like Lue. People like Mike. I've heard the wisdom of these people via Grad video or just other discussions, and each of them would claim they're no different then we are. Maybe they're being modest. Or maybe they're convinced enough in what they do...in their visions and whatnot, for CCF...

God used Moses, not because he was a leader or a super Christian. He used him because Moses came to him. Moses followed where God led him, though sometimes not without some kicking and dragging. What was Auntie Maureen getting at? Passion is contagious. Passion is a core leadership requirement. Skills are nice, but passion...dedication...that will to put your all into service...or teaching...or whatever...she suggested that's far more important then just being able to pwn.

One of the key things about prayer is a reminder to be persistent, and faithful and bold about our prayers. If we recognize God as someone who is all powerful, then we should not be afraid to come to Him with bold and crazy requests, and to trust him he will give us all that is necessary.

-Captain Jane (Huang)

So prayer is the bridge that will give us what we need. Like I've said before, you can learn skills. You can't learn passion.

The second thing I got out of it is empathy. The example she pulled was very familiar. Both Bily and Jon Lo have taken rides with Joanna's parents. Between them two and PT, I got the contacts I needed so that I can go to Waterloo on weekends to do stuff. Yet...how was Bily and Jon able to help me? How did they know to tell me to contact her...or Uncle Keith...or Uncle Joseph? Simple. They went though the same thing I'm going through. They went through Stratford work term too. As a frosh who has seen CCF from both outside in 1A...and inside in 1B...I can understand people who feel intimated by the sheer size CCF can have. I think, Auntie Maureen was saying that often we don't know what we're capable of. We don't know what we have. Skills. Opportunities. Passion. Foresight. Vision. Meh. You don't need it all to make a difference. As long as you have one, the rest will fall into place. Pray about it.

Reference: Mrs Maureen Wu, and Captain Jane Huang

Deepthinker - Reflection on reflections...

Seems kind of weird, a reflection on someone else’s reflection, but something about Vanessa’s entry... well. Her posting can be found at here

Lesson #1: I think, it’s fairly straight forward. Too often we get caught up in our own situations (final exams is a memory still relatively fresh...), and end up really focused and worried about them. I think, it’s really easy to be tempted to just skip the prayer meetings and continue on cramming. But where does our life focus around then? Definitely, we’re breaking a few rules...

“You shall not make for yourself an idol...” – Exodus 20.4-5

It took me a while to realize that idols don’t necessary have to be a physical form. Money is a commonly quoted one. But I’m beginning to realize, so can marks. It’s not easy to stop and refocus when we’re strapped for time or trying to learn a course in a few hours (*cough cough*), but we need to keep each other accountable. For some reason, I’m reminded of that verse in Proverbs...(can’t find it...the verse about how iron sharpens iron, so man must sharpen man)...so keep each other strong in prayer, every step of it...

Lesson #2: As someone who is not as acquainted with the Word, I can’t really comment about how important it is. Instead I’ll talk about her last few sentences for that part...

Scripture (I’ll roughly equivalant it to prayer, since I’m not much for quoting the Word)...It is easy to take in good times and nod, telling ourselves we earned it (Once again, another reference to post-exam break). Comparing the amount of times I’ve lifted things back up to God during exam session (for those of you who has seen me panic after PHYS125 and ECE100...) and the break afterwards, I think illustrates the point very nicely.

That's pretty much it. The last 3 lessons of hers I can't relate. Though that's how we advance, no? Though the knowledge that we gain through each other. We benefit from each other's mistakes, trials and wisdom. There are many things we have to do ourselves...but many we must do with others. Growth and learning just happen to be one of them.

(I think, there’s a sense of incoherence behind my blogs...ha...)

Reference: Vanessa Li, Eric Cheng, Lue Lau