:D

It's amazing how 1 tablet of ibuprofen with the combination of a cup of pumpkin spiced latte can change you from feeling emotionally and physically miserable to feeling giggly and wanting to LOL at everything in just 2 hours.

Clubs Day

I helped a bit on Friday before leaving to go to the slo-pitch game. Just within the 45min I was at the CCF booth, I spent about half the time in a conversation with someone who has a lot of questions about religion. It's pretty awesome how the other person know certain things about the Bible that I don't. I really like that because that showed me how much more I need to study the Bible and trust the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation. I'm not sure how "correct" my answers were because I'm always afraid that I'm "theologically" wrong. And the guy pointed out that I was repeating a lot of things with a very confused look on his face LOL. So basically, there's a whole lot more studying, prayer, discipline, practice, and obedience to do.

**Lol I can't get the guy's confused look out of my head --> bwahahaha and not really"

Melona

I almost forgot how good these cream popsicles taste. mmm thanks for eating one with me yesterday e-money :)

On the GO

At the beginning of Summer I've been going home to TO a lot and I've became quite familiar with the GO system. There was this time when I was waiting in line to get on the GO bus and I felt very strongly that I had to tell the man in front of me about Jesus...

I really didn't want to talk to anyone; I just wanted to lose myself quietly in a book. Usually after work, I'm really reluctant to speak or do things with anyone because I'm doing things and talking with people all day at work. But I really think that Jesus wanted me to talk to the man =="

The guy, AG, was with his two children. Him and I ended up sitting next to each other on the bus. I dived right into a book because I didn't want to talk. And as I was sitting there reading (not really... because I was thinking whether or not I should talk to him), he started to talk to me.

A: "You can read forever can't you."

M: "Yea... (crap I really have to talk to him now) This book is really interesting. It's about Christian living. Have you heard of Dr. John Piper?"

And so it begins... I asked him about his kids (they were so cute!) and where they were heading. He said he just picked them up from his ex-wife to spend the weekend together at his place at Port Credit. He started telling me about some of his personal things... about his divorce and how things are really hard and what happened between him and his ex. I was very surprised that he would share something this personal with a stranger. This confirmed to me all the more that this man needed Jesus in his life.

We touched on religious things. He believed that "if you find whatever it is that makes you strong, you should believe it. But [he] won't tell other people that they are wrong if it is something different from what [he] believed in." So I shared with him why I believe in Jesus and chose to walk as a Christian.

We got to Burlington and had to get on different trains to get to our own homes. He gave me his contact and out of instinct I gave him mine too. However, as I was writing mine down I really didn't think it was a good idea because I just met this person. But I already wrote half of my number down and it would look so "yurn suey" if I went... "umm actually...."

A few days passed and the guy called... And I assumed that he wanted to talk more about Christianity because we didn't finish the past Friday. I did plan to call the guy back after I prepare myself to talk to him about Jesus... but I wasn't ready so I didn't pick up. He left a message saying that he wanted to talk. He called me again the next day again. I had to gather myself for a few hours before I called him back.

I prayed with one of the girls I lived with to let God guide the conversation before I called him back. And I talked with another friend about the whole situation before I called because for some reason, things didn't seem so right. I called back and words flowed very smoothly out of my mouth. In a way I was surprised that they all came out so smoothly but at the same time I wasn't.

The conversation went on for about one hour. I had to redirect the conversation A LOT =S because turns out, the guy's intention was far from wanting to know more about Christianity. I did manage to share the Gospel with him, but he wanted to talk about something else... I offered to have my friends AE and HL talk to him or contact him instead because they lived closer to where he lived and would be more accessible.

I'm not very clear on what I make of this experience. I really did think that God drew me to talk to the guy when we were on the GO bus. But at the same time, the guy's intention was not what I had in mind. I really don't know. But all in all, I think I am way more comfortable with having the Gospel told even thought things were not as I expected than not tell him about Jesus at all. I can't imagine having the thought of letting the opportunity to share the Gospel go sit in my mind.

AE called him twice and left some messages, but he didn't return any calls.

Yea, so that's basically what happened.

Spreading the Word

The summer term was pretty amazing =) Doing things and all. Lol can I be more vague? Haha. Probably. Anyways, I think the past term was the term I really tried to push myself to share the Gospel. I definitely need a lot more practice and growing on my own as well, but yes, I really did try. It was alright, sometimes I wouldn't know what to do and then I would have that blank look on my face. I think if I saw myself I would actually lol at myself. hahaa.

Sharing the Gospel at the work was quite a touchy subject and it is discouraged (it's written in their policy =S ). Sometimes I would have to sneak around that so that I could talk to the patient one to one. I would try to incorporate it into the assessment part of work since I am supposed to know my patient (ie. knowing the patient's religious background). It was still a bit hard to talk to them about it in a way they would be able to understand because some (just some) had a lower IQ and may not necessarily know what I'm talking about at all.

There were other times when I just started talking to random strangers. I remember two particular incidents very clearly...

1) On the GO bus

2) At a coffee shop called "My Dog Joe"

The two men I talked with had some similarities in terms of the things they were and are still going through. Believes were quite similar as well... one believed that if you find whatever it is that make you strong, then you should believe it. The other was a Buddhist and believed in balance and agreed with everything I said. He agreed with everything I said because a lot of the things written in the Bible are similar to the Buddhist teachings according to him.

I'll write about how each conversation went later on. But telling people about the Gospel is so important. And many times Christians forget that the living Word of God can change the life of a person dramatically.

Money, money, money

For those of you who don't know, ABBA is one of my all time favourites. I really enjoy their music and which is why of course I really like Mamma Mia! I like to do exercise with my clients with their songs playing: Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on Me, and Money Money Money. It's easy. I know their beat. Their songs make me laugh as I exercise with my clients. And most of my clients know them since they are so famous.

I've been thinking about many things this summer. One of them is "Money". God truly blessed me financially this term. Well... it's expected as it is my 3rd work term since our pay is supposed to increase every term. But with the exception of my 2nd work term when I worked of a not-for-profit organization haha =="

Many of my friends went on a mission trip, are still in the middle of their trip, or are about to go. Many of them asked me to support them financially. But there were just too many people asking me to support them and I really couldn't decide who to support. Also, I would definitely rather support a couple so they can get a bigger piece of the pie than support many with a way smaller piece. I did pray about it and asked God who I should support. And honestly, it was no one specific. I did have one in the end... but I think it was because I spent all that time thinking about who to support that most of my friends already got what they needed to go.

I spoke to someone about giving what I stored up this term to that friend... and she didn't like the idea. It is a pretty big amount. However, I didn't put anything in offering at all this term. O_O So in the end it would still be the same if I spread it out over the months. She said I didn't have to give my friend that much because my friend will definitely receive some more from the church. Which is true... but I wasn't too comfortable with the reasoning behind not giving that amount: That I should save it for myself. Invest. School. Or if something comes up I can use that money. It really didn't sound right =S

I spoke to another friend of mine about what to do with the money. He reminded me that when I support others, I have to remind the person I'm supporting that it should be like a partnership kind of thing; That I should expect to hear stories about their trip when they come back as it is sort of like an investment. Since we are so blessed with money, we should definitely be careful on taking care of what God have given us.

In Piper's Don't Waste Your Life, those of us who are financially blessed should use what was given to us to help make other people glad in God. Such include supporting missionaries in their work oversea as they spread the Gospel. (he phrased it better than me of course lol) He made a pretty good point in his book. Not everyone are made to be missionaries or put in the "front lines" to serve the Lord oversea, but some are made to work behind the scene or back at home. What we are capable of making at home are to be used wisely; to give to the poor/ needy, offerings at church, and to support missionaries so that those who do not know God can come to know Him and be satisfied in Him in every aspect of life.

I thought about all of this again. It doesn't have to be just missionaries, it can also be relief funds for ie. Pakistan. I was watching the news or some talk show... I forget. The show put some figures up to compare how much is given to the people in need every time a disaster strikes. The trend that was displayed showed that fewer and fewer is given out each time. I think that fewer and fewer is given because natural disasters are just so common these days that people start to grow numb to the suffering faces of the world.

The world will grow more and more numb to these issues. But we who are Christ's followers should continue to do the work God assigned us; to take care of the widows, orphans, and the poor. And as we do the work, we must remember to do the work in faith.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" -Matthew 25:40

It's really funny and I'm slightly ashamed. As I'm typing this up, I remember back in the previous winter term that I commented/ complained that no one cared about [insert country's name] because the Canadian Hockey team was playing the States at the Olympics even though a disaster just hit that country. It's funny because I already forgot which country that was and what hit them. I already forgot! It has only been around 6 months or so. [Know what I'm getting at?!]

So what are we going to do with our money? Save it for school (darn tuition and books)? New wardrobe (I do want some new cardigans... and other things)? Invest and let the money grow in your account? Buy a house? A car? Newest iPhone? =O

What is right? What did Jesus asked us to do? After all, we're only here for a short time. But we'll have to spend our eternal life somewhere. They will have to spend their eternal life somewhere.

Money, money, money. Must be funny, in the rich man's world.

Money, money, money. Always sunny, in the rich man's world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0