As I usually do, I’ve finished the passing year and started the new year with doing a quiet time, the words of God and prayer, thanking God for his providence in passing year 2009 and asked for his faithfulness in the coming year 2010.
During the quiet time, I’ve noticed the Romans 8:37, especially, during reading ‘The Ordinary Hero’ by Tim Chester.
“No, in all these we are more than conquerors through him, who loved us.”
Such an encouraging words. In Romans chapter 8, Paul writes of the assurance, we have in Christ. He writes, though there are difficult times, sufferings, and even the persecutions, none of those will be able to separate us from God. Because, Christ has loved us. Not loves us, but, loved us. How did he love us? Here, Paul is referring to the Cross.
Our Christian faith is rooted in the cross, where he poured out his life to save his people. Our faith shall not be like that we feel so blessed on one sunny afternoon and feel God loves us. Because, sooner or later, it’ll rain. Rather, we are to look upon and cling to the cross, all the time, when there are a hardship or sun shine down on us, and be reminded of what Christ has done for us and achieved on the cross. What’s more, the cross still stands to demonstrate his love for us, that he loves us. One ultimate act on the cross in the past, gives full assurance ,and demonstrates and reminds that he loves us to this very moment and forevermore.
Now, the year 2010 has finally begun. The year may will be filled with happiness and good memories. Or, the year may will be filled with pains and hardships. Only God knows. But one thing, I’m sure of is, no matter how the year 2010 turns out to be, I’m more than a conqueror for the cross of Christ and the cross will be my strength.
As some of you already know, I work for an Israeli bank and the bank kindly sent me to the Head Office in Tel Aviv for 4 days to meet the various teams in Head Office and build working relationship with them as well as getting some training, about three months ago. It was very interesting experience. It was a shame that I couldn’t go to Jerusalem, where is less than couple of hours away by car, though, since I couldn’t extend my trip in Israel any longer than that as someone special was waiting for me in London. So, I decided to leave Jerusalem for the later.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
in the evil we have done
and in the good we have not done,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry, and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
…………………
Tonight was the last night of the study on book of Romans and we had a review night of the one year study on Romans. I love the review night because I can get the big picture of how each section of the book that we studied over a year are connected to each other and work altogether (gotta love the neural net method!!).
I have to say that it’s not an easy book to study and at many times, I was so stressed and frustrated before, during and after the study, to understand it, and all the time, those times of stress and frustration have been worth the struggle. Paul’s writing is not the easiest writing to understand (and it’s not just me for even the apostle Peter also said so in his letter) and yet I have to say that I’ve been amazed at his logics and his use of the grammar to make his case and so on, because, behind these, the great teachings about God, us, his unchanging divine rescue plan, righteouness, reality of Christian living, and his sovereignty are embedded in. And seeing those at last, after the long agonizing struggle to see, made my days.
Now, the end of my second RML year is near and this time around, there are more regrets than satisfaction. Many times, I lacked in contribution during the group discussion, i.e. lacking preparation and concerntration. Many times, I felt that i’m not building the others with the truth and not supporting the two great leaders well. I do pray that I may not just dwell in such thought but put it into action to correct and do better job to follow God’s command.
Now, I will likely serve as a leader next term, Lord willing, and I know I need to improve on so many and yet firstly I need to learn to put my trust in him completely that he will prepare me and use me. I’m, after of all, just an instrument of God. By the way, it’s a bit of shame that I can’t do the overview RML with current group members. It’s been such a joy to study the words of God together and be encouraged and I know there are more rooms for knowing and serving each other more, so not being able to study with them makes me truly sad.
Anyhow, I’ve got about three months till the next term begins and there are so many things I want to do to be ready and it’s gonna be busy summer break!
Recently my flatmate gave me the starbucks card, which is a limted edition according to my flatmate… but really, can there be non limited edition?, as if they gonna keep the same design of the card forever!?
Anyway it is like a prepaid card that you put money on the card and use the card to pay for the coffee. The benefit of using the card is like getting free add ins such as extra shot, syrups, soy milk and so on. And I really love this card. I’m not a huge fan of Starbucks coffee but it really motivates me to try different way and experiment the way I drink coffee. For example, I would have probably drunk only plain latte without it but nowdays, I try Soy latte, chai latte, soy latte with extra shot with vanilla syrup…all, which I wouldn’t have tried otherwise, at the price of normal plain latte! Nice~
Last Monday, I finally went to the Ronnie Scott’s, the London’s one of the famous Jazz Club. But what really made me excited for the night was Hiromi. I was not really expecting to see her nor expect to ever get to go to her concert, but, I was just walking pass the Ronnie Scott’s at the SOHO and stopped by the photo of Hiromi. Yes, Hiromi Uehara is coming to Ronnie Scott’s to play a gig for three nights!
Anyway, I booked the seat straight away. I decided to eat dinner there as it will give me the priority seating (better viewing seat). So, I’ve spent considerable amount of money as I had not only dinner but wine and cocktail, and they were pretty pricey^^. The service was very good, top class. The seat was pretty alright. I sat right behind Hiromi, literally about 3 metres away. It was a bit shame not being able to see her facial expression during the play, though, because, her expression is part of the performance.
The photography was not allowed inside the club, so, I couldn’t take any photos but the venue was really good, top class without any doubt. Probably, not as posh as the Once in a Blue Moon in Seoul, but, nearly good. There is a Ronnie’s Bar upstairs, which is not always opened to the public, and I heard it’s much more posh in a way. I should try that next time.
Hiromi took the photos of the crowds right before her encore performance for her blog and so I took the photos below from her blog.
Damn, I’ve been cut out by just. I was sitting right next to the person at the bottom right edge in the photo.
Her performance was so sooooo amazing, so energetic, yet so precise…. The band was also awesome. It was kind of the performance that you just couldn’t stop applauding in awe, not as what you normally do after the song finished out of a habit or an obligation. Every pieces she plays, she earn the applause and she really deserved to be applauded. I have to say it was the best concert I’ve ever been to.
I remember that I’ve posted the photo of this tree from Kensington Garden and who’d knew that I would be able to see the flower on this tree blooming again here in London. Truly the way God works, his secret/sovereign will is incomprehensible and beyond our imagination. Let alone God, who even governs the wind to blow from here to there, be praised.
The photos are taken from the hamstead theatre looking at the Swiss Cottage Leisure center and Library during my way to the gym on one sunny Saturday afternoon.
As I stepped out of the church after the Sunday service, it was snowing and for the first time since I’ve been in London, I saw the white snow filled ground! So I thougt I’d take some photos of it!
Our church recently has put together a short film to promote the true meaning of Christmas and the church kindly asked us to promote the film to the people around. I think, it’s pretty well made and very timely produced.
