Yoshi’s Noteboard 2.0
Write About NowArchive for STM related
Randomize Thy Blog
Ok. The Lord told me to blog. Yeah, He’s cool. He got me into basketball, jogging, foosball, and Kluang and writing and… 
I’ve been holding a few ideas in my head since the last time I wrote about being fleeced in my greek exam. And turns out that even the greek sentence I constructed was grammatically WRONG. Wakakakaka…
But, aside the frustrations at not being able to SCORE at Greek (which keeps me humble), and having to deal with my terrible work ethic, I am having farn.
I had a good game of basketball on Wednesday. Won two of the full-court games comfortably, with different scratch teams. (And I’m quite pleased at the success of the strategy change and the practices of lay-ups done the day before.)
I’m making progress on my Romans paper, but too slowly (for my own good). Will be going to Melaka this weekend, God willing, for food (ugh), Scrabble and fellowship, which although ‘relaxing’, will mean less time for work. I have one more month to finish all remaining papers. Things look a little better than they were last year at this time, but I’m still behind in most things. However, I am happy to say that I’ve been so much more punctual (if not early) for my appointments, which bodes well for consideration of other ’self-development’ initiatives.
In short, I’m still enjoying life. And although I still feel I could know more Scripture, be more caring, or more efficient in the way I do stuff and handle my time, I know that pleasing God lies not in the future, but in the calm assurance of His pleasure and acceptance in the day to day. And His burdens have not been heavy.
Missed
Frustration... "My Greek is bad."
1. Was fleeced today in Greek exam. I know I could have done better, but got bogged down with locating the meanings and then realised I did not have enough time for my final section. *sobs* Just when I was starting to understand things…
2. Earth hour: Why turn off lights when you can turn off air-conditioners? I’m still skimping plastic bags, paper and unnecessary trips to the washing machine.
3. STM condition: It has been raining a bit recently. Everyone is overcome with work: some even missing chapel to sleep, or were too sick to get out of bed, or just plain ’studious’. Missing chapel to study?
4. UMNO elections: KJ and Sharizat are in. I’ve heard rumours that this season marks the beginning of a dark age for non-Muslims in the country. Hmmm…
5. Working on an assignment to be handed up tomorrow. Studying the lives of Martin Luther King, Sunday Adelaja and Mother Teresa, but I lament my slow progress. To all the studious students out there, all z best and keep up the slogging. One day, all of this will be worth the while. Just don’t return everything to your teacher.
Life in STM
STM Student Council 2009... The Dream Team
The Bible College that I spend 80% of my time during the week is a representative microcosm that reflects the Malaysian Church in all its flawed glory. There is the clannish Chinese communities- fragmented, loud and critical; the indifferent and individualistic English-speaking Chinese; the ‘neglected’ and ‘marginalized’ Indian ‘minority’; the local bumiputra students that lend much mirth to our dreary and kiasu-istic lifestyles; and the foreign students, who remind us of a growing immigrant population in the country and its crying needs.
Inseparable...My former roomie (Jegadass) and me. Peas in a pod.
I believe this larger, more intricate family must be brought to a love-centered balance, not by sheer reason, persuasion or charisma, but by prayer and quiet trust alone. No amount of talk (and I have had heard alot of it since coming in to STM) will bring men and women together in harmony of purpose. Some quarters complain that the students are not mentored or discipled by the lecturers enough. In some sense it is true, but I prefer to seek for alternatives, rather than wait for the proverbial moon to turn blue. In the same way, I feel that the seniors should play a bigger role in mentoring and assisting the juniors. (And I guess I could complain that we have not been discipled and mentored enough!) However, after a year here, I have learnt to adapt and get my input elsewhere.
Growing up... the sophomores y'all!
But for the juniors under me, I have been seeking after a way to allow my current year to be more pro-active towards welcoming the freshies. So far, there has not been a concerted effort to reach out to them- much like what happened to my year- but I hope this will not be a norm in the days to come. May we learn what it means to love with greater sincerity.
Myself included.
Of Demons and Prayer
Waking sleep... chase, chase, chase them out!
I have been troubled by my own lack of prayer, having been entrusted with it by the Lord to uphold the people around me fervently. I know and have seen its effectiveness, but I struggle to maintain my committment.
Last night I awoke from a dream, where I and a group of others were assailed by moaning demons/spirits. While we tried to run for cover (fat lot of good that does), a few of them leapt over and latched themselves firmly to our heads. They were small sized, but vicious. As they sunk their invisible claws into our minds, binding in fear and confusion, we struggled in vain to extricate them. I woke up on full alert.
It was 4.21 am. As I began praying without reserve, the Lord released the strangleholds and began breaking the ties. My mind began to clear and I continued to pray for all those within thinking distance. Strength and normalcy soothed me back to sleep.
If the Lord ever wakes you up in the middle of the night alarmed and disturbed, pray. Pray for your friends, your neighbours, your country.
