9 days before i fully serve in a church...

shalom!
it has been a while (yeah, a WHILE!) since i last blogging. i wonder if u r the 1st person to read this blog or the ONLY person to read it, that's why i'm not fond of blogging- not many ppl read my blog yet thousands have heard me preaching on the pulpit. Yes, im a practical guy, unlike many who 'bravely write yet do nothing about it.'

after graduated with a bachelor degree in theology from stm (5 days before my father's demise), i had a wonderful 38 days of full holiday given by my dear Datuk Bishop Bolly. i really appreciate and made full use of the days to help rebuilding my family and also to move in things into our new house. it was then i got a letter from bishop that i'll be sent to St. Luke's Church in Sri Aman to serve there until who knows when.

so now, locking myself in my room (can't really accuse me of being anti social coz it's raining out there, cats and dogs and some zebras), im figuring out what to do in the church that i've been assigned to. i cant be as ROCK as before, this church is famous for being 'highly traditional and hostile to praise and worship'...well, that's what i heard...anyway, i will dig deep and hard to find the balance. i know this because God is with me.

that's all for now folks!
-rock rod rodriguez-

a true story in a seminary...

shalom all,

today i want to share a story that i think some of the seniors are quite familiar with. it happened some years ago, in a seminary. bear in mind that seminary is not immune to strange incidents.

let's just name the character as 'A'.

to cut the story short, one evening A realized that the sky was getting dark indicating a thunderstorm is on its way. he was in a class at that time, in a lecture room. since everyone was so absorbed with the lecture, he volunteered himself to go back to the hostel to retrieve his clothes from the clothesline. upon reaching the place, he saw that there were MANY clothes still hanging on the clothesline and it had started raining. the rain was getting heavier.....

he has TWO options:

1. gets his own clothes, only his, and runs back to the class without getting wet. who want to get wet for others, right????
2. retrieve all the clothes regardless of their owner and get soaked wet in the rain (for the sake of the community).


'A' chose the 2nd option.

the consequences? he went back to the class and people were laughing at him..hahahaha....he was soaked wet and the class almost ended...poor guy..!

IF U WERE THAT GUY, WHICH OPTION WOULD U TAKE?

IF U HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME TODAY, WOULD U DO THE SAME?

LOOK OUTSIDE, AT THE CLOTHESLINE.

'A' had to re-wash his clothes tonight....

the moral of the story is:

THE NEXT TIME I HELP TO RETRIEVE PEOPLE'S CLOTHES FROM THE CLOTHESLINE, I WILL BRING MY UMBRELLA SO THAT I WON'T GET WET.....IT'S OK THAT I GOT WET, AS LONG AS I HAD HELP OTHERS....

-GOT PURITY?-

JuSt A PrAyEr AwAy...

Tears that fell like rain

Streamed down from my heart

Colors turned to gray

Emptiness led the way

Until I fell apart

You came to save

To show me that

Chorus:

You’re just a prayer away

No matter where I am

I know in my heart

You’re never too far

When I’m losing my way

You’re just a prayer away

My strength is in my faith

I’m never aloneI’m never afraid

Cause you’re just a prayer away

When I close my eyes Lord, I call your name

And the dark subsidesNothing can take the place

Of the peace

I findYou came to save me

To show me that

Repeat chorus

Bridge:Whenever I nrre to find you

I just fall on my knees

In you I find the strength that I needTo live , to believe

wiLL YoU wAiT fOr mE???

the title for this post is VERY misleading, yes i know.
it's a title of my favourite song, yeah, "will u wait for me," sung by Kavana back in 1998-1999.
for the newest generation who are unfortunate to know who this 'Kavana' is, i have been kind enough to attach the video+the lyrics as well. so, sit back relax and enjoy.
p/s: don't cry...

I need to talk with you again

why did you go away

All our time together

just feels like yesterday

I never thought I'd seen

a single day without you

the things we take for granted

we can sometimes lose

And if I promise not to feel this pain

Will I see you again

will I see you again

Cos time will pass me by,

may be I'll never learn to smile

But i know I will make it through

if you wait for me.(won't you wait for me.)

And all the tears I cry,no matter how I try

They will never bring you home to me

won't you wait for me in heaven

Do you remember how it was

when we never seemed to care

The days went by so quickly

cos I thought you'd always be there

It's hard to let you go

though I know that I must try

I feel like I've been cheated

cos we never said goodbye

And if I promise not to feel this pain

Will I see you again

Cos I miss you so

and I need to know,

Will you wait for me?

my goodness....fake???

...ku ingin kau tahu diriku di sini menanti dirimu meski ku tunggu hingga ujung waktuku dan berharap rasa ini kan abadi untuk selamanya dan izinkan aku memeluk dirimu kali ini saja tuk' ku ucapkan slamat tinggal untuk slamanya dan biarkan rasa ini bahagia untuk sekejap saja...

Psalm 139:23..search me oh God, and know my heart...

shalom, friends...!

currently im too busy with things and church commitment as well as academic requirement.

sorry i have to be 'lazy' by just copy and paste from internet to get this lyrics.

it's a lovely song from Hillsong United.

but i would like to recommend to read the words instead of singing it out- the meaning is clearer and it really touches me.

-will come back to write my thoughts and share my daily devotions soon-

'AT THE CROSS'

Oh Lord You've searched

meYou know my way

Even when I fail YouI

know You love me

Your holy presence

Surrounding me

In every season

I know You love me

I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me

There's no greater love than this

You have overcome the grave

Glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now

You go before me

You shield my way

Your hand upholds me

I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me

There's no greater love than this

You have overcome the grave

Glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?(x2)

You tore the veil

You made a way

When You said that it is done(x2)

And when the earth fades

Falls from my eyes

And You stand before me

I know You love meOh..

I know You love me

Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.."

KiNdNeSs (Part 2)

Shalom all!

As someone who loves to mix around with people, i really enjoy the fellowship and the joyful interaction between friends especially when there are different races sitting down together on a table.

In STM, i honestly enjoy the presence of the friends from other countries. Students from all part and corner of the world came to STM to study, for example from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan (did i miss out anybody?)..

Kindness is the key to mix well with them, and of course, with the love of Christ. Since I just want to focus on 'kindness' i would just talk on this topic and reserve 'Christ love' for another post.

Let us look at the Bible:

Colossians 1:10- "The way you live will always honour and please The Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better."

Matthew 7:12- "Do for others what you would like them to do for you."

Philemon 1:7- "I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness have so often refreshed the hearts of God's people."

...Kindness is NOT a single act BUT A LIFESTYLE.