she got game

I played basketball with a few of the sisters last Saturday. We weren't all that fantastic - but we talked the talk and (kind of) walked the walk.

It's quite fun to run around the pavement bouncing a ball, switching directions, passing, grabbing rebounds, jumping, shooting, defending, laying-up, and trash-talking. But after the small little taste on Saturday, I have this weird desire to get good at basketball. I feel like doing some training, getting fit, shooting around more, eating right so I can play better, getting some b-ball gear, organising more games, and watching NBA and movies like 'White Men Can't Jump' for inspiration.

It's alright, I haven't been drugged. I don't know if it's just a phase that I'm going through, but we'll see how long this lasts...

a change in heart

If you asked me a week ago whether I was enjoying my job, I would have told you that I was thinking about updating my resume. Work had become less and less fun over the past few weeks and I was seriously contemplating throwing in the old towel and moving on. Personality clashes, boredom, feeling like less of a spiritual influence and feeling more worldly influenced, and on top of it all, the two-year-itch had started to kick in and I started to think that i could get a better deal (salary-wise) elsewhere.

But I have to really thank God that I had a bit of a change in heart. Well it wasn't really my heart that changed, it was more that circumstances had changed. I got a mini-increase in pay, personality clashes seemed to settle down, I got some more interesting work and I got to share the gospel with one of the people that I never thought I would share the gospel with!

It's really great how God uses things like that to show us His will. When stuff like that happens, I just can't help but see how great God is and how He truly is a personal God who knows our hearts inside and out.

manna evangelism

Post 30in30, I have made an effort to carry tracts with me in my handbag - now when I shop for a bag, one of the requirements is a 'tract compartment' :D. However, I still chickened out of giving tracts or sharing the Gospel with people I knew or came across regularly (e.g. people who catch the same bus).

On Friday, during the 30in30 briefing, I heard a testimony from a sister that really convicted my heart. You can read the testimony (kinda sorta what what was shared on Friday night) here. She talked about how in previous years during 30in30, she would 'tract and run' and would only choose to give tracts to people she didn't know or didn't have regular contact with (sounds familiar huh?) - and how this year, she made it a point to tract people she knew.

On Sunday, a few of us watched The Way Of The Master (evangelism video series) and again, I felt convicted that during the two years of working at my work, I had only shared the gospel with a small handful of my unsaved colleagues. Even during 30in30, as I was part of the Gospel Rally Skit Team, and had been rehearsing the skit in the weeks leading up to the Gospel Rally, I had Steven and Yorkie's voices in my head who spoke and sung this poem:

My Friend, I stand in Judgement now, and feel that you're to blame somehow.
On earth, I walked with you day by day, and never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory, but never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim; you could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together on the earth, you never told me of the second
birth,
and now I stand this day condemned, because you failed to mention
Him.

You taught me many things, that's true, I called you friend and
trusted you,
But I learn now that its too late, you could have kept me from
this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night, and yet you showed me
not the Light.
You let me live, and love, and die you knew Id never live on
high.

Yes, I called you a friend in life, and trusted you through joy
and strife.
And yet on coming to the end, I cannot, now, call you my friend.

But even after all that prompting, I still refused to open my mouth for God and bring up the gospel with my friends. I had no problem talking to strangers at Street Evangelism, or giving tracts to randoms - but talking to someone I knew? No way Hose!Though I really really really wanted to share with them, thee fear of man had such a grip on me that I felt overwhelmed with thoughts of what people would think about me, and hence, just kept my mouth shut. So I guess God decided if I wasn't going to make opportunities, He would give me one - which is what happened this afternoon.

I was walking to the train station with one of the girls from work and she started telling me that she ran into a friend who had recently started going to church. I can't remember everything that was said, but she told me that she had been thinking about going with that friend to church. The opportunity landed into my lap like manna from heaven! I ended up sharing the gospel with her as we walked and she listened receptively. I felt a bit breathless as I was walking and talking, because I was still very nervous about evangelising to someone I knew, but the words were still able to flow out relatively smoothly.

As we got to the train station and started waiting for our trains on the platform, she asked
'So, do you believe that there is something after we die?'
'Yeah I do. The Bible says that there is Heaven and Hell. Those who believe in Jesus and believe that He saved them from their sins, will go to Heaven'
'So those who don't will go to Hell?'
'Yeah'
'Will it be hot down there? Should I pack my sunscreen? (hehe this friend is a bit of a joker) I think I might go with my friend to church'
*My train arrives*
'Cool. But if you want to talk more about this, let me know OK?'
'OK.. See ya!'

God is good. The opportunity just came so unexpectedly which is why I named this post 'manna evangelism'. That little experience made me so happy. As I was talking to her, I couldn't help but think that God had given me the opportunity to witness to my friend, not only for her sake, but for mine as well. It may seem like a small thing to you as you read this, but I believe it was a turning point for me. I just pray that I will be able to have more opportunities to do the same with the rest of my friends too, and that God will continue to give me the courage to open my mouth for Him.

touch typing

I learnt how to touch type in a course last Wednesday. I had never learnt to do so until today. It's pretty hard, and I'm pretty slow, but for most of this post, I have not looked down at the keyboard.

Someday I wish to be as fast as those super fast receptionist types, but until then, I'm happy with my tortoise speed typing. Slow and steady wins the race. It's just those stupid 'y', 'b', 'c', 'v', 'm' and 'n' buttons that get me every time! This will be a short post. In fact I think I will end here.

30in30 recap

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Once again in September 2008, people around Australia rose to this challenge and responded ‘Here we are Lord, send us’. In BPCWA alone, there were 87 people participating in 30in30 – they each committed to giving out one tract every day in the month of September, with the goal of eventually making evangelism a part of their everyday life. In Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Esperance (WA), and Ingham (QLD), many others joined in. A total of at least 1380 tracts were given out by God’s grace.

Numbered tracts travelled via the pockets and handbags of participants to places all over the Perth Metropolitan Area and were subsequently scattered as far south as Canning Vale, as far east as Ellis Brook, as far north as Marangaroo, and even overseas? By the grace of God, Perth was inundated with small little booklets with the title ‘This Was Your Life’. Recipients of these little booklets were challenged to take a long hard look at their spiritual state and as a result, the precious seed of the Gospel was planted in the hearts of many.

Though at times, the task may have seemed daunting to those who had accepted the challenge, managers brimming with enthusiasm set out to encourage and cheer-on their group members. On a weekly basis, logs were collected of the tracts that had been given out in the previous week – where they had gone, who received them, at what time they had been distributed, and other details of the encounter. Collectively, people from all walks of life had been offered a tract by 30in30 participants – bus drivers, skate-boarders, check-out attendants, pastors, teachers, classmates, colleagues, homeless people, grandmothers, children, neighbor and friends.

Overall, most participants came away from the experience with a new-found burden for evangelism. The fear of man was challenged with compassion for the lost, and in the process, the wonderful good news of Salvation through Jesus was proclaimed.

The challenge now lies with each participant as well as each reader today – will you continue giving out tracts beyond 30in30? Will you say ‘Here am I; Send me’ today?

the quarter-century...

So I turned 25 last week. It feels weird to say that I am 25. I am twenty-five years old. Hi, I'm Rowena, I'm 25. Weird...

I remember there was a time when people older than me were turning 25 and I used to think 'Man... that's so old' and now... well... I think I will stop thinking such thoughts because it's only a matter of time before I will be preparing invites for my 40th. Yikes!

It just reminds me of how quickly life comes and goes and how short it really is. Where did the last few years go?

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

So I'm 25. Still sounds weird, but that's alright. We'll see what this year brings.

gospel olympics 2008

I took three days of leave this week to serve in the first ever Vacation Bible School for our church. The theme was Gospel Olympics 2008. It has been pretty fun hanging out with the kids, though I do start to feel a little old when I realise that I am officially more than twice their age!

I have posted before about teaching Sunday School - I really think it's a blessing to serve the children in this manner. But one of the best things about it is that it allows you to see things from a child's perspective. I believe we can learn a lot from children - they are so innocent and unassuming, yet they never fail to surprise me by their intelligence too. It's a joy to make them laugh and smile, and to see them enjoy coming to church. It's great spending time with little humans who have not yet metamorphosed into grumpy, grouchy, and cynical grown-ups.

VBS has been really fun so far and I'm looking forward to this being an annual event. So many kids that have come this year have been totally new to our church - so really thank God for that! There was even one girl who told us she asked Jesus to come into her heart before she went to sleep last night. With such receptive hearts to the Gospel, this is such a great opportunity to give these little hearts a Saviour to trust in, who will love them forever and ever!

Below are some pics from VBS including bags we decorated for Art and Craft - kids are so random sometimes huh?

games

err... this was done by a bigger kid....
also the product of a bigger and slightly older child..

showing off

The Royal Show was back in Perth and on Monday, I went along to: see farm animals, avoid stepping on animal waste, scam free samples, choose showbags, admire fireworks, waste money at sideshow alley, give out tracts, walk continuously, pay ridiculous amounts of money for food with minimal nutritional value, brave the crowds, squeeze into public transport and at the end of it all, look forward to doing it all over again next year!

Highlights this year? The animals... They are sooooo cute! They make me want to not eat meat for maybe 3 minutes. The Ikea showbag! Getting your photo printed onto the front of an Ikea catalogue, chocolate and a very cool stuffed turtle - all for just $5!! Winning a big teddy at Sideshow Alley after just one game of pump-the-tennis-ball-into-the-hole-to-make-your-bear-climb-up-the-pole! I concentrated on making that tennis ball go into the hole and after a while I heard a bell ring and Julia and Co yelling 'Wooo!' and I was awarded with a pick of the stall - I couldn't go past the bear cleaning his ear with a q-tip!

Here are some photos...

cute piglets

Pekin Duck

mmmm... foong zao

I want one!

drool-worthy
how cool is my bear??

Meet the stars of the new Ikea Catalogue!