Stairway To Heaven

How many people can you fit on a stairway?

This many...

But how many people do you want to fit on your stairway to heaven?

At any given moment in time, we are surrounded by people, those who we see everyday; at work, at church or at school. There are a couple of them who we get along so well with; and there's those few, who we pray that our path's will never cross.

But just ponder over this for a while. How many of them so called friends that you know, truly want to know you? It is one thing to remember their names, but to know their ways is the real challenge. I sometimes wonder if socially we are becoming too superficial, that we stop just short of establishing meaningful relationships, with friends, with family and even with the Lord Himself.

Someone once said to me he didn't like going to a large church because there were just too many people and he couldn't make any friends. This reminded me of the story of a salesperson who was sent to a faraway island to sell shoes. A month later, he came back not having sold a single pair of shoes. "Boss, you forgot to tell me that the natives don't wear shoes! How do you expect me to sell any?", he complained. The silly salesperson didn't realize that he was sent to an untapped market and if he had taught the natives how to wear shoes, he would have struck it rich.

Likewise, a large church shouldn't be a deterrent to us in making friends. Rather it gives us a huge opportunity to easily make contact with a large number of people we've never met before. If only we opened our eyes to see past our own need for attention and make an effort to get to know the person sitting next to us. Sometimes, a simple hello is all it takes for someone to believe in the love of Christ again.

One truly memorable moment of my life was during my time in Singapore on the Mass Rapid Transit train. You know its really amazing when you can have 50 people packed into a train carriage at peak hour, but not hear a single conversation amongst them. Maybe a off-pitched snore once in a while or the distinct plonk when a tired forehead gracefully meets the hard reality of the glass window. Even the library during exam season has more audible activity than the public transport system. Even here in Perth, everyone has their white wires dangling out of their ears, that sometimes I end up talking to the old lady in her Porta-pram, who can't really hear me anyway.

How many people do you want to fit on your stairway to heaven? I guess it's a good time to start getting to know Someone today...

Jesus...

Priss's Birthday - With The 3 Amigos

Priss, the birthday girl, was subtly coerced by Jess and I to go out and celebrate her birthday, being given the excuse that she'll only turn 23 once in her entire lifetime. It worked ^_^

Hidden in the hills of Perth was a restaurant called Le Paris Brest. I strongly suggest you don't say it out loud. Didn't realise how embarrassing it sounded until I started asking for directions.

Food - The Verdict

Duck Risotto - The "Gentle" Size
There was a choice between a "gentle" or "serious" size for the servings. The girls reckoned that since they were gentle and pure, the "gentle" size was the obvious choice... O_o *sweatdrop*

Swordfish - The Fish of the Day
I choked when I saw the size of the plate. Later I almost threw up when I found out the cost - $35 for a slice of fish, (and a char grilled watermelon). Couldn't help but wonder if the plate was included with the meal -_-

Pistachio Cheese Cake
Ahhhh... Absolutely fabulous! ^_^

For a French restaurant with I quote, "the most exquisite selection of food", it was excitingly normal. Other than the pistachio cake, the restaurant loses points for its main courses and its choice of name! =P

Afterwards, we went back to Priss's place at the veterinary hospital and guess who I found???

Ahhh sooo cute!

Later, it scratched me... ^_^
*grrrr*

Chinese New Year Dinner @ Leeming Cell

CNY 07' started off a day early at the ever so anxious Leeming cell, when we all got together to celebrate the Year of the Pig =) Whatever that was supposed to mean I don't have a clue, but we did eat a lot of pork that night though! ^_^

It was planned to be a simple evening, a gathering of a few friends, with nibbles and nonchalant conversations. But nooo... The Chinese in all of us had to take over.

With over 45 people attending and 20 dishes served up, our cell leader's floorboards had to withstand the largest strain test it ever took in its entire existence. o_O

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
May this year be full of love, joy and peace to you all!

(Finally! There's someone willing to smile at me!)

(Or for the camera... Does it really matter??? O_o)

(Apparently the higher you toss the thing, the better luck you'll have in the year. However they fail to warn you that a lucky guy has to clean up the mess all over the table. Tough luck)

(Why are you guys so camera shy? It's not like the whole world is going to see this photo... It's actually more like half the world ^_^)

(Karen - The ever-so-bubbly organiser of CNY Dinner 07')

ChurchTogether 2006 was an absolute blast on Sunday night, with well over 18,000 people from over 175 churches attending. It is just wonderful to know that so many Christians can put their denominational differences aside to come together and celebrate as one Church.

Bumped into Ganesh and his friends from Perth Christian Life Centre. I met Ganesh while I was studying at the University of Western Australia. He works as pharmacist in the Guild Village.

From left: Sarah is a medical researcher at Royal Perth Hospital, while sisters Deborah & Esther are wanna-be drama queens (hey that's what you both told me! ^_^)

Deborah is an electrical engineer while Esther is a speech therapist. Angelina, Siew Yi & Lars down below.

I know you told me you're camera shy... But somehow or rather I didn't really care =)

The night started off literally with a bang!

What event would be complete without the ever-popular T-Shirt throwing contest?

Canon J. John from the UK was absolutely inspirational in his message. With the stature and accent of Mr Bean, he is not to be taken lightly as over 100 people accepted the Lord Jesus into their lives that night.

Lastly, the night ended off with an even bigger bang! Hillsongs United performed the closing concert, with thousands of us all singing our lungs out and jumping along to the music!

Till next year... 18,000 people, 175 churches, 1 faith... 1 Church Together. ^_^