the Melbourne trip

ever thought after going to a place one too many times that you think you have seen it all? well maybe that's me only. like i said, for the past three years, i have been to Melbourne at least 7 times. i may never remember the tram system nor will i ever remember the entire layout of the city but at the least, i have visited every corner of the city. that one is true, the only thing missing is the Melbourne Zoo. LOL!!

but this time, the trip is different. maybe it is due to God's plan to prepare me for OCF Convention 2013 and post-convy. i have to travel out of the city so often that i spent more time out of Melbourne City. i was staying with a mutual friend of me and my sister which is situated outside of the city. it is a 10-15 minutes tram ride from Elizabeth Street where you have to transit first. Transmuting to and forth was tiring and bothersome, at times i even wonder why i asked her. that was how i was staying before Convy and post Convy.
Post-Convy, my long-time friend who instead of bringing me around the city this time brought me out of the city to eat not because there isn't anymore good places to eat but she had a sudden change of preferences that she now prefers the outskirt of the city. unbelievably that the food was quite unique and good too.
On hind-sight now, this trip brought me to see the different side of Melbourne. the more dirtier, less organised and quieter side.

during Convention, i saw things in a different light. i see how other centres struggle, their centres condition far worst than mine yet they maintain their faith in God who will see them through this difficult moment. i see testimony where God revive OCF Flinders from 5 members to 20 members. these all humbles me who has no other talents but faith only. i pride in my faith that God will provides but i see the foolishness of my flesh in priding what God has given. there will always be a mountain taller than the next and i see things differently, my flesh is weak but He is strong. i do not need to be head-strong and organised to improve OCF Hobart but i need God in my every plan to make it succeed. i see the relevance in a matter that is constantly preach in front of my face.
a good reminder, a timely reminder that all i need is God to be center of everything and i can move from there. the intention is pure and the heart is align to His heart and mind.

another thing in Convention is i see the power of forgiveness. all of the year 2013, i see the potential of un-forgiveness, the power it holds that brings forth the sense of satisfaction to constantly put the offender in its place ..... under my feet. the advantage, the privilege brings in me the sadist side of me which proven what Thomas Hobbes always says, "men are born evil". the sense of having a leverage over the offender is too great for me to let go. but i believe men "are not born evil" but corrupted by sin to be born evil. Adam was meant to be sinless but corrupted to be sinful thus generation after him were then born sinful-evil. they are supposed to be of good natural as God is for we are created in His image but the sin corrupted us to be unnatural to God that we bear the marks of all things unnatural in us. God's commandment and Bible is there to remind us what we are actually created to be like and who we are.... sinless. In convention, i feel free at least knowing it is possible to have a family together again. i chose to forgave him and i chose to bring him back into my life. no greater joy but to see family reunited and a family together in heaven. no more suffering between siblings, no more suffering in children themselves. my mission for the rest of life now is to bring the Father back into the father's life and to see him reconcile with the family.

i see Melbourne differently and i see myself differently, while i may be born dirty but i'm a whole part of Christ and am useful to Him. just like how the outskirt of Melbourne is dirty and disorganized but it still form the Melbourne we know of. as the same, we may be from rowdy background and dis-functional background but for Christ who have saved us form us a part of the Body of Christ that we are of use to God whatever we are and from. look down not because of your background but up for what Christ has done for you.

therefore i re pledge my desire, that as long as I live, i shall thank God for what He had done for me and my family that as Joshua stated in Joshua 24 v 15, "....... but as for me and my House, we will serve the Lord." whatever my talents may be, in Luke 12 v 48, "But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. when someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." i shall give back to God for His usage as he sees fits.

Amen.