Saturday, August 28, 2010
Overwhelm me!
Just felt like sharing this song. A very unique song in terms of its lyrics and meaning, an invitation to be overwhelmed by God. It will be a perfect song in terms of lyrics to be sung in church but don't know bout its congregational suitability..hehe..maybe more tipped over to the youth end of the spectrum :) Enjoy!
Life of a low socio-economic class person...
well some background to the title: I've been working as a waiter in a chinese buffet restaurant and as a postman part-time for the past a week or two...and just wanna share some thoughts.
anyways, I guess working a manual labour orientated job usually means you're at the bottom of the socio-economic level, you work like a horse and get paid pennies, while people in the higher levels sit in their offices and get paid a whole lot more, such is the paradox of life. actually this is the second buffet restaurant i am working in, the first one was, let's just say didn't have the employees' welfare at the top of their agenda :) I only worked there for two saturdays, and it was pretty grueling stuff. I mean it was okay at that time because I was only working once a week, but everyday? I think I wouldn't survive. But the thing that made me leave was the fact that they were not paying the minimum wage (I only knew that after working two days, my bad, I assumed). and I didn't want to work for an employer that is not in line with the law, and probably good for my physical health too.
To tell you how "grueling" it was, the first time I worked for 7 hours with only 15 mins break, it was non-stop work, literally. And the second time I worked for 8 hours with also 15 mins break, but this time I only got the break at the last hour because the restaurant was so busy. What really angers me, now on the part of not paying minimum wage, is that the employer is treating his own kind, cuz most of the staff are chinese, exploitation wouldn't be an unfair judgement. Shouldn't we take care of our own kind in a foreign land? or maybe he/she went through the same process so it's always a vicious cycle? anyways...
the two days was a real experience for me, I felt like a robot, at some point, and it is quite tragic because u are only needed for your labour, nothing else, not as a person. Hmm, I am not a boss yet, but when I become someone else's employer next time, I believe I will certainly use a different approach :)
But the work's been okay, just that with these more manually challenging jobs I just feel like I have worked more hours than I actually have done. Just this week, I've feel "knackered" (as they say here in scotland), but I've only done about 20 hours at the restaurant, and the postman job is only on saturdays.
It's all good experience I'm sure. I can go on and on, but I shall not yield to the temptation. Hopefully these experiences will help me with my understanding and how I view and see things, and what some less fortunate people are going through on a day to day basis just to make ends meet. May God be the glory.
anyways, I guess working a manual labour orientated job usually means you're at the bottom of the socio-economic level, you work like a horse and get paid pennies, while people in the higher levels sit in their offices and get paid a whole lot more, such is the paradox of life. actually this is the second buffet restaurant i am working in, the first one was, let's just say didn't have the employees' welfare at the top of their agenda :) I only worked there for two saturdays, and it was pretty grueling stuff. I mean it was okay at that time because I was only working once a week, but everyday? I think I wouldn't survive. But the thing that made me leave was the fact that they were not paying the minimum wage (I only knew that after working two days, my bad, I assumed). and I didn't want to work for an employer that is not in line with the law, and probably good for my physical health too.
To tell you how "grueling" it was, the first time I worked for 7 hours with only 15 mins break, it was non-stop work, literally. And the second time I worked for 8 hours with also 15 mins break, but this time I only got the break at the last hour because the restaurant was so busy. What really angers me, now on the part of not paying minimum wage, is that the employer is treating his own kind, cuz most of the staff are chinese, exploitation wouldn't be an unfair judgement. Shouldn't we take care of our own kind in a foreign land? or maybe he/she went through the same process so it's always a vicious cycle? anyways...
the two days was a real experience for me, I felt like a robot, at some point, and it is quite tragic because u are only needed for your labour, nothing else, not as a person. Hmm, I am not a boss yet, but when I become someone else's employer next time, I believe I will certainly use a different approach :)
But the work's been okay, just that with these more manually challenging jobs I just feel like I have worked more hours than I actually have done. Just this week, I've feel "knackered" (as they say here in scotland), but I've only done about 20 hours at the restaurant, and the postman job is only on saturdays.
It's all good experience I'm sure. I can go on and on, but I shall not yield to the temptation. Hopefully these experiences will help me with my understanding and how I view and see things, and what some less fortunate people are going through on a day to day basis just to make ends meet. May God be the glory.
Monday, August 23, 2010
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded
The past weekend had been pretty hectic, from Friday all night prayer meeting to my first day as a postman (postie) and the trial at Chokoku (chinese buffet restaurant). Sunday was a full day as well, backing up as a worship singer for both services, with bouts of dosing off in the afternoon, my body demanding some rest i guess.
Felt the fast getting to me a bit today, don't really know why. More thoughts of food and even the thought of breaking fast *shock* hehe...then the thought that I have told people it was a planned 40 day fast...and the debate in my mind that I shouldn't continue the fast just because of my pride. hehe...lots going on in the head again...
Thank God for providing work opportunity at Chokoku, just before I came out today got a phone call from the manager to ask if I could work for 2 days during the week...which was good news cuz I've been rather free during the weekdays...and thank God also that it came so quick...He will provide. I thank God for my dad also, for providing so well for me, and I believe has given me no worries about my needs financially, some may call it being spoilt...it could be that...but it has more importantly given me a sense of trust that God will provide...(my dad gave me a glimpse of what a good dad is...a glimpse because God is the best dad)..
The title I believe is one of encouragement...and I am ready to follow the footsteps of my Lord in giving everything...(His spirit will help me)...
Flipping through the Costa Foundation leaflet when I was sipping my flat white and reading Lance Armstrong's book...in Waterstone's...I hope that one day I could start my own cafe also...and I want the coffee growers to benefit from their crops as well...I wonder how much the really big players in coffee (Starbucks, Costa etc) are actually giving back to these communities....
When things are starting to fade...when tiredness creeps in...I pray that my eyes will be opened...to see through the eyes of God...to see all the things yet to be fulfilled...that His kingdom will come unto the earth and His will be done....until that day...when everything will end...the GREAT DAY...
alright...I think if ever I will have people reading my blog...they must be able to have long attention spans cuz I tend to write too much! haha...
Felt the fast getting to me a bit today, don't really know why. More thoughts of food and even the thought of breaking fast *shock* hehe...then the thought that I have told people it was a planned 40 day fast...and the debate in my mind that I shouldn't continue the fast just because of my pride. hehe...lots going on in the head again...
Thank God for providing work opportunity at Chokoku, just before I came out today got a phone call from the manager to ask if I could work for 2 days during the week...which was good news cuz I've been rather free during the weekdays...and thank God also that it came so quick...He will provide. I thank God for my dad also, for providing so well for me, and I believe has given me no worries about my needs financially, some may call it being spoilt...it could be that...but it has more importantly given me a sense of trust that God will provide...(my dad gave me a glimpse of what a good dad is...a glimpse because God is the best dad)..
The title I believe is one of encouragement...and I am ready to follow the footsteps of my Lord in giving everything...(His spirit will help me)...
Flipping through the Costa Foundation leaflet when I was sipping my flat white and reading Lance Armstrong's book...in Waterstone's...I hope that one day I could start my own cafe also...and I want the coffee growers to benefit from their crops as well...I wonder how much the really big players in coffee (Starbucks, Costa etc) are actually giving back to these communities....
When things are starting to fade...when tiredness creeps in...I pray that my eyes will be opened...to see through the eyes of God...to see all the things yet to be fulfilled...that His kingdom will come unto the earth and His will be done....until that day...when everything will end...the GREAT DAY...
alright...I think if ever I will have people reading my blog...they must be able to have long attention spans cuz I tend to write too much! haha...
Thursday, August 19, 2010
In Christ Alone
Newsboys, one of the more contemporary christian bands, as always producing a great version of this old song. Enjoy.
Thus starts my blogging life...again
Truth be told, this blog is more for me than other people, I don't even know if there'll be people who will read this, but i'm being a optimist here :)
I suddenly realise that a blog doesn't really work like a diary as what i've first hoped...cuz it's like writing to an audience, rather than to myself. It hasn't worked well hehe...the first few lines of my first blog.
Anyways, I consider myself to be quite a thinker, having lots of stuff going through my head, so it's easier for me to jot them down on this blog, cuz i'm most likely close to my laptop than my diary. And it feels easier too, maybe it's a 22nd century thing (was going to put in 21st century at first, oh how time flies)...
Right, so i've also started my fast, a hope for it to be 40 days, and it's been a week now. It's a first for me, the last longest time was 3 weeks, and was unintentionally ended actually. It's not a contest I know, but just some background.
To some thoughts today, was focusing on Jesus' prayer before His death, the one He prayed to the Father, for His disciples, and for the world. It really surprised me to find that unity was a theme to be found closely linked to Jesus' prayers. Yesterday at life group, the verse John 13:35, "the world will know you are my disciples if you love one another" was brought up. And some of us were asking does it mean loving everyone, or to our christian brother and sisters. The first reaction was everyone, for some strange reason, maybe makes more sense, and seems more noble :) but today I felt that maybe it is the love for "one another", our brothers and sisters that might actually be the heart of God. Imagine if we loved our brothers and sisters as Jesus loved, will it not send out a very loud message to the world? I'm thinking like bearing each others' burdens, financially, and everything else...and when we have testimonies like "my family was in financial crisis but my brothers and sisters in christ helped me out", "my son/daughter has a disability, and my brothers and sisters helps out taking care of him/her". I think that will send a very loud message to the world that we are different, that we belong to Christ.
And I also had felt convicted about my love for Scotland, the land I've been in for the past 5 years or more. My church is holding an all night prayer meeting this friday, and I have been open to God and sort of preparing for it, and I felt God telling me today, again bringing me back to the subject of love, His subject :) that if I don't love the land and the people, as in 1 corinthians, everything will be in vain. I want to be a blessing wherever I go, like so many figures in the bible, because I think that is the His way.
I think I'm writing too much, but those were the two main things today. May God continue to lead me and guide me, that I will one day be truly truly convinced and imitate Paul to say "To live is Christ and to die is gain".
I suddenly realise that a blog doesn't really work like a diary as what i've first hoped...cuz it's like writing to an audience, rather than to myself. It hasn't worked well hehe...the first few lines of my first blog.
Anyways, I consider myself to be quite a thinker, having lots of stuff going through my head, so it's easier for me to jot them down on this blog, cuz i'm most likely close to my laptop than my diary. And it feels easier too, maybe it's a 22nd century thing (was going to put in 21st century at first, oh how time flies)...
Right, so i've also started my fast, a hope for it to be 40 days, and it's been a week now. It's a first for me, the last longest time was 3 weeks, and was unintentionally ended actually. It's not a contest I know, but just some background.
To some thoughts today, was focusing on Jesus' prayer before His death, the one He prayed to the Father, for His disciples, and for the world. It really surprised me to find that unity was a theme to be found closely linked to Jesus' prayers. Yesterday at life group, the verse John 13:35, "the world will know you are my disciples if you love one another" was brought up. And some of us were asking does it mean loving everyone, or to our christian brother and sisters. The first reaction was everyone, for some strange reason, maybe makes more sense, and seems more noble :) but today I felt that maybe it is the love for "one another", our brothers and sisters that might actually be the heart of God. Imagine if we loved our brothers and sisters as Jesus loved, will it not send out a very loud message to the world? I'm thinking like bearing each others' burdens, financially, and everything else...and when we have testimonies like "my family was in financial crisis but my brothers and sisters in christ helped me out", "my son/daughter has a disability, and my brothers and sisters helps out taking care of him/her". I think that will send a very loud message to the world that we are different, that we belong to Christ.
And I also had felt convicted about my love for Scotland, the land I've been in for the past 5 years or more. My church is holding an all night prayer meeting this friday, and I have been open to God and sort of preparing for it, and I felt God telling me today, again bringing me back to the subject of love, His subject :) that if I don't love the land and the people, as in 1 corinthians, everything will be in vain. I want to be a blessing wherever I go, like so many figures in the bible, because I think that is the His way.
I think I'm writing too much, but those were the two main things today. May God continue to lead me and guide me, that I will one day be truly truly convinced and imitate Paul to say "To live is Christ and to die is gain".
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