.:: Eternity ::.

Well, I've been thinking of moving on from this site.
Tonight I got the chance to sit down and browse all my friends' blogs and looked at the features their blogs have.

I just signed up and it's still under construction, ahhaha.... I actually don't wanna let you know first, but if you can help me improve the look of my blog, I appreciate you greatly. Here's the address (mind the mess):

http://reminiscing-all.blogspot.com/

:)

Check this out.

Wealth is not the key to happiness.
Man... I was stunt. This guy who wrote the phrase in his book (quoting from different people and sources) said that we need to rethink how we live our life. He mentioned that hard times help bring people closer to one another, comforting and help each other, the stuff that can bring happiness in individual's life.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24461383-5007146,00.html

What shocked me is that most christian didn't know that all the stuff he was talking about were already written in the bible. More than that, God didn't just talk about any happiness, He was talking about the joy of living this live to the fullest, when we have Jesus in our life and walking in His ways. It's ironic how many christians (especially men) talk about God so much, but never want to serve in the church and in the community, and instead, they keep working hard accumulating wealth as much as they can and say, "Mate, somebody's gotta earn a living here, and not everyone is called to serve." Or, they'll say, "Look, I'll just work hard for about 5 years or so to reduce my home loan, then I'll serve in church and community." Lo and behold, the classic story would be after 5 years, the guys is married with kids, own 3 houses (1 to live and the other 2 for investment) and managed to pay off the first house home loan (the other 2 houses loan's payed by the tenants). When you ask the guy to serve, he'll say, "Mate, I have to work hard to feed mhy family and reduce the other 2 home loans." 5 years down the track, you'll find him owning another 3 houses, 2 luxury cars plus a luxury boat and working 6 days a week 15hr/day. At this time, his life is still far from comfortable. By now his mindset is to save as much money as possible so he can retire very early (at the age of 40).

Now that's an example of a very successful man, graduated from uni at the age of 23 (earning $30k pa), married at age 27 (earning 60k pa) to a beautiful loving girl, got kids (lovely and obedient) few years later and work hard till 40 (earning more than 200k pa). He got everything what he wanted by age 40. At age 45, he started serving in church and community. Nice life, hey?

The funny thing is, the story above is the dream of most men (including me) but very few men could reach such dream. The saddest thing is, many men walked away from God when they tried hard to reach such dreams, because they have to make a firm choice at that time, to pursue their dream or God's given purpose. Btw, how can they know that their life will be full of happiness, have a happy family when they're never home, never spend time with family, when they had to work such long hours 6 days a week for at least 15 years? If happiness is measured by wealth, then all the poor people will never be happy. Only the wealthy can be happy. But what do you reckon, is it true?

There's nothing wrong with accumulating wealth as much as possible, but we should not find our security in wealth, our security is in God, the maker of heaven and earth. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added unto you. And this include joy in life.

Everyone has been asking me about my new job, what my role is and how it is going so far. Everytime they asked me that question I found it difficult to answer, simply because of my job title. But through this title, I actually learn a lot, especially about myself as a child of God.

It's quite difficult to explain about my job, but I'll do my best. I work in an consulting engineering firm in southbank, analysing all the projects they have from finance point of view. I work closely with most of the project managers/divisional group leaders and my mor (manager once removed) is the area director or the second in charge of the brisbane's office (it's a medium size international company). My real job is to do budgeting/forecasting of each projects and do regular health check on the projects that we have, by reviewing the performance of each project managers.

Now these managers and divsional group leaders are way more matured (in age and field experience) than me, they're like in either early 40s or early 50s, only a couple of them in their late 30s, and few of them are already in their late 50s. So, by right my title should be commercial analyst. But my actual title is commercial manager, ahahha..... I ask my manager why my title is commercial manager. Simply he said "You need a level of authority when you review their (the project managers) performance, and the title gives you that authority."

I hope you're not confused.
Now, deriving from that, while I was thinking about it, suddenly I remember about the authority I have over satan/demon (the authority that all believers have as a child of God through faith in the name of Jesus - when casting out demons). I don't know about you, but many times I doubted myself when I had to spiritual attack, or when I saw someone being possesed by the devil. I questionned myself if I have and can exercise that authority that comes from God.

I realised, my doubt came from my personal walk with God on a regular or daily basis. If I dont walk closely with Him, I wouldn't grow in my spiritual life, and this will affect my faith, hence I wouldn't have that confidence to use that authority that I can use as a child of God. It starts from a simple hunger for Him and obedience to His Word. Having the title Prince before my name (being a child of the King of Heaven) would not do any good if I don't live my life as Prince. I need to live my life according to God's way every day of my life, and only by doing so people (and the devil) can distinguish me from the rest of the crowds. And only by walking in His way, no weapons formed against me will ever prosper, for my Father in Heaven is my biggest supporter, my King and my Lord.

I grew up in a traditional christian family.
In the church where I spent all my sundays when I was in indonesia, the word divorce was very seldom mentioned, cause it's a taboo, same as the word sex. The church will not accept divorce. And I grew up believing that there is no problem/issues that can not be solved, no mistakes/offences that can't be forgiven., and the married couple must stay married till the day they day, doesn't matter what's going on in their life, because they've chosen to be together in the first place. So they must work things out together.

And now I realised I've been quite naive, in a sense.
Marriage life is more complex than what I've been told, or what I've pictured in my mind before, especially for those who don't walk closely with God or who don't have a good and healthy relationship with God and their spouse.

When I went back to indonesia last month to give a surprise visit to mum and dad, I was shocked to discover that mum was busy to help my aunt with her separation case. I never thought that it could happen to my family. Mum was literally crying when she shared what has been happening in the last couple of years with my aunt and her husband. He has betrayed her so many times, yet she didn't lose hope, until he became violent and told her that he has another child.

ah.. My heart was crushed upon hearing it. Mum told me all these because she had to go to my aunt's place (2hr by flight) and help her with the separation process. In indonesia you need to take separation time before the actual divorce. That's the reason why she couldn't matchmake me (though she already has 2 girls to introduce to me). I was happy that she's busy, but it bothered me so much that a man could do such thing.

After mum told me everything, my heart was filled with anger. And in my mind I already sinned by thinking all horrible things I wanted to do to him, making him sorry for making my aunt so sad. Then at night, when I couldn't sleep, I felt God was saying that He also felt so sad whenever He looked at His children betraying Him over and over again, living their life according to their sinful nature, walking away from Him.

Then I said, one of those children of His is me. I remember many ocassions when I disobeyed Him completely, when I refused to listen to Him, or even when I put Him second place. ah... By now, I couldn't hold it any longer and I just cried out to Him, asking for forgiveness. I know what it's like being betrayed by someone you love, but as to the extend of how bad my aunt has experienced, I wouldn't have a clue. The damage has been done and she has suffered so much that she almost took her own life. Right now I could only pray that God can help and comfort my aunt during this hard time, and that He can bring her husband back to HIS path again.

I just watched 'the mummy' at I'pilly cinema. Went to the goldclass theatre with few friends followed by dinner.

I should say that I really like it, apart from the price. Considering tonight I only had to pay $1 in total (for 4 people), I felt it was an awesome experience, ahhaha... Not sure about the rest, but I like the big seat and gap between my row and the other row, or the seats behind and in front of me. But if I have to pay the real price of $37/ticket, man... not sure if I'd like it that much, ahahha...

However, now that there's this deal with magnum ice-cream where you can upgrade your ticket from the normal ticket to goldclass, I wouldn't mind paying $15.50 and watch some really nice movie there. My friend said that he also wouldn't mind paying $15.50, and would love to go there again, ahahha... so yeah. I reckon going there with a big group of friends would be very nice. hmm... maybe I should organise a movie session. Anyone interested? $15.50 for a goldclass movie ticket?