Miwa in HK: Random gems

Miwa in HK: Random gems

This was an awesome post written by Maria (and whilst I had to walk out of the movie "Beat the Drum" I "hoorah!" her for her noble attitude.)

In both posts were the thoughts "what is the good that I can do today?", "What difference can I make?", "How can I let the love of the one who has redeemed me shine forth"...

They're great thoughts!

revisiting the 8 ball

I just re-read my post on the magic 8 ball in light of some circumstances I'm facing at the moment. I wanted to challenge myself if I really was falling into a wrong way of thinking. I was encouraged instead however, by remembering through it that God does speak. and when he does, he brings life.

The 8 Ball I'm facing at the moment is doubting what God has already given me, and the peace that has come with that, due to words questioning where I'm "at". Other people and their opinions have always been a bit of an Achilles' heel for me.

I have battled all weekend questioning and doubting and confused... when God has already given peace.

I've let myself be tossed and turned by waves, because I rely so much on what people think - I let people influence me so easily - I question myself so easily. Instead, what I need to do is stand firm on what God, and the Holy Spirit have already given me, and trust him, in his love and gentleness and desire for my good, to correct me when I'm wrong. Yes, to lay my life down when called, but as and when HE leads and shows.

The magic 8 ball is deceptive. It comes upon us like a thief in the night, and it steels peace, it robs joy, it creates confusion and pain. God is not in that.

Meat Pie Perfection!

Tonight, after one failed and one very successful effort to ship a pie dish from the USA (thanks Michelle and Rob!) I made my first meat pie in Hong Kong!

YEAH!!!!

Unfortunately, as you can see, my wee little toaster oven didn't quite fit it. As they say though, "where there's a will there's a way!". Nothing that a bit of Al-foil won't fix.

... and yup - it tasted great!


Anyone have any recipes? If so feel free to send them my way - and yup - Phil and Sue if you read this it DOES mean you've got a Steak and Guinness pie being cooked for you when you get back here :)

Hot Cross Buns

Easter would have to be my favourite season of the year. Not only because of what it represents, but also just because of all the amazing memories that I have of events that occur around this time.

For instance, last year I travelled back to Australia for my brother’s wedding; was able to hold one of my good friend’s newly born daughter on Easter Sunday; stood with thousands of fellow believers in Queen’s Park singing praises to my God standing on a picnic blanket with two of my brothers (plus a brand spanking new sister in law) and my parents; had some great drives in the country; riding with my best mate and camping out in swags; holding babies I’d heard about but never seen for the first time and just general catching up with friends.

I realised on Thursday night when I saw Hot Cross Buns for sale in Wellcome how much I miss being home for Easter. In one moment, that moment, I felt a flood of memories come back as I wrestled with whether or not to purchase these outrageously expensive bread rolls.

This year has been a great Easter. Rest, Sleepins, lychee martini’s, time for reflection and meditation, recognition of the meaning for Easter.

Oh – and if you need to smile or are feeling a little down check out this clip of patches the horse – almost worth its own blog http://gprime.net/video.php/patchesthehorse

Overwhelmed, but very thankful

I feel overwhelmed by the mass of humanity that is Hong Kong sometimes. Today, Good Friday, was one of those days.

It began last night (as I tried restlessly to get to sleep) with the contemplation that Jesus, the night before his death likely would have slept very little, if at all. Images of "The Passion of Christ" floated in and out of my head as I tried to remember that the intense episode of LOST I'd just been watching was only a T. V. show.

With that remembrance, I woke early this morning to head to St Andrew's for the 10am service. (Actually, I wanted to get there early as Hot Cross Buns were being served from 9:15!). The service was awe inspiring. A perfect mix of well conducted and executed choral music, Liturgy, Scripture, places for silent meditation and a good Sermon. But more than that, I found that in all my struggles with God recently, I was reminded throughout the service that that's OK. Whatever my doubts, or inability to express myself, God loves me - just as I am. And he so loved me that while I was still a sinner, and even if I would choose be a sinner my whole life and not have any relationship with him, he died... just so that if I wanted to I could be in communion with him.

Later on in the day I met up with Ian to go to Chung King Mansions where we were to meet with C.A. and discuss the possibility of visiting detained Asylum Seekers in a detention centre 500 meters down the road from where we live.

Chung King Mansions is a labyrinth of teeming humanity from all cultures, races and corners of the earth, albeit, not necessarily representing the more affluent of society. It was there, that for the first time in a long time, I was confronted by sheer desperateness. I have no other word for the need that was displayed and conveyed in our meeting, for the stories of lives with no security, or for the bedlam that I evidenced - people pushing doors demanding bread from the single female staff worker on duty, even when told there would be a full meal provided at 5pm.

I'm really thankful that we're going to be visiting people (although I don't know when that will start), but I must admit, I'm not sure how it will go. Or, in honesty, how I will cope. I first thought that the centre would be like a prison, but better, I mean... those detained have gone through hell to get to HK, at least they would be treated with dignity and respect. I found out today that I was wrong, it's worse than a prison. It's a prison with an indefinite period of detainment, no outdoor facilities (one communal room during the day, and one sleeping room at night (which you share with others from your country regardless of ethnic tensions) . It's a prison far from home and family, staffed by people that speak a different language to you and pressure you to sign papers that will make you be sent back to the country you have fled, and a prison that is governed by a legal system you don't understand and has no provision for you.

So, I now sit in my apartment, thankful for this day, yet thankful that it's almost over.

It's peaceful here. Safe. Quiet. Relaxed. Comfortable.

How privileged I am.

Hearing - Being in the place to find new direction

Reflection 5 - Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen

1 Samuel 3:9

"One of our biggest challenges is to resist doing more. It is to be still long enough in order to evaluate our many activities. Activities which drive us to distraction and sometimes exhaustion, but which also give us meaning and fullfilment. Activities which can give us our routines and our securitu, but which can also block out the "voice" of correction and change.

We need to recognise that our much-doing is not always fruitful. It is sometimes mindless. Sometimes it is driven It can be self-protecting. It keeps us going when in fact we should be still - still in order to evaluate and to hear.

Thus a far greater challenge is not to do, but to bein in the place where we can hear; not to hear the old and familiar, but to hear again waht God thinks about our life's direction, prioirittes and activities - and to hear again what our heart is saying. This is often dificult for us. It is a struggle.

Henri Nouwen writes about learning to listen "carefully to the inner movements of hte spirit and struggling with the question "how do I follow Jesus all the way?"" This is the struggle to hear what we may not wish to hear. It is a groping towards an openness that may cause one's life to be turned around.

Yet hear new things we must! For we cannot simply continue to plunge headlong into the incessant round of activities which are not longer a part of God's direction for our lives and which no longer express our creativity and our central concerns."

Hot in a Pot

I had my first "Hot Pot" (that wasn't at someone's house) on Saturday night for Ian's group birthday dinner. For the uninitiated it's basically is pot of soup on a fire in the middle of the table which you cook food in, and retrieve when it's cooked to consume immediately.

This wasn't your usual meal though as we had a local friend with us who did the ordering... thanks! As a result I ate, for the first time in my life the marrow of a cow's bone (in the picture that's the long white wormy looking things)! I did skip on the intestine this time though... I know... a bit of a woose :) The food was good and fresh with the prawns that had been skewered live still moving when popped in the pot.

Gotta love Hong Kong!
(Click on the menu for a better picture of the HK Cuisine!)

Rain

It's been raining most of the day and that is a very nice thing.

My Delightfully Domestic Evening

I’m smack bang in the middle of a wonderful evening. I’ve been having a lot of these lately, but don’t usually have the opportunity to Blog about them, however as I’m alone at home for this evening I’m taking the time to do it!

My evening thus far:

Ian walked me home from work, and we had a really lovely time just talking about our days and what’s happened etc. He left to go off to the Boy’s Bible Study and I pottered around the house for a bit until I went to Wellcome (the local grocery store – yes, it IS spelt with two L’s!). I had one of those cool times where you keep on bumping in to a friend around the aisles and walk back to the site with her.

I came back, swept the floor and made my dinner of mince-meat burritos which I thoroughly enjoyed whilst listing to 96.5. I’ve just put on The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe to watch, but before I get all comfy I’m going to freeze the rest of the mince and get into some more comfy clothes :) Then, I’m going to sit down with my treat of apple juice and salt & vinegar chips, and most likely fall asleep whilst watching the movie!

Isn’t that just delightful?? I’m feeling very domestic! I haven’t had a night like this in a while and so I’m going to end my Blog now and continue on!!!

"How are you doing?"

"Fine Thank-you" is often my response. That or "I'm alive" which was my most popular turn of phrase when asked this question, right up until I caught myself saying it at my Pop's funeral... *bashful grin*

Why is it though that even in the most common day of questions, we very rarely tell the truth - or much less expect it when we ask it of someone else?

I know for some people it's not a question they're really asking, more something to start the conversation... I do it myself for goodness sake! But I also know those who REALLY ask, and how much this means. When they've earned the right to ask just through their genuine enquiry... that you don't feel the expectation to say what you think they want to hear - but because they sincerely care, and in light of that you're free to say "bloody awful!" or "bloomin' fantastic!" whatever the case may be.

As I write this I'm going over people in my head whom I often tell the truth to in this respect and who I don't... is there more to why I'm not honest to everyone? I don't trust everyone, and so I'm not going to load information that's personal on to people, but still, I think the request, whatever the forum/reason should be answered as honestly as possible, albeit phrased in an appropriate way. If I'm feeling like crap, then not say "great thanks", but "yeah - about that!" both are short and sharp and can lead on to other things easily, but at the same time one is honest and the other is not.

anyway - the random thoughts continue!

random thoughts

Some random things to share:

• If you want to waste time looking through the interactive cards on hallmark.com is an interesting alternative to youtube
• Dido's new album comes out later this year - yeah!
• Flowers really do make your house nicer
• My bonsai is still alive - Double Yeah!
• Summer has started to hit in Hong Kong :(
• Australian Cadbury's Chocolate tastes better than the stuff you by on Hong Kong
• I need to start a sign out/sign in file for when I loan my books out to people
  

Just Do as He Says

Tonight I listened to two sermons, one from a Franciscan brother by the name of Robert Hugh, the other by my own minister, John Menear.

The one by John Menear, spoke of Jesus’ first miracle. Turning the water into wine, with the clever title "Pitcher tells a thousand words"

While listening I remembered a book I found while cataloguing a library that outlined why the wine was actually juice because Jesus never would have condoned alcohol. The fact of the matter is that he created 600 liters of wine, and in doing so not only blessed a couple, but also, through John’s retelling, painted a picture of the new covenant...of purity through Jesus, and Jesus alone, using the ceremonial cleansing pots to hold the excellent wine. (much more to the sermon then just this though!).

I found a parallel between John’s words of graceful, all encompassing covenant and those of Bro. Robert Hugh’s in his sermon “To be Human is to Fully Accept the Glory of God”. He brought the interesting concept of belief in a “contract god” or a “covenant god” into his homily which he’d also referred to yesterday at St Thomas’s in Lancaster, PA (although I understand the talks were quite different). The thought was a new one and one that after discussing it this morning with Ian and hearing it again this evening in this sermon I wanted to give it some thought, especially as too I often act in my belief of a contract God – a term of service which I must live up to, and when I fail … well, I fail and feel that that contact is in some ways null and void.

An extract (although I encourage you to listen to the whole thing) states:

What goes with that [covenant God] is that we have a God who simply says to us, each uniquely and by name, “I love you”. Not, “I love you IF”, but “I love you. I love you unconditionally and I love you for you and not for your performance”. And the God of covenant goes on and says “I accept you where you are right now in your life, warts and all. I rejoice with you in your life with everything that is fine and noble and strong, but I don’t just stop there because I never engage with something that is less than ALL it means for you to be you. And therefore I also engage with you when you are by no means strong, but weak and fragile. When you are confused and lost and even radically broken. And it’s because I engage with you where you are and as you are and as all you are that I declare you unconditionally beloved and totally accepted.”

And says the God of Covenant “let your energy be grateful energy, not anxious energy. Because already in and through your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, already the victory has been won and your salvation is assured and the redemption is wrought and your forgiveness is given. Already you are citizens in a forgiven universe.”

It’s a theme I’ve heard so often in other words, but not in the phrasing of a covenant, which I’ve always viewed to be a scary thing, where if you break one of those you’re really in trouble. As Ian shared this morning, a contact is between two equal parties, a covenant is not. A contract you sign feeling you can meet it, but we can never do all we need to if the Laws of the Bible were a contract. All of us would fail every time. And THAT is why we worship and serve a Covenant God – who accepts us just as we are – even though we’d like to think we’re able to do the job ourselves. When we have enough wine, and when we're woefully inadequate.

The other similarity between the sermons is what was said about Jesus. First, Mary said to the servants at the wedding “Just do as he says”, secondly God said of Jesus when introducing him “this is my son, in whom I am pleased”, virtually saying as Bro. Hug recounts “do as he says”.

Oh that I may, not out of effort or duty, but gracious service to the “Master of a forgiven universe”.

If you want to listen to either sermon just let me know - they're bonza!

A Day with the Dogs

Today the saying "every man and his dog was out and about" was true of Kowloon Park...

A Girls Night Out

Tonight we dropped Dory off at the border crossing between Hong Kong and China. Katrina took her over to get the bus, but four of us had a fun (and cheap!!) night out in Sheung Shui.

Save this Tree!!!

I purchased this tree yesterday, literally bought off the back of a truck, for less than I would pay for a hot chocolate… with the only problem being that now I have no idea what type of Bonsai it is! One of those problems with not continuing with my Cantonese studies is that the only English that the man whom I bought it off spoke was "Lots of water, every day water".

I am faced with the knowledge gained this morning after reading numerous websites on bonsai maintenance that should it be an inside tree and I keep it outside it will suffer, and if it is an outdoor tree and I keep it indoors it shall die. Its variety also affects the fertilizer, amount of water, sunlight and care it receives!

Seriously... bonsai's are scary things with baby sitting services and even hospitals all dedicated to their care.

Isn’t it beautiful though?? Stay tuned for updates on its progress... or lack there of!

Any and all help would be appreciated :)

P.S. We think it might be a "Baby Jade Bonsai Tree (Portulacaria Afra)" Check out the link and let me know what you think!

Let me make it clear: it is OK

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21059109-421,00.html

I’ve had this news article open in my Firefox browser since Monday, looking at it now and then, encouraged that some semblance of sanity is in our court system today.

I guess it’s been encouraging for another reason too...

Since coming to Hong Kong I’ve found myself unable to keep abreast of issues that I would back home just through the natural course of life. I didn’t watch one Super 14 match last year. I almost missed the Queensland State elections and would have if not for my mother reminding me to go and vote. The weather is horrible to conceive, either blessedly cold during the humid summer months which I’m jealous to consider, or stinking hot when we’re all lovely and cosy which I’d rather not think of!

The list goes on.

In a feeble attempt to have some idea of what is going on in the world I log on regularly to the BBC and news.com.au websites, and listen to a Brisbane radio station 96.5. While often I find this a helpful exercise, lately I’ve been astounded by the amount of junk we let invade our senses. Perhaps it’s a continuation from what I experienced in the States after watching TV for the first time in 8 months.

We are bombarded with companies jockeying for our attention. We are tempted by tales of sexual dalliances of the rich and/or famous. We are saddened by the filth that pervades the actions of abusers and users and perverts… and at times our governments. We are told to rely on one source for information, with that information then being proved inconsistent later in time. We humiliate and demoralise those in power instead of encouraging them. We idolise indiscriminately.

I sit at my computer tonight feeling sick with information overload – but it’s not information – it’s just data. Data that keeps me feeling like I’m informed.

So with this background, I was heartened by the words in the article above:

Justice Benjamin said he took the unusual step of calling the children to court after they expressed a wish not to see their father. "You may have received mixed messages from others close to you about whether it is OK to see your father and spend good times with him. Let me make it clear: it is OK," he said.

There was goodness in those words expressed by that Judge, and for right or wrong they have given me some hope this week, far away from home, that amidst the plethora of scandal that I come across each day we have not gone down the tube… just yet.

Transcendental Idealism

In a burst of insanity I asked a very good friend what to blog on this evening. He skyped back to say I should blog on Transcendental Idealism.

So, instead of writing a fascinating blog on why I’m half princess half missionary (which I can give if you really want another time!), I’m directing you all to Wikipedia for a much better explanation on Transcendental Idealisim than I could ever give… and then writing a bit of a blurb down the bottom should you care to read my ponderings on this topic.

Reading from that Wiki page on to another about George Berkeley I was intrigued by these words:

"In reference to Berkeley's philosophy, Dr. Samuel Johnson kicked a heavy stone and exclaimed, "I refute it thus." A philosophical empiricist might reply that the only thing that Dr. Johnson knew about the stone was what he saw with his eyes, felt with his foot, and heard with his ears. That is, the existence of the stone consisted exclusively of Dr. Johnson's perceptions. It might be possible that Dr. Johnson had actually kicked an unusually grey tree stump, or perhaps that a sudden attack of arthritis had flared up just when he was about to kick a random patch of grass with a painting of a rock. Whatever the stone really was, apart from the sensations that he felt and the ideas or mental pictures that he perceived, was completely unknown to him. The kicked stone existed, ultimately, as an idea in his mind, nothing more and nothing less.

"Theologically, one consequence of Berkeley's views is that they require God to be present as an immediate cause of all our experiences. God is not the distant engineer of Newtonian machinery that in the fullness of time led to the growth of a tree in the university's quadrangle. Rather, my perception of the tree is an idea that God's mind has produced in mine, and the tree continues to exist in the Quad when "nobody" is there simply because God is an infinite mind that perceives all."

I appreciate in these two paragraphs the thought that God MUST be present in all, thoughts and perceptions, rational and belief… and furthermore, that even to believe in something it was God himself who has enabled us to. Theologically I think that this is a very sound view, but in honesty I find it difficult to translate to the physical world I live in. (I’m sure that philosophers though would find something wrong with those words physical world though!)

I’m much more comfortable thinking that the couch I’m sitting on is not just my perception, but an actual object that is … and that it is perceived the same way to all people, because regardless of how we perceive it, it IS. However, that being said, just because I’m comfortable with something doesn’t make it so, it just makes it easier for me to believe that it is so.

I guess this raises a lot of questions that my “after work brain” just can’t quite take in, but I shall continue pondering though and you might benefit (or not!) from the thoughts that make it through the fuse box of my mind into the “real” world.

What I do find fascinating though is that I always thought I was into philosophy… until of course I started to read a bit more philosophy and find I’m not THAT into it! Give me a good old theological text and I’m happy… philosophy for some reason scares me. A) Because I don’t understand it B) Because I think that if I did understand it I wouldn’t trust it because how would I know what I understood was what I understood and how can I trust something I’m not even sure exists?

… You’re Sick? Here’s some pills!

One of those things about living in a different country is getting used to the health care system.

For instance, I went to the doctor yesterday for a nagging cough which developed and a general cold/flu… anyway I walked out with the following:
Expected:
Cough Syrup
Antibiotics
Unexpected:
Anti-inflammatory Tablets
Tablets for my “sputum”
Heavy pain killers
Tablets to stop my stomach bleeding from the other tablets

Anyway, I found it a fascinating exercise :) Thank God that I have a doctor to go to, and can afford to go!

Food Eaten Yesterday... and where in the world it came from

Cherry Tomatoes from Thailand

Apple Juice from America

Vegetable Pasty from Australia

Mandarin from China

Salmon Steak from Norway

Frozen Vegetables from Australia

Tea from England

Ahh… the wonders of living in a country highly dependant upon importing goods.

For example:

"In 2003, local production[in Hong Kong] accounted for 5% of fresh vegetables, 31% of live poultry, and 23% of live pigs. Everything else was imported."

http://www.batgung.com/food-supply-in-hong-kong

(note: this isn’t a blog about my eating habits, but it is hopefully the start of some regular, and backdated blogging!)

Lene Marlin, Simulation Games, Engagements and Baby News :)

Quite some time ago while listening to Pandora I listened for the first time to Lene Marlin. Simply said - I've become a big fan. Head to her site - not only can you listen to her songs and get a taste of her music and sound, but you can also play a very funky little game where you save a little girl's balloons from some horrid monsters!

Actually, speaking of on-line games, we've been testing a few lately. Thanks to Adam for sending this one our way... as Richard can testify my lunch times got a little crazy with wanting to make as many shoes as possible... I think the most I lasted was 5 days until I needed to put an end to the start of an addiction... some powerful awareness happening through those simple simulation games though.

Congrats to Joy and Flash who announced their engagement recently :) hugely stoked for you both and looking forward to meeting you Joy when you come by our way early next year.

While I could bore anyone who does read this blog (I probably do already!) by more pictures of new born foals, I'd much prefer to end with telling the world how very excited I was yesterday to hear the news that the Curtis family is expecting a sibling for Abby Grace. Will & Ness, you guys are amazing parents and while unfortunately I wasn't able to speak for long, I thought I'd remedy that by telling the world how much confidence I have in you both as you continue to nurture and cherish your growing family. Sorry I can't be there to be a propper "aunty beth" or "aunt lizzie" to your little ones. Thank you for your support and continued friendship though the distance is not small. My thoughts are very much with you!!!