I expected to face temptation once I came here. Let's face it: this IS the Land of The Free. But, never did I expect to yield even a little to the world, at least not so quickly...

Venue:Kansas City Airport. People:2 English, 2 American, 1 Japanese, 1 Malaysian(that would be me.), 1 Swede.
Found out that these few Europeans like to party. And here, a party means beer(lots of it) and clubbing. Woa! Bad first impression, huh? After discussing the various 'flavors' of tequila, the topic moved on to music. SAys Kris:"I like ..blah blah, techno..blah.." Jen says:"Oh really?,.. I prefer..blah blah..."

"How bout you, King? What kind of music do you like?"

In a sort of whimpering way, came out the words:".... christian music?...." Sort of automatically and shamefully and also guiltily, I raised my left to my brow...

What made me do it???! ..was it shame?..was it fear?..was it something I did to ease the silence that followed?

During that whole torturous evening, I was racked with feelings of fear. Fear that I would eventually fall to the world,.. a person claiming to be a christian, but UNABLE to reflect His glory...

Is this the beginning? Or is it the end?

Place:UCC dorm 451, CMSU. That night I would make a Decision. A RIGHT decision, hopefully. But of course, not before consulting My Father. As I was on the bed, I flipped the pages of my Bible to the book of John..

Peter's Second and Third Denials
25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. -John 18

, because the words:" I AM NOT.." seemed kind of familiar... The verse pierced me, somehow. I could still feel the pain. Questions twirled in me...IS this God speaking??? : I have 2 choices now.... First, is to withdraw in pain, and second is to learn from the pain.

I prayed. I want renewed zest. I want courage. I want to stand up for Jesus. I shall not let the rooster crow. This is my decision:I shall not be afraid!
O Lord, Help ME!!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2Timothy1:7

Jesus is too good a friend to reject. And of course, HE is not to be ashamed of!! I know He is the way the truth the life! During the next few days, our ever faithful God has been confirming this revelation. One moment I clearly remembered was when I read :
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I will please God! 'nuff said!

...this IS a new beginning after all...


right, Ian?

The Mule Haul:
Central's official mascots are mules. The "mule haul" is actually the day when a 600 or so students move onto campus(hauling in all their stuff into CMSU campuses). For me, this is the day when I will get to see my dorm and my roommate. Also the day when I find out if God has said "Yes" to my prayers...

I just had to write about the Mule Haul. My experience that day was truly awesome. How come, you ask? Well, God showed that HE is in control, thats why...
Time: 7.45 am. Sightings: Increasing traffic on the smooth roads of Warrensburg. I was at Ellis Hall, soon to be my residence for my 4 years at CMSU. All I had was 2 luggage bags, 1 backpack and the twin-bed set i bought at Wal-Mart. With some help from Yosuke(a friend from Japan), I was able to reach room 268, East Ellis, up in the second floor. Elevators? None at all.

Reached my room. "Hhmmm.... Not Bad, not bad..." two beds, two tables, 2 closets. Only one person in the room.

"Guess my roommate's comin later..." . I chose not to unpack yet. Should wait for Ronald.

Please check out the pictures i took of my room by clicking "Gallery" at the right side of your screen.

Ronald came. Turns out he likes to be called by his middle name, Jesse. He's from Greenwood,Missouri. He isn't a christian , (yet).... but is sort of like a nice, cool cowboy.

The Room Transformation:
Jesse brought a PC, a fridge, a microwave oven, a coffee table, a carpet, a 3-seater sofa, 27inch TV, Playstation2 and lots of food! And the one thing he forgot to bring, (a telephone), I HAD!
I gasped at the God's plan. One day ago, a Malaysian woman who studied at CMSU helped me tremendously(she was the one who gave me the phone,& her name is JESSIE!)
Everything fell into place...Praise God!

Open Mic Night.
Venue: Christian Campus House
Time: Right After A Concert
Open mic night was a week ago. It took me some time to lift my weary fingers to pen my journal. Please accept my apologies y'all. Open Microphone Night is basically an open talent/performance time for anyone who did sign up.
Well, here goes: ...Lighting was dim, soft comfy sofas arranged to face the stage, cute lava lamps of varying colours laid out in strategic areas... it was open mic nite, the nite when all wannabe talents arise.. heheh*just exaggerating*.
The five freshmen : Me, Josh, Joe, Mark, and Bryan sat down on one of the sofas, waiting for the show to start. We were expecting singing, guitar, poems, speeches, dialogues and everything which involved the use of a microphone.

Were any of us freshmen going to perform? Nope. don't intend to. But, in the back of my mind, I asked myself "Isn't this a good chance to finally know some people?"Besides that, My itchy hands badly wanted to hold a guitar fretboard..

For those who keep in contact with me, you know that some Americans here have a stereotype about Asians, and it was a laborious task for me to make new friends becos of that. Well, THIS was the chance to BREAK that stereotype!

People gradually began to fill the Christian Campus House. I hear chatter about the Wisdom's Cry concert in Wood Auditorium(in CMSU) earlier in the evening. "It was AWESOME!" says Mark(my friend) "...wish I could play like that..." (By the way, Mark plays drums)

Immediately, Wisdom's Cry stepped into the room. ...so, They are HERE. The new and upcoming band, "Wisdom's Cry" is here to witness the Open Mic Performance. Oh No! One more reason to reconsider my wanting to perform. "Won't wanna embarass myself in front of these talented guys now, would I.." a voice in me whimpered...

Then,THe show started.