a look back on the weekend...

July 15, 2002

it's been a really interesting weekend. LOTS of things happened, like usual. i seem to have a lot of things to occupy my time.

saturday, we did our annual MCBC car wash for the community. what was really cool was that lydia & garway went to help out the redeemer car wash on friday, and one of the people that went to it mentioned how there's always a car wash held at 16th and woodbine every year. guess what? that's US! isn't that awesome? the community like actually remembers that we do this every year. it'd be so amazing if we could up the frequency of the car wash. i mean, i don't think it's THAT like crazy to do more than once a year. as long as there's the man power, it's great!

i really enjoy the fact that we do this car wash as a CHURCH now. and although it's still all basically koinonia people doing it, the fact that the rest of the church participates in the different aspects (like promo, food) is really helpful because that way the focus for koinonia can be completely on like the actual car washing. this year was especially cool because we had so many people helping out that a lot of people were free to talk with the people that came to get their car washed. can you believe it, we like hit an ALL time record this year with something around 70+ cars. it was so crazy!

we had a softball game afterwards, and i must admit i was not in the mood to go because i was so tired from the car wash. but we went, and i had a great time just playing. we lost, but meh! no worries. it's not like we're playing to win or anything. but yeah, the whole like saturday started getting me thinking about the whole markham thing again. so in the eye. massively in the eye. cuz i dunno, it's starting to feel like 'home' again. or maybe beginning to. and it's been especially encouraging with the nashville team back at home just sharing with us and everything. see the weirdest thing is, is like i know this 'home' i feel at markham will change again once they ALL leave in september. i literally mean that. they will ALL be gone.

well after the game, i went home and drove to etcbc for practise for "enough". it was one of the most gorgeous sunsets i've ever seen. like the hues in the sky were amazing. the pinks, oranges, yellows and blues. it was so beautiful. God's canvas is like the entire sky. and He just gets to do all this amazing things with it. it's like God paints these awesome sunsets and sunrises every day for us to see and just be in awe of how wonderful He truly is and the beauty of His creation. i'd love just to like watch sunrises and sunets everyday. lately i've been seeing the sunset every night. it's been so awesome. but yeah, as i was watching the sunset i was just kind thinking about the whole markham thing. and it was as if God was saying to me that He was sufficient for me right in my own church - that although i crave teaching and fellowship there, that it didn't really matter if i didn't get it. because God's enough for me regardless. and it seems so ironic that i'm thinking this. it's like, don't worry about going to church to learn or fellowship (although that's why people go to a church), because i'm all you need. so that's something for me to chew on!

oh, i just wanted to say that amanda did such an amazing job with the devotion. like the passion in our heart was like totally pouring out when she was doing her devo after the softball game. it's been so encouraging to see her grow so much in the Lord over the past years. she's grown up a lot.

today, all the people that went to nashville shared about their experience over there. and i know it was really short because i'm sure they have so much to share about. it was really encouraging and some of the things they said hit home. a lot of mentioned the same points because i think they were all struck by it. the things i remember the most that they said were as follows:

1. what have you done for the Kingdom of God in your life?
2. GO - don't wait, don't make excuses - GO
3. is Jesus really getting what He paid for?

i think what really strikes me is the first question. like honestly, i've never been a part of leading someone to Christ - and of course i can't lead a person to Christ - it's God doing that, but you know what i mean. like i might have been a part of it indirectly, but never like doing the whole Gospel thing and the praying with someone. but is that the only thing that is meaningful for the Kingdom? i don't think so, though i believe it's a MAJOR and integral part of it. but i think i need to think about it some more! totally.

24/7 was tonight, like usual. it was great. i really enjoy it, though i'd like to get to KNOW some of the people there. lol, cuz i don't know anyone. and it'd be cool if i could cuz everyone seems to be really cool :) maybe i should like start approaching people and getting to know them. oh my. out of the comfort zone! i think i need to do that more. yeah. i mean we're all just bros & sis' in Christ, so really what's the problem. tonight andrew was hitting on the subject of who's our first love? if it's God, then like we should totally be giving Him everything and surrending everything to Him. He needs to be the priority of everything that we do - and that will involve sacrifice. andrew mentioned something that made me think. it was like just telling Jesus that you love Him. and say it to Him everyay. and i'm like gee. that makes so much sense. just telling God i love Him, every morning when i wake up and stuff :) that's just awesome.

this week is going to be crazy. i just started to think about what needs to be done, and i have a lot of design work and other obligations. i don't think i'll be sleeping much! aiya. i really need God to sustain me this week and just pull me through everything that happens - i know He will. hopefully i'll learn to deny myself more and more, and rely on Him more and more :) that'd be awesome.

that's about it. i'm exhausted. g'nite!

Posted by Leo Chan at July 15, 2002 1:17 AM