12/30/2005
When life throws you a lemon...
... suck it up. It'll be sour but suck it up. Jesus will make it sweet in your heart. It has been an highly emotionally driven holidays for me but it's about time for me to come back to God's hands and be his little child. Life sucks from time to time but God will provide a way for His children to suck it up : )
Now back to work... Die! Homework! Die! (... throwing lemons at my textbooks...)
Happy New Year Everyone!
12/26/2005
Life as a Sponge
What can be a better way to celebrate Christmas and New Year than to play a no-brainer game. It's a great way to have stupid fun in the midst of all the festive but also stressful activities (ie: shopping). Therefore, two days ago my friends and I decided to play the Game of Life: Spongebob Squarepants Edition. Believe it or not, I was so excited right at the beginning and I just want to see how the game is spiced up with a twist of Spongebob. However, after getting stunned by jellyfish 3 times, changing occupations 7 times, and failing to win a shell phone after 11 attempts, I realized that Spongebob and the gang actually have a very boring life. What kinda world are you living in if it let you switch jobs and houses almost every single turn. Maybe I am just bitter because my pineapple house was continuously eaten by sea monsters. Next time I will win the shell phone for sure. Nevertheless, good times... good times indeed.
Merry Boxing Day everyone.
12/24/2005
The One and Only Victoria Li
Name: Victoria (Vicki) Li
Gender: Female
Age: Undisclosed
Birthday: January
Marital Status: Undisclosed
Height: 5'6'' ???
Weight: Undisclosed
School: University of Guelph, Albert Campbell C.I., Banting and Best
Used to: Wear Braces and Perm her Hair
Now: Harry Potter scarf at all times
Favourite Movies: Harry Potter 1234
Favourite Books: Harry Potter 123456
Favourite Show: Harry Potter???
Favourite Band: Any boybands with decent looking guys
Favourite Game: The Game of Life (Sponge Bob Edition)
Favourite saying: "Gavin, you're so weird."
Enjoys: Long walks on the beach
I met Vicki back in grade 11 physics class. It is the last place you would want to meet anyone new but... oh what the heck... She and I would team up insulting the class genius everyday during class. Now I've known her for four and a half years and we would still gang up on our friends and make fun of them without mercy. Funny girl she is...
The Crazy Perming Days
Her slick Home-made Harry Potter Scarf
Number of times she read the first Harry Potter book
Group Picture of the Old Gang
Her Birthday
There she is.
Right there, radiating...
You can't miss her...
She is very sneaky... indeed...
All Smiles : )
... Victoria Li, you complete my life... haha.
12/22/2005
Ouch
Yesterday was a big smack in my face. It was late at night and my mom called for me with her eyes filled with tears. She then told me that my uncle (my dad's older brother) has just passed away from a stroke in Hong Kong. I am not very close with my uncle since he lives in Hong Kong. In my expectations, it didn't hit me that hard when I heard it. However, once it started to sink into my mind, the full effect manifested itself. It's the feeling of knowing that you will never see someone's face again and the feeling of inevitability and helplessness inside you. I just saw him the past summer when he came to visit and everything just happened so sudden. No matter how much I do or try to give up for Christ, it seems like there is something in life that will backstab me in some way. Death has never come into my mind with that kind of intensity and all I could ever do is hide.
I also volunteered in the senior home which I worked in for the past summer yesterday. While I was there, I found out some familiar faces among the residents were gone also. Normally i wouldn't be affected by these things so easily but with the death of my uncle, all these things seem to be so much bigger... contain so much more impact... It sucks that everytime when I go back I will found someone gone. Four months ago some of the residents were offering candies for me and now some of them can no longer do that anymore. For the first time I feel pain about people leaving this world and there's nothing I can do but to suck it up. I know that Christ's glory is the only way out yet the pain lingers on in my heart. Turning away from the pain and focus my eyes on the cross is something I feel I cannot do. But God has made a clear statment to me to be strong in the cross... for my family... for everyone around me. Death certainly haven't lost its sting in my life... not yet, and it hurts like crap.
12/19/2005
Taking the Plunge
Born Again... lol
12/10/2005
No One is Perfect
Ever since I don't know when, I has always been told that i eat really loud. No matter what food I am chewing on, I tend to articulate every chew with my teeth really well. Mouth opened or closed, it makes no difference. For a period of time I tried to consciously control my chewing and eating habits. As silly as it may sound like, I thought I have corrected that ugly habit of mine since no one has said anything about the way I eat for a long time... until yesterday.
Yesterday our whole xray class had a test during the morning. Halfway through the test I felt really hungry so I opened my bag and grabbed a banana. Banana is always part of my stable diet so I usually eat it very quickly. On the other hand, I was concentrating on the test so I ate that banana in a span of 30 minute. I took a bite, chew chew chew, put it back on the table and so on... After the test, I went out to the washroom and came back to the classroom. Then, out of the blue, the female classmate who sits in front of me turned around and looked at me with fiery eyes. "Gavin! What were you eating?!" I was so shocked all of a sudden because usually we don't really talk to each other. "It's a banana, _______." Then she looked at me with disbelief. "Why were you so LOUD." and I asked her "Was I really loud?" That girl and two other girls who sat around me said it simultaneously "YES!!" What a great way to piss off the opposite sex. I asked a different girl who sat right beside me if I chew really loud. She respond with a smile and a "duh" attitude. "Yes, Gavin you always chew really loud and when you are doing a test you tend to talk to yourself a lot. I could hear everything." I do mumble and sigh a lot during tests and exams but I thought I do it in a voice level which only I could hear. For a moment there I felt that my world is tumbling down because for the whole time I thought those flaws were corrected by my countless attempts, my chewing was still annoying people everytime I ate with them. Either they were too nice to tell me the truth or they were too dumb to hear anything that came out of my big mouth. I doubt it's the latter. What sounds OK in my head sounds annoying to others' ears. It's also just funny that the poeple who seem to notice my flaws are all female. Geez, it's been a while since I last dated and I wonder why God hasn't given me a girlfriend yet.
I can't wait until a girl standing next to me during worship tells me "Gavin, you sing out of tune. You should just shut up during worship."
12/05/2005
Cell Group Convo Series #1
********************
Date and Time: Nov 25, 2005 at around 5pm
Who: Me, Jo, Sarah, and Becca (not in my cell group)
What: Baking for bake off
Me: You know what guys, we should take a picture of us baking (even tho only sarah knows what she is doing) !
Sarah and Jo: Sure
(Us trying to pose with the ingredients, Becca was there to hold the camera)
Me: Guys, I'm holding a sugar since I am too sweet (again, it's one of those things which i thought it would be funny...)
Sarah: Then why am I holding the fat??!! (She's holding a cup of butter)
Jo: (giggles)
Me: (cracking up inside my head) Alrite, i'll hold the butter. Sarah, you'll be the sweetheart.
Sarah: Well it would make sense. I'm holding the sugar cuz it's white and you're holding the butter cuz it's yellow...
Me: (looking at the bag of chocolate chips in Jo's hand) ... so Jo's brown?
Becca: ...
(flash!)
Much lovin' for the F tofuz.
11/28/2005
Oh, so that's what you want me to say...
Rev: So Gavin, can you tell me how you became a Christian?
Gavin: Ya, so it was the end of my Gr 12 year... (a while later) ... so that's how I became a follower of Jesus Christ.
Rev: Ok... so could you tell me what baptism symbolically means to you?
Gavin: (trying to be more personal and give anything but a Sunday school answer) Well, to me couple years ago baptism is always something that would push me to an dead en. I always thought if i got baptised, I would be set to Christian forever and there's no turning back. Of course, now I don't think so.
Rev: Why's that?
Gavin: Now i think baptism would be a joyous moment that declares my love for Christ. Also, it's a public confession that my sins and shame are washed away by Christ's blood.
Rev: Ok Gavin, but biblically what does it mean to you?
Gavin: Well, it means I am letting the Holy Spirit...
Rev: Gavin, you need to go the baptismal class... I think you are not quite sure what it means...
Gavin: Huh?
Rev: Well when you go down to the water you old self is dead and away from you and when you come up from the water...
Gavin: ... you are reborn in Christ.
Rev: Right! So you know!
Gavin: yes... (regreding of talking too much)
At that moment, I just wanna get it over with the interview so all the other answers are typical Sunday School answers.
Q: Who's my saviour?
A: Jesus.
Q: Who gives me the reassurance of hope in life?
A: Jesus.
Q: What would you say to the angels at the gate of heaven when they question your entry into heaven?
A: Jesus.
Q: Are you committed to stay in this church and serve?
A: Jesus.
The fact that I came back to Toronto just for this leaves me very restless. Still, after years of struggles, I've finally decided to get baptized this Christmas. Praise the Father, my God Almighty!
11/23/2005
Where's the love?
- I don't know what's wrong with me but i have to make fun of every single person in my cell group at least once everytime we meet. I guess no one really like being made fun off. For example, a girl in my cell group loves eating meat so I associate everything that has to do with meat with her. I thought that was funny.
Convo #1
Me: She's the "Meat" girl of the group, not the IT girl. Get it?! hahaha...
Rest of the Group: ... (look at me coldly)
Convo #2
Me: Let's do pot luck next wednesday. Anyone in?
Meat Girl: What should I bring?
Me: Meat... (give her the "stating the obvious" look)
Meat Girl: ... (stare at me with hatred)
Then there's one non-asian person in my cell group (It's CCF so almost everyone is Chinese). Yes, you bet. Racist jokes just fly out of my mouth like there's no tomorrow.
At some Vietnamese Restaurant
Me: _____, you should eat more pho. It'll make you become more Asian so you can fit in the group better.
Non-asian: What!
Me: Oh sorry. Uh... it's a joke. Don't get mad.
Non-asian: Hm... It's ok Gavin. I'll pray for you.
At a sharing night
Group: (talking about random things)
Me: Yeah I know! Most asians are either in life-sci or engineering. Wait a minute, we have a few exceptions here. Person A, you're in English. Person B, you're in Con-ed. Non-Asian, (well i said her real name), you are in Nursing. See, Asian students don't always fall into those two categories.
Group: What are you saying Gavin?
Non-asian: Do I look like asian to you?????!!! (with angry look on her face)
Me: (I jus keep digging...) Well, i think some people are going to Asian Semi tonight after Bible Study. Non-Asian, are you going? (I thought that was funny)
Group: (Silence)
There is one frosh in the cell group and, as a "amazing" cell group leader, I picked on him and bossed him around.
Incident #1
Frosh: Hi Gavin.
Gavin: Hey Frosh. I OWN YOU.
Frosh: ... (backed away)
Inciedent #2
Gavin: Ok this skit's gonna be great. I'll be in a wifebeater and acting like a China-man with an accent. That would be soooooooooo funny.
Group: But you don't need to act, Gavin.
Gavin: Oh... Frosh, how about you be my child and wear a wifebeater too?
Frosh: What's a wifebeater?
Gavin: This. (Hand the wifebeater to Frosh)
Frosh: (loudly) No no no no! I am not wearing wifebeater, nothing tight, not showing any skin. Just a plain old shirt. That's it!
Gavin: Ok Frosh... But I have 8 months to break you...
Frosh: ... (gulp)
That's 3 people hating the guts out of me in my cell group. Enough said. You know the idea. I don't have to go on talking about what i did with the rest of the cell group.
- I forced people to come to my cell group events. I threatened to chop people heads off if they don't come. Again, I found people don't like it when they feel threatened. (I thought that would be funny too)
- I tried to be nice and made birthday cards to my cell group members. Apparently, I tried to be cheap too.
Front
Back
I guess that being cheap means buying cards from a dollar store. Making birthday cards out of beer boxes means that you are being a a__hole.
- Showing physical love such as hugging and high-five-ing is very effective in group bonding but showing too much is not. A picture is worth a thousand words.
During the picture taking, I did hear a faint scream, crying for help. Apparantly I got too excited and kicked her couch away and she fell right down on the floor. She thought i attacked her. I did apologize. Since then, she never come to cell group ever again...
I was stupid enough to bring my cell group to do the ccf-famous B52 challenge. Every person had to order an B52 (extra extra large bowl) pho. I thought it would be a fun event. They all hated me afterwards, swearing never wanting to see me or a bowl of rice noodle again in their life.
Pissed
Not having fun
In pain
I could go on but I think you get the idea. Everyone in my cell group is either the subject of my stupid jokes or get physically hurt by me or my brilliant ideas in cell grou bonding.
It really shows if the cell group loves its leader or not since it's very easy to tell...
- When only 4 people showed up in a cell group games night (including the 2 co-leaders).
- Everyone rather do work then come to Bible Study.
- When one of them say "I hate you, Gavin".
- When another one of them say "Why are you so dumb, Gavin".
- When I am the only one laughing and screaming in a game of Cranium.
- When your co-leader sigh all the time about cell group leading (lol).
- When one of them say "Gavin, you talk too much" during Bible studies.
Ok, maybe i have exaggerated a little bie. They don't hate me... that much. For the past 3 months I got to know most of them and they are all amazing people with the desire to learn and bond. God has placed them deep in my heart, every single one of them. In Romans 15:1. it says "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." I may be weak but God will give me strength to inspire these amazing people to live a life worthy of his/her calling and my heart is also open for them to inspire me back. Sigh, what can I say? I love my cell group.
... first thing first, I should cut back on the racist jokes.
11/22/2005
And the Quit When You're Ahead Award goes to...
Woman: Honey, do these jeans make my hips look really wide?
Man: No dear, not at all.
Woman: Oh good...
Man: It's all that dairy you eat that makes them look really wide.
Oh snap! And many people still wonder why some men (like me) can never get a girlfriend... Alrite, now off to Passion!!!
11/15/2005
Who says Kingston is boring?
- You don't have to tip when you get take-out (hard learnt lesson).
- My right trapezius muscles are bigger than my left.
- Never ever run dictatorship in your cell group.
- Do not tell other to pray for your good looks during a prayer meeting.
- I can't say this enough, but plain yogurt tastes really, really gross.
- As a health care worker, one cannot pulpate the patient's breasts, coccyx, and pubic symphysis.
- Coach Carter is a very good movie.
- Bewitched is a very bad movie.
- How the Grinch stole Christmas is an extremely boring children's book.
- ER at the hospital does not treat their patients as emergency cases (???).
- You do not pronounce Kanye West as "Kenyee West".
- A cup of coffee has a greater chance of causing cancer than diagnositc xray does.
- People grow their fingernails so they can use them to sniff cocaine.
- Thyme is pronounced like "time".
- After 12am, I am no longer able to pray with a conscious mind. I'll start praying for hot dogs and fries.
- Girls can eat a lot, with no dependence on their sizes.
- I run on Chinese time all the time (at least 15 min late).
- People can no longer stand me running on Chinese time.
- My housemate can punch really hard.
- You can actually study in Stauffer Library.
- You can actually sweat while playing volleyball. I always thought you just stand in one place and bump the ball but apparantly this sport involves so much more.
As you can see, there's never a dull moment in Kingston : )
9/25/2005
Yogurt kills my guts
The past Friday was the first night of Cell Group/Bible Study night at KCCF. As a cell group leader, I was amazed to see the enthusiasm everyone has and the desire to dig deeper into God's words. However, with a 3 to 91480384 guys to girls ratio, this year will be an interesting one. Our cell group name is called Fried Tofu. Not only because the people of our group are hot and crusty on the outside and soft and smooth inside, but also we want to use the theme vulnerability. We hope that Jesus will rip apart the wall we build around our hearts just like a ripped fried tofu. In the end, the soft and white center of a tofu symbolizes our weak but pure hearts. But first thing first, we must be vulnerable to not only God but to each other. I am getting excited. Other cell groups are also getting excited. Fried Tofu definitely tastes better than plain yogurt.
9/23/2005
Do you listen?
Two nights ago, I was praying with good friends of mine. While I was sharing about my problems and struggle, one of them ask me, "Do you listen, Gavin?" That question shutted me up. I couldn't believe what i have heard. I wanted to say "Yes, I do." But i can't because, no, i didn't listen to Him. For the whole time, i focused so much on myself and on my own strength. Too many times i try to find out what I can do to glorify Jesus Christ and what i can be for Jesus Christ. Too many times i only look at how much suffering I am going through and pray to God to heal me and give me passion. I didn't realize that God could be speaking to me for the whole time but I just wasn't listening... That struck me hard and deep. I couldn't thank all my brothers who try to pick me up through prayers. All of a sudden my life begins to have a direction again. Waking up every morning with the feeling of knowing that Jesus Christ is my saviour is more than enough, I can see hope and glory. Next time when my friend ask me the same question, I will make sure i can say "yes" with confidence that comes from the cross and the cross alone.
8/19/2005
Sky's falling apart...
Maybe i should sing this song to make me feel better during this miserable time.
(High pitched voice)
"I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again
On my own and I know
That I'm strong enough to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day
And I make it through the rain"
(Tears)
As i continue to stare at the swimming pool in the parking lot, gong gong and por por past by me and asked me "Why don't you go home? It's 5." After the tenth time i heard that, i simply remained silent and continued staring at the swimming parking lot.
This is a very random post. What a great blog to mark my return back to the bloggin world.
7/17/2005
Helpless, Hopeless, Faithless
I care enough to bring trouble to myself... yet i feel like I am the only one...
Through His faithfulness and righteousness i jumped over an hurdle... yet there always seem to be another one...
The more i want to be selfless... the more selfish i become...
When i prayed for more understanding... the more i don't understand...
I feel like a prisoner for Christ... yet i am still a prisoner of my desires...
I do not want anyone to trouble me... yet i care too much
When i am upset... i am seen as overreacting...
I know nothing is perfect... but i am sick of not seeing perfection in anything...
I am tired.
I am weary.
I am frustrated.
I want to beat up somebody.
I am not moltivated.
I want to... cry.
...
7/16/2005
Ugly Feet
I want to live like there's no tomorrow
I want to dance like no one's around
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down
I want to give like I have plenty
I want to love like I'm not afraid
I want to be the man I was meant to be
I want to be the way I was made
Chris Tomlin
This is how i want to live my life... I do dance like no one's around all the time hehe.
7/14/2005
A Date with Gong Gong and Por Por, Episode II
I have just been trained to feed the elderly a week ago. Now i am responsible to feed a por por her meal everyday at lunch. I'll fill you guys in next time... Until then, i will survive the attack of jaguars...
7/13/2005
A for Apple, B for Boy, G for Gayness
I probably sound like a sore loser right now. I know it is my responsibility to understand how ANAL these people are, so i acknowledge the fact that it's all my fault... Next time i'll make sure that i'll do the right thing at the right moment when he is looking. I will not give him anymore excuses to charge me more money, since one test costs $200, including the driving instructor and the rented car. Now i have to go back to work. Yes, i took half a day off too. Time was wasted. Money was wasted. My youth was wasted. 10 days later, i'm gonna do all these things over again. Joy.
7/11/2005
A Date with Gong-Gong and Por-Por, Episode I
Since mid-June, I have been working in Mon Sheong Scarborough Long Term Care Center. The position they gave me is basically "summer student", meaning if there are anything that needs to be done and if you don't want to do it, then just give it to the summer student. It's a title that attracts abusive orders from other staff. How did i get this job? Good question because i don't even remember. One day i was as free as an eagle and the next day i found myself working. God is funny...
If you really want to know what my position is, I am basically the assistant to the assistant of the director of nursing in this long term care center. As the assistant of the director of nursing, she basically has to organize the schedules and shifts of nurses, keep track of all nursing inventory and supplies, order new nursing inventories and supplies, make and modify various forms and charts, data entry, make notes of minutes during meetings, arrange doctors and specialists appointments for all residents, photocopy and deliver memos, order medications and stationaries, make power points, and set up files for all residents. Unfortunately, since i am her assistant, most of her responsibilities naturally shift to my plate. Overworked and underpaid, I love my job. lol
But what i really love about my job is the people. The people that i work with and the gong-gongs and por-pors that live there. Most of the staff there treat me like their son cuz i am the same age as many of their's sons and daughters. It is awkward somtimes having much older people as my co-workers. What should i call them? Uncle and Auntie? First names? Mr or Mrs? Complicated... The gong-gongs and por-pors are even funnier. With their bad memories, I introduced myself to the same por por five times in a day. They love telling me that they will introduce hot girls to me and arrange marriages for me. I know i have the potentials and assets but i feel like they really want me to marry their granddaughters sometime (that's only what i think). 1.5 months to go and i can't wait til the barbecue day with gong-gong and por por on the 19th hehehe
But what is more ironic about my job is that for the past two years i have been making fun of nurses. All nursing froshies from Queen's are my laughing stocks. Now nurses are all i see everyday. I even work in the Department of Nursing. My bosses are nurses. The people i get help from are nurses and PSW's. It seems like it's time for me to find a new respect in the occupation of nursing... But i dun think i will... lol
7/08/2005
Praying to Pray...
Yesterday, after what happened in London, i know there must be a reason why we pray... Hopefully people who pray is not something that is only found in the Bible.
7/04/2005
Immunity from Preregistration
Yes, that means i don't have to go onto QCARD early in the morning to find out that all the courses are full because the office set a 100 student limit on a course when 300 students need to take it.
It also means that i dun have to look for electives that will offer me easy marks but at the same time won't use "it's boring..." as an excuse for me to sleep in lectures.
Of course, i dun need to organize my own timetable to make sure i 7 hours of classes in a row.
I, however, do feel left out from all my friends since many of them are currently in a "winner takes all" battle with QCARD and their fellow classmates. I'm posting up the link for qcard for any of you who feel lost in the midst of pre-reg and I'll be supporting you guys in spirit. Thank me later.
7/03/2005
Man of the Day
7/02/2005
Oh, Canada!
Today... well yesterday... was Canada Day. Nothing special happened. Dinner with family... Nothing special happened. (i have to say it twice to emphasize)
Yesterday nothing happened but i watched the first star wars (4th episode). Great movie. Once again my favourite R2-D2 came to the rescue.
As you see this blog doesn't have anything to do with Canada Day whatsoever...