Today seems happy and sad. First the happy, well classes today ended early and on time and it seems that I'm getting the hang of studying. Is like habit already, and my body knows it. There is a drive in me to keep on pushing myself to do better. So you guys know this, the usual for me. in and out of class and study and homework. Done.
The sad. Today was our home basketball game. And this match is the big one or the boom or the tough one. Cause this match determines who will get 2nd place. Yes, you guys must be tired of hearing that we hardly lose and keep on winning. Well our school that good, we are 3rd in the Big South.
Anyway, the match today was just a blow out. We lost. It was hard for us cause we weren't playing our full squad. So is tough. We were just over powered by them. If we meet them again with our full squad, we will going to mess them up properly.
here are some pictures... this is our half time show. Seeing small kids play. they were really funny to watch and cute also. hehe Our team(in gray) was trying very hard to put in some buckets but couldn't find the answer. They try every approach to score and can't find it. long discussion in our branch. the couch was getting upset and was pretty quite the whole evening. All smiles here. This team was killing us with steals, shooting beyond the arc and quite tough defense
the end result, we lost. badly. Is just to embarrassing to put the score up here in my blog.
Well, we are still 3rd, we are going to play in NCAA. Hope will be the winners for our conference. =)
Anyway, i got to really sleep now. Tired. And tomorrow is just a lot of things to do. So see you later.
Busy Monday. Monday Blues. The usual for me. Study, homework, rest, basketball/workout, rest, study, homework and sleep. Nothing big happen today. Now I'm starting to wish for things to happen or praying about it. Well seeing so many rich and average and poor people here and still studying is amazing that life still go on.
It is still winter here till i think end of March or mid-March. The weather some times can get really crazy and at times just nice(like room temperature). Winter is nice and all but there is a downside. There is a 70% chance that you touch people or stuff that you will get static shock. Yea, static shock. Is unavoidable. Morning i wake up, go to bathroom, get shock. Go out of the room, get shock. Shake hands with someone, get shock. I don't know how the conduct is coming from but is a sure shock. hehe. No wonder that many people die during this time, due to static shock. I can't wait to see spring, cause i want to see the flowers, life to spring out. There is another 2 weeks more to spring break(i don't know why, but is actually still in winter but this school call it spring break).
Tomorrow will be a exciting day cause our school team is coming back home from the road to play at home. There is a match tomorrow and it is a big match. Cause this is the fight for 2nd place. And we are sought of fighting our second rival. I think is going to be a really tough match and crazily exciting match. After this match is NCAA tournament that they will enter in. Cause now all the teams from all over the US state are competing in their own conferences. Like Big South, Big East, Big West, etc then the top teams(i think top 10 from each conferences) will play in the NCAA.
So big day tomorrow. Do continue to keep me in your prayers. God bless, keep strong in the faith and be the light to this dark world.
Saturday, fun day, great day. hehe. Today i sleep-in and it was great. Even though now I'm super awake. Sleep till 11am went out for basketball with my dorm friends. Yea, our dorms have competition every Saturday just against each other. Fun stuff. So today was basketball, we usually play other stuff or hang out. Anyway, it was fun then went for lunch.
i came back home after that, shower, and sleep again. Till 4pm. Do some studying and homework. Rest again. And again study and homework.
Now going to watch a movie then sleep for tomorrow. Sunday, Church day. So see you guys another 10 months = 44 weeks = 308 days = 7392 hours = 443520 minutes = 26611200 seconds till i get back. Actually is less by two weeks i think cause the day i come back is in December or earlier. >.< so grow in Faith, grow in Love, grow in Unity, grow as a Family and grow as people spiritual powered by God. (i sound like Paul in the Bible, hehe) keep the teaching of God close to you. Encourage and Love one another.
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.[b]3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand[e] say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the Law it is written:
"Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,"[f] says the Lord.
22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand[h]comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
Orderly Worship
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the congregations of the saints, 34women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.[i]
39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Footnotes:
1 Corinthians 14:2 Or another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
Today is just a day that i want to sleep. My roommate was sought of up all night, playing some Chinese Online Game that he needs to finish. Is getting crazy, non-stop clicking here and there. The worse thing he tends to speak very loud. OMG!!! can't take it but by the Grace of God, i shall be patient and pray for him to change. Everyday non-stop playing that game. I don't know what is it called but for sure is not WoW.
That is just the downside of him. The good-side, he is willing to help me out in things. Like supper, he is from China, and Chinese people like their noodles. So he has like a hidden treasure filled with instant noodles. So he allows me to take as much as I'm hungry.
Anyway, so i woke up at 7am in the morning, went to school to eat breakfast. It was alright, not like other days. Later, i went to the computer lab to check emails and hang around till my 9am class starts. Here my day just get worse and better. First i check my school email and to find out that both my morning classes are cancel because both the teachers have to go back to hometown for some reason. Which i got piss cause i woke up for no reason so. That means i have to check my emails before i go to school. I was flopping tired and sleep cause roommate. HIAZ!!!
After that everything was alright. So my first class of the day was at 1235pm. So i hang around the computer lab, surf here and there. Chat with new people. And was dieing slowly, sleep of course. Class finish, i went to dinner then play basketball. I know i was tired but i need to play. Is like a addiction now. I nearly play everyday. Some how staying here, the muscles in my body are not aching or in pain. Everyday i feel fresh. Must be the weather, talking about weather, it was blazing windy man that means super cold. Is still winter, spring is coming in March.
In March there is spring break, YEA!!!, will miss the cold weather. Back on track, basketball today is awesome. i'm starting to have level of play like i play in Malaysia but better. Playing full court here is simple awesome. Loving it every moment i play here. People here at the basketball courts are beginning to recognize me and letting me play more of my game. So is good.
Going to bed now. Just crazyly tired from school and basketball. I was awake from 7am to now which is 11pm. So must sleep. Good night.
My day seems alright. Is really cold today. Is not in the negative but like 2°c-4°c today with wind. Cold!!!
Same old routine. Besides that, i have been here for 2 months already. Well, I'm settling in quite alright, make friends by the day or weeks, got to know my surroundings pretty well, wishing for supper most of the time, and church is awesome. How I am? cold, thinking to much, devotion is strong as ever and missing home already.
So i got another 10 months to go. Spring break is coming in 2 weeks time, Yes finally a holiday. Man, this Americans hardly has any holiday unlike Malaysia. Malaysia has like every month such so kind holiday, prophet holiday, king holiday, school holiday and etc.
Hmm...I'm missing the food in Malaysia already, Chinese food, Indian food, Malay food, Mix culture food, and food. Here has some sought of Chinese food but it taste like American Chinese. No real taste, not even close to Malaysian food. Well, have to go through it.
i guess many of you are thinking now. How does Joel look like there now, bigger, taller, big and tall, fat, thin, skinny, stronger? i look the same, maybe i have growed taller. But i think I'm more stronger, faster, quicker, handsome?(no self-image, hehe) than last time.
For those playing basketball in Malaysia. Wondering whether i can touch rim. I'm there already. But can't dunk yet. Even many Americans here can't dunk here, some only some. To my amazement many Americans are shorter or same height than me. But playing with them is a whole different level. they are more accurate, teamwork, fast, and flying(some). Yes, i can touch rim effortlessly. So i got another 10 months to go to dunk.
Once I'm back, i'll be flying, bring on the alley-hoop. And maybe play with some outsiders. hehe crashing time. hehe.
Well, i got to go to bed now. Tomorrow is a friday. Weekend is coming. YEA!!!. Oh do continue to pray for me. Most important thing to me now is financial. I'm looking around for scholarships and is hard to get. Pray for me to get it. Pray for the financial situation that is happening in US, hope that they can resolve it.
(i try to take a picture of myself to judge for yourself). till then nighty night.
this is our half time show. Seeing small kids play.
they were really funny to watch and cute also. hehe
Our team(in gray) was trying very hard to put in some buckets but couldn't find the answer. They try every approach to score and can't find it.
long discussion in our branch. the couch was getting upset and was pretty quite the whole evening.
All smiles here. This team was killing us with steals, shooting beyond the arc and quite tough defense
this is our half time show. Seeing small kids play.
they were really funny to watch and cute also. hehe
Our team(in gray) was trying very hard to put in some buckets but couldn't find the answer. They try every approach to score and can't find it.
long discussion in our branch. the couch was getting upset and was pretty quite the whole evening.
All smiles here. This team was killing us with steals, shooting beyond the arc and quite tough defense
