Week 4: UOE2 - What's wrong with the World, Mama?

Him

Before and above everything I just wanted to say thank you and that I appreciate very much for this opportunity that has been given to me, This boy is the representation of my passion and why I want to be a Famine Youth Leader.

I have always loved people, but about 4 years ago, I watched a video by Gary Haugen, president of the International Justice Mission. He was instrumental to shaping my passion and helping me put a name to it. He pointed out a verse, Isaiah 1:17 which says, Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the right of widows. In the video he talked about how God being the source of all justice, compassion, power, truth and goodness is most offended by the abuse of it. It moved me, changed the way I viewed the world and I knew then that I wanted to use my life to serve people.

I would spend my life championing the rights of those oppressed and bringing relief to those who are in pain. However being Chinese and the eldest in the family with two very young brothers’ filial piety is probably one of the strongest values instilled. For now, with the consent of my parents I have publicly pledged a year of my life, upon my graduation in 2011, to doing just that. I know that my heart is with His people, but I am still exploring the different channels in which I can serve. Amongst the many, what I feel for the most is injustice and poverty.

Injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or the violation of one's rights. Perhaps my view on what is right or wrong is more rigid, or perhaps I know Him whom I serve never intended such outright abuse on His people. This is why I desire to bring change, to make right where evil has caused injustice.

Poverty is the other area that I feel as strongly about. When I think about poverty, I understand it first and foremost as a severe need or a lack. When I read or witness the pain of those in poverty, I am indefinitely moved to do something to change it, but I being one can only provide or bring that much food or any sort of material things. So bigger than that is the realization that what these people need the most is not of the physical; instead it is hope that sustains them through their bleakest moment, and the light in which they can cling onto. Practically, I need to provide the physical to improve and better the lives of those in poverty. However that brings only temporary relief, lasting only as long as the material does, instead hope in a purpose and bigger truth is inexhaustible and changes their life eternally.

The picture as mentioned represents my heart and all that which I stand for. I keep this picture in my Bible. It serves as a reminder to me, that in everything I do, it should be fueled by my love for Him and His people. His face is the representation of the many that I wish to serve because in doing so, I would have been serving also their Maker.

By Carmen Looi

Week3: UOE1 - What the Hell?!

Where the Mind Goes, the Man Follows

Jesus said in Luke 6:45, ...out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. And in Proverbs 23:7 the Bible says, ...as he thinks in his heart, so is he... Here, the word heart refers to the mind. In other words, whatever you and I allow into our inner life will eventually be seen in our outer life. So in order to deal with wrong behavior, we need to deal with wrong thinking. The key to victory is learning how to think on the things that God wants us to think- to be renewed in our mind by the power of His Word- instead of thinking on whatever comes into our head.


A House Made of Thoughts
All of us have an outer life and an inner life. Our outer life is the part of us that everybody sees, and our inner life, is seen by nobody, except God and us. Our inner life is like a house made of thoughts that is constantly being built. It is within these "walls" of our thinking that each of us lives. Every thought we accept is like another brick in the wall of the house we are building. If we accept negative, selfish, or other ungodly thoughts, our "house" will be a mess, and we will find ourselves walled in with the enemy. But when we choose to think positive, godly thoughts, the "house" in which we live will be a blessing, filled with the rewards of righteousness.


Exposing the Enemy
Once we make the decision to change our thinking, we enter into an all-out war with the enemy, and the battlefield is our mind. Satan knows that if he can dominate our thinking, he can dominate our life. That is why he often attacks us early in the morning, before our feet ever hit the floor. He strategically bombards our mind with every negative and ungodly thought imaginable- all in an effort to set the stage for a day of misery and sorrow. Two of Satan's greatest devices he uses against us are worry and reasoning.


Wielding the Sword
One of the greatest weapons that you and I have is the truth of God's Word. If we don't lead wrong thoughts away captive, the wrong thoughts will lead us away captive. When Jesus faces the temptations of Satan in the desert, He spoke the Word and defeated the enemy (see Luke 4:1-13). God wants us to know, believe and exalt His Word above the ideas of the enemy and my flesh. Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 6:25-34 that we are not to worry about anything because God is faithful to provide all that we need, when we need it. The more we meditate on scriptures like these, the more our thinking changes.


Maintaining Mental Freedom
Once we learn how to get free, we then need to learn how to stay free. It's not enough to just cast down the wrong thoughts; we have to choose to think the right thoughts. We need to fix our mind on...whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious...(Philippians 4:8) If you and I do not choose thoughts that lead to life, the devil will choose thoughts for us that lead to death. But when we choose thoughts that lead to life, our lives will be blessed. 


By Joyce Meyer

Week 2: Monashcf @ 2009

Week 1: Welcome Party

Surviving Monash 2010

Trying to survive in Monash is a hard thing to do! So, Surviving Monash is the avenue for freshies to get a good headstart in their journey through learning. They would break into their respective courses for a group talk where an appointed senior would give pointers to things like 'what are the best places to eat?' and 'what choice subjects are the best?'.