Evidence of Grace in 2005

KemurahanMu
(Thy Loving Kindness
© 1962 Singspiriation Music
Words and Music by Hugh Mitchell
terj: sendiri)

KemurahanMu lebih dari hidup
KemurahanMu lebih dari hidup
Bawa hidupku memuji Engkau
KemurahanMu lebih dari hidup.


Masih ingat di awal tahun 2005 ini, aku terbaring lemah di RS St. Borromeus, Bandung. Jumat sore jam 4, tgl 31 Desember 2004 tiba-tiba aku harus dibawa ke Unit Gawat Darurat di rumah sakit itu, setelah didiagnosa aku dipaksa untuk tinggal oleh si suster galak karena sakit usus buntu/appendic. “Udah parah sakit-sakit gini masi mikir mau main piano besok pagi????? Gak! Kamu harus tinggal disini, enak aja, nanti kalo ada apa-apa siapa yg mau tanggung jawab???” Masih teringat suster itu galak bener ngomongnya. Higs.
Besoknya, tgl 1 Januari 2005, hari pertama di tahun yg baru, RS Borromeus mendapat 1 orang pasien special di taun baru yg “mejeng” di kamar operasi. Well, operasi berjalan lancar, Tuhan kirim pasukan 1 batalyon utk menghiburku saat itu, ada pasukan suster, pasukan keluarga, pasukan teman-teman, wehhh pokonya rame deh.

Masih teringat betapa panjangnya lika-liku kelulusanku dari kuliah HI-Unpar. Dosen pembimbing skripsi-ku diganti 2x, dan yang terakhir itu punya high demand yang luar biasa. Sebetulnya aku bener2 kepengen lulus Februari 2006 supaya bisa cepet urus semua persyaratan untuk studi ke Amrik. But somehow aku ragu-ragu dan betul aja, kesempatan lulus Februari sdh tertutup. GOOD BYE! Dosen pembimbing I bilang, paling cepat aku bisa selesaikan skripsi April 05. WHAT???? Secara gak sengaja itu sempat jadi “lightning thunder” yang menyambar. Artinya aku harus tunda lagi rencana studi ke Amrik yang mau start Agustus/Fall 2005. Anyway, I’ve got to do what I have to do. Di tengah segala keraguan2, kelelahan, kecapean, (sdkt keputusasaan jg), aku tetap kerjain itu TA dan finally selesai bukan April, tapi Mei, tepatnya, akhir Mei 2005, krn selama bbrp minggu, Pak Irawan, sang dosen, sempet menghilang dari peredaran. Skripsi pun hampir tertunda kembali. Temenku sesama anak bimbingannya bahkan sampe nangis tersedu-sedu di hadapan pembimbing II (Bang Tian), wah pokoknya bener2 desperate sekali. Setelah melewati perjalanan pendek tapi panjang akhirnya project ini selesai jg. 18 Mei diapprove, 18 Juni udah disidang, dan 28 Juni wisuda. WOW, super ngebut.

Eits, nanti dulu, kebut2an yg mendebarkan itu gak stop disitu. Admissions Dept dari Liberty University sekolahku di Amrik memberi kabar, aku msh bisa masuk periode Fall 2005, asal semua dokumen cepat dikirim. Weleh-weleh. Ini artinya, aku hanya ada waktu bbrp minggu utk beresin semua tektek bengek yg super panjang prosedurnya. Setelah transkrip nilai dan dokumen dikirim, yg lebih parah dan mengejutkan lagi, mrk bilang, transkrip UNPAR walaupun udah ditranslate bhs Inggris, buat mereka KAGA LAKU! Hrs dievaluate/dilegalisir dulu di World Education Service, New York, dan itu makan waktu skitar 3-4 minggu lagi! Ya ampun, aku pikir ni sekolah ribet amat. Jadi statusku masih unsure saat itu. Aku sempet pikir, “forget it, you won’t be able to go there.” Tapi aku terus maju dan ikutin apa yg mrk mau. Berita aneh dtg dari Amrik, tgl 20 Juni aku resmi diterima, walaupun itu transkrip urusan legalisirnya blm beres. Hmm ntar ada kejutan apa lagi neh….. msh hrs tunggu berita selanjutnya dr mereka. Btw, pas aku lagi nunggu kepastian dr mereka, aku dapet 2 kartu pos berturut-turut, isinya kira2 gini: “apakah anda jadi mau studi di sekolah kami, kok sdh lama kami tdk dengar kabar dr anda?” Waks! Justru aku yg tunggu kabar dr sono kok malah jadi gitu, waaa ni sekolah kegedean sich jadinya prosedur berbelit2 dan gak ada koordinasi dr 1 dept ke dept lain. Jadi makin was-was aja, kira2 semua dokumen yg dikirim nyampe gak yah? Emang deh kalo gak gini ga rame. Nah, akhirnya dateng jg itu form I20 yg ditunggu-tunggu. Masih ada hal penting yg lain yg hrs dilakukan, wawancara visa. Deg..deg..deg.. setelah deg-degan prosesnya, akhirnya dapet deh itu visa, bayangin, dlm wkt 2 minggu itu visa akhirnya dicap. Orang bilang ini mujizat krn biasanya hrs nunggu sebulan lebih.
Fhew! Tgl 11 Agustus akhirnya aku terbang (bukan terbang beneran, maksudnya numpang kapal terbang gitu) meninggalkan tanah air tercinta. Higs… Banyak kenangan yg dilewati di Indonesia, dan ada segudang hal lain yg menunggu di negeri Uncle Sam. Pengalaman terbang kedua ini jauh beda dgn pengalaman terbang pertama ke Amrik di thn 2003. Kali ini di pesawat aku bisa tidur nyenyak, sampe itu makanan kelewat 2x. Pules deh pokonye. Kelewat wkt dikit mgkn kotak makanan gue keburu disabet si India di sebelah…hehehe… Pas nyampe di Airport Chicago, spt biasa, hrs tunggu sejam-an lebih utk interview, kali ini a lot shorter drpd dulu di Airport JFK New York. Tapi yg bikin lbh rame adalah soal bagasi. Waktu transit kali ini jauh lbh pendek, so selesai interview buru-buru ke transfer desk utk masukin bagasi. Pas liat jam, waaa udah jam 4, sementara pesawat selanjutnya brgkt jam 4.30 – only another miracle could save me.
Dari terminal 5 buru-buru deh ngibrit lari ke terminal 1 bawa2 koper kecil sama tas pinggang. Nyampe terminal 1, jedenk!!!! Ngantrinyaaaa…. Ada security checkpoint yg mesti dilewat, pake2 buka sepatu segala. Wahhh, makin deg2an deh. Selesai lewat security checkpoint aku nyeruduk ibu-ibu, hampir aja dia jatuh roboh gara2 hak sepatunya tinggi buanget. Gue cuma bisa bilang sorry…sorry, terus ngibrit lagi soalnya di speaker terminal ada namaku disebut (bukan oleh ibuku tapi oleh operator), artinya itu last call sebelum berangkat. Akhirnya, masuklah saya ke dalam pesawat kecil nan sempit itu, begitu masuk pintu kapal langsung ditutup. Beres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fhew!
Tgl 12 Agustus sore pesawat terakhir itu mendarat di Roanoke City, Virginia – kira-kira sejam dari Lynchburg. Begitu nyampe, ada 2 hal penting yg aku cari. Pertama, tante Linda yg ngejemput. Kedua, bagasi. Bagasi kaga ada! Weleh, skrg apa lagi neh. Ternyata bagasi tu ketinggalan masih nyungsep di Chicago, jadi baru nyampe besoknya. Untung deh bisa dianter bagasinya ke Lynchburg.

Hmmm, skrg dah ga kerasa. Tau-tau 2005 hampir berlalu. Dari kota Bandung yg makin panas, macet, dan sumpek, aku pindah ke Lynchburg, kota di kaki Blue Ridge Mountains, dingin, sejuk, dan sepi. Dari GB Pertama, gerejaku yg penuh kenangan ampir tiap hari ‘ditongkrongin’, ke Faith Baptist Church, gereja kecil yg bersahaja tapi akrab. Dari UNPAR, kampus keren yg tempat parkirnya kagak keren, ke Liberty University, kampus lega yang bikin badan sehat gara-gara tiap hari jalan kaki setengah jam sekali jalan. Dari Indonesia - negri 1 musim (musim maceetttt) ke Amerika, negri 4 musim (spring, summer, fall, winter). Dari studi S1-sarjana, dimana paper dan tugas semua cepet selesainya (maksudnya besok hari terakhir, mlmnya langsung selesai) – ke studi S2, dgn target beda dikit, 1-2 hari sebelum due day, hehehehe…..
Yg jelas, taun 2005 penuh dengan banyak hal baru. Belajar banyak dari para professor di kampus baru ini. Ada Dr. Freerksen yg rada2 “freak” alias “aneh” dgn course New Testament-nya. Dr. Diemer, dosen Church History yang humoris, lucu, tapi sangat wise dan kebapa-an. Ada Dr. Towns, dosen Church Growth, Mr. Sunday School, orang bijak yg banyak pengalamannya, kalo sekali cerita pasti ga berhenti2. Dan saya jg belajar banyak dari Dr. Yates, dosen termuda di seminary yg ngajar Old Testament dgn metode yg bagus, dialogis tapi arahnya jelas.
Selain ketemu dosen2 yg unik2, ketemu juga sama temen2 yg unik2 pula, baik di kampus, di gereja, dan di dunia virtual maya…. Hehehe.. kumplit, jrenk! Di quad dorm 31-1 tercinta ada Nate, roommate yg cinta kedamaian dan ketenangan, tapi suka pasang2 musik hardrock…. hmm. Ada Rob Denton, Dave Sewell, Emaurie & Jeremy, John Maddox, Jonathan Martinez, anak2 1 quad yg kompak semua – para penggemar nasi goreng Indo. Ada Aaron Meng, bule-half Chinese yg jadi RA-resident assistant yg super cool dan jadi teladan buat temen2nya. Ada John, Devont, Karl, dan Richard, temen 1 prayer group yang antik-antik.
Ada Ben Forrest (my future house/roommate) dan Maria Marsico, kedua temen baik yang sedang masuk masa ‘penjajakan’, ceritanya kita jodoin hehehe… ada James Ng, teman omprengan/tebengan dari classroom ke Vines Center, ada Mr. Cho, misionari asal Korea yg selalu minta catetan kuliah kagak pake permisi dulu. Ada Awi dan Nini, teman seperjuangan asal negri Indomie, syukur kpd Tuhan buat kebaikan Om Sam dan Tante Linda Maedjaja yang menjadi ‘ortu pengganti’ kami sementara kami studi di kota terpencil nun jauh ini. Nasi uduk, gudeg-opor-kari, sayur asem, lodeh, bistik, soto, rendang, krupuk udang, kacang sukro, hingga es blewah, always menanti kami pabila sedang ‘mual’ sama junkfood di kampus yg ngebosenin. (Om, Tante, tunggu saya balik ke Lynchburg, ya, ntar kita duren party rame2, saya bsk mo borong duren monthong nih, 79cent sekilo!!!)

Di gereja Faith Baptist, ketemu dgn berbagai macam orang berikut sifat-sifat dan kepribadiannya. Yg pertama, Pastor Dave, biar gaek tapi tetep funky bersemangat, terutama kalo udah naik motor Harley-nya… yeeehaaa! Roy Ray, asisten pastor yg blak-blakan kalo ngomong dan aksen southern-nya kental banget. Ada Mike Mills dan Robyn Baird, teman seperjuangan yg biasa ‘ngamen’ bersama. Ada Phil Vincent, choir director yg baru didaulat, periang dan suka ngebadut. Dan belasan temen-temen lain yg semuanya menjadi berkat tersendiri.
Di kantor/Admissions Dept. walaupun baru sebulan kurang kerja sama mrk, ketemu sama orang2 yg unik juga. Ada Mr. Plyter/Mr. P, si bos yang demen cerita ttg cucu-cucunya. Ada trio Mrs Jordan, Mrs. Reeves, dan Mrs Saunders, yang kompak selalu ngaku2 diri kegemukan tapi tetap saja suka nawarin kue dan snack. Ada Wendy Keen, kalo ngomong nyerocos kaya kereta api, dan Annette, bule kelahiran Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, yg semanget dpt temen kerja orang Indo….hehehe…

Di dunia virtual/alias dunia di layar tancep 20x30cm, I’m glad bisa menyapa anak-anak Tuhan yang setia, dan akhirnya bisa ketemu mereka scr langsung. Ada pasangan Zion dan Pink (Kentucky & West Virginia), kedua musicians yang cinta Tuhan sampe mau ninggalin “karir” mulus utk terjun ke dlm dunia pelayanan dan sedang ”prepare” for the next step in life. Ada pasangan Pdt Yandi dan Ibu Vonny di Philadelphia, keluarga muda yang jd hamba Tuhan yang setia, yg gak kompromi di tengah tantangan pelayanan yang sulit sekalipun.

Fall Semester 2005 sudah berlalu, ada banyak kenangan, ada suka-duka, gembira dan lara. Banyak pengalaman2 unik yang Tuhan kasi. Spt jalan kaki tiap hari kuliah 30 menit bolak balik sekali jalan, dari dorm ke classroom, sampe badan susut 6 kilo lebih (tapi terus naik lagi terakhir2 ini). Bikin masakan sendiri kalo pas lagi gak mood makan di kantin or lagi cuaca buruk gak bisa turun ke bawah/kantin, pdhal di rumah ampir gak pernah tuh masak2, ini termasuk konsekuensi jadi tempat orang2 minta makanan… hehehe gpp lah, jadi berkat buat orang laen. Bisa punya prayer group yang isinya orang2 unik juga, walaupun mrk lbh muda/anak2 undegrad, tapi mereka punya passion dan dedication kpd Tuhan, salut.
Satu yg paling bikin geleng kepala itu, waktu jam 2 pagi lagi asyik2nya tidur nyenyak, tiba2 fire alarm bunyi dan semua anak 1 gedung dievakuasi keluar, di tengah2 hujan salju dan cuaca minus 5’ celcius, saat itu kaga sempet ambil jaket, yg ada cuma pake sandal jepit sama sweater tipis dan langsung lari keluar, terus gak boleh berdiri di bawah “awning” hrs di kolong langit.. Waaaaa brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr dingin banget… hampir sejam. Tega bener tuh LUPD dan para seniors.
Tuhan juga kasi banyak berkat jasmani, pertama kali dlm hidup dapet “love offering” berbentuk “uang” dari gereja, itu inisiatif dan kemauannya mereka yg bikin aku kaget. Terus pas Natal kmrn, sampe ada yg kasi ‘angpau’ terselip di kartu Natal, waks, jd rada terharu jg. Natal ini jg berkesan krn Tuhan menunjukkan bhw ‘we cannot outgive the Lord’, artinya Tuhan gak pernah berhutang kpd kita, Dia selalu memberi kpd kita lbh dari yg kita bayangkan. Gaji/paycheck pertama yang saya berikan persis di hari Natal sbg ‘firstfruit’, Tuhan gantikan dlm jumlah yg sama scr ajaib. Wow, ini bener2 gak nyangka, ko bisa yaa!
Berkat lainnya, dlm 1 semester ini juga, Tuhan kasi kesempatan buat jalan2 ke 3 negara bagian yg berbeda, Washington, D.C., Kentucky, dan Pennsylvania (selain ngelewat bbrp neg bagian lain dlm perjalanan itu). It was so wonderful!
Special blessings yang masih kuingat adalah kehadiran Pdt Firman, our former pastor, yg dateng tiba2 dari Nganjuk ke Bdg bbrp minggu sebelum aku berangkat. God's message hari Minggu itu, "He Will Carry You." Yes, Tuhan yang atur isi seluruh dunia, pasti atur hidupku juga. Thx a lot, Pak Firman! Yg kedua, Rick & Karen Clough, yg sempet2nya dtg waktu aku transit di Changi Village, 2 jam jalan kaki, naik MRT, bis, taksi, just to come and see me before I flew. Thx for the "pilgrim's progress" reminder. Thx to teman2 the UpperRoom, yg bukan cuma doain aja, tapi jg until last minutes msh sempet2nya bantu ini dan itu.

Masih banyak perkara-perkara lain yg Tuhan buat di tahun 2005 ini, semua mengandung maksud dan tujuanNya, semua karena anugerah dan kemurahanNya, semua untuk kemuliaanNya.

Sambil masuk tahun 2006, jadi inget doa Raja Daud yg terkenal

O LORD, You have searched me and known me, You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways
For there is not a word on my tongue. But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:1-4 - NKJV


Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your grace in the year 2005, now I will enter 2006 with Your hand laid upon me, with a renewed spirit. Teach me to walk in Your truth day by day, for You are the Truth.
Amen.

last day in 2005

One more day left in 2005. Yes, there's only one single day and then 2006 will come. What shall I do then? My Ebenhaezer God has led me so far all through this year and now here I am, gazing at His grace and mercy in every step of the way. What shall I do in this very last day of 2005?
Hmm actually, I'm also wondering what are the things that He has already installed for me on this particular day?

Dec 31, 2005 - 00:00am - Z - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


Your Grace Still Amazes Me
Written by: Shawn Craig and Connie Harrington

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

CHORUS:
Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour,
You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord,
what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
than anything my eyes can see

Christmas 2005 memoirs - part III

- Jedidiah, me, and Josh - Philadelphia Arts Museum

Christmas 2005 memoirs - part II

Murid Sekolah Minggu mulai berlatih sandiwara
hai mari berhimpun dan bersukaria
panitia Natal sudah menghitung
delapan ratus ribu untuk konsumsi
tiga ratus ribu untuk dekorasi
dua ribu tahun sudah berlangsung

Pikiran membayangkan salju menutupi cemara
Natal diromantikkan jadi pigura
atau dijadikan peringatan zaman purba
gembala di padang Efrata
tiga orang majus dengan unta

Itukah isi berita kedatangan Yesus?

Juruselamat bukan saja Bayi di Betlehem tapi Rabbi di Yerusalem.
yang memaki kemunafikan
yang solider dengan si buangan
PengikutNya disuruh melanjutkan
mempraktekkan keadilan
memprotes jika kekuasaan disalahgunakan
menyediakan hati di mana solidaritas diperlukan
Itulah shallom

Natal lagi
Sudah dua ribu tahun shallom dimulai
tapi mana shallom

Seorang sopir taksi ditembak..... di Bungur
di Slipi seorang pemuda tergeletak ditembak dari jip yang terus kabur
disini selundup, disana korup

Seorang guru Sekolah Dasar menghitung dan melamun
memegang hadiah jerih payah setahun hitungannya tidak sukar
uang lima puluh ribuan lima lembar

Malam Natal lagi
malam damai di bumi
itulah juga kata sang letnan di dataran Golan
Damai di bumi tulisnya kepada keluarga dan taulan
besoknya ia membom lagi

Gedung itu ramai padat
Selamat! Selamat!
orang duduk, berdoa merunduk
Christmas dinner dimulai

Tak jauh dari situ
dalam sel kantor polisi
para tahanan duduk terpaku, sepi, lapar

Natal, bel alarm yang mengejutkan
Shallom itu teruskan!
Tapi pengikut Kristus lebih senang diayun lagu tenang
sunyi senyap.....dunia terlelap....

Tahun ini pun Natal cuma peringatan zaman dulu
cuma upacara ibadah
cuma urusan rohani pribadi

Malam Natal
malam senyap
dan pengikut Kristus terlelap

Selamat malam pengikut Kristus
selamat malam gereja
selamat tiduuuurrrrr... sssttt.......


by: Dr. Andar Ismail

unexpected weekend

Ha! Kemarin, tepatnya hari Jumat tgl 16 Desember, aku “terpaksa” keluar dari dorm setelah “dipaksa” utk check-out dari dorm selama Christmas break ini. Jadwal check-out sdh di set-up Kamis tgl 15, tapi hari Rabu mlm kemarin kota Lynchburg dapet berkah hujan salju dan ice yg cukup heavy. Jalanan semua licin dan dilapisi ice. Our friend, Michael, kena musibah di jalur highway US-29 North, mobil Suzuki Vitara kesayangannya mental dan hancur total. Puji Tuhan anak itu gak kenapa2.
Me and my Indo buddy, Will, sdh rencana pergi utk pindah ke rumah Pastor David Smeltz, yang bermurah hati menampung kami berdua selama liburan Natal ini. Rumah Pastor Dave kira2 20 miles dari Lynchburg, jalannya lewat highway yg sama tempat kejadian Michael kecelakaan.
Hari itu kami gak jadi berangkat pindah, semua jalanan licin dan hujan ice masih belum berhenti. Kamarku yang sudah dirapiin dan diberesin, akhirnya masih dipakai tidur semalam lagi…. Hidup memang repot. Bbrp temen kami beberapa yg udah mau mudik/berangkat libur hari itu terpaksa balik lagi juga ke kampus karena mrk gak bisa lanjut perjalanan di highway yg licin sementara kaca mobil mrk dipenuhi es yang nempel.
Malam itu kami para mhs yg kagak jelas nasibnya, keliling2 kota cari makanan, semua fastfood dan restoran tutup gara2 badai salju dan ice. Alhasil kami ke walmart dan masak makanan alakadarnya. Besoknya, hari Jumat, kami berangkat jam 2 sore. Hari sangat cerah, matahari nongol, dan cuaca tdk begitu dingin, jalanan lancar. Tiba di rumah Pastor Dave, kami tinggal di garasi belakang, which is nice, ada TV, ada meja belajar, ada 2 sofa, ada tungku kayu bakar, ada pemanas ruangan, dan ada PIANO….hehehe…. Mau tau hal pertama yg dilakukan setelah beres2 dan pindahin semua barang dari mobil???? Play piano and sing some hymns! I played Will’s favorite song from the hymnal, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” Not bad at all, I played and he sang, and it wasn’t out of tune, by the way. Sore hari sampai mlm jam 22.30, kami ngobrol puanjang tiga seri dengan Pastor David, isinya macem2 deh. Aku bersyukur dapat double-blessings tinggal di tempat ini, berkat jasmani lancar apalagi berkat rohani.
Di hari kedua, Z dan Will kembali berkolaborasi, kali ini bukan main piano dan nyanyi hymns, tapi masak buat tuan rumah! Pagi hari aku ujian setir mobil dan buat SIM, lulus lho, ciyeee, terus kami belanja bbrp bahan makanan, lalu pulang2 masak supper deh buat yg empunya ni rumah gede. Menu hari ini: wonton soup/sup pangsit babi dan sapi lada hitam. Waw, uenak buanget. Sayang, aku lupa ambil kamera utk bikin gambarnya, mudah2an besok pas edisi kedua cooking kami ga akan lupa. Puji Tuhan yg punya rumah kaga sakit perut dgn masakan yg kami bikin. Sore hari yg punya rumah pergi Christmas caroling dgn para lansia gereja, yg numpang rumah bingung, gak ada kerjaan, mau pergi tapi males banget soalnya jauhhh bener. Ya sudah kembali kupencet itu piano nganggur. Alhasil kami bikin double album nyanyi lagu2 hymns. Kalau dihitung, mungkin lebih dari 30 hymns yg kami nyanyiin just to kill time while doing nothing di mlm minggu ini. Boleh percaya boleh nggak, dari lagu2 yg dinyanyiin itu, separonya aku baru denger tadi, alias gak tau selama ini. Jadi aku merasa spt bego sendiri, apalagi justru Will yg lebih lancar baca not toge lumpia.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad weekend at all. I thank the Lord for that many blessings He gave to me. (photo menyusul, yach)

Christmas 2005 memoirs - part I

Hari ini adalah acara Christmas Special Program kami di gereja. I really enjoy working together with these people. Most of them will return to their home during Christmas. Hari ini terakhir kami ketemu dan sama2 pelayanan. Well, I'm gonna miss them, they are really cool friends. Roy & Jen Ray from North Carolina, the gank leader. Nathan Berg from Connecticutt - pianoman, the country guy who wants to raise 10 children, Sarah Shelton from Kentucky - the oldest of all, one of the highest soprano I've ever heard, Philip Vincent from Michigan - si ganjen, the choir leader of nannies and grannies; Robbyn Baird from DC- si alto yg demen solo. With little Devin, si unyil yg kaga bisa diem..... It is a blessing that we can work together, bringing honor and glory to God through our music. Sampai jumpa lagi taun depan, bless your heart. Couldn't wait until we meet again.
Have a great Christmas time with your family. Soli Deo Gloria!

just a thought

I Thessalonians 5:18
"thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." (the message)


Thank GOD! Give thanks! Mengucap syukur. Dua kata yg gampang sekali keluar dari mulut tapi ga selalu gampang utk bener2 dilakuin. Hari ini gue kena batunya...
Hari ini hari kedua aku kerja di kampus... start dari jam 4 sore sampai jam 9. Dari kemarin semua kerjaan lancar2 aja, supervisornya baek, staf2 dia juga semua baek2 dan friendly, entahlah, apa karena msh hari2 bulan madu dgn student worker baru??? Tau dah, alkisah waktu pulang dari kantor, badan sdh cape, perut blm diisi, dan cuaca di luar lumayan "hangat"... 25'F alias -5'Celcius. Aku jalan dari kantor ke asrama kurang lebih setengah jam standardnya sekali tempuh, kalo lewat jalan pintas via lapangan atletik. Tadi waktu pulang, lap. atletik cuma dibuka pintu selatan, pintu utara ditutup. Jadilah aku berjalan balik lagi ke selatan dan jalan kaki mengelilingi lap. atletik dulu, baru ke jalan utama....
Terpikir lagi lagu "God is the Strength of My Heart", tapi nyanyinya setengah ati. Setengahnya lagi berdoa (setengah hati jg) spy ada pengemudi mobil yg cukup beriba utk nawarin tumpangan. Ternyata tumpangan tdk kunjung menepi, jadilah aku berjalan terus. Begitu sampai di depan lap. sepak bola yg letaknya persis di depan dorm (tapi masih jauh), gue liat ada 3 orang ngedorong kursi roda, yg diisi 1 orang. Ternyata itu wajah yg dikenal, mas Richie.... tetangga 1 dorm yg biasa "ngelarisin" persediaan makanan gue ...... Salah satu orang yg dipakai Tuhan utk melatih kesabaranku hehehe.... Tadi kursi roda dia abis batere-nya, jadi ngadat alias gabisa jalan. Tau sendiri kursi roda elektrik itu beratnya 3x kursi roda biasa krn ada batere AC yg buerattt... Jadilah tadi mendorong kursi roda itu dgn modal nekad entah sanggup kaga krn badan ini rasanya udah mau rontok. Ditambah lagi cuaca yg aneh bin ajaib, di luar -5'C tapi di dlm jaket badan semua basah keringat krn humidity 95%.
Alhasil kami semua sampai di dorm dengan selamat sentosa. Masih bersyukur krn pulang2 masih bisa menikmati jatah dinner ngambil dari kantin, menunya lumayan nikmaaatt "pork chop steak dan almond cheese cake."
Terlepas dari itu, malah jadi kepikir, sebetulnya aku nolongin anak itu motifnya apa ya, apa tadi pas ngep-ngep2an dorong itu sungguh2 mau nolong, or cuma gengsi takut diomongin anak2 dorm kalo gue orgnya cuekan dan ga sosial? Graduate seminary student gitu lho.... Atau emang sungguh2 mau tolong dia walaupun orangnya rada2 iritating.... Kenapa pas masih jalan kok mau bersyukur rasanya susah kali ya. Kalo Tuhan Yesus yang tadi pulang kerja, hrs jalan kaki setengah jam, lapar, kecapean, dan ketemu orang yg kurang menyenangkan perlu ditolong, kira2 Dia bakal gimana ya....
Ah kena, deh.

Jesus is the Reason for the season!

Hari ini tanggal 1 Desember 2005. Hari pertama di bulan terakhir di tahun 2005.
Musim dingin sudah mulai tiba.... Inilah minggu2 kejepet nasional, 2-3 minggu dijepit di antara 2 liburan besar di negeri Uncle Sam ini, Thanksgiving dan Christmas alias Natal. Bagi gua, ini akan jadi Natal yang pertama tanpa kehadiran keluarga, orang tua, adik, dan teman2.
Sambil menunggu datangnya Natal, beberapa minggu ini kok kepikiran terus satu lagu yang sebetulnya dah rada lama dengernya, tapi baru terakhir2 ini jadi bahan renungan. Dua minggu lalu lagu ini gua nyanyiin di gereja, dan minggu kemarin, lagu ini sama2 dinyanyiin oleh jemaat. Tiap kali nyanyi lagu ini, kata-katanya sungguh berasa. Makna lagu ini begitu dalam sampe2 gua rada begidig nyanyinya, disamping alunan lagunya yg rada2 celtic dan bikin suasana jadi beratttt hehehe.... Yah, Natal sebetulnya balik lagi intinya kepada Siapa yang kita peringati. Natal bukan soal apa dan bagaimana, tapi tentang SIAPA.
Lagu ini memang bukan lagu Natal, tapi lagu ini mengingatkan kita kembali tentang cerita yg terjadi kurang lebih 2000 tahun yang lalu. Pertanyaan Natal taun ini berulang.... tapi bukan klise. Apa yang akan aku berikan buat Tuhan?



IN CHRIST ALONE
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty
(c) 2001 Kingsway/Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found
(Hanya di dalam Yesus, harapanku dibangun)
He is my Light, my Strength, my Song
(Dialah Terangku, Kekuatanku, dan Laguku)
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
(Batu Penjuru dan Dasar yang teguh)
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
(Kokoh sekalipun dilanda badai dan kekeringan yang menakutkan)
What heights of love, what depths of peace
(Betapa tinggi kasihNya dan sungguh dalam damaiNya)
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
(Ketika rasa takut hilang dan kesukaran berhenti)
My Comforter, my All in All
(Penghiburku, Dia segala-galanya bagiku)
Here in the love of Christ I stand
(Di atas kasih Kristus aku berdiri teguh)


In Christ alone, who took on flesh
(Hanya di dalam Kristus yang menjadi manusia)
Fullness of God in helpless babe
(Allah sejati mau menjadi bayi yang lemah)
This gift of love and righteousness
(Inilah Hadiah kasih dan kebenaran)
Scorned by the ones He came to save
(Diejek mereka yang jadi alasan kedatanganNya)
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
(Hingga di salib itu ketika Yesus mati)
The wrath of God was satisfied
(Hukuman Allah ditimpakan kepadaNya)
For every sin on Him was laid
(Segala dosa ditanggungNya)
Here in the death of Christ I live
(Dalam kematian Kristus, aku dihidupkan)


There in the ground His body lay
(Di tanah dimana tubuhNya terbaring)
Light of the world by darkness slain
(Terang dunia menjadi korban karena kejahatan)
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
(Lalu bersinar terang di hari kemenangan)
Up from the grave He rose again
(Ia bangkit kembali dari kematian)
And as He stands in victory
(Sebagaimana Ia berdiri menang)
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
(Kutukan dosaku menjadi hilang)
For I am His and He is mine
(Kini aku milikNya dan Ia milikku)
Brought with the precious blood of Christ
(Oleh darah Kristus aku ditebus)


No guilt in life, no fear in death
(Tiada lagi kesalahan, tiada takut akan kematian)
This is the power of Christ in me
(Inilah kuasa Kristus di dalamku)
From life's first cry to final breath
(Dari tangisan pertama hingga nafas terakhir)
Jesus commands my destiny
(Yesus mengatur arah hidupku)
No power of hell, no scheme of man
(Tiada kuasa dosa, tiada usaha manusia)
Can ever pluck me from His hand
(Dapat merebutku dari tanganNya)
'Till He returns or calls me home
(Hingga Ia kembali atau memanggilku pulang)
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
(Di dalam kuasa Kristus aku berdiri teguh)

we're so grateful!

To Dad and Mom:

HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARRY!

We're so blessed to have such godly parents just like you both!

p.f. November 30, 1980 - November 30, 2005

...."parents are the pride of their children." - Proverbs 17:6B

the mysteries of thanksgiving

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself." - Ephesians 1:3-9

As I reflect on my first Thanksgiving Day in America, I've been considering about what the real essence of thanksgiving day is. Was it just to commemorate those pilgrims from a far sailing with Mayflower and docked in American soil? I've found out that actually we're dealing with a bunch of mysteries when we give thanks to the Lord. Paul said "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father" (Ephesians 5:20). How about if today we really-really do not have even a single reason to thank Him? Well, even we do have, our reason won't be enough. In fact, there's a lot of things beyond our "reason", things that we might not understand. This is mystery. Consider some of these:

The mystery in His grace
This is probably the most difficult mystery that we could not comprehend thoroughly. How He chose us even before the world was created. How He redeemed us, poor sinners. How He came from riches to rags. The cross is a mystery. Frederick Buechnerr said that this is "the miracle of no miracle." How Jesus made the greatest miracle of all by performing no miracles at all. He did not save Himself from that agony. Thank God for this great mystery.

The mystery in His blessings
God has the unlimited resources of blessings. This is mystery. The Bible says that they are new every morning. (Lament. 3:20). What kind of blessing that is more precious and bountiful than the "spiritual blessing" in the heavenly places in Christ that cannot be rot and stolen. We are His and His blessings are ours. This is a mystery.

The mystery in His wisdom and prudence
God is always one step ahead in our lives. He leads and guides us. No matter how smart and wise we are, we will never can grasp the complete understanding of God and His ways. We can buy information, knowledge, skills, but we can never purchase His wisdom and prudence. It is only can be asked (James 1:5). The highest wisdom and prudence is available for us at no cost. This is mystery.

The mystery in His will
The two greatest will of God is to adopt us as His sons and daughters by Jesus Christ - and to mold us to be holy and blameless before Him. As His children, we have all the rights and inheritance from God. We can call Him, Abba Father. That's wow! (and mystery too). How could it be that our Father, the Holy God, wants us to be holy although we'll not be completely holy while we're still living in this fallen world. We'll never be God because we're not, yet He wants us to be like Him. This is mystery also.

The mystery in His purpose
The purpose of our lives is His glory. Thank God that there is a purpose in our lives, otherwise it will be vain. In Psalm 148, we can read how God created all kinds of nature, all were created to declare His splendor, His glory. When we see the mountains, the oceans, the trees, the skies, the animals, all of these things were created to glorify Him. The good news is, that we're more precious than all those creation. We're created in His very image and we're created for eternity. If we take a look at the nature and think about God's glory, how mystery it is that we can declare God's glory more than the nature does. All the natures will dissappear one day, but our soul won't. This is a mystery.

Although we may not understand yet, all these mysteries will be answered when we meet with God face to face someday in heaven. Now when we'll get to heaven? This is a mystery. OK, stop thinking about mysteries and start to thank the Lord right now!
Let us give thanks to the Lord in all what we are, what we do, and what we've been through.


"The worst moment of an atheist comes when he is really thankful and has no one to thank."
anonymous

My Tribute

(words & music by Andrae Crouch)

How can I say thanks
For the things You have done for me,
Things so undeserved,
Yet You gave to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be,
I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.


Just let me live my life,
Let it be pleasing, Lord, to Thee,
And if I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me,
To God be the glory,
For the things He has done.

Cool November!

Hmmm ...November ini udara dah mulai dinginnn, berkisar 5-10' celcius. Kalo di Fall Semester, inilah minggu2 kejepit nasional, semua tugas dan exam2 pada numpuk. Hampir tiap kelas ada kuis dan pasti dlm 1 minggu ada test atau paper due. Setelah Oktober lalu jalan2 ke Wash, DC. - bulan ini bersyukur bisa jalan 7 jam driving ke arah West alias ke Kentucky, the land of Colonel Sanders!!! hahaha... I went there to see my Indonesian friend, who has a pretty good voice actually. Kenalannya juga rada aneh, gara2 sama-sama namanya "Z". Hanya yg itu ngaku2 asli, padahal ga punya bukti. Maybe ini yg namanya Indonesian's solidarity - or "anak Tuhan"'s solidarity. Bisa liat2 dan ikut kuliah 1 kelas di School of Church Music & Worship - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which is quite tough I suppose. Meet some cool American, and guess what, gue dateng kesana mereka pada bilang "gila lu, gila lu", the two words they got from that "gila" Indonesian guy up there. Oh ya I also met an Indian friend! Ha! She doesn't look like an Indian, though, anyway she's a Nagaland India, never heard about that?
She cut my hair, which was good (and free too, itu yg paling puenting, rek!) Rambut gue jadi keren kann kan kan?
Pulang2 ke Lynchburg gue langsung rasa sepi bin aneh krn kampusku yg super gede tiba2 cuma dihuni 50an orang, yg biasanya penuh sama 7000an orang. Dormku kosong melomponk. Tiba2 mereka semua hilang, maklum, mudik Thanksgiving. Oh betapa asyiknya ngumpul2 dgn keluarga. Well, on this season of thanksgiving, I do wanna give thanks to the LORD! He is my Great God.


How Great is Our God

The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
let all the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice,
and trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great
is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing how great
is our God!

Virginia Love Story

Psst.... listen to this story..... sounds interesting....


This spot will do, Rich thought sadly. He peered over his shoulder into the darkness to make sure no one was watching, then raised his shovel and drove it into the earth.
Clang!
The sound of steel hitting rock rang out in the stillness of the night. He dropped to the ground, his heart pounding. Good grief! At this rate he'd house the whole neighborhood. He clenched his teeth at the thought of waking someone inside Christy's house. What if her dad came out to investigate and discover him? What explanation could he possibly give his ex-girlfriend's father for being in his front yard with a shovel at 3AM? He tried not to think about it. ich held his breath and waited. A minute passed, and no one in the house stirred. All was quiet. Slowly he stood up and resumed his work, this time with greeter care. The noise of his digging still seemed unbearably loud, but he decided to keep at it. Christy and her family lived in the Virginia countryside and had a big front yard. Rich was probably a hundred yards from the house. They'd never hear him. At least he hoped they wouldn't.....................

Four years before his secret excavation in her front yard, Rich had met Christy at the small Bible church they both attended. They were fourteen years old. Rich thought Christy was really cute; Christy thought Rich was really annoying. Fortunately for Rich, he didn't stay fourteen. And as time passed, he and CHristy became good friends. During their senor year of high school, tgheir relationship became romantic. They began to write each other -not email, mind you, but old-fashioned, handwritten letters-to express their feelings. Each letter was written from the heart with love.

Christy's dad, Mike Farris, had the chance to interact with Rich on a regular basis-he was his boss. Mike was running for the office of lieutenant governor in Virginia and had hired Rich to drive him to the different rallies and events being held around the state. On most of these strips, Mike worked quietly in the backseat or made phone calls. But to Rich's surprise, one day Mike decided to sit up front. As soon as they were under way, Mike turned to Rich and asked, "So what's this I hear about you and Christy?"
Rich gulped.

As Rich drove, Mike talked to him gently and with fatherly concern about the importance of wisdom in romance, Mike had many regrets about the years he had spent dating girls in high school and college. "When you're close emotionally, you give away part of your heart, "he told Rich.
"There are long-term consequences."
To his credit, Rich really listened to what Mike had to say. The truth sank in. Rich wasn't ready to support a family-both he and Christy still wanted to attend college. And it was also too soon for them to stoke the fires of romance. A premature romantic relationship would only distract them from preparing for their future.
"I had never heard anything like that before," Rich remembers. "Mike convinced me. It wasn't a case of him forcing me to break up with his daughter. As he shared his own understanding about relationships, I saw that he was right."

Ending what he and Christy called the "us" part of their relationship wasn't easy, but they both knew it needed to happen. They went back to being just friends. They interacted at church but didn't act like a couple. They thought of each other as brother and sister, not boyfriend or girlfriend.
The plan worked..... for a while. Wven though they both knew what was right, their hearts were deceitful. They wanted the feelings. They wanted the thrill of expressing how they felt. They wanted the security of knowing they belonged to each other. As a result they began to compromise their commitment to keep the relationship strictly in a friendship. In a letter, Rich told Christy that he loved her. She did the same. All behind her father's back.
But after several months, conviction set in. Deceiving Christy's parents began to tke its toll on them. "We have to tell your parents," Rich told Christy one day. "We can't go on like this"
They never got the chance. A day later, Christy's dad walked by while she was on the phone talking with a girl-friend about her relationship with Rich.
"Christy, what were you talking about?" Her dad asked when she had hunge up. "Tell me in three words."
"Personal prayer request," Christy answered
"Really?"her dad asked. "It sounded more like, 'Richard Guy Shipe."
They were caught.
Christy broke down and confessed her deceit. Rich met with Christy's parents a few days later. Like Christy, he was brokenhearted at the way he had deceived them. He'd gone back on his word to Mike. He'd stolen more of Christy's affections when he knew they didn't rightfully belong to him.
Rich asked Mike and his wife, Vickie, for forgiveness. This time, he promised, the relationship really was going to end. He understood now that this would require drastic measures. They couldn't simply be casual friends. "If we didn't pull back, we would be moving forward," Rich says. Rich asked Christy to give back all the letters he had ever written her. Reluctantly she handed them over. "I wanted to serve her," Rich explains. "I wanted to take everything from her that represented my feelings for her. Those letter were the record of our love and all we had shared. We cherished them and reread them over and over. I knew that in order to truly lay the relationship down at God's feet, we both had to part with them.

Rich was digging a hole in Christy's front yard that night to bury a box that contained all the letters they'd written each other. There were over one hundred handwritten pages inside it. It took Rich nearly two hours of digging to finish the hole. He made it two feet wide by three feet long and eighteen inches deep so it would be beneath the frost line. He picked up the box of letters and laid it gently into the ground. He had wrapped it tightly in several layers of plastic. Rich wanted his hopes to be able to stay in the ground for a long time..... maybe even forever.
It was the funeral of his dreams. He stared at the box one last time, looked up at the quiet house, and then pushed the dirt he'd unearthed back into the hole and packed it down with this foot. He covered the spot with sod, then quietly stole away.

A month later after Rich buried their love letters, both he and Christy left home for college in different parts of the country. They didn't say goodbye. They didn't write or call each other. Because their schools had different schedules, they didn't see each other during the year. Those were difficult days. The love they felt for each other hadn't gone away.
A year and a half after they'd broken up, Christy called her mom from school and told ther that she was still struggling with her feelings for Rich. When her dad found out, he asked if she knew how Rich was doing. "How would I know? I haven't talked to him since we broke up."

Her dad was impressed. Rich had stuck on his words and broken off communication with Christy. Mike decided to intervene once more. A few months later, when Rich was home from college, Mike called him and asked him to come to his office.
"I had no idea what he wanted to talk to me about," Rich says, "I thought I must be in trouble, but I couldn't imagine what I'd done."
As it turned out, Rich wasn't in trouble. Mike wanted to meet with him to thank him for keeping his word. He also wanted to tell him that he felt it was an appropriate time for Rich and Christy to begin a courtship.
Rich was floored. He told Mike that he needed time to pray about it. "Well, next week I have to go down to Richmond," Mike told him. "Why don't you drive me down and we can talk about it then?"
A week later Rich and Mike were on the road again. It was just like old times. And it was time for another talk. Rich had prayed hard that week about starting a relationship with Christy again. But as he sought God, he sensed Him saying that it still wasn't the right time for a courtship. "I still wasn't ready to get married. I was still figuring out what I'd be doing for a living. It seemed that God was saying, 'You committed to these principles, and you need to stick to them even if her dad is giving you the green light."
When Rich shared this with Christy's dad, Mike couldn't have been more surprised or more pleased. It was as though their roles had been reversed since their first talk.

Rich and Christy didn't begin a courtship then, but they did start to talk and ease back into a friendship. A year later, with Christy still away at school, they began a long-distance courtship. All that time the box full of love letters lay hidden. Rich had never told Christy that he had buried them in her own front yard. She thought the letters had been burned. The Christmas before she graduated from college she found out otherwise.
Christmas morning, Rich was celebrating at the Farris home. "This one's for you," he said, handing Christy a small box. She unwrapped it and found a nursery tag for a red maple.
"I bought you a tree," Rich told her
"Oh," Christy said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Her family, who by this time were all in on the surprise, could hardly contain themselves.
"Why don't you plant it in the front yard?" her father suggested.
"Now?" Christy asked.
"Sure!" Rich said. "Come on." He grabbed her arm and pulled her outside, where the tree and shovel were waiting.
"Where should we plant it?" Christy asked as they walked down the driveway toward the front of the yard.
"This spot will do," Rich said, pointing to the ground. He smiled at Christy, then raised his shovel and drove it into the earth.


By the way, there's one thing Rich had put in that box before he buried it. When he carefully wrapped it years before, he place one new letter on top of all the others. It was a letter Christy had never read. In it, Rich asked her to marry him.
So, Christmas morning, over four years after it had been buried, the box of cherished letters was unearthed and opened. And four years after it had been written, Christy read Rich's letter proposing marriage. And as he pulled an engagement ring from his pocket, he heard her answer, "Yes!"

my quad 

Gue bikin kuis sendiri n jawab sendiri ah........cobacobacoba:

Dari minggu2 kemaren, hari apa yg paling melegakan>?
" hari selasa, soalnya paper church history dah beres, lumayan krn early date dpt 5 point"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, hari apa yg paling menyebalkan>?
"hari sabtu, soalnya beli thermal longjohn dan jaket arctic di online merchant yg kaga jelas, jadi ampir ketipu"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, makanan apa yang paling berkesan di Myriad>?
"hmmm, kalo gasalah, dumpling apa fried ravioli di north cafe, ueeenakkk lho"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, siapa yang paling mengesankan>?
"gue, soalnya kuis NT cuma salah 1, akhirnya............."

Dari minggu2 kemaren, siapa yang paling menyebalkan>?
"gue juga, soalnya ngomong sama orang perasaan kaga ada yg nyambung"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, lagu apa yang berkesan>?
"Be Glorified - pas seminary chapel, soalnya ada gerakan kakinya"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, kebaktian apa yg berkesan>?
"kebaktian pagi di Faith Church, banyak yg maju ke altar, sama 1st seminary chapel, yg bicara Om Gundul, itu bukan khotbah, tapi tips2 dalam dunia nyata....."

Dari minggu2 kemaren, hari apa yang paling nyantai>?
"tau deh prasaan kaga ada..."

Dari minggu2 kemaren, hari apa yg paling cape>?
"ooo...sudah tentu hari rabu dan jumat donk"

Dari minggu2 kemaren, siapa yang paling baek dan sabar?
" no.1 tentu gue, selanjutnya, ada banyak, semua orang baik padaku...."

Dari minggu2 kemaren, siapa yang paling cerewet dan tukang ribut?
"Ooo sudah tentu teman sekamarku, dia kan super rapi dan sangat cinta ketenangan...."

jadi kesimpulannya apa?
GA ADA!

---- maaf, masih lieurr dan cape-------

with good friends: Daniel Li, William Tan, Martini Tan, and Aileen Soon 

solid rock cafe.....

Here's the Solid Rock Cafe menu for today......

22GOD's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
23They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
24I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.

25GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
26It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from GOD.
27It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.

28When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
29Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
30Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.

31Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
32If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
33He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way:

(Lamentations 3:22-33 - The Message)


Duh kaki kanan gue sakit neh, sakit banget kalo jalan kaki. Tapi somehow I can make it through these days... Hari ini ajaib juga seh, bolak balik ke campus north 3x tapi masih tetep bisa jalan tuh...hehehe... Tanpa terburu2, mana sebetulnya tadi Mr Cho orang Korea itu nawarin tebengan, duh baeknya.... tapi gue tetep jalan, soalnya dah keburu nyampe, toh kalo ikut dia pun parkir dulu n masuk ke dalamnya tetep jalan jauh dari tempat parkir. Langkah pertama memang menyakitkan, tapi selanjutnya I took it as easy as possible. Convo hari ini boleh juga, cuma kasian gua liat dosen dan staff yg tua2 pada gabisa nyanyi soalnya lagunya baru n gandenk semua.... "Blessed be Your Name" gue dah mulai lancar, lagu2 yg laen kaga tau.....
Btw, tumben hari ini ko jadi panas lagi, kemaren ini anginnya kenceng n ujan n di luar dingin banget. Hari ini cuacanya rada2 panas...... Anyway, gua sebetulnya bersyukur AC kamar MATI
hehehe...jadi gua ga frozen kaya di kutub utara....maklum onta gurun sih bawaannya.
Yah begitulah. Hari ini dikasi tau tadi pagi2, "how to deal with anger", eh malah dapet telp dari orang yg sedang marah2 hahaha...... Hari ini gua seneng walaupun kaki sakit tapi kaga marah or ngeluh sedikitpun, take it easy laa....ntar juga ilang. N besok dapet tebengan hahaha....

mom, dad, bro 

life's purpose

"It's not about what you can or you can't do, it's about what God wants to do through you.
......................................................................God can make heroes out of zeros."

Itu yg kesan yang gua dapet minggu ini. Rabu kemaren pas convo ada tamu khusus, well
this person is not a well-known speaker. She's a mentally-retarded girl with a special purpose planted by God for her life. Ngomong aja rada susah n terbata2, postur tubuhnya pun pendek pula, cuma 146cm. Tapi orang ini udah 3x hearing dengan Congress dan ketemu Presiden Bush bbrp kali, ditunjuk pula jadi anggota dewan
aktivis org2 cacat se-nasional, wow. She said those words. Well, kemaren ini semua orang pada standing ovation utk menghormati dia. Orgnya biasa n sederhana, tapi pd saat kemaren dia ngomong, seisi auditorium yg 9000 orang itu semua pada diem. Suara perut gua keroncongan pun kedengeran jelas.....hehehe.
Di Rustburg ada 2 keluarga lagi ditimpa kesusahan cukup serius. Yg pertama anak perempuan mereka kecelakaan mobil. Tadi gua liat mobilnya di kantor rescue squad. Wah, hampir ga berbentuk mobil itu, tapi si anak ini masih selamat, kasian dia kayanya bakal lumpuh total. Tapi dia juga bilang kalimat, "God has a purpose through this.." Terus 1 keluarga lagi lain cerita,
sang ibu mengandung anak yg diketahui cacat. Kemaren ini anaknya lahir, tapi cuma bertahan 4 jam, mulutnya sumbing, jarinya 6, jantungnya abnormal. Well, ibu ini pun sudah pasrah dan berserah. Well, that's one key of living on a purpose: SURRENDER.
Am I?

fiesta la vista.....

Sabtu, 17 Sept 2005 - hari bangun siang sedunia........... kampus LU pagi2 sepi sunyi sekali.
Gua bangun jam setengah 9 pagi, itu pun hall depan lampunya masih gelap. Pagi-pagi jogging di sport center, sebelumnya isi perut dulu donk di Myriad. Nyamm..menunya eggs, potatoes, and sausages, with french toast and maple syrup. wiww.... dari situ jalan ke LaHaye SS nyampe sana dah keringetan maklum matahari sudah beraksi. Gua jogging kira2 sejam terus balik lagi ke atas untuk mandi dll. Siang2 ogut baca tugas CHHI dan tidur sampe menjelang sore. Jam 3 gua dibangunin suara2 gaduh di depan kamar, lagi pada ngumpul mau BBQ....
Berhubung gua lapar n pas siang ga ambil lunch di bawah, gue akhirnya utk pertama kali memasak ria.... menunya nasi goreng. Sayang lupa potret euy, ntar lagi kali minggu depan gua masak lagi. Nasinya bener2 dimasak sampe kaya nasi Indonesia, bukan nasi bule yg rasanya keras kaya kacang rebus. Gua masak pake asian stir fry sauce sama sambel ABC bawa khusus dari Indo, telor dan sosis, sama pake beberapa bumbu standar. Wah, itu nasi goreng sampe gua bikin 2 kali, soalnya laries maniez......bule2 itu pada suka, apalagi RA kita, si Aaron Meng, org bule yg separo cina separo amrik n separo jerman....kumplit.
Sorenya kita nonton football Flames vs. Youngstown St. Wah bener2 malu2in, dibantai abis
35-0. Minggu lalu dibantai 54-0 lawan siapa gua lupa. Higs...... menyedihkan nih kampus gue. Jadinya pas akhir quarter kedua, gua n Will decide utk cabut dari stadium soale ngapain nonton kekalahan, hehehe... mending balik ke atas. Jadinya malem minggu gua isi dengan baca n bikin reading report utk kls CHHI. Rada2 bingung n nervous sebetulnya bikin report tuh.........
Trus mlm2 gua tidurrrrrrrrrr
Pagi minggu jam 9.15 dijemput utk ke Faith Church. Wew, disono hari ini ada Youth Sunday.
Jadi semua yg tugas youth. Yg khotbah pun anak youth pula, yg paling muda Devon Francess, 14 thn ..... a very decent boy, kayanya calon pendeta deh beneran. Ortunya kayanya blm gitu kenal Tuhan n jarang ke grj tapi mrk tadi pagi dateng. N kayanya message yg dibawain anaknya cukup ngegebok mereka sih..... soalnya anaknya bicara apa adanya.
Hmmm selesai acara kita2 dijamu dengan potluck. It's the best american food I ever had since I was here. Kumplit deh, dari 10 jenis kue, gua cuma sempet cobain 2 jenis, yg laen dah ga muat.... Balik ke dorm cuma sempet tidur 1,5jam terus pergi lagi dijemput utk evening service.
Disana sorenya ada campaign Word of Life, which was a cool program I guess.
Anyway, today I'm not tired as I used to be. So that's a good thing I got today.

GOD made my life complete
when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
he gave me a fresh start.
Now I'm alert to GOD's ways;
I don't take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I'm watching my step.
GOD rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
----------------------------- Psalms 18:20-24

"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" 

thinking about something? 

tekun tekun tekun.....ayo jangan patah semangat...

Tema hari ini garing banget krn emang hari ini garing banget kok. Gua kemaren dah siap2in utk quiz CHHI, notes dah dibikin, taunya masih belon maksimal neh hasilnya. higss.....
Mana ada pertanyaan yg gua jawabannya dah bener, ehhhhh gua coret n jawabannya ternyata tetep itu. Parah gak coba :(
Hari ini gua merasa seperti orang malas dan bodoh. Apa iya gua males kali ya? Kurang maksimal? Well, I'm convinced by the result..... Definitely gua gak bodoh, gua tau itu seh. Maybe gua kurang usaha dan gua kurang berserah.
Anyway hari ini gua senang krn apa ya? Kayanya sih karena cuacanya enak, ga terlalu panas.
Ah ga tau dah, hari ini gua isi blog ini susah amat, kayanya semua perasaan bercampur hihihi...
Hari ini tadi mlm ada banquet di seminary, keren juga, but I was the worst looking guy over there..semua orang pada keren2, pake jas ato kemeja berdasi.... Gue donk..pake baju golf dan celana preman. Mana banquetnya pake waiter pula, waiter aja lbh rapi dari gue. ah ancur deh pokonya....eittt tapi jgn salah, si Jerry nongol hehehe.... n gue tadi dipoto akhirnya ma dia....gara2 si Ben tuh yg punya ide, eh akhirnya gua juga dah, ehh belakangan ada suami istri org Korea, ikut2an mo dipoto juga. Ya lahhh chancellor geto lho......founder of US moral majority, kapan lagi, bo? hehehe....
Yah begitulah, tadi di banquet yg gokil bukan gua aja denk, Dean gua si Dr Caner rada2 sableng, tengah2 acara masa dia tau2 naek ke sofa di ruang tamu, trus langsung bekoar2 bikin pengumuman....hihihihi...preman kale... Bukan Caner kalo ga gitu mah. Dekan antik tuh satu.
OK deh. gue cabut dulu ya.
dah

coincidences or ...........

Today I have pretty good classes. Pagi-pagi pas mo berangkat ke CN, si Dave telat bangun!!!
Dasar bule tukang molor, masa kelas jam 9.25 baru bangun jam 9.05 itu juga digedorrrr pintunya ma gua hihihihi...... Toktoktoktok....toktoktoktok...ketiga kali...toktoktoktok...
pintu dibuka, si Dave matanya ilang sebelah...."Hi...I think we're late..."
Oo yes we are!!! kata gue. Hihihi...dasar gendenk Ya sudah akhirnya gua tungguin dia mandi dulu n dlldst... Bule ni aneh, kalo pas lagi panas2nya malah ga mandi, bule2 jarang mandi lho.
Gue yg paling sering mandi di hall sini kayanya hehehe... Eh, pas lagi perlu2nya cepet, ni orang malah mandi dulu, lama pula. Wadoh..... bener2.
Trus jam 9.20 kami baru meluncur dari the PIT menuju CN. Wehhh mana dia kaga pake safety belt pula. Wah ancurr deh, begimana klo ada LUPD...
Jam 9.30 gue baru nongol di kelas. Eh, ternyata Pak Tua sudah masuk nih. Dr. Towns udah ngajar hari ini, dia ditemenin istrinya, wow faithful wive!!!! Iya, soalnya dia msh blm boleh nyetir, rumahnya di Forest jadi sekitar 10menit dari Lynchburg.
Terus lanjut kelas CHHI, Dr Diemer biasa ngoceh2 ngebodor bari gue kaga ngerti tea....
Trus si cewe negro yg gua kaga tau namanya itu kalo dah ketawa.....wuadoh menggelegar booo....alto abisss. hihihi.. Abis kelas, gua spt biasa nebeng si Ben Forest, lucu ceritanya.
Randy Spencer minta gue call/cari dia utk urusan Sheperd Ministry, gua ga sempet2 ctc tu orang, eee taunya kita sebetulnya dah 2x ketemu, tepatnya dia selalu kasi tebengan gua dari CN ke main campus. Nah, pas minggu lalu kedua kali nebeng dia nanya nama gua dan asal gua. N, dia tanya apa gua bisa maen musik, gua jawab bisa, terus baru nyadar deh, ternyata gua harus contact ni orang. Well, lucu sih, COINCIDENCE gitu? heheh I don't think so.
Terus jadinya hari ini lunch bareng si Ben itu, ngobrol bla2. Balik dari lunch gue ke post office dapet surat dari SEBTS, undangan audisi utk program Scholarship in the School of Music. Cuma gue mana bisa.....itu kan utk taun akademik 2006, gua baru lulus taun 2008 paling cepet....
hehehe paling2 tu surat undangan cuma bisa gua kasi or gua simpen deh. HIGS....
Gue hari ini sempet tidur siang sejam-an, terus ke bawah utk dinner. Balik dari dinner, ada telp dari bdg, Freddy anak 3-6 meninggal di Borromeus. Wah. rada2 ga nyangka, apalagi denger penyakitnya: kanker usus.
DR Towns juga sempet divonis kanker usus, terus ilang setelah dioperasi ini itu, padahal dia udah 70an taun. Lha ini, masi seger buger 25 thn dah meninggal gara2 penyakit yg sama. Is this another coincidence? Well, I don't think so.
Lord, what is your plan with my life? Give me courage to face things that is absolutely out of my mind, and give me strength day by day to love and honor You more.

the journey...

Wah, sudah 3 hari kayanya aku ga nulis nih. Hehehe jadi merasa bersalah......
Hari Jumat ogut ditinggal roommate; si Nathan. Dia pulang kampung ke Leesburg utk abisin
weekend-nya. jadilah gue ditinggal sorangan nih. anyway kehidupan tetap rame2 aja.
Jumat seperti biasa, ke LaHaye Student Center, treadmill dan nyebur ke splash pool!
Sore2 pulang dari sana langsung makan, terus balik ke atas.
Sabtu pagi? hehehe...gue bangun tetep pagi juga, terus ternyata si William juga lagi weekend di Atlanta, jadilah pagi2 itu baca2 buku n liat2 tugas. Siang2nya diajak si Brad dan si Dave ke music store, terus ke Target sama BestBuy. Cuma hangout doank, terus balik lagi ke atas.
Malem2 ngobrol sama si Zion KFC, denger2 album EG. Hehehe jadi inget lagu2 itu lagi...
lagu2 yg pada nancep tuh artinya.
Minggu, WAHH ini dia. Kalo buat bule mah, hari minggu tuh 4 taun peringatan 9/11 WTC.
Kalo buat gue sih maap, kaga efek, hehehe, gua mengingat sesuatu yang lain. Tgl 11 September kemaren tepat sebulan gua terbang dari Cengkareng. Wekkksss....
Tuhan kasi hadiah yang spesial buat gua hari itu. Pas pagi2 di Faith Church gue seneng tu gereja sudah mulai ada kehidupan..... denger sermon-nya bagus, dari Proverbs. Truz anak2 band yg baru berbentuk itu sudah lumayan mainnya, mostly, gua merasa mereka mulai sungguh2.
Wkt semua jemaat berbarengan nyanyi lagu yg sederhana: I Love You Lord, suasananya langsung jadi beda euy.... hehehe Dr. Smeltz langsung maju ke depan n ajak semua nyanyi dgn lebih sungguh2, wahh belon khotbah aje udah hottt. Nah, apalagi pas abis khotbah....Banyak yg berdoa ambil keputusan. Well...it's kinda cool.
Nah, terus balik dari Rustburg, gue jadi pergi sama 9 anak LU ke Blue Ridge Mountain, tepatnya di Peaks of Otter. WOW 1.5miles elevation, jadi 2800m kira2. Woaaadohhh, gile itu tracknya... jauh lebih parah dari Gambung, terakhir gue tracking sama P321 tu kapan ya???? Kayanya ga sampe ngos2an kaya kemaren. PTL! begitu nyampe di atas....woaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
buagus bangett, man!!!! NEver seen such view like that before. Itu semua cape n ngos2an kaga keinget2 lagi, hehehe. Disitu betul2 gua merasakan Tuhan tuh kreatif banget ya, ciptaan yg segitu indah MANA MUNGKIN JADI ASAL GITU AJA. mangkenye itu orang2 bule yg pernah ke bulan berani2nya bilang tuhan kaga ada, kayanya orang yg paling buta sepanjang sejarah ya tuu mereka itu..... Gua baru nyampe atas gunung aja kerasa banget, GOD is real!!!!
Anyway, semua kata2 yg ada di Psalms, itu bener2 jadi kenyataan. God is my rock and my salvation...... terus... He keeps me beneath the shadow of His wings. GUE ketemu rajawali lagi beterbangan, keliatan jelas dari atas puncak gunung itu. Wah....it's totally awesome!
Terus kita manjat beberapa gunung batu yg besar2. Wah, memang awalnya gua liat itu resiko besar, BUT itulah isi Mazmur, kalo kita lagi di titik itu, satu2nya yg kita bisa percaya ya cuma BATU itu, God is my rock and salvation indeed! It was a real experience.
Waktu turun gunung gua seperti direcharge lagi. Ga nyesel deh, kayanya ntar mau naik gunung lagi kapan2. Father in heaven, thank you for all of your creation, You're my Wonderful Creator, Protector, Savior, and Friend, I love You!

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love
My Comfort, my Shelter, Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You

Shout the LORD all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I love You, forever I stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

(Darlene Zscehch)

The First Love....

Well, tema hari ini adalah FIRST LOVE. yup akhirnya gua bisa ke prayer chapel juga, setelah sekian lama berdiam di kampus extra lega ini. Lagian gua ga melalui hari ini baik. Pagi2 kuis CHHI gagal 90% hehehe.... padahal gua dah siap2in dari sub2judul yang ada di textbook. Buku Gonzaleznya baru dateng siang2 pas gua ambil di post office.......hehehehe.... padahal pas minggu lalu gua dapet A+ alias betul semua kelima pertanyaannya. Ehh sekarang jeblokk.
Nah tadi abis dari kelas gua buru2 makan siang soale pagi2 biar dah sarapan di kamar bikin honeybuns trus masukin microwave, tetep aja gue kelaperan pas kuliah. Jadi siang langsung makan n gua cek mailbox di post office. Ternyata buku Gonzalez dah ada n gua balik.
Dah nyampe kamar gue beres2 n bawa bbrp buku ke perpus boat dikembaliin, nah baru abis itu gua bisa nyantai ke Prayer Chapel. Disinilah gua baca buku Bill Bright "First Love".
Keren juga isinya. Gua senang di prayer chapel sepi n ga banyak gangguan. Gua disana dari jam 3 mpe jam 5. It was cool. Kalo sempet kayanya besok gua mo kesana lagi sore2.
JC use that book to speak lot of things to me. I think He wants me to return to that first love.
Gua bener2 ketemplok-kegebok-ketancep sama apa2 yg ditulis disitu. Wah klo diceritain panjang banget, intinya sih "too busy." Seringkali gitu tuh....ckckck...
Pulang dari prayer chapel gue MAKAN, trus balik ke atas. Nyiapin bahan2 utk kuliah besok, kerjain bbrp hal, bersihin n vacuum-in common area di dkt kamar gue krn ini pas bagian tugas gue. Nah, abis itu lanjut lagi siapin bahan2 kul.
Truz tadi barusan hallmeeting D-31-1 dilanjutin sama prayer group. Rame juga.
OK deh, gua sleep dulu ah, besok pasti cape neh, pagi kul, convo, kul lagi. Besok Jerry yg bicara, hehehe orang bijak bakal nongol nih.... Let's see.

it's been a quite long day

welcome back! hari ini ogut kuliah pagi jam 8.20 seperti biasa, jalan kaki dari dorm ke campus north kaya atlet jogging. oiya pagi tadi jam 7.20 ogut dah keluar kamar langsung ke bawah, makan dulu di dining hall. yummm menunya lumayan hau ce lah, scrambled eggs, boiled egg, sosis, bake potatoes, sama roti n secangkir kopi......syurp...weh uenak tenan.
Terus langsung ke campus north. kerasa ringan soalnya hari ini gue cuma bawa laptop n beberapa kertas doank, sama Bible. Eh, tau2nya pas tadi di kelas NBST, ada kuis. Si Dr. Freerksen (ferksen), kaga bilang2 hari ini ada kuis, apa gue yg kurang merhatiin ya????
Ya pokoke gitulah, PTL tadi gua bisa jawab, soalnya tadi pagi2 sempet baca2 dikit. Anyway, dari NBST, selesainya jam 9.35, gua langsung cabut ke Vines Center, hari ini Convo. Semua pegawai, dosen, karyawan LU hari ini WAJIB hukumnya ikut convo. Rebo ..man...
Trus...selesai convo gua langsung jalan lagi ke CN, wah lumayan kerasa juga, tapi itu keringet bener2 berkurang tuh. Gua ga kebasahan kaya waktu pertama2 kuliah n jalan kaki segitu jauhnya. Sekarang seh cuek2 aja. Btw, satu hal yg gua ga tau dah cerita blom, kemaren mlm gua anter2 temen gua si Richie yg kelaperan, tadi aja dia dah nengok2 kamar gua lagi, tapi pas gua lagi ngobrol ma temen di MSN, jadi kayanya dia gajadi deh. Hehehe...
Anyway hari ini tetap menyenangkan. Duh, gua blm mulai2 nih ngetik paper...bingung mo mulai dari mana. So help me, God. Duh2, bener2 bingung. Asa kaga PD aja, maklum bikin paper bhs Inggris rasanya deg2an, takut salah grammar lah ini itu. hehehe....
Besok nih di kelas CHHI ada kuis, gue dah pilih2 buku pengganti Gonzalez, lumayan ceritanya rame juga, gua suka sejarah gini2 biar pelupa jg. hihihihi....
Hari ini gua ga ikut Spiritual Emphasis-nya si Clayton King, dan gua kaga ke Faith Church, soalnya baru balik sore n gua ga ngerasa mood, well its not merely on mood, but I guess I have to spend time more w/ Him. Kadang gua ngerasa disini waktu gua abis buat ini itu.
Well, got to go to bed soon. see ya

silly n soft opening

welcome to life....hehehehe.... ini hari pertama gua nulis beginian yg namanya blogspot. lumayan, disini kalo bicara bebas, kaga pake babibubebo....pokonya ngomong aja deh. Hari perdana ini rasanya kurang menyenangkan, gue pagi kuis EVAN - itu matakul (jurusan gue pula) yang dah dari minggu lalu gua siap2in ampe kaga tidur segala mo kuisnya. Jumat kemaren Dr. Towns dioperasi colon-nya, gua kaga tau deh apaan itu colon, klo gasalah si usus 12 jari itu, katanya ada tumor/potensi kanker. Jadilah hari ini tadi diganti sama si Gabe Etzel, Grad Assistantnya.
Terus hari ini kuisnya itu 20 pertanyaan, soal2nya dah dikasitau dari mg lalu, well sebetulnya gampang banget n simple, tapi malah gue yg mikir ribet..... soalnya ditulisnya "Define....
n emang bahan2nya menurut gua kaga bisa jelas cuma pake 1 kalimat doank, anyway, ternyata
itu yg diminta.....ya sudah, gua cuma bisa kerja 11 nomer, sisanya? ya sutralahgudbymylove teaa....... hehehehe.......
But that's not making me feel bad, well, I've got to face it anyway. Mo gimana juge nyang namanya belajar tu kaga gampang, tul ga coii...hehehe...
Beberapa hari ini di kampus ada Spiritual Emphasis. Pembicaranya si Clayton King dari Crossroads...well gayanya sih funky n gaul, cuma dikit2 suka kebanci2an n rada getex dengernya, napa si pake ngeces2 segala. anyway sermon-nya bagus dan cukup lah bobotnya utk anak2 disini. dia bilang "a kiss can make her pregnant" wadoh, kalo bule ngomong gitu, kayanya dia bakalan dianggap sakit jiwa deh...hihihii... Rada gila kali yaaa...gitu maybe anggepan orang, anyway gua setuju banget. bukan words per wordsnya, tapi konteksnya. Ada keanehan lain yg muncul hari ini, keringet gue lebih sedikit dari biasanya. Kalo dari bawah balik ke kamar gue, pulang2 tu pasti gue kaya baru mandi aja, basah dimana2, hari ini makin sedikit keringetnya cuma di muke doank. Wah,...seneng aja, soalnya gua makin terbiasa berjalan 2miles bolak balik di kampus....PTL!!!!
OK, coiy besok ta' sambung lagi ya, gue mo belajar dulu, bahan bacaan sedang menunggu.