My Journal

Like last week, Nadia and I went to the East side Service of Redeemer at 10:30am. Voices of Redeemer was performing. I couldn't hear much of the Voices during public singing because either the congregation was singing or that the organ was playing loudly. Ron Oliver was the conductor.

I saw G, a Malaysian in the choir whom I met the last time I was in the choir. He must have forgotten me. We came across each other on the second floor hall way and he merely responded my greeting with a nod. I had lost all my contacts on my cellphone including his, so I do not have his number nor his full name. Only that I recall that our accent changed to Malaysian the last time we chatted, and Nadia was shocked by it. I think this accent changing has to do with trying to fit in, or trying to make others understand one's conversation better. Although, changing accents is unnecessary.

As for the sermon, it was preached by Leo Schuster. It was on Isaiah 9:1-7. I listened to him...he was preaching about gloomy darkness and the joyous light. Nothing about sins and repentance were touched on. It was all about feeling down and then the light finds you. I took the opportunity to read up Isaiah 8 verse 12 onwards during his sermon. It warns of following those who fear not the Lord, they love conspiracies, they love to fear other things.

I must turn my fear to the Lord...then follows the full appreciation of the good news in chapter 9. What others fear are money, future, school, reputation, worldly satisfaction, etc..They want to mix the principle of the Bible with their worldly fear and call it biblical. It is very distracting to me, may God help me, I am alone in this.

When we got home, Willy's car that was parked at our place which has not been able to start since end of fall now made some strange noise from its front seat wheel-it's a chirping/creaking kind of sound. After an hour of two of researching online, Nadia and I decided to just disconnect the battery and the sound was gone 5 minutes after I reconnect the negative wire back to the battery. The 2002 Mercedes Benz C320 has been known to have lots of issues. I sought help on Fixya (first time signing up) and got a swift response, which may prove useful the next time I visit the car.

It started snowing since 6pm. It must be the first if not the second snow day of this year.

Recalling past few days, I received an e-mail stating that I did not receive the TAP fund/grant for financial aid. That leaves the Pell Grant as the other hope. Otherwise, I can pay in full...the tuition for the City College is not that high for NY resident (under $3k /semester). I shall visit the financial office tomorrow or so to find out more options. Though many around me see this as the only chance at finding a stable income, I see it differently. Let them be, there's no use to argue. If I prove them wrong enough for them to be curious, I should just reply..."it's magic, God's magic". Otherwise, let it be, I shall just acknowledge that it is still different, school is for education alone, not for job seeking.