Servanthood

Steven once said something about learning new things everyday. I agree - life is so full of surprises, some good ones and some rather unpleasant ones..

I may not have been part of Eaglepoint for very long, but I can bear true witness and testify to those who came after me that it does not take very long for one to see how spirit-filled this house and the people in it are.

What do I mean by that statement?

They're really far too many examples to provide, some of which I can hardly remember in detail now, but for one, the heart of servanthood is so present from the very young stages of a baby Christian to the admirable position of Senior Pastor!

Sunday afternoon was a "wow" moment for me. Garrett, Chrystin and I went to Penang Asam House (newly renovated now and very nice, but the new renovation isn't quite what amazed me) for lunch. Because there was no space in the other table with the rest of our friends, we sat at one table near the kitchen, made our orders, and waited lah.

Garrett and Chrystin's food came first, served by one of the staff. As their food was placed down before them, I was thinking who would be serving me my food. So I went into observation mode and I noticed how busy the place was, with customers filling every table and even more lining up way past the counter (for a while, in fact, the line was never shorter than the counter). Then I took note of the few employees (at least at the time) there, the same faces walking in and out of the kitchen, serving customers, making the drinks, taking orders, cleaning tables..

And so I saw my Senior Pastor walking out of the kitchen multiple times to serve people their food, on the side of taking their orders and serving them drinks at the counter. And, to say honestly, I suddenly had this thought that I didn't want him to serve me my food (don't get me wrong, I will explain why in a moment) But wouldn't you know it... only minutes later, he stepped out with two plates in his hand and immediately I knew one of them was mine >_< ... It's not that it was wrong, but I felt rather odd having my Senior Pastor serving me - literally.. not just a simple chore or assistance or a favour. I don't know what anyone else would think, but I felt at that moment that I didn't want him to serve me, I wanted to serve him!

Now THIS is a classic and very clear example of a servant leader! That's right, sorry to disappoint some of you but being a leader is not just sitting back like a tau keh and giving orders =D Pastor Tim's always coming up to people saying things like, "You are the best" or "I'm inspired by the way you guys serve"... Someone should go to him and tell him that! What's more inspiring than someone of a "leader" position lowering himself to the "waiter" position?

Which reminds me.. this was the only time I felt like wanting to work in an eating place.. =)

Virginia Tech massacre - the enemy's works through the works of the world

After catching up on the Virginia Tech massacre recently on CNN.com.. I now see fewer articles, fewer videos related to it - the sorrow may continue within the community there, but the news needs to present the world with other updates as well.

As I followed up on the case through news videos and articles, I feel angered, disappointed, stunned..

There's alot I can say about the shooter in this incident.. (sometimes I'm unsure whether to call him the suspect or the victim) But I can summarize his condition to be lost... in need... unministered to.. cracked.. slaughtered.. and died..

This guy was cared for by his housemates, he was sent for counselling out of the police's concern, yet among all those people who knew him.. there was not one willing to share the Gospel with him.

I know, I talk big. I don't truly know his background, nor do I know his environment, yet I dare imply "someone did not do their job of sharing the love of God with him". Moreover, I know I can be plenty reluctant to do exactly that due to many factors.

But this is a good example of the Bible's true words saying the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. One character, driven to madness by the world and his thoughts, simply needs to flip the coin and make the decision to act to take many lives to the grave with him.

I'm slow at acting, afraid I may mess up, afraid I can't do it, but that doesn't mean there isn't a burden in my heart. I'm still asking the Lord to give me the love, urgency and discernment. If it is HIs will, maybe one day I'll finally step out of my blurness and comprehend.

Week 13 Part 2

Yes.. List of things I need to do by next week

Final Project
1. Background camera movement in Toon Boom
2. Compile and bind journal
3. Search for and find sounds/music for final production
4. Insert sounds and synchronize with final animation
5. Check up on entire group progress to make sure we have at least 80% done by Monday
6.

History
Finish/finalize 50% of history journal (in order to give grace time of two days to finalize entire thing)

List of things I need to do by Week 15:

Final project
1. Finalize final animation for all three members
2. Finish countdown
3. Check on creation of logo and end credits of group
4. Create CD cover
5. Burn animation work in CD

History
Be FINISHED and submit

List of things I need to do by Week 16:

Methodology
1. Box fold
2. Walk Cycle
3. Finalize Stubby
4. Finalize flour sack
5. Finalize tail wave
6. Finalize bouncing ball
7. Finalize balloon

Drawing for Animation
1. Finalize head rotation
2. Finalize body rotation

History
Be ready for final test

I cannot depend on my own strength to finish this, it's crazy to think I can. I pray God will give me a boost to get me through this.

Week 13

And we're slowly..burning out..

AMD5, here are the Journal and Proposal details:

Journal

1. Story
2. Roughboard
3. Storyboard
4. Character Development
5. Colour model
6. Model sheet (BW), Character line up (Colour)
7. Research
8. Layout
9. Sound (Where you got the sound from)
10. Story Treatment
11. Environmental design
12. Analysis

Proposal

1. Project Name/Title/Duration/Unique Selling Point
2. Production Schedule/Timeline
3. Production line-up (your team, ranks people in your team hold)
4. Proposed budget
5. Proposed distribution plan

Operation: Survival

I have just come to the realization of how much work I have, and how little time I have to finish it..

Without God's grace, I WILL fail this semester.

I am up at 4am constantly, I barely get enough sleep each day.. I keep myself locked up in my room when I'm not at school or church - keep your distance from me, because I don't want to be bothered while I am working. If I do not get physical literally, you can be sure I my imagination will be running wild.

Reviews

Wow, I've found a site full of reviews on Happy Feet! I should search for reviews on other movies too.. who knows, some of them might actually come in handy for my history documentation!

Mid-week-11...

Hornbill keyframs are done, a few more in-betweens to do and that's that - then the actual design of the hornbill needs to be finished =)

Not much progress on history documentation - have been busy with other work. I'm determined to watch TMNT in time to talk about it. I have, however, a Tom and Jerry review for my journal. I've noticed that the Tom and Jerry cartoons that are either storylined, produced or directed by Chuck Jones.. have a far too strong similarity to The Road Runner Show - the character design, the gags, the movements.... Tom and Jerrys done by Chuck Jones are so different from ones done by Hanna-Barbera =P

Trying to study both History and Film Structure notes for next week. *deep breath*..