Friday 1 November 2013

Going on Retreat for Spiritual Formation

I just went on retreat for my spiritual formation course at the Catholic Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga.

It was a good 3 days. The most memorable moment is when one of the professors shared something very personal to the group of us students. It made me realize that the professors are human too and I felt closer to them. It encourages me to open up to them more and be frank and honest to them about my limitations.

The Credit River was fast-flowing yesterday. And I stared at the water so long, that when I looked up at the opposite shore, it seemed like the land was moving in the opposite direction to the water flow.

I am not sure what this meant spiritually. Perhaps, water- being associated with the Holy Spirit like the waters of Baptism- is an element that is supple yet powerful. It can carve into the landscape and erode rocks. It is essential to supporting life.

Water was also the symbol of tai chi- which I studied for a time. We were always trying to be like water. Maybe for my Christian walk, the same holds true. Be soft and gentle yet strong. Let me support and pursue life-giving activities. May my words speak life and gentleness to those that spiritually thirst. How do I do this? By giving them the words of Jesus who said that he was "living water."

By always pointing the way to Jesus Christ.

I also sketched 2 drawings. One which I would like to call "the Ripples of the Cross". The other was an interior sketch of the chapel space. I played the electronic piano in the chapel there as well.

Friday 11 October 2013

Humility . . .a lesson.

I have recently learned a lesson about humility . . .

I had worked pretty hard on an assignment for one of my courses in seminary for 1 week straight, staying late at the library every night.

The previous Saturday, I crashed; slept for 12 hours straight during the day after my evening sleep time.

On Sunday, I dragged myself through the motions of going to church and crashed on the couch of my fiance's for a while in the late afternoon, early evening.

Slept for the better part of Monday after cancelling my meeting with my Spiritual Director and then managed to rouse myself from my slumber to finish reading 3 books/periodicals for my assignment due later that night at midnight. Got it posted at 10:30 pm and I thought . . . surely this is an A+ assignment. But . . .

I got a B+ instead.

To be honest, I was disappointed but I realized there was a lesson in this. I had gotten used to high grades at Humber for the Revit course. And even though I did work, I had not worked nearly as intensely as I had for this assignment at seminary.

I guess the stakes are higher in grad school. The expectations for scholarly excellence higher.

I have to approach it with a consistent effort of running a marathon, not a sprint race.

And really examine why I want the high grades. Is it a matter of pride? Had I gotten proud of my academic achievements and rested on my laurels without bettering myself from a time management and work ethic point of view?

I had worked hard, but now was the time to not only work hard but also smart as well.

Also, to accept with humility what God ordains for me to receive grade-wise.

God bless,

AL

Wednesday 4 September 2013

My Revit Courses at Humber

I did very well in my Revit BIM courses at Humber College in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. I got a 98% in the Introduction Course, 97% in the Intermediate Course and 100% in the Advanced Course. I am not out of the woods yet since I have to take the Autodesk Certification exam. To Jesus Christ be the glory. It is truly God's favour that has allowed me to score so high. Please continue to pray for me regarding preparations for the exam. Special thanks go to my notetakers: PS, SL and AW who helped me. And a special thanks to my professor, ZK, who showed mercy in the grading schemes.

I attended my new accepted student orientation today at Tyndale University College and Seminary in North York, Ontario, Canada. I got a chance to meet with faculty and students. It was a good time. I will be starting my Masters of Divinity studies in Spiritual Formation in 1 week. Please pray for God to prepare my heart, mind, body and soul for the experience. There is a retreat for one of my courses that is mandatory. I plan to pray and meditate on God's grace, mercy and provision.

I want to take a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate exam. It is important for me to take this in order to show my commitment to sustainability in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) profession.

I am trying for the Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged essay writing competition. I am approaching it from the perspective of a Christian apologist witnessing to Objectivist/Atheist non-believers. I hope to do a good job but my initial draft is a bit disjointed. Please pray that I would have an over-riding cohesive vision and thesis for my paper.

I am also partnering with RG for the 2014 Evolo Skyscraper Design Competition.

My 4 projects are still ongoing. I have set them aside in the interim.

I have an audit to attend to. Please, please pray that I would have a favourable outcome.

Saturday 22 June 2013

Overcoming Discouragement

The recruiter did not reply to my email inquiry or telephone call for a follow up. Maybe I will just leave it be for the moment.

I also received a letter that I did not get selected for a scholarship. My friend did get selected so I am happy for him.

I am discouraged about being able to pay the tuition for seminary. I received the OSAP package in the mail to send supporting documents but it seemed really complicated.

I have yet to register for my seminary courses.

There is a BBQ tomorrow for accepted students at Tyndale seminary. I signed up but I have not gone to sleep yet.

I have been reading a book by Joel Osteen and watching his sermons online as well as sermons by his father, John Osteen, David Jeremiah and Charles Stanley. I even watched a bit of Joyce Meyer. I like all of them.

The old 70's sermon by John Osteen was about overcoming discouragement. He mentioned about a palm tree that was able to withstand a hurricane because it can be blown over and still remain rooted in the ground. When the wind stops blowing, the palm rights itself back to the vertical position again.

The bamboo is China's symbol of weathering adversity as well because it can bend with a force and not break.

How to be like a palm tree? How to be like a bamboo?

By attaching oneself like a branch to the vine which is Jesus and bearing much (spiritual) fruit.

Jesus pushed through his tribulations despite adversity and discouragement. He was betrayed, denied and falsely accused. However, he persevered. He was given his greatest test which was the cross and he passed it and was raised back to life from the dead by God.

If you are experiencing adversity and discouragement, root yourself in the Rock of Salvation which is Jesus Christ through faithful prayer and Bible reading. Talk with a pastor, Christian counsellor, elder or mentor and get wisdom about the situation you are in by gleaning from them.

God bless you and keep you.

AL

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Opportunity knocks

I handed in my Advanced Revit BIM course analytique assignment. It wasn't too bad doing it but it was time consuming. I will be worth a bonus 5% of the term's marks. I need all the help I can get because I messed up on the phasing part of the exam. I did OK on the design options though.

I have an interview on Friday with a recruiter for an interior architecture position. They require Revit.

If you want to see my portfolios on Behance, navigate to . . .

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Revit-Renderings-Albert-LH-Lee/9231961

http://www.behance.net/gallery/PORTFOLIO/2891223

Cheers and Blessings,

AL

Thursday 16 May 2013

Busy again

First,

I still have a cold.

My 3 Revit exams went well. I got a good mark in the intermediate course and my parents are going to spot me the cash to take the advanced Revit course.

I have 4 projects that I am working on in a freelance basis: 1 with a church plant, 1 for a Christian coffee shop and 2 cottages different clients.

I am on standby for X-Design Inc. The owner will contact me for piecemeal work. Still nothing yet.

Please pray that I get over this cold.

Thanks and God bless.

AL

Monday 15 April 2013

In sickness and in health

I have a cold. Pray for me.

I have to be well enough for this Thursday to write my Revit exams. THREE of them.

Not sure what else to do but pray.

AL

Friday 5 April 2013

Reprieve

My parents (God bless them) helped me out with the car repairs. It looks brand, spanking new. The auto body mechanic did a good job.

Anyway, I also declared a major for the Masters of Divinity program: Counseling Clinical.

I hope and pray that I can straighten out my act (lol) so that I can be of service to others who are in crisis. My life seems to be going from one crisis to the next.

Anyway, pray that all will work out.

The job with the firm's interior design job is piecemeal so I will have to get another part-time job.

Please pray for me.

God bless.

AL

Tuesday 2 April 2013

An accident

I got into a car accident today. I glanced off the rear right side of another stopped car. Damaged her rear tail-light. No one was injured thankfully.

I always thought that listening to worship music and having a Jesus fish on my car would be like talismans for me avoiding accidents. I guess I should be thankful that it wasn't more serious.

Please pray for me and for the other driver.

God bless you and thank you.

Monday 1 April 2013

A mixed blessing . . .

I went to a job interview at a nice friend's Toronto interior architecture firm today. It went well. We caught up and discussed what projects were going on in the office. I mentioned about the 2 freelance projects I was working on (church plant and coffee shop).

I got the job.

It's casual part-time. He doesn't have anything at the moment but as work comes in, he will get me involved. I hope and pray to get some badly needed site experience and to take the pressure off my parents financially to help me. I am going to have to work and/or get student loans in order to pay for tuition for school(s). If I still have cash left over, I will give it to my girlfriend to help her out. She resigned from one of her food service jobs. She still has one job left. She's hopefully going to apply to some hospitals for some clerical work and get her foot in the door for a nursing job when she graduates from her college course. She will probably get paid better for the clerical hospital job then what she is currently making. And when she becomes a registered practical nurse  . . . well then!

The Montreal architect is consulting legal to determine if it is illegal for her to ask me to do work and not pay me for 6 months. I hope it is alright. I would like to work with her. She's struggling with a risky business venture of doing shipping container homes. But she's cast her net wide in terms of target market so something should hopefully pan out for all her efforts and risk-taking. I would like to help her if I can in whatever humble means possible. Even if it is only drafting working drawings and developing construction details. Truth is, I think she's nice and I want to make the trip out to Montreal to meet with her pay dividends. I did have to pay for a parking ticket and replace my alternator of my car when I got back to Toronto. Good thing I had CAA roadside assistance. My car broke down at my girlfriend's place. I had to get it towed to Canadian Tire.

Pray for me . .. I have a Revit exam on Thursday.

Good night.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

A Victory

I got accepted into Tyndale Seminary and University's Master of Divinity program. I have yet to declare a major. Hallellujah!

On another bright side, the Montreal female architect decided to have me help her out with doing shipping container drawings. I guess she changed her mind.

As far as the church plant project goes, I decided to bite the bullet and do the measurements of the commercial building basement space for them. I am going to do a Revit BIM model of the existing space and maybe when the interior designer has something, I can add her design to the model.

The ESL Bible study pastor and I went to the Land Registry office in downtown Toronto in order to hunt for a reference plan/survey of his home. He wanted a sample so that he knew what to get for prospective properties/sites for locating the Christian cafe. I really want a survey before I begin any design work on the project but I might have to do some marketing materials for fund-raising.

I missed the 2nd Revit exam for the Intermediate course due to a dental emergency. It is still being resolved but I no longer experience any pain.

I really hope that I qualify for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Fall when I study at Tyndale.

I am also applying to architectural firms right now.

God bless,

AL

Monday 4 March 2013

Marking Time

I lost my job.

I have not been working for the past 8 months. Just trying to reassess myself and where my career is headed. I have attended numerous interviews and job application reviews but nothing has materialized. A little frustrated.

I have decided to change my tack. I prayed one night in my apartment and felt God's leading for me to study in seminary/Bible college. I have concentrated my efforts to that end. In the Fall, I plan to study a Masters in Divinity for the time being with a Masters in Architecture potentially after that. Beyond that, I don't know. It's all God's Will.

The female architect friend in Montreal said that she doesn't have a position for me. She is just looking for draftsmen at present, not designers, and can't pay right away until the sale of the container residence prefab building comes through or there are investors. It seems risky.

A church plant project fell through for me. There is a rival designer that nabbed the project. She had closer (familial) ties to the decision maker.

On the plus side, I have a Christian cafe design project currently in the works for a young pastor who teaches English as a Second Language Bible study. I didn't accept any payment for it because I wanted to be given as much latitude as possible. My Christian friend says that I should insist on being paid but I don't know. This is God's work and there are more important things than getting rich off it.

I also have been taking Revit courses at a local Toronto community college. Doing OK in them. The instructor is a nice guy; funny and knowledgeable.

Well, pray for me. I have to discern God's will for my life and right now funds are extremely tight.

God bless you all.

AL