Merry Christmas!

Greetings to all!

Hoping everyone had an incredibly Merry Christmas, and enjoyed the festive holidays in a beautiful White Christmas back home in Canada. Yes, I miss snow, I know it doesn't make sense, but on Christmas day it does!

I'd like to share with you a small example of what Australia's Christmas looks like...





On that particular day of photos, I was hanging out with a good friend of mine from Germany named Matthias, and we both were a little burned.

I hear Manitoba is having a cold snap at this time of the year of -40C weather with the wind chill. I'm experiencing the opposite with +35C heat, and rising as we get closer to mid January.

The past 2 weeks have been incredibly busy, with 10 hour working shifts, 8 of them in a row one week, and a Christmas Spectacular at Hillsong Church during the 2 days off from work, serving in 5 different services. I was in charge of a team of confetti droppers from the 4th floor overlooking the crowd below for the "snow effect" for the play. I found it ironic that I miss snow from back home, and I was asked to make snow happen! My first thought was, "ya, lets make snow happen... fly me back to Canada." So with all the busy days behind, maybe I'll be lucky enough to have a few less hours this coming week, and hope that I can enjoy a FEW days off during the weeks to come, and enjoy the odd day here. Until then, I'll keep focused on my priorities, and work to save up for another semester of Degree, and continue strong in my studies. In that regard pray for me, with favor, and good will, integrity and strength to work hard, but not TOO hard!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I really miss you all, and love you all so much. Thanks for those that sent Christmas cards and Birthday Cards to me in the past 2 months, and thanks as well for the emails from friends and family during this season. You all mean so much to me, and I thank and love you all. I have been blessed with the best friends and family the world could ever ask for, and I'm truly grateful for you all in my life.

Well, till next time, I'll hopefully have some video footage of what New Years looks like, but I'm not sure exactly what my plans will be from this point.

Love Heaps!

To Return

WOW!

How long has it been since I've last posted?!
Answer: TOO LONG!

I just finished another 2000 word Essay for one of my subjects in Degree, and I'm happy with where its at, and glad its in on time, and done as best to my knowledge.

To play a bit of catch up, I've had nothing short of an "interesting" last few months, going on borderline quitting everything I came to Australia for, simply because I nearly lost all funding to be here. Not only that, I was robbed many months ago of my laptop, which played a vital resources in communicating with everyone back home, and also for assignments as well. I was blessed enough to have a tax return to help pay for a new laptop and an extra month of rent (unexpectedly). Also, I've been blessed with a job, I'm now working at Kmart as a loading dock employee, and also tend to filling stock while a few team members are away on vacation. This week alone, since I'm considered on "break" (which really means no classes, but heaps of studying), I've been scheduled over 40 hours. How amazing is that! Praise God!

Its been so long that I don't really know where to start in comparison to what all happened. We had Hillsong Conference at the beginning of July, and it went over really well. I was surprised to find my role in a larger leadership position than expected for serving, the Production team wanted me to keep in charge of lighting, power, and sound for all external venues of an arena that holds over 30,000 people. I will admit that the learning curves were very overwhelming, but once the swing of things were in motion, things did gradually get better and easier to run and solve any problems (if there were problems).

Since Conference, I've been enrolled in the Bachelor of Theology: Degree program hosted by Southern Cross College at the Hillsong Campus. Its a lot of words to really describe that I'm not a regular Hillsong College student anymore, and that a separate institution is educating me at Hillsong Church now. The lecturers are incredible, and I absolutely love the context and subject material we're covering now. The other side of this story is that I have more essays and assignments now than I ever had in previous educational institutions ever before. My 1st semester alone has exams worth 60% and papers to be submitted worth 40-50% of the subjects value. Each paper takes about 14 days of preparing and typing combined to submit a proper essay. Still the process is helping me learn so much more than I could ask for. My favorite subject is Church History.

I'd like to continue more on catching up, but at the moment, I have to catch some much needed rest to start another working shift tomorrow morning at 9:00am.

Until next time, loved ones,

Sincerely,
Paul Ross

Finding Favor

So if you've been keeping up with my posts, you'll have noticed this month being one I've been expecting and believing for Miracles.

I'm just going straight to the point, and share with you how I feel. This might be a giant vent, so your warning has been given.

Late last night, our house was broken into and robbed. They stole my laptop, my school bag that had my Bible, Journal, and signatures I needed to pass my 1st year of Leadership College and Conference forms needed to complete for the final assessment. They also took my house mate's $7000.00 Carbon Fiber Bicycle and his bag he had downstairs as well, with some extra cloths, and some gear for drumming and extras he had. Our house wasn't the only target, it was a mass neighborhood plan, since two houses down from ours also had the same problem, and 4 other houses in our community area had the same situation.

This month has been nothing short but testing and filled with trials. I'm taking every thing in strides as best I can, and am not enjoying it. My year is coming to an end, and I still believe Degree is where I'm called to be in Australia! I can't help but be frustrated with circumstances in life at the moment, and just harbor this all in this stressful season I'm in, and continue my lesson in learning Trust, and keep my Faith strong. The truth is that you honestly don't want to know what I'm thinking right now, and how it feels like everything in my world is falling apart, just because I've chosen to make this stand, to believe in something, and feel how more and more impossible the oppositions feel. I can't help but think, how Big and Mighty my God is! If a small man of David's stature could take down a giant named Goliath, or if Moses can overcome his weaknesses in leadership to rise above and lead millions of people out of Egypt's exile, or if Joseph has a dream of rising above to be the second highest authority in command, but had to go through hell to have what was promised, than I feel their pain. I feel their sorrows, I feel their anger, their faith, their trust, their weaknesses and their strengths.

I feel as though I shouldn't say anymore than this, every thing that has brought me to this point in life has happened too recently for me to allow myself to go on.

My quest for finding God's favor continues...

Month of Miracles

Greetings to all,

First and foremost, before I really get into this post, I'd like to publicly congratulate my good friends Candace & Calvin Martens on their new born baby Daughter Calista Grace! Congratulations, and may God bless Calista with two of the most loving parents I know.

Well, it has been another 3 weeks since my last post and still haven't worked at my previous employers position delivering furniture, and have been continuing my lesson in trust. I must admit, that it hasn't been an easy lesson to learn, and am struggling to understand what I should do next, but I continue to seek God's favor in everything. One thing that is pressing upon me with worry, is the fact that in about a month from now, I'd like to have everything ready to enroll in the Bachelor of Theology: Degree program from Southern Cross, hosted at the Hillsong Church Hills campus, and financially I'll need a miracle to see it pass.

Here at Church, and with all the students in College wanting to continue on with studying, it seems to be a theme that we are all in need of financial aid, to keep going further in growing and learning with Christ. I've felt as though praying to God about His provision in continuing my time here is one aspect that I'll continue to seek, but also allowing others to know about this circumstance might be just as important and wise. I've felt that God may also want to humble me by making my needs known, with being real, and relying and trusting on His timing instead of our quick fix and conveniences we so often indulge. I'm not going to say that it's an exciting time, or tell you that it brings joy to my heart to trust in God in this way, because the truth is that its quite the opposite. At the moment, trusting in God doesn't seem to add up, and that it seems the walls of impossibility are growing ever stronger and larger. To continue standing in Faith when everything else tells you the "what ifs" in life, just makes this season even more difficult to go through. With pure conviction in my heart, I know I'm not meant to let go, and take my leave earlier than anticipated. I know that my training remains here for another 3 years, and that something miraculous is in store for this month to grow stronger in Faith, and see how big our God really is. Not to test God, but to know Him through His miracles.

I believe!

I'm now asking, would you believe with me? Can I know that people are praying for this miracle to take place? I'm not only asking for your prayers, but your faith within this season. Faith to hear a good report, faith to know God deeper than before, faith to see through impossibilities with miracles, faith like that of a child innocent to the world's view.

God may also place the convictions in people's hearts to give generously to help as well, but I leave that completely in God's hands. If for any reason you have this conviction, I can be contacted personally via email at PRoss02@Gmail.com

I must also let people know that I've prayed very much about my requests, and have not asked anything in vain or wrong motives, but out of humility and humbleness.

I thank you for helping me on this journey, with love and heart felt prayers, I couldn't be here without all of you, where God has called me.

God Bless

Lessons in Trust

Greetings to all,

It has been a long time since the previous update, and I should be more diligent with keeping these blogs up and running, but my first year of College is coming to an end, and the busy season is starting to flourish in all areas of life.

I must share what has gone on in my life for the past month that has definitely been a trial and a testing period. I don't think I'll go into large amounts of details, but I will share the values of what has happened, and my actions and decisions since. Its been three weeks ago, that I've had to face a dilemma at work, where I've been asked to compromise my integrity and values to help the business I've been working for. As most of you know, I've been working as a Delivery truck driver for Furniture and help warehousing between three storage locations. The dilemma was to falsely sell furniture as "warehouse" stock, when in fact the delivered furniture was directly off the floor in the shop (borderline 2nd hand quality). The unfortunate part is that I've had to drop off furniture like this on a few occasions, but have never been asked if I had been dropping off floor stock. Until three weeks ago, a customer had asked if the stock we delivered happened to be floor stock. At first, I fell to temptation, and felt terrible about the whole thing, and lied to the customer that it was warehouse stock, but that couldn't be held as truth, and I told her the truth after. I attempted compromising my beliefs and values, and even my integrity to hold a job that was causing such an discomforting stress in my life. I have done a lot of praying of this matter and situation since, and have found the courage to even confront my employer about how I've felt since that work shift. On top of all that, I had been working 8 to 10 hour shifts 2 days in a row, with a College schedule and Serving in ministries straight, without any time off. So as this had been going on for three to four months, I was running myself dry, and found that things were not adding up. After the talk with my boss, he left me with some encouraging words, and wanted the best for both of us, and mentioned to take time away from work. I took his advice, and have not worked since three weeks ago, and am now learning my lesson in Trust.

Trust has been an incredible journey in my life, and a lesson that continues to reveal more and more as I go. Trust had to take place when I even left Canada to come here to Australia, Trust had to take place when God had inspired me to do greater things in life, and today Trust takes place in God's hands with my provision, and my term here in Australia. At the end of my four years in Australia, I'd like to look back and see how Trusting God has helped my path and outcome become so much more than any of us could ever imagine. I now feel some what helpless, but right where God wants me...

To further this note, in less than one months time, I'd like to sign up to further my studies for a Degree in Theology through Southern Cross at the Hillsong Hills Campus, to go further in depth in my faith and with God. At this rate, I feel as though there is an impossibility in front of me, and God is asking me to Trust Him. To Trust in the soul fact that the impossibility is placed in my life, so that God can reveal Himself again, through what we see as His miracle.

I'd like to ask in this time for prayers. To ask people to pray that God's favor would be upon my life in this season, that the impossibilities of having the right finances at the right time would literally become a miracle. That God would see His people triumph, and continue His work here on Earth, to see people come to know their living Christ.

Again, thank you all for reading my blogs, it has been close to a full year, and I'm honored to have such a loving and wonderful audience. Though I don't know how many people are reading this, I am still grateful.

Be blessed, and believe.

Love,
Paul

Birthday Wishes

In Australia, the day happens to be April 27th, 2008, in the Morning, but I know that it is either late afternoon or early evening in Manitoba right now on the 26th of April instead.

Therefore...

Happy Birthday Mom!

I know that I rang her on her morning of her Birthday, but I also wanted to leave this message for her too.

I love you Mom, and hope that today's Birthday celebration is a great one and memorable. I hope you'll get the chance to bug Dad and Justin accordingly on your day, because they do that kind of thing all the time to each other, and sometimes you too, so its fun to em back (even for me too, eh?)

Tell Dad I miss him, and tell Justin he's a bum, but I miss him too. As always, to you too Mom, I miss and love you too!

Happy Birthday again!

You're the best, Mom!

Love always.

The Random Fun of Life

It feels like its been a while since last posting...

So since last I posted, a few things have been going on. Mostly completely random and heaps of fun, and of coarse the fun things in life I have pictures of. So I'm not sure when I last mentioned I went Horse back riding, but here's the picture of some of the people in the group I went with.



The following week, Our house had the first full house dinner with all the new members and the remaining members of the House combined. See before I moved into the new house, there were 4 other guys that were last year's graduates from previous intakes of Hillsong College, and the house has had a few additions. So since then, the final four guys left our home, and it was a sad day, but new beginnings had already been in the making. Our final member of the house had fully moved in, and we always have great dinners on Monday nights. We call our house "the Brotherhood."

This is us:



From Left to Right: Ben Mays, Michael Newsted, Lukas Jundt, Paul Ross, Jared Harries, & Phil Dunn.

One thing that has been a little "interesting" is that our lawn mower stopped working some time ago, and the result is the following:



The following Monday, the pictures of our Monday dinner went up on Facebook, and another house of girls found them, and wondered if they could have a joint house dinner. So since the idea came up, the guys thought it would be pretty cool, and we had our first joint house dinner.



For dessert... you guessed it...

People are now calling them "Paul-cakes!"

So after a great meal, we had this random idea. We thought it would be hilarious if we made a picture of our joint house dinner to commemorate the moment, by having a 1920s depression picture. The following pictures show that moment, both the serious one where we actually pulled it off, and one picture of the many bloopers we have of us trying not to laugh... but laughing anyways!



That joint house dinner was incredibly memorable, its been 8 days since we had shared the moment, and its still being talked about today. Good times!

So the following Saturday, my flat mate Phil and I decided to go and check out an AFL game at the Sydney Olympic Stadium. We watched the Sydney Swans play against the West Coast Eagles, and the game was a blow out! Sydney played a dominating game and won 107 to 45. The point system works by kicking a hand ball between two middle posts giving the team 6 points as a goal. If your kick is outside the posts and within the outside posts, it counts as a ball, where 1 point is given instead. There are other rules to the game, but I'm still learning them at the moment.




The Sydney fans were pretty pumped!

My final picture to share with everyone, is one of what my recent ministry I'm doing. I lead a group of guys in Hillsong Men. I have 9 guys under me, and our group of 10 enjoys hitting the beach before classes start on Thursday mornings. Its been really fun, and I get to really connect with the guys while we hang on the beaches. Our goal is to one day conquer and visit every beach along the Sydney Coast.


And that concludes this post, and hope to hear from you soon. Please send an email, when you read this post, I like knowing that I'm actually posting information to people who are actually reading and caring to know what life is like for myself.

I love you all!