Oh how the years go by ...

2006 is fast coming to its end. A new year is almost upon us. I wonder what 2007 holds for us, for me ...

Come what may, I trust that all things are in our Heavenly Father's omnipotent Hand.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". Romans 8:28

Just to round up a year that has been filled with love, fellowship, joy, laughter, passion, tears, anguish, disappointments, fear and all other sorts of emotions (haha, yes I can be quite emotional), here is my list of thanksgiving:

To my God Almighty (my Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit) all glory be to You for Your gift of life, unconditional love and salvation, mercy and all other joys, blessings, trials and tribulations (as they are for my growth). To You be all the honour and blessings. Amen. I love you Lord. Bring me nearer, deeper into You Father ...

For my parents, all of God's blessings and love be upon them for their continual love and endless support and encouragement. Thanks for being there for me through it all, for bearing with me through my griefs and being joyful with me through my joys. God bless you both always. I love you both.

To my family (Phye Aun, Val and my favourite little boy, Ryan), thanks for being there for me and putting up with me too. Hahah ... it is not always easy living under one roof, but I love you all all the same. To Ann and Mark, come home soon to visit and catch up. Love you guys too.

To my GG, oh the heartache, oh the joy ... haha (notice how I put heartache first, haha, kidding), its been quite an adventure serving and fellowshipping with you guys. To uncle Hok Seng and Aunty Chooi Kuan (and the Ho kids :) ), thanks for being my encouragement and inspiration. To Kevin, bro, I just want to say that even though I may say harsh things (hahah ... sometimeslah) I do appreciate your leading with me ... iron sharpens iron right? To Sahaya, Ernie, Annie, Tracy and the rest ... God bless you all. Continue to grow and continue to desire the things of God. You guys have great potential to lead too. And thanks for your service, fellowship and love ...

To the BBC team, it has been an honour serving with you and serving you as well. To our fearless leader, Yoke Kheng and my fellow servants and good friends: Christine, Yung Ling and Sahaya, thank you for making the year an adventure and a blessing.

To the church (BUC) (1): my elders and their wives (uncle Christopher, aunty Luan, uncle Wing Cheong, aunty Sue Ling and uncle Hok Seng and aunty Chooi Kuan) and all the full timers (aunty Dolly (and uncle David), John and Yoke Kheng) thanks for being my encouragement and for stirring up my desire to grow in Jesus. Your leadership is so, so much appreciated. To my ministry leaders (YK, Yoke Teen), God bless you guys in whatever you do ... I am growing in the places God put me, and you have helped me to grow :).

To BUC (2): To my 'gang' (peers, gaming and otherwise) in BUC :) - Seng Chor, Christine, Yung Ling, Sahaya, Kevin, Yoke Kheng, Adrian, Florence, John, Wan Yi, Pei Lu, David, Raymond, Tracy, Michele (hehe from Life Chapel), Nai Kyn, Yoke Teen, Charmaine and Aaron Yong ... thanks for your love and fellowship. Iron definitely sharpens iron here. Let's continue to give our all for Christ. Thanks for inspiring me to grow further. God bless you all (p.s to Adrian: Delirious rocks, but Hillsong rocks more hahah).

To BUC (3): All leaders (aunty Helen, Seng Chor, aunty Dolly and other ministry leaders), etc- I know how it feels like too, the joy, the disappointment, the fatigue (haha), but thanks for serving side by side with me. Together for Jesus' glory.

To the church: I remember aunty Luan saying to me once, before I was regular in BUC: "Come and join us, we will take care of you" ... amen, thanks for all the fellowship and joys. It has been such a journey ... we will continue to journey till Jesus comes back for us. Oh happy day ... Love you all.

To my CF (2006): oh brother ... what can I say? I love you guys. The Aarons, Daniel, Mun Yee, Fleur ... opps Cassandra, opps Xi Ying, Li Yan, Michell, Jia Hsien, Glennie, Joanne, Carissa, Kah Jun, Seng and Jean, Angela, Fish, Eu Jin, Clement, Humphrey, Lik Ee (future advisor?), Yong Ling and all the rest (if I missed anyone, please, please forgive me and include yourself :) ... you guys are so weird ... haha but a real joy to serve with and to watch over. Keep growing guys. Jesus loves you so much. Ms Angeline, JK (haha) and Ming Han, thank you, thank you so much too.

To all my other friends (Ernest and Lila: thanks for your love and friendship - 'Bestests' of buddies; Nic and Sim: hehe love is in the air, Jo: God bless you and keep you bro) and colleagues: God bless you all.

2006, woo hoo ....

2007, bring it on ...

God, I bless you.

God bless you all and have a blessed new year.

C Day

Battle time ... (hehe) figuratively that is.


1st December 2006


C Day aka Carolling day descended upon the KDU CF like torrential rains. The day came sooner than expected. And boy did it rain that day, not physically, but I am sure we sang God's blessings into the college. All praise to the Lord Jesus for His marvellous gift of song and His blessed birth.



The day before ...

30 November 2006 was a day that, I think, our conductress shall always remember. It was during the late hours of the evening (ok, not so late, about 5.30pm, just trying to dramatise things) that we commenced our last practice (which was to become second last practice). Making our way down to the concourse area where we were scheduled to sing, the carollers took their positions and open their mouths ...

'FL-at!'

Our conductress was clearly gripped with anxiety and despair as we attempted carol after carol, without success. The agony, the irony … and we were doing so well in the earlier practices. Somehow, the guitars and the singers were not in harmony. And not all had memorised their lyrics well either. The guitars were playing in one key and the carollers, singing in another. Oh … and the clock was ticking too.

Pray, pray … trust.


Last practice

Friday, 1st December, 11.30am

One hour before the actual carolling … and we had not started final practice yet (gasp). Some members (they shall remain a mystery … ho hum, haha) did not wake up on time, some could not come, due to exams, etc. Carissa was half crying, half growling. The musicians were not (really) in uniform and the rest were in a nervous buzz. On the brighter side, the lot of us looked smart: the ladies were in bright red and the gents were in black with coloured ties (see pictures below).

When finally everyone arrived, we managed to squeeze in a few of the more difficult songs and finally, at 12.34pm (or thereabouts) we started to make our way to the concourse (already half filled with lunch goers), in a train-like formation, chiming ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’ as we went.


The rest, as they say, is history …

We carolled and carolled, lifting, or trying our utmost best to lift, our voices in unison and harmony, all eyes fixed on Carissa and all ears on the guitarists. We gave it our all, and did what we could with the acoustics of the open hall against us and the cacophony of the lunchtime crowd threatening to drown us out … but we prevailed and managed to catch the attention of all and sundry there. People walked into the concourse to watch, people cheered, people applauded (although we were out of key for a song ... or two). Overall, nerve wrecking as it was, we made it through … believing that at all times, the Lord was holding us.

Mark 9.23 (Jesus said) … Everything is possible for him who believes.

Amen Lord Jesus.

And … I made it through my speaking part (for When a Child is born), which I almost forgot when we started singing the carol … whew. All glory to Jesus.

These are the carols we sang: We wish you a merry Christmas, Have yourself a merry little Christmas, When a Child is born, Mary's boy child, Jingle bell rock, Away in a manger, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels sing, O Come all ye faithful, O Holy Night, Joy to the world, Angels we have heard on high (my favourite) and (our group's favourite) Feliz Navidad.


C Day

Truly, madly, deeply (haha) it was an experience, singing as a choir, singing in parts for a large audience … the wonders of how things come together for the good of God’s Children who love Him.

We took a lot of pictures after that, in relief, in joy, clicking like there was no tomorrow (haha).

God bless you CF-ers.

We bless you Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit.

God bless you all.


… and have yourselves … a merry little (or grand) Christmas, now …

A candid one

The ladies: (Sopranos) Ying Hui, Michell, Mun Yee, Li Yan, Glennie

(Altos) Xi Ying, Angela, Joanne, Fish

(Conductress: Carissa)

The gents: (Tenors) Daniel, Kah Jun, Kenny

(Basses) Aaron T, Jia Hsien, Soon Seng, In Ming

(Guitarists) Aaron P, Eu Jin, Clement

Hill top experience

Yesterday, 7.30pm

Hillsong United in Malaysia.

The venue was SIB KL in a tightly packed sanctuary. The atmosphere was alive with excitement and expectation as thousands (a literally full and perhaps almost overflowing sanctuary: the area in front of the stage was packed, much less the seats) waited for the concert to begin.

There I was, with a few of the KDU CF students and friends, right smack in the front of the stage area. Above, full; behind, full; left, full; right, full. It was an evening that will for always echo in the corridors of my memory ...

A 45 minute wait

We (about 10 of us) arrived at SIB KL at 6.30 pm plus. Wanting to quickly make our way to the fifth floor where the concert was to be held, we waited for elevators. We were told subsequently that the elevators may be too slow and that we'd have a better chance of arriving 'earlier' if we took the stairs.

Huh? 5 floors up?

Walked and walked, up and up. I was slightly out of breath at the 4th floor (and the concert had not started yet ... haha).

Upon our arrival at the 5th floor, we were greeted by an already full waiting area outside the main sanctuary. Wow ... we took our places in line and waited and waited. All around us were people, young and the not so young (I think I was in a middle category, hahah). Time passed and still people were coming in. I had heard that the tickets were sold out, so it was not surprising. People even had to line up in the stairwells.

Eventually they let us in at about 7.30pm.

The Hills are alive ... with the sound of (praise and worship) music

Officially the concert started after 8pm. We were there to see the group live but more importantly, we were there, whether we were aware of it or not, to meet with God.

The concert opened with huge songs, including 'One Way' (yes, it may be an older song of theirs, but to me, one of the best that evening. Guys ... I am still waiting for the reward ... ahem hehe). People began to sing their lungs out and jumped and jumped. You will not see as much dancing in clubs, I think, and the floor was literally moving.

This old-er guy, all of 29 years, gave it my all too as I jumped and jumped with the throng of worshippers, raising our voices to defeaning levels to praise and worship our Lord Jesus. Songs came and went, but the crowds matched the group on stage with levels of sky high enthusiam. I have not jumped so much ... I am still reeling from the exertion (hahah), but it was worth it ... every single moment.

Worshipping Jesus 'From the inside out'

The majority of the songs were new-er to me as I am much more of a Hillsong listener rather than a Hillsong United listener. Still that did not stop me singing and praising God. Wow, the experience was so fresh and exciting. I literally shouted praises and prayers to Jesus and my Heavenly Father. Among the 'highlights' (songs that I enjoyed singing most) were One Way, King of Majesty (I really sang and sang to this), Take it all and the (almost sure to be) anthemic From the Inside Out (see my earlier post on the CF camp, it was one of the highlighted songs).

Thank You Lord Jesus for helping me to truly praise You.

Also we sang powerfully to snippets of classics like Our God reigns and also the newer Chris Tomlin favourite worship song 'How great is our God'. And we shouted God's victory through so many other songs ... I am sure the spiritual realms were shaken and probably God's angels sang with us too. :)

All in all, this old-er guy had a spectacular time in worshipping and in rededication to Jesus.

Truly 'All the Heavens shout Your praise ... beautiful is our God, the universe will sing, Hallelujah to You our King'.

What's next?

Lord Jesus, please help me to build on what You have and are doing in me and through me that truly ALL praise and honour will go to You, to be faithful to You and to love You and others as much as You love me. Amen.

Ok, who is coming to bless Malaysia next? Heheh ...

I bless You God.

God bless you all.

Singing Christmas into the college: Gloria in Excelsis Deo

It is almost that time of year again, a time of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. A time of great joy, a time of singing and praise, worshipping our Heavenly Father, God Almighty and His glorious plan of Salvation.

Glo o o o o o ria ... in Excelsis Deo ... (Glory to God in the Highest).

Carol of the bells

This year, we at KDU CF are going to sing Christmas into the college, and hopefully into the lives of its students. :) It's carolling time! We plan to do it in the concourse area where we are sure to get maximum exposure ... which is a good thing ... but that would mean we would have to be extra prepared ... which is a ... um ... good thing also ... I think. :)

Oh yes, we are also singing 12 - 13 songs. Haha. All by memory.

We are singing ... in parts!

Oh the days ...

We have all four groups between us, the 'high flying' sopranos, the 'courageous' altos, the 'elevated' tenors (hehe, I am one of them) and the 'booming' basses.

Our torture maiden ... opps ... conductress, Ms Carissa (oklah, she is nicelah ... :) ), has the herculean task of drilling ... opps ... training us (and our voices) into tip top shape, and I think she is doing a great job of it. Little did I realise that we can s-i-n-g. Haha. Woo Hoo. All glory and praise to God for the gift of song, and unity.

So far, we have practiced (and for one or two, almost perfected) about 8 songs including Angels we have heard on high, Silent Night and Joy to the world. Some of the times, there is a cacophony of parts (haha), but there are those times when the group surprises even me. Boy oh boy, it is during those times that we rock! But hopefully more rocking than sinking lah ...

And the practices keep on coming ...

We have been practicising for some weeks now, usually twice a week, and are getting there. Carissa told us that quite a few of the parts sung in parts have been modified to suit us or taken away to simplify the song, to also suit us.

We are grateful ...

How great is our God, SING with me ....

So to those involved, let us truly strive to come together and sing our hearts to the Lord Jesus, and celebrate His birth, His coming into the world.

So ...

Let soprano voices ring high and clear, while altos weave their song to complement and support, let the men of bass anchor the songs with foundations so firm and tenors soar in harmony and symphony ... to create a most pleasing sound as a sacrifice of worship and praise to our God, our Father in Heaven and to embed the true message of Christmas in men.

Glo o o o o ria in Excelsis Deo.

God bless you all.

Pray with us and for us, ok? :)

Surprise, surprise ...

Today's post (after what seemed to be ages) is inspired by the quiz on John (The Wallah)'s blog. I did it and the results are ...

Surprise, surprise

Have a look.

I did the quiz twice and twice I was challenged with the same tie breaker question: English or Education? I love English (language, culture, footie!). I also love education (although not necessarily the law, hehe). Anyway, scores for both my #1 and #2 are same.

You scored as Education/Counseling. You should strongly consider majoring in Education, or related majors (e.g. American Sign Language, Child Development, P.E./Physical Education). Teaching others takes compassion, dedication, patience, an open mind, and a certain type of intelligence for the field you teach. It is possible that the best major for you is your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th listed category, so be sure to consider ALL majors in your OTHER high scoring categories (below). You may score high in a category you didnt think you would--it is possible that a great major for you is something you once dismissed as not for you. The right major for you will be something 1) you love and enjoy and 2) are really great at it. Consider adding a minor or double majoring to make yourself standout and to combine your interests. Please post your results in your myspace/blog/journal. English/Journalism/Comm 81% Education/Counseling 81% Religion/Theology 69% HR/BusinessManagement 63% French/German/Spanish 50% Visual&PerformingArts 50% Psychology/Sociology 44% PoliticalScience/Philosophy 38% History/Anthropology/LiberalArts 38% Physics/Engineering 31% Biology/Chemistry/Geology 31% Accounting/Finance/Marketing 25% Nursing/AthleticTraining 19% Mathematics/Statistics 6% WHAT MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU? created with QuizFarm.com

All glory to my Lord Jesus for the love of teaching and English. May I use these for Your glory, Jesus.

God bless you.

'The Midautumn Cake Massacre'

See that cake? Looks good? Probably tastes just as good. But cake can be more than just cake ...

This is based on a true life event.

It was an evening in October. It was warm, humid and bright. A blanket of haze hung over the ground, blurring vision and veiling the people that passed by. It was a prelude to an evening that started out innocent enough - a gathering of friends, for a midautumn celebration ... or so it seemed ...

11 people, and a cake, with 'murder' on their minds ...

The Dinner

Our story began some weeks before the event. The principal character, the organiser, Mr Leeky (names in the story have been changed to protect the identities of those involved), had arranged a celebration dinner, a pot bless, and invited his friends to also celebrate some of their birthdays and have a 'lantern walk'. The festivities started slightly behind time, 7.30pm, and by that time, the sun had set and the last of them entered the house. The sky was ablaze with streaks of crimson and amber ... shades of a day coming to an end. Dinner began with the usual happenings, the welcome speech, the conventional ice breaker and then a short prayer before dinner. Dinner was then served ...

As the evening wore on, the 'murder weapon', the seemingly innocent cake, was still sitting dormant in its red box.

What followed was the lantern walk. Festivities subsided and many guests left by the time the clock chimed 10pm.

And then there were 11

The final eleven made themselves comfortable after dinner with small talk and the usual rounds of jesting. Among them were: Messrs Leeky Ow, Jerome Lu, Eron Pwah, Eron Tame, Vanessa Young, Lea Yan, Ham Woo, Kent Chu, Jeah Hseen, You Gene and Angelica Ang.

Now Leeky had organised the dinner in full knowledge (and courage, I may add) that some of his guests may exact 'retribution' on certain attempted or succesfull pranks he had masterminded in the past. Taking his ostensible leave to send a friend home, he exited the scene, unaware of what events would take place in his absence.

A conspiracy

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive ...

Messrs Lu, Pwah, Chu and You Gene came together to hatch a plot to 'get at' Leeky, on the occassion of his birthday (which actually was months away). The weapons? An almost empty bowl of 'Hokkien mee' and the cake. White and creamy, it was the perfect foil to the brown mee. The three waited outside, ostensibly to ambush the unwary Leeky. You Gene lagged behind carrying the punch bowl almost full of orange drink.

The wait lasted a few minutes ... oh poor Leeky ... but wait. It was not Leeky that would taste food (um, feel foodlah) first, but the unsuspecting Kent. During a conversation, Kent was distracted and Jerome struck ... it was over in a flash ... big splashes of brown sauce and mee fell to the ground. The source? Kent's head. Triumphant in turning the tables (the turncoats) Jerome and Eron laughed and laughed, Eron running into the house. To add salt to his wounds, You Gene approached the 'wounded' Kent with the punch bowl, turning back for a moment to call for reinforcements (the bowl was heavylah).

'It's either you or me' thought Kent, and before he knew it, You Gene was drenched with the very orange juice that he intended to pour on Kent. The hunted had become the hunter ...

Kent made his way into the house, to be greeted by laughter from Eron and Jerome, and headed straight for the cake and then to Jerome - it was done - cream fell on Jerome's hair ... a small struggle ensued ...

Leeky returns to a gambit

Leeky, blissfully ignorant of what had just occured, aproached the house and saw fruit pieces on the porch's floor. He warily entered the house. Everything and everyone seemed as normal, chatting, eating ... but aha ... Jerome's and Kent's hair were freshly washed.

'Hmmm' ...

What followed was typical of a game of chess. Everytime anyone of the original four moved, Leeky would counter move. Like a pawn moving amongst the rooks, bishops and knights. His way of escape closed, Leeky then had no choice but to sit amongst the hunters ... a pigeon amongst cats (haha).

Kent went to the porch to clean up the mess.

Inside, after a while, Jerome lured Leeky into a sense of security ... laughing ... Eron crept up behind Leeky, Leeky turned ... too late ...

Eron, made his retreat to the porch, his hands full of cream, having done their work. He passed Kent and bent over to wash his hands at the garden tap ... a mistake?

The opportunity was too good to miss ... a surge of cold water from the punch bowl fell on Eron's back ... it was now Kent's turn to laugh.

Pax ... or was it?

Pax means peace. Declarations of peace filled the living room.

Jerome, in a flash, dipped his hand in to the cake and Angelica was a next victim.

Kent from the kitchen, could afterwards hear screams from the living room ... uhoh ... what was happening? Lea and Vanessa then burst into the kitchen and ran straight for the washroom ... it seems someone else had made them victims of the cake. You Gene followed, also with cake cream on his clothes, and in the washroom, a water fight began ... it was not pleasant ...

And then there were 3

The remaining: Eron Tame, Jeah Hseen and Ham Woo.

'You are among the only ones still clean. Are you afraid?' Eron Tame was asked. He was brave ...

Soon, a hand swept into the cake and Eron became a statistic.

Eron Pwah signalled to Jerome that Jeah Hseen should be next. After all wasn't it Jeah Hseen who stated earlier that he had extra clean clothing and even generously offered it to Kent upon the Hokkien mee disaster? Jeah Hseen joined Eron Tame too ... smeared on his hair and shirt.

One more. Kent conspired with Eron Pwah:

'Our host ...'

Eron understood ... walked cooly pass the cream cake and patted some cream on Ham. Eron, ran outside the house laughing.

Ham, then took some cake and made for Eron, but as it turned out, his hand landed squarely on Kent. Aahhhh ... he knew ...

The 'cake' bath

The events of the evening spared no one, not even the house. Oh the tragedy, oh the agony ... of cleaning up.

One mop, 11 people.

Well, eventually the house was cleaned ... hiding all traces of the 'massacre' that just took place.

Leeky's words

'There is always a next year' Leeky grinned ...

'Yes Leeky, we can always start fresh, all over again' Lea Yan spoke ...

'Always next year ...'

Oh what a night ...

Hahahahaha ..... I hope you enjoyed my recollection of the evening's events. Not everything is accurate though, just what I remember. Wow, truly what a night. We all went home, smelling of cream and looking 'fairer'. Most of us had cleaned up though ... but the memories will still be with us.

God bless you Lik Ee for organising the potbless.

We had fun.

I only hope no one harbours any ill feelings ... sorry once again Humphrey for messing up the house ... we did clean it well hoh?

:)

God bless you all.

Smiling at the storm

Storms are awesome natural phenomena. Chaotic and powerful, destructive yet strangely beautiful, storms can inspire fear.

Does your life look as if it is in the middle of a storm now?

Are there flashes of lightning around you and does the noise of rolling thunder deafen you?

Do you feel tossed and battered?

At the moment, on my journey with the Lord Jesus, I feel buffeted by strong winds and can almost feel the streaks of lightning descend upon me. Yes, the storm is raging around me, it can be imposing, overwhelming even ... but ...

I remember this Sunday School song. The Lord Jesus Himself reminded me:

With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm,

Smile at the storm, smile at the storm,

With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm,

As we go sailing home ...

The event of storms in a Christian's life are the norm. Our Lord Jesus Himself stated in John 16:33 that we, His children will go through troubles, trials, temptations, etc ... However, He finishes by saying 'But take heart! I have overcome the world'. Truly, with Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm.

Our Lord controls all things, there is nothing He cannot do. As Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23-27, so He can calm the storms in our lives.

Remember, our Lord Jesus allows things to happen for His reasons, and His reasons are always perfect.

I am comforted and encouraged.

To the storms of this world, I say 'Bring it on. The Lord Jesus is on my side. I will smile, laugh, sleep, rejoice in the storms', for I know who travels with me right through the storm. Jesus ...

The sunday school song ends with ...

Sailing, sailing home,

Sailing, sailing home,

With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm,

As we go sailing home.

Are you in the midst of a gale?

Do not fear, fret or wail,

Remember who travels with you,

Our Lord Jesus, faithful and true.

- Ken -

To Jesus, our Lord be all glory and honour and praise.

Encouragement

According to Dayspring.com, it is Ministry Appreciation month :)

God, all wise, has placed ministers, pastors, elders, etc in all of His churches and we are all the better for it. We all need good, godly leaders after all, and we all look to Jesus ultimately.

Let us continue to appreciate and encourage our leaders.

Encouragement, after all, can be the difference between giving up and going on ...

This link will take you to a good and refreshing read:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/9r5/9r5035.html

Even shepherds need to be fed.

God bless you.

Everlasting - Your light will shine where all else fades

I recently learned a couple of new songs (new to me that is) that really is very inspirational, both from my KDU CF camp.

The first one being How great is our God originally by Chris Tomlin from his 'Arriving' album.

This song is really inspirational to me. When I sing it with a congregation of His saints, I really feel like the world is singing as one to Jesus. Amen. Truly how great is our God. The song paints such an awesome picture. Jesus reigns! I am thinking of teaching it the next time I lead worship in BUC. Here are the lyrics:

The splendor of the King,

Clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice,

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

BRIDGE

Name above all names

Worthy of our praise

My heart will sing how great

Is our God

The second song is from the Hillsong United 'United we stand' album: Inside out. The words of the (either) pre chorus or chorus, 'Everlasting ... Your light will shine when all else fades' really touches me, as I get a beautiful picture of God's unfailing love and light. Like a precious, powerful ray of light breaking through through the confusion around me. Such precious, relevant words that mirror the condition of my walk at this time. I love You Lord Jesus always.


A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

The Lord God, Our Heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit be glorified.

God bless us all.

My journey of discovery ...

It has been some time since I posted.

...

I have just returned from KDU's Christian Fellowship camp over the weekend, Friday (29th September) to Sunday (1st October) in Golden Sands Baptist Centre, Port Dickson. The camp was not too big (numerically). There were only 25 of us, and from that, only 22 attended the camp right to the end. It was a time of refreshing, fellowship and discovery ...

The message I remember the most as being the most inspiring was the message that our speaker, Pastor Gurmit of Kuantan, shared on the last day (Sunday). It was from Daniel 3, about the stand Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made for the Lord when they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's idol. As we know, the king sentenced the three young men to death by burning in a super heated furnace (it was so hot that the guards who brought the three young men to the furnace also died (v 22) and they were thrown into the furnace.

Miraculously, they were saved by The Lord, God: (in v 25)

[Nebuchadnezzar] said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

And again later in the passage: (at v 27)

They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

God will not let down those who actively make a stand for Him, who remain faithful to Him.

The miracle is amazing, but the most eye opening thing about the lesson was in how the three young men responded to the king: (vv 16-18)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Wow ...

Something to truly chew on.

Lord Jesus, please give me the faith that You gave your three humble servants, that no matter what, I will always stand up for You. Amen.


Besides that, during the camp, I was continuously pondering over several issues (pertaining to the gifts of the Holy Spirit). I think I am on a journey of discovery and I pray for The Lord Jesus' wisdom and the inspiration of His Holy Spirit to bring me through this.

Lord Jesus, give me Your wisdom, discernment and strength. Reveal to Your servant, Your child the deep things of God. I entrust to You this journey of spiritual discovery. Let Your Word speak to me personally and convict me of Your truth Lord. Amen.

May I bring glory to the Lord Jesus.

I bless the Lord.
God bless you all.

Children and 'lurve' ...

I was wondering what to post and I received this email. For your reading (and considering) pleasure.

Touching words from the mouth of babes.

What does Love mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?". The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- aged 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - aged 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - aged 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - aged 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - aged 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - aged 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - aged 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - aged 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka - aged 6 (Wow, wow)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - aged 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - aged 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - aged 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - aged 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-aged 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - aged 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you'd left him alone all day." Mary Ann - aged 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - aged 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - aged 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it is gross." Mark - aged 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - aged 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry".

God bless you guys.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30 - 31

'Weird' and Wonderful

A thought

I had a thought last night when I was looking at some of the things in my room and bathroom. Yes, I would blog a post about some of the 'odder' things in my room (that is besides myself lah ... hahahah ... I guess I can be pretty eccentric too, as some of you would already be aware of, but I hope these idiosyncrasies are endearing rather than irritating ... haha).

Anyway, allow to me present to you the 5 most unique things in my room and bathroom (whattalist) and yes, I do consider them objets d'art.

Here they are


Ooo ... what is it? Any guesses? It is actually my wall mounted lamp.

Looking very futuristic and space aged, it caught my eye when I was in Ipoh, awaiting the shifting into my current apartment. I wanted something interesting, out of the ordinary and at the same time, charming. If I am correct, I found this lamp in a light shop near the 'warring' nga choy kai shops in Ipoh. Hahahaha ... initially attracted to it, I was hesistant to buy it, as it did not really illuminate the room bright enough to read, but its uniqueness got the better of me, and well, if ever you come and visit me, please drop by for a look.

This is a charmer. Haha ... It is my 'pet' chameleon. I actually find chameleons most fascinating. Slow moving and enigmatic, they shift and blend into the surroundings, with a wicked tongue.

This chameleon stays in my bathroom, over the sink. It is a mirror. A friend of mine, my godson Aidan's mother, Alice gave it to me for Christmas. I immediately took a liking to it and it also solved my problem of not having a mirror in the bathroom as I was hesistant to drill through tiles.

Bathroom exhibit 2: a tongue scrubber.

I know, it does not sound too pleasant but what to do when dental and oral hygiene is important? Apparently, it also helps reduce ulcers by cleaning your tongue.

This is one of my favourites: a Scripture Keeper. These beauties are readily available in Glad Sounds and Evangel and they come in a variety of themes. This is a Sports Themed one and even the Bible verses are sports themed. Good for encouragement and also as a decorative piece to get conversations going, and also sharing :) .

I have another one in the office and that is a Refuge theme, with an Ivy Tower to hold the cards. Praise The Lord Jesus for creative people.

Lastly, but not least, my very own Van Gogh artpiece. Well at least in full technicolour jigsaw.

I used to have a thing for jigsaws when Valerie, my sister in law had a few that she fixed and framed put up in our home. I saw this in Jigsaw World, KLCC and bought it on sale. I tried to fix it, but my patience grew thin (haha) and finally had to resort to the kindness and patience of my three brother and sisters in Christ, Soon Seng, Jean and Yoke Kheng, who fixed it up and then framed it up for my birthday. God bless them. :) Now it hangs as a centre piece on my bedroom wall and it really brightens up the place (with my two other pictures).

There you have it

Five of the more unique things I have. I have more, but that is another story.

Thank You Lord Jesus for your gift of art and creativity. All praise to You, my/our Author of Life.

God bless you.

The Tired Educator

From inspired to tired. Haha. Oh well ...

It has been a busy two to three weeks since the new semester began. A semester of using 'technology' to teach (KDU being a smart school), a semester of climbing stairs or waiting for elevators, a semester of getting through to new classes of students, the smallest being 7 pupils, the largest 50 plus (whew) a semester of reading to get updated with the latest in the technical world of Company Law and the enigmatic world of Equity and Trusts Law. Woo Hoo, whattajob. Also a semester of my continuing education at University Malaya (and spending oodles of time at the library (7 plus pm to closing time, no less)). What's an educator to do?

New challenges demand new solutions to overcome them, and I am more than up to the task, with the Lord Jesus being my strength and my wisdom. Amen.

Let me tell you about my classes.

University of Tasmania (twinning programme): Equity and Trusts Law

Small-ish groups, two groups (sems 5 and 6), with 7 returning students and 11 new ones. Classes are cosy, discussions are more intimate (interactive wiselah), students are generally more responsive and attentive. I enjoy lecturing Equity and Trusts anyway. This is in stark contrast to when I was a student and I was 'just getting by' in Equity. Haha. What a difference, um, a few years can make. :)

Oxford Brookes University (twinning programme)/ University of London (external programme): Equity and Trusts Law, Company Law

And then there were ... 50 plus. Wow.

This is the biggest among my group of students since I started with KDU. The general atmosphere is or can be pretty chaotic. Haha. Students come in at times ranging from early, to on time to 15 minutes late and beyond (to infinity and ... nevermind haha). When I lecture, I can see one or two students chatting and laughing behind ... and I stop and I sit. Haha. Suddenly the atmosphere changes from para silence to a lot of hushing and then silence. Then I continue. Oh the life of a lecturer who does not scold. I prefer not to scold as I treat them as adults and really do not see the point in scolding people in my age group (yes yes, I am still in my 20s). I reach out to youth better by relating to them. Although I must say I have been tempted to scold. Haha.

The students range from really attentive and inquisitive to those who listen and are silent to the few that are in a world by themselves.

The best part are my (almost) daily quizzes: trivia time. Yayy. Pin drop silence. Woosh, you could hear people breathing ... ok, that is too much, but very quiet. What happened to those back benchers? Fun fun.

All in all, that is how my term starts: slightly awkward at first in relating to new students but by the end, when we are familiar with each other, fellowship and meals and etc.

Lectures

I lecture a maximum of 5 hours a day, and most during the middle of the day (from 10 to 5 even). This semester I have 18 hours per week. I used to have 27. Whoa.

Thankfully no weekend classes. Still have to come in though, 2-3 times a month.

The Thankful Educator

Regardless of the time (or lack of it), new faces and new challenges, I enjoy teaching very much and I feel personally it is one of the best ways to reach out to oikos. :)

Lord Jesus be glorified.

God bless you all.

We've (I've) been forgiven much ...

I came across this very interesting article on Christianity Today.com. Please feel free to have a read.

What Forgiveness Isn't

6 myths that may be keeping you from letting go by Denise George.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2006/004/14.38.html

What I liked best is the last line of the article:

'When we genuinely forgive, we set a prisoner free and then discover the prisoner we set free was us.'

God bless you.

Here's Kenny ...

I'm back. I'm back. I'm back home in Ipoh ...

For those in the know, the last time I was home in Ipoh was Chinese New Year 2006. That would mean I have not touched Ipoh soil since, what was it? January? Oh wow ... and I used to return to Ipoh almost every weekend when I first started my stay in PJ/KL.

Among the reasons for my 'long awaited' (haha) return:

1. my dear parents visit us in PJ very often :),
2. it can be a hassle taking the bus (although it does give me a chance to sleep),
3. commitments in PJ (work (forced, hehe) and ministry (enjoyable, and I am grateful to serve the Lord Jesus),
4. usually tired to travel after a long week.

This time around, it was a chance too good to miss. Thursday happened to be a public holiday, my brother was driving home and I am not scheduled to work this Saturday. More importantly, what prompted me was, to me, God's still voice saying I should spend more time with my parents.

You see, I am currently attending a very interesting (and liberating) course on Friday evenings called 'The Father's Love'. It is a Biblical course that, in one sense, explores our relationship with God, based on our parents' relationship with us. The lessons are simple and concise and the ministry time can be full of wonderful revelation (Lord Jesus, transform me for Your Glory). Until now, we had only had two classes, but I felt that prompting to take an extra day from work (Friday) and just spend the long weekend with my parents (Lord Jesus, use this time for Your Glory and Healing). Intrigued? It is not too late to join. I cannot recommend it enough.

Besides the time with my family, I am also rediscovering what treasures Ipoh holds - her food. Hehe. I have so far eaten my favourite chicken rice and for dinner, at a very good place for clay pot rice and tau geh (bean sprouts). Tomorrow for breakfast: Fish head mee hoon ... yummy. And the eating goes on and on.

Family, fellowship and food ... whattacombo. :)

God be blessed.

God bless you.

One hundred million miracles

The title is taken from a song in the musical (and also movie) 'The Flower Drum Song', about how a couple of illegal Chinese imigrants find new life in the USA (arriving on board a ship as stowaways) and the lives they impact. I remember enjoying the movie as I was growing up and enjoying the music as well. It is like a musical tribute to the Chinese society in the US. Today's title, I thought, is very apt for today's post.

One hundred million miracles ... are happening everyday ...

God is good, all the time.

A fun evening

Yesterday, I had dinner with two good friends (CF students: Aaron and Sim, Sim being my ex student, about to fly to UK) at Italiannies in 1U. I had come from work, so I was lugging along with me my trustee laptop. We were catching up, having good fellowship and enjoying a satisfying meal and soon we decided to get some coffee. We headed to Centrepoint.

Upon arrival, we saw that Starbucks was packed and so we decided to go to McDonalds instead (I shall always have memories of this McDonalds now, as you shall see later ... hehe). There we were enjoying a sundae, McFlurry and a drink. Soon, it got late and we had to send Sim home to Kota Damansara. Up we got and to home did trot (haha). We arrived about 20 minutes later at Kota and after saying our goodbyes, Aaron and I headed to ss2 as Aaron wanted to collect his thumbdrive from his sister. SS2 came and went and eventually, I dropped Aaron home at Damansara Jaya.

Horrors

As Aaron was entering his home, I turned around to look at the contents of my back seat and discovered that it was quite empty, but for my gym bag, a Jusco bag and my shoes ...

Where was my laptop?????

I was frantic ... panicky ... I informed Aaron about it and he also got a shock.

Gasp! It was still at McDonalds ... and had been there for almost an hour.

What to do? What to do? I got in my car and drove and drove to McDonalds and prayed and prayed and pleaded with the Lord Jesus that the laptop still be there. All sorts of thoughts were running through my mind: the laptop, firstly had all my work stored within, all my pictures that I had taken, all my documents. The laptop belonged to my employers and I would have to pay for it now. The anguish, the panic, the forgetfulness on my part, lack of care. I prayed and prayed and prayed. Aaron even asked Joram, a friend of ours in Australia to pray too.

McDonalds

I parked my car at the roadside, parking in the carpark would take an eternity, or would seem like it and sped to McDonalds on foot. It was then almost 12.30am. The lights of McDs greeted me, but whether they were lights of relief or lights of warning, I could only speculate ... and I was speculating. Lord Jesus forgive me for being so careless with things You have entrusted me with. As I appoached the verandah, what I thought I saw made my heart sink, sink and land with a crash. The cubicle that we were sitting in (or so I thought) was now occupied. But then, I moved closer, and saw that in a cubicle behind that cubicle, there was what looked like a black bag ... untouched! Was I seeing things?

I raced in and pushed the swing doors. I still remember the squeak it gave as I did so, as if an obstacle in my path. Quick quick. As I approached the cubicle, a wave, um ... a tidal wave, um ... a tsunami of relief rolled over me ... my laptop was sitting right where I had left it ... TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY. I was wrapped in joy, in relief, in gratitude.

Well think what you will, but I know for sure that my God, Jesus answers prayers. I was thanking The Lord profusely on my way home and even managed to give a worried Aaron a call. Such euphoria. Sigh ... (and that's a good sigh).

To my Heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit be all the glory forever and forever. Amen.

Truly a hundred million miracles are happening everyday.

P.S: oddly enough, or hehe not surprisingly, the laptop was untouched even though the table had been cleaned. Our God is a God of Miracles.

I bless you God.

God bless you all.

Ratraces in vacations

Sunny days, long days, fun days, beautiful days ... hazy days?

The haze caught up with us on our escapade to Tioman, from the 17th to 20th of August. But that is the extent of the bad news. Haha.

Let me recount what happened on our holiday. We left Bandar Utama at 4.45am to start out 5 hour long journey to Mersing, Johor by car. Sardine packed in Seng Chor's Nissan, we made our way on the highway that is the North South Highway, south bound. Traffic was good (what else, travelling in the wee hours of the morning?) and soon the highway gave way to the winding, narrow trunk road lined with hundreds upon hundreds of oil palms and rubber trees. Speaking of the haze, I could see it quite clearly even at that early early hour of the morning, masquerading as mist. It was pea soup thick and at times hid the sun from our eyes. Our journey to Mersing was, thankfully, uneventful and quick, as I was asleep for most of it :) . Five hours later we arrived at Mersing and made our way to the Sun and Sand Travel, Berjaya's agency (I think). We spent about 30 minutes there and when we got out once more, to our surprise, or more like shock, we found that we had been fined for illegal parking. Oh holidays ...

Our ferry started sailing, or rather speeding towards Tioman Island from the Jetty at about 11am. It was more comfortable a boat ride than I remember from out last trip. This time the boat was bigger and better equipped, even air conditioned. It took all of 1 hour and 30 mins.

Here we are finally at Tioman Island. Woo Hoo. We lugged all our luggage (haha) to the specially provided bus waiting for us at the jetty's end and reached Berjaya Holiday resort in two shakes of a duck's tail (how this idiom came to be is beyond me ...)

This was our home for the next 3 plus days. An elegant, mansion-esque kampung styled house. Berjaya holiday resort has two types of accommodation: chalets (like this) and apartments. We stayed in rooms 318 and 319, fully air conditioned, fully hot showered, etc.

We were a bunch of hungry people. Haha. This is the amount of food we brought along with us, basically for breakfast and lunch. We had loads of things from cereal and milk to biscuits and instant noodles to bread and canned fish to sweets and chocolates and beverages. We ate and ate and ate. Dinner time was usually eaten at the local restaurants. The food was yum for the first and third evenings at Citra Anugerah Seafood restaurant, a stone's throw from the Resort, but lacking on our second evening at a different restaurant. Food was always aplenty.

Highlights

Snorkeling: Next to diving, snorkeling is a 'must do' in any tropical island paradise, and since I am not qualified to dive ... yet ... snorkeling was part and parcel of the trip. We managed to snorkel in three spots: Dalam Bay, The Marine Park and Renggis Island, a small island just off the shore from Berjaya Resort. Dalam Bay was new to me, as on the last trip to Tioman, we went on a slightly different snorkeling route. Dalam Bay was ok. Most of the corals, if I remember properly, were brownish, but fish were aplenty. The Marine Park was something of a disappointment, as it is more for fish feeding. If you think piranhas are voracious, think again. Drop a piece of something into the water and it gets attacked left, right and centre by fish of all sizes. Whoa. I say that it was a disappointment because there were not many varieties of fish and hardly and coral and I was attacked by what I think were tiny jellyfish ... as I was swimming, following a fish toward some ropes, I felt something, um, somethings stinging me ... and that also through my shirt. What a feeling ... .

Well not all was lost as Renggis Island more than compensated for the snorkeling trip thus far. Although not quite as I remembered it, Renggis Island was coral heaven, comparatively, and housed an astonishing number of fish and other marine life (sea cucumbers and urchins). I was on the look out for nudibranches (thanks to Seng Chor) but because they were either expecting me or were also on vacation, I was looking in vain. Sigh ... Oh nudi, where art thou?

Trekking to the waterfalls: This was something new as it was included in the round island trip. We arrived at some part of the island (south I think) and made our way up the stairs towards the waterfalls. There were a lot of steps, I can tell you that and I was rather warm by the time I arrived. The scene that greeted me was a sight for sore eyes: a pristine waterfall surrounded by verdant life, clear waters plunging into a small but deep pool, the smell of fresh forest water and trees ... ahhh. Most of us waded into the cold waters and rested a while, what a way to relax from the hustle bustle of city life. I even saw a frog sunbathing on a rock.

Games and more games: Games are always a highlight in our gatherings. And the core group of gamers were all here on vacation ... haha. We played the usual card games, chor tai tee, Up and Down the River and the 7 game. Also a few rounds of the enjoyable Ratrace, but the highlight of this highlight was our newest game: Kashflow. It is a very interesting and 'real' game as it teaches you things like positive and negative cashflow, the ratrace and how to invest your money in life. There's babies, downsizing and even 'doodads' (everyday expenses that can break your savings). In a sense we brought the ratrace into our escape from it. Hahah.

I have loads more pictures of the sea, the beach, the resort, the food and fun. Please let me know if you would like to see them.

To end this post, here are some pictures of our group of 5 (so who's Timmy? Haha).

God bless you all.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

Sunny days are here again ...

Most of you may dispute that statement as it is (cough cough wheez) hazy and occassionally rainy ... um thunderstorm-y nowadays. Yes, you may be right ... but whatever the current situation, I am going on a holiday starting tomorrow in Tioman. Woo Hoo. Sunny days are here again.

Let me think ... It has been some time since I have had a good rest much less been on a holiday, and I am very grateful to the Lord Jesus for blessing me with this time of rest and relaxation. Amen. The last time was probably my trip to Cameron Highlands.

Allow me to paint a picture for you ... a picture perfect horizon framing the rising sun, its warm golden rays shimmering upon the serene aquamarine carpet that is the sea. Beyond the brilliant globe of light, a splash of blue and grey, shades of a day about to begin. Seabirds soar above head carried by a light morning breeze - predators on the hunt. Below crystal waters, schools of fish dart in the open blue, shape shifting with the ever changing waters and solo fish weave between corals and anemones, taking refuge in crevices and foraging for food. On the surface, the waters ripple in the presence of fishing boats making their way to deeper waters ... all this while I am still in deep slumber ... haha. Oh wonderful rest, oh sweet repose. But of course I'd eventually awaken to a glorious day. :)

So have a good rest of the week. I know I will. I will be taking it easy peasy lemon squeezy ...

God bless you all. God bless Tioman.

To Wit

I received an email from a good friend (also a Christian) in KDU College and it contained more witty statements: Christian one liners.

Read it and ... weep?

1) Some people are kind, polite and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

2) Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

3) It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

4) When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

5) People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

6) Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

7) Quit griping about your church, if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

8) If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

9) God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

10) I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

11) A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

12) We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

13) Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

14) Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

15) God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts'!

16) God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

17) He who angers you, controls you!

18) The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

19) The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

20) We don't change the message, the message changes us.

21) You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

22) The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

God bless you all.

What would you do?

Top tens.

It seems today's world is filled with lists of some sort or other. Everyone has an opinion on the 'top 10' of something. Obviously, what is top ten for the writer may not be top ten for the reader, but whatever it is, top ten lists do get us thinking (I have received feedback that my top ten of tv series was boring and interesting (from different people). Hahah ... oh well, to every person their own).

I happen to come across a very interesting article that I would like to share with you guys. Any guesses? A top 10 list. :) However this is not any ordinary list and it is actually taken from a book of a similar name: 101 things you should do before going to Heaven by David Bordon & Tom Winters; Bordon-Winters LLC, 2006. The link can be found below. It is from Christianity Today's website.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2006/004/4.20.html

So please have a look. It will at least get you thinking.

God bless you.

The 'idiot box' : Entertainment and beyond

Picture this: a family gathered some evening in a home around a big box with flickering images that appear seemingly from thin air. All eyes are affixed to the images that move behind the central curved glass screen and all ears are attuned to the noise and dialogue that float from small slots surrounding the screen - it's wholesome family fun! It's the TV ... one of man's greatest inventions, and, boy oh boy, has it has come a long way.

I grew up watching a lot of television. In fact some of my fondest memories of tv was sitting glued in front of it with my siblings or with my whole family (cousins included) being awed and entertained by series such Sesame Street (I still like it ok?), 3-2-1 Contact, Electric Company, ThunderCats, M.A.S.K, Visionaries and the like. We also used to have a good round of laughs with choice gems like Three's Company (although I sometimes think I was too young to appreciate the jokes), The Cosby Show and Mind Your Language; sat thrilled by the likes of MacGyver, Star Trek: The Next Generation and ChiPs (my brother and I had bicycles and used to play ChiPs ... haha); I even remember staying up late at night (I was still in primary school, and it was during UPSR) watching the very addictive Cantonese drama series 'the Seasons'.

The TV has certainly come a long way - and not only the TV but its programmes. Pure entertainment made way for education and more advanced news reporting and with the advent of reality TV, real life (besides news) was brought right before our very eyes. Whoa. Of course a lot has been said about the advantages and pitfalls of TV, but come what may, the TV is a truly unique invention.

Through this post, allow me to present to you, what I think are some of TV's best and defining moments. I will even be so bold to say that some of these programmes are 'inspirational'.

Behold, the creme de la creme (to melah, Top 10) of secular TV:

10: The Simpsons

Like it or not, the Simpsons have made an impact on TV and the society that watches TV. The 'yellow first family of Springfield with 4 fingers on each hand' can make you laugh and gasp at the same time, with their um, unique brand of humour. Although I do not condone all that is done in the series, as some messages are very questionable, where entertainment value is concerned, they deliver. Watch with caution though.

9: Bagdad Cafe (the tv series)

Most of you are probably wondering what this is all about and rightly so as it was a short lived comedy. It starred the ever hilarious Whoopi Goldberg and is based on the movie of the same name: about a black lady who runs a desert inn and the white lady (Jean Stapleton) who comes to move in and the lives they impact. Funny does not begin to describe the series as this is one series where I truly laughed and laughed. Talk about ebony and ivory ...

8: The naked chef/Cooking with heart and soul:

Presenting chefs extraordinaire: Mr Jamie Oliver and Ms Kylie Kwong, a Brit and an Aussie (Chinese) who can truly cook up a storm. There is nothing (probably) more appetising than watching a good cooking show and not only do they deliver, but deliver in fine style: Jamie with his simplicity and humour and Kylie with her oh so Australian accent and charm. They even make preparing the ingredients for the dishes (which I find a tad troublesome) fun to watch and, whoa, when they finish, I wish I was there to sample the menu. Yummy.

7: The X Files

Agent Mulder: So what do you think Scully?

Agent Scully: There must be a rational, scientific explanation for this phenomenon.

Agent Mulder (smirks): Maybe it is just an X File.

The rivalry, the attraction, the mystery and the originality truly made this series one for the books. Agents Scully and Mulder both had enough charisma to keep the series running and with well written scripts and storylines, why should anyone be surprised at the serie's success? Although I always used to wonder why Mulder had to explain a few scientific things to Scully. She was a doctor right?

6: Friends

If you think about it, the characters (on paper) are truly stereotyped: you have the manic worrier, the high school prom queen, the popular guy, the witty albeit slightly bitter guy, the girl who wants to make everyone happy and the weirdo - Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe. What keeps this from being just your average run of the mill comedy series is a sharper than glass script and applaudable acting chops from the cast. Episodes were almost always fresh and more often than not, unpredictable.

5: American Idol

What do you get when you combine three sometimes difficult judges, one talkative host and 12 contestants that can sing and sing and sing? In the words of Ryan Seacrest: 'This is American Idol'. Haha ... watch and you will see why it is on the list.

4: Frasier

What a change. From pub to posh, this is Dr Frasier Crane ... and he is listening. :) This is the thinking man's comedy, a comedy so fresh and wit filled that you can just sit back and put those brains to good use even while relaxing. With a cast of commendable actors (and an actress that manages to make the cockney accent sound posh) and a one of tv's most famous dogs, Frasier entertained without being condescending.

3: Boston Public

'Inspire them! You're a teacher ...' is a phrase from TV's drama filled high school series that I shall always remember, and frankly it really made me think about teaching as a profession. Oh yes, the drama was always neck high and some characters were over the top (I was usually quite 'tired' after watching it), but it was real, albeit possibly exaggerated ... and the pretty actresses also added to the fun. Boston Public highlights many of the issues in schools today and you learn to appreciate teachers for who they are. Three cheers for this school.

2: Monk

The OCD with OCD. Hahah. The obsessive compulsive detective with obsessive compulsive disorder, Monk is a rarity among tv series. Fun, intelligent and funny all at the same time, with endearing characters and crazy plots, it is hardly a surprise it is perennially on the Emmy shortlist. Kudos aside, I actually enjoy this a lot because Adrian Monk reminds me of ... me, at least who I used to be, obsessive compulsive (haha, hey ask my family loh). It is Sherlock Holmes meets Charlie Chaplin.

1: Star Trek: Voyager

Finally the 'big momma' of tv series and one of my all time favorites, ST: Voyager. When I first began to watch it in the UK, I found it ok. It was another ST series, pretty much the same. A few years later, Astro began to screen it on AXN and believe you me, I watched the series (from beginning to end: about seven seasons) back to back almost three times. Gasp. The storyline may be same ol, same ol, but its the characters that grip you, and my personal favorite ST character of all series, Seven of Nine is vava voom. Intelligence and beauty with a resonant strength - a beautiful borg (and fyi she is also in Boston Public). Let's hope they make a movie from this series.

Whew ... there is so much more to say with so many other notables like Ally McBeal, the Cosby Show, Mind Your Language, MacGyver, Quantum Leap, Golden Girls, Knight rider, ST: TNG, ER, 21 Jump St, CSI (Miami, NY, LV), Ed, The A Team, Relic Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Murder She Wrote, Scrubs, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Malcolm in the Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond, Home Improvement, Cheers, Three’s Company, Gilligan’s Island, I love Lucy, Facts of Life, Mad About You, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Futurama, Dexter's Laboratory, Survivor, 'V', SeaQuest DSV, Misfits of Science, Whose Line is it anyway? and the Most Extreme, but I shall stop here for now.

Happy watching ... and oh yes, watch responsibly. :)

God bless you.