The Best Side to Be

Even if you’re right, it’s better to be on the side that goes, “I’m sorry”.

Because, then, the other side has an either-or option---to forgive, or to hold the grudge, which would make him/her/them look childish and unforgiving.

Besides, “sorry” works wonders on wounded pride, egos and anger; it’s much easier to bring him/her/them to your point of view when he/she/they are calmer.

Anyway, saying sorry requires lots of effort and inner-strength. It kills the proud :D.

BUT.

Using “sorry” like this:-

“I’m sorry I fell in love with you, sorry I gave everything you wanted, sorry I was there for you all the time”

That’s not apologizing. That’s something called GUILT-TRIPPING. Because, what is the person being “apologized” to going to respond? It’s all right, I liked it when it happened?

Reminds me of some parents in movies:-

Parent to teen: ”Well, I’m sorry for giving you the best!”

Best way to counter?

Teen: ”It’s all right; I didn’t really need the best, anyway.”

WEIRD thought.

I suddenly thought of those not-so-important-but-important-enough-characters in novels. Then I thought, huh, why does it sound so much like what I do most of the time.

They seem to have no problems themselves. Goodness, their role in the novel is help solve the protagonist’s problems. All in the name of character development.

But truth is, they do have problems. They face troubles, sometimes even troubles greater than what the protagonist faces. It’s only when suddenly he/she breaks down, goes missing, gets involved in crime…... that something about that character is revealed. Otherwise, he/she is taken for granted.

And he/she doesn’t mind, usually. He/she takes great measures so the protagonists have a great time, have all their problems solved, putting their interests before his/hers.

But what does he/she gets in return? Novels kill them off, or let them go forgotten. They are no longer needed. What’s interesting is the hero/heroine.

-

But that’s what Christ is telling us to become, right? To recognize your role, your calling, and live up to it. No matter if you won’t be center-stage. No matter if you won’t be appreciated. God sees, and he never forgets. and He’ll surely reward justly.

One key difference is that you don’t hide your problems deliberately. Share it, find a friend, never mind if they can’t really help; just let it out. OhgoodnessthisissoundinglikesomeDearThelmasection

But then again, this is just what I think. Not completely thought out yet….

To obscurity and beyond!

Lalalalala :)))))

I’m so blessed. SO many people going around down with some sort of sickness… or “down-ness”, but not me! Mwahahahahha

I don’t even feel tired now! :O.

VBS is over. Thank God. Really. First time I played till my arms got tired. My elbows actually felt sore >.>’.

I actually remembered all my kids’ names :D!

Thank God for Xiu Ming who did so many many things :). If I could change SC2’s, I would not change Xiu Ming awayyy. Though maybe he might want to be someone else’s SC2, not my problem.

-

Back to normal routine……..?

VBS!

I really don’t know where to start on this. It’s such a big thing.

-

So much work went into just preparing it. From the planning, logistics, the props, decor, drama, worship, sound, lights, and the days themselves.

It’s events like these that stresses the importance of unity in the Body. Everyone, every part, doing their share of work. Contributing to the overall success of the event. If one part does their job well, the others will follow suit; if one does their job badly, the others will deteriorate as well =/.

No time for emo-ing.

-

I like my kids :). They are so typical of primary chinese school students, yet so different. For one, their English is actually good. >.>’ Not that I like them just because of their English but anyway.

-

Go boys! Will the girls win again this year? I hope not =/.

 

Lalalala

Dum dee dummm

I actually like breaking social norms and make people squirm. Lalala.

Until other people whom I’m not familiar with do it back to me. EEP.

The golden rule.

-

VBS is next week.

The end of MYF, session 2010, ends next week.

Christmas is next month. So so very soon.

Youth Quake is next month.

-

I’m home alone! :D.

Before you go, “aiyerr, so good wan”. Let me tell you, I’ve heard that enough times, and it’s not a good thing. You’ve to clean up the house, do all the chores you didn’t have to do when your mum’s around, FIND TRANSPORT for every single outing (thank GOD I’ve such good friends :)))), COOK, plan ahead, buy groceries, get paranoid over weird noises at night…..

I’m so blessed la, my sister calls to check on me, asking weird questions. Then my mum’s friend calls to check on me, asking more questions. They all seem to be very concerned about my pet. Huh.

Weird thing is: whenever I tell an adult that I’m home alone, they’ll ask how are you, why you didn’t go, want to come my house to eat? Of course, I say fine; because I don’t like travelling; Nah, it’s all right :), I can cook :))). Then I realize how blessed I am.

I know, that sounds rather superficial. But their offers are genuine, and they give me food even without me asking.

Then I realize how right my mother has been, teaching me to be independent, teaching me to cook, do chores, get around. I’m glad she didn’t hire a kakak to do everything for me. Though, of course, I’m still lazy and would run away from chores, anytime! Now, there’s no running, if I go out, leaving them undone, I still have to do it when I come back.

Ah, long post :).

Thank God, really.

I’m an ungrateful brat. Really!

I asked for so many things from God. Big things. Small things. Not so big or small things. I either get them or I don’t. Weird thing is, I complain more often when I get it than when I do not.

Repeat after me: Jon is an ungrateful person [understatement!]. (Or maybe I’m just weird, whichever makes you happier) [or both]

For example, I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His, to see things as He sees them. He did. What I saw was truly heart-breaking. And I for a moment just went, why why why did I have to know, see all these things happening around me.

He answered. I wasn’t thankful. I wasn’t prepared, or so I thought.

But God enables us to be strong in the midst of trouble. He gives us only what we can bear, just almost, at any single time, with his help.

I could’ve went all depressed and moody; let the emotions run free; wallow about; complain more. But what good would that do to anyone? What good would that even do to me?

I could’ve went all cynical and skeptical about everyone; forever suspicious of others; having no faith. The question remains.

Not to say I feel great all the while. Who can? The occasional feelings of unworthy-ness, self-pity (I know, right), superiority yet at the same time inferiority (told you I’m weird >.>’), comes back. Old “comrades”; “allies”; the enemy and I are one and the same. Am I such a bad person to have such things? I’m starting to think I’m a perfectionist deep down >.>’.

But I will not indulge in them. As “nice” as it may be to do so, it’ll not make me feel better. It’s a slope of gradual descents. Of course, I will pass these feelings up to Christ. And they will bow to the lordship of Jesus. They do not control me; the reins are in my hands, and I pass them to Christ.

Ahem. Put simply: I’ve got Jesus, Jesus; He calls me for His own~ And He lifts me, lifts me, above the world I knoowww~~ :D

‘cause the World needs more joy :)

Even if you’re sad and down inside; even if you need to cry; even when things seem so overwhelming; even if the pain just won’t go away, put it aside, push it away, look to your friends’ interests, sympathize, empathize.

Perhaps, what you need is more of a dose of helping others, and not a dose of wallowing in self-pity.

-

For self-pity is such a selfish thing. It encloses you in your own little world. Every difficulty enlarged; every situation against you. You suffer.

Others suffer along.

Selfish, self-centered person!

People try their best to be with you, yet you taint them with your foul mood; destroy the day for them; killjoy.

-

Nooo! I’m not angry!

Just annoyed.

Slighty.

Really!

Weird thing!

My “meeehhh day” starts at night. Which causes difficulty in sleeping for me. =.=’

Thank God his mercies is renewed every day, and his joy will come in the morning, though the sorrows may last for the night.

:)))))

So, the response was very unexpected. The sanctuary was crowded. The normally stiff congregation got about and moved. The youths actually did jump! Will they still be doing that when the artists leave and the more “normal” ones come back?

I suppose we do need to loosen up much more. If we’re going to do it for the Lord, we’re going to do it for the Lord; no holding back! Why the need to be so self-conscious?

The only thing you have to think about is this: will what I’m doing, in my expression of worship, cause others to stumble?

Of course, I do see the need for reverence. After all, the fear [reverence, awe…] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, isn’t it? But that doesn’t mean we speak of him in hush-hush tones, pray with some weird, English accent you don’t use in normal conversation.

It means to seek His will in all things, at all places; to stand for His truth; to glorify his name.

Once that’s settled, inwardly, it will be settled outwardly, too. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Just as Juwita Suwito said, you’ve to feel the song, mean it, and it’ll just naturally show on your every move, every expression, every gesture.

Sad fact:-

I’m not “one of the guys”.

I don’t play football. I don’t watch football. I’m terrible at most sports. I don’t discuss girls (really! Don’t believe izzit!). My interests are weird and varied, many of which they don’t even bother about.

Certainly not “one of the girls”, either.

I’m not a fan of K-pop. I don’t discuss guys (weird!). I don’t read manga. I don’t watch TV series (maybe except HIMYM).

SOOOO, where do I fit in? I flit between both. Knowing both sides, yet not close to any. Jack of all trades, master of none, eh?

Or maybe I’m just a little too unique :P.

----

So little time, so many things!

>.>’

While the others are going on and on about how bored and how empty their schedules are, I’m far from bored, and my schedule is packed! List time!

1. Choir Practice---Every Tuesday & Sunday
2. VBS Band Practice---Every Monday & Friday
3. Various “outings”---RANDOM! :O
4. Meetings! (Mysterious aura to make it seem more important)
5. 3 books to read. >.>
6. Books to bind (Sorry Nat & Viann! >.> Stepping right on it)
7. Going on Facebook and getting depressed.

-

Really. Facebook is DEPRESSING these days. Now with PMR candidates all free and with nothing to do (well, at least for them), it’s flooded with status updates and comments! What status updates?

EMO/LOVE status updates! Things like these:

“If only I could have you, I would give everything in the world away……………………………………………………….”

“Sigh, so near yet so far……………………………….. I want to talk to you but…. I scared I annoy you…………. Am I?……….”

“Why are you all so like this one….. Can’t you see I can’t take it anymoreee????………………….”

“Aiyooooooo, bored like heck laa…………”

Okayyy, the ellipses and exaggerated but, really! So annoying! And I’m not going on to the typographical aspects!

Get a life! Go find a hobby. Get out! Organize something! If you choose to stay at home and not do anything, FINE. But don’t complain!

You like that guy/girl? GO! Tell him/her how you feel!

If you don’t, and decide instead to leave vague, soppy, trite statements on Facebook, and then leaving us hanging there when we ask “What’s wrong?”, pretending that everything’s ALL RIGHT when you’re “broken deeeeep down, putting up a smile to face you all when, really, I’m just so broken”, and then thinking that nobody understands you… Gah. I wish I can keysmash right now.

Go find your best friend to talk to instead. Please.

Not done yet!

Those commenters who foul up people’s mind with their “wisdom”, going “everything will be all right wan laaa ^^, god won’t let you do something you don’t like wannnn”, or something of that sort. Worse thing is, the person who posted that thing is really looking for something comforting and just laps it up!

Steam steam steam steam-

I should really go get a life, like right now.

Filter

Whenever I feel depressed(well, I DO get depressed!), my mind gets full of things to blog about. About how sucky everything is, about how terrible things are, how unfair some situations are……

SO, I open my Windows Live Writer, and stare at the blank page. Thoughts buzzing around. Emotions fluttering about.

Then I decide not to write anything.

and I haven’t, and won’t ever, regret doing that :).

Because, I know that soon and very soon, my God will deliver me from this ditch, for though the sorrow may last for the night, His Joy will come in the morning :). He’ll carry me up, and lift my head up high. and I can smile.

Now, don’t blame me for not talking or sharing my thoughts and emotions; it’s just that I’ve a great God, and he’s more than enough.

:))))))))

Every time before going into the exam room (yup, I’m lucky to be sitting for the exams in a class!), I pray.

I close my eyes. Bow my head.

God meets me.

My heart is stilled; my mind clear. Deep, abiding joy fills me ~over and over~!

How can you not say my God isn’t an awesome God? He cares about trivial things as much as “big” things.

Paul, after all, did write “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

And what happens?

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

I’m soooo not going to ramble on and on what that verse means. It’s quite self-explanatory :P.

4 random thoughts, since there’s, like, 4 days to the end of.. oh never mind.

1. Time taken to shade answer is longer than time taken to answer question.
2. Why am I so happy!
3. I lift up my eyes to the hill from whence cometh my help; my help cometh from ~the Lord~---the Lord of all heaven and earth!
4. OHMIGOODNESSSSSS!! CHOIR PRACTICEEEE :DDDDDDDDDD

-

Just so you know.

>.>’

And then the thief comes in the night and stole away my confidence.

-

Thank God I regained it back. Though I sort of did panic when I was just starting to write the Bahagian C essay and looked at the clock---11:10 already! :O. That’s like, 40 minutes away to the end!

Then my handwriting deteriorated. Like, gasp.

>.>’

Anyway, I made it in time (thank God!), though the handwriing was shaky (only for the 2nd half of the long long essay [not exactly] and literature component, though).

-

I’m wishing for an interesting English essay…. Or is it up to me to make it “interesting” again…? >.>

Oh well :P.

7 days.

Just thinking:

People state the importance of religion, especially when they see all these moral decadence, making it seem like some cure-all for all ills. Yet, when you go onto the topic of religion, they shy away, saying things like, “All religions are inherently good, the non-satanist ones, that is, so choose whichever you like,” or, “All of them teach good things; why don’t you just see which values you like from each, and pick?”

And when they stress the importance of religion, they stress the values part, the teachings. It’s as if they just want to get what they want from religions and ignore commitment.

And then there’s the thing with moral decadence---only YOUTHS are doing it. When you see the titles for essays (especially in Malay test papers), it’s all about youths doing drugs, smoking, somethingortheother…..

What about adults? Are they not responsible for whatever happened? Not to say that youths aren’t responsible for their actions, but adults are the trend-starters. The trend then spreads to the youths.

An adults smoking? Ah, normal scene.

A youth smoking? Oh my goodness! This is bad! Laws should be passed, enforced, made stricter! What the world has got into…!

Well, of course, that’s just exaggeration, but you get what I mean…. right?

--

I do not endorse smoking; I hate second-hand smoke. It kills everyone around the smokee. Waste of money.

Dum dee dummm

No matter how high I go, or how low, I still need food, water, air, to bathe, and to poop and whatnot. But most of all, I need God :).

-----

Everyone sits on this throne---the toilet! :D

-----

So, I auditioned for the Christmas choir, and got into the bass section. The choir will be led by Juwita Suwito! :O. She came to CGMC before, a year or so ago, and sang some of her songs. She gone on to become much more famous and better, some say even rounder :P; some people consider her to be “Malaysia’s Premier Vocalist”, even!

Ooooh, exciting.

-----

 

That’s her!

----

PMR’s coming soon! Perhaps you heard this from me before, but I’m still going to say it: after trials, it’s just like some long horrible movie that just won’t end; thank God it’ll be over in three weeks, this waiting for PMR to come and studying and preparing for it!

Not like I’ve been studying.

----

Lament

Oh woe.

Not you only.

Rejoice!

God does great things in your life…

when you obey.

Wow :).

The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters, by Andy Andrews

The Butterfly Effect, by Andy Andrews, is short; but the message it brings is profound and inspiring.

The Butterfly Effect seeks to help us see the big picture, that everything you do will impact something or the other, with beautiful pictures and colorful pages, in a way suitable to people who are older and appreciate history.

Each page contains, at most, 60 words (excluding the Author’s note), making this book an easy read. The vocabulary used is easily understood.

Every page is a glossy page! Colorful and befitting the situation it presents, it captivated me, from the start, till the end.

I’ll say, this book changed my thinking with the message it presents. It is short, yet powerful.

I would recommend this book to people who need encouragement in their lives. 5 stars.

*My views are my own; I’m not being forced to give a good review even though Thomas Nelson gave me a copy for free.*

Oh, blessed release.

So I did it; goodbye, Facebook! Till we ever meet again.

I’d rather use more effort to cultivate real relationships through, best---directly, or through emails, phone calls, smses, or even msn; and not make it a public affair where everyone sees everything.

You wish someone Happy Birthday just because Facebook tells you so. No need for you to remember. No effort! And we’ve gotten so lazy that Facebook has to remind us to “say hi to [person]!”. Is that the way we should live?

I keep my blog cause it’s a way to rant and share thoughts that I think isn’t too revealing or private.

So, yeah. Call/SMS/IM/Email me; Facebook takes the easy way out in relationships---ashamed of something? Just delete it.

Better yet, write me a letter :P.

----------

Take away this need to be recognized =/. It’s between me and you only.

Unproductiveee!

Slept late, woke early, slept long hours in the afternoon. Nooooot healthy, nor productive! D;

--------

40 more days til PMR.

Hari Raya! Rendang! :D

--------

Beyond Opinion – Living the Faith We Defend

by Ravi Zacharias and his global team of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries---Alister McGrath, John Lennox….

Why should youths, even youths, be equipped to defend their faith?

What are the challenges atheism and postmodernism pose and how do we face them?

Why does God allow evil and suffering?

These are some of the questions that are covered in this 360 page book, with 15 chapters divided into 3 parts---Giving and Answer, which is further divided into 2 sections: Addressing the Difficult Questions and Addressing the Questions behind the Questions; Internalizing the Questions and Answers; and Living Out the Answers.

The chapters are written in a sort-of conversational way, so it’s rather easy to understand. Although, some parts requires second readings to get completely. It managed to hold my attention throughout, though sometimes the author would stay on a question for too long.

Personally, I like the cover---the colours and the font used. It looks rather literary. I would prefer it in hardcover, though, as this would be a book I would read again and again.

Kudos to the typography---though the paragraphs be long and sentences long, it doesn’t put me off and instead invites me to read it. It’s very readable.

This book doesn’t just answer the questions, it urges us to live it out, live out the faith. And it does that by giving us examples, bible verses, and ways to do it---practically and spiritually, which is what non-believers are looking for in us---to practice what we preach.

I highly recommend this to anyone who takes their faith seriously. 5 stars.

                                   Pretty, right? :D

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I wrote what I wrote; not forced to give a glowing review; this is what I really think of it. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hillsong [Unite+Conquer] in Ipoh

“OHMYGOOSSSHHH!”, “What the….”, “WOAAH!”

All those can be heard when people went into the ballroom and saw what they saw. Reminds me of Thomas.

It was a blast, both nights. Thousands came (over 4k) each night, and hundreds were saved. Great rejoicing in heaven, indeed :).

I do worry, though, if people will go back to their churches and compare, and be all sad and disappointed the way things are at their churches. Then, they’ll go sighing and moping about, going “if only….”.

I hope that never happens. Emotional highs comes with emotional lows. Worship need not it’s participants to be in a frenzy. So, I pray that we won’t go looking for those things, for God wants us to live by faith, not by sight or feelings.

So, yeah. Be strong :D.

-------

:))))

Trials was great. God is good.

Results are not bad. Teachers haven’t gave out English and BM marks, so now I’m stuck at 5 A’s. 2 more A’s and I’ll be happy :D. Chinese, lost case la(but still pass, lah).

------------

The Hillsong Concert is tomorrowwww! :OOOOO

I shall repeat that again: THE HILLSONG CONCERT IS TOMORROWW!!! :OOOOOOO!

In case anyone doesn’t know, the concert will be held for 2 nights, Wednesday and Thursday.

The one on Wednesday night requires registration before to get the code to get in. Registration doesn’t mean money is involved.

Thursday night, free for all! Come early :D.

Both nights will start from 7:30 till around 11p.m, at the Syuen Hotel---opposite Ipoh Parade.

Yes, even though Darlene, or Joel Houston, aren’t coming, I’m sure it’ll be great, too! and Please don’t get me started on the “main band not coming” issue. There’re so many musicians, vocalists, worship leaders involved in just one band, and they’re changing every time!

Anyway, please do come :). You’re all cordially invited.

Taqiyya

Within the Shia theological framework,^[1] the concept of taqiyya (تقية - 'fear, caution, fear of God or of sin', also taghiyeh)^[2] refers to a dispensation allowing believers to conceal their faith when under threat, persecution or compulsion.^[3]

Al-Tabari's (d. 923) famous tafsir (exegesis of the Koran) is a standard and authoritative reference work in the entire Muslim world. Regarding 3:28, he writes: "If you [Muslims] are under their [infidels'] authority, fearing for yourselves, behave loyally to them, with your tongue, while harboring inner animosity for them. … Allah has forbidden believers from being friendly or on intimate terms with the infidels in place of believers — except when infidels are above them [in authority]. In such a scenario, let them act friendly towards them." Regarding 3:28, Ibn Kathir (d. 1373, second in authority only to Tabari) writes, "Whoever at any time or place fears their [infidels'] evil may protect himself through outward show." As proof of this, he quotes Muhammad's close companion, Abu Darda, who said, "Let us smile to the face of some people [non-Muslims] while our hearts curse them"; another companion, al-Hassan, said, "Doing taqiyya is acceptable till the Day of Judgment [i.e., in perpetuity]. Source: "War and Peace - and Deceit - in Islam" by Raymond Ibrahim /Pajamas Media February 12, 2009

Wikipedia: Taqiyya

 

In essence, it means Allah sanctions lying to protect oneself, and actually encouraging his adherents to be two-faced towards other people (infidels).

Mind boggling, isn’t it?

---------

You know,

you see those loud, noisy, attention-grabbing people that are your “friends”? It’s your fault they are like that.

We often encourage them to be like that, by giving the person who is the noisiest the most attention. This is all right, until said person dominates each and every conversation at the place he or she is at. Other people who would want to talk to us would be pushed aside, having no chance to speak.

As for those people that resort to controversial topics, loud-jokes-that-aren’t-funny-at-which-people-laugh-at-anyway, and or just being loud, please please please shuuusshhh once in a while! Listening is actually quite fun, too, you know.

I believe the way to pull quiet ones out of their shell is to give them attention, put the focus on them, and actually listen to them. That also means giving the noisy, dominant people less attention, which I think is a good thing; they’ve too much already!

I knoooowww, this isn’t a very good solution; but it’s the best I can think of now :P.

The Big “C”

Commitment.

When the Bible says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind”, it doesn’t mean “feel good and benevolent towards the Lord your God”; instead, it means “no matter what, no matter how, no matter when, be committed and devoted to serving and doing the will of the Lord your God”.

Our feelings and emotions are too unstable; they come and go just like that, no one can truly tame them.

What God wants from us is something lasting, real, and pure---our commitment towards Him, letting our “yes” to him be “yes” and our “no” be “no”.

You see, love is, and was never, and will never be, just a feeling; love will always be an action.

Why are we so afraid to commit ourselves to the Lord? Hasn’t He shown himself to be great and real and mighty? Hasn’t He shown faithfulness through the ages? Hasn’t He responded lovingly and mercifully to whomever that came to Him?

If you won’t take the leap of faith, and stay hugging yourself in your comfort zone, how then will you experience the abundance of life that Christ Jesus promises to give freely and willingly?

The Fifa World Cup 2010 Conspiracy

You see Shakira in World Cup Germany 2006.

Now you see her again in South Africa, 2010.

I tell you, Germany/Spain or Netherlands won’t win in the end! They will just appear to win!

The person who really wins is SHAKIRA!!!

This is how it will happen:-

When the crowd is roaring, and the trophy is being passed on to the winning team. Out Shakira will come with the song, Waka Waka, and beguile everyone with her belly-dancing and abs!

Mesmerized, nobody will notice when one of her dancers take the trophy away!

It’ll be already too late when someone does notice!

You can’t stop it from happening, even when I already told you now. Shakira is too powerful!!!

Mwahahahahahha!

Talk talk talk….

Something that really really annoys me is people that talk talk talk talk talk, complain and grumble and mumble, and do nothing about it.

Worse still, the thing that person is complaining and grumbling about, or talking against, can be found in him. Hypocrite!

-----------------

Ah, anyway, the Hillsong concert in Ipoh already reached 800+ registered people. Hurry up! Or there won’t be any wrist-bands left!

Hillsong Australia is Coming to Ipoh!

11 August 2010

7:30p.m. till around 11p.m.

Syuen Hotel

Admission Free!

First 1000 gets a wrist-band :).

Just e-mail your details---name, address, contact number, school/uni, church---to hillsteamipoh@gmail.com.

If you want more info, call 010-3701546 (Priscilla), I assure you, she’s pleasant to talk to. Haha :).

I urge you, please please please go, and if you already are going, spread the news! Invite your friends!

:)

Jon found out he likes cleaning the house. Mop mop mop. Swiiishhhh. I wonder where did Nat buy her rotating mop. I also want!

Nat’s rotating mop is so special, and so light! Just immerse it in water, put it on the basket thingie, step on the pedal, and it spins out the water! Woooshh!

What fun :P.

----

I found it!

  Image taken from CatchOfTheDay.com.au

------

My goodness, this post looks like an advert >.>.

Blaah.

Recently, I’ve been wondering---how can I lead people to be in God’s presence when I don’t know whether I’m filled with the Spirit? It’s like the blind trying to lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch.

The Spirit requires total surrender, death to the earthly nature. Am I ready for that?

---------------------

Change must come; get ready.

12 steps to beautiful handwriting :)

1. Learn to hold a pen correctly.

A correct pen grip would be loose and comfortable.

This grip can be done by putting your hand on the table, resting on the side of your hand, pinkie below. Let your hand relax. Put a pen/pencil in the middle of the three fingers that come together---the thumb, index and middle finger. Voila!

When writing with a correct pen grip, it must be loose enough for someone to grab the pen away from you.

2. Relax.

3. Slow down. Concentrate on the letter forms.

4. Using the fingers only to form the letters will cause cramped letters, and cramped hands. Ouch.

5. Use your whole arm to write, with the elbow as a pivot. The arm should rest on the table, with the elbow jutting out from the table a few inches.

6. Never let your hand be “anchored” on the table by the wrist. Instead, the three contact points of the hand to the table are: the pinkie, pen, and the fleshy part of the hand, below the pinkie.

7. A nice pen motivates nice writing.

8. Learn a style, if you wish, like italics or cursive.

9. Have a spacious place to write.

10. Move the paper, not the position of the arm. That is, move only from the elbow, don’t lift the entire arm to write on the right side of the page after writing on the left. Rather, move the book/page. Also, the paper should be slanted somewhat to the left, though not perpendicular to you.

11. A book that opens flat is great! No hindrances to writing :).

12. Enjoy it. Your handwriting may be the most beautiful ever, but if you don’t enjoy the writing or the act of writing it, it’ll be the most ugly to you.

Beautiful handwriting :). I hope these steps helped in achieving it. You may take some time getting used to them.

NCV’s Dad’s Bible – The Father’s Plan

The Dad’s Bible (New Century Version) by Thomas Nelson Publishers is good for fathers, and fathers-to-be, as it provides many practical notes and commentaries to be applied in bringing up children to fear the Lord. It even provides a Q & A section at the back, providing answers to common questions like “can scientists prove that creation isn’t true?”. This Bible also provides a topical index, and a series of quotes from the Bible on things like contentment, discouragement…..

The Dad’s Bible is rather easy to use and read. Although, sometimes it can be a little confusing, as the commentaries mingle with the main text, without much contrast in terms of text color or having a border. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to a Bible with commentaries, but I get the impression of this Bible being a little too cramped. The margins are too narrow for my liking.

This Bible is very durable, with a hard cover. It is also well-bound, with thin but tough paper. Though, it’s not advisable to carry this Bible around, as it is heavy.

The study tools provides familiar scenes, whether at home or at work, illustrating the truths found in the Bible, vividly. They are quite helpful if you want to use the truths found in the Word in everyday life. But, the study tools doesn’t explain the customs and the background of the scriptures. So, this Bible shouldn’t be used alone.

I would certainly recommend the Dad’s Bible to other people, especially fathers-to-be.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

12 steps to being a better cook :P

1. Don’t be impatient while cooking/baking/frying!
2. Have all ingredients & tools at hand before starting.
3. Know your equipments!
4. When in doubt, cook it longer. Better to be overdone than uncooked >.>.
5. Smokes and that burning smell means something is burnt.
6. Always clear your area. Don’t leave it cluttered!
7. Remember to check the fire/temperature at all times!
8. Improvise.
9. Know your ingredients. This helps you to step 8.
10. Use just enough oil to cover the surface of the pan, unless frying.
11. Don’t stand behind someone else in the kitchen. He/she may be holding a knife, and when he/she turns around holding it……
12. Trust your taste-buds :).

12 steps to guarding the tongue.

1. Shut up. :)
2. Think of how others would feel to what you say.
3. “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you”
4. Be patient; not everyone wants to listen to you speak all the time.
5. Listen to others.
6. Listen.
7. Pay attention to what others are saying!
8. Smile :). It actually helps!
9. Don’t think too highly about yourself.
10. Be secure, know who your identity.
11. The cowards’ way: backstabbing, gossiping, slandering.
12. Speak only when needed.

Of all these, love, love and love; love is the only reins that can keep the tongue in check, and where else can you get love apart from Love himself?

Childlike Faith….?

I used to think that having “childlike faith” means accepting whatever people say.

How far from the truth that is! Imagine this:-

Your five-year old niece. She sees a rainbow.

“What is that?” she says, pointing.

“It’s a rainbow,” you answer.

Not satisfied, she probes further, “Why is it there?”.

“Because God put it there,” the answer comes easily from you.

“Why?”

It goes on. Until she gets the answer that satisfies her.

and that is what it means to have a childlike faith---questioning yet trusting, innocent and pure. That doesn’t mean we’ve to be Naïve, however.

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola

The full title is actually ‘Jesus Manifesto, restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ’.

Nowadays, the Church is more interested in things like campaigns, events, causes, or even evangelizing, than Jesus Christ himself. Though the things stated above aren’t bad things, they are good things, they take the place of Jesus; they became the focus, instead of Jesus.

This should not be, as the entire Bible is just enamored by Jesus, so should we.

This book is intended to to bring back the full focus on which Jesus deserves. It also strives to correct wrong ideas or preconceptions about Christianity---like being ‘Christ-like’……

I found that this book is suited to the more… let’s say, mature Christians. It’s not exactly suitable for non-believers, or Christians who do not know much about Christianity, as the authors put out Christian terms and ideas and concepts without explaining them in detail. They also used metaphors and analogies that may or may not make much sense to everyone.

Nonetheless, it’s a good read. It has hundreds of references from the Bible and other sources, without overcrowding the reading space by putting all of the notes at the end of the book. It challenged me to think of Jesus in a new way. This book was written, they claim, to make its readers to fall deeper in love with Jesus. I say, they partly succeeded.

Giving this 4 stars, I would definitely recommend this book to others :).

 

 

 

Thomas Nelson provided a complimentary copy of this book for me to review. Many thanks to them.

:))))))

I’ve to say, pastor’s sermon this week is very timely, and encouraging to me. The future looks bright :). Most certainly, CGMC shall never be the same again. At least, that’s what I hope, and pray, for.

In fact, I want to share the sermon with you all :).

“Fire for Revival”

1 Kings 18:16-40

1 Kings 18:16-40 = Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal. Elijah challenged them to a “contest”---the  people of Israel will ‘Get two bulls for us[Elijah and the prophets of Baal]. Let them[the prophets of Baal] choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I[Elijah] will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. ²⁴ Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.’

The prophets of Baal danced, sang, chanted, screamed, and even slashed themselves. But Baal didn’t answer with fire. So, they gave up.

When Elijah’s turn came, he repaired the altar of the Lord that was destroyed, made the sacrifice, and prayed to God. God sent fire.

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Fire, to the people of Israel, is the manifestation of God’s presence. When God appeared to Moses, He was a burning bush. When Solomon was praying in the temple of God when it’s completed, God’s presence filled the temple, like fire. Also, in the New Testament, during Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the believers, like fire. John the Baptist also said of Jesus: ‘He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and the fire’.

So, when Elijah challenged the prophets by asking their respective god to send down fire, the people understood.

We need the fire of the Lord to move amongst us. But sadly, he is absent from our churches now.

We need “agonizers”---people who agonize in prayer, who won’t let God go until God gives them what they ask for, people who cry upon the Lord---not organizers.

What we need essentially, is another Pentecost. As, the darker the days become, the more we need God’s fire to lead the way.

So, what must we do, for that to happen? We must:-

Obey God’s Commands---all areas of our life must be surrendered to God.

Elijah followed all of God’s commands. When God asked him to go into hiding, he went. When God asked him to present himself to King Ahab, he went. When God told him to speak against King Ahab, he did.              (starting from 1 Kings chap. 17)

Worship must be restored, the ‘altar’, be rebuilt---and it must begin at home.

Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord that was destroyed(v.30).

Have a heart fully surrendered to God---are we truly meaning it when we sing/say “Lord, take all that I have, I am Yours”?

 

Don’t try to make it easy for God, like Abraham did---have total trust in God and God only.

Elijah made it harder, instead, for God by pouring 12 large jugs of water over the altar, even filling a 15-liter-capacity trench. (v.33-35)

Have a right motive: to Glorify God---God will never ever let you down. (v.36-37)

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The fire that came down did the impossible: it burnt and licked up all the water, all 15 liters of it. It burnt stones and soil. How can you burn stones and soil?

The fire banished all doubt---the people of Israel immediately fell prostrate and cried out “The LORD---he is God! The LORD---he is God!”

The fire destroys everything that is false and impure. False teachers will be destroyed. Impure things will be burnt up. Things that aren’t from God will be destroyed.

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It’s not how many people turn up for prayer meeting, for as long as their hearts and lives are right with God, 2 or 3 persons would suffice.

Joooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!

Needs to chase away insecurities!.

---------------------------

Soooo, this donkey recently finished 2 books in a day---5 People You’ll Meet in Heaven, and For One More Day. Both by Mitch Albom. Both involves dead people. The former talks about, well, the 5 people you meet in heaven. Those 5 people had been in your life, either as a close friend or a distant stranger. They then tell or teach you how you changed their lives and how they changed yours.

So, yeah, Heaven there is like a place of enlightenment. Sort of. Reminds me vaguely of purgatory. Hnnn.

For One More Day. In that book, a dead mother comes back for a day and sheds light on what she did and what the protagonist’s father did. It’s quite a morbid book, though sweet :).

It’s as if the author would like all the questions in his life to be answered. Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t that be thoroughly horrifying? What if the truth isn’t what you want to hear?

But anyhow, these two books are not half-bad :). Read it, if you’ve the time. But it’s not exactly important, it can wait.

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Wooooo!

So, this blogger got accepted by Booksneeze(see sidebar)! Soon, you’ll be seeing book reviews, in addition to my ramblings, you know.

Aaah, that’s all for now. :P

Walalalala

Langkawi was okay. Chocolates and liqueur and cigarettes everywhere. Now I’m sick of them.

Langkawi was very very hot. Like, blazing, you know.

I can’t find the camera. Mum took it and hid it somewhere, or I’m just too lazy to look for it :P.

Pictures will be uploaded on some fine day.

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Happy Birthday, Jon! :P

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I find that people guess your age based on a few factors, that is height, looks, their way of dressing, and the group they mix in.

So. Jon is tall, looks….. good :P, dresses in his brother’s old clothes, mixes with almost anyone. Almost.

What point am I trying to make here. Hnn. I don’t know. Do you?

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Please, please, please pray for me. Thanks :).

Whew whew whew.

After bouts of procrastination and laziness, my essay for the RCS Essay Writing Competition is completed! I’m freeeeeeeeeeeeee~!

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I wanted to blog about something I was :@ about. But then I decided not to, and wait, and see what happens :). Hopefully, it turns out better soon. If not…. Whack you.

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Love Laughs at Death

Love is enough. We do not ask to hear

The well loved voice, nor do we seek to see

The angel form. Sufficient for the heart

Faith, and the peace that heals its agony.

Love waits unchanged through all the changing years

Fed by the streams of living memory.

Love laughs at death. For death is but a dream

From which we wake to immortality.

-May 28th entry of the Bedside book, by Patience Strong

 

I find this very beautiful and challenging. She speaks of love as a dear acquaintance that is always there, having faith that it is there.

:).

Lord to give you our praise….

 

 

 

…that’s what we came here for!

If only we’d go to church with the purpose of giving God praise. But nooooo, we need friends, some entertainment, good music, friendly people, pretty location,…..

Even then, we struggle to give God what he deserves. We are such a distracted people. Sometimes I think we all need to be locked in a room where there is nothing, even stray thoughts.

Oh, when shall our thoughts truly be centred around God, focused; not refracted around.

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A tip on typography:-

Don’t use too many ellipses (…), it clogs up page and makes reading hard.

Really, please!

Walalalala.

Time for a makeover! :)

>;D

Let’s just say there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and emo posts shall no longer come, if you consider the posts below emo. Haha :)

----------------------------------------

The Easter Event was, to me, great :). There may be some hitches here and there, but it was okay. Even though I wanted to smack some people (they, in my defence, talked!), it was fine.

For once, I received answers :). I’m grateful, amazed, and awed. It’s almost as if I was in a movie, where everything was planned and scripted, except that, then, it wasn’t scripted, but planned :).

------------------------------

My redeemer lives!

=/

I’m troubled.

I’m rather unhappy, unsatisfied, about the way things are. I see my friends. I weep for them. Why stay the way they are, stuck, uninterested, chasing worldly pursuits; when they can acquire the joy that Jesus is? Maybe ignorance is bliss.

Why aren’t they excited about Jesus? Why aren’t they putting Jesus in His rightful place in their hearts? Why isn’t Jesus the centre?

This isn’t the first time I felt this. Is this God’s calling for me? Is this my burden? To bring about a fresh renewal, a fresh revival, a fresh reverence for the Lord, to the generation? Everything else seems of less importance.

But I’m young. Why would they listen? The Bible says that none is ever too young, nor too old… Yet, I fear. Where is my trust, my faith, when I need it most? Where is this courage? Why should I fear? If God wants revival to come, it will come. In torrents, in floods.

Yet, what am I doing here?

Flawed Idea. An Idea Nonetheless.

I can only think of a reason that applies to me to not have a girl that I’m infatuated with. It came rather suddenly. Anyway here it is.

In my opinion, we have a fixed capacity in our hearts (how, then, can it overflow?). And if we keep putting things into it, you’ll soon have to kick some out, or, rather, it goes away on it’s own.

With that opinion in mind, if I invite a person, in particular, a girl into my heart, and let her dominate it, and as girls as you know them, need a large amount of space. And this large space is further enlarged because guys, as we know them, are filled with longings, longing for said girl to be closer to them, longing for her to reciprocate their “love” (as they call it). So they focus upon this girl, thinking of her, all the time. And once the mind has set itself bent on thinking over something, and being inclined to like it, will slowly, but surely, find more merits and goodness in her, quirks and attitudes that the heart seems to like. So, they slowly, “fall in love”.

Now, with a girl taking up so much of my thoughts and space in my heart, I would be rather romantic, air-headed, and generally annoying to others. I would not like that. Nor would I like to have what I can truly have, God, be pushed out of my heart by my own desire. Because, it is by my own will to focus my thoughts upon that girl, and be occupied with it.

Being in a mutual relationship will also force me to think of the partner, doing things that will make her happy, and that will contribute to the relationship. Said partner will also need to be pleased in many aspects. This, surely, will take up a huge amount of time, energy and effort. 3 things I find rather lacking in the life of a student. Why waste it on someone that most probably won’t be my wife (far-sighted, much. Haha :p), anyway? Breaking off the relationship and being “just friends” would mean awkward moments alone, stilted conversation, and distance that would not happen if the relationship hadn’t started.

Really, need I continue? :P

Anyway, in conclusion, my heart is small, but I’d choose to house God in it, than a girl. How would I break off a relationship with God, anyway? And even if I do (God forbid!), God would be ever-willing to accept me. He’d even chase after me :).

Eureka, maybe.

Now. I guess why I’ve irrational fears of random people. But as I look closely, they don’t seem as random as I thought. They are all the same type of people, people I can’t figure out, people I can’t read like a book (well, not really, but you get what I mean).

Oh Jon, when will you stop trying to be such an annoooying know-it-all, =/. Not that I know all, but, well, trying to.

Let me tell you why these unpredictable (well, by me) people scare me:-

I’ve no idea how they will react to whatever I do. And that scares me, because I have a certain predisposition to expect the worst. So I’ll just clam up around these certain people and try to avoid them. Although, I’ve been trying to get over these fears =/. Failing much at it.

Also, I’ve no idea what their inclinations are like! I don’t know what to say so I won’t offend. No idea what they like discussing. No idea! Then I would just assume that we’ve nothing in common. Therefore, nothing to talk about meaningfully. There’s this person that seems annoyed and offended by whatever I said, even though I was trying my hardest to be nice and kind and not talk too much; he (yes, he!) completely baffles me. Why do I even try so hard some times. Blah.

Thirdly, as I’ve this fear of offending people that I know nothing about, I would stick to very very general topics. But most of the times, I won’t even know what general topic to speak bout. Awkward silence ensues. =/.

Lastly being with those people just makes me uncomfortable. I suspect self-confidence issues. Eep. Why oh why, Jon, do you have to read everyone? =/.

-------------

The “wise” and “just” and “fair” Viann pronounced Nicole and me equally weird, and RUM! :P.

HOHOHOHo. NICOLE, WE ARE RUM!!! :P

Hmmm.

I am often surprised how detached emotionally I can be --- I can’t really share in someone’s joy, or in someone’s sorrows, in someone’s pain or in someone’s hurt. It’s as if the emotion “switch” in me is flicked ‘off’. But that’s not to say I don’t experience any emotions, it’s just that my empathy just seems to have ran off.

Hnnn.

----------

A friend lost his dog today. Poor thing, he was so happy when he had it, just about a week ago. Then she became sick, very sick. The vet said that she can only be healed by a miracle.

So prayed for a miracle Contee and I did. Apparently, so did this friend, he really must’ve loved her very very much =/. But she passed on, anyway. Most probably to a better place.

But why? God didn’t answer our prayers. Or did he? A negative answer is still an answer, isn’t it? Most probably, God has a different plan for him. Or maybe God wants him to learn something. I know, so many maybe’s and probably’s. Why not just ask God :).

------------

“Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be alright!”

Gonna Be All Right – Hillsong London :).

---------

Time to give birthday presents to people who wouldn’t expect it >;D.

Or maybe I’m just a little too free, which I’m not. But what am I doing here. Eep!

----------

So, Jon is currently occupied with orders from people (about 10+ books already!). Didn’t really expect such a response, but, ah, maybe it’ll force me to  improve my bookbinding skills. Haha :). I really hope that this doesn’t make bookbinding something like a task I must do, but stay as a fun hobby that helps me earn :P.

More on bookbinding – Falkiners! Bookbinding supplies! Aaah! And it’s in London!! –hint hint, Sam! :P- But it’s so expensive. But then, I can increase my prices :P. But never mind, I shall make do with what I have in Ipooooh. Lalala.

-----------

Freud vs. Jung. Who will win?!

Pride

“…if you want to find out how proud you are, the easiest way is to ask yourself, ‘How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronise me, or show off?’.”

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Ah. Pride, that nasty little thing that creeps in all the time --- pride in excelling in studies, pride in being good, pride in being in church, pride in being a Christian --- pride in being humble and having humility. It is certainly right to say that pride is the “utmost evil”, as Lewis and many other Christian teachers said. It is even the cause of the Devil’s existence.

It creeps in without being noticed, polluting your mind, influencing your thoughts, making you unloving. It even comes when you’re trying be do good, to be good.

I believe that only by focusing on God, that Pride can be defeated; being wholly dependant on God, and being aware of that, is the key to defeat Pride, to deliver that ass-kicking kick, that fatal blow.

So, let’s focus our thoughts, turn our eyes on Jesus, and as the song goes, ‘and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace’.

Oh Uh Oh Uh Oh.

So, I did this :-

 

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1347381

 

Oh, dear. Let’s hope it’s not a mistake.

-----------

Dilemma, yet again --- to go for ISCF (or as Abel calls it, LSCF) camp or noooooot?

I decided to just ask my parents and see if they let me go. I’ll go if they let me. Haha :).

----------

I want to get lost. I want to be someone else for a day. I want to be so engrossed in something I forget about everything else. Anything.

Just to keep myself busy.

--------

And, oh yeaaah. “Mere Christianity” bound! :D. It’s pretty. Hohoho.

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Currently reading “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, and “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis. :)

So.

2 weeks of school. Then a week of holidays! Looking forward to it, as worship workshop will be held then :).

My parents planned a trip, too, to the Palace of the Golden Horses! Aaaah. I heard Dr. Mahatir lives there now. Huhuhu.

- - - ---- ---- - - - - - ----

I finished Pride and Prejudice again, 2nd time this time :). I’m sure I will reread it in the future, it is such a nice story. Go Jane Austen!

For those who don’t even know what the nonsense is “Pride and Prejudice”:-

It’s a book.

It’s a love story. (Albeit a long, and engaging one)

It is set in early 19th century England.

FKajsdkljaflajkf

Just read it.

----------------

Sejarah Folio Element 1 to be completed by this week, handed up next week. Crazy quick!

I’m basing it on Chinese New Year. Anyone wants to share info with me? :P

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Sooo. “Mere Christianity” almost ready. Only covers remain incomplete.

Nahuuuuuum!

There goes the exams! Merdeka! for now.

This week has been a productive week --- I finished binding 3 books of 10 to 24 signatures (no mean feat!), exams, read 3 books simultaneously (no mean feat!) and then not finishing them……

And then I’ll be off to KL tomorrow today! :D.

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Mere Christianity

After hours (really!) of trial and error --- playing around with the software and the printer, wasting lots of paper --- I finally printed “Mere Christianity”! And no, I didn’t print odd pages 1st, then flip back and printed the even pages --- I imposed the pages.

What is imposition, you ask. Well, you see, books are bound after the papers are folded into signatures (bookbinding lingo here, heh), which are papers folded into half. This then, if printed normally, will jumble up the order. So, imposition is needed to jumble it up first, so they will be in perfect order when they are folded into signatures.

I think I lost you, ask Google for clarification. Hahah :P.

I intend to bind it. Hohohoho!

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Woaaah, it’s already 12! Good night/morning :).

“Termasya Larian Tahunan SMGR”

3.5km only. I would say it’s an improvement for me --- I jogged almost all the way! Although it’s called “larian”… I don’t think I can stand running 3.5km non-stop. Hahaha. Jon needs more stamina.

It was fun. I think I might take up jogging or running :D. But then again, time doesn’t permit… Unless I jog back from school everyday, but that’s just folly: jogging with my heavy school bag, with all the books and things to be carried by hand = easy target for kidnappers (as if anyone would want to kidnap me), snatch thieves (my pens!), rapists (yeaah, right) and various other scary uncles.

-----

Did I tell you that I’ve class tambahan now? It’s after school, 3:30 til 5.30 in the evening. Seeing that going back home then coming out again would be tedious, I would stay-back after school. Even the once eagerly expected Fridays are now bogged down with them – 12 – 1, 3:30 – 5:30. Siiiighhhh.

So, 7:30a.m. till 5:30p.m. is 10 hours. Absolutely tiring.

24 – 10 = 14.

14 – 8 for sleep = 6.

6 – 2 for eating, drinking, shower….. = 4.

4 – 3 for homework, study, all that at home = 1.

1 hour! Oh mi gossh! What am I doing here?!

And dear parents still want me to go for tuitions. Gaaah.

Thank God for sick teachers, teachers on leave, busy teachers…..

------------

No matter, no matter.

I shall still, to quote Yi Wen, smile rainbows[?]. :D.

Gablargablarggghh

Once again, my patience wore thin.

I just can’t stand people who deliberately do what I told them not to do, which is how I was when I was younger… I do begin to think the Relient K song - “Who I am hates who I’ve been” is rather true, in my case.  Aah, if only I could travel back and tell the past Jon to shut up and stop poking people. :P

I admire people who can deal with difficult people effortlessly, being ever patient with them, giving them that nice smile, showing no signs of anger…

But really, I do feel angry when I try soooo hard to be nice to these people, trying to communicate, and they just ignore me, ask stuuupid questions which has no relevance to the topic, trying to be “funny”, giving me the look.

Some people just bring out the worst in me. Blaah

I do admire also the people who put up with my blunt, brutal remarks, with my free, shrewd tongue. Please believe me when I say I am trying to tame it.

- - - - - - -- - - - -- - -

On a lighter note (ooooh yeaa :P, what happened to my blog?!), the donkey has a client! Well, sort of. The donkey is “hired” to make a notebook! :D :D :D

- - - - -- - - --

Perrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrro. Dohg.

But, really.

After finding out my dominant (one) spiritual gift --- Apologetics (surprisingly) --- I began “honing” my skills by reading.

Apparently, being an apologetic doesn’t mean debating and arguing, but defending and clarifying the truths of Christianity while drawing people in. Quite a hard job, if you ask me.

Sooo. I began reading. Online, of course. It started sounding like a psychology report. But then again, I was reading about the causes of atheism. I’d only got til halfway --- then I got lazy. I shall read the other half tomorrow, soon, sometime.

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People say that Christianity is just fanciful thinking, a fallacy, imagination, good feeling. And I say, so what?

We humans are already so wretched, perverse, evil that we really need help, not from someone else --- as that someone else is also as bad as us --- but from who? God, I say. Some refer to God as “some higher power”, “forces”, this and that, all avoiding the big G-word.

And even though this notion of God is merely some imagination, I wouldn’t mind trying to accept that this God loves me, so much, that he gave his son to die for me on the cross, so that I may have eternal life. Heaven. I don’t have anything to lose, only to gain, for, as I said, we are already so wretched and evil; empty.

But, the amazing thing is that God promises us to do great, wondrous things through us, through our imperfections. Really, I gain. It’s as if there’s this person walking about, with a bag of clean clothes, offering to exchange people’s dirty, smelly clothes with his new, clean ones. But then, one might get too used with his old clothes, having connections too deep with it, sentimental.

“Why must I change? I’m perfectly fine this way”, most say, “I don’t need this Jesus in my life, can’t you see I’m well-off without him?”. And then there’re the ones who just are unwilling to shed old ways, “I enjoy smoking, doing drugs, sleeping with every person I meet. It’s fun. Not like your boring, holy-holy routine --- I’m partying, I’m a party-er, I live to partay!”

But sadly, these people realize too late that smoking leads to suffering, lung cancer, among other things; drugs to addiction, sickness; fornication may lead to STDs, broken hearts, lifes; partying can just go meaningless in an instant.

As I said, you’ve nothing to lose. You won’t lose your successes when you accept Christ, you won’t lose your health, your life. All you have to do is ask Jesus earnestly in prayer to come into your life, as simple as that --- no writing names with blood, slitting of wrists, piercings, nada.

Well really, it’s your choice. But I’d rather live for a deluded purpose, than have no purpose at all.

=/

Oh dear. Suddenly, I just don’t know what my ambition is.

Likes

          I found out I like fiction based on history. Well, not exactly fiction, but history told fiction style, not like what you see in textbooks. Very informative and interesting :).

          I’ve been reading “Schindler’s List”. It tells of this person, Herr Schindler, who has his flaws (womanizing, drinking…), saving the Jews in Germany during the Nazi times. In other words, he is sort of a savior to the Jews. Very nice :). There’s a movie adaption, too.

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Brooke Fraser’s new album is said to be out soon! Am looking forward to it.

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          I can’t see how people can stand being the way they are, happy with the level they are at: not wanting to improve. It’s rather disappointing when you see a person doing the same thing for such a long time, and doing it as if he’s still new to it. Is this the perfectionist in me talking? I think not. Improvement is a must.

          I do think I am a perfectionist sometimes, in things I’m passionate about --- calligraphy, handwriting, drums… And I sometimes don’t live up even to my own standards. Sometimes I just wish I can do things sloppily and be happy with it. There are times that I do just that, but I’m not happy with what I produce --- sloppy,  crappy, work.

          But then again, I’d rather be trying, to achieve the best I can, and even more, than just doing the bare minimum. Maybe I AM a perfectionist. But oh well.

 

         Still, I’m also looking forward to the Singapore team coming to train us all! >:D

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:).

:)

I truly thank God for the worship session yesterday during MYF. It was truly.. refreshing. That’s the reason why I was hyper that day, you see :P.

I, for once, didn’t care how badly/good the band played. It was just on God :). Thank you, for answering my prayers.

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School! Ouish. I do not like homework =/, especially if the teacher doesn’t like my handwriting (and I’m already using the super-neat italics). Gaah! Talk about nit-picking.

What’s more, the school exercise book’s paper is super low quality --- it feathers, and bleeds through. I’m considering buying those higher quality books from outside and replace the covers. Blah.

But, no matter. For now, I’ll stick to writing on one side of the page, whatever the teacher may say. I recycle.

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It is said that a fountain pen nib is equivalent to 37 ballpoints, as in, it can last as long as 37 ballpoints. Hahaha :P. But I suppose with care, a fountain pen nib can last a lifetime, and maybe even more.

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Alright. I’ve ran out of things to randomly blog about. Haha :P

Busy busy donkey!

Homework is piling up terribly high. Thank God it’s Friday! But school’s on Saturday, too. To go or not? Eeep.

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What a week. I’ve turned my focus off God.. Time to turn it back, again. I wonder when will I finally be focused completely on Him, all the while, never distracted, never straying.

How wonderful that will be, with God in me, and I in Him.

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Do you like bombastic words? I don’t like bombastic words. It usually just confuses and befuddles the readers, which is what a writer should aim not to do. Unless there isn’t another word that captures the precise meaning that the writer is trying to convey, then only it is better to use the bombastic word.

We shouldn’t try to make everyday news sound like some legal paper or thesis. It turns people off and gives the impression of a writer trying too hard to sound well-read and being plain pompous.

Bleh. Just my 5 cents, anyway.

Walalala.

I wish my CY members would talk more. Wait.. let me rephrase that. I hope my CY members would talk more in the near future. Sigh sigh sigh.

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This week’s memory verse:

All around the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it.

                                                                    Colossians 1:6!

And that’s without referring to the Bible! Walalallaalal!! :P

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How nice it would be if I can get into the thoughts of other people, and how annoying! Haha! If I could, I can:

Know when to stop, if they get annoyed

Make them listen!

Erase doubts.

Actually make my sincere compliments sound sincere.

and blah-blah-blah :).

But then again, if I knew it all, how boring and dull life would be! No suspense!

Empathy is a nice skill to have :).

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“I, the proud owner of a fountain pen!” Aaaah >;D.

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I really thank God, for the opportunities He gave me to share the good news. I now know that I only have to share it, and God will take care of the results, and wait prayerfully :).

Great Success, again!

Yay! Jon acquired a new skill! He can roll his r’s now, which means he can purr and make that “flirting sound”. :P Ask me for demo. HAHAH!

El perro corre en el ferro carril! Tongue twister, man :).

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:)