God Loves Broken People–Sheila Walsh

-(…and those who pretend they’re not.)

 

A very recommended read if you’re in a rough patch, seeking to find the reassurance of Christ’s love and power for you to bring you through.

Sheila Walsh shares her own personal stories and fears honestly, as well as some others, effectively conveying the point of each chapter. This is a book full of warmth and emotion; it is as if you are reading a letter addressed to you. However, some people (especially some men) would not find her way of writing all that comfortable to read.

Every chapter is filled with truth about God and his love, told in a way that is seasoned with grace and love. There is no sugarcoating of the truth, nor does it belittle the suffering and pain in your life.

Sheila Walsh acknowledges the presence of suffering and pain in the world, and points to the Shepherd who’ll ultimately lead us, battered, possibly, broken, certainly, but most definitely---home.

4 and a half stars :).

Defiant Joy

-The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton,

by Kevin Belmonte.

I was very interested in G.K. Chesterton and his works, so when I came upon this book on BookSneeze, I seized upon the chance to review it. However, this book proved to be quite a disappointment to me. It was lengthy and verbose, too scholarly to actually interest people who aren’t already avid fans of Chesterton. It took me quite a long time to get through this, and this is quite rare as I can usually finish a book of much longer length in a week.

I would only recommend this book to people that have a scholarly interest in Chesterton, and even then, perhaps some other book would do that better. This book tries to paint Chesterton as a larger than life figure, full of joy and wit. However, the way the author tries to do so stifled Chesterton’s character instead. It’s hard to get a sense of his life through the author’s words.

I would give this 2 out of 5 stars.

 

*BookSneeze sent me this book, for my total and totally rad reviews.

-censored-

The thing is, I write a whole lot of garbage, and before I even consider clicking ‘publish’, I backspace the whole thing away. Probably for the better, too.

There’s the sense of oh what the point. And who-would-wanna-read-this-anyway.

Not like I would want anyone to read this anyway. No no nooo… Indeed, I made a blog so no one would be able to read it. It’s just to share whatever thought I had and once or twice mention that I ‘elaborated’ it on the blog surreptitiously in some conversation and refuse to give out the address. Sneaky sneaky. Not like they can’t find it on my facebook profile, anyway.

Pride pride. I can’t imagine that I wrote all the things that I wrote just one year ago. Future me would probably blush at the pretentious crap that I garble out now.

Is that a sign of mature-hood? Or is this just some form of self-loathing? I would very like to think I’m ‘mature’ now. But meh. Those usually wanting to be ‘mature’ usually end up being the more childish, narrow-minded bigots.

Every time I visit my blog I find something else to shudder about myself. The color-scheme, the layout, the font, the choice of words, the titles. I’m reminded of how constantly changing my tastes are. And how easily sated, yet only for a very short period of time.

Yep. All jumbled up now. Off to bed.

Camp 2011

So, it was cold. So, it was like totally drama. So, it was torturous and tiring. So?

I learnt something new each day. Being camp papa was no piece of cake, but it wasn’t that hard---we had pastor, and the older ones to help. Without them, camp would be a nightmare. Really.

But yeah, I shall try my best to put down a chronicle of events, according to my P.O.V. la.

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Day One

I wasn’t early to get to church; I wasn’t late either. So by the time I got to church, there weren’t anything to do! Everything was already loaded up on the bus, everyone was already lined up according to their buses. Good start, good start. Heh heh heh

Anyway, we prayed and left Ipoh. The journey was uneventful. Got to know some people, or rather, I just got to know their names. Saw Nicholas’ cousin and saw that he really was very leng zhai. Hohohohohoho. But anyway!

The bus left us somewhere far from Chefoo itself, so we had to walk up, with the heavy luggages and stuff. And then it started drizzling. Not so good start. But anyway, we managed to unload the drum set, and props, and stuff. Uncle Xiu Ming sent the people to their dorms.

Orientation! Sent them to sit with their games groups. Had them play charades to get their team colour. They had to act out stuff like maggie mee, strawberry, frying rice. I was in the eating mood. Hahahaha. They got to decorate their umbrellas! And then they advertised them. All sorts of lame stuff came out. But at least most of them realize an umbrella is used to protect you from the elements… Don’t know where all the genie-genie stuff came out all. Then it was free time. And there was much rejoicing! For dear campers. Committee had to prepare stuff for the games that will be on the next two days.

Dinner. Session. Oh guess what, I didn’t bathe! :D. We learnt about remaining on the altar, not just jumping off it when it gets hot, too intense for comfort.

Games committee had a meeting that went on til 11+.

‘Hey hey, it’s light’s out now, go back to your dorms and sleep!’

‘Is everyone in here?’

‘Remember, morning devotions tomorrow morning at 7:45! Meet at the hall!’

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Day Two

Having to wake up early is sad. Having to wake up early when it’s cold is just mean D;. Having to wake up early in the cold, and have no hot water to shower in… D’;. So yeah, I didn’t shower.

The cold was still tolerable. Energy levels still moderately high for me. We had our devotions. I honestly can’t remember completely what it was about. See, I’m so not a morning person.

Session. When we remain on the altar, we've to continually remove the ashes so the fire can burn brightly, unhindered. What are the ashes in our lives? Sin. Baggages. Then Ps. Steven hit us with the hardball: List out 10 major sins/baggages in your life that are affecting you now. After that, share about them with your discussion group. Hard stuff to do. I’m amazed how some people can put out their vulnerable side and be honest. But of course, there are also some that are still cautious, not wanting to open up.

Lunch! Mad dash to finish the food and then rush out to prepare stuff for station games later. Fun.

I get to press the button to sound the siren! ;D. There was once I pressed it like 5 minutes too early. Whoops. People got all muddy. And then they stepped onto the clean, white-tiled floor in the hall. Horror. Grab ALL the mops! Mop ALL the stains! Many people got cuts and bruises here and there. Nothing life-threatening. Yet. Then Timothy got bitten by a spider on the toe and it swelled up a little. Still he went on playing. Kenneth got hit on one eye by a very straight-flying slipper, and he chickened out on all the other dirty games. But anyway, the caretaker freaked out when she saw all the muddy mess. Field is now forbidden area. –dum dum dummmmmm-

Really. I forgot how many times I wrung the mop dry.

After games and all, we sent the dirty, muddy people to go wash up. Committee stayed behind to pack up stuff and clean up, and then get ready for Fun Night. Sweep sweep sweep, mop mop mop. I seriously hope we don’t get blacklisted at Chefoo! D;

Dinner. Found out I didn’t really have urgent stuff to attend to. So I took a shower! Aaaaaaah :D. For my life I can’t remember if I had hot water. I think I did. hehehehehehe. Then mad dash to dress and run to the chalet to get ready for Fun Night. I get to wear my crazy hat and be very campy. Ho ho hooooo

It was indeed a carnival. What with tigers and gypsies all. And then some palm reader got murdered. Then I had to trip over a dog (or so they say, I couldn’t see, it was dark, okay!) while running to close the door. Epic. The dog ran away from me after that every time I went near it.

Then, stuff happened. It was all right for the first thirty minutes. I saw someone on the floor, Henry, surrounded by one huge crowd. My heart stopped. I ran to get the first aid kit. But it couldn’t help him. I called pastor. ‘Keep calm, everyone, go on, go on, don’t dally here!’. I didn't have a clue what happened. Just bits and pieces from people. It might be a fracture. It might be dislocated…… The ambulance came about 30 minutes after.

I pronounced the mime dead. Apparently half the groups didn’t know who the mime was. –sigh-. And it all went downhill after that. People were getting all restless. People were getting frustrated. Reports of the poor station masters getting yelled at, or cursed at got to me. Someone wanted to punch me. I didn’t know what to do. I pronounced the gypsy dead.

I ended the night with proclaiming the acrobat dead. The murderer was the tight-rope walker because she became a little wonky after being shunned by everyone else. 3 groups got it. The whole committee was discouraged. The clowns felt so guilty and sad. Irony. We prayed as a group, for Henry, for everything else to go smooth, for protection, for strength to go on. No time for wallowing---we went on to pack up and clean up.

Everyone in the committee was feeling a little numb already.

Little comforts like milo with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Room keys getting missing. Spending time looking around for them. Giving up, assigning people to sleep somewhere else. Henry had to go down to Ipoh for an operation when the x-ray showed that he had a fracture.

Sleep.

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Day 3

His mercies are new each morning. His love endures forever. He is good, and faithful. I find out that, miraculously, when the team at Ipoh did another x-ray on Henry, the fracture lines weren’t there anymore. Henry didn’t need to be hospitalized for Christmas anymore. No major operation. Just some pain til he recovers. Thank God.

Woke up super late, but in time to brush the teeth. So, yeah, no shower. I remember about the wise mum who puts the vitamins in the cookies for her picky son. Not day 3’s devotion? Whoops, okay.

Session was about adding, I think. Are you adding to your spiritual life so you can grow and be mature? Are you stuck at conversion and never moving forward? Why not surrender it all to God? Why do you sing this and that and never even do this?

For the first time, I was put in charge of a station, together with Nicole, for Amazing Race! I was super lenient with all of the people who came to my station. They were all done in less than 5 minutes. Hahahaha. Oh, and it was raining.

The first team arrived at the finishing line in less than an hour. More like, 40 minutes! I was like, huh? –Calls Ken Xin- -Call didn’t get through- -Calls Li Xin- ' “Eh! One group finish already worrrrr!!” “Yeah, I know ah, Timothy’s group, right?” “Oh, okay, you all are team number one”. Super blur. You know you are super charismatic when people use your name to refer to the group when you’re not even the team leader. First group to come in was Joanna Ooi’s group. Last, was Wai Khay’s. Sad, considering his team was the best for both fun night and station games.

Mop mop mop, sweep sweep sweep. AAAAH CRICKET WORMMMSSSSLSARHAOSHRSROASORSAJORJ. Seriously, Ken Xin.

Practice for Christmas Celebration. Joyous affair, really. I get to eat marshmallows with chocolate syrup. Then I went all hyper on the sugar, or something. I loved dinner. Oooooooh Hooooooly Niiiiiiighttttttt.

Then someone had to suggest Majesty. Oh darnnnnn. Never mind. I’m doing this for God. Whack all I can. It is after all, a very boring, fun song to do. Then the drama came up. Bryan and Beverly did a superb job. The mood was set. Then Uncle Xiu Ming came out……

Games. Then prize giving time! Orange^2, Allegro, Strawberry Spiders. In that order. But, because of all the numerous complaints that I received about Orange^2, we put them to second place instead. In retrospect, we should’ve just taken them out of the placing, another team deserved the spot more. Oh well, it’s over. Everyone was happy, anyway, so it didn’t really matter.

Pack up. Clean up. Sleep. Dorm Wars didn't happen. Sorta. It happened for 10 minutes la, then pastor Elaine showed up. I was sound asleep. Hahaha. I know, sound asleep for the last night in camp. Bummer!

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Day 4

Almost everyone was late for devotions. Tired and zombie-like.

Session today was about rearranging priorities, like how you rearrange the meat on the barbecue so it cooks better. Heh. I was trying hard not to fall asleep throughout the session. So not a morning person D:.

At least there're no games today, rest for the committee! Sent campers to pack up their stuff and bring luggages to the hall. Then it was wild camera snapping time. >.>

Anyway, I managed to steal shortbread from people. Mwahahahha. Such kind souls. The bus came late. Nobody wanted to claim this pair of zebra shoe-slipper-footwear-thing, so it's with me now.

The bus ride back, I just felt so happy. It's over. For the first time, ever. Since when do you feel happy because camp is over? My business relationship with Natasha thus ended. Heheheh! I wasn't happy just because of that though! No more speaking into the megaphone. Ah, sound of my own voice, shooo! :D.

Okay, weird moment. But it was sad to see everyone leaving like that. Were their needs met? Did they get to have a touch from God this camp? Did they leave with their lives changed, however small a change? How long will that change last?

Henry was there when we arrived back at church! He's alive! and walking! and well! Seriously, thank God.

-

So yeah, that's camp. Ups and downs. Totally drama. Totally tiring. Totally awesome.

God, God, what have you in store for me?

Exams…!

Exams in 5 more days! So not prepared. The more exercises I do, the more I find out how much I don’t know. What have I been doing this whole year?! Not panicking yet, though. I’m not exactly the panicky kind, or so I think. So help me God, help me remember stuffs and understand concepts foreign!

Deciding whether to take on more tuitions next year. I’ll self-study first through the holidays and see what comes. Hopefully I study. Haha

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Games planning for camp is better than I can ever hope for. Nothing energizes me more than a group of creative bunch that don’t just agree with every suggestion I make, but actually fight and contribute, making the initial plan much better than I had ever imagined . I can honestly say I’m waiting for exams to be over in a hurry so we can get started on the work.

Excite excite!

2 weeks + a few days

Yea, I started studying. A small miracle by itself already! The difference now is I actually have a goal in mind now---straight A’s for SPM! Why? Cause I want it. Cause I want to actually make an effort to do something beneficial to my future. I figured out spending so much time socializing isn’t worth the excess time, and effort. People really are fleeting.

Not to say that I’d be a complete nerd starting now; Saturdays and Sundays are my ‘off’ days. No tuitions allowed, if any at all, on those days. And minimal studying, if any. Heh.

After one week (okay, fine, four days. happy?) of sticking to the schedule, I find that I don’t waste as much time. Yea, I still take overly long naps sometimes, I still go on the internet and do stuff, but I’m doing more things in a day than before, now.

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October is already upon us. And I wonder, is there enough time for all that is to be done? How do you mobilize a team that isn’t really that eager to start? Where do you find the energy to go on after doing so much? And ultimately, will the much that you did amount to anything, at all?

Still learning, learning. I like the way that things get difficult cause if it stays easy…. it’s not a challenge for long. Forward, forward, forward!

I’m running around cause that’s how jumbled my thoughts are.

Bovvered Enough to Come BACK!

Can’t stand seeing something I sort of “built up” be left unmanaged. This page is like a testament to my failure of doing something consistently, of keeping something alive! Not like it really matters to anyone else; it only matters to me.

So here I am again, writing on.
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It’s already almost the end of September. Daily schedule of studying at least 3 hours never consistently followed; finals in less than a month, SPM, just about a year. Projects, too numerous to count, left undone. Relationships left uncultivated. Thank God for the precious few…! I should really stop sleeping so much.

It’s a marvel, actually, how I stayed on with God, seeing how I fall out of doing things rather quickly---study schedule, calligraphy practice, rudiment practice, quiet time, exercise…… Yeah, I actually exercise! Starting up, fervently. Then it just… dies, just like everything else. Less than midway, I question, ‘Is doing this worth the trouble?’, ‘What is it that I’m really trying to get to?’. Answered with, ‘Probably not’, and ‘I don’t know’.  Doing it for the sake of it, or for fun, just wouldn’t really make it stick, if you get what I mean, for me, that is. I always needed a reason to do something. A good enough one. And even then……

Here’s to building up discipline.

And a video. Catherine Tate, from whom I got the title!

David Tennant was the Tenth Doctor, of the series Doctor Who; Catherine Tate played his companion. So yeah, get the joke…? >.>