The awakening

It was definitely a wonderful Christmas. There are BBQs to savour, hanging out and chatting with many close friends and family, served in Krismas Kita, relax and enjoyed the memorable performance during the 25^th morning, bringing my non-christian primary school friend to some occasions. Glad to see her more receptive towards Christians, and one of her brother’s friend received Christ on one of the nights =) I received many simple but beautiful and useful gifts from my colleague and church buddies. I see relationships being restored / strengthened. I was sooo happy.

But until last night probably I was a little too overbearing, the 5-6 dinners to attend really tire me out and I was going back to s’pore feeling sad cos i don’t have time for myself. It’s actually my own fault for thinking I can go for all and expect to have time for myself too.. until.. My m'sia room & desk is messy for weeks and I don’t have time to clear it up.. not healthy… I must do some spring cleaning by 1 Jan.

So, last night was one of the Sunday nights where I find myself wondering why I have served God the whole weekend and still travel back to s’pore ‘jadedly’ with some water welled up in some sad eye. Though I have so much to be thankful, really, so so much.

Went back.. bathed and prepare to sleep, and asked that I may dream of God spending some time talking to me.

He did, but at a different timing. He woke me at 6.30am and told me to sit up and pray. I pleaded if He could let me lie down and pray cos I’m so sleepy… but no. =(

Too bad lo, sit n pray lo. And the moment I close my eyes, I saw a beautiful vision, of something which I won’t tell a soul… =P a big assurance, and His last parting words are: My grace is sufficient for you…

You can’t imagine how free & peaceful the rest that descends upon me.. =)

And so off to work I go, and now I gotha go liao, lunch time’s almost over.

...so challenged by this quote..

You might as well try to hear without ears or breathe without lungs, as to try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.
--D.L. Moody

Shadblow

Because the shad
are swimming
in our waters now,

breaching the skin
of the river with their
tarnished silvery fins,

heading upstream
straight for our tables
where already

knives and forks gleam
in anticipation, these trees
in the woods break

into flower - small, white
flags surrendering
to the season.


Linda Pastan
The Georgia Review, vol. LV, no. 2, Summer 2001

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



I am waiting for winter
and it's imaginary warm glow
in snow,

you know,
like little angels falling white as you take a glance
to a dancer spinning across a faraway lake
looking sky.

so,
make me a wish and I would secretly smile in my mind delight,
because you didn't know our hands are made to be together,
I will take it like a glove towards its master,
and make heaven dwell in our snowman.

we would run wild through any cold and summer,
warm a moody cloud and touch its cry,
laugh a hearty and sing in silver thunders.

so don't leave me, not at 10pm
when my eyes closed its deepest longing
t'wards the fading dove that fanned a sacred desire
in you.


~
i gotha go, there's work to do,
lots.


Victor Tan
The Bored review, vol. RIP, no. 1, fading Summer 2008


"sing in silver thunders", lol: silver - old, thunder - argument.

So much work

I have 6 piles of work, on my desk, under my desk, beside my desk… My uncompleted workload has occupied two long desks.

it's like u have to help the auditor to find any notices already issued from the IRAS since 1 Jan 08, then download & attach to him, and check if another company whether has ceased to elect us as tax agent, then go back to your own tax computation, get the draft P&L from another auditor by today because tomorrow the documents had to be sent back to America due to shutdown, and have to go two floors up to get the P&L and a whole bag of journal entries and audit working files, while coming back to the desk and continue doing work halfway, manager calls n go over she brief me about a dormant company to do, can refer to another company's case file. go back do work, halfway senior came over tells u to monitor the last two day's 7 client that i have done up the estimated chargeable income and another Notice advice to get it amended n send out before friday. go back to original work, client called for another team of auditors which is now in China, have to email them to liaise. go back to original work.. manager came again pass IRAS query to check past work for tax matters and do up an explanation to the government. still have 30+ other clients to file their work and do tabs. email inbox with 20-30 emails to organise in respective folders b4 another batch sends in again. go back to original work... client had email back more info on another client on its original dividend breakdown remitted from China (receipts in Chinese).

If in school, it's like you're taking english essay writing, chinese reading sessions, P.E , math lecture and tutorials all at the same time, and you're expected do take note of everything and NOT miss out on anything (if not you're considered inefficient, never learn and even need other people to make effort to remind you what you should remember), make minimal mistakes, organise all your work nicely and hand to teacher, and also monitor what u hand to teacher so that in two day's time u know what your teacher has/hasn't marked, amend ALL mistakes, learn, and pass it on to be published to the government. And while doing all these, help your friends in their homework.

I miss school/college. Work is challenging and when you've done all the work, the satisfaction can be.. great?

For now, HELP.

Merry Christmas.

Midnight ramblings

Moonlight reverie

September the 14th at 11, perfect timing
as I slid out of bed out of cool's window,
tugging sleepy warm pajamas in can't-wait's grip,
and lay there, just over the obscure red roof
under the misunderstood moonshine.

first the ceremonial solo huge gasp of night scent
and then watch nothingness reveal its being.

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

Goodbye means never having to leave

.

Gratitude of a sick boy

Hi, just wanna thank the numerous people who showed their concern. I'm fine, Sunday morning's blood test showed that it's not dengue, only any other viral infection. My temperature's not so high now, tomorrow will be my last exam paper & the following day will resume working.

I guess life will resume its busyness & blog entries will reduce again. hope that i'm gonna recover fully and be able to come to church on the coming weekend.

it's nice to have ppl sms/calling, even my cell member who (i think) likes to avoid me called me to ask how am i. hehe. of course my dad & sis cared me a lot, kudos for dad for taking care of me though he himself is sick too.

how foolish am i to live for dunno how many months without feeling any 'love'. Like Koon said, "love sick?", no, probably not feeling the love until now. lol.

傍晚的le4伤悲

*chinese star programme much better now, though still got problem with some words, good enough though, yay..


一个星期的“考试假”过得又快又漫长，开心带伤感。开心能暂时脱离工作，回家，吹海feng，看日落，读shu，听听歌，写一点诗；犹如已往的自由，过去留下的字迹。伤感的呢，应该是时间吧，怎me4 ye3 不能再倒退，弥补失望；好深隐，对不起自己在学业上的失望。

现在正开着周董，Mr J，義法廚房，北醫店的网zhan4.. 只为了听它的音yue4，想想少些梦想。

能像方文山写歌词，冰心写shu1，周董写曲，Emily Dickinson 写诗，著名gu3手玩音yue4的工作，试试一下。 或像哥哥能弹奏动听的音旋，John Williams 写感人的经典，或着做个 free-spirited 的 ang mo nang，在个个国家“游手好闲”， 哈哈。

tu1 然好想去台湾和ao4/欧洲，绕圈子，live a life. 知道很欠打，仿佛自己不属于现况，只待明天。


唉.. 醒醒吧... 。学xi2感恩，让昨天的wu1云成就今天的彩虹和明天的晴天梦想。



*刚刚发现有位美国女士八月时在我的英诗部落格留下 comment , 说写得很好。好开心唷 =P 是否考试后继续认真写诗呢？

Most - the bridge + writings

http://www.mostthemovie.com/


Having a week's exam leave, a good break from work to study, just want to write something before i resume studying again.. *light sigh*... Nice rite, the above video, quite the super. =)



Sky sigh

Once upon a time
In a faraway land where mystical creatures
talking trees and hidden treasures are not unheard of
There was a mind

.

Cut and jam and bring it back
to the lines in your eyes, of a certain set of thinking
about skyscrapers and running numbers.

.

Once chanced upon time
There was a soul pitted against itself in constraint conscience
Wrestle onto the floor to pronounce its winner.
No find.

.

So let the book breeze its blues and pencil rule,
Order order in your mesh messy heart or mind,
Conform to snake and ladder for life,
And at every turn,
Try to remember what is laughter and colour,
and how its sky sighs.


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


Chicken toufu to the West

Baby turns boy turns trying-to-be-man turns chicken toufu.

Seeing the straight pathway across anything back to destiny,
he chose not even to walk the sand.

But turns and run, like anything, for anything goes
to the sea.

Legacy

An old MTV, but the msg's still fresh.. :)



I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such 'n such...it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world

Chorus:
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon destroy

Chorus

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well done" good and faithful one

海角七號 - 國境之南

國境之南

詞：嚴云農　曲：曾志豪
　

如果海會說話　如果風愛上砂

如果　有些想念遺忘在漫長的長假

我會聆聽浪花　讓風吹過頭髮

任記憶裡的愛情在時間潮汐裡喧嘩

非得等春天遠了夏天才近了

我是在回首時終於懂得（也許天氣永遠會那麼熱）

Tagged

I am tagged, thought that at my age won't be tagged, lol, wait, let me get my walking stick and reading glasses..
ehrrm, sorry Caleb, late response, i hope this tag is not more than a month ago.


1. Person who tagged you is?
Caleb Chandra Mohan bu zhi dao

2. Your relationship with him?
My friend, he laughs at my lousy jokes, makes me feel good abt myself. ......... lol.

3. Five impressions of him?
Good-lookin', smiles quite a lot, good in IT & rapping (also very knowledgeable in trendy music), nice guy, more than meets the eye. transformer!

4. The most memorable thing he has done for you?
Nothing le, hmm, the many times he laughs at my jokes ba.

5. Most memorable thing he has said to you?
no, i only remember the many times he smile.

6. If he becomes your lover, you will?
Yucks, i'm a guy.

7. If he becomes your lover, thing he has to improve on would be?
Be a girl.

8. If they become your enemy, you will?
i will do nothing.

9. What is it you want to tell him now?
That his future's gonna be stormy and bright?

10. Your overall impression on him is?
Nice guy, great taste in music & arts, loves the important ppl ard him, appreciates the current phase of life.

11. How do you think people around you will feel?
Eh, suddenly ask abt myself pulak, hey hey.

12. What do you love about yourself?
That i am different, and gone through many phases/circumstances that usual ppl don't.

13. What do you hate about yourself?
That i am different, and gone through many phases/circumstances that usual ppl don't.

14. The most ideal person you want to be.
Shrek, Obama, Titus. kidding.. I want to be stronger in character to pull thru overwhelming circumstances.

15. For people who love and care for you, say something to them.
Blah blah blah..

16. Tag ten people:
stella, yan, ye chow, thisisachainmailturnintoablog, reuben, vincent, xizhe. i think i have ten ppl alredy right, didn't hav my calculator with me..

17. Who is 6 having a relationship with?
Didn't have my clculator with me...

18. Is 9 a male or female?
no calculator no talk..

19. If 8 and 10 are together, would it be a good thing?
shit.

20. What is 2 studying about?
one..two... she's finished her studies already, she studies the bible.

21. When was the last time you had a chat with 3?
last sunday, i guess.

22. What kind of music band does 8 like?
no 8.

23. Does 1 have any siblings?
yes. fun dudes.

24. Will you woo 3?
no. but she's a nice & fun girl =)

25. How about 7?
boy.

26. Is 4 single?
besides titus, fu yao & jiuan, ya the rest is.

27. What is the surname of 5?
Tan, i think, dunno.

28. What is a hobby of 10?
no 10

29. Does 5 and 9 get along well?
no 9, i dunno whether reuben gets along well with himself, ask him lo.

30. Where is 2 studying at?
the bible.

31. Talk about something for 1?
she is the greatest older sister on this earth, not literally.

32. Have you tried developing feelings for 8?
yes, but there is no 8 right, how shad.

33. Where does 9 live?
in your mind.

34. What colour does 4 like?
dunno!

35. Are 1 and 5 best friends?
no

36. Does 6 have any pets?
dunno, guitar ba.

37. Is 7 the sexiest person in the world?
yes, go interview him.

38. What is 10 doing now?
psychic hotline? wrong number

Merry Christmas, ha.

Latest Christmas carol for 2008,

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It's hitting you once,
It's hitting you twice
It doesn't care if you've been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It's worthless if you've got shares
It's worthless if you've got bonds
It's safe when you've got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

하나님은 너를 지키시는 자

God is our protector.

DHL is fast

I dunno abt the other courier companies, but DHL can send an office package from Shanghai to Singapore within 24 hours.

Naïve me: *clap clap*

serve or die

Very inspired by this story, indeed I have to always serve.. J

 

Dr. Paul Brand told me of a memorable Frenchman named Pierre, who had served in Parliament until he became disillusioned with the slow pace of political change. During a harsh winter, many Parisian beggars froze to death. In desperation, Pierre became a friar to work among them and organize the beggars themselves.

They divided into teams to scour the city for bottles. Next, he led them to build a warehouse out of discarded bricks and start a business processing the bottles. Finally, he gave each beggar responsibility to help another poorer than himself. The project caught on. In a few years he founded the charitable organization Emmaus.

Eventually, there were few beggars to be found in Paris. So Pierre went to India. “If I don’t find people worse off than my beggars,” he said, “this movement could turn inward. They’ll become a powerful, rich organization, and the whole spiritual impact will be lost. They’ll have no one to serve.”

At a leprosy colony in India, Pierre met patients worse off than his former beggars. Returning to France, he mobilized the beggars to build a leprosy ward at a hospital in India.

“It is you who have saved us,” he told the grateful patients. “We must serve or we die.”  — Philip Yancey

THINKING IT THROUGH
In Mark 10:35-37, what did James and John seek?
What did Jesus say about the world’s authority? (v.42).
How are followers of Christ to be different? (vv.43-45).

If you want a field of service, look around you.

 

說好的幸福呢

got to know abt this song's MV from esther's blog, nice.. there's one special thing abt jay chou's songs, that i will never tell you. ha.






作詞：方文山 作曲：周杰倫

妳的回話凌亂著 在這個時刻
我想起噴泉旁的白鴿 甜蜜散落了

情緒莫名的拉扯 我還愛妳呢
而妳斷斷續續唱著歌 假裝沒事了

時間過了 走了 愛情面臨選擇 妳冷了 倦了 我哭了
離開時的不快樂 妳用卡片手寫著 有些愛只給到這 真的痛了

怎麼了 妳累了 說好的 幸福呢
我懂了 不說了 愛淡了 夢遠了
開心與不開心一一細數著 妳再不捨
那些愛過的感覺都太深刻 我都還記得

妳不等了 說好的 幸福呢
我錯了 淚乾了 放手了 後悔了
只是回憶的音樂盒還旋轉著 要怎麼停呢

妳的回話凌亂著 在這個時刻
我想起噴泉旁的白鴿 甜蜜散落了

情緒莫名的拉扯 我還愛妳呢
而妳斷斷續續唱著歌 假裝沒事了

時間過了 走了 愛情面臨選擇 妳冷了 倦了 我哭了
離開時的不快樂 妳用卡片手寫著 有些愛只給到這 真的痛了

怎麼了 妳累了 說好的 幸福呢
我懂了 不說了 愛淡了 夢遠了
開心與不開心一一細數著 妳再不捨
那些愛過的感覺都太深刻 我都還記得

妳不等了 說好的 幸福呢
我錯了 淚乾了 放手了 後悔了
只是回憶的音樂盒還旋轉著 要怎麼停呢

怎麼了 妳累了 說好的 幸福呢
我懂了 不說了 愛淡了 夢遠了我都還記得

妳不等了 說好的 幸福呢
我錯了 淚乾了 放手了 後悔了
只是回憶的音樂盒還旋轉著 要怎麼停呢

Gimme it!

From RBC – Our daily bread

 

James 3:13-18 

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

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

I heard the screams long before I could see him, but as I wheeled my grocery cart around to the next aisle of the store, there he was!

With angry tears streaming out of squinty eyes, the little boy was shouting, “Gimme it!” His mom glanced at me for a moment. I won’t debate the merits of her actions, but, embarrassed and worn down, she grabbed the cheap trinket and tossed it into her cart.

I think I recognized that kid. He looked a lot like me. Yes, I’ve often been the willful child. And sometimes I’ve even pleaded with God, “Why not? Why can’t I have it?” On occasion, God’s given me what I wanted, but not because I wore Him down. No, I think He wanted me to see what happens when I put myself in charge.

What we think is best is not necessarily the best that God desires for us. In Isaiah 55:8, the Lord said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.”

In his book Days of Grace, tennis champion Arthur Ashe paraphrased James 1:5 when he wrote this advice to his young daughter: “Ask God for the wisdom to know what is right, what God wants done, and the will to do it.”

That’s just the kind of sincere prayer that God wants to hear from His children.  — Cindy Hess Kasper

We can’t presume to know what’s best
When we begin to pray;
So we must ask, “What honors God?”
Then seek His will and way. —Sper

If God doesn’t give us what we ask for, we can be sure that He has something far better.

 

 

 

 

I realised

I realised that God likes to put me in situations where I couldn’t possibly live life without Him. Now I know in these situations that His mercy and grace will be able will shine through and lift me up to soar above every thingys.

 

So it’s all good. =)

 

Well, this past weekend is so packed with things to do that i don’t even have time to watch last week’s episode of Chuck. Haiz.. never mind, this coming Saturday must watch! =P

When everything..

Today, came back from work, my eyes fading after a week's worth of computer screen-watching putting it all in a day, dragging my feet here n there, went for a swim, today.. had no heart to study.. also had no motivation to think of drums, music, tax, accounts, except a little messy and casual poetry, inspired by Josh Groban's "my heart was home again"... the past few weekends, and days, getting more and more jaded. I guess besides JB home, i missed being home again, where i used to come to God just like that ("snap fingers")... maybe later i'll spend some time doing just that....



When everything comes back,
like water back to snow in streams flowing,
right to falling autumn with its leaves dropping,
joy and tears, across from its heart,
to its heart yearning.

i remember everything, akin to every window pane's memory,
it's vision of dream-like sunsets, wishful cleaning and fear of breaking,
every word and life came back to me the way it used to be,
from a Christmas betrayed to night beach star-view delight,
crouched beneath my mind,
some like a depressed hobbit, some like a innocent child in a playground,
filled with footprints in the sand, time-washed in waves and waves of true reality or self-perceived time.

where is my penny in my 3-yr old pocket,
i recall and sang even in troubles,
but now...

So it goes, history shows,
the desert must expand.
Rise and fall, bite the dust or shine in all vain glory.
walks stone hearts in clogs across all overly decorated valleys.
..

There's a bus that leaves at 8.15 and another at 10,
should i climb aboard, risk everything,
and ride it to the end.
Watch the hills like rollercoasters up against the sky,
saw how the eagles fly.

I couldn't take the bumpy journey, could i stop by, take a breather, be by myself and supposedly live life.

Been thinking, wondering, been asking why.

How the stock market works

How the Stock Market Works

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it! The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers.

"Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each."

The villagers rounded up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys. Then they never saw the man, nor his assistant again, only monkeys everywhere!

Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

 

There's a hero

Last friday was my happiest working day, going for the SGX Bull Run with the corporate team, ran the 3.2km around raffles place & across the esplanade bridge, get goodie bags & free drinks, and the bosses treat us all to yummy chicken & mutton satay, egg "hao jian", sugarcane, beer & stuffs. It's like mamak, except that i'm sitting in between the Directors & with the night ambience & breeze soaking in, amidst the joke & laughters, i am glad i work here. =)

Oh yeah, about the marathon, it was great, my first time participating in an official run, which has all the fla-flahs - the air-horn start with man blowing fires to heat it up, mediacorp artistes, radio DJs, numerous corporate sponsors... ya, all the fla-flahs..

how my leg aches now.. heh heh.

There are many other things in my mind which i am lazy to talk about, the awesome BBQ at Jacq's house, meeting the professional drummers from KL who are going to do a drum shed session (jam session) tomorrow @ Vineyard, catching up with friends, rushing to help buy a grand cake for my best friend GF's birthday, having to help light up 24 candles, seeing the glow on their faces.. how God put words in my mouth to talk during TEENz CG to encourage the members (u know i can't talk long).

Sometimes it feels like there are a hundred things going on and i have to put it in segments, daily, in order to remain sane; work, study & church. I'm happy that i still can come home to family during the weekends.

So, the weeks fly by and exams are coming soon.. Hark the humming of a mindless brain going through all the years of failures, picking up and studying again.

Enjoy the below. Cheers.

Janice & Sonya (koreans in Sydney)



Ginny Owens, my fav christian artise

Can I have this dance (HSM3)




Grace Cavalieri (1937– )

Dates

The silver from my mother’s mirror
gleams its stories
toward a light which drops and never breaks.
It says to tell the truth and

permanently shining, brings forth
an original day bright as this one
where children and other small creatures
played without threat

but the child’s story is never without fear—is it—
and seems to be made of remainders which either
want for love or some relief from it.

In the third grade the pyramids were presented to us
by Miss O’Malley
so kind that she would—
in honor of learning—
give us the key to Egypt
if she could.
Who would like to bring dates for all to taste?
Who can do this on the lunch hour? she asked.
Naturally I
—who could not imagine how—
said I would—
and, like a child with enough money to spend, ran
home with only one hour, one hour to ease
my dear mother who probably had
little money in the house, yet who bravely asked
“Shouldn’t you buy two packages for the class”
I said No.
Love and fear divided in my mind between
an ocean of children
and my mother’s troubled face,
“One package is all I need” I lied,
“Someone else will bring the rest”
(Children spend so much time persuading—
no wonder no one believes them).
Eight dates for twenty children
which would taste so sweet—
Miss O’Malley, always kind, cut the tiny squares
and I kept interrupting, hoping they
wouldn’t notice. After all
there wasn’t water in the land of pyramids . . . was
there . . . and
not too many trees,
probably hungry people and small rations there as well.

That day every one of us was a reflection of the other—
the children who ate their portions,
the mother at home worrying about her daughter’s gift,
the child thinking about her mother’s face,
and Miss O’Malley who, kind and earnest,
taught us all about a hardy people in an arid land
who gave what they had and could give nothing more.

© 1990, Grace Cavalieri, Trenton
grateful acknowlegement to Belle Mead Press

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

God's Grandeur

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

When compliments come from Dr M & his wife..

Put it in short, Dr M & his wife went to melbourne, a gala dinner held for them at richest suburb of Melbourne, my bro played a medley of patriotic songs, Malay folk songs, popular songs and also a church song.

Later the wife called for him, complimented him, chatted for a few mins, my bro also had a few words with Dr M.


Nice! =)

Nights in Rodanthe

I'm so glad that i get a "come-or-die" (jokin') with my best friend & his GF to watch this movie with me this coming thursday. It's been a long while since i watch a movie in the cinema, and for those who know me know that i love to watch sappy/deep movies that sometimes only girls would love to watch (hooyay & boohoo). ai ya, hopefully this movie's moral values don't go down the drain..

Well, sappy/deep movies, lots of music & lame jokes, compute tax for corporate clients & play drums professionally makes a good Victor :P

can't wait, yay!



And the next one i will definitely watch (dvd) is..
RENT. =)




Seasons of Love ("Rent" music video)



ALL
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love

HOMELESS WOMAN
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?

COLLINS
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.

ALL
It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!

HOMELESS WOMAN (while ALL sing)
Oh you got to got to
Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love.

FoodFair '08 & heart.

I think it all went well, i thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, though it's a little tiring. Seeing the TEENz tirelessly working everything to perfection, the decorations, dance, DJ-ing music, coordinating; the food being prepared; the fellowship enjoyed, satisfaction of serving God.

I had fun being with friends, cell group, I hate that it's all over now, have to drag my feet back to Singapore tonight =(

heh heh. I so glad to see Esther back for a while, with the cool group manning the photography stall. I love the company of alan, wei wan, my sis, alvin, ah lum, my cell members, danny, boon fei, angela, yan, and so many others. I think I really will start to miss people, last time i used to think that i couldn't survive without some movies and internet, now i think i can't survive without some time with people, mainly just slacking off & crapping with my parents, sister, good buddies & friends. It keeps me sane from the weekday mill run, or slogging off in the office & studying at night.

Being with people makes me feel human again :)
haha.

This morning I woke up early for foodfair & i was tremendously rewarded by this big, warm & orangy sun rise while on the way to church, so beautiful, especially when it's overlooking Taman Sentosa & the bridge to Permas Jaya. You can hear the 'wows' in the car from my sis n I.

I wonder if all these can last, friends do come & go like the rising & setting of the sun, everytime it happens & it's similar but different.

Time passes by fast, suddenly i am working & living a lonely city life, to & fro Raffles Place / Tanjong Pagar and Orchard Road everyday. Yet I feel unchanged.


Ever seen time & people fly by, grew up, and felt like your own life snail-pacing in a different path? Remembered His verse about our lives, like morning dew that stays only in a while and fades away.

I blinked, and my holiday's over, favourite movies turn 10 years-old, I work, my weekend's over, my old dreams evolved away, tasty fast foods become bland, life turned its face.

What is life and its supposed responsibility that summoned me out of my true phase?

Be changed, be ever changed, ever renewed in You, see from Your eyes, that you are good, ever good, ever loving, ever there, here, with me. That I am forever in your plans & arms, and i can ever see your face.

Your promises are true for me to live another day.

Home.. quick writings.

--


"Meet me by Paddington's",
In the sweetest smile by Audrey.
"Remember, that bookstore? Where I kinda spilled my..",

Ice-cream. How could I forget,
You used to absorb your mind in "book-bookies",
Dropped your favourite flavour,
don't mind the floor,
I have to clean up the tears.
(Chuckles)
"Forgive your old man, you're always little."

"So, we're gonna read some of those?"
Yeah, from fiction to poetry,
To.. oh yeah, your fav, photography.

You know I have to drag my feet again to one of your..
"Com'on, you love it!",
(I was waiting for this response, it gets me everytime),

Let's go then, I have some spare change
in my pocketful of sunshine.




Snowflakes like raindrops under a dark sky covered by light,
Walking like under an umbrella covered in blight.
Just waiting to be home, a few steps more, to take off.

稻香

對這個世界如果你有太多的抱怨
跌倒了就不敢繼續往前走
為什麼人要這麼的脆弱 墮落
請你打開電視看看
多少人為生命在努力勇敢的走下去
我們是不是該知足
珍惜一切 就算沒有擁有

還記得你說家是唯一的城堡 隨著稻香河流繼續奔跑
微微笑 小時候的夢我知道
不要哭 讓螢火蟲帶著你逃跑
鄉間的歌謠永遠的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

不要這麼容易就想放棄 就像我說的
追不到的夢想 換個夢不就得了
為自己的人生鮮艷上色 先把愛塗上喜歡的顏色
笑一個吧 功成名就不是目的
讓自己快樂快樂這才叫做意義
童年的紙飛機 現在終於飛回我手裡
所謂的那快樂 赤腳在田裡追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂給叮到怕了 誰在偷笑呢
我靠著稻草人吹著風唱著歌睡著了
哦 哦 午后吉他在蟲鳴中更清脆
哦 哦 陽光灑在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切 就算沒有擁有

還記得你說家是唯一的城堡 隨著稻香河流繼續奔跑
微微笑 小時候的夢我知道
不要哭讓螢火蟲帶著你逃跑 鄉間的歌謠永遠的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

work & eat

These two days very stressed at work cos suddenly got a lot a lot of companies to handle..

 

Eat junk again in office today, junk food bought in Japan by one of the managers, in a small packet, got 9 different types of junk food, nice!!!  

accapella & beatbox in the train

1997 Boy band. nice singing, just don't watch too long, ha.



People Get Ready

People get ready
There's a train a-comming
You don't need no baggage
Just a-get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the deisel hummin'
You don't need no ticket no no
Just thank the Lord
People get ready
For the train to Jordon
It's picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board on
There's room for all
Amongst who love the most

There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those
Who's chances grow thinner
There's no hiding place
In the kingdom's throne

People get ready
(people get ready)
People get ready
(c'mon people)
People get ready
(woah)
People get ready

People get ready
(people get ready)
People get ready
(come i'll tell ya people)
People get ready
(woah)
People get ready

C'mon people get ready
There's a train a-comming
You don't need no baggage
Just a-get on board
All you need is some faith
To hear the deisel hummin'
You don't need no ticket no no
Just thank the Lord

C'mon people get ready
(people get ready)
There's a train a-comming
(train a-commin' - yeah)
You don't need no baggage
Just a-get on board
(no no)
All you need is some faith
(need is faith
To hear the deisel hummin'
(oh oh)
You don't need no ticket no no
(no ticket)
Just thank ..
Just thank the
Lord
We just thank the Lord






how i wish to witness this in the mrt..

father's comfort

 

He Wants to Comfort You
by Max Lucado

My child's feelings are hurt. I tell her she's special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.

My child is afraid. I won't go to sleep until she is secure.

I'm not a hero. I'm not a superstar. I'm not unusual. I'm a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.

And after I help, I don't charge a fee. I don't ask for a favor in return. When my child cries, I don't tell her to buck up, act tough, and keep a stiff upper lip. Nor do I consult a list and ask her why she is still scraping the same elbow or waking me up again.

I'm not a prophet, nor the son of one, but something tells me that in the whole scheme of things the tender moments described above are infinitely more valuable than anything I do in front of a computer screen or congregation. Something tells me that the moments of comfort I give my child are a small price to pay for the joy of someday seeing my daughter do for her daughter what her dad did for her.

Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.

If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?

Why do I think he wouldn't want to hear about my problems? ("They are puny compared to people starving in India.")

Why do I think he is too busy for me? ("He's got a whole universe to worry about.")

Why do I think he's tired of hearing the same old stuff?

Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?

Why do I think he consults his list when I ask for forgiveness and asks, "Don't you think you're going to the well a few too many times on this one?"

Why do I think I have to speak a holy language around him that I don't speak with anyone else?

Why do I not take him seriously when he questions, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11)

Why don't I let my Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?

I'm learning, though. Being a parent is better than a course on theology. Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I'm better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won't go to sleep when I'm afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.

Ever. And that's enough.


From
The Applause of Heaven
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999) Max Lucado

 

 

Big client; no time.

Life’s pretty busy, especially weekends when there’s the weekly Christmas prac and TEENz service. Today’s work just ended, gotha go home, on the way will buy very cheap bread & salmon (>S$4) at Ngee Ann City’s cold storage for my whole week’s breakfast.

 

Today I’ve worked on my biggest client so far, with revenue (sales) of S$211 million, having branches in Beijing & Dubai.. Sounds interesting but not really.

 

Ok, gotha leave my office…

 

 

sooo many emails..

Sian, after 3 days of not organizing my emails, now decide to tidy up a bit after work..

 

You know, in my inbox, I have about 40-50 sub-folders, specifically arranged for emails.

 

In each subfolders have about 2-20 emails..

 

Blah blah……

 

Only 1.5 months of employment and now got more than 1,000 emails…

Turn To Jesus (Original by Hermann Kim)

Original song by Hermann Kim

Heb 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.


Jesus my Saviour
My Lord and My King
Insulted, rejected
for all our sins
Knowing pain
He went through it all
So I turn to Jesus
He's there when I fall

(chorus)
Lord I need you
Lord I cry out to you
My only refuge
from this world
Lord I need you
Lord I cry out to you
My only shelter
my hope and saviour

Jesus my comfort
my strength and my shield
Sorrow and sadness
He knows how I feel
Knowing my struggles
He went through it all
So I turn to Jesus
Who's been there before.

아주 먼 옛날

Translated:

A long long time ago
from a place called heaven,
a divine plan was made
just for you.

God looked down upon you
and said, "This is good.
With my own two hands,
I have made you more precious
than anything in this world.
I rejoice because of you
and I love you."

We love you and bless you.



Monday morning

This was the second song ever written. Like the title says, it was inspired by the first day of the week, where people seem to click back into their robotic modes and live life so lifelessly. It's a cry out for the full-time workers (and students) who have that urge to break out and be different- to be free.



A monday morning I wake up again
and catch the train to work all over again
I see the same old people walking by
Just like the other day I don't see a smile

How do I break free from this
How do I live my life to
show that I am free

I wanna fly over the mountains
I wanna soar over the seas
I wanna glide over the flowers and the trees
I wanna fly without a harness
I wanna run without these shackles on my feet
Oh because I know I'm free

I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid to fall because of you

A sunday morning I wake up again
and for some reason it feels like a new day
And as I drive to church I wonder why
On monday mornings why do I feel so dry

I wanna break free from this
I wanna live my life to
show that I am free

YouTube specials =)

Violin HipHop



Same violinist sings :)



Korean girls' modified & fast version of "I Am Amazed" .... wow! (JB got any girls like this?)




This is the song I bring to you
Nothing made up no fancy tunes
I'm singing whatever's on my heart

I'm sure you have so much to say
If only I gave you a minute a day
I think I would have more songs for you

Sometimes I wonder I question
Was that your voice
or my imagination
I don't know
I don't know

Still you say you love me
Whenever I doubt and walk away
You follow me
you follow me

I'm amazed by you
I'm amazed by you
I'm amazed by you
and how you love me

So many times my faith grows weak
And so many times
you're the last one i seek
I don't know what you see in me

When I complain that I can't hear
Your voice in my heart
you say you're near
You whisper songs into my ears

So here I am singing a song that I wrote
And here I am playing guitar
that I don't know how to play
but that's okay (right?)

Cuz you are the one
who has sung over me
It's more than just
a-ny old epiphany
So won't you captivate our ears


and others.. haha, i'm a fan.

Amazing Grace


You Are My Strength

Food shared in company

I like my firm, besides good colleagues and managers, they always like to share food around =)

So far in the 1 month of employment, I have tasted:

 

1. Wasabi potato chips
2. Coffee chicken
3. Coffee bean chocolate
4. European fruit tea
5. China’s fresh peach
6. Mooncake
7. Hello Panda - chocolate biscuit
8. Subway’s double chocolate chips cookie
9. Pokky’s chocolate stick

 

Wahahaa. Nice!

 

Do your best to rest

The past weekend has been full of events to attend to, things to serve, didn't even have time to lie down on the sofa to rest for an hour. boo hoo...

Sunday night went back to s'pore. after taking a bath, already 12 midnight, quite sad, really don't have time for myself. While waiting for hair to dry, read the bible while listening to some christian music. And amazingly God's comfort came over me like a warm blanket, took away my mental exhaustion. My soul felt so refreshed.

I am totally amazed at God and His word, i didn't know that it can be that refreshing, like streams of life flowing into my spiritual desert.
Though born into a christian family, still got so many things to learn about God.
Love it. =)


Do Your Best to Rest
by Jon Walker

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest. Hebrews 4:9–11 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

Today's guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –

Most of us think of the Sabbath as a day of rest, originating from the day of rest God took after he created the universe, as recorded in Genesis. That view is correct; it's the reason we should take a Sabbath, a day of rest, each week.

Yet the Sabbath has a larger sense: an invitation to rest in God's healing grace, trusting in his power and his purpose for your life. We rest in our Father's arms, knowing he goes before and behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11).

God wants us to focus our efforts toward entering this Sabbath-trust in God, a restful, radiant certainty that God's got a handle on it all, and that he's got our best interests in mind.

Ian Thomas illustrates this point by telling the story of a man walking down a dusty, rural road on a hot and humid day. The man is loaded down with a heavy backpack and carries a duffle bag in each hand. A pick-up truck comes along, and the driver lets the man hop in the back.

The driver heads on down the road, but when he looks in the rearview mirror he sees that his passenger is standing in the bed of the truck still holding both duffle bags, still wearing the over-packed backpack on his back.

Truth is: We stand in the truck of faith, still carrying our burdens, thinking they're independent of our ride with God. We think God can carry us, but not our burdens. But God's truck of faith is big enough to carry us and to carry all our burdens.

Sit down and rest in the ride of God, our Father, carrying us home to him.

Journey after TnT camp

Thank God for the TnT camp, though God didn't speak to me like how i expected, but He spoke through different ways, through Mark Geppert, the bible, the games. I thought that maybe this camp is not very significant but i was wrong, it can be a good thing that the room and food is only okay-okay, so that whenever i think of this camp, i will remember the fellowship with all the people and God, and the beach & stars too. =)   *but ai yar, if the food is good then... heh heh
 
Back to work, i met my new tax manager who is a very nice lady (reminds me of my mom) and now i have to report to two seniors instead of one. hope that i can learn faster and be independent. Dunno why, after camp i can be more hungry for the word of God (bible), currently Galatians & Philippians. good good... yesterday it rained really heavily and i am stuck at the bus stop, asked God why does this happen. my "nice" life dragged to a halt. I was standing near the bus stop's concrete bench, and there's a very young boy crawling on the bench. Suddenly he lost his balance and fell head first, face down to the floor. And I was standing there, unknowingly my bag cushioned his fall and he had enough time to break the fall.
 
"That's why",
 
i heard God in my heart. and i thanked God for His intervention, to put me just right there to save the boy's big bump, haha. prayed a prayer of blessing for that boy, sat there waiting for the rain to stop, 1 hour +, and had a good heart talk with God, something which i had never done in a long, long time.

 

..

 

light sigh...

 

 

i missed God..

 

gotha go home n swim, n talk to Him ba..

 

bye.

 

 

Testing email blog

testing, testing.. see whether this really works, if can, then in the future will update my blog by emailing straight to publish, heh heh.

---

See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. Check It Out!

how's work?

how's work?

not bad, 1st two days very stressed because need to learn so many things at the same time, besides my actual job, also learn the procedures in filing and correspondence, and learning to quick browse through very thick files for specific information.

not much time nowadays, tonight write blog then no time to swim, sad sad, cos swimming quite fun, get to exercise n its relaxing, pool light's out at 10pm.

job is good, now not so tired liao, but every night still need to read up on specific tax laws, really need to fight time to do devotion n other extra readings.

i don't want to check email after working hours anymore, take up too much time. thks to aaron's tip, now my gmail n fgcteenz email will automatically forward all to my company email.

i'm happy, cos i like to work, and i feel contented living a discipline life. besides living in orchard condo with a missionary. heh heh.

Will write again after 21 Aug.

Pray that company will approve my leave application so that i can go TnT Camp.

Starting time : 9.44PM

Name : Victor
Sisters : 1
Brothers : 1
Shoe size : 10
Height : 170++... somewhere.. over the..
Where do you live : In condo with the most interesting, ambitious & love-God ppl.
Favourite drinks : shandy, my JB home's plain water, 7up/sprite with lemon.
Favourite breakfast : no fav for breakfast, lately having coffee with bread & tuna..

HAVE YOU EVER...

been on a plane : once only, KL - JB. shad.
Swam in the ocean : yeah, nice but salty. now swim in condo pool almost everyday.
Fallen asleep in school : but never have dreams while falling asleep in sch, sad sad..
Favourite sleeping time : financial accounting, tax.
Broken someone's heart : Maybe, not sure. break lai break qu. lol, joking.
Fell off your chair : ya, haha, so fun.
Sat by the phone and waited for someone to call : ya, call for job interview ba.

What is your room like : speakers, psp (only music, no games), laptop, IKEA double-decker bed with condo pool view, vincent van gogh paintings.

What's right beside you : my psp, office bag, printer, linksys wireless..

What is the last thing you ate : ipoh wan tan mee @ somerset. not nice wan, so shad.....

EVER HAD...

Chicken pox: no.
Sore throat : once a blue moon. blue moon once every 5-9 weeks.
Stitches : yeah, face.
Broken nose : no.

DO YOU...
Believe in love at first sight : if i want to believe this, i will also believe lost of true love after second sight.

Like picnics : yay! thinking of teenz/tnt ppl having picnic at istana garden, frolicking in the sunshine..
~~westlife: we have joy, we have fun, we have seasons in the sun.... lol

WHO WAS...

the last person you danced with : woah, so long ago, can't remember. when i was a teen.
the last person who last made you smile : my super 'gao siao' hilarious colleague.
the last person you last yelled at : can't remember.

TODAY DID YOU...

Talk to someone you like : today ar, ya, but only God la. others no time. i busy, they busy.
Kissed anyone : no la. free kisses meh?!! anyway, yesterday got a few youths at orchard giving out free hugs.
nobody want to be hugged, hahahaahahahaa.


Get sick : no, today fine, but quite tired.
Talk to an ex : no ex.
Miss someone : yeah, a few ppl, those memorable times.
Eat : today did i eat? stupid, of course la.
Best feeling in the world : latest one ar, i guess when my best friend got his girlfriend ba. =)

Do you sleep with stuffed animals: no, stuffed bed, stuffed pillow, stuffed head.
What's under your bed : another empty bed, alan, when are u coming.......
Who do you really hate : nobody.

What time is it now :10.04pm

5 things I was doing 10 years ago

1. walking home from school
2. cycle to friend's house to play PC games, heh heh.
3. trying to fit in at TEENz
4. wonder whether did i make the right choice going to boys sch.
5. tennis, under coaching. advanced level, heh.

5 things on my to-do list today (now)

1. analyse client's financial statement before sleep.
2. read the very good christian book: the Sacred Romance
3. read bible
4. check email, blog - tie up loose ends.
5. bathe!

5 snacks I enjoy (if i got money, which i don't, ha)

1. starbuck/coffee bean
2. choco waffle.
3. jap octo balls
4. choco bars: mars/timeout etc.
5. good ice-creams

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire

1. buy house
2. travel world at least 2 months
3. give money to people close to me
4. find her
5. invest, both spiritual & material.

5 places I have lived in (stayed b4)

1. JB home
2. KL hotel
3. Shah Alam condo
4. Orchard condo
5. SP hostel



woah, 10.17pm liao!
bye bye