Update

Well, as Pei Ling pointed out in the comments to the last post, it IS time for an update... and probably the last post of the year. What has been happening recently? Well, besides being busy with the JIC choir, Mei is BACK! and I am typing this on my new macbook (company purchase, ok?). Had sleepover for my Teens class and also Overnighter for the Teens children (photos on Facebook). Boss came for a visit. And many more things I can't remember. So what would my resolutions for the new year be? I can think of a few.

1. Get back into a routine so I can spend proper time in prayer and Bible study.

2. Put my heart into my Chinese lessons.

3. Spend more time with Cheryl.

4. Take Bloc for a walk everyday.

5. Take time to plan.

Looks like they all have to do with proper time management. Cheryl got me a Moleskine planner, while Pei Ling gave me journal for Christmas. We have terminated our Astro subscription (effective 13th Jan because of 1 month notice). So, I really have no excuse for not spending time more wisely now. If only it were that easy. Anyway, with your prayers and encouragement and in the Lord's strength, I know it can be done. What about stuff planned for the new year? Evan's birthday party on 6th in Penang. The revival of the Singing and Drama team? More interesting programs for the Teens? All require planning wor....

Ordering my private world

Mum bought me the book Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald quite some time back. I remember reading it but don't remember if i finished it. Anyway, i recently decided it was time to take a step back and take stock of myself. Whether i was being true to myself in the things that i do and get into. It's quite scary to find that i am just drifting along in life, doing what i think is what God wants me to do and not really knowing if what i'm doing is because i am driven to by the expectations of people around me, or my own selfish ambitions or simply because these things present themselves to me and i just take them on. So, since last tuesday, i have taken away a few distractions that rob me of my time. No fb for a week at least, no tv, just to put myself into a more contemplative mode before i reach another 'milestone' in my life. I've pressed the economy button on my car and forced myself to keep within the speed limits, something that is extremely tough for me to do and i find a real challenge. As i work at being a true disciple to the most gracious and loving Lord and Master, i know my growth has been stunted, but better late than never right? Anyway, i hope those of you who read this blog will keep me in your prayers as i attempt, by the Lord's strength, to order my private world, so that i will truly understand stewardship, know exactly who i am, possess an unwavering sense of purpose and practice unswerving commitment in my life. As i strife to have my mind renewed by the grace of the One who has called me, may i be a blessing to each of you too.

experiments

How long it has been since I've posted something. Been trying to wrap my head around this whole photography thing but not quite sure how I'm doing... Here are a few samples... (click on image for full size)

Water cabbage
Cherry tomato flower
Radiated tortoise
Crackpot plant flower

Oh, and this bird comes every morning and 'grumbles' at our window. I say grumbles cos it doesn't chirp like a sparrow or sing like a magpie robin, but well, grumbles... At least that's what it sounds like to me. It sometimes pecks on the glass too!

starbucks bug

Finally took the mug Tong How and Pei Yee gave me to the office... so that it could join his fellow starbucks brethren in their quest take over the mug world... and no, none of the other mugs belong to me except the standard mug that I inherited from Khairul after he left...

a change

Ok, the next time you see photos on my blog, it will be from a 'new' camera. I have sold my trusty Panasonic FZ7, which I really love and got myself an old 2nd hand Olympus E300. The FZ7 has loads of features but I use the simplest 'point and shoot' mode for most of my shots. Now I have to learn how to even just get a shot in focus... Well, I guess it's time to learn something new. I'm quite sure the new owner of the FZ7 will be having fun with it too ;)

Bye bye FZ7...


Hello E300...
Notice how the shot of the E300 looks better, cos I still haven't learned to use the dslr properly yet... huhu...

Our Video

Never had this when we were married almost 11 years ago, so when Azril said his wife, Iza, wanted to do a photoshoot for us cos they don't have any Chinese couples in their portfolio, I agreed. I'm not one to take to posing and having his picture taken. Even snapped at the poor camera man on our wedding day when he made us pose uncomfortably on the wedding car. Anyway, we rushed back from choir practice to meet up with the Myshots team and followed them to a location near our place. The whole shoot took less than an hour and just in time for them to buka puasa. Here's what Azril did video wise, photos will come later... watch in HD if possible...

www.myshotswedding.com

Fiction and Fantasy

Dreams are stuff you... well.... dream. Some people chase their dreams and make it a reality. Others sit back and watch. Still others have their dreams come through by a fortunate (or otherwise) twist of events. Dreams are often about things you desire to have, people you wish the same of and perhaps situations you imagined yourself in. Some people live their lives around their dreams, others pause for a moment to fantasize then get back to reality. In my fantasy, I have a pretty 9 year old daughter named Kerith. She has a 6 year old sister who's more outgoing and adventurous than her. And they both find their 4 year old baby brother very annoying... ok, enough day dreaming, Time to get back to reality!

Old Photos

Can you spot anyone familiar in the photo below?

Ok, so we know one guy's name's simon.... answer below...

Hire a parent?!

Came across this advert in the Low Yat forum... Some kid put up and ad to hire someone to act as his parent for report card day! Really gotta give it to him for creativity... Unfortunately, he's got quite a small budget, hahah

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1103739

WTHire Matured Woman or Man, age 50 - 60 for report card day -_-

Item(s): Matured Woman or Man . CHINESE only. smile.gif age 50-60.

Package includes:

Price: RM30, just need ur help for 1 hour.

Location: SMK Damansara Utama opposite Uptown smile.gif

Contact method/details: PM ME URGENT !! biggrin.gif
---


this is not for anything sexual

just need help from anyone of you that their mom or aunty is free this thursday 23 July.

easy money up for grabs. i actually need 2 man or woman to pretend to be me and my friend's mother/father to collect our report cards.

very simple just be at my school , SMK DAMANSARA UTAMA at 23 JULY THURSDAY between 8am-11am. and pretend to be my mom and collect the report card and just act.

then you will be paid RM30 just for that.. biggrin.gif

please help ~ thumbup.gif thumbup.gif URGENT biggrin.gif

This post has been edited by carbonfibre: Today, 02:35 PM

The Cost of Real Love is No Charge...

Came across this country song by Melba Montgomery and it made my eyes water... (click 'play' to listen)

No Charge.wma - Melba Montgomery

NO CHARGE
Melba Montgomery
Writer: HARLAN HOWARD

Recitation:

My little boy came into the kitchen this evenin'
While I was fixin' supper
And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writin' on
And after wipin' my hands on my apron
I read it - and this is what it said:

For mowin' the yard - five dollars
And for makin' my own bed this week - one dollar
And for goin' to the store - fifty cents
An' playin' with little brother, while you went shoppin' - twenty-five cents
Takin' out the trash - one dollar
Gettin' a good report card - five dollars
And for rakin' the yard - two dollars
Total owed - fourteen seventy-five.

Well, I looked at 'im standin' there expectantly
And a thousand mem'ries flashed through my mind
So I picked up the pen, turnin' the paper over,
This is what I wrote:

For nine months I carried you
Growin' inside me - NO CHARGE
For the nights I've sat up with you,
Doctored you, prayed for you - NO CHARGE
For the time and the tears.
And the cost through the years, there's NO CHARGE
When you add it all up.
The full cost of my love is NO CHARGE.

For the nights filled with dread
And the worries ahead - NO CHARGE
For advice and the knowledge
And the cost of your college - NO CHARGE
For the toys, food and clothes and for wipin' your nose
There's NO CHARGE, son
When you add it all up,
The full cost of my love, is - NO CHARGE.

Recitation:
Well, when he finished readin'
He had great big old tears in his eyes
And he looked up at me and he said,
"Mama, I sure do love you."
Then he took the pen,
And in great big letters
He wrote: "PAID IN FULL."

When you add it all up
The cost of real love is - NO CHARGE



Thanks Pa and Mum, for teaching me what real love is... Love you both very much :)

Just For Pun...

Chee Choun sent me these via email.... enjoy!

1. The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.

7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Lino­leum Blownapart.

9. Two silkworms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

12. Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.

13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: ‘You stay here; I’ll go on a head.’

14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab centre: ‘Keep off the Grass’.

16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said: “No change yet.”

17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

18. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

19. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

20. A backward poet writes inverse.

21. In democracy, it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism, it’s your count that votes.

22. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

Eaten Alive!

Our poor tree in front of the house. Got attacked by hundreds of caterpillars and i don't know if it'll survive. The fig tree nearby seems to have been attacked by something too...

"You've been looking a little down lately dear."

Jimmy's heart raced. She'd noticed! He pulled her closer as she approached the bed he was sitting on. He looked up at her then hugged her tightly, his hair wetting her pink work blouse a little. Should he tell her that he was frustrated, angry and sad all at once? Could he tell her that it was partly because of her? All he needed was a little attention. He was screaming for it but she never seemed to notice, till now. He thought hard for the right words to say. Should he also tell her about the problems he'd been having at school? Did he want to burden her with the details? or should he just savor the moment? But before he could open his mouth, she pulled herself away.

"Mummy's gotta go now. Pick yourself up and get on with life", she said as she walked out the door.

Jimmy sat there all alone again. He shouldn't blame her. He knew she loved him and had to work. Maybe he should go away so she didn't have to work so hard....

Ma poor under utilised bike...

My favourite rides are single trails that lead to a river crossing and back. But this poor guy has not seen the likes of that! At least not with my butt on the saddle. Bought this bike many moons ago from a contact off www.bicyclebuysell.com. We drove to Ipoh after work, met the chap, did the transaction and drove back. I really hope I can take it off road more often and plan rides for the young people too! :)

Bukit Lalang

A public holiday is such a precious thing. I know those who are still studying will not understand this. You will, when you start working. Anyway, Desmond asked during fellowship dinner if I wanted to join him and the others on another trip to Nuang. I was rather hesitant, considering my fitness level has deteriorated considerably since the last climb. But more importantly, I was really hoping to go somewhere with my teens club class. I really enjoy bringing them out and spending time with them and we were supposed to plan something, but firstly, they couldn't agree on a place to go and secondly, one three were present last saturday, making planning quite impossible. I was still hoping to arrange something so even if it was for a smaller group. Cheryl has the special girl's meeting on in the morning, so I had asked Jeya if he could come along to assist me. I've already learnt my lesson that I should never bring a bunch of kids out alone. When I checked with him yesterday, Jeya wanted to stay home and prepare his sunday message, but Cheryl was keen to assist me after her meeting ends at around 1:30pm. Long story short, we couldn't arrange anything in time. Then Kenny, my ex-colleague from SAE called and asked if I knew how to get to Bukit Lalang. Alvin had just mentioned this place to me on weds night during regional and I thought I could hook them up since he said he was going on labour day. A few calls here and there and I had arranged for Kenny to come to my place at 5:30am. Actually, I really needed some rest, but since I have not been able spend much time with Kenny for a long time and everytime he invites me to ride, I have to decline cos it's on a sunday, I agreed. Alvin later called to cancel.

I rarely type such 'cheong hei' story so back to short and sweet.

The place was packed. I hate packed trails. Of course if I were to bring a group on a trip there, then I would be as irritating to some people as they were to me. Not that I have anything against them, they have as much right to be there as I do, so I don't hate them, just the situation. Short climb up. Nice scenery. Sunrise wasn't so nice but bumped into Jia Yin :)

As usual, more pics on FB:)

Love

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.


A husband's duty is to love his wife. I can only find one verse in the Bible that instructs wives to love their husbands. So, as a husband I need to realise what this means in order to fulfill my duties. Of course it is easy to 'love' someone if they are perfect and cute. But nobody's perfect and not everyone stays cute forever. I heard once that the reason why babies are so cute is because if they weren't, it would be quite difficult to care for them. Anyway, back to the matter of love. The second part of the verse in Ephesians gives a very clear example and model of what love is and how a husband is to love his wife.

To start with, God gave us the marriage institution as a picture of Christ and the church. So, what did Christ do and how does he love the church. Well, as the son of God, he gave up all that he had and came down on earth to suffer and die to pay for our sins. Rising again, he defeated the power of death and hell. Ok, now this is the 'romantic' part. He did this to win us back to God. The next verse tells the story.

Ephesians 5:26,27 ...to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless.

So basically, Christ did everything! Being one who believes in chivalry, I do think that husbands ought to do things for their wives (even though they may be totally capable of doing it themselves sometimes!). Of course in the case of Christ and the church, we were totally lost and condemned and unable to help ourselves but he came and sacrificed himself in order to win us over. And it is because of that that we love him.

1John 4:19. We love because he first loved us.

Now back to how that helps me love my wife. If I were to take the example from Christ, then considering how much he sacrificed for our sake, I should do the same. Basically, it is having Cheryl's best interest at heart. It is an unselfish love. One that is very hard to practise and can only be done with God's grace. Totally unlike the kind of 'love' that we see in the world today where everything is about 'what's in it for me'. Don't even get me started on prenups and divorce. Whatever happened to 'for better or for worse'? These days, as soon as it's a little rough, couples bail out. I remember once, a number of years ago, after Cheryl had done something silly. I looked at her, gave a big sigh and said, "for better or worse". Looking back at me, in feigned seriousness, gave a bigger sigh and replied, "for richer or poorer". We had a good laugh over that.

As long as we're on this earth, in this sinful body, we are presently and practically imperfect (some seem more imperfect then others! haha). And we will often grieve our Lord and stray away from him. How often we have been disobedient and rebellious. But his love is such that he continues to love us and only desires what is best for us.

So husbands, love your wives. Never lose that tender and manja connection with them. Think of their interests above yours. Give in to them and put your ego aside (unless it is a matter which is wrong principally). Take the lead as the head of the family unit and lead them gently. Constantly look to the Lord for guidance and remember, if Christ is our example, there is no sacrifice that can match his...




and hopefully, she'll love you back... but even if she doesn't, your duty is still to love her...



1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

today is the 17th of april, 2009

Jasbir commented recently that she checks my blog every other day... So maybe i should be updating it a bit more since there are kind folk who do read it... i don't have to have a sudden inspirational thought or a major event to write about, just updates that help friends know what's happening in my life... So here goes...

Have been enjoying the sunroof a lot recently... initially i would get very annoyed with the sound but now i have learnt to live with the sound and enjoy the sunshine! Here are some sights that greeted me when i looked up this morning...

Clouds left by a passing jet...

Did you notice the moon?


This one is while waiting at the traffic lights in front of pudu jail...


1st time i've beed scratched by the needle, while donating blood today...


Customer brought in this guitar for repair... UV coating seems to be peeling off...


Red mountain racer shedding phase again (notice the blurred eyes?)... Hopefully i's a nice clean shed this time...

It's been a quiet day in the showroom today. Met a dealer, sold some gear, changed light bulbs, restrung a guitar, answered emails and calls. Singapore office is has been busy the past few days. Anyway, my thoughts are still on the youth center and what God wants me to do. Looking forward to meeting up with Aunty Gaik this sunday for lunch. Ee May cancelled her leave for next week, so i won't have to fly solo, except on saturday... It's 4:48pm and i still don't know what to eat for lunch. Must take care of my body, so better go...

Hard to say goodbye?!

We had our Easter and Farewell party today for the teens. A group of them will be promoted to YP next week. Yes, you know who you are (some read this blog). Anyway, I really pray that they will fit in well with the YP and continue to grow in the love and knowledge of the Lord. I'm happy that they are going on to more mature things and I can concentrate better on the younger ones. But of course I'm sad to see them go. Well, I'll still see many of them during other meetings and on saturdays but it won't be the same...

These are some who are going to YP. Others didn't come today as school was on...


Hwei Huih made a cake for them. Yummy!


Keychains that Alvin made for them.



The whole group!