Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Hero lives inside of You

I want You to Know that no matter how tough life is....The Hero Lives inside of you...


Please view video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWlS8Oerx8o&feature=related

Artist: Mariah Carey lyrics

There's a hero If you look inside your heart You don't have to be afraid Of what you are There's an answer If you reach into your soul And the sorrow that you know Will melt away

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

It's a long road When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold You can find love If you search within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow But don't let anyone Tear them away Hold on There will be tomorrow In time You'll find the way

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

Sunday, April 27, 2008

GKidz and Family Dinner

Today I had a great time with my kids. I conducted a structural experience with them to teach them the importance of listening to God's voice for guidance in our life daily.

The verse was taken from John 10:1-6 where Jesus says that the good shepherd enters the sheep pen by the main gate. The sheep hears His voice and follow Him. They will not follow a stranger's voice because he may be a thief or a robber.

I taught the kids that they need to stick to good company and not mix around with the wrong ones. Also the importance of listening to God through the word, prayer, worship. So i had this structural experience where I pair them up, blind-folded one of them and had the other one bring him to out of the room to the toilet. Along the way this kid is to listen very carefully to the voice of the other kid leading him until he is brought safely to the destination.

I debriefed with them after all of them gone through it and found that they love it!! They learnt the lesson very well and they were so excited!!

I was very pleased with them and God's grace in teaching them this.

Praise the Lord!!


************Mood Change************


Earlier, one older kid actually threw a piece of butter on one of my kid's head. When I knew about this, I was like "What!! Where is the kid that did that? Show me!!". When i went over, a piece of 2cm by 3cm pience of butter was on one of my kid's head. I was somewhat surprised that such a thing could happen when there are other leaders around.

I was totally furious!! I controlled myself so as not to unleash a series of tidal wave harshly at that kid. I will save the details of my confrontation and the subsequent debrief with both groups.

I thank God i have a beautiful girlfriend who can guide me with her experience. Need that my dear.

***********************Mood Change**********************

I had a wonderful dinner with my family today. We went to Joo Chiat and ate at this chinese restaurant. Food was great! Paid only $50 for just 3 of us. But the wait was long... waited 1 hour for the food to arrive, so hungry I ate 2 bowls of rice.

It has been a long time since we had such quality time together. Anywhere in the world I go... family is still the ones I feel close to and I know they wull accept me for who i am.

Thank you Lord for my family!! I am proud of them and i love them deeply!


Are You Fighting the Right Battle?

I was watching this movie called "Dooms Day" just the other day. It is a story about a city in England who was sealed up and isolated and the people there left to die when an uncurable and deadly plaque broke out.

30 years later, a team of soldiers were sent back into the city to search for a cure because apparently there were some survivors who did not die from the plaque.

Inside that deathly place, there was a war going on between 2 parties. When i saw the fighting scenes and the anger they had against one another, the Lord spoke to me there in the cinema of the verse in Ephesians "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I was reminded at how sometimes we have conversations in the office, at home, at school where a war of words take place. Each party cut the other down with words as their swords and most of the time casualties results in both side and the relationship sours after that.

My friend, the bible says that our battle is not against our friends, colleagues, families,service providers. Rather, the bible teaches us that we are to love our neigbour and treat them like how we would like them to treat us. To speak to them in Kind words even when at times they are sarcastic, or stress up.

The bible exhorts us to be a good testimony in Phillipians 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

When we feel angry because of the embarassment that results from the other party's actions or words, let us endure and not to respond with the wrong attitude. Let us not treat them like our enemies because they are the ones our Lord Jesus died for as well.

Dear Lord, help us this day to love as you love and to give as your gave. Give us inner strength when we are the victim of verbal abuse, let us be cool-headed as your word says in 2 Timothy 2:24 "A servant of the Lord must not quarrel; instead , he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." and let us respond with the attitude that will bring glory to your name.

In Jesus Name we pray, Amen!


Saturday, April 26, 2008

Saturday 26 April 2008

Today , i went to Tekka Mall to pay up for my membership with SHRI. Not sure if i heard the instruction wrongly from the lady when i called them up, I stopped at Farrer Park Station instead of Little India and had to walk almost 10 mins under the afternoon sun.

After paying up, i took a walk around Little India. One thing I like about that place is that it does not look like Singapore. It is like a little town on its own, living in its own time and era. And one thing I really like about our Indian friends is that they really dont mind the sun like us Singaporeans do, we avoid it. They are walking freely and cheerfully under it from point A to B, doesnt seem to mind the heat at all. I joined them as well, not stopping for a minute to take cover but appreciating its warmth and touch from millions of miles above.

After walking for 2 hours, I took a bus home.

I decided that from now on, I will try to make most parts of my Saturday a day of rest. To cease working and to worship God. To observe a time of thanksgiving and contemplation on the greatness of God. To allow my body to rest, I will read, sing, sleep, worship, take a slow walk... no work for one day or at least for most parts of it as far unless something urgent crops up.

The bible says in Exodus 31: 17 "... for six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day, he abstained from work and rested." See here that the Lord chose to, even though He doesnt have to, He chose to stop all work and rest.

So there is something to be learnt here and only through practice and fully immerse can one appreciate the beautiful of that rest.

Let's enjoy the rest that God has given and set the example for us. What a mighty God He is and what wisdom will unfold as we follow His ways and patterns.


Why Not The Best? - Jimmy Carter (Ex-American President)

Excerpts from the book "Ordering Your Private World" - Gordon Macdonald

For many years Admiral Hyman Rickover was the head of the United States Nuclear Navy. His admirers and his critics held strongly opposing views about the stern and demanding admiral. For many years every officer aboard a nuclear submarine was personally interviewed and approved by Rickover. Those who went through those interviews usually came our shaking in fear, anger, or total intimidation.

Among them was ex-President Jimmy Carter, who years ago, applied for service under Rickover. This was his account of a Rickover interview:

I applied for the nuclear submarine program, and Admiral Rickover was interviewing me for the job. It was the first time I met Admiral Rickover, and we sat in a large room by ourselves for more than two hours, and he let me choose any subjects I wished to discuss. Very carefully, I chose those about which i knew most at the time - current evemts, seamanship, music, literature, naval tatics, electronics, gunnery - and he began to ask me a series of questions of increasing difficulty. In each instance, he soon proved that I knew relatively little about the subject I had chosen.

He always looked right into my eyes, and he never smiled. I was saturated with cold sweat.

Finally, he asked a question and I thought I could redeem myself. He said,"How did you stand in your class at the Naval Academy?" Since i have completed my sophomore year at Georgia Tech before entering Annapolis as a plebe, I had done very well, and I swelled my chest with pride and answered,"Sir, I stood fifty-ninth in a class of 820!" I sat back to wait for the congratulations - which never came. Instead, the question,"Did you do your best?" I started to say,"Yes Sir," but I remembered who this was and recalled several of the many times at the Academy when I could have learned more about our allies, our enemies, weapons,strategy, and so forth. I was just human. I finally gulped and said,"No, Sir, I didnt't always do my best."

He looked at me for a long time, and then turned his chair around to end the interview. He asked one final question, which i have never been able to forget - or to answer. He said,"Why not?" I sat there for a while, shaken, and then slowly left the room.

That encounter became the thought-starter for Carter's book Why Not The Best?


Dont stay on the ground. Get Up!

Frenchman MIcheal Poist-Prayers for Life.

"I am ashamed of being seen by you, for you love me and i forgot you.
I forgot you because i was only thinking of myself.
One can't think of several persons at once and one must choose and I chose.
I dare not make any more promises and i can only stand bowed before you Lord."

Lord :
"Come on my son,look up. Isn't it not mainly your vanity that is wounded.
If you loved me, you will grieve but you will trust.Do you think there is a limit to God's love?
Do you think or a moment I have stopped loving you?
But you still rely on yourself son, you must rely on me. Ask my Pardon and get up quickly.
You see, its not falling that is the worst, but staying on the ground."

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Happiest Person in FCBC

Mr Andy Goh is voted the happiest person in Singapore. =) Good for Him... and i am proud that Singapore has such a meaningful contest.

Well if i were to vote the Happiest Man in FCBC, it has got to be Reverand Yong Tai Tong!! He is a happy man , always having the widest smile ever... I believe many of us will agree with me on this...

He is also a man of God!!! So my vote to Reverand Yong!! Any seconder? =)

His Handsome photo can be found in our FCBC website :

http://www.fcbc.org.sg/g12network/yongtaitong.asp


The FEAR of the Lord :- Learning in Progress...

Today in church... we learnt about the fear of the Lord.

I find this a topic that many of us, with me to begin with, have very little practice in. To begin with... what does it really mean to Fear the Lord? Is it just to obey him? People can obey out of duty... out of the fear of consequences? Is that considered reverent fear?

I decided to revisit this again so I pull the book that i ready last year "The Fear of the Lord" By John Bevere to read again.

Stay Tuned!!! Learning in Progress...... Please ask me if i have been dilligently reading it if you see me ok? Thanks --> theonenewman.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Saty

The title of this post is given by my mum when i asked her "Mummy... what shall i name the post today?", "She said Saty... haha.. not sure why... thought i heard Satay!"

This morning i went downstairs for breakfast. Went to this very nicely renovated coffeeshop down at my block to eat and read. I love that coffeeshop.. nice chairs very modern, had Lotee(Hokkien word for bread), 2 eggs and Milo.

As i leaned back on the chair, i took out a book ,"Ordering my Private World" by Gordon Macdonald, to read and sipped on my Milo at the same time... Phewww!! That's the way life should be man!

Shauna said that to her Milo is the best drink in the world... Well... i agree to that for a breakfast meal. Hee =)!

By the way , Shauna finds that coffeeshop kind of noisy... which i also agree... but not if you go there in the morning and sit outside where the pavement is.. Or at night at 8pm. I think i am beginning to like it there.. a good place to read and Kiao Kar(Hokkien word for putting your leg on the seat) Haha ! =)

Sat there for 2 hours plus. Decided to walk and pray for God to speak to me further.... Then i saw Seargant Dollah from my favourite sitcom "Police and Thief". They were just round the corner shooting a malay drama. That Funny man actually looked smaller in real life.

Then i went biking... went to East Coast.. read my book there... prayed.. after 3 hours... came back home. The weather was hot at 1pm. My muscles were kind of tired when i reached the beach. so i found a shady spot to read and meditate. Wanted to dive into the sea... but didnt want to spend too much time drying myself in the sun afterwards.

At 4pm, i went to work... finished some of it and was glad i went... gave me a peace of mind now. Went off at 7pm.

What a day! Love to be relaxed ater a week's of work and stress! Find that life can be quite rushed since i started work. Time flies very fast... if i dont find time to enjoy it.... i probably missed out a lot in life. =)

An 8 Year Old Preacher in Indonesia

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Do you have a dream ?

If you have a dream... what would you dream of doing or becoming?

I have been letting my imaginations run a little bit these days.... nothing serious, just following my heart.

I am now thinking of becoming a pilot. =) Flying around in the sky... in charge of a big plane with many people on board.

Yesterday i thought of being a social entrepreneur... using my skills to help elminate sysmetic poverty.

Last week, i thought of becoming someone up in tne Corporate ladder, leading a big group of successful individuals in a team.

I used to want to be a preacher... cos i love to preach. Haha... wishful thinking...

I wanted very much to go overseas to do my MBA full-time...

I wanted to be on a scholarship so i dont have to spend too much.

I want to be a father.. a father who protects and leads.

I want to be a man that God can use mightily... if He doesnt mind me being bad at times... and gives me the grace to be good....

I want to be free... let nothing hold me back anymore...don't like to be under some rigid rules that clip your wings, under circumstances that forces me to hold back from being who i want to be....

I want to be rich =), healthy, strong, happy, generous...

I loved to travel the world with my future wife =)

Singapore is boring..... Work is sometimes meaningless... like chasing after the wind =) but we need to work...

I want to be free to love and to be loved... to give and to receive... to be free to express myself, to have the opportunity to do something different every 2 years.

Is there a career like that? =) Is there a place where i can be like that =)

Free but not lawless.. Free and strong.. =)

Department's Dinner

Today i had a very enjoyable dinner. It was our department's dinner and we ate at "No Sign Board" at East Coast. I always love the East Coast Park and eating there was a real treat for me. The nice sea breeze, relaxing atmosphere, good food... simply great!

We had a good time ot getting to know one another more, laughed and ate together. Thought next time we should have a BBQ or something to better minger around.

Love that place, we chose to sit inside the restaurant as we thought it might rained. Well.. it didn't and its ok.... we still had our fun.

I was sitting in the middle of 2 mums. =) Heard them share about their kids, the toys to play, things to buy.... haha... Drank 1.5 glass of beer. Should try the white wine instead.

Realised also that I am not that young anymore. Used to be the youngest, now a little older than some of my colleagues =)

Well.. no photos taken.. maybe next time =)

Saturday, April 5, 2008

My Saturday

Today i went biking for 2.5 hours. Had fun cycling since i started it again last Saturday.

Went to Plaza Singapura and got 2 books from TIMES Bookshop. 1) Who moved my Cheese? and 2) Our Iceberg Is Melting

I was actually suppose to meet a friend whom i havent contacted for a while and while waiting began to searchfor a present for a colleague mine but ended buying these 2 books.

Later on, i met my good friend Steve. We were actually intending to watch "The Bucket List", but it was full. so we ended up buying 2 tickets for the "Vantage Point".

In My Opinion, please dont watch it. I didnt enjoy it at all. They keep repeating the scenes to retell the story of different people from their point of views... actually got the entire cinema of people bored.

=) And this is the 2nd time i can remember actually watching a movie that turned me off. The other one is "The 40 year old virgin", which was actually gross!

So yea... save your money, you can choose to skip "Vantage Point" ! =)

Friday Night's UNI Friends Gathering



I had a wonderful Friday night with my UNI Friends that i made while studying in Melbourne.

We went to Glutton's Bay and eat so much we cant walk. We talked for a total of 4 hours from 7-11pm before making our way home! So much to catch up since the last time we met was more than 1 year ago. Most are still in the IT line , doing well... and we talked and laughed about the times we had together in Melbourne. On how we always eat at Crown's casino because their fish and chips is so dead cheap, how we went to Brisbane Gold Coast together and slept outside the airport because we didnt know that the domestic Brisbane's airport was closed. =)

Ah... got so much to say.....

So far ..I am the only one attached in my group... Thank God i have found my DARLING. =) Met her when i came back to Singapore and attended the G12 conference.
I pray that all of them will find a partner soon.

Glad to be back =)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

The Man In The Arena

It is not the critic who counts,
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled,
or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena;
whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly;
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory or defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt