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Looking throught at friends’ blogs, it seems like these people have some creative juice which were never squeezed out during the time that I know them in uni.

Like for example, Anne Leong, who I only know her to be creative with cameras and shouting orders to her subcomms (oops, sorry shouldn’t have let that out . Her tagline is “proppers” which for the life of me I have never heard it before. Funnily I don’t remember that term though I was working with her as well during Combined Christmas…

A close sister that I thought I knew well, Esther Siew termed her blogs as “Memoirs of an alabaster box” Huh??? My lasting memories of her is not an alabaster box, but a mini aquarium where the goldfish keep dying….

I tried using Goodle translator, I even asked one of my Japanese colleague, but none could figure out what’s Kawaii girl Grace Woo tagline is. Check it out for yourself.

My CG leader in uni leaves a big impression on me (sorry no pun intended) She of perpetual fascination with everything Spanish and girl stuffs like shopping, yet a crazy fun joyrider thrill seeker party goer bridget jones hardcore is one heck of a girl. People go crazy over her (and with her as well) hence it’s not difficult to diffuse why she is also, mad bout herself.

Yet another pharmacist in a long list of pharmacist invaders in our not-so-health-concious USM gang, Yong Syn is known to be a very vocal girl in our group. Though she stayed on 5th floor in Desa U, it’s not that hard to hear her from 7-Eleven across the street. (hehehe) Thus its kinda suprising that she somehow taken a muted tagline to represent her blog.

The only junior that I’m kinda close with, is an infectious and bubbly girl (how come it seems like only girls that are writing blogs). Endless energy and really makes you wonder does this girl sleep or not. When she’s around the whole room will be crowded. Guess that’s why she needs to go upstairs for a break.

My athletic brother (finally a guy that writes!) is a natural born teacher, preacher and speaker all rolled into one. The need to speak is so great, that even in cyberspace he is still belting he who has ears, let him hear!

My roommate is not one that is known for his speaking or writing prowess (though he is genuinely one of the rare few Malaysian who can speak and write in proper English. Lu faham gua or not?) His sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek comments, however are hints of his creative talents. So when he started his blog I was very curious to see what would he termed his blog to be. It’s as creative as it could be. Simple and straight to the point. Maybe proppers domesticated him. hehe

Looking at their blog’s tagline and looking at mine, I felt kinda inferior. some using abstract terms, some using powerful proclaimations, some even using intelligible words, some resorts to symbols and some uses simple taglines. These are writers that managed to catch people attention just by the simple header on their page. Me on the other hand, an aspiring writer doesn’t even know what to write as a tagline. How ironic.

And Scott Created His Blog…

My roommate and good friend for three years have started blogging! This guy is as sarcastic as it could be, though not many understand his sarcasm

Bout the only guy I know that enjoys mutilated animal (Happy Tree Friends anyone?) Starship Troopers (torching bugs/insects alive) weird jazz music (Turk Murphy?) and Amos’ rival (Famous Amos, Hot Scott?)

Trust him not to dwell on minial things like “what I do today”, “what food i eat” those kind of nonsense lah. Enjoy reading!

Me? Pastor?

Few months back I had a dream where I was walking by a river bank. Some around me were happily splashing and jumping in the river. Some were just merely content sitting by the river bank, getting their feet wet but not fully convinced to jump in. Another group were watching the group that are swimming, wanting to join in but stopped short. Yet another grasping at a tree at the riverside, afraid of being pulled into the river. As I continue walking, I saw Jesus beckoning me to join Him in the river. I wanted to jump in. But before I did I woke up.

Pastor Tan texted me early in the morning, asking me whether interested in staying over at his place since his missus is not around. Though I’m inclined to reject since I am actually preoccupied with practices at night, (but thinking perhaps he needed some male bonding session) I asked him out for supper instead.

We talked mostly bout my relationship with Grace, how we are progressing, what’s the difficulties in our walk together, and the question that almost every other person asked, when are we gonna walk the aisle together.

Before you guys accused him of being too privy, he being the pastor that’s going to be our marriage counselor, he would have more cause for concern.

Our conversation later on dwelled on my current hot topic, my p/w ministry and views on church. We engaged in several heated arguments (ok only me got heated up, he remained the cool and steady guy as usual)

Think this is just about the only time I can remember I disagreed with his views. At some point of our conversations I kinda got shocked at his opinions, as he doesn’t resemble anyone that would have discontent with the church.

After a moment of silence, he dropped a bombshell on me (again). Two months ago he told me he can see me pasturing a church. After our conversations he was more convinced of his initial “vision”.

I was really laughing at that thought. Me? Pastor? Hahaha. Even as I’m typing this I also cannot stop chuckling.

God prepares Joseph for Prime Minister by putting him in prison. In this sense I’m kinda grateful God doesn’t put me in prison as a way to prepare me, though the only difference between the prisoners and my church people is the prisoners are behind bars. Integrity wise, it’s hard to differentiate.

These heartaches and discontentment are just molding process to better prepare me for ministry work if I join in full time. Shudder.

Ironically, Grace just told me almost the exact same thing on Sunday. She said my burden is clearly for the church. And yesterday pastor says the same thing again. Well God if really that is Your will for me, I’m excited. Jesus are you really beckoning me to jump into the river?

Sunday School Outing

The idea of an outing has been mooted out in the class for quite some time, though we have never found an opportunity to have one (or even have any idea of where to go) Since Doulos is coming to town, we thought might as well bring the kids over to the ship and later on have some fun time at Ostrich Farm.

Even as we penciled in Doulos as one of our itinery, I was kinda skeptical as I could not imagine these hyperactive kids to enjoy themselves at what is basically a bookstore on a ship. Coupled with the sveltering heat and sardine can queue, the kids quickly bored. Though things changed dramatically as we adjourned to the Ostrich Farm.

Although named Ostrich Farm, it would more aptly name as Few-Ostriches-With-Lots-Of-Other-Animals Farm. The girls enjoyed themselves petting and cuddling the rabbits to the disgust of the guys, though the guys later found their own source of amusement in the form of admiring some ‘organs’ of animals.

Having been to ostrich Farm in Port Dickson, I had a preconception of few ostriches available for people to ride. To my bemusement there was only one miserable ostrich, though it turned out to be irrelevant, since the kids preferred to pay to ride horses than to ride the ostrich for free. For whatever reason is beyond me.

The highlight of the farm to me was the longkang fishing pond. The kids running around the pond with their nets and buckets are a sight to behold. The guys had a mini challenge to see who the king of the pond is by catching most fish. At the same time it became a perfect opportunity for the guys to be ‘hero’ by catching the fish and give it to the girls they admire.

After a good 45 minutes of sweating it out at the pond, and forget about visiting the ostrich, Shyong told the kids that they cannot keep the fish and have to release it all back to the pond. One of the girls hold on to her buckets, unrelenting and do not want to release off all her ‘hard work’. Real cute.

As we head back to church, there was a sense of achievement, satisfied that the outing have been an enjoyable one and somehow bring us closer as a group. Even more satisfying as the following day some of the parents came over and told me their kids loved it so much and couldn’t wait to do it again some other time. So when’s the next one?

Hiatus

It’s been a month since my last post. I’ve cried many times throughout that month.

I cried as England lost to bunch of bullies and cheaters.

I cried as I lost my department boss and replaced by a draconian.

I cried as my close sister almost lost her sanity.

I cried as I see my beloved mei mei struggling in her LI in KL.

I cried as my worship ministry lost to bunch of redtapes.

I cried as I struggle to come to understand why I’m in the mission team.

I cried as memories came flooding back as I step on board Doulos.

But admist all the tears, I have the last laugh. As I see how God still works through the dark clouds to bring sunshine.

I laugh as England now has gotten rid of the idiotic coach.

I laugh as now my draconian boss looked very highly on me.

I laugh as my close sister regained her faith in Christ.

I laugh as I see my mei mei grown up from her LI experience.

I laugh as through the red tapes, I can see passionate and resolute people raised up from the ministry.

I laugh as I do not need to understand why I’m in the team, I just know as long as God is in, I want to be in.

I laugh as Doulos came back after 5 years to touch other volunteers just like how I’ve been touched.

Thank you Lord.

Fever

Sorry for the lack of updates these couple of days. Fell  prey to a fever.

A fever that last for a month.

A fever that only happen once every four years.

A fever that hit some few billion people at the same time.

A fever that do not need visitation to the doctor (though some still do for the mc)

A fever that can make you scream at the top of your lungs or cry your hearts out.

A fever that makes you hog the television at ungodly hours.

What's the fever? You guess is as good as mine.

World Cup Fever Is On!

It's gonna start in 10 minutes! Germany hantam Costa Rica! Four years in the making! Rooney is healed! England will be champion!

I am so excited  

Oh to all the girlfriends out there (at least those who tak boleh tahan watch football) take a cue from Grace. She decided to support me to watch football, by going to Bangkok and leave me with my TV alone! Hehehe. wicked girl.

Update: My predictions is right! Germany did hantam Costa Rica. 4-2! Hehehe! Good goals from Lahm and Frings!

Buying Apartment

"Since debt is spending money that I don't have, is my choice to go into debt proof that I believe I need more than what God has given me?"

Randy Alcorn

Me and Grace were just browsing apartments in PJ and Sunway area casually (thought of settling there next time) when we came across this apartment.

 

Went into the showroom and immediately fell in love with the spaciousness, design, location and facilities of the place. Went back home, did some researches and mainly good reviews. Heck I even brought my parents the very next day and they wanted to pay downpayments on the spot!

The apartment cost about RM222k, and if we pay 10% d/p with 5% for 25 years, work out roughly we need to fork out RM1200 per month. With present salary, it should not be a problem.

If I was just acting on impluse, I would have gotten it. Both of our parents are supportive of it, our combined income are guaranteed to be able to secure any loans, location is just perfect for both me and her, so what's stopping us?

However there were several things that come to mind. After studying this book for weeks, I am convicted not to go ahead.

With my human thinking, monthly installment can be worked out, but that is working based on assumptions. I assume that I will be able to maintain my salary range (which is not much btw) or even get higher salary in the next 30 years or so. I assume that nothing will stop my income from coming in. I assume that we will be around to finance it. Going by that assumption, buying the property is right.

But I don't hold the future, God does. What will happen if me or Grace are bedridden? What will happen if I lost my income? What will happen if God calls either of us to ministry? By taking a loan to service the finance, essentially I am taking the future into my hands instead of handing it to God. To quote Alcorn, God is certain. Economy is not.

I have a roof over my head, and even if we get married later, we can still rent a small apartment at 1/3 the cost of our installment. Moreover God's Word speaks clearly regarding it's stance against debt (Prov 1.13, 6.15, 17.18)

Getting the property means we will be bonded to it for next decade or so. We will not be able to answer if He call, we will not be able to give if He ask. We are "slaves" to the bank, and our Year of Jubilee will not be in the 7th year.

Essentially buying property is not wrong in itself, but when it hinders us from doing the work of the Lord or it enslaved us, it is not worth it. It would tie me up, leaving me unable to go when God calls. Proverbs 22:7 says "…the borrower is servant to the lender."

The very next day I called up the agent and told him to withdraw my name out from the list. The agent kept persuading me to rethink, and even promised to throw in extra "benefits" if I keep my booking. It never hurt so much to say no.

Failure to fulfill the lust of the flesh is painful for the moment, but God's eternal reward and obedience in His Word has far, far greater significance.

Angry

Grace asked me why was I getting so worked up after coming out from praise & worship meeting for my church yesterday.

Why am I angry?

I am angry because we want people to be committed but unwilling to spend extra ten minutes to discuss.

I am angry because we want to make sure p/w team members are walking right with God but never take any effort to find out if they are.

I am angry because we want good music but unwilling to spend money to invest on good instruments.

I am angry because we want instruments to be taken care off but never bother about keeping it in a safe and secure cabinet.

I am angry because we want unhindered worship but we cannot even get an out of tuned piano to be tuned before going through some tedious procedures.

I am angry beause we have a deacon who is supposed to serve the ministry but ended up serving his own greed.

I am angry because we want to move forward but unwilling to let go of traditions.

I am angry because we want to improve inter communications between members but never even bother replying emails.

I am angry because we say we want to see Jesus name lifted high but not willing to be the banner carrier.

I am angry because we say we are the Levites when we live like the Pharisees.

I am angry because I don't even know what I can do anymore. God please forgive me.