Hehehe.....it's been great not to have to go to work for the last week and a half!!!
Really really praise God for the extra week off work (sh....don't tell anyone!!)....was so glad that the RIE was cancelled and the kind roster monster who gave me that entire week off to study! Yipee!! Thank You Lord!!!!
So, have been studying really really hard to justify that week off work....but also slightly distracted by the Korean Drama series....anyway...have seen the last episodes....so no worries.....at least I know it was a happy ending!! Hehehe....
Been feeling super frustrated recently...realised what the problem was after talking to my ex-roomie (Miss PP)...thanks girl for listening to me rant! hehehehe...basically it's my old problem acting up again....feeling upset and frustrated when the community that I live is so apathetic re: their spiritual walk and relationship with God and man......irks me all the time...but I think somehow it kinda suppressed itself when I came to Sg to work....oh well....it's all coming back again.....same old same old feeling......only that this time, they are all older than me (which makes it even harder coz aren't they the ones who are supposed to guide me in my spiritual growth considering that some of them are almost hitting 40 years old?!? ) sigh.......
Then....there was dinner with my old secondary school friends.....was great catching up...although seriously I think I look at all these guys is dismay at what they have done with their lives - basically NOTHING!!! What a shame! What a waste! They had potential...but they chose to flush it down the drain.....for lack of wisdom or motivation I guess......whether it be their studies/ career/ relationships.....was truly disgusted by their girlfriends....(hahaha...why am I not surprised?!?).......and their lack of drive in their careers...... (well, the only stable one is Mr. E who has successfully remained in the same job for the last 8 years....managed to buy a house.....just lack the girlfriend/ wife to complete the Malaysian dream picture, I guess!!!)...But am proud of him.....was never a great student...and always was pushed around by the other guys...but he has done us proud by being the 1st to start work and sticking with the same job for so long........just wished he would stop smoking !!! (was appalled at how many people smoke in KL!!! Gee!!! Even the gals!).....aiyo......Insurance companies should just not sell insurance to these people who smoke so that they will know how to treasure their lives and their health!!!!
Anyway...must say that this break has been too long overdue......must remember not to make the same mistake again of only taking leave every 6-7 months!!! Man...I must have been crazy!!!!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Dinner at KHA
Had a lovely Thai dinner with my friends yesterday night....this quaint restaurant is set in the midst of greenery - Hort Park (which is actually a horticulture park in the midst of a concrete jungle!)...... the food was really quite nice....
The ambience was nice....
Napkins tied up with a cinnamon stick....nice!
I chose to start the meal with a mocktail....not bad, but could have been better with some alcohol in it?!?
For starters, we had Tom Yum Goong...not bad although the portions could have been bigger?!? ( sorry..no photos of it...)
Then, we had the Wagyu Beef salad... Yum!!
well...will definitely be back for the red curry soft shell crab....really liked the goey gravy.....think consistency of scrambled eggs!! hehe...unfortunately was soo busy eating this i din take a photo!! Oh well.....
The ambience was nice....
Napkins tied up with a cinnamon stick....nice!
I chose to start the meal with a mocktail....not bad, but could have been better with some alcohol in it?!?
For starters, we had Tom Yum Goong...not bad although the portions could have been bigger?!? ( sorry..no photos of it...)
Then, we had the Wagyu Beef salad... Yum!!
well...will definitely be back for the red curry soft shell crab....really liked the goey gravy.....think consistency of scrambled eggs!! hehe...unfortunately was soo busy eating this i din take a photo!! Oh well.....
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sabbath rest.....
Have been having a bad week at work....think it was the fatigue and tiredness of working non stop for the last 6- 7 months with no real breaks in between......whoa!!! Could really feel the toll on my soul.......being upset at the slightest things....depressed....unmotivated......etc
So, today's message in church by Ps. Lim was truly timely......and very in tune with what i spoke to with HL last week during coffee post-service.....
Message was taken from Deutronomy 5:12 - 15 and Mark 2: 27 - 28 regarding the Sabbath day as holy...... and how the reason the Sabbath is part of the 10 commandments is so that we will learn to rest in God and restore/ rejuvenate our spirit/ soul and body...... because without input from God, we have no productive output (sounds so 'me'.... sums up all the advice i have given in OCF throughout the years...)
1) Spirit and Structure
- Spirit (represented by water) and Structure (represented by the dam)
- Spirit (ie revival) without structure = wild fire, wasted energy
- Structure without spirit = organizational growth with no inner life
- Spirit WITH structure = POWER!!
2) Spirit and teaching
- Spirit without teaching = poor guidance and wrong teaching
- Teaching without Spirit = no power, head knowldege
- Spirit WITH teaching = Power, solid foundation and move in the gifts of the Spirit
3) Spirit and Busyness
- Busyness without spirit = burnout
- Spirit WITH prioritized life = open doors for opportunities to serve God
4) Spirit and flesh
- lifelong warfare
- overcome the flesh with the Spirit
5) Spirit and relationships
- if the Spirit does not grow, then the challenges of relationships overwhelm
- conflict in relationships can cause the Spirit to shrink
- Spirit and relationship grow = Deep maturity and strength
6) Spirit and spiritual gifts
- Spiritual gifts without the Spirit = PRIDE, manipulation, 'territorial spirit' , immorality
- if we move in the spiritual gifts under the guidance of the Holy Spirit = Power building the body of Christ
Hence, we need to grow in the Spirit to all growth in ALL areas....
WOW!!!
Was truly reminded of my conversation with HL the week prior...how I was lamenting the shape of our cell ... and the church as well....how, the training we've had in serving in OCF has helped us to grow in maturity and understanding of all these things ( amazing fact that pastors are only discovering these truth after so many years in ministry!!!).....and how frustrating it has been for me....and how disappointed I am in our cell/ church.....although I know fully well that there is no perfect church/ cell.......how superficial/ shallow I felt all these relationships were......Sigh!!!!
Was really considering taking a break from cell...to get away from it all....especially after the 'devastating news' frm HL....and 'you know who'......think I just need to go away for a while and surrender everything to God again.....
Was truly glad that jie came down this week.....spending time with her....sharing abt the 'devastating news' and what it means to me....and my previous 'bawled my eyes out' experience.... and my concerns that I will never meet the right guy...the fear of remaining single for the rest of my life....the tiredness I felt in this journey called 'life'.......am glad that she was there to just listen......
Am still trying to make sense of it all.......am really trying very hard......and although some days the tears just won't stop.....I know that He holds my future in His hands.....that He care......that He understands.........
For now, I can only SURRENDER!!
So, today's message in church by Ps. Lim was truly timely......and very in tune with what i spoke to with HL last week during coffee post-service.....
Message was taken from Deutronomy 5:12 - 15 and Mark 2: 27 - 28 regarding the Sabbath day as holy...... and how the reason the Sabbath is part of the 10 commandments is so that we will learn to rest in God and restore/ rejuvenate our spirit/ soul and body...... because without input from God, we have no productive output (sounds so 'me'.... sums up all the advice i have given in OCF throughout the years...)
1) Spirit and Structure
- Spirit (represented by water) and Structure (represented by the dam)
- Spirit (ie revival) without structure = wild fire, wasted energy
- Structure without spirit = organizational growth with no inner life
- Spirit WITH structure = POWER!!
2) Spirit and teaching
- Spirit without teaching = poor guidance and wrong teaching
- Teaching without Spirit = no power, head knowldege
- Spirit WITH teaching = Power, solid foundation and move in the gifts of the Spirit
3) Spirit and Busyness
- Busyness without spirit = burnout
- Spirit WITH prioritized life = open doors for opportunities to serve God
4) Spirit and flesh
- lifelong warfare
- overcome the flesh with the Spirit
5) Spirit and relationships
- if the Spirit does not grow, then the challenges of relationships overwhelm
- conflict in relationships can cause the Spirit to shrink
- Spirit and relationship grow = Deep maturity and strength
6) Spirit and spiritual gifts
- Spiritual gifts without the Spirit = PRIDE, manipulation, 'territorial spirit' , immorality
- if we move in the spiritual gifts under the guidance of the Holy Spirit = Power building the body of Christ
Hence, we need to grow in the Spirit to all growth in ALL areas....
WOW!!!
Was truly reminded of my conversation with HL the week prior...how I was lamenting the shape of our cell ... and the church as well....how, the training we've had in serving in OCF has helped us to grow in maturity and understanding of all these things ( amazing fact that pastors are only discovering these truth after so many years in ministry!!!).....and how frustrating it has been for me....and how disappointed I am in our cell/ church.....although I know fully well that there is no perfect church/ cell.......how superficial/ shallow I felt all these relationships were......Sigh!!!!
Was really considering taking a break from cell...to get away from it all....especially after the 'devastating news' frm HL....and 'you know who'......think I just need to go away for a while and surrender everything to God again.....
Was truly glad that jie came down this week.....spending time with her....sharing abt the 'devastating news' and what it means to me....and my previous 'bawled my eyes out' experience.... and my concerns that I will never meet the right guy...the fear of remaining single for the rest of my life....the tiredness I felt in this journey called 'life'.......am glad that she was there to just listen......
Am still trying to make sense of it all.......am really trying very hard......and although some days the tears just won't stop.....I know that He holds my future in His hands.....that He care......that He understands.........
For now, I can only SURRENDER!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Team lunch! Yay!!
Hehe...had a pleasant surprise when I received a call from my previous colleague saying that our consultant wanted to bring the last month's team out for lunch.....I was like - Really? But...I had lunch already!!.....but, it was great to feel appreciated anyway.....although someone did say that our old boss was quite a scrooge......no matters....its the thought that count!
so guess my amazement when he actually drove us out to Tanglin Club for lunch?!?
hehehe.....really really appreciated it....felt rather awkward, but nice at the same time to know that he is indeed human......despite the fact that table conversations only revolved around work...and Miss L's ramblings?!?
Lunch otherwise was good...and the homebaked apple pie was 'interesting'.......
So yeah...all in all...it was a good day.....I must say!
so guess my amazement when he actually drove us out to Tanglin Club for lunch?!?
hehehe.....really really appreciated it....felt rather awkward, but nice at the same time to know that he is indeed human......despite the fact that table conversations only revolved around work...and Miss L's ramblings?!?
Lunch otherwise was good...and the homebaked apple pie was 'interesting'.......
So yeah...all in all...it was a good day.....I must say!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Festival of Praise 2008!
Wow! Can't believe how everything works in God's ways and in His timing!!
Must must must share this on my blog....
Was supposed to go for FOP on Friday with my friend HL...however, as she was post- call that day....decided to not go instead....but, I really really wanted to attend this event.....apart from being there with Reuben Morgan and Hillsongs and the Parachute Band.....Mark Conner would also be speaking!! It's been AGES since I heard a good Aussie sermon.....3 years now, come to think of it!!! So I decided to list all the people I could invite to go with me.......well, I thought of my lil' ol' brother!! Hahaha....God's timing really....
Felt that the rock feel of the bands combined with Mark Conner as the speaker might interest him and mebbe kickstart something in his heart......and was truly grateful that he decided to come along......nvm the long journey or the lousy dinner we had prior to that....It was great!!
Think bro was blown away by the musicians and their skills....but I on the side was praying super hard that the Holy Spirit would touch him in a way that I can't....... and then came Mark Conner.....message was simple - Growing Old or growing Up....
This really touched a chord with my bro's heart I think...considering it challenged him in ways that he couldn't imagine.....basically it was a call to take responsibility of ourselves...that is how we GROW UP...unfortunately many people never grow up, they just grow old blaming everyone else for their own misery......he illustrated this with a hula hoop - everything that you CAN't control is outside the hoop ( ie the weather, your children, etc)...and everything within your control is inside the hoop (ie only yourself!).......
Areas of control:
a) Our MIND - take hold of every thought and make it captive to Jesus (ie what you think will determine your destiny)....and why is it that we always take the negative and dwell on it? If we saw a bad / lousy movie, we definitely would not watch it again, lest buy the DVD?!? But when something negative happens to us, we replay that scene over and over in surround sound/ high definition...we even pause and scrutinise it over and over again?!? We are such strange creatures!!
b) Our WILL - we can make choices....eg, how when Pharoah was given a choice to decide when to get rid of the frogs- he chose TOMORROW?!? (why spend another day with the frogs?)
c) Our EMOTIONS
And at the end of his sermon, Ps Mark Conner made an altar call... (yes! been waiting for this moment to see what happens!)....and my lil bro raised his hand!!! Praise God!!!
Am not sure what this holds for him....am not even sure what I need to do help him grow secure in his faith...but this I do know....God has his purposes and I will do all I can to help him grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ - my one true friend...my redeemer ...my saviour!!!
Must must must share this on my blog....
Was supposed to go for FOP on Friday with my friend HL...however, as she was post- call that day....decided to not go instead....but, I really really wanted to attend this event.....apart from being there with Reuben Morgan and Hillsongs and the Parachute Band.....Mark Conner would also be speaking!! It's been AGES since I heard a good Aussie sermon.....3 years now, come to think of it!!! So I decided to list all the people I could invite to go with me.......well, I thought of my lil' ol' brother!! Hahaha....God's timing really....
Felt that the rock feel of the bands combined with Mark Conner as the speaker might interest him and mebbe kickstart something in his heart......and was truly grateful that he decided to come along......nvm the long journey or the lousy dinner we had prior to that....It was great!!
Think bro was blown away by the musicians and their skills....but I on the side was praying super hard that the Holy Spirit would touch him in a way that I can't....... and then came Mark Conner.....message was simple - Growing Old or growing Up....
This really touched a chord with my bro's heart I think...considering it challenged him in ways that he couldn't imagine.....basically it was a call to take responsibility of ourselves...that is how we GROW UP...unfortunately many people never grow up, they just grow old blaming everyone else for their own misery......he illustrated this with a hula hoop - everything that you CAN't control is outside the hoop ( ie the weather, your children, etc)...and everything within your control is inside the hoop (ie only yourself!).......
Areas of control:
a) Our MIND - take hold of every thought and make it captive to Jesus (ie what you think will determine your destiny)....and why is it that we always take the negative and dwell on it? If we saw a bad / lousy movie, we definitely would not watch it again, lest buy the DVD?!? But when something negative happens to us, we replay that scene over and over in surround sound/ high definition...we even pause and scrutinise it over and over again?!? We are such strange creatures!!
b) Our WILL - we can make choices....eg, how when Pharoah was given a choice to decide when to get rid of the frogs- he chose TOMORROW?!? (why spend another day with the frogs?)
c) Our EMOTIONS
And at the end of his sermon, Ps Mark Conner made an altar call... (yes! been waiting for this moment to see what happens!)....and my lil bro raised his hand!!! Praise God!!!
Am not sure what this holds for him....am not even sure what I need to do help him grow secure in his faith...but this I do know....God has his purposes and I will do all I can to help him grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ - my one true friend...my redeemer ...my saviour!!!
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