On breakthrough weekend and loving me just the way I am

Been a while since I last updated my blog. Here's what been happening in the past 2 weeks.

went for Men's breakthrough weekend in Johor Bahru on 17th and 18th June. Sort of a church retreat for men. I walked across the JB causeway and trekked my way to the hotel M-Suites for one and a half hour. Moral of the story:always find out the scale the map is drawn on any brochures before starting your hike.  Thank God the weather was fine for hiking, and I din mind walking the distance there. It made me appreciate that despite living so close to JB all my life, there are still so much things I din know or appreciate about the place.

When I reached the place at 7.30am, some fellow brothers had already arrived. I was alone at first, because I did not know any of the people there. But then, conversation ensued and I became minor celeb among the "early birds" because of my trekking. The Men's retreat started off with breakfast fellowship. Then we went into worship and discussion groups. Then lunch, checking in, tea-break and discussion groups. Then dinner and worship and discussion groups. then supper, and off to bed. Thus conclude the first day.

Yes, it was a day of "makan-ing", both physical and spiritual.  Much were shared among the men on their struggles in their daily lives, and it is comforting to know that my struggles are not mine alone. More comforting is the fact that some brothers have small victories in the areas I am struggling in, and have offered wise counsel for me. I also had some answers to some of my questions from God, in the manner which I did not expect. My Heavenly Father still can surprise me and make me glad with His answers.

Second day was pretty much like the first day. well, the only difference I can think of was that I resolved to take less food (the physical type) . The thing ended at 5pm, and I hitched a ride back on one of the brother's cars. While walking at the start of the day was fun, don't think I want to hike back the same way I came in the evening.

So what's my take on this? I am blessed both by God and man in this retreat. May He also bless those who went for this trip that I have went.

Helped out at a CG wedding on last sunday. The groom did a special item for his beloved wife in the ceremony. He played a guitar piece "Just the way you are" and serenade to her in front of the guests. What's touching is that he only had a month of practice, and his guitar playing was really just beginners' level (chords only). And he could have just carried the whole song off, with acapella singing (because of his good voice). But he chose to do the guitar playing, because he wants to express his love for her i.e. "Effort mah." . The tune kinda stuck in my brain since then there, and this morning I just had a thought: "Hey, that's how God loves me too. Despite my scruffy exteriors and sinful interiors, He still loves me the way I am. therefore, in response to His love, I must love Him back and start to be a better person, in order to show my love to Him." Weird how He chose to reveal things to me - ah well, but I won't wish for any other way!

Just The Way You Are
Billy Joel

Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

from http://www.gagirl.com/mid/justway.html

 

 

Batman Begins

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

while i'm not a big fan of previous Batman movies, or a diehard fanatic of the DC comics series, "Batman Begins" is a great film to watch. More gritty and dark than the previous films, and excellent casting. Go watch it!

Pic taken from http://www.towntopics.com/jun2205/cinema.html

Prayer and Praise

Start:	Jun 24, '05 8:00p
End:	Jun 24, '05 10:00p
Location:	Covenent EFC

Vision Night

Start:	Jun 22, '05 7:00p
End:	Jun 22, '05 10:00p
Location:	Covenent EFC

Zoolander~

hhahaha, just an excuse to upload more Zoolander pics, because the review session only allows 1 pic to be uploaded only mah. A superbly funny show. Male models never look more "himbotic" - too unreal to be true. As usual, Ben Stiller is whacky and funny as ever.

Some of my favourite lines:

"What is this?? A center for ants??"

"Merman! it's merman! *coff coff*"

All the "hallo, earth to..." lines.

 

 

Zoolander

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

man, laughed so hard that it made my tummy hurts. A Ben Stiller classic, definitely out of this world. It's so unreal, with its take on male modelling, developing countries and finnish dwarves. :D Lotsa splendid cameos, not afraid to poke fun at most anything. For those who enjoyed Ben Stiller's "Dodgeball", this is a must watch. Blue Steel, Ferrari, Tigra and Magnum!



http://www.zoolander.com

StreetClimb

http://www.witze-welt.de/videos/showvideo.php?id=11
waaa, looks like Yamakasi. New Extreme sport?

Madagascar OST

http://www.madagascarsoundtrack.com/
I want to move it, move it... You want to... MOVE IT! :D

on walking from Orchard Road to Bukit Timah Road... and Naruto!

yea, dunno what came over me last Saturday. Went to Orchard area to partake in the great Singapore communal activity of GSS (Great Singapore Sales).  Seriously, I needed a white long-sleeved shirt for serving in church. Why? Because my mum happen to put in a yellow tee-shirt while washing my white long-sleeved shirt. so now the old white shirt is half-streaked with yellow stripe. So i decided to embark on a "commando" shopping mission. Basically, took me less than 15 minutes to choose the shirt I want and buy it. That's the fundamental difference between how men and women shop. We plan on what we want, 1 item at a time, and go in and buy our stuff quickly. but that's another topic for another day of blogging...

After shopping, was out of Raffles City Shopping center. Suddenly got this crazy urge to hike from there to Bukit Timah for satay beehoon dinner. Dun ask me why - i'm not pregnant, so probably put it down as one of the body's crazy nostalgic wants of exercise. so i started around 2.30pm and hike all the way till 6pm. went by the Orchard road towards tanglin, then turn in to the Shangri-La small road. Quite happening, think the Ministers of Defense Conference was on at that time; lotsa roadblocks along that road. Shangri-La Hotel was teeming with our boys in blue, scrutinizing each and every car that comes in and out.

then from there, hit the junction at Stevens road turned up (or down, depending on where you are coming from) towards Bukit Timah road. Past the old NIE campus, past Serene center. oh, met Terry with his girlfriend there while i made a pit stop to answer nature's call. But din talk to them long, cos' dun wanna affect their "couple time" mah. (later then found out they went to attend Saturday service at Adam Road Presbyterian Church.) After my pit stop, continue my hike, past Coronation plaza, past the Hwa Chung Institution. Even past by my church old site, 721 Bukit Timah. Now it's a spanking mansion. then past King Albert's Park and Ngee An polytechnic. Finally arrived at Bukit Timah Food Center, where i had the delicious satay beehoon, with cockles and squid.  oissshhhiii~!!

yea, nostalgic for Boy Scout hiking days...

oh, dun be alarmed by the Japanese reviews I've been putting up. Not hacker got into multiply site or what; just me posting some of the reviews on the fantastic Naruto OST (Original Sound track) opening songs for the series. For those who can understand, enjoy!

 

 

ナルト (Naruto) - 遥か彼方 (2nd opening song) Haruka kanata

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Music
Genre:	Soundtracks
Artist:	Asian Kung-Fu Generation

refrain:
踏み込むぜアクセル
駆け引きは無いさ、そうだよ
夜をぬける
ねじ込むさ最後に
差し引きゼロさ、そうだよ
日々を削る
refrain2:
心をそっと開いて
ギュっと引き寄せたら
届くよきっと伝うよもっと
さ・
refrain3:
生き急いで搾り取って
縺れる足だけど前より
ずっとそう、遠くへ
奪い取って掴んだって
君じゃないなら
意味は無いのさ
だからもっと...遥か彼方
refrain
refrain2
refrain3
だから、嗚呼、遥か彼方
偽る事に慣れた君の世界を
塗り潰すのさ、白く...

refrain:
fumikomuze akuseru
kake hiki wa naisa, sou dayo
youru wo nukeru
nejikomu sa saigo ni
sashihiki zero sa, sou dayo
hibi wo kezuru
refrain2:
kokoro wo sotto
hiraite gyutto hiki yosetara
todokuyo kitto tsutau yo motto sa
aa
refrain3:
iki isoide shiboritotte
motsureru ashi dakedo mae yori
zutto sou tokue
ubaitotte tsukandatte
kimi ja nai nara
imi was naniosa
dakara motto motto motto... haruka kanata
refrain
refrain2
refrain3
dakara, haruka kanata
itsuwaru ko, do ni nareta, kimi no sekai wo
murizubusu no sa shiroku, shirou

refrain:
Hit the gas!
There's no need to finagle, oh yeah!
We'll go all through the night.
I'll complain at the end
the balance is zero, oh yeah!
We'll whittle the days away...
refrain2:
When you open your heart a little
and pull someone close to you,
Your feelings will surely reach them deeper
yeah...
refrain3:
Hurry it up! Wring it out!
Though my legs are all tangled
they will surely take me far...
Even if I steal it and manage to grasp it
If it isn't you
then what's the point?
So I'll go further and further away!
refrain
refrain2
refrain3
So I'll go far into the distance...
Your world will become a thing of deceit
painted all in white...
-----------------------------------------
http://lyrical.nl/song/30792/30351+30350+30349

『ノーボーイ・ノークライ』

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Music
Genre:	Soundtracks
Artist:	STANCE PUNKS

テレビ東京系アニメ『NARUTO-ナルト-』オープニングテーマ
下北沢を拠点に活動を展開している4人組ライヴバンド、STANCE PUNKSのニュー・シングル。持ち味のパンキッシュなサウンドに、心の叫びをそのまま歌にしたような激情型のヴォーカルが炸裂する「ノーボーイ・ノークライ」は、人気アニメ『NARUTO-ナルト-』のオープニングテーマとしておなじみの楽曲。サビの強力なメッセージが聴き手の魂を揺さぶる熱～いナンバーだ。7月に発売が予定されているアルバムへの期待がふくらむ力作に仕上がっている。
-------------------------------------------
http://music.nifty.com/review/2005/0608/15.jsp

funny episode on my train ride this morning...

...there i was reading a book, choosing a verse for the morning sms. Lo and behold, these two young ladies passengers in the MRT train started a really loud conversation. yeaps, it was about their Christian boyfriends. Judging from the talk, these 2 ladies aren't Christians, and they are pretty peeved at their Christian boyfriends for trying to "convert" them.

Please understand that I am not deliberately eavesdropping on them. First, I was standing right next to them on the crowded train. Secondly, they are really talking very loudly, as if they were the only 2 people in the train carriage. Anyway, what struck me as "amusing" is the ladies' take on their boyfriends shoving the gospel down their throat. they were just "pek chek" why their boyfriends are so intent on making believing in something which they have no belief in.

I understand that salvation is no flippant quipping subject, and some may find my reaction to these ladies'  reactions a tad offensive and insensitive. But you really got to be there to hear them talk, man. All I can say is that I prayed for them on the train ride, amidst my chucking at their talk. Because I don't really want to freak them out into thinking, "Argh! another Christian guy with his chauvinistic and singular viewpoint!" Also, I believed it's not up to me (or their boyfriends, for that matter) to convert them. Only God can change a man's heart, in His Will and timing.

Here are some of the more salient points that struck me about their talk. The 2 ladies aren't very "convinced" by their boyfriends' persuasions and sharing. Basically, i believe it is a two-fold thing, Firstly, the boyfriends themselves don't seemed "convincing", because the world do not understand concepts such as the Holy Ghost/Spirit, the Bible as the Truth and Word of God. I hear snatches of the ladies' words like "But they don't seemed convinced themselves; they are, like, trying to convince themselves lor." While we can put it down as the boyfriends as bumbling fools with no gift of the gap, I would rather think that the world cannot understand the truths we perceive as true, as man is basically a fallen creature, separated from God's truth by his sins.

Secondly, it's like it's more a contest of wills between the ladies and their boyfriends. The ladies just simply detest the facts their boyfriends try all ways and means to get them to go church and join their social circles of Christian friends. When they refuse, the boyfriends and their Christian friends would turn to them and say, "Why you don't want to believe??" When one of the ladies said that line in an exaggerated, comical tone, I nearly burst out laughing. Because I can imagine the kind of expressions and tone which they think their boyfriends are asking them. For those of you who watched "Madagascar", think of the tiny lemur with big eyes that was supposed to be bait. Yeaps, add that image to the above lines in a high, whiny tone.

Finally, I believed it is not yet God's timing to allow Himself to be revealed to these 2 ladies. Basically, they view God as an "it", something of an intellectual concept that cannot be grasped as yet. They have yet to know Him as a person, to interact and be interacted with. Reverend Stephen Tong made a very good point in his evening sermon on the Sunday that had just past. When you view God as an "it", you won't feel close to God, as you would have view God as you view a chair or a stone. In fact, you may feel closer kinship with such objects, as you can see these (but not God). Only when you start to learn of God (through His revelation) and learn of His qualities, then would you start to think of God as a Person. You identify with God as a "Him", who did a lot, am still doing and will continue to do a lot in your life. Finally, when you learn to surrender and accept your place before God, would you start to acknowledge God as a "You". "You" is definitely much closer than "Him", as then Your God would be someone whom you known personally and communicate to each and everyday.

I'm praying for these two young ladies that they would really reverse on their present views, and come to know God as God already knew them. I'm also praying that God would help their Christian boyfriends to be more understanding, and to really pray for God's will to be done in their lives.

 

Sam's Dive pics in Jun '05

one of my buddies' dive pics

Vince's Diving trip in May 05

my mentor went diving in Redang waters this May. Fantastic pictures - guaranteed not taken off from some other websites. :D

What is a mystic?

mys·tic Listen: [ mstk ]
adj.

1. Of or relating to religious mysteries or occult rites and practices.
   
   
2. Of or relating to mysticism or mystics.
   
   
3. Inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder.
   
   
4. a. Mysterious; strange. b. Enigmatic; obscure.
   
   
5. Mystical.

n.

One who practices or believes in mysticism or a given form of mysticism: Protestant mystics.

---

[Middle English mystik, from Latin mysticus, from Greek mustikos, from musts, initiate ; see mystery¹.]

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

(Pronunciation Key)

mys·ter·y¹ Listen: [ mst-r ]
n. pl. mys·ter·ies

1. One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma: How he got in is a mystery.
   
   
2. One whose identity is unknown and who arouses curiosity: The woman in the photograph is a mystery.
   
   
3. A mysterious character or quality: a landscape with mystery and charm.
   
   
4. A work of fiction, a drama, or a film dealing with a puzzling crime.
   
   
5. The skills, lore, or practices that are peculiar to a particular activity or group and are regarded as the special province of initiates. Often used in the plural: the mysteries of Freemasonry; the mysteries of cooking game.
   
   
6. A religious truth that is incomprehensible to reason and knowable only through divine revelation.
   
   
7. a. An incident from the life of Jesus, especially the Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion, or Resurrection, of particular importance for redemption. b. One of the 15 incidents from the lives of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, such as the Annunciation or the Ascension, serving in Roman Catholicism as the subject of meditation during recitation of the rosary.
   
   
8. a. also Mystery One of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. b. mysteries The consecrated elements of the Eucharist.
   
   
9. a. A religious cult practicing secret rites to which only initiates are admitted. b. A secret rite of such a cult.

---

[Middle English misterie, from Latin mystrium, from Greek mustrion, secret rite, from musts, an initiate, from mein, to close the eyes, initiate.]

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

From www.yourdictionary.com

God of Wonders

Words and Music by Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong

Song Lyrics

Lord of heaven and earth Lord of all creation Lord of heaven and earth Lord of all creation Of water earth and sky The heavens are Your tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning I will celebrate the light When I stumble in the darkness I will call Your name by night Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

© 2000 Storm Boy Music, New Spring, Never Say Never Songs

Come over to the Dark Side...

http://sithsense.com/flash.htm
"Di wa ki orh orh ji beng..."