Polite Japanese

on the power of His revelations...

Just came back from a dip at the public swimming pool. Think I didn't stretched or do enough warm up at last Sunday's badminton game*, right calf muscles** feeling a bit of strain. Swam about 15 laps^. Was thinking about some stuff during the midst of swimming, and suddenly the Lord planted something in my head. Like how life is sometimes like swimming. You float in the water, trying to get somewhere. Sometimes your feet don't touch the ground, so you have to keep moving around to stay either afloat or moving in a direction. You may feel alone, because most of the time, swimming is a solo thingie, people can't swim for you. Yet what keeps us afloat, nay, alive is the fact that we are continually breathing in and out air.

The thought that strikes me is that even though at times, life can be lonely and hard, where you have to keep paddling to go somewhere; as long we breathe in the Spirit of the Living God, He will carry us through the waves of life. Be it in still and calm waters, or through the choppy big waves, so long as the Holy Spirit works in us, all will be well.

After reaching home from a relaxing slow walk, turned on the laptop to check mail and write out my application letters. Realised I hadn't turned to the Scriptures, so head to Biblegateway.com and see what the verse of the day is. And lo and behold, it is:

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. ”- Leviticus 19:18

Been reflecting on some stuff. Am glad for this verse, which ask me to focus back upon the love of God's people, even when they don't agree or understanding with what I am doing in certain areas in my life.

Writing this as a testimony of His goodness. Do give thanks with me, and I pray He'll speak to you this day as He had spoken to me.

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* or as my friend suggest, could be just because I'm getting old and unfit from lack of exercise. 

** To be precise and medical about it, it's the gastrocnemius . See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrocnemius

^ 1 lap = 1 times across length of the pool.

 

Hard Gay- Ramen Shop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igC4bPDp6cU&search=hard%20gay
Another one of HG antics, this time he became the savior of a ramen store...

[Bakafish] Hard Gay Yahoo! English Subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjjvUO4xxlQ&search=hard%20gay%20yahoo
Man, my friend told me about this a few weeks back, but I didn't check it out. Not till another friend showed it to me about this, then did I crack up over it. The japanese are weird...

on pattern more than badminton on the sabbath day...

Went for the 8am service yesterday, so as to make it for the badminton session later at 10am. Nearly couldn't make it for the start of the 8am service, as it was drizzling slightly just before dawn i.e. the weather was super-conducive for a lie-in. Doesn't help that the day before was "brother"-ing at a dear friend's wedding for the whole day. In the end, was glad I made it for the whole service, as it was a special service, spearheaded by the youths in our church. Great delivery by the youths - even though early in the morning, the youths were already up and going, giving their best to the Lord.

The message about encouragement by the speaker was a much needed one, not only for the parents and the youths, but for everyone. We all need to encourage someone, not as to be appearing as "benevolent" in lavishing "charitable" commendations, but to be sincere in caring for the other person. By giving encouragement, we are also giving hope to the person, in the sense that we acknowledge his or hers efforts and growth. Maybe I should go get the CD...

After service ended, went with 3 other friends to play badminton. I must confess, I always thought badminton was a "lost" sport. I only played a few times up in my life, and I'm not particularly good at it. And you need more equipment and people  to play it, than say soccer or jogging, and I don't get "jio" by my kakis. So I've always regarded it as "lost" in that sense. Am glad that through the church camp and yesterday's session, found a new healthy thing to do with with my friends, besides the fellowshipping, "fei-lou-shipping" and "fellow-shopping"*. :D

Went back to grab a quick lunch at Greenridge in the afternoon, before going to help a friend shift office on a Sunday. I really like his and his wife's new office at Purvis Street. Great location, business- and makan-sense wise, and I really loved the artsy decor. Must ask them to give me a pic when it's fully furbished.

Chilled for a while before heading home for dinner. Hadn't been home physically for the most part of Saturday and yesterday day-time, so must go home to at least take meal and spend time with family. After that, checked mail and made arrangements to go to friend's place to watch the England-Ecuador match. The match was lousy (1 goal only, both teams played listlessly, if not for free kick, much doubted Beckam would have scored). But the fellowship, the between-friends' rebuttals and jokes, the beer^^  and the crisply-fried chicken wings (thanks to Kirk and his wife!) were superb. Wanted to watch the Portugal-Netherlands match, but was just too tired. In the end, I concussed out 30 minis before the start of the 3am match.

"Wa, such a full day!" you may exclaim. "I thought the whole idea of sabbath is to rest, huh, huh?"

Allo, the body may be busy, but the spirit can be still rested in Him, okay? Rest is not only physical, it is also spiritual. Ergo, rest is not just the absence of physical exertion, but the totality of both mind and body abiding in the Lord...

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*okay, so fellowshipping (company with others in worship and praise and study and prayers) is healthy, but how do I justify "fei-lou-shipping" (eating with one another) and "fellow-shopping" (shopping with one another)?

well, if you look at the earliest liturgical definition of "communion", basically it is the act of "breaking the bread" and "sharing the cup" in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. And basically we don't break the bread and pass around the cup for ceremonial sake's only, we also eat and drink of the food, to eat of God's goodness. So "fei-lou-ship" is holy**

"okay", you may say, "the eating and drinking part sounds justifiable, but what about fellow-shopping part? Didn't the Lord Jesus told us not to worship money and earthly possessions?" Which is all the more we should go shopping with our fellow believers - in the sense we act as each other's keepers in our spending habits. Also, the act of buying posssions is a way of checking against our desire to hoard money for money's sake.^

** as long as you dun go into excesses. remember, B A L A N C E.

^ Even as I write this,  I realise a lot of brothers will be wanting to throw stones at me, because they'll be thinking "How can you write this in fr0nt of my girlfriend/wife? Now I'll have no excuse not to accompany my darling on her shopping trip!" To which I humbly reply, hey brother, I just write what the inspiration hits me. Anyway, a couple that does things together, stays together. And shopping with your honey can be a lot of fun too. And who says you are shopping with her only? Make her shop with you too la. take her to all your favourite toys haunt. duh... :p

plus, it'll be good exercise from al that sitting in front of the TV watching World Cup.

^^ Had 2 Carlsberg's - "probably the best beer in th world!" - because the 3 bottle of Qing-dao were left chilling in the freezer. I hope my friend would remember to take them out later; if not he's gonna have Qing dao popsicles in his fridge...

(Third pic taken from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2006-06/26/content_625797_3.htm)

Aaron Shust - My Savior, My God

Heard this song on Positive Life Radio just now. Good reminder about whom my precious Jesus is.

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Aaron Shust - My Savior My God
From the album Anything Worth Saying

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x’s)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x’s)

(Instrumental)

Chorus: (2x’s)

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

Taken from http://www.klove.com/lyrics/lyrics.asp?2455

An Ode to the Ramli Burger

wanted to compose a poem for this favourite Malaysian burger of mine, but realise i) I've lost much of my "england" prowess over the years* - can hardly distinguish between a metaphor and a simile nowadays... ii) I have the inspiration but not the words to describe the heavenly burger, in all its majestic galore of margarine, onions, egg, cabbage, mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. Much to add to the mystical glamor is the "mysterious meat" portion**, which normally tastes like chicken or beef to us commoners.

Got my first taste of it 2 years back, on the road-side stalls in K.L. Have never found the equivalent of it elsewhere, not even in Singapore. That's why I braved the temptations and dangers of Jalan Alor last week during the church-camp extension, at 2.30am in the morning, just for that heavenly taste again. Ah.... the wonderful memories of sinking my teeth into that Daging Special... sigh

Official site: http://www.ramly.com.my/

Wikipedia explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramly_Burger

*maybe I should go look for my old JC Eng. Lit. teacher for tuition lessons, he's a NATIVE speaker :p

** a plausible reason on why the Singapore government banned this meat product.

Pillar - Open Your Eyes

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TrptOS7Tfn4&search=pillar
"Pillar Open Your Eyes lyrics"

Your runnin' the race that never ends to make amends
With the friends that you've had since the day that your life began
You're caught up in the rat race with your face disgraced
'Cause there's a time and a place for everything
And so we bring what you can sing
Givin' glory and honor to the one we call the King
You gotta fix your eyes on Him cause you know
That death is the wages of sin
So open up your eyes

[Chorus]

Just open your eyes it's time you realize
It's your own demise
just open your eyes it's time you realize
To reach out for the prize

Comin' once again bringin the noise to fill you in
on this secret that you'll see when you open up your eyes within
So party people when you've fallen down you've had enough
Just open 'em up and let Him fill your cup
You can't do anything without consequences and repercussions
You think the world owes you something well stop you fussin
'Cause it ain't my fault it's nobody buy yours
So see what your life has in store when you open up your eyes
Don't blink

(from http://www.lyricstime.com/pillar-open-your-eyes-lyrics.html)

on the goodness of His Commandments

Am really thankful for the ministering messages spoken by Pastor Charles Price during the church camp. Somehow he managed to condense very profound truths into very basic morsel bites for us, so that we can absorb them into our heads (despite the overstuffed stomachs after meals :p) oh, not all his jokes were new (some I heard before). But you should have been there to see the gusto and zest which which he spoke about the Word of God. Hard to imagine him having suffered a heart attack 8 years before, with the vitality and energy brimming over from this man.

One of the more memorable stories which I actually took home with me is the one which he told about the 10 Commandments. Can't tell it as good as Charles Price, but would attempt nonetheless.

The story goes that a man went to jail and spend sometime there serving time for the misdeeds he done. We do not know what crime he has done but suffice it to say he didn't just spend one or two months inside jail. Over the course of his term, this man came to know about Jesus Christ and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. But the man can never get over his niggling sense of guilt over what he has done in the past.

The story then moves on to the day he came out of jail. With no friends and family to receive him, the man was feeling all the more remorseful over his wicked deeds he had done before. Out of sheer desperation, he went into a church cathedral to seek some solace and comfort. Upon entering the sanctuary, the very first things that greeted his eyes are these 2 large stone columns. On them were inscribed, in large bold Gothic lettering, the 10 Commandments of God given to Moses for His people on Mount Sinai. 5 on each stone column, running from the top to the bottom, they cannot help but to emphaiseze to the man  his sinfulness. He told God," Oh God! Why these now? I need Your comfort and love more than anything, and the last thing I want to be reminded now is of the 10 Commandments!"

So the man stood there in front of the stone columns for don't know how long, moping and feeling miserable. We don't know whether it came suddenly or gradually, but the man did looked up after a while, and begin to see the 10 Commandments in a new light. Instead of just "YOU SHALT NOT KILL", the man realise this commandment became a promise of God that he shall not kill, because Jesus Christ in living within him, and that Jesus Christ is not a murderer, so the man can claim that as a promise! Similarly, the man shall no longer steal, because Jesus Christ is not a thief, so that as long as the man lives in Christ, he will not steal! In that line of reasoning, each and every of the 10 Commandments, which used to be so forbidding and forbidden (because of the impossibility of keeping them) became promises to this tortured man. They are God's guarantees to him that he can keep all those laws not on his own strength, but through Jesus. 

This story is better heard than read, and you need a better story-teller than me to bring out the full richness. Nonetheless, I pray that the blessing of His promise is passed on to you as you read it. Don't keep it, pass it on!

Cars

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

Not of the Pixar's best, but still enjoyable. Characters a bit card-boardish, but the humor is still good. I LOVE GUIDO! :D

Official website:
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/cars/

24/365 Prayer Chain

Start:	Jul 9, '06 12:00a
End:	Jul 16, '06 11:45p

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. - Daniel 6:10 (NIV)

This year, from July onwards, 52 churches in Singapore will be joining in a 24/365 Prayer chain movement (24 hours prayer, 365 days), whereby each of the 52 churches will take a week to leads its congregation in a 24/7 Prayer week (24 hours, 7 days). Covenant church has been given the privilege of being the 2nd church to start in the prayer movement.

Let us continue to pray just as Daniel did, even when powers of this world try to challenge us, for there is no God like our God.

Pillar - Frontline

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kQkVGYyhcuY&search=pillar
Another song introduced by my friend, though this one not so much to my liking. Not my kinda music, but the lyrics are superb.
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Pillar - Frontline Lyrics

It's not like I'm walking alone into the valley of the
shadow of death
Stand beside one another, 'cause it
ain't over yet
I'd be willing to bet that if we
don't back down
You and I will be the ones that are
holding the Crown in the end
When it's over, we can
say, "Well done"
But not yet, 'cause it's only
begun
So, pick up, and follow me, we're the only ones
To fight this thing, until we've won
We drive
on and don't look back
It doesn't mean we
can't learn from our past
All the things that we
mighta done wrong
We could've been doing this all
along
Everybody, with your fists raised high
Let me hear your battle cry tonight
Stand beside, or
step aside
We're on the frontline
And
we'll be carrying on, until the day it doesn't matter
anymore
Step aside, you forgot what this is for
We
fight to live, we live to fight
And tonight, you'll
hear my battle cry
We live our lives on the frontlines
We're not afraid of the fast times
These days have
opened up my eyes
And now, I see where the threat lies
We've got to lead the way

(Lyrics taken from http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Pillar/Frontline.html)

on the importance of play

The great thing about church camp is that there are always time allowances in the afternoon for the family or CG to come together to spend time with one another. Apparently this is not so common amongst the other churches. Most friends tell me their church camp is packed from morning till evening with seminars and talks. I'm glad Covenant allows time off for the family and the CG to come together to bond in fellowship. Don't get me wrong, studying the Word and praying together is important. But one thing we must not forget is that there are times when we need to relax and play. As the saying goes, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"... :p

My Camp Covenant 2006 Mascot

Introducing my Kar-po, which is the toy I've gotten for myself for this year's church camp. Now he can play "BAng!" with Gingy (my Camp Covenant 2004 toy)!

Old Handheld classics

http://www.handheld.remakes.org/online.php
Trip down memory lane for me...

on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Got introduced to this addictive card game "Bang!" during the church camp. It's set during the period of western cowboys in the 19th century. For those who played "Murderer" or "Polar Bear" before, they should have no problem picking up this game.

The Good:

1) Up to 7 players can play this game. There are lotsa character cards, with interesting names (like "Willy the Kid", "Suzie Lafette", "Rose Doulan" and "Slab the Killer") with unique powers.

2) It's a good party game as people get to interact and talk to one another. Also brings out the inner psyche and personality of people as they get into character. I've been deemed as a permanent psychotic player who only watches out for his own interests by my friends only playing a few games... :D

The Bad:

3) Conversely, when people don't know the rules that well, it can become quite a long game. Also, you can have funny things happening inside when you don;t know your rules. For examples, I managed to send the Sheriff into his own jail TWICE, before we discovered that was not allowed by the rules. Sure is funny (for me) when I sent my friend (who's playing the character) into jail... TWICE.

4) Also, this is a game which strains friendships and familial bonds. I kid you not, as we played the game, we saw good friends turn on each other, husband and wife scheming against each other*. man, you won't believe the amount of politicking that went on as the game progresses...

The Ugly:

Things you can do to irk your friends during the playing of this game -

5) Hum or whistle the main theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" every 2-3 round in the game.

6) Gloat when you successfully shot someone, like making the sound from the Casio handheld game "Western Bar", when the villian loses a life in the shoot-out.

See http://www.handheld.remakes.org/online/westernbar.htm

7) Play out of character ie the Vice-deputy starts taking pot shots at the Sheriff, or the Renegade pretends to be a Vice-Deputy.

8) Spout quotes from "The Good, the Bd and the Ugly" every turn.

For quotes, see  http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Good%2C_the_Bad_and_the_Ugly

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For more about the game, see

http://www.rainydaygames.ca/Product.asp?Product=MFG4701

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3955

3rd pic taken from http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/43708

*of course, we also have husband and wife team playing as a single character together.

on the church-camp extension

After church camp, some of us in our CG went for a short time of extension. On the whole, it was a great time of Rest and Relaxation (R&R). Initially wanted to make it a CG retreat, but a bit weird la, to make it a CG retreat when not all of us went up for the church camp. Moreover, I didn't have a retreat programme in mind when I called for this thing. But the Lord is good, in the end He gives us the rest and good times of fellowship that we wanted.

Give thanks for His provision and grace. A lot of things about the extension weren't settled even as we went up for church camp. I didn't pass down clear instructions to my people in time, so the hotel reservations and the bus tickets were not confirmed as yet when the church camp started. Yet God makes smooth the pathway for us and let us have a great time in KL city.

Made a boo-boo, as I didn't check out the hotel that I wanted for the hotel reservation. Later found out I had actually asked my friend to book for a hotel in the red-light district of KL city. It's something akin to the Geylang area of Singapore. Apart from the fact that's it's near the brothels, that area is actually quite good for tourists, as it has plenty of good local food and close by to the shopping malls along Jalan Bintang. I found and ate my Ramli burger along the food street there at 2.30am in the morning, and testify that the Kuala Lumpur-ians really have a fantastic supper culture. Hey, Jag told me all the food tasted so nice cause it's mostly fried.  So thank God that none of us were harmed or harassed in any way. If not I don't know how to account to my leaders or the parents, boyfriends, girlfriends and pets of my members...

Oh, talking about Jag, I must also say a very big "THANK YOU!" to our friends Jooli and Jag for being such wonderful hosts, taking us to that great "zhi-char" place at Jalan Alor*, and chauffering our luggages around. They took time out from their schedule and show us the sights around town. It's a great joy to catch up with overseas friends,just siting down in the coffee shop, and talk about anything under the sun over a cup of "kat zai seng bway" , "Eng yong"** and bread toasts.

well, looking for the next church camp. in the meanwhile, I should go and pray about that CG retreat...

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*just thinking about the black Hokkien mee, the BBQ wings and the "la-la" makes my mouth salivates already...

** "kat zai seng bway" = lime drink with preserved plums; "Eng yong" = coffee mixed with tea and milk 

on post-church camps thoughts and giving thanks

Had a fantastic time at the church camp last week in Selangor. Fantastic not only because the food were great (especially the durian-mouuse  ! ) and everything went off without a hitch (things seldom do happen that way in real life).

Rather, it was more of the wonderful presence of God that was present there, ministering to each and everyone of the campers. Somehow the Lord just made use of men and women to bring forth great spiritual lessons in morsel-bites that is easily digested (spiritual baby-food, if your will). And my eyes were opened to certain aspects of the Word, a glorious revelation of the infinite mercy and grace of His Glory.

Just want to give thanks and glory to God for all that He has done for me personally at the camp, bringing people to me, saying kind words and praying for me. For the wonderful insights and teachings that were shared, I hoped these will be lodged deep within my heart, and overflow from me from within. I also pray a prayer of blessing for the next church camp that's coming up in 2008. I believed a lot of people, in some way or another, worked towards the running of Camp Covenant 2006. I pray the saints will gather again 2 years later, let God work in the camp, as He did this time round.

on Theme Song for church camp 2006

Arise lyrics

Artist - Don Moen Album - Thank You Lord Lyrics - Arise V One Thing we ask of You One thing that we desire That as we worship You Lord, come and change our lives Arise, Arise, Arise, Arise Chorus Arise, take Your place Be enthroned on our praise Arise, King of kings Holy God, as we sing Arise, Arise, Arise, Arise Bridge We lift You up We lift You up We lift You up on our praises

  taken from http://www.lyricskeeper.com/don_moen-lyrics/218417-arise-lyrics.htm

on the 1st day of the 2nd half of the year...

woke up at 6 a.m in the morning. Hadn't done that in a long while. Had to get up early to catch an early bus to the airport. Sending off a dear brother at the airport. It's his first day of work, and already his company is sending him off 4 weeks! However, this is not a leisure-ly work-trip for him and his team, and they have been sent to help out in the disaster-relief operations in Central Java. Went to airport to pray for them. Think they should have reached there by now...

After that went to town. Since I've already travelled so far, might as well go town "gai gai" a bit. The weather was unsuitable, however. People talked about the unbearable lightness of being. Well, today was the unbearable sweatiness of heat. After having my favourite roti-prata along Bencoolen Street (opposite Fortune Center), went to play a few games at the arcade at Parklane Mall. Man, can't even get to the final stage of "Marcross" - I'm getting old...  stopped by Orchard Regional Library and borrowed a few hard-to-get titles. Then headed back to chill at Woodlands Regional Library, to finish up the Asimov book.

My friend called to complain about his iBook, said it dieded on him again. Just for no reason, itrefused to power itself up. Laughed my head off that one, and i told him to rename his iBook as "i-Stay-at-home", since it can only operate at his home only. Stayed out a while before heading off home for a sumptuous dinner.

ah well, countdown to Christmas : 208 days...