on Shawn Micheals' testimony...

My friend showed us these video clips during this morning's devotions. He shared that Shawn Micheals is his 2nd all-time favorite WWE star*.

I'm not really familiar with him, since I stopped watching wrestling after secondary school. Still, you can feel the authenticity of this man's sharing.

 

Joke: My other co-worker passed around a note during the video, saying he's waiting for Shawn Micheals to do a superkick on the presenter at the end. :D

* His all-time favorite is the Undertaker... :p

On Indianna Jones and Blonde Joke

http://www.plainjanegames.com/funstuff/bestblondejoke.htm
Duh ~

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

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

Hmm, heard mixed reviews from my friends and critics, so lowered my expectations for this film. Plot didn't really made a lot of sense. Think Spielberg was focusing more on the special effects rather than the plot - which is a divergence from the first 3 movies.

On the whole, not a bad story - but forgettable. Lack of a menacing enemy presence.


Official Site:
http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Kingdom_of_the_Crystal_Skull

the mrbrown show: leisure island

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2008/05/26/the-mrbrown-show-leisure-island/
*brrrinng*

Laaairr~zzzurre Eeyyyeee~ Reeenn.... :D

Zwartboek/ Black Book (2006)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Foreign

From the guy that gave us Robocop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct and Starship Troopers comes this Dutch World War Two (WWII) drama.

I thought Paul Verhoeven's name looks familiar, and his signature of "(e)xplicitly violent and/or sexual content" are all back~ and yes, this is rated M18, and only available at the Cathay Picturehouse in Singapore.

This is actually not a bad story, as we follow the story of a young Jewish woman in the ending days of WWII in the Netherlands. Some smart cine-goers may guess the twist halfway through the show, but it's still a good film. Am glad I caught this ~


Official Site (US)
http://www.sonyclassics.com/blackbook/

Official Site (Netherlands)
http://www.zwartboekdefilm.nl/

IMDB LInk:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389557/

Wiki Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Book_(film)

to all the teachers* in Singapore...

Thus began your one month of rest~ Enjoy, you deserve it!




*excluding lecturers in polytechnics, universities and those teachers preparing their N-levels classes...

on half day leave this afternoon~

Programs all lined up liao

Meet friend for lunch around his workplace, then go for the show "Black Book"



My friend super funny, ask him to book ticket for me, then he said, "Hniah? 'Black book'? Berlinda 'Car-lai'?" i was like Then he showed me this link~

Hmm, the MTV is super duper old sia. Looks like something they can play in a pub...

on takeaways from today's sermon...

Date: 25 May 2008

Title: How To Stay Calm* In The Turbulence Of Life

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Introduction

1. “Courage” emphasized in our text. What is courage?

Not the absence of fear but the presence of God

2. Three important applicational principles (3sets of contrasts):

A. PUTTING GOD IN THE EQUATION OF LIFE (v1-4)

"…so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life." (v1-4)

Life without God is a contradiction

We live in defeat because we choose to live for the temporal rather than for the eternal

Tent/House = metaphor for existence

B. PURSUING GOD IN THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE (v5-7)

“…for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (v5-7)

“O-B-E-Y” is a “dirty” word to some Christians

Ruth Morgan – “By Faith, Not Sight”

You cannot serve God if you walk by sight, not faith

Object-fixation in this world vs. Seeing the Unseen

C. PLEASING GOD IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE (v8-9)

“…whether at home or absent… to be pleasing to Him.” (v9)

Burnt offerings and sacrifices our God has not desired… (Psalm 40)

To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15)

Ambition (ESV) = Goal (NIV)

Conclusion

Being in the Throne Room Of God…

Don’t loiter around in the corridors! Come into the throne room.

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

Text in black is the sermon notes outline given by church. Text in green are the thoughts I jotted down during the sermon. Was not really paying attention yesterday during sermon. Nope, I did bring the pen today; just that not enough rest the night before. Lesson learnt: Don’t stay up to watch the late-night movie on Sunday morning~

By Faith, Not Sight - Ruth A. Morgan

Pastor Ed shared this poem with us during sermon today:

By Faith Not Sight

Sometimes I'm sad, I know not why
My heart is sore distressed;
It seems the burdens of this world
Have settled on my heart.

And yet I know... I know that God
Who doeth all things right
Will lead me thus to understand
To walk by FAITH...not SIGHT.

And though I may not see the way
He's planned for me to go,
The way seems dark to me just
But oh, I'm sure He knows!

Today He guides my feeble step
Tomorrow's in His right...
He has asked me to never fear...
But walk by FAITH...not SIGHT.

Some day the mists will roll away,
The sun will shine again.
I'll see the beauty in the flowers,
I'll hear the bird's refrain,

And then I'll know my Father's hand
Has led the way to light
Because I placed my hand in His
And walked by FAITH...not SIGHT.

-Ruth A. Morgan

(taken from http://thislife.blogspot.com/2002/11/by-faith-not-sight-sometimes-im-sad-i.html)

vixy.net : Online FLV Converter

http://vixy.net/
"Download online videos direct to PC / iPod / PSP. It's free!"

on Baby Pearl's swan-song video...

Sadly, this cute little baby girl is stopping her filming career after her second video. Goodbye Pearl, I'll miss you ~



Good Cop, Baby Cop on FunnyOrDie.com

How Deep Is Your Love~

Ahahahahah! I'll never listen to this song without breaking into a smile again!~

"Jin gay sia"!

on my pet phrase these few days...

"Arrgghh!" *clutch my head in mock agony* "Intelligence minus ten again!"

these few days have been engaged in "por whee"* conversations with my co-workers and friends, and reading articles that really insults my intelligence. When such situations arise, I will do the above. While it may not raise my IQ, it does provide good fun and laughter amongst those around me.  

*Hokkien for 吐血 

 

on learning something new today...

Piangz, been having problems typing out the chinese characters  “什么“ using hanyu pinyin. Just got told by my friend that you need to type in "shen me" in MS Language Bar...

This goes against all my primary schooling hanyu pinyin education! All these while I've been typing in "she" and "se" to try to locate “什" ... Argh! Feel so cheated...  

on an interesting sculpture and an even more interesting comment...

Oh, this is a sculpture sitting within our office technopark area. Pass by it hundred of times on my way to and from work. Just the other day, one of my co-workers shared an interesting comment that taxi-driver told her while passing by that sculpture.

"You knw why that thing has one eye closed and one eye open? It's to remind people at work mustn't be so rigid, must 'kwee ji bark, um ji bark'*."

ROFL

Wisdom from the cab-uncles :D

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

*"open one eye", and "close one eye"

on takeaways from this morning's devotions

This morning my co-worker shared a ministering message from Psalms:

 

Psalm 46 (New International Version)

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. ^[a]

 1 God is our refuge and strength,
       an ever-present help in trouble.

 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

 3 though its waters roar and foam
       and the mountains quake with their surging.
       Selah 

 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
       the holy place where the Most High dwells.

 5 God is within her, she will not fall;
       God will help her at break of day.

 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
       he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

 7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our fortress.
       Selah

 8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
       the desolations he has brought on the earth.

 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
       he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
       he burns the shields ^[b] with fire.

 10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth."

 11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our fortress.
       Selah






































He was sharing that amidst the destruction and chaos that we see happening in Myanmar and China these past 2 weeks, we must still fix our eyes upon God Almighty. His emphasis was on verse 10a, on "Be still". He was saying that not only must we be quiet and wait for the Lord; but we must also cease striving (NASB translation) and surrender to God.

One phrase which he used which kinda stuck to my head is "Preach Christ, use words if necessarily".*

* Not his own words, but he heard it from elsewhere

the mrbrown show: power pill (NC-16)

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2008/05/19/the-mrbrown-show-power-pill/
hahaha! Can never understand some men's mentality...

National Library Exhibit - Kaala Chakra (16 May '08)

Last Saturday decided get out of the house and not spend so much in front of the computer. Went to town to have my shiok shiok $3.50 lemon tea, then took a slow walk from Orchard MRT station to National Library at Bras Basah.

Had a pleasant surprise, as NLB has an exhibition on Indian historical influence in the Southeast Asian region. Took some shots with my hand-phone camera

Makan session (16 May '08)

Went to a nearby field on last Friday evening after work to kick a soccer-ball with 2 colleagues. Even though there were just three of us horsing around, it was a great workout and great fun. For a person who hadn't kicked a ball since secondary school, I think my kicking techniques are all wrong. Cos just 30 minutes into it, I found myself aching in places where I never knew got muscles...*

After the work out, 2 of us decided to hitch a ride with my friend who's going for a family dinner at Ang Mo Kio (AMK). We walked the whole of AMK Hub but couldn't find a relatively empty restaurant**. So in the end, I took my friend (who claims he was there at AMK Hub for the first time) on a tour of AMK central. We finally found a coffee-shop to stop for the evening. What drew us was the amount of people drinking beer at the coffee-shop. Also, there are a lot of "beer-maids"/beer promoters who are actually pouring out the drinks to the customers^. My theory is that they are trying to get the patrons to buy more beer. ..

Anyway, the beer they sold us both were cheap, at $5 plus a bottle^^. We tried a brand we never try before (Harbin 哈尔滨，a Chinese beer), which was kinda flat and "no kick". Not satisfied, we tried the Carlsberg, which was surprisingly only 30 cents more expensive than the Harbin. However, it was also kinda flat. I joking told my friend, "Hmm, imitation beer?"

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

*like my butt-hole :p

* Actually quite an impossible aim to start out with: looking for an uncrowded eating place at dinner time on Friday night at AMK Hub... :D

^ For those not familiar with local coffee-shop culture, the beer-garden "aunties" seldom will actively pour out the drinks for the patrons, after the first customary pour.

^^ My friend, who's a regular kopi-tiam drinker, says that Carlsberg is priced at minimal $6.40 a bottle

pics

The Valley of Vision - the Puritan Fathers

yesterday, Pastor Kai read this poem during the closing to his sermon.

Lord, high and holy,

meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

 that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

 that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

let me find Thy light in my darkness,

Thy life in my death,

Thy joy in my sorrow,

Thy grace in my sin,

Thy riches in my poverty,

Thy glory in my valley.

(taken from http://thesusanblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/puritan-prayerthe-valley-of-vision.html)

on a funny short...

haha, my friend told us this over lunch yesterday. The baby girl is sooooo cute~

The Landlord on FunnyOrDie.com

 

YOU PAY ... NOW, BEE-ATCH~ :D

on why no blog entries last week...

Busy last week, because of the earthquake in China, we had to re-do some of our work here. Also, mood was pretty much affected by all the disasters in Myanmar and China. More so by the actions of the junta government in Myanmar. Really make my blood boils ah , hearing news like holding referendum while diverting attention and resources away from the relief and aid to the cyclone victims. Then thereafter diverting more resources away to look for that BBC reporter, Paul Danahar. Argh, the more I think about it, the more my blood boils...  

At least the Chinese government is willing to acknowledge they are unable to cope with the scope of the natural disaster. I have to salute the effort the government is taking the lead to co-ordinate the relief and rescue operations. Just have to continue to lift up the people in both lands in my prayers...

on having wii-elbow again...

ok, so it's not exactly tennis elbow. It's more like wii-brachioradialis. But it's a mouthful, and so much harder to pronounce.

And the reason why I have this is cos I went over to my friend's office to play his latest Wii game, Boom Blox. Highly addictive as a party game.

For more info, goto http://www.ea.com/boomblox/

Hey, I don't know why they tag Steven Spielberg's name to it; but it's plenty of fun on its own, even with the dated graphics. This is definitely not your Final fantasy or Legend of Zelda, but it's loads of fun! Boom! BOOM!  K A B O O MMmmmmm!!!  

 

on 有眼不识 "or yi orh"*...

waaa, until my co-worker e-mailed this din even know of 黃國倫 this person. Just goes to show how much I know about Chinese pop scene. And I din even know "我願意" is a love song to God... ashamed ashamed...

 

 

 

 

 

For more history, goto

http://macautimes.net/times/45/4521.html (it's in traditional Chinese script)

 

* Chinese idiomatic saying, literally "got eye don't know Mountain Tai/Tarzan" :p

 

Kungfu Baby

Old clip, but still funny...

De-motivational Posters

ha! My friend sent these to us last evening, cracked me up they did...

on can't stop tapping my feet to this tune...

Egads it's like Numa numa all over again...

 

 

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramelldansen

JLA: Riddle of the Beast

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Alan Grant

Superb re-imagining of the DC universe, set in high fantasy world. Borrowed the book from the regional library at Woodlands and finished it after reaching home. See some of your favorite characters in a new light!

Be Cool (2005)

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

ahahhahaa! Watched it after the French show. A great film to catch at home. I watched the first installment (Get Shorty) when it came out. But some how didn't catch this when it came out in the big screens. Am so glad my friend brought it along.

It's a great dig at the music and movie industry. And Vince acting as a white guy trying to make it as a black dude is superbly hilarious. And the Rock? See him as never before, in baby blue tight-fitting clothes with ruby red shoes! :D And Uma Thurman is brimming over with sexiness, especially with that dance number iwth Travolta~ ooo la la LA LA LA~

Favorite lines:

Chilli Palmer:
Are you kidding? After what I just saw? Why would you do that?

Linda Moon:
'Cause it sucks. Look, I could do the same thing topless and make $5,000 a week with tips.

Chilli Palmer:
Well, why don't you do that?

Linda Moon:
I'm Baptist.
My father wouldn't approve.

Chilli Palmer:
So then you're like Aretha Franklin.




Official Site:
http://www.becoolmovie.com/main.html

IMDB Site:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377471/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_cool

À la folie... pas du tout/ He loves me... He loves me not (2002)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Not a bad film. Watched it last Friday. An interesting narrative told from 2 points of view. And I learnt a new word! Erotomania~

Audrey Tautou is absolutely charming...

Lesson learnt from this story:
越美丽的女人，越变态...


IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291579/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Loves_Me..._He_Loves_Me_Not_(film)

on the silliest interview I've ever seen...

Biangz, kenah this kinda interviewer, really kiam pa man!

Hymn: Down from His glory

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php?t=h&n=82
Old classic!~

Midi Version taken from
http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php?t=h&n=82

For history of the tune
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Sole_Mio

on an okay dim sum breakfast in J.B. ...

this morning took 1/2 day leave to go to Johor Bahru to get my train tickets for next month's church camp. Went to look for my old dim sum haunt, but no more!  managed to find a nearby place but it just isn't the same, without the traditional dim sum "笼", the old table with the marble top and the pot of chinese tea... *wail*












排骨 and 烧卖

















大包


















咖啡，浓！






















mmmmm, look at that!~

on Iron Man have the best power suit...

ha! Iron man Rulez! Now if it only can play PS3 games and make cappuccino as well... :p

on weird soundbites in my head...

Don't know why have this floating about my head this morning:

Respect is not given, it is earned;

Honor is not earned, it is given.

on the great guitar riffs in the Iron Man film...

WooT! this song was used (without the lyrics) during the credits of the Iron Man show.

for a history, goto here.

on newton's 3rd law in my regime...

went to jog just now during lunch time


So what it means is that I've jogged 3.03 kilometres in 23 minutes, and burnt bout 325 calories.

Then I went to the nearby canteen for lunch. This is what I had:


Think I've gained back more than the 325 calories I ran off just an hour earlier....

P.S. For those who don't know about Newton's 3rd law, you can read it here.

What a friend we have in Jesus

Sang this old old hymn on Sunday morning at service~ Been ages since I sung this:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

For more history about this hymn, goto
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/a/f/wafwhij.htm

Alternative version by a Welsh church choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GApMd5gnFA4







Taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mALemrMgcg&feature=related

on personalising a promise from Him...

ha, yesterday as I was reading the scriptural passage study from Sunday's sermon, it suddenly struck me that if change the pronouns in it, it becomes a lot more powerful:

The Original Passage

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

- From 2 Cor 4: 7-14 (NIV)

Now If i change it this way (italics is my change)

But I have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from You and not from myself.
I am hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
I always carry around in my body the death of You, so that the life of Yourself may also be revealed in my body.
For I who am alive is always being given over to death for Your sake, so that Your life may be revealed in my mortal body.
So then, death is at work in me, but life is at work in me also. 
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith I also believe and therefore speak,
because I know that the one who raised You, Lord Jesus, from the dead will also raise me with Yourself and present me with the assembly of the saints in Your presence.

Hope this is ministering to you, as you lay hold on this promise~

the mrbrown show: the replacement

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2008/05/05/the-mrbrown-show-the-replacement/
"Tiger? Heikenen?? Green-nis???" :D

Iron Man (2008)

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

Shiok! Watched all the way to the end, and really laughed my head out! Action, humor at the right timing. And the OST and audio effects are really terrific. And man oh man, do I want to get myself an Iron Man suit! :D


Official Site:
http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_%28film%29

on takeaways from yesterday's sermon

…All because we do not carry/ everything to the Lord in prayer!

Date: 04 May 2008

Title: Being Victorious In Spite of Circumstances

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Introduction

1. How to keep on going when you can’t go on… “Egg, Carrot and Coffee Bean”     Story

2.Why Paul never gave up – Three paradigm shifts needed…

A. We want The Power but We Miss The Treasure (v7)

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels … " (v7a)

Mark 8:22 - 25 – Why the 2^nd touch?

John 9 – Why the spit?

Effectiveness/Efficiency ≠ Efficacy  -> The 5 “Right”s

Right Thing,

Right Time,

Right Purpose,

Right Motivation,

                                                                             Right Results.

God’s economy is not the same as man’s economy.

3 examples of God’s Efficacy, from the life of Jesus

The Incarnation; the first divine miracle (of water to wine); and Jesus’ death on the cross

Grace, Glory and Gospel of God centered on cross of Christ

B. We Shun The Suffering But We Miss The Life (v8-12)

“…so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested…” (v10b,11b,12)

What is the life?

v8-9:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed.”   

One of these things is not like the other:

“not forsaken” – extrinsic – not forsaken by God; the other 3 are what happens internally.

Presence in darkness vs. Absence in light

“Why me? Why now? Why this?” vs. “Is God with me in this?”

C. We Claim The Faith But We Miss The Substance (v13-15)

“He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also…” (v14)

What is the substance of our faith?

God’s agenda is to make us Holy, not make us happy.

Wayne Cordeiro, "Divine Mentor” – story of teaching trip to China

 

Conclusion

Being Victorious in spite of circumstances…!

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

Text in black is the sermon notes outline given by church. Text in green are the thoughts I jotted down during the sermon. Was not really paying attention yesterday during sermon. Have to keep passing the pen between my friend and myself, 'cos I forgot to bring my own :P

Dad's birthday Makan session (02 May '08)

Yeaps, it's that time of the year, where we took Daddy out for a dinner treat. Yesterday already had steamboat at home. Initially wanna take dad to go eat Indian food; he said weather too hot. In the end adjourned to Seoul Garden. (Dun ask me the logic, je ne comprends pas). Well, what matters most is that we enjoyed ourselves. Praying that Dad will have more good years to come, drinking and smoking less... ;p