Home Gathering

Our church young adult fellowship had a home gathering last friday nite. It was great to gather together in someone's house and EAT. We initially planned to have BBQ, however, due to several circumstances, mainly a lot of people were infected with this virus called Influenza, we changed plan to steamboat. Call it correctly, you surely can 'influence' your neighbours once you have this Influenza virus with you. And that was when I started to get the flu as well.

The night went well with lots of food especially the greens. We had a great time together though we didnt really have a bible study session. The gathering started with worship songs and prayer, and continue with a short sharing before the feast. Really thankful to those who take up initiative to organise the event and not forgetting those who help out in food preparation. It is very encouraging indeed to see people willing to sacrifice a little for the sake of others. It has been my prayer since long time ago that more and more people will wake up from their dreamland and take up the role to lead the fellowship to a better ground. Not better in food preparation but in equipping ourselves well with true knowledge for the battle field.

We went back quite late that night. Some of us were watching horror movie while others were just chit-chatting around. I thought it was a good chance for us to sit down and talk as we hardly have this kind of time together due to too many technicality during the usual meeting or even sunday service that we hardly have fine time to talk.

I am sick

I am sick. The usual sore throats, coughing, coarse voice are attacking me again. This cause me to feel dizzy, heavy head and fatigue.
Have a very weak antibody recently as not really have healthy diet and not enough sleep. Thus, the virus is attacking me again.
Sigh!
This virus will never forget to visit me as it usually attack me twice a year. Once during chinese new year and the other time would be this period of time. Even my regular doctor knows about it and prescribe the same medicine to me every time i visited the doctor.
No choice... Have to hang in there for a few days before it leaves me for good.

Every Promise...

Every promise of our God

Finds its ‘yes’ in His own Son.

Blessings to His people come

In abundance through the One.

In Christ God’s glory is revealed.

His grace, His faithfulness is shown.

And so we live in certain hope,

The God of truth our fortress strong.

As foretold the servant came

Sacrificed to rid our shame.

Promised Saviour, Lamb of God,

Full atonement by His blood.

In Christ God’s glory is revealed.

His grace, His faithfulness is shown.

And so we live in certain hope,

The God of truth our fortress strong.

By God’s Word the Christ did come,

Great King David’s greatest Son.

Lion of Judah, King of Kings,

He whose rule will never end.

In Christ God’s glory is revealed.

His grace, His faithfulness is shown.

And so we live in certain hope,

The God of truth our fortress strong.

Quote of The Day

A Hymn That Comforts

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry,
ev'rything to God in Prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
ev'rything 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 thy friends despise, forsake thee?
take it to the Lord in prayer;
in his arms He'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.

Twelve Things to Praise the Lord

It is not listed in a particular order. Praises to God in this particular moment.

1. Thanks for the creation and created us from the image of God.
2. Praise Him for His faithfulness in His own Word
3. Thanks for the salvation that He has granted me freely.
4. Thanks for speaking to me in the Bible in this last days that I have the Word as guidance.
5. Thanks for giving me my loving parents who sacrifice a lot for me.
6. Thanks for my partner who is always loving and supportive to me.
7. Praise Him for He comforts and teaches me in every moment in time.
8. Praise Lord for teaching me to love and appreciate my parents who raise me up.
9. Thanks for every single event happening on me, may it be good or bad in the eyes of men, which build me up to be a stronger person.
10. Praise ye O Lord for You are sovereign God who controlled the entirely of history, today and tomorrow.
11. Praise You as You do not let even a single hair of our head fall without Your permission.
12. Praise Lord for everything that you have granted to me. You are the greatest blessing of all.

Shocking Act Of A Psycho Mom

Ever heard of cooking a baby in microwave oven?

It was a case for a mother in Washington. Due to a quarrel with her partner, the 28-year-old mother put her 28 days old baby into microwave to 'heat' her up. It was a case in Washington on year 2005. The mother was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for murdering her own baby.

It is so cruel that the insane mother sacrificed her own baby due to a fight with her partner. Isn't mother suppose to take good care of her own baby? Couldn't imagine that this mother could cook her fully-dependent baby in a microwave which is meant for good. Shouldn't the mother be happy and glad that she has a baby? It is so irresponsible that people due to their own sins they put their babies into punishment.

There are a variety of non-profit organisations which are helping people with mental-health problems. If you realise that you are depressed or mentally disturbed you should consult those organisations instead of keeping it to yourself and at the end of the day killing the innocent people. If early detection had been made and proper treatment been given to this mother it would save two lives, the mother and the innocent baby.

My Favourite American Seafood Recipe

Great American Seafood cook off is celebrating its 5 years anniversary and it gives you a chance to vote and win a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana.

When the five finalists of the 2008 Great American Seafood were named they were given several challenges in creating their dish for the final round of competition. First, the dishes had to contain one of two mystery ingredients, either Southwest Airline Peanuts or select brews from Michelob Brewing Co. Beside that, they need to keep it healthy and simple. The dish's ingredients had to represent all five food groups. The dishes should be easily prepared by the most harried home chefs.

Now the judges had casted their votes and it is the time for you to cast yours. Vote for your favorite recipe using domestic, sustainable seafood and enter to win a "Trip to New Orleans" prize package including two Southwest Airline roundtrip tickets, hotel accommodations, dining experiences and more! It is easy. Follow the steps below to win a trip to New Orleans.

1. Visit http://www.greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com/
2. Click on the red box “Vote and Enter to Win a Trip to New Orleans: RECIPE CONTEST”
3. Pick your favorite of the top five recipes listed
4. Click “Enter to Win” and enter the contest by casting your vote for your favorite recipe

As for me, I had chosen "Pan Roasted Glazed Rockfish with Peas and Carrots" by Chef Tafari Campbell from Maryland. This recipe contains both my favorite food, Rockfish and Shrimp, in one dish and the ingredients can be easily bought from any local seafood market. This domestic seafood is delicious and fresh. I would definitely love to try out this dish one day.

Why wait now? Visit http://www.greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com/ to vote for your favorite recipe with the chance to win a trip to New Orleans prize package!

Tao Asian Cuisine

These are a few nice food that we tried in Tao Restaurant. It can be considered as reasonable given that you can order as much as you wish with around RM50 for early birds' price per pax.

We started off with some appetizers

MH's favourite terriyaki chicken I guess

Great grilled salmon

We ate 2 plates of the above sashimi each

Cheesy scallops... delicious!

Some kind of abalone

salmon wrapping papaya... what a different taste!

In front of the Tao in Auto City

The satisfied bunch taking photo before heading back home

A Pleasing Decision How to Make?

I foresee that there would be rejection on the decision that I made. Are we here to please everybody? Sometimes it is hard to make a decision that would make everyone happy. How to take a balance then?

Sigh! Each and every individual has his own mentality and pre-supposition. To make things worse, everyone would think that he/she is doing the right thing and others are all wrong. They would try to change your mind with their own mentality hopefully that you will then listen to what he/she said. If not, disobedience would come in as an accusation to you.

If I am still who I was, certainly I wouldnt care much on what other people are saying. No doubt, I was a very stubborn person who didnt get influenced easily. In fact, I am still stubborn but not as serious as I was previously. I would choose to listen to opinions around to evaluate if it is benefiting me before I made decision. However, I really hope that the decisions been made would get supported by the ones that I love.

Things are getting tougher as we grow up. There are more things that we need to decide on, more problems that need to be dealt with. People are getting more complicated and difficult to deal with as well. The pressures that have been poured upon are getting more unbearable. The expectation from the people around is suffocating.

Anyhow, this is the sinful world that we are living in. What do you expect?

How deep the Father's love for us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Random thoughts

There will be a lot of changes next year. Change means uncertainty. Uncertainty means risk-taking. Who likes changes? Fortunately, I don't really resist changes. At least it gives me a new platform to learn something that I am not aware on. And I believe that by God's grace we are able to go through all the difficulties that we will be facing. Hahaaa... is that why i keep changing job? It also means that I get bored very easily... no endurance at all. no good, no good.

Elisabeth Elliot

Read through her blog. She is one of the faithful servants of God who involves herself in woman ministry. Great woman who has gone through a lot.
And signed up for her daily devotional material too!!

Kids Say The Darndest Things

Hmm... I think i am not gifted in children ministry, at least for this moment. The more I teach them the more I doubt if they understand what I taught. It became so clear to me that children ministry is not the one that I would involve myself in especially when my church is organising a children holiday camp this coming Wed-Sat. I totally dont feel interested in teaching them a lesson not to mention to teach them singing or dancing. But thank God that most of the women in my church loves this ministry and willing to involve themselves, really salute them.

Apart from that, this morning I was in charge of children sunday school. It was such an accomplishment to myself that the kids were not really out of control. Why I say so? It is because we only have one class of sunday school due to the number of kids attending sunday school. Apparently, this morning has 11 of them and the age range is from 3 to 11. Hellooo... I am out of idea how to teach them. From the age where they dont understand a single thing that you said, let alone responding to you, to the age when they have their own judgement and mindset. To make things worse, there were actually two little sisters who like to scream on top of their voice out of nothing, 3 brothers who can't even sit on their chairs for more than a second, a girl who talks and sing in a very loud voice and another girl who likes to gossip and talks bad things about other kids. How to teach? how to teach? And we have only 2 teachers to help out. Hmm... I think should consider letting the younger kids do colouring while conducting bible story telling, writing bible verses, singing and crafting to the older kids. At least the age gap is not that huge.

Anyway, back to the sunday school this morning, there was actually one kid who just start crying out of sudden. No one touch her, no one do anything to her at all. It scared me. Asked her what happened, she doesn't even tell ( can't blame, she is only 3). But later the day, I approached her mom to see what happened only to understand that maybe there was someone taking away her things and she did not know how to express, so she just cried. Interesting! but sweating! In another incident, another girl started to cry softly and keep saying 'I dont want, i dont want!". I asked her what she didn't want and she just kept repeating herself. Apart from that, the rest of them were quite co-operative other than one of them accidentally spilled glue over the floor. The accomplishment is that the three brothers managed to behave themselves throughout the service.

By God's grace, although I am not gifted to teach a big group of kids but personally i love to talk to kids especially those in the range of four to six years old when they started to ask extraordinary questions that you might not be able to answer. I believe that we, adults, have things which we can learn from kids too. And I would definitely love to have our own kids if God graciously gives us, not now, but in God's timing.

Throwing Rubbish...

... out of the car window is no good.
Yesterday on the way back home, i saw a kid actually throwing out a chocolate wrapper from the side window. Initially i wanted to honk her but then i resisted. This act of throwing shows us how educated our people are and the Malaysian level of morality.
Imagine a 3-4 years old kid know how to throw rubbish out of a car window. Who is the one who taught them to do so? Maybe parents have lame excuse that the kids learnt from others. But who is responsible to teach their own kids this simple rule? It is really 'sampah masyarakat' not to even have a little bit of consideration.
It is just a simple logical thinking that we shouldnt throw rubbish anywhere we want. If we throw, somebody has to pick it up. Those wrappers or bottles are not degradable. Thus, it will exist until somebody else picking it up to be thrown into rubbish bin.
So... be considerate and be responsible!

I am so frustrated....

...over the blog template. I have tried the whole morning but couldnt manage to change the template of my blog. I dont know what is the problem! I think I'll be laughed at if i tell people that I studied computer science previously and i did web page design as well. Not only that, but I actually got high scores for those subjects.
I once heard from a lecturer that theory is so different from practical. Although the lecturer knows how to teach in theory but practically he does not know the actual thing that he has been telling his students about... tsk tsk tsk. But I think the same concept applied to me too =P
I think I got to get help from my personal tutor, MohHerng, again on this template thingy!
Help me...

Blackout Hour

The blackout hour last night gave me a moment to think through something so true about human nature. It was out of sudden that the area that I live in had a total darkness... It was the loss of electricity.

The first thing that popped up in my mind is...oh, dear! I am going to sleep soon. How am I going to sleep without electricity? I had no choice but to climb up my bed with the help of the light on my mobile.

During the hour of blackout, i was wondering how our grandpa and grandma and even our great grandparents would survive without electricity? How warm it would be in the afternoon without the comfort of air-cond or fan? How inconvenient it would be without light at night? They would only rely on the small light from candles or oil burner to bright up the place. Then, i started to imagine that the weather should be colder many years ago compared with the current weather. Why the world is getting warmer and warmer, and causes all this global warming? It is due to the 'good deeds' of human beings as well. When the weather was not that warm, we tried to be clever by inventing air-cond and electricity for the convenience of people, however, until this stage in time, we have become the slave to our own invention. We are not able to survive without electricity and air-cond. Sigh!

Beside that, I was wondering it must had been very difficult for Jesus and His disciples when they walked around to evangelise. Not only that, maybe they had to walk under the very hot sun for the whole day as well. Hmmm... so far when I read bible I never consider the weather when they walked from one place to the other, may it be hot? may it be cold?

Maybe... It is me who just took things for granted!

Krispy Kreme is coming to town

Woohoo... Just read from newspaper today that Berjaya group has decided to open Krispy Kreme stores in Malaysia. They have already signed the franchising agreement with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Co. and are planning to open 20 stores throughout Malaysia. The sad thing is they will started off in KL and Klang Valley area first before expanding to other major cities. So, all those KL people will be able to taste this yummy doughnuts by next year but Penangites, I think we will need to wait for another few years. *sob*
Krispy Kreme started off the business since 1937 and their signature doughnut would be the Original Glazed, best eaten when it is hot off the line



Beside that, they also offer different flavours to suit all sorts of doughnuts-lover. It is so mouth-watering! Cant wait for it to come soon!!!

Finding memories on my teenage years

Reading through the diary that I used to write gave me a lot of memories both sweet and bad. It was two days ago that I accidentally found my diary kept inside the lowest drawer in my wardrobe. In fact I couldn't remember any single thing I wrote in my diary so I decided to read through again.
Writing diary was the habit since i was 16 but however this habit had stopped during my college time. Most of my entries were on friends and BGR. It would be either on who I met or what I had done with my friends. Some would include the arguments that I had with friends and surely it included the elements of pride and jealousy.
It gave me a moment to reflect back how was I as a teenager and what would be the things in the mind of teenagers. Although time might have changed and the interest of teenagers nowadays are different from my time, but I guess it helps abit as how I should talk to teenagers in church and what I should expect from them. It helps also to evaluate whether we have put too much pressure on what they are doing and what they shouldnt be doing as teenagers.
There was at one point that I thought I was so childish previously but it was those experiences that I have which shapes me to be the person that I am right now. So, no regret on my past and strive hard to be a better person in the future.

Thought of Life II

Remembered two months ago I blogged on the condition of Alex Teoh and how he has been so encouraging to us around him although he was lying on his bed. As time goes by, I thank God that he has become stronger and stronger right now. He started to be able to get himself into wheelchair and he started to come to church for service with some help from bros & sis for transportation. Alex had discharged from Mount Miriam Hospital I think a week ago and now he can even do some basic chores for himself. We thank God that although for the moment he is not able to walk by himself but yet we can see his determination to try his best so that he gets stronger as days past by. The spirit of never give up is something that we can learn from him. He also asked our fellowship to go to his house and we did that for last week's young adult fellowship when we concluded the book of Romans. I think it would be more convenient for him to have fellowship with us at his home than to go to Church.
It shows such a big contradiction as I looked at him and the other brother who is fit and healthy physically but unwilling to stand up after the fall spiritually. It is such a sad thing to see him coming to church without joy and peace in his heart. The face shows as if everyone is owing him hundred million dollars and as if we are all his enemy. In fact, I cannot understand what this brother is thinking about and what he wanted to show us with this attitude in church. Can you tell me? To him, I would say that what we can do is to continue to pray for him and to show our love to him while waiting for his return to have fellowship with us. Everyone will have good and bad times but we should be able to stand up once again after we fell to the ground. A few of us have been asking him to come back to the fellowship once again and his reply is always no, I am already dead! This is the total give up in life and even enjoying himself in sins. I can see that this is a totally different story between him and alex. Maybe he is thinking that he is right and we are all wrong... I do not know. But do really hope that he will come back to Christ once again.
God, have mercy on us!

Learning to love from "Come Back, Barbara!"

Updates for the past two weeks

I have been going out almost every night for the past two weeks. Here are the updates:
23/ 7 - Went for prayer meeting
24/ 7 - Had buffet dinner at Tao restaurant with MH and Edward in Auto City
25/ 7 - Young Adult Fellowship in Church
26/ 7 - Watched Red Cliff in Queensbay with MingSheng, MH, Moses and Edward (I dont understand the story line, Arrrggghhh.)
27/ 7 - Dinner out with my family
28/7 - Attended college Odyssey Nite
29/7 - Meeting college friend, Zenas, who came back from China at Starbucks
30/7 - Prayer meeting in church
31/7 - Finally the only one night that stayed at home instead of attending meeting in Joseph's house.
1/8 - Young Adult Fellowship in Alex's house
2/8 - Dinner at Bali Hai with MH's family
3/8 - Captain ball and dinner out nearby youth park
AND finally 4/8 - Ermm...not sure yet. Maybe going to buy sport shoes for myself???

~~ few jokes for the day~~

All about Ah Beng. Enjoy!!

Ah Beng : Doctor, in my dreams, I play football every night.
DR: Take this tablet, you will be ok.
Ah Beng : Can I take tomorrow, tonight is final game

Ah Beng : People consider me as a "GOD"
Wife: How do you know??
Ah Beng : When I went to the Park today, everybody said,Oh GOD! U have come again

Ah Beng comes back 2 his car & find a note saying "Parking Fine"
He Writes a note and sticks it to a pole "Thanks for compliment."

Once Ah Beng was walking he had a glove on one hand and not on other.
So the man asked him why he did so.
He replied that the weather forecast announced that on one hand it would be cold and on the other hand it wouldbe hot.

A man asked Ah Beng why Ahmad Badawi goes walking in the Evening and not in the morning Ah Beng replied Ahmad Badawi is PM not AM

Distorted Message on the Parable of Ten Virgins

A pastor from Taiwan preached a sermon on the parable of Ten Virgin. Instead of explaining about the truth of this parable he distorted the meaning of this passage. The passage warns Christians to keep alert because we do not know the day or the hour when Christ is coming again. Thus, we should be well prepared for this Groom (Christ). However, this pastor distorted the meaning of the oil in the parable as gold dust. He was selecting only the 'oil' to create his own doctrine on 'gold dust'. He claimed that gold dust is the latest trend God used to revive the church. Thus, we should act like the wise virgin keep asking for gold dust for revival! What???!! O_o
Maybe I do not really do much research on the growth of charismatic movement but this is the first time i heard on this kind of philosophy. The most ridiculous thing is the question on why we need the gold dust. If I am not mistaken, according to chinese tradition the groom will need to pay the bride an amount of money before they got married and this is called “聘金". The so-called pastor answered that we need gold dust because since Christ is coming to marry the bride (Church) surely the groom needs to give the bride the gold dust as the "聘金". If not, how can they get married?
Huh!!??? Boink!
This kind of explanation really surprised me!! How can people still believe on this nonsense sermon which distorted the whole passage?

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I(Jesus) will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Grrrrhhhh....

Grrhhhh....I dont like the feeling that I am having right now. I just feel moody and dont really know how to describe the complete feeling. Everything looks so gray and I just dont feel like doing anything. No working, no talking, no smiling, no walking here and there. It would be great if I can jump into a pool right now to have an exhaustive swim before taking a good meal.
Boo! day dreaming...

Lil Question on Atonement

Am pondering on the question on atonement.
I was reading a mandarin christian book on atonement and it strucked me that the writer explained that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is not for everyone in the world but to the selected people who have been predestined to be saved even before the world being created.
All this while I have been believing that John3:16 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life' proves that Christ's death as atonement is for everyone in the world. However, I came to understand that this verse is actually continued by saying that the salvation is for those who believe. After understand a little bit more on the doctrine of predestination we came to understand more on God's authority. Christians have been called by name before the world began. Thus, it is logical that the atonement for sins is only meant for christians but not everyone. Our sins will be cleansed when God forgive our trespasses. If the atonement is for un-predestined human as well then it is useless for us to commit our sins as it will be forgiven regardless on whether we admit we are sinners or not!! sweat!!

Books On-Demand...

Suddenly interested in finding biblical christian books. I have been getting information on a handy of good books recently and am planning to buy them some time soon to fill up my bookshelves. In fact, my bookshelves are all full with christian books, photo albums, a few stacks of sermon notes, seminar booklets and a few bibles and commentaries. Will need some arrangements to free up the space.
Here is the list of books that I am planning to buy:

1. God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
2. Dont waste your Life by John Piper
3. In My Place Condemned He Stood by Bob Lauflin
4. By Design: God's Distinctive Calling for Women by Susan Hunt
5. According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy

Hahaa...anyone interested in buying for me?

A Visit to the doctor

I went to a clinic after work yesterday. Initially was thinking of consulting Dr. Koay who is specialised in sports injuries but the clinic was closed when i reached there. I then directed to the clinic a few shops away to consult this Dr. Ko Ko Win. As weird as the name might sound, the doctor only said four sentences and expected me to pay him RM30. The first thing he questioned:" What happened to you?". I answered:" I am having lower back pain". "Where is the pain, centre or side?". "Center", I replied. The third sentence was " Do you have gastric pain?" and the last sentence was "Ok, i will prescribe to you two types of medicines." *sweat*
He paused for a long period of time and expecting me to just walk out and pay the RM30. Unsatisfied with this kind of consultation i was hesitated to go off so I continued by asking him for a few more questions for him to explain in more details before heading off to get my medicines.
Doubting on his expertise, I then searched the world wide web to get some information on the drugs he prescribed. The anticid is actually to protect the stomach, so nothing much to say about it. The other drug that he prescribed was Voltaren. This drug is NSAID drug to relieve inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain which comes with many side effects. More common side effects are abdominal bleeding, abnorminal pain or cramps, swelling, anemia, blood clotting problems, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, fluid retention, headache, heartburn, peptic ulcers, rash, vomiting and so forth. With this kind of information given, I would prefer to let it cure naturally with some oilments instead of taking this drug. At the end of the day, it's a waste of RM30 to learn some information on the drug prescribed.

Family Doctor Dot Org

Just browsing through internet and came to this page where you can diagnose your medical problems by going through a whole lot of questions on the symptoms.
Below is the list of questions I went through to diagnose the problem on my lower back pain.
Question 1: Did the pain begin after lifting heavy stuffs or due to injury?
Answer : Yes
Question 2: Do you feel numbness or pain extending to the legs?
Answer: Yes
The Diagnosis is " You may have suffered from Herniated Disk!!" O_o

Herniated Disk happened when a disk between two bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone. It is usually happened on the lumbar spines

What can be done to diminish the pain?
The common conservative treatment is to rest and followed by slow mobilisation. Taking pain medication, chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation or physical therapy might diminish the pain. If the symptoms exist, surgery might be needed to decompress the nerve.

SPRAIN...

What a bad day yesterday. As usual I went to church in the morning for Sunday service. But who knows I sprained my back even before the sunday service started. It happened in an ordinary way and without much actions to be described. Can't deny that I am getting old now!! I just bent forward. That's it. My back started to feel the pain and both the back of my legs started to feel numb. I then applied the medication plaster bought from the supermarket downstairs. But unfortunately until now the pain still have not subside after one day. I might go to consult a doctor after work today if it is still painful.
Some people told me to go to the traditional chinese massage but somehow I feel it is a bit risky to try out... coz I never try before and not sure if it really works...

Am I Looking younger than my actual age?

Haha...yesterday my colleague was asking how old am I. She is 20 years old and she thought that I am younger than her....can you imagine?? hahaha... I am not sure if she looks more mature than her actual age or I look more kiddie than my age. But somehow I am happy to hear such a comment that I still look young....as long as what she meant was my outlook instead of my thinking and mindset.

Indonesian Layer Cake ( Specot / Spekkoek)

I used to bake layer cake a few times last time as it is one of my favourite food. If you do not know what is Indonesian layer cake, here it is.

The ingredients are as below

450g butter
275g fine castor sugar
1tsp vanilla essence
1tbsp brandy
20 egg yolks
10 egg whites
85g fine castor sugar
225g superfine flour
½ tsp baking powder
2 ½ tsp mixed spices

1. Line and grease the base of a 23cm (square) loose-bottomed tin. Preheat oven to 180 C.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and mixed spices into a bowl then divide into three equal portions.
3. Beat egg yolks until creamy with a hand-held electric mixer.
4. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light. Add brandy and continue to cream until fluffy.
5 Fold in sifted dry ingredients in three batches, one-third at a time. Mix well with a metal spoon.
6. Whisk egg whites with sugar until stiff. Fold meringue into the creamed mixture until well-combined.
7. Spoon 4 tablespoons mixture into prepared tin and spread evenly. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or till golden brown. Remove cake tin from oven and turn off the oven. Heat up the grill.
8.Brush each layer of the cake with a little melted butter. Use a skewer to prick the bubbles on the surface of the cake then press lightly with the flat bottom of a glass container. Continue in this manner until all the batter is used up.
9. Spoon 3 tablespoons of mixture over the first layer and spread evenly. Grill at 220 Celsius for 2 to 3 minutes or till brown. Repeat layer after layer till all the mixture is used up.
10. For the final layer, preheat oven at 150 Celsius and bake the entire cake for about 20minutes or until golden brown.
11. Leave cake in tin for a while before turning out onto a wire rack to cook. Cut the cake only when it is completely cooked.

Please take not that the cake will turn out beautifully only in an oven with two elements- a bottom heating element and a grill element. The flavours will also be enhanced after one or two days.

Try it out if you like to eat layer cake and tell me the result!! Cheers...

Benefits of memorizing scripture

The book 'Desiring God' by John Piper encourages christians to memorize scriptures.
Benefits as below:

1. Comformity to Christ
Bible memorization will make our gaze on Jesus to be steadier and clearer. As 1Sam3:21 said "The Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of God".

2. For our daily triumph over Sin
Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart that i might not sin against you. The one piece of armor used to kill is also 'the sword of the Spirit' which is the word of God. Eph6:17.

3. Daily Trimph over Satan
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to fight.

4. To comfort and counsel people whom you love
" A word fitly spolen is like apples of the gold in a setting of silver" Proverbs 25:11.
Blessing will flow from our mouth if we have the heart full of God's love and mind full of God's word.

5. Communicating gospel to the unbelievers
Gospel sums up of God's holiness/ law/ glory, man's sin/rebellion/disobedience, Christ's death for sinners and free gift of life by faith. If we are able to learn a verse or two on each of these we would be ready in season or out of season to share it with the people around.

6. Communion with God in enjoyment of His person and ways
Storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to Him as He really is.

First Day Working

Today is the first day working in internet lab. It is a temporary job actually. The job itself is super extremely easy as I just need to make sure the students coming into the internet lab are with proper attire. That's it.
I have plenty of time here browsing the internet while enjoying my personal time doing watever things I like. A bit boring but I think this is what I want for the moment in time to slow down the pace and to reflect back on how God has been leading me thus far.
The only thing that I feel unease is about the people here. The first impression I got was not so good. Maybe I am too naive to think that only those in factories will have the so called politics where people stabbing and fighting for their own benefit.

Bible verse for the day
Matthew 6:19-21
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Signing off soon

After much consideration on the current job scope, finally i had made up my mind to resign from this job. Had already submitted my resignation letter and going to resign on 1st July. It was a hard decision to make as I just worked in this factory for 1 year + and people are treating me very well. The only thing that chase me away are the super overloaded tasks + crazy budgetting.

I thank God for this experience that I have to be a purchaser/ material planner in this factory. I believed I had learned a lot not only in terms of buying vege free shallots but experiencing the pressures and tensions to work in a factory environment. It is common to see people deceiving others in order to cover up their own mistakes, stepping others back to make them look better, gossiping during breaktime and lunch as entertainment in this boring army-like factory.

All these experiences for sure will help me in my future not only on how to deal when faacing similar situation but more on understanding on the sinful desires of people during this end time and also be able to understand and encourage those who have the same experience as I had.

Overwhelmed by tiredness...

I feel so tired today. Couldnt manage to wake up on time to work this morning. Alarm rings! I opened my eyes, press a button on my mobile and continue my dream. I slept until suddenly i heard mom calling my name. I opened my eyes again, look at my mobile again and opps.... it's already 7am. I then jumped out from my bed and get myself prepared as soon as possible before heading to work. Although I overslept but yippy! I managed to reach company on time. I did not feel sleepy the whole day today coz lots of issues and piles of stuffs waiting for me to clear. Also thanks to my energy booster, Nescafe, to make me awake for the whole day. But after coming back from work I am like a dead fish just feel like curling myself under the comfortable quilt and have a good night sleep.
Anyway, good nite!

Story of ZongZi

Yesterday was the day for Chinese to eat Zongzi. Eating Zongzi is a festival to honour Qu Yuan, a pioneer poet of ancient China. According to the older generation Qu Yuan was a famous poet who concerned a lot about his country. Unfortunately, with his love to the country it aroused the jeolousy of the King and subsequently been banished to a remote area. Due to his disappointment towards the government he committed suicide in Miluo river. The Chinese back then felt sad over the loss of this poet. They searched around the rive in hope of finding the deceased body and at the same time throwing Zongzi in the river in order to keep the fishes from eating Qu Yuan's body.
There are a few types of Zongzi nowadays with different tastes. I would prefer the yellowish glutionous rice which to be tasted together with brown sugar than the original 'bahchang' which wrapped with glutionous rice, meat, egg yolk, mushrooms and etc. But somehow, the glutionous rice is very filling and the best way is to be accompanied by chinese tea... I do not have any recipe here to share coz I dun really enjoy much Zongzi. You can go google if you like to make your own zongzi... it's fun and not that difficult to make.

Thought of Life I

It has been months since Alex admitted into hospital. I am sure it is a long journey for him to go through and there will be a lot of tough time where he needs to walk thru himself. Imagine a small but active tumor is able to intrude into your bone and even to the nerves to make an energetic person lying on the bed. The memory of him playing captain ball together with us, and even being the captain of our church team is still fresh in my memory. Although we just came to know this guy not long ago, maybe a year or two ago? He is a very independent person who likes to do things his own (only my opinion, might be wrong). He was not a Christian back then when he first came to our church. He was kind of like trusting in himself and was a workaholic. But somehow, thank God for His gracious love to this brother that he converted during his fight with the spinal tumor. His life has been changing since he became a Christian. We can clearly see how God has been working in this brother that he has been such an encouraging to us who are around him. Brother, keep shining for Christ and never lose hope in Jesus who saves us by his blood.

Our YAF in the Mount Mariam

No doubt God has taught him a lesson through this sickness but never forget that we around him have been learned quite a fair bit too. For me personally, I am once again being reminded on the importance of life and never to waste our time in the not-important tasks which we thought is important. Everyone of us has a life to live out. It depends on how we want it to be shined.

Some people chasing after the wind for the whole life hoping to get rich only to find out that he has nothing else but the money to accompany him to sleep.
Some play very hard during young age only to find out that they are sticking with untreatable sickness during their old age.
Some live out a life as simple and ordinary only to find out that life is so meaningless at the end of the life time.

What then is a meaningful life? What then is a life that a person will not regret during his last breathe?
The only reason to live is to know and have relationship with The One that created us and to know the purpose and meaning of living realizing that we are mists that appear a little while and vanishes away.

Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life.

Where should our burdens go?

Cast your burdens unto Jesus, He cares for you
Cast your burdens unto Jesus, He cares for you...

A Reflection on Narnia

Watched Chronicles of Narnia today. It was a nice movie with lots of hidden teachings I would say. Still need more time to digest on the message C.S. Lewis going to bring out.

Personally, this movie had reminded me on the love of God and the undescribable comfort we are enjoying under God's protection. There is one part of the movie where Lucy was riding the horse in the jungle alone looking for Aslan while there were soldiers coming after her to strike her off. I can imagine the comfort and peace she experience when she was helpless after falling down from her horse and at that moment in time the savior appeared to save her from the danger. When I saw Lucy running over to Aslan hugging him and overjoyed under the protection of Aslan, it stikes to my heart that why dont I enjoy the peace and joy in God as well? Frankly, I admit that the current job has been so consuming that I hardly have much time to reflect on God's word. No doubt the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I will almost be like a dead fish by the time I reached home from work and there is nothing that I wish to do except to curl myself up on my super comfort bed. This lifestyle has been ruining my life. But, why? Why I am reluctant to let go of all these things, enjoying myself under God's rule?

" I knew it's you. The whole time I knew it is you." said Lucy firmly. " And they dont believe me!"

" And why would that stop you from coming to me?" Aslan questioned.

I believe this would be the question that God is going to ask me as well... Why would that stop me from coming to Him? What is the thing that stop me? I think it's faith itself. I have no faith that God is gonna hold me when I fall. It is like you are not going to sit down if you are not sure that there is a chair beneath to support you.


A good verse to be always remembered when we stumble...

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Addicted to Blogging

I realised that I am kind of addicting to blogging although this is the first blog I am writting in this page. I owned another blogspot together with Moh Herng but thought that I might have my own blog to rant my frustration.
This would be my personal space to write about my personal things, thoughts and also about the people and incidents happening around me.
Do stay tune for more updates soon.

Off to bed now!!