Singapore Trip

It was during last month's airfare sales that mother decided she wanted to go to Singapore to visit my auntie and family. And she insisted that I shall accompany her there. Thus, I checked the flight online and managed to get very cheap flight tickets for direct Pg-Sg flight to Singapore. And on 6th-9th June, mom, me, another auntie and her son visited Singapore after much hesitation due to the outbreak of A(H1N1) virus.

It was not really a holiday trip but rather to visit my uncle who got stroke not long after our wedding. Though it was more of sisters catching-up reunion, we still managed to spend some time visiting a few tourist spots in Singapore. The Singapore Flyer (claimed to be the world's largest observation wheel), the Jurong bird park and the science centre are among some of the places we visited. As one of my aunties is looking for branded bags like LV, Burberry or Coach, we went for shopping in a few departmental stores too.

Share with you some of the pics we took at the Singapore Flyer.

Me and Mom

The SISTERS

Some of us getting a little bit excited

All of us on the highest point in Singapore maybe...

Can you see the DURIANS?

The view

The Future Casino

Stress, stress, stress...

Ten more days before the examination takes place. I am actually quite stressed up with this upcoming entry test. There is no format given, no scope given except it's bible knowledge, no hints on whether it would be T&F, multiple choices, short essays, fill in the blanks or long essays.

To make things worse, the test will be carried out in mandarin. With my limited vocabs in mandarin, there is no different whether it would be typing or hand-writing. If it is typing, I would definitely spend a lot of time in spelling my pinyin. If it is hand written, I would then spend a lot of time pondering on how to write those words out.

I am in fact ready to accept the reality even if I fail this test. But still... I am stressed up!

On Having Children

It is so natural that friends start asking when we are going to have our own kids after we got married. And normally, I do not know how to answer. In fact, I am torn when it comes to having our own children. There are times when I'm broody. That would come when I see a cute baby in a stroller, a family of four taking dinner together, or a little boy playing soccer with his dad. That was the time my maternal instinct came so strong that I would feel a surge of longing for our own kid.

But there are a lot more times where I dont want children. When they are screaming, yelling, crying and fretting for goodness-knows-what. I got annoyed very easily by that. See, for me, I dont know what to do with kids. I dont have a single idea how to make them occupied or make them laugh. I would just look at them and go " Err.. what do you want me to do?" My husband's great with kids. He knows how to play with them and make them laugh. He knows how to communicate with them even though he doesnt have any clue of the baby talk. He is good in using different approaches to discipline the kids.

Having said that, I am not totally resist from having children. Knowing that there are a lot of couples hunger for their own kids but unable to have. In the contrary, there are much people who play a fool and ended up with the 'unwanted' kids. I would be grateful to have our own kids. But as for now, due to much uncertainties that we are facing, I guess it's not the right timing yet. However, we would happily accept whatever that comes knowing that there is nothing which is out of control.

我的信主見證

出生在一个虔诚佛教的家庭使我没机会认识那全能的真神。我的祖父是一家寺庙的创办人，而我父亲也积极的参于寺庙里的大小事务。因此顺理成章的，自小我就盲目的去敬拜这些偶像。在就读小学时，我什至报读了本地的一所佛教学校。这些背景使到我无形中认识到许多关于佛教的事情，但同时也阻止了我有机会去认识那独一的真神。与此同时，在这些年来，我察觉到在我周围的人都惧怕死亡。这种现像也促使我开始思考有关生命的课题。我死后将往哪里去？我为什么活在这世界上？我活着的人生目标是什么？我活着是否就为了要成为一个“好人”,以至死后可以投胎转世再成为人？若是如此，不断地轮回转世又为了什么？我在我父母的宗教里无法找到真正的答案。

是上帝的恩典让我在中学时期有机会认识他。当我十五岁那年，我父母开始参加某教会的主日崇拜。那是我人生第一次参加教会聚会。话虽如此，教会对我来说也只不过是一个让我学习唱歌和与同龄朋友交流的地方。那时候，我根本不觉得上帝与我是有关系的。一些年日后，我父母也不再参加教会聚会，而我也因此停止了。无论如何，关于生命的问题还是不间断的缠绕着我的心思。每当听到有人逝世时，我总是感到无奈与惧怕。

经过大约两年的思索，感谢神，因他终于回答了我的问题。我认识了一位基督徒的朋友，他邀请我参加了学院里的基督教团契。我参加基督教团契的目的，是希望得到纠缠了我许久那问题的答案。我在每周的查经班里开始一点一滴的认识了耶稣，认识了生命的意义。直到我参加了该基督教团契所主办那命名为“突破”（Breakthrough）的营会时，我真正的突破对死亡的恐惧，清楚知道死后的去处。我开始理解人活着的意义，也明白人需要透过耶稣基督重新建立与神和谐的关系。这一切皆从我承认我是一个罪人和我需要耶稣基督的赎罪与救赎而开始。正如约翰福音14章6节所说的，耶稣说：“我就是道路、真理、生命；若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去。”

这就是我如何在神的恩典与怜悯被重生的经历。从那刻起，我的生命就开始不断的更新，按照圣经的教导，学习更像耶稣基督的样式。

Loss and Gain

What am I going to do for the next few years? That's the question that has been keeping my brain working for the past few months. In fact, I have been cracking my head for a while and finally came out with a few good ideas. Immediately I started to analyse the pros and cons of those ideas that I have came out with and even started writing down in a proper plan with the so-called SWOT analysis in management term.

However, as soon as I pressed the 'go' button, things came unexpectedly. Someone called me up for a different offer... That's when I pull myself back a bit to think if my idea is workable. And immediately the next morning, an email flown to my husband's inbox urging me to take up another option which would benefit our future ministry tremendously. Things did not stop it here. At that particular night, an email article came straight hitting me to the face on my ignorance to the calling. In reality, I am so kia-su that I dont dare to take up the challenge. However, that article has shown me the path that I should take in leading me to where I should be in the future. Minutes after reading the article, another email came in the inbox asking me to seriously consider of taking up the challenge.

I seriously know that taking up the challenge would be the best option. In fact, that's what I hope to do as well. But there are still many things that's worrying me despite it being the best option among all. After much discussion with hubz, we finally mutually agreed on taking up the challenge and supporting each other along the way...

And the decision is only the beginning of this path. we foreseen gazillion of problems and decisions are waiting for us along the way.

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!

Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!

Our salvation hath procured, Alleluia!

Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!

Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!

Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!

Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

Translating...

Due to some reasons I would need to translate my english version of resume into mandarin version. Mind you, not only to simplified chinese but to traditional chinese. What a painful experience I had! It took me 2 days just to complete the translation with the help of google translate. However, through this task I manage to learn more proper chinese sentences which is kind of different from the way we speak to each other.

Really hope that my effort will not be in vain but would produce some results in the days to come...

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!!