MMIX

2008 is gone, its a new year. Frankly the last year just breezed by. There was little or no time to stop and be quiet and reflect and i didnt like that. I remember complaining because of all the things i had to do especially in school but as i look back, i see that thats pretty much how my life has been and i can take being busy with a lot of stuff but its not something i look forward to.

In all the busyness there were times when i lost focus on what is really important, and concentrated on the work to be done. The thing with doing God's work is that there's always a reward but we can easily lose it if we have the wrong attitude.

So MMVIII was a good year, yeah i can say through everything that happened it was a really good year but its gone now and another one is upon us. I'm not one to make resolutions because i don't usually keep them but this year i think i want to do things differently, take more risks in life. I've been reading books and pastor confirmed it with his message a few weeks ago. I also want to build my relationship with my family especially my dad. I know that one of the things i wanted to do last year but lost sight of it and just didn't put enough effort into it. I definitely want to leave my past failings behind and move on. I would also want to draw closer to God in prayer and studying his word and to make a habit of waking up early and going to bed early as well.

God bless you :)
~shalom~

noel noel

I suppose merry christmas is in order. Christmas time is always a special time. Its a good time to reflect, to stop and take it all in. Sometimes i wish there was a place i could go just to get away from people and be by myself and do just that but the older i get the more difficult it is to find that quiet place to reflect and think.

This year has been really eventful, but instead of thinking of all the things that went wrong, maybe its time we try looking at all the things that went right. God has been faithful, we're still here. There are a lot of people who didnt make it to 2008, or even today for that matter thats something to be grateful for. God has been there through all the hard times and through exams and planning for events, providing a way, even at times when its like why are I doing this? He has always provided strength for the journey. 

I really want to thank God for my family, they have been great and even though i could be a better son and brother they have always been there for me, i miss them so much. And for my mom... my friend said once that she must be very strong not seeing her son for so long and i know she's strong but i just want to see her again, just hang out with her, be her driver or something... i wish i could cook so i can make a meal for her. But she likes her cold cup of water after a long day, i guess i could do that. And my dad, even though i don't talk much about him and we don't talk much to each other, i must say he's been a blessing to me and i thank God for protecting him from all his travels and continuing to shine his grace upon him. I know one day he will bow his knees and willingly worship God. I know it. 

At this time when everyone else will be having family dinners and going out with friends and spending quality time, at this very special time of gift giving and song singing remember to give thanks for its been a rollercoster of a year for many of us and its worth spending some time to give thanks because you have today and you're still here and at this moment thats all that matters. 

Have a blessed christmas from me :)

~shalom~

happiness

We came back from camp on monday and a lot was said and shared. There are times when i don't really feel like going to another camp because of the sheer number of camps i've been to and everytime its something new. God speaks to you in a different way, with different things and a lot of reminders to continue to do the things we have stopped doing or are not doing as much of like studying the bible, not just reading it, making a difference in the place we are, being the influence instead of being influenced and having and knowing our place in God's kingdom.

Its really timely all these things happening now. I guess thats the best thing about God's timing, He knows when to bring what and how you will respond to it. If all these came a while back i wouldn't have been paying attention but now is a good time and I really thank God.

Its good coming back to kuching. This is where i grew up i guess and meeting everyone i know and some of those i don't know all that well, seeing how they have continued to remain faithful with the things they are doing and this community of people, my brothers and sisters. I must confess i almost didn't come back because there are things i wanted to do with my break but thank God for boredom in miri that drove me away :) and mr suresh who wouldn't shut up about kuching. I felt like my time would be better spent here.

Looking ahead, i'm hopeful about 2009 it feels like a breath of fresh air, and that old cliche, a new beginning and i'm determined to make the most of my 2009. Start afresh and continue to grow in all the areas i need to and most importantly like Paul said forgetting what is behind and strive for what is ahead aka moving on. Bye baby :) this bro is going to MMIX in style, God willing.

~shalom~

vcf 9th anniversary

I think its nice to take some time and thank God for everything thats happened. I first want to thank God for Amanda for organising everyone and getting most of the stuff done. And Cheryl, Olly {happy birthday}, Ching Shen, Edric, Chipmunk, and everyone else i didnt mention. I know some had to put their personal work on hold just to make it. People i've not seen in a while like wee chuan. And those who had assignments but still came. 

Thank God for Oja for doing the video, i thought it was really good considering that the time and resources were short. I believe when you honor God He will honor you and nothing we do for God is a waste. I also want to thank miss Hannah for her help and ideas on what to present.

I'm really learning not to complain but to give thanks for everything. I want to apologise for the way things went. I know it could have been a lot smoother, a lot more glorifying to God and next time i think we'll do better. 

God bless you all for your effort. In the words of paul, be careful for nothing but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Puji Tuhan.

~shalom~

3rd year doing this blog thing

This is the 260th post i'm making on this blog and my 3rd year blogging here. I've been blogging a long time, since 2004 but my previous posts where elsewhere and i don't read them again.

I guess its worth stating why i blog again. Well the short answer is to keep in touch with my friends and let them know whats happening in my life. I've talked about this before and have asked you why you blog. Here are a few reasons some of you blog. They have been slightly edited but the full uncut reason are here in the comments.

I thought bout d very same thing b4 i started bloggin.Was skeptical bout it, thot tat its very fake. Bt i was touched n encouraged by some writings. They manifested God's love n it really spoke to me. So i started bloggin coz i wan to share what i'm goin thru n what God has done for me.Maybe it will encourage others s well. i mean how can we keep it to ourselves good things that He has done?...we can relate to others thru bloggin s well? hehe...well tats wat i think....:) {shellyn}

i blog for others esp my friends to see what's happening in my life and to keep contact with them.

And also, blogging keeps me thinking and helps me to improve my language. Lol~ i realise i read more once i started blogging, cuz i wanna improve my writing ma..indeed, i learnt a lot of new words =) {chris}

hahax...
i blog because it's fun..
let other noe wat's going on wif me...
and also,improve ma language!!! {yan hui}

Over time the look of the blog and the content has changed. A lot has happened over the years, and without recounted them i want to give thanks for everything.

I guess one challenge each time is to like shellyn said in one of her posts, to be real. Its very easy to pretend and make things up to spice up the blog and make it more interesting to read, get a lot of comments and boost your self confidence but i feel its sad if you need all those to boost your self confidence.

I don't do this for popularity, i don't do this for money, i do this because i love to and i need to express myself in words; the best way i know i can and yet have come to the realisation that sometimes words fail.

For the future, i hope to continue blogging, maybe host a blog myself. I've been thinking about it for a long time now but haven't made any concrete decisions yet but it will happen one day.

On a final note i would like to thank you all for also sharing your life for me to read and being part of this weird way of communicating ideas. It would be only one way if its just one person writing. Arigato Gozaimasu.

~shalom~
p.s. last years anniversary post is here.

VCF retreat camp 2007/2008

Hi, how are you? No Ben is not back, i borrowed my friend's computer to make this post. I so need a new computer but that is another post.

So VCF had her committee retreat camp this year at Imperial Hotel, it was just for one night but considering we got the presidential suite and only had to pay lima blas ringgit i think it was well worth it. The retreat camp is usually where the old committee have their postmortem report and also where they hand over to the new committee so its more of a planning meeting than anything else. We had two meetings almost consecutively to decide what we'll be doing for the next year and the next semester seeing that this sem is all but over.

I was seriously expecting to be really worn out at the end of the meetings but surprisingly was not too tired while there. Our meeting finished at about 1+ in the morning and then we had the revelation of the angel and their masters and then supper, watched tv for a while, talk talk and only get to sleep around 3 something but it was all good except some people stealing blankets and keeping it all to themselves. Actually i should say some person, he knows who he is.

Yeah, even though it was more of meetings we still had time to for one night forget about exams in two weeks time and have fun. And of course a lot of pictures were taken, and so i will let the pictures do the talking.


these two were acting gay all retreat.


yo yo yo, its o o ja


lip roll, don't even try it.


we had good food from pong's


meeting time


worship ministry.


behold the treasurer


behold the secretary


behold the former secretary


the vice secretary

We had meetings until quite late and then supper. After that i cou'dn't sleep anymore, ended up staying late until 3 somethings before i could sleep. We all felt the effect the next day.


breakfast

We had games after a sharing by Mr. Samuel. The games was really crazy but ended up in a splash.


pose with a stranger


buy underwear


act silly in front of kfc


punish the game master


kacao the former president


take a group photograph with the president hanging in the air, wearing underwear on top of his pants.


Like i said, it ended in a splash.

~shalom~

èr shí sān

Wow thats a cross. Yeah i'm 23 today and i know i'm old, don't rub it in. So much have changed in one year but in all, in everything i just want to thank God for his faithfulness, and his love. I know i certainly don't deserve anything good from You but You give it to me anyway. I still don't understand.

I remember birthdays celebrated at pizzahut, a surprise birthday organised by my friends back in kuching and a few i birthdays i totally didn't remember. For me its not a big deal if i don't celebrate, i'd rather be somewhere quiet and reflect on things.

Since i'm writing this on the 17th, i guess i can predict a few things, like my mom calling and wishing me a happy birthday, a few messages on friendster and facebook or even on this blog. Maybe some text messages and i'm not sure what koala bear and his accomplice are planning but they better not do anything.

A lot have happened, things i wish didnt happen but i'm glad they happened because through them i learn, i grew, i changed. I don't wish i can undo anything, i think things happen for a reason and we should learn to appreciate the bigger picture.

More responsibilities, places i've never been before, expectations and more pressure, but Lord help me not to run away and hide but to stand+fight, help me to be brave, and to rely on You in all things.

As for the future, i can only look to the past and see how God has come through for me, that gives me hope for the future to know that He has my best interest at heart. I don't know what to expect but i know its good.

Wishes?
Nothing grand, just that I want good grades. I want to do well in my studies. I want to be happy. I want to continue to follow Him.

Be careful for nothing but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding with guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

~shalom~

in 2008

Wow 2008. Like every year its full of hopes of things we would like to improve. In the beginning of this year I was not sure what to make of it. I was not sure where i would channel my strengths to and where God wants to lead me. It felt strange but I thank God for letting me know a bit of what He requires of me this year.

RELATIONSHIPS
Part of what we do at ICCTS is personal reflections and its nice to be able to do that and really articulate where you're heading, where you are now and how you're going to get there. So one day when I was doing just that I felt God wants me to build the relationships around me. Relationships with people, with my family especially with my dad. I must confess that I can get very preoccupied with my life here that communicating with them suffers. I need to make ever effort to talk to the man.

My relationship with God must be strong if i wish to grow this year. Last year was so-so but I can't afford this year to be just another one of those years where nothing happens.

Blessed to be a Blessing
If you have been to the condensed world missions course or the kairos course you would understand what this means. For me its a good reminder that Abraham's covenant covers me too. That when God promised to bless Abraham and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. He also says the same for me who through faith in Jesus are a partaker of the Abrahamic covenant. So for all the blessings I have been receiving all these years, i must always be looking for a way to channel it to bless someone else or some people else and who it is i cannot choose.

2008 is also a time of mindset change. I think in my life, there are a lot of things i hold on to or things i've allowed to hold on to me that are not suppose to be in my life. Some mindsets of how some things should be and all that.

Also I would like this blog to be a place of refuge. I know life is tough and its good to vent but i believe the children of God should not spend their time in mourning. Seasons change and well i'm reminded of the verse that says rejoice in the Lord and again i say rejoice. After all the joy of the Lord is our strength. And worship is not a feeling but a choice. :) So by God's grace there will be more encouraging posts here in the coming days and weeks and I hope months and years.

I would like to wish someone very special to me a happy birthday :D I can't believe you're already 21. Sorry cannot get a cake for you wo :(

~shalom~