7x7

I discovered 7x7 on the All About Android show and have been playing it non-stop since then. It has a clean, beautiful design. Kind of reminds me of letterpress for iOS.

Start screen

I have a game going on already so you see the resume game option at the top. This is the start screen, you can resume your last game or start a new one or go through a one page tutorial on how to play. 

New game screen

When you start a new game, there will be three blocks on the 7x7 grid and you move one of the blocks around to start the game. Once that is done, the three blocks in the up next area will be randomly placed on the 7x7 grid. Your job is to move the blocks of the same colour and match up to 4 of them vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Match 40 lines to get to the next level. 

I won't go into great detail explaining game play but it's a very challenging game. However once you play a few rounds you get the hang of it. Watch out though, it can get very addicting. 

I only managed to score 10,672

7x7 is available for Android 4.0 and above and is very well done. I love it because it runs smoothly on my low end Xperia Sola. Highly recommended. Great job Kiip Inc.

-ONWARD!

100 things

1. Time spent waiting is not always time wasted.
2. Be happy for the happy things in the lives of others. Don't fall into the trap of feeling sorry for yourself.
3. Find something that makes you happy and do that.
4. Delay is not denial.
5. First to start does not mean first to finish.
6. Be hopeful in all things. Don't ever lose that.
7. Do whatever it takes to live at peace with yourself.
8. Don't be proud. And watch out for pride in your life. Sometimes it's very subtle.
9. Be content with little but dream big.
10. Learn to live with little or much.
11. Make big plans.
12. Don't let disappointments stop you from doing something you've always wanted.
13. Love with all your heart.
14. Live with few regrets.
15. Live in the present.
16. In every break up, it's not any one person's fault. It never is.
17. Learn to heal from break ups.
18. Face your problems or they'll keep coming.
19. Fear God.
20. Be afraid of the man or woman who doesn't believe in anything.
21. Stand up for yourself.
22. Be nice but don't be too nice.
23. Play an instrument.
24. Think for yourself. Don't just follow others.
25. There's never a good reason to be unkind.
26. Forgive quickly.
27. Hold no grudges.
28. Try something new once in a while.
29. Travel.
30. Have good friends.
31. Read books. The bible is a great book.
32. Don't take your family for granted. They're all you've got.
33. Honour your parents.
34. Don't be greedy. It's disgusting.
35. Take care of your body. Don't wait until you're sick or old.
36. Resist the pressure to quit. In your lowest moments, those small victories will count.
37. Don't smoke.
38. Live for something.
39. Learn to communicate. It's the same as talking.
40. Learn another language.
41. Learn to cook. 
42. Play sports.
43. Don't live in debt.
44. Remember people's names.
45. Finish what you start.
46. Keep a journal. 
47. Be willing to change.
48. Learn to swim. About 70 per cent of the earth is water.
49. In an argument, be the first to apologize.
50. Call your mom.
51. Make time to be still and quiet.
52. Don't compare yourself with others. You're one of a kind.
53. Don't waste food.
54. Think good thoughts. You are what you think.
55. Don't give up on people.
56. Don't take advantage of people. It's cruel.
57. Learn a few clean jokes.
58. Give thanks for your food.
59. At least once a year, take time out to look back at your life.
60. Learn from people's mistakes.
61. Stand against injustice every where you see it.
62. Be careful with money.
63. Practice moderation in all things.
64. Don't let yourself fall into depression. Fight it, it's not fun.
65. Learn to listen.
66. Don't be a slave to technology. It's there for your convenience. 
67. Don't live above your means.
68. Learn to appreciate different cultures and traditions while staying true to yours.
69. Everyone is important but no one is indispensable.
70. You have to be okay with people coming into your life and some leaving.
71. You can't please everyone, so don't even try.
72. Say what you mean and mean it.
73. Learn to say no.
74. There's a quote for everything. Don't believe everything you read.
75. Be aware of the world around you.
76. Don't isolate yourself.
77. Regardless of your current temperament, remember that they are not fixed.
78. Be the best you can be.
79. Don't over-think things. Think simple.
80. Never respond in anger. Words are powerful.
81. Listen to that inner voice, especially when you find you always regret it when you don't.
82. Be a good friend.
83. Once in a while, take a leap of faith.
84. Believe in yourself. Sometimes you're your only fan.
85. Do the right thing, even if it means standing alone.
86. Say thank you a lot.
87. Practice empathy.
88. Always count on God.
89. Remember the good times, learn from the bad times.
90. Volunteer.
91. Laugh from the heart.
92. Be teachable.
93. Never give up on your dreams.
94. Don't count yourself out.
95. Believe in miracles.
96. Be a good leader. 
97. Be a good follower.
98. It's ok to dream, just remember to wake up.
99. Time flies, live with no regrets.
100. Let go.

Felt I needed to write these.

-ONWARD!

bigger than your missteps

Something to share. I had a book, can't remember the exact name but it's something like dumb things christians believe. It goes through a lot of topics and one of them is about our purpose. We all have a purpose from God to achieve here on earth. And at certain critical points in our lives we are told to seek God's will. For who to get married to, where to work, what to study... stuff like that.

I just started reading another book for lifegroup and this topic comes up again. The short version is this: while we all have a purpose from God, it's not like if you make the wrong choice at some point in your life, then that's it. Tough luck. You missed it. I share the author's opinion that God is bigger than our mistakes. He wouldn't be almighty if he couldn't work through our missteps. He will fulfill his purposes regardless.

Oh the book I had? I lent it to a friend and he never returned it. Reminds me of something I read in life's little instruction book: "Only lend books you never care to see again". I break this rule every time because I trust people.

-ONWARD!

thoughts on the fellowship of the ring

I just finished reading Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring. It took me a while to get through. Not because of the sheer size of the content (531 pages), but also the use of older English by Tolkien as well as other languages of middle earth. I have now come to appreciate the job Peter Jackson did with directing the movie, condensing it to a little under 3 hours depending on the version you watch. And while I may not agree with the content he decided to leave out, I appreciate the work.

It's a great book, the first of the trilogy but the second book in the story, after the Hobbit. It was only after finishing the book and looking back at the story in a big picture perspective that some of the themes became apparent. So I'll like to share a bit of what I got in as general terms as I can possibly make it.

Chance
What may seem to be chance may turn out to be after all  Was it chance that the ring came to Frodo? Or to Bilbo before him? Was it chance that it was discovered by Gandolf when he did? I don't like to think so, for what may look like chance may actually be deliberate. We do not always see that invisible hands at work in and through ordinary things.

Resistance
All through the journey to destroy the ring, where was resistance. Everyone linked to the destruction or the Fellowship has some form of encounter with the enemy. Their enemies are fearsome and terrible, never relenting in their pursuit, always a few ways behind bringing destruction with them. Their aim, to destroy all that is good. But the enemy is afraid. Afraid of what a few weaklings with courage would do.

Disappointment
No one expected that a member of the Fellowship would be lost to the mines of Moria. Not least of all the leader of the fellowship. His loss brought great grief to everyone as most losses do. Most of all to Frodo, the young bearer of great trust and hope. To him he was not just the leader of the fellowship but a guardian and a voice of wisdom. Even a dear friend. However if we must grow from where we are, we cannot rely solely on man, or even wizard.

Help
All through their journey they came across friends who aided them one way or another. Whether with shelter and supplies or a brief respite from the trouble of the world, a quiet place to rest and renew strength. There were a lot of forces working against them and a lot of forces working for them. This was very encouraging.

Separation
All faith is tested. And only through testing that the true nature of things are reveals. Through testing, the true nature of the hearts of men were revealed. The ring is treacherous and will amplify the desires of the heart, laying them bare so that sheer act of will is no longer enough to suppress it. With testing came separation when a divergence of purpose was apparent. Everyone must choose the path they want to walk in and the part they must play.

Determination
This journey is a lonely one. Frodo had Sam as his companion yet for each of our journeys, we may not be fortunate to have a companion, least of all one like Sam. We may have to walk alone but we are not alone, far from it. Only with courage and perseverance can we accomplish our task. For frodo it was the destruction of the ring, but we all have our task, different, and yet the same.

Now I can't decide whether to read the Hobbit next or the Two Towers. The last time I check in Popular bookstore I could not find the Hobbit but found a Lord of the Rings book with all three books in one thick book and was tempted to get it.

-ONWARD!

joy is a gift

Found this on an old notebook. It's from odb.

While we acknowledge that not everyone is blessed with a bright outlook on life, we need to remember that Joy is one of the gifts Jesus promises to his followers. And we need to resist any tendency to let sadness dominate our emotional lives.

Our lives, my life, can be a roller-coaster of emotions. There are seasons of highs and times of lows. And there are times when it seems like it's overwhelming. In the low times, more importantly in the very low times, one thing I always remind myself is a simple truth. God is good. It's so simple but yet so powerful, it can change your outlook. God is good and he is good to me. Me particularly. So while it may seem like nothing is happening to me, I don't want to be moved by what I see. I know that my time will come, but for now, I shall rejoice with those that rejoice, and mourn with those that mourn.

After the Floods in Noah's time, God promised that springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night will not cease, as long as the earth remains.

-ONWARD!