Protected!

Wanted to share this testimony during cell group, but I just realised that there'll be no cell group meeting for the rest of this month, so I'm sharing it here. =)

My mum works in a travel agency, and just last month, she brought a tour group to New Delhi, India on 21st Oct, and returned in the morning of 29th Oct. In the same afternoon when my mum got back to Singapore, there was a terrorist attack in New Delhi! 3 bombs went off simultaneously, killing ~60 people and injuring many others.

Thank God for His protection over my mum! =) I can't imagine what would happen if her trip was extended one more day, or if this happened while she was still there.

I always pray for my mum when she goes abroad, and I will keep praying even more fervently now in this age of terrorism.

Praise the Lord, for He is good! =)

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. (Isa 54:17, NKJV)

Out of the Box

Was on the way back from service last friday, when my bro and I hit on the topic of computer games. I had (not-so) recently completed one of the best games ever made - Half-Life 2. Took me a couple of months (probably 4 months or so) to complete it. (Yes, I took that long...)

OKies, maybe I played twice every 2 weeks (alt weekends, both days), and I spend not more than 3 hrs each session. But it's still pretty long. I've known of some people who completed the game in 4 hrs?!? And I meant complete the game in normal difficulty.

My bro then gently remindered me why I always take so long to complete my games - I'm very persistent in doing things in a particular fashion, and often neglect, or don't even think about other ways of doing things. (Another reason is due to me being a perfectionist. I tend to replay parts over and over until I feel that I've got it right. =P)

And I would say he's quite right. I sometimes am so single-minded on a matter that, to me, there is only one way out. In such a case, there's only 2 possible outcomes, you make it, or you break it. That's why we have to keep thinking out of the box. When we do so, we create new possibilities for ourselves. One more possibility means one more door to success. Even if you've found a way to success, opening more doors could mean getting there in a shorter time!

I'm glad I'm not very often like that. As much as possible I keep an open mind, to listen, to learn and see how others do things, and see if I can apply these into my life. I do spend time each day just trying to think out of box, to think if I can do things a little different from the way things are done normally, and this has brought me great inspirations.

I guess we can learn from everything, even from playing games, and even if the lesson we learnt is not in the contents of the game itself, we can learn still something. So, be open to perceive and receive. Who know what you can learn!

Before I leave, I leave you this quote: "Doing the same thing over and over and trying to get different results each time is a sure sign of insanity."

True ain't it? =P

And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ' Seeing they may not see,And hearing they may not understand.'" (Luke 8:10, NKJV)

I'll Be Back... =P

My apologies, blogging's been temporarily suspended... Xp

Been really really busy lately cos new projects are coming in, so been having loads of meetings. And need to finish up my current project soon cos a brand new one's starting on Fri. (Been spending the rest of my non sleeping time on song writing. =p)

I've gotten a few articles on hand now, will flesh them out and then post them up here the moment I have the time to. =)

In the mean time, have a good day/week, I'll see you here as soon as I can. =)

God bless!

Thanks Ma!

Yesterday was my mum's birthday... =) She wasn't in Singapore, so thought I'll pen a little tribute to her. (She brought a group of tourists to India.)

My mum's easily the most important woman in my life.

Needless to say, she was the one who brought me here, for which I'm really thankful. I've lived so many good years because of her. But more than that, she was the one who nurtured me with constant love, and she still does.

When I was just a little toddler, my mum would literally chase me around to feed me. (My stroller was my sports car then, so my mum must have had very good exercise... =p) And at the end of it all, when I was down to my last mouthful, I'd vomit up *everything* that I tried to consume in the past hour or two. Must have really driven my mum up the wall...

A little older, my mum became my teacher. In fact, she'd cover my syllabus way before my teachers started on them, and would give me more assessments than my all teachers had put together. She'll give me little incentives when I did well, and made studying interesting for me. In fact, I was memorising multiplication tables when people were still adding, and if I didn't remember wrongly, I finished my whole year's worth of homework in my school holidays. =p This gave me an early head start in life - I started off well, and this momentum carried me through all of my studying years. It taught me that if you put your heart into it, doing well in your studies is not hard, and can be fun!

My mum used to bring me to the library once every three weeks or so when I was young, and we would borrow many many books home (24 at one go). This cultivated my interest in reading, and helped me build up on my language and reasoning skills from a young age. I had far less struggles with language than most people had, and it all boils down to this foundation that I had.

My mum also taught me discipline and responsibility as a young child. I always had harsher punishment than my siblings, although we did the same wrong things together, and I always felt that this was unfair. They would explain that I was more senior and should lead by example (which at that age was incomprehensible to me). I started taking responsibility for me and my sibling at a young age, and this was fundamental to the roles I played in leadership in later years.

My mum also taught me what love and sacrifice is (although I didn't quite understand it then). There would always be someone to wake me up early in the morning (she used to wake up at 530am), pack my school bag and prepare a hot breakfast for me which I would grudgingly eat. She'll prepare bread with kaya/butter/peanut butter for my recess break, and for a couple of months at least, I would throw the bread away and use my pocket money to buy snacks. I threw away her love, and it pains me now when I think of it.

Then I grew up, and I sort of mixed with the wrong company. There were a few years in my teenage years when I was a little defiant, but never once gave up on me. There were times when I did not love and cherish her as much as I should have, and times when I prized other girls above her, but she kept showering her love on me.

I remember when my first relationship failed, I was left in pieces. My mum even went out to try to help me out with that relationship. (Actually she made things worse, but she did it out of a good heart to protect me; No one could have saved that relationship then anyway.) My mum showed me there's still love at home, and my family would always be there to support me. She welcomed me back to her fold like a lost sheep that went wandering and decided to return home, and helped me pick up the pieces. It wasn't easy. I didn't like staying at home then, and I nearly totally left out my family out of my life. So much for being an example huh? (I have since repented. And my siblings, if you are reading this, I truly, honestly, sincerely love you guys!)

It's really amazing how much love a mother can have for a child. I really appreciate everything she's done for me these years.

THANK YOU MA! I LOVE YOU! =)

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. (Prov 31:10, NKJV)

PS: Sorry, I didn't expect this to be so long when I started. Things just kept coming I guess... =P

Do You Want To?

Been feeling a little stretched lately, and that's not exactly a bad thing. You'll never expand your capacity if you don't stretch, and if you don't expand in your capacity, there's no way you can grow. =)

It's this period of stretching that God asks me the same question that He asks me when I'm stretched, "Do you want to?"

"Do you want to?" is not the same as "Are you willing to?". They're very different in fact.

I remember the first time God asked me this question was when I grudgingly agreed to go to a prayer meeting. God came to my room that day and asked me, "Do you want to go to the prayer meeting?", and I told Him, "Yah, I can go.", and He asked me the same question again, "Do you want to go?", and I answered, "OK, I am willing, I'll go". I was surprised when He asked me a third time, "Do you want to go?". I was then that I really understood what He meant. Do I *want* to go?

That is not an easy question to answer some times, but when God asks you, He knows you're ready, it's just a matter of whether you want to or not.

Several times, I've been faced with this question, do I want to do well in my studies, do I want to serve more in my ministry, do I want to build myself up? It's only after I decided, "Yes, I want it!" then I've realised that I have grown.

Of course no one's born with a wanting heart. As you grow, you'll notice you'll be exchanging more and more of your willing areas into wanting areas, and that's when you know you've gone up one level, you've matured. When you're just a little kid, you didn't want to eat and had to be chased around to be fed. When you've grown a little, you'll want to eat to satisfy your hunger. And a little more, you'll want to eat so you've got energy to do what you need to. Some more, and you'll want to choose your food well so you'll eat healthy, and then you'll want to take health supplements on top of your food. This is how we all grow isn't it? =) At each stage, we're willing to do what's in the next level, just that we're not wanting to. It's only when we desire to go on, then we'll know we've gone up.

Also, being wanting instead of being willing to totally changes your view on the matter.

When you're willing, you may be able to give a 100% effort into it, but when you want to do it, you might put a 150% effort into it! It doesn't quite compare, because it's on a totally different plane. You'll see further, and you'll understand not just how and what you're doing, but more importantly why you're doing, and what this is going to achieve. In short, you see a much higher, much larger view of the picture than when you're just willing to do it.

To me, being willing is not good enough, I want to be in the realm of wanting. =)

A willing heart is good, a hungry heart is better... =)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. (Matt 5:6, NKJV)

Got Bone?

Have you ever felt that on certain days, other people just have a bone to pick with you?

Been feeling that a bit over the past couple of days, wondering what's wrong with these people. Then I read this verse:
Prov 21:2 - Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.

I spent some time meditating on the verse and I realised that there was nothing wrong with them, it was me. I've had loads to do recently, being assigned to a new project and at the same time had to wrap up my old project, so guess I've been a little uptight lately. On hindsight, it was so plain obvious, but I just couldn't see it then. To me, it was everyone else having a problem, and no fault of mine.

It's always so easy to pick out other people's faults and so difficult to see your own, and much less be willing to change them. We do what we do, we think what we think because that's what seems right to us. That's why it's so important to constantly renew our minds, to check our priorities and attitudes, to make sure what seems right to us is actually the right thing!

Also, we have to bear in mind that people will always see things from their point of view. Why do we argue with people? Because we can't agree on certain things, we argue because we think we're right and they're wrong, often totally neglecting their point of view. When we argue, do we think about why they argued with us? Have we been able to see from their point of view, and really identify what's the "right thing" in their arguement? There must have been a "right thing" from their point of view, even if it's as trivial as "I don't care what we're arguing about, I just don't like that tone in your voice", that's still a valid reason!

So, before we argue next time, try to understand their point of view, before you share yours. Seek first to hear, then be heard! =)

Before I end, just like to share something I've learnt from church.

3 things to say (and mean) to end an arguement:
1 - I'm sorry.
2 - I guess you were right
3 - Maybe we can try it your way
(Even if it fails, the other party would be more willing to try your way)

Try it! It works! ;)

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. (Prov 17:27, NKJV)

Partners with God

Just had a choir practice yesterday, after a long long break (we've not been having practice for some time already). Practice was very good, the presense of God was very strong, and at the end of the whole practice, Bro Jason, my choir team leader shared with us a very powerful revelation from Daniel 11:32, Matt 19:26/Mark 10:27.

Daniel 11:32b - The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Mark 10:27 - But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

Think June explained this revelation very well in her blog already, so I shall not repeat it. In short, we're meant to do great exploits, and as an individual or in partnership with men, many things are beyond us, but if we work in partnership with God, all things are possible to us! =)

So whatever we do, let's partner with God, you don't know what possibilities await you! =)

Bro Jason also challenged us to take on new challenges (in partnership with God), to form new habits, to renew our passion for things we used to do, so here's what I plan to do:
1 - Create a new singing style for my voice
2 - Try out new song writing techniques
3 - Form a habit of having vocal training every day
4 - Renew my passion for singing and music creation
5 - Renew my passion for digital art creation

As a challenge to myself, I'll try creating a blog skin for this blog, never tried one of these before, we'll see how it goes... =)

And here's my weekly plans:
Vocal Training - All
Vocal Style Training - Mon, Tue, Weekends
Guitar Practice - Mon, Wed, Weekends
Keyboard Practice - Tue, Thu, Weekends
Song Writing - Wed, Thu, Weekends

Will try to keep to this schedule, and see what I can do together with God! =)

To end of this entry, just like to share a little verse:
Prov 18:9 - He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
So if we do not want to be a partner to the "great destroyer", start getting busy!

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jer 32:27, NKJV)

Thanks for Your Encouragement!

Just want to thank all of you for leaving comments either here or your blogs. They really encourage me and inspire me to write more. Will be making a habit of blogging twice a week from now on...

If there's anything on your mind, please feel free to leave me a note. =)

I know my posts are a little lengthy, so I shall keep this short...

Have a great week! God bless! =)

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thes 5:11, NIV)

PS: If you've got any inspiration, melodies, lyrics, poems *hint hint* and would like to make them into songs, please do look for me, be most happy to collaborate with you to come up with something... =)

June's Life Recipes

June's started her own blog! It's called June's Recipe, and you can find it here: http://ljhsnme.blogspot.com/

I really like the term "life recipe" - it speaks of putting the right ingredients together, and then preparing them in the right way, and ending up with a really tasty, spicy, fragrant dish. To me this means of putting together the right attitudes and abilities, and then doing your best to carry out the right actions, and ending up with a really delicious kind of life! This is what I want, to have the correct recipe, and end up with tbe most exciting life possible!

Just a simple term like that, but so much meaning. Thanks for the inspiration!

I'm really proud of her, the way she picked herself up after the setback in the singing competition. She was terribly disappointed cos she's trained so hard for it, but this disappointment lasted less than a day, as she stood up again, reviewed her mistakes and prepared herself to take on another challenge, to go even higher.

"目标再艰苦，也要坚持"! That's my girl! You can do it! I believe in you! =)

As I was saying, she's trained really hard for it, and has recorded and reviewed almost fifty recordings of the song she sung to refine it to perfection. Here's one of the recordings, reproduced with permission from June. Please don't reproduce it without her permission OKies? It's really good stuff, hear it for yourself... =)

June - 白月光

Thank God for providing her comfort and peace as she sought Him after the competition. Thank God for providing us the chance to learn from this experience, and for igniting greater fervency and passion to pursue our dreams!

A winner is not one who never fails; a winner is one who NEVER QUITS!

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2, NKJV)

Mobile Blogging

Some of you might be wondering why my blogs are always back dated right? =P Well... I write my blogs on the go on my pda (which I acquired as a birthday present for myself), and upload it to my pc afterwards (when I have the time to).

This is how my pda looks like. It's a Handspring Visor Edge, extremely stylish, thin and light-weight, and best of all this device serves my purposes for a pda. I've been wanting one of these to maximise my time, and make my travelling time more productive, and this device does just that. I've been using it to read my Bible, read my ebooks (I love to read), and of course to record my sermon notes, my blogs and other matters. (There are other features to help organise my life better, but haven't exactly been using those yet.)

Bought this pda, 2nd hand, at just $50. In the same month that I bought this pda, there were 2 other prior sale offers for this device at $100 and $70. The $70 offer was made just a week prior to my purchase and I think I would have gladly paid $70 for it if I had decided to look for one just a week earlier. (In fact, the $50 offer came on the very same day I decided to look for it!) Thank God for the savings, and the correct timing. =)

Been wanting to get a pda for a couple of years, and had nearly bought one on a couple of occasions, but I felt uncomfortable buying it, it was like God telling me, "Nope, not yet", so I delayed my purchase until now. On hind sight, this was a better deal, cos the other pdas won't have suited my needs as much, and won't look as good.

This purchase is a part of my "shopping spree" lately. I've been getting really good offers for things that I've been wanting for years, things that I really have need for. And the best part of it is they come with savings between $20 to a couple of hundred even. These savings come just in time for this building season, so praise God for them! =)

Indeed God is never late, and God makes everything beautiful in His time. We just have to keep trusting God and see our plans unfold before us as God works His beauty, in His time.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. ... He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (Ecc 3:1, 11 NKJV)

Here's a picture of my work/blogging station.

This is where I create my music too. The music keyboard you see in the picture is directly connected to my pc (on the far left bottom corner of the picture), and the whole setup is networked with my notebook. My pc is controlled from my notebook, so it doesn't have a keyboard, mouse or monitor (saves space...). Everything is in a nice cool black. =P

Btw, I'm using a trackball for my notebook, bought it recently too, for $10 (typically would cost about $30). Been wanting one for like 6 years? =P

Happy Birthday Drrsk!

Today's my brother, Jinrui's (aka Drrsk) 21st birthday! =)

He's decided to keep it toned down, so we had a private celebration with a slice of mint chocolate cake. (Actually, we already celebrated his birthday at the same birthday lunch celebration as mine since our birthdays are so close).

He's one of the most intellectual guy in the family, with the best academic port folio, and he simply loves to read. He's read so many books that I think he might have read 2 to 3 times more books than I have in my life (or maybe more?). He's the funny fella in the family, and he's always playing around with words. Man, you really have to speak to him yourself to understand the seriousness of it... Haha... =P He's really great at imitating people too... Should try out his Yoda speak or his I-ta_lian accent... He'll really impress you with his Kung-Powness too... =P

Anyway, here's wishing him a great year ahead and all the best for his studies and his other future endeavours! May true joy and happiness follow him in the years ahead!

Oh yes, btw, he's called the Drrsk also. Pretty interesting how this name came about. I nicknamed him after a shampoo brand (Dearie Shampoo) cos I thought Dearie was a nice nickname to give my dear brother (the only one I had at that time), and he was cute and such a dear. This soon evolved to be Dearea (less sissy name) and then eventually shrunk to Drr by my dad. The additional "sk" was only added in recent times to make the name sound more cool (think was added by Drrsk). In fact, all of our nicknames have an sk added to it. =)

So, I'm the Gorsk (they call me Gor at home since I'm the eldest brother), next in line, my sis (Peixin) is called Zehsk (for the same reason), then comes the Drrsk, and then the Bibsk (Jinyi). Even my dad and mum are called Barsk (for Ba) and Marsk (for Ma). Occasionally we would swap the sk for "gee" (think it was my sis's way of addressing us). So I'm sometimes called Gor-Gee. Interestingly, my rabbit's name also follows this pattern, he's called Tu-Gee, or sometimes Tu-sk (Tu for 兔, Rabbit). Lately, he's been affectionately called 老黑 (Lao-Hei). (He's a black Lionhead Lop btw).

Jinyi was called Yi-Gu-Bei (Bei for 宝贝) initially by my dad and this somehow evolved into Yi-Gu and then to Bib-Ku, and then shortened to Bib. And like the rest of us, he's named Bibsk now.

Anyway, here's the whole family potrait (we used our favourite street fighter characters to represent us). From left to right (and in chronological order): my dad, my mum, me, Peixin, Jinrui, and Jinyi. And right next to Jinyi is none other than June. =P


Hope you enjoyed the little trivia about my family. I love my family, really enjoy spending time with you guys! Thanks for being there always for me, and thanks for all the wonderful moments we have shared in meals, jokes, games and other events big and small. You've brightened up my life and really made my life wonderful... =)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps 133:1, NKJV)