The mountain man and the surgeon

The mountain man and the surgeon from The Economist - who's the richer man - an unemployed man in rich America or a doctor in poor Africa?

A very interesting article. Thought-provoking.

Wow! I look like...

Tried this facial-recognition website...

That charming smile... the next UN Sec-General?


What I'll look like if I go bald.


Ah well, if I can't look like Brad Pitt, there's always...


I always knew I was pretty good-looking. ;)

Christmas is about GIFTS...

Something that sparked this thought was during ushering briefing yesterday, when Muiling asked some of us how we're feeling about Christmas service... and to be honest, quite a few of us weren't feeling v excited about it.

She was quite shocked, and exclaimed (something to that effect), "It's CHRISTMAS! Jesus' birthday! How can you not be excited?"

So from that heartfelt exclamation, it made me think about personally, as a 7-yrs old Christian, what does Christmas really mean to me now? And remind me again, I've heard so often that God gave us His one and only Son - not just during Christmas, but all year-round... so why do we bother to celebrate Christmas, if His gift of salvation is freely available all year around? Has Christmas become just another day in the church calendar where we invite our friends to special services?

Think the true meaning of Christmas - beyond bringing ppl for evax services, etc... if I really want to enjoy it personally, to REALLY celebrate Christmas...
is simply that Christmas is about GIFTS.

"He gave us the greatest Gift of all... when He gave His Son Jesus..."

Even now it still wrenches my heart every time I think of this song:

"As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realised a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives..."

It really pierces my heart - because I'm simply so grateful...
that I've finally received His greatest gift of all...

I really don't know how to express this joy of receiving this gift enough... I remember, many years ago, my family would go out along Orchard Road to listen to the Christmas choirs sing carols... and I think it's during those times, over many years, that God planted several seeds in my heart, that stirred my curiosity about what the real meaning of Christmas really was... who is this Jesus, and how come they call him the greatest gift of all?

"As the years went by we learnt more about giving
And giving of ourselves and what that really meant
On a dark and cloudy day a Man hung crying in the rain
Because of love, because of love..."

Christmas really is all about giving - and personally, I think the only way that we Christians can truly celebrate Christmas is to give freely, just as we have so freely received. That's why we give gifts to one another... real gifts of love... not mere "Merry Christmas" wishes, but real tangible gifts - whether it's a simple handmade card, or some exquisitely crafted jewellery, or even a thoughtfully given sum of cash... Christmas is all about gifts that really meet our needs - whether it's need for affirmation, need for a hug, need for food or for cash, etc. etc...

For God Himself sent a real and tangible Gift down on that very first Christmas Day - gift-wrapped in cloths, because we so needed to be rescued from our lostness.

Dear friends, if you're reading this, and deep down in your hearts you feel, even though you're a Christian too, that Christmas, for you, has lost its meaning, why not take the time to offer a real gift of love to another brother or sister? It could be anything... as simple as a handmade card, or a much-needed sum of cash, or something else... For when you give freely, you share in the experience of the true spirit of Christmas - God's one and only Son, given so in love, that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But dear friends, if you've not yet asked Jesus to be the Lord and Saviour of your life yet, why not ask Him into your heart this very moment? You can pray this simple prayer now:

Dear God, I know I'm a sinner and that I've done many wrong things against You. But I know that You love me so much that You sent Your one and only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins on the cross, that I may be forgiven. I believe that You raised Him from the dead, and so I ask You, Lord Jesus, to come into my heart from this day now on, and make me the person that You want me to be. Thank You Lord.

I prayed this prayer 7 years ago, and I've been finding out more and more that Jesus Christ really is the greatest Gift that I have ever received in my whole life. He has never failed me. He is the most faithful friend that I can ever have, and He's been changing my life ever since the day that I first met Him.

Dear friend, Jesus is really the greatest Gift that you can ever receive. Won't you ask Him into your heart today?

Grace so sweet

Grace, grace, Grace so sweet
Grace, grace, In spite of my deeds
Grace, grace, Lord grant me sight
Grace, grace, To do what is right.

To change my attitudes

Wow, thank God for shepping today. :D Made a breakthrough - ran from
Bishan to Kallang... think it's about 12 km. :D Praise God! :D haha...

Really wonderful time of fellowship today. :D Had a good dinner at the
ex-Army market food court at Beach Road.

But think the most significant thing I realised today (thank God for
Peter) was this:

I had left my valuables back at E1A study room. Thank God for Jan and
Zhenzhong, they were there to jaga the place though.

But Peter heard about this and told me that I need to be careful with my
stuff. Huh... so many ppl already told me, but I felt really sian
listening - had kind of given up trying to change my absent-mindedness, my
tendency to leave my stuff around / lose them (even tho God helped me get
it back).

So Peter asked me how I felt. Told him I felt quite frustrated, and had
kind of given up - 'bo-chup' lah. But he told me that I've been like this
for a long time - that I can't accept the fact that I make mistakes (which
is a sign of pride).

He said it's really impt to change in these small things - else they grow
to become big threats later. In fact, this is part of God's will for me -
that I repent and change in these small small things... not the big
bombastic things that I like to talk about.

So have given thought to it. Next time I feel frustrated when I make a
mistake and find it hard to accept, I'll remind myself (must take every
thot captive to make them obedient to Christ) that Christ has already
accepted and forgiven me, so it's time to get up and move on!

Haha... must thank God, He reminded me of Hebrews 12:1 as I was
accompanying Peter to the MRT. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses [I'm thinking of my bros and sisters who have
pointed out to me my mistakes in love], LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT
HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES AND LET US RUN WITH
PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US." Yeah! will make that my
'immediate response' verset to counter the feelings of frustration and
refusal to accept the fact that I've just made another mistake.

So gonna throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles... but what are the things that hinder?

Peter told me this: "Ah, change your attitude. God will then provide you
with the method to change."

So realised that for 7 years I've not been growing much as I could be,
because a lot of times when I make mistakes, I focus on what I should have
done (the forms), and not the ATTITUDES.

The key thing for me to throw off is the ATTITUDES that hinder - any and
every attitude that is right in His eyes. Then God will provide me with
the methods to overcome in due time, one way or another... whether thru me
or thru someone. But Jesus wants me first to change my attitude that
caused me to sin / stumble, so that every time I get up, I'll fall down
fewer and fewer times. aMeN! :D And I know He will help me get up, because
He is the AUTHOR AND PERFECTER of our faith! :D aMeN! :D

Really excited, believing God for a BREAKTHRU! :D haLLeLuJaH!

If you're a Vietnamese fan...

Came across this interesting blog called Vietnamese God. It's one interesting cultural peek into Vietnamese life.

What if Blizzard made Lord of the Rings?

Hilarious... what if LOTR2 was written like a Warcraft game? Here's the script (edited by me)... Enjoy!

EXT. HELM'S DEEP

CRAIG PARKER and his ARMY OF ELVES show up to help. Everyone
is ready for an ENORMOUS ANIMATED BATTLE. TEN THOUSAND ORCS
arrive and storm the fortress.

                        BERNARD HILL
            OMG ORC RUSH!!!!

                         ORC LEADER
            LOL!

                        BERNARD HILL
            >BLEEP<! >BLEEP BLEEP< GUYS!!

* BERNARD_HILL HAS LEFT THE GAME

                         ORC LEADER
            ROFL! PWN3D!

Eventually, IAN MCKELLEN, KARL URBAN, and KARL'S ARMY WHICH
IS NOW A HUNDRED TIMES LARGER show up! They win!

The RIDICULOUS GROUP OF TALKING TREES totally destroys
CHRISTOPHER LEE'S BARRACKS. They win too, but they lose THE
BATTLE TO NOT RUIN THE MOVIE.

END

One Movie a Day

Seems that there's this blogger who's trying to watch one movie a day. Whoo! http://movie-a-day.blogspot.com/

Asia Media Festival

http://www.asiamediafestival.com/about_amf_2005calendar.htm#animaxtion

Think I'll go down to SITEX next Sunday with my shepherd. :)

Sweet Snacks May Slacken Stress

Scientific American: Sweet Snacks May Slacken Stress

Haha... sounds sweet, yeah? ;) LOL so maybe while we're mugging for exams we all should get some lollies too...

Diggs might just bury Slashdot

I'm a Slashdot reader (though not as avid as Weizhu). But saw this article, heh, think I'll go check it out soon. :)

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,69568,00.html

Farewell, Peter Drucker.

You know this guy? He's one of the most famous management "gurus". I read a few of his essays - it's really insightful stuff. He passed away on 11 Nov this year.

Here's an eulogy by the Economist: Peter Drucker - Trusting the teacher in the grey-flannel suit

Smartwings

Taken from www.wired.com:

Smartwings
Humans often credit themselves with superior intellect, but we'd do well to learn humility in the face of nature's awesome complexity. In 2001, MIT researchers enabled LEDs to emit more light: They used a lattice of holes called a 2-D photonic crystal to help light get out, and Bragg reflectors to control the direction it's emitted. Now, two University of Exeter scientists have shown that swallowtail butterflies do the same thing. Patches on their wings produce brilliant fluorescence thanks to a layer of evenly spaced micro holes that act as a 2-D photonic crystal and prevent light from being trapped, and a lower layer that reflects fluorescent light like a Bragg reflector. "The way light is extracted from the butterfly's system is more than an analogy," one researcher told the BBC News. "It's all but identical in design to the LED."

Wow... God is really awesome. :D

Psalm 104:24
How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

The Bad Joke Generator

The ultimate in lameness:
Bad Joke Generator

According to the blurb on the site, it says:

The Bad Joke Generator autogenerates terrible, terrible puns about any person or object or archetype, based on the keywords you give it. You need never buy another Christmas cracker again.

(See, Robert? I'm not that lame after all... this computer program beats even Jitsy, KC, Weizhu and me - all of us combined! LOL!)

Tried the following:
Subject: Guitar
Keywords: strings, chords, strumming

Results?
What's guitar's favourite film?
Lord of the Strings...

(all together now... *groan*)

For more lame guitar jokes...

Actually, think I figured out how this program works... it works by comparing the keywords with matching homonyms. It's not perfect, but it does get by.

Ingenious, isn't it... conceptually it's very simple, but think so far this seems to be the only pun generator around so far.

The Giving Tree

(http://shelsilverstein.com/html/books.html)

"Once there was a tree...
And she loved a little boy."

""The Giving Tree" begins, "Once there was a tree..." (Dots are Shel's) and goes on for 50 more pages with a simple tale, illustrated in graceful cartoon style by the author. There was a boy who played in the tree, gathering its leaves, swinging on its branches, eating its apples. When the boy grew older he lay in the shade of the tree with a girl and carved initials in a heart. Yet older, a young man, he took the tree's branches to build a house. As an old man he needed a boat to get away from it all, so the tree said cut me down and make a boat. So we have a stump. Along comes the boy, now an old, old man, and the ex-tree says, "Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the tree was happy."

There's a lot of various responses at http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9501/articles/givingtree.html

I've got a lot of thots on this, but in a nutshell, it's controversial because one can barely accept the tree's unconditional love and sacrifice... it's really surprising, 'cos I think the writer isn't a Christian.

So two categories of reactions:
- The tree is wrong to tolerate the boy; it should at the least rebuke the boy for his need.
- The tree is doing what is right... it's showing a love far far greater than we want to accept.

Think a lot of pple cannot stand the tree's action, saying that the boy should be rebuked or rejected by the tree... tink if they were right, they're afraid to admit that the boy is, in a very real way, a spitting image of themselves - that deep down, we are all like that boy, always receiving, but never giving anything in return - even to the point of chopping the tree down. But in the end, when the boy is an old man, and all he has is just the stump of the tree, even then, in love the tree calls the old man, "Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."

Think it touches me very much, because i look at the boy, and i see myself, always receiving but never bothering to give... yet, in a way, the boy has given - but given in a way that scars the tree, when he inscribes a heart onto the tree: "ME + T". And i'm reminded of someone who said, "Even our tears of repentance have to be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb." Think even the kindest acts that we did have to be washed clean in His blood... shed in unimaginable suffering.

Such is grace, so deep, that one cannot sit on the fence. One either accepts it gratefully, recognising that there is REALLY a love that is so great that it will accept even the worst sinner, or one totally rejects the grace and turns aside to judging the boy... because we do not want to believe that the boy is ourselves.

But what about the justice part?

No, in a way, the tree has not been wronged - deep down within, the boy keeps returning to the tree. And that is the tree's sole reward - the love of the boy.

(I'm reminded of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son when I write this down...)

And i thot abt it... a God who is so crazy about us, that He'd give all He has, even His own Son, His own life, His own glory and majesty, just to bring us to Him?

He's FAR nobler than i can ever be... i just receive and receive... and when I give to Him, I still stumble in my giving... even my best acts of righteousness are filthy rags in His eyes...

and all He wants is me?

But one thing that I must do - no matter what happens - is keep returning to God. For all He wants is all of me...

Timothy Jackson, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University, (http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9501/articles/givingtree.html) writes:
"With God we have to take the active, conscious step of asking for help; the boy asks primarily for things, but he too must voice his vulnerability in order to be cared for. For all its gifting of itself, however, the tree is not untouched; it also receives from the boy. Even as a stump, the tree is literally marked by the boy's love. The carved heart with "M.E. + T." inside endures across all changes, simultaneously a scar and a sign of love. Love bears all things and it never ends, even if life does. We must think the tree happy, not like the absurd Sisyphus but like the Suffering Servant."

Jesus said in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

And another thought. I'm thinking about the love of my parents. Think the writer's intention was to highlight a parent's love for his/her children. Though our parents are not perfect (who is, anyway?), they've really shown love to us in one way or another.

Just now, my dad just called to see how I am. I told him I'm studying in school. Then my handphone went dead (low battery). To be honest, I wasn't really thinking of calling him back... then I thought about my parents. My parents have given so much to me - given me allowance when I needed it... bought food and drink for me... rejoiced in my birth... still took care of me when i was rude and rebellious to them... and even up to now, I haven't given them much in return. I really thank God for them. And i really don't know how to repay them - and i don't think i will ever be able to repay them for the love that they've shown to me. It's not a transaction... it's a relationship... it's not a loan... it's a gift. and I think the right thing to do, in God's eyes, is to give them the gift of love in return.

So i'm gonna call my dad (as soon as i get my hp battery charged).

Hilarious! XD

> KIDS IN GRADE SCHOOL THINK FAST
>
>
> TEACHER: Why are you late?
> WEBSTER: Because of the sign.
> TEACHER: What sign
> WEBSTER: The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."
> _____________
>
> TEACHER: Cindy, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
> CINDY: You told me to do it without using tables!
> _____________
>
> TEACHER: John, how do you spell "crocodile?"
> JOHN: K-R-O-K-O-D-A-I-L"
> TEACHER: No, that's wrong
> JOHN: Maybe it's wrong, but you asked me how I spell it!
> _____________
>
> TEACHER: What is the chemical formula for water?
> SARAH: H I J K L M N O!!
> TEACHER: What are you talking about?
> SARAH: Yesterday you said it's H to O!
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: George, go to the map and find North America.
> GEORGE: Here it is!
> TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
> CLASS: George!
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: Willie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't
have
> ten years ago.
> WILLIE: Me!
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: Tommy, why do you always get so dirty?
> TOMMY: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: Ellen, give me a sentence starting with "I."
> ELLEN: I is...
> TEACHER: No, Ellen..... Always say, "I am."
> ELLEN: All right... "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."
> _____________
>
> TEACHER: "Can anybody give an example of COINCIDENCE?"
> JOHNNY: "Sir, my Mother and Father got married on the same day, same
time."
> _____________
>
> TEACHER: "George Washington not only chopped down
> his father's cherry tree, but also admitted doing
> it. Now do you know why his father didn't punish him?"
> JOHNNY: "Because George still had the ax in his hand."
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: Now, Sam, tell me frankly, do you say
> prayers before eating?
> SAM: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
> _______________
>
> TEACHER: Desmond, your composition on "My Dog" is
> exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
> DESMOND: No, teacher, it's the same dog!
> ______________
>
> TEACHER: What do you call a person who keeps on
> talking when people are no longer interested?
> PUPIL: A teacher.
>

What If Dr. Seuss Wrote Technical Manuals?

(Specially posted for Weizhu and Si Seng)

One day I was net-surfin',
Doing my researchin'
When all at once I saw
As nifty as a jackdaw:

Some really whoozy sites
With many fine lines in sight!

Oh, I love reading Dr. Seuss' books,
How simply great they look!
With witty rhyming lines,
They sound _just_ so fine!

************
Bits Bytes Chips Clocks
Bits in bytes on chips in box.
Bytes with bits and chips with clocks.
Chips in box on ether-docks.

Chips with bits come. Chips with bytes come.
Chips with bits and bytes and clocks come.

Look, sir. Look, sir. Read the book, sir.
Let's do tricks with bits and bytes, sir.
Let's do tricks with chips and clocks, sir.

First, I'll make a quick trick bit stack.
Then I'll make a quick trick byte stack.
You can make a quick trick chip stack.
You can make a quick trick clock stack.

And here's a new trick on the scene.
Bits in bytes for your machine.
Bytes in words to fill your screen.

Now we come to ticks and tocks, sir.
Try to say this by the clock, sir.

Clocks on chips tick.
Clocks on chips tock.
Eight byte bits tick.
Eight bit bytes tock.
Clocks on chips with eight bit bytes tick.
Chips with clocks and eight byte bits tock.

Here's an easy game to play.
Here's an easy thing to say....

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report!

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
And your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash,
Then your situation's hopeless, and your system's gonna crash!

You can't say this? What a shame sir!
We'll find you another game sir.

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,
That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,
And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss
So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,
Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,
'Cause as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk,
And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary RISC,
Then you have to flash your memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM.
Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your mom!

(Taken from http://www.seuss.org/seuss/seuss.byte.html)
************

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

I was worried today, and was talking with God.

Me: "What about me? Will I be left behind?"
The Lord: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

"Is the unborn human less than human?"

Was reading this article while preparing for my GP tuition later. A very interesting, detailed and well-researched article on the issue of abortion. It examines the implications of abortion from a scientific and logical point of view.

Abortion - Is the unborn human less than human?

Simple beauties...

My dad gave me a whole box of Ferrero Rocher choccies just now! :D wow... really very touched by his act of love for me. :) Asked him why... he said, "I just bought it for you." And he smiled.

And then I think about our Father's sheer love for us... and I'm reminded of His gracious blessings to us. How many times has He just simply blessed us out of the sheer pleasure of His grace?

A beautiful flower that you saw today,
a brilliant rainbow reminding us of God's promise to humanity,
a cool breeze that sweeps the place clean and refreshes our souls...

The grace notes in a sweet piece of music,
the fresh smell of green grass after the morning's dew...
the golden gleam of sunlight as it hits your window panes...

A child's smile, an innocent gaze...
the spontaneous SMS that you get,
the surprise encouragement card that you receive...
the unexpected affirmation and cheerful smile that a friend gives you...
a mother's kiss, a father's hug...

Grace, how sweet the sound
For an unworthy wretch like me...

All reflecting the sheer love of God to His creation.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a

Zombie Man

Just read this post on one of the Urban Dead forums... sweet! :D

To get everyone's spirits up
« Thread Started on Oct 17, 2005, 1:06am »

I've composed a song.

To the tune of Piano Man, by Billy Joel, I present:

Zombie Man

It's nine A.M. on a Saturday
The regular crowd shambles in
There's a zombie sitting next to me
Who sadly has lost all his skin

He says, "Grrr argh bargh argh argh
Harm argh harma argh har ma bar"
I wish I understood the poor fella now
But my translator's at home

Ar ar ar, ar ar ar ar
Ar ar, arm arm ar ar ar

Sing us a song, you're the zombie man
Sing us of human chow
Well, we're all in the mood for some brainz right now
But we'll settle for your music somehow

Now Tyrant at the bar is a kill of mine
I PK'd him in Owlesleybank
And he sometimes misses human hugs and human kisses
But for his love of brains he gives thanks

He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me."
As the Zombie Hunter headshot him down
And though he was right I'll see him tonight
You can't keep a good zombie down

Oh, Ar ar ar, ar ar ar ar
Ar ar, arm arm ar ar ar

Now Graagh is a former scientist
Who never should've made that drug
And he's chompin' on Bobby, who was in the lobby
Of a safehouse that came all unplugged

And the COL is practicing politics
As the Vengabeans slowly get stoned
Yes they're sharing a drink they call Server Lag
Which means Kevan's playing alone

Sing us a song, you're the zombie man
Sing us of human chow
Well, we're all in the mood for some brainz right now
But we'll settle for your music somehow

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the zombies give me a smile
'Cause they like all my songs and they grunt along
Which really puts a cramp in my style

And the zombies, they sound like a Dead film
And the microphone smells like dry blood
And they sit at the bar and put brainz in my jar
And say, "Ar, ar ar harm-barg-agh"

Oh, Ar ar ar, ar ar ar ar
Ar ar, arm arm ar ar ar

Sing us a song, you're the zombie man
Sing us of human chow
Well, we're all in the mood for some brainz right now
But we'll settle for your music somehow

« Last Edit: Oct 17, 2005, 7:08pm by [CDF] enochthewatcher »

"No wonder they call them the Many... there's too Many of them!!!"

Prologue:
Wow... what a battle. I've been playing the online text-based game (yes, they ARE still around...) Urban Dead, in which the humans battle hordes of zombies. One of my characters was in Fort Creedy, and I'm part of the Creedy Defence Force, a resistance force to battle the undead hordes. And one of the most infamous hordes are aptly named "The Many".

As of now, Fort Creedy's barricades have been bashed in, and the defenders are horribly outnumbered. Yet they still continue to fight on...

Characters:
The zombies - As they're zombies, they can't speak properly. Apparently their vowels get kind of rattled. It's called Death Rattle.

Do look out for some of the human players, especially Von Luthius - some of their lines are ridiculously Monty Pythonesque...

Peppardville

Farmer Bob King Gidora John Hunter yellowfish Inky ...
139 zombies

You are yyafireman and you are infected. You have 45 Hit Points and 93 Experience Points. You have 50 Action Points remaining.

You are inside the Armoury. The majority of its shelves and lockers have been cleared. The building's doors have been left wide open. Also here are Farmer Bob, King Gidora, John Hunter, yellowfish, Inky, Socom, Spike Speigel, Turic Darkrider, Jeremy Thorne, snarrff, Alya, Samuria5, Triss, LOPcagney, Kaiser Sose, Tigpoppa, Bramtyr, Domiel, Vincent Postrel, TigDoc3, armoury3, SSKnight, YorkRite, 31Flavors, MadDogMcree, Armatron, DeFib, Reno911, Car54, HillStreet, BlueBack, Vahalla, Apathy's Death, NightShift, FF4Life, CubScout, Gibso, Sean Dead, Ed69b, Flimple, John Death, Grgh Argh, Black Lab, Melani, Jerry Coe, starshadow, Magwai, Grey Pete, ToraTora, Troy of NN, taniangde, Lazarus Blue, Lakius, Syndre, Andrew Jiang, John Stout, RainyNight, gladsfab, Fab5Mark, Smitney, Greist, Barsam, pinochey, RibRaby, TexNRex, curtainK, BearBob, marhipan.

Somebody has spraypainted Fort Creedy has fallen, retreat! onto a wall.

There is a horde of 139 zombies here.

There are 24 dead bodies here.
Since your last turn:

A zombie said "Graaaagh!" (10-18 00:39 GMT)
Drab Emordnilap said "AAAAAAAAAGH! 53 Z's outside, and 22 inside! Barricade them in and run away!!!" (10-18 00:53 GMT)
monkeynose said "don't be so silly." (10-18 00:54 GMT)
Old Man Waits said "Rh an rrrh rh... Nrh! Rh harh rna rrmbrh... Mrh ra... Rn rhrrh - rm rrrh..." (10-18 00:54 GMT)
Grantad said "I need a shot gun!" (10-18 01:08 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Luno! I'm loving that Tuba Sound! melani! Why are you punching! use that Banshee Scre...arrrr, I mean Beautiful Voice of yours ... Ummm...yeah....To make those rotter run to the Hills! *Continues playing trumpet Loudly!* Waits! Rottified! That's hilarious" (10-18 01:32 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Luno! Yopu were drooling madly there for a sec and excuse me for thinkinbg it normal for a Tubaist, but there ya go mate! All patched nicely. Now start the Ride of the Valkyries! It's the only song that goes with this Fun! That's it! Melani! Where's your" (10-18 01:34 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Operatic Voice to contribute to this cacophany of sound! Onwards lads! Lets take em down! Waits! Where are you you old Stinker you! We need yuour Harmonica! Hey, Zombie dudes, Contribute some singing and we'll reward you nicely! Speak up lads! That's it!" (10-18 01:36 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Hey Jak! Can you speak or just murmur? Someones hacking you right now, you poor rotter! Guys, once you kill a Z dump them outside before attacking a new one, else they just rise back to their feet again! That's it Luno! Louder *Tuba becomes a roar!* Ahhh." (10-18 01:38 GMT)
Hobel said "Ahh Vol Luthius Double down can't make it he is out searching needles..but told me to say your playing is a great backdrop to this zombie attack...I was wondering DD said you had a plan for creedy if you still have the suplies for that?" (10-18 01:39 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Ahhh, Hobel, My thanks to Pn Double Down and all those others listening to our melodies! Sorry bout that, I just felt like going outside and DNA tagging 20 Z's including Ed Man, and reviving Josey Wales! And no, the revives are fast running out. There" (10-18 01:44 GMT)
Von Luthius said "were 30 odd Z's in here prior to our stocking up. If we knew there were people in here, before we dropped all our guns for supplies, all we were carrying were fully loaded shotties and pistols! It was fun getting rid of that load together into a hoard of" (10-18 01:45 GMT)
A flare was fired 1 block to the east and 9 blocks to the south. (10-18 01:46 GMT)
Lord Tin Tin said "I'm infected I really need a heal, thanks in advance. Using my Last action point to say this" (10-18 01:47 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Rotters' Heads! Geesh! These Rotters are the strong silent type! Either that or they are dumbstruck by the beuty of our music! Heck! Stuff it, I don't know these rotters! Luno *Luno stops playing* Give me your Tuba for a sec. *Hands Von Luthius his Tuba*" (10-18 01:47 GMT)
Hobel said "Well I do belive we are entering last curtin call" (10-18 01:47 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Luno, here take it back! I was gonna smash a Z with it! But hey, they broke in, here's the barricade back up, and to us Providing the entertainment. Luno, Melani, Get your music going! And Melani, I expect to hear you singing this time! *Plays Trumpet wit" (10-18 01:49 GMT)
Pestilo said "That's for hassling my zombie alt, Von Luthius!" (10-18 01:50 GMT)
Von Luthius said "renued Gusto!* Hey! This Rotter Bit me! How unfair! attacking the Band! What did we ever do to you? Provide music and great atmosphere for the killing. Don't kill us to last! Spread the word, we're all having fun here playing to our Doom! Encore Luno! Mel" (10-18 01:51 GMT)
Von Luthius said "PESTILLO is a PKer! Fuck off you shit for brains fuck head! I'm playing me trumpet and your shooting me! Ther ignominy of the event! Hobel Help me! Get ya Bagpipes matey!" (10-18 01:52 GMT)
Pestilo said "Don't worry, I'll heal you. I wasn't trying to kill you, just hassle you." (10-18 01:53 GMT)
Von Luthius said "So Now you heal me? You attacked me for attacking/tagging a freaking Zombie! There's over 100 of the bastards and youi expect me not to hassel them? We're under seige in a frickin Hell Pit of a city and me and mine are doing our best to bring back the" (10-18 01:55 GMT)
Von Luthius said "arts. I mean, You interrupted the Playing! And I wasted my last FAK healing an all out attack! Bah! *Walks up to Pestillo and screeches a Super G in his Ear defening him as a personal Hassel back.* You better be able to play something Pestillo! Now join" (10-18 01:57 GMT)
Von Luthius said "the band! And heal me back to the 60HP I was on! Who Else can play an instrument? I have an entire bag here for you to take and play! Let's all play joyous music to the end of this chapter of Fort Creedy! Bring it! Sing It! Wheeee-Harrr! That's it!" (10-18 01:58 GMT)
Melani said "how long does it take for ap to refresh?" (10-18 02:04 GMT)
EvilHomer said "GARAGHH!!!" (10-18 02:08 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Von Luthius - I can hum a little bit. Can you play the Horst Wessel song, followed by Happy Trails?" (10-18 02:09 GMT)
Hobel said "**Pulles out his Banjo** this is the best I can do Von...but how about that theam from the movie deliverance...I think theses zombies would understand it best" (10-18 02:11 GMT)
Eva Braun said "OOOOOOUCH!!!! EvilHomer bit me with his nasty infectious bite. Bad EvilHomer! Bad! Can anyone spare a FAK for a poor widow? Heil Cowboy Up!!!" (10-18 02:13 GMT)
Melani said "IM INFECTED!" (10-18 02:14 GMT)
Melani said "Thank you! yh" (10-18 02:14 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Thanks, yh! You are truly dedicated to the cause. Heil Cowboy Up!" (10-18 02:15 GMT)
Thandar said "Zrmbaaaazrmbaaaazrmbaaa Zrmbaaaazrmbaaaazrmbaaa... BANNAH!" (10-18 02:15 GMT)
Melani said "I'm spent on ap... sorry guys *sits and sings sadly wishes she could help*" (10-18 02:16 GMT)
AshTheZombie said "Rrh rh hra rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh" (10-18 02:19 GMT)
Pestilo said "Yeah, I'm infected too." (10-18 02:19 GMT)
Ashurbinipaul said "This place isn't going to hold out much longer. I recommend getting out ASAP. The Necro building East is probably your best bet..." (10-18 02:21 GMT)
That Hurts Baby said "15hp, infected, dying - fresh from the Marks slaughter. If any CDF members or others could give me some heals I'd appreciate it very much." (10-18 02:23 GMT)
Wisbechzombie said "Zhamaamba" (10-18 02:25 GMT)
RobertK said "I'm holding the door's closed!!! Can anyone bring something to block them?" (10-18 02:29 GMT)
Bubba McJones said "AMMO!!!" (10-18 02:30 GMT)
DJRoberts said "Infected, please bring healing" (10-18 02:38 GMT)
Joe Dead said "7 Rotters! Kill 'em! Got med kits, so sound off" (10-18 02:53 GMT)
tirion said "Need on here please...." (10-18 02:55 GMT)
BlueBack said "Spund Off for first aid I dont have diagnosis." (10-18 02:59 GMT)
Pestilo said "As soon as someone heals me, I'm getting the hell out of here!" (10-18 03:02 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Coward! Hey Eva, Hobel! Welcome to the Band! Zombies, I expect us to die last cause we are the Band and we'll play till the end and talk all the while! Melani, Eva, Duet time! I'll play whatever whenever, Zombies! I want requests or join the Choir! Hobel," (10-18 03:04 GMT)
Von Luthius said "anyone else in the band with AP! Get outside and tell the Z's not to kill Von Lutthiu, Luno, Melani, Eva Braun and Hobel till last as we are providing Music, atmosphere and entertainment to all! Come on guys! This is Cool Ass Fun! Who else wants ta play?" (10-18 03:08 GMT)
BlueBack healed you for 5 HP. (10-18 03:08 GMT)
Karl Lenin said "Comrades, drive these deadites out and I will bring healing! Keep singing Von Luthius!" (10-18 03:09 GMT)
Hobel said "Anyone know that song the band played from the movie the Titantic?...Von Luthius Eva, Luno. Melani...it has been an honor playing with you tonight. Daa naa naa naa" (10-18 03:13 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Hobel, no worries mate! hey, We need someone in here who will leave their character inactive till the fort gets overrun then copies and pastes the entirety of their conversation into a UD Forum thread entitled Fort Creedy - The Last Hours. I soooo wanna" (10-18 03:15 GMT)
Von Luthius said "see that when it's done! Oh, and I play the trumpet. Melani and Eva are the singers, and Luno the Tubaist, Hobel the Banjo player and Old man Waits the Harmonica player! Where's the Trombonist when we need them They have the best humour Ever!" (10-18 03:18 GMT)
Karl Lenin said "It is time to evacuate comrades, the hospital might be coming with some healing, but don't count on it. 161 dead corpses outside, 52 more walking corpses, not to mention the others around here. Sorry comrades, time to abandon ship!" (10-18 03:19 GMT)
Randoly said "there are only 5 zeds left in here coward!" (10-18 03:20 GMT)
Randoly said "there are only 5 zeds left in here coward!" (10-18 03:22 GMT)
Karl Lenin said "5 in here, but ten times that outside, I don't feel like being feasted upon, I'll bring help if I can, but I don't know if anyone will come, good luck comrades!" (10-18 03:23 GMT)
Hobel said "Bing bing Bing...ahh see the CDF does still stand..Long play the music...Von Luthius..its time for the charge of the Valkurie..lets sturr the chaps on to the final drive..the baricades hold..only 4 rotters in here...come on boys drive them to the sea" (10-18 03:26 GMT)
Hobel said "Bing bing Bing...ahh see the CDF does still stand..Long play the music...Von Luthius..its time for the charge of the Valkurie..lets sturr the chaps on to the final drive..the baricades hold..only 4 rotters in here...come on boys drive them to the sea" (10-18 03:31 GMT)
MG said "shit we're all dead! 63 Zeds outside and 5 inside! Wake up fuckers!" (10-18 03:55 GMT)
MagicG said "I'm infected. Need healing!" (10-18 03:57 GMT)
Joe Dead said "4 med kits left. Who wants them?" (10-18 03:58 GMT)
MagicG said "Can someone get rid of this infection for me?" (10-18 03:59 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Von Luthius - it would seem that now would be a good time to strike up a verse or two of Lili Marlene. And a one, and a two..." (10-18 03:59 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Outside the barracks, by the corner light...I'll always stand and wait for you at night...We will create a world for two...I'll wait for you the whole night through...For you, Lili Marlene...For you, Lili Marlene." (10-18 04:01 GMT)
Hobel said "OMG did you see that..the Zombie broke my banjo....well I did not want to have to do this to everyone but here it is *pulls out a bagpipe and blows the eary sound** ok Von lets do a little amazing grace for the recent falling...**Amazing grace how......." (10-18 04:03 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Bugler tonight don't play the call to arms...I want another evening with her charms...Then we will say goodbye and part...I'll always keep you in my heart...With me, Lili Marlene...With me, Lili Marlene." (10-18 04:03 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Can you hold the Amazing Grace rendition until I finish my solo? A little decency in death is all I ask." (10-18 04:04 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Give me a rose to show how much you care...Tie to the stem a lock of golden hair...Surely tomorrow, you'll feel blue...But then will come a love that's new...For you, Lili Marlene...For you, Lili Marlene." (10-18 04:05 GMT)
Eva Braun said "When we are marching in the mud and cold...And when my pack seems more than I can hold...My love for you renews my might...I'm warm again, my pack is light...It's you, Lili Marlene...It's you, Lili Marlene." (10-18 04:07 GMT)
Eva Braun said "My love for you renews my might...I'm warm again, my pack is light...It's you, Lili Marlene...It's you, Lili Marlene." (10-18 04:08 GMT)
Bruce McGiven said "there in attack" (10-18 04:08 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Braindead Ned wants me dead, so let's end the evening with everyone's favorite - Amazing Grace...How sweet the sound..." (10-18 04:10 GMT)
Eva Braun said "That save a wretch like me (and Cowboy Up!)...I once was lost but now am found...Was blind but now I see." (10-18 04:11 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Gaa...aackkk...[gasp]...Heil Cowboy Up!" (10-18 04:12 GMT)
Gertrude Stein said "Zhamaa-maaamba zha zhaa-maaaamba zha ma bam ba, zha-maaaamba zha barhah!" (10-18 04:13 GMT)
Gertrude Stein said "Zha maaaaam-ba zha zha harh ha ha, zha maaaaamba zha barhah!" (10-18 04:14 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Have the reinforcements arrived to save us yet? I think I hear...gaaaaaaaaaackkkkkkk.......Ug. [THUD]" (10-18 04:14 GMT)
Gertrude Stein said "Aza Brahm zhng maarh!" (10-18 04:15 GMT)
Eva Braun said "Don't...let...them...get...the...har...mon...i...ca...player...Heil Cowboy Up! [gassssssssp]" (10-18 04:16 GMT)
Gertrude Stein said "Zhng Azha Brahn!! Zhaaaaang harh Zhamaamba! Zhng!!" (10-18 04:16 GMT)
Gertrude Stein said "Aaaah!! Azha Brahn zha hambargarh!! Zhamaamba!" (10-18 04:18 GMT)
Stabby Stabby said "one of the zombies is my friend, mister rick! if anyone can revive him, plz...." (10-18 04:20 GMT)
MorganFreeman said "I was not expecting this. No. Really." (10-18 04:30 GMT)
Melani said "I'm infected angain!" (10-18 04:35 GMT)
Melani said "Last ap for the night most likely... I'll try to comeback keep up the good fight!" (10-18 04:37 GMT)
Hobel said "Eva Braun..I am sorry to start before your solo was over..but at least we picked it up..and thanks to the Zombies for goining in..yes..everyone is welcome to sing and play in the Fort Creedy Last stand lonley heart band..." (10-18 04:39 GMT)
Hobel said "Eva Braun..I am sorry to start before your solo was over..but at least we picked it up..and thanks to the Zombies for goining in..yes..everyone is welcome to sing and play in the Fort Creedy Last stand lonley heart band..." (10-18 04:50 GMT)
Saromu4 said "16 zombies in here!!!!" (10-18 04:51 GMT)
Bramtyr said "DEFEND!!!!! DESTROY ALL ZOMBIES!!! RALLY FORT CREEDY!!!!!" (10-18 04:51 GMT)
gunslinger2 said "63 zs outside, the many have this batle owned" (10-18 05:08 GMT)
Killer D said "CDF is officially pulling out of here... if you don't want to die, move to adjacent buildings... I hope all you bastards that talk shit get eaten" (10-18 05:41 GMT)
Melani said "*cires histarically* I'm gonna die!" (10-18 05:56 GMT)
Hobel said "Ahh its time to again strike up the band....Von Luthius..I am going play a little Jazz maybe a little Zoot suit riot your trumpet would be great with it...everyone..living and dead..you know where to scream Zoot suit riot so sing along. here we go..." (10-18 06:37 GMT)
Phil Nekro said "Rh an rh ra rrh an hrh rrh rrh" (10-18 06:44 GMT)
Officer Dan said "at 18 hp and is infected. Could someone heal please? Stupid fuckin zeds burn in hell." (10-18 07:02 GMT)
Hobel said "To all in the fort and the zombies Von Luthius and I are plaing music to the fall of the fort please leave us be to our own devices..**grabing a harmonica** lets do the I have the Collapsed barricades blues" (10-18 07:08 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Hobel Well Done Mate! Zombies Hobel and me and Eva and Melani and Luno and Old Man Waits are playing music and singing till the end. Kill us last and we'll make it atmospheric to say the least! *Pulls out Trumpet and plays Zoot Suite Riot! Well Done Eva!" (10-18 07:29 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Yeah, read the Sign Kill Us last! *Continues blasting on the Trumpet to the Bagpipes a stirling and often times improvised version of In the Hall of the Mountain King. Requests taken Always! Zombies! What do you want us to play? We'll do the lot! *Play on" (10-18 07:32 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Hobel, Eva, Luno, Melani. Contact me via PM of Squidgey on the UD Forums after this is done. I wanna keep this band a going strong! Besides the conversation is great as well! Requests people and Rotters! Rottify us last! *Da da da da da-da dar, da da dar*" (10-18 07:34 GMT)
Von Luthius said "Hobel, Eva Luno, Melani, I hav enough NT Syringes to revive us all, if you want it to go when the Fort falls completely! Oh, and the CDF ARE COWARDS! I mean look how many people and zombies are here for our performance. Makes me eart swell with Pride! :D" (10-18 07:36 GMT)
Hobel said "**putting down the Bagpipes for a second* Actally Sir..The CDF was all killed last night as they slept trying to hold the Marks building to the nw most of them are now zombies bitting other zombies outside..even in death the CDF is fighting for the fort" (10-18 07:46 GMT)
Hobel said "Von I will pm you on the main boards..I look foward to playing with out again on other disasters..*picks back up bagpides* ok here is Brown eye Girl comeone everyone join in" (10-18 07:58 GMT)
Barry Zuckerkorn said "uhhhh, the many are outside. there are 71 of them." (10-18 08:44 GMT)
Fifties said "Screw it, I'm not going to wait around to get splattered!" (10-18 08:46 GMT)

Meaningful M&M

I like this M&M (Memorise & Meditate) verse... somehow it's very comforting to chew on it. Sorta like those Delifrance baguette bread that you take ages to chew on... :)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(NIV)

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(KJV)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.

(NLT)

In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk--better yet, run!-on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline--not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

(The Message)

And for a real piece to chew on, here's the Greek version:

1 παρακαλω ουν υμας εγω ο δεσμιος εν κυριω αξιως περιπατησαι της κλησεως ης εκληθητε

2 μετα πασης ταπεινοφροσυνης και πραυτητος μετα μακροθυμιας ανεχομενοι αλληλων εν αγαπη

3 σπουδαζοντες τηρειν την ενοτητα του πνευματος εν τω συνδεσμω της ειρηνης

Ephesians 4:1-3

"If boys would be men, would girls be ladies?"

Just read this one from one of the caregroups' blogs (NG5A3) in the Adults ministry... it's very interesting. When I read this, my conscience felt pricked a lot, 'cos I know where I've fallen short.

So do take a look at this... brothers! :D Let's be men after God's own heart... and sisters! help us be men after God's own heart... =) that we may help you be women after God's own heart... because there is neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) :)

*****************

"If boys would be men, would girls be ladies?"
- By Joshua Harris

Let's Be Men.
First, I want to talk to the men. Men, we have our work cut out for us, and we need to take it very seriously. What business do we have pursuing a relationship with a girl when we still haven't figured out what it means to be a man? We owe it to the women in our lives, our future wives, and to God to figure this out.

Elisabeth Elliot, a woman I deeply respect, wrote to her nephew Pete, "The world cries for men who are strong -- strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer. I pray that you will be that kind of man -- grad that God made you a man, grad to shoulder the burden of manliness in a time when to do so will often bring contempt."

I want to be that kind of man. I have a long way to go. I fail more often than I succeed. I let my sin, my fear, and my laziness get the best of me. But I want to change. I know that God has made me a man for a reason. No matter what culture says, or even what some women say, I want to gladly "shoulder the burden of manliness."

It's not the easiest path. Earlier I told you a book that encouraged men to be passive in relationships. According to the author, the only alternative to passivity is being aggressive and overbearing. Sadly, these are the two courses many men take. But God wants us to reject both of them. Biblical masculinity is neither passive nor rudely aggressive. God calls us to be servant initiators--firm, but gentle; masculine, yet caring; leaders, yet servants. We're called to be protectors, not seducters.

Here are four practical ways you can do these things in your relationships with women.


1) Assume the responsibility of leading and initiating in your relationships with women.

Leading is a form of serving. When you provide direction, suggest ideas, and initiate conversation or activities, you're serving your sisters.

This does not mean that you treat women as if you were their husband and the one to lead them in important life decisions. Even during the season of courtship, this isn't your place. Until you're a woman's husband, she is under no obligation to submit to your leadership. If she has a Christian father, that protection and oversight should come from him. But while you shouldn't overstep your bounds, you can serve a woman (and win her trust for the future) by leading and initiating in small ways.

For example, you can serve your sisters by being the one to plan times together. This applies to a courtship as well as friendships with women. My single friends Jacob and Ryan frequently plan get-together at their apartment. They do the work of organizing activities and inviting other guys and girls to participate.

One woman told me what a burden it is when her male friends sit around waiting for women to plan everything. "I don't like it when a man sits there asking, 'So what do you want to do?'" she said, "I want them to make a decision!"

The same principle applies in your courtship (or friendships). Do you initiate conversations? Do you carefully plan your dates? Are you thinking ahead and directing the course of the courtship? It's your job to make sure that it's continuing to grow at a healthy rate. It's your responsibility to make sure you're both guarding your hearts.

As you can see, servant leadership requires work. It means sacrifice. It means going out on a limb and proposing ideas, setting direction, and inviting others to follow. It means listening, taking others' interests and needs into account, and adjusting as necessary. It means deferring to others at times. Leadership isn't tyranny; it's service rendered. It's difficult, but it's a big part of what it means a man.


2) Be a spiritual leader in your relationships with women.

Men, we should set the spiritual pace in our relationships with women.

We should be the ones to make sure our relationships aren't merely, superficial and entertainment oriented, but deep, God focused, and characterized by biblical fellowship.

The first important step is to make your own personal growth in godliness a priority. Don't be content to be spiritually lukewarm-strive to set an example of passive for God.

My friend Joseph sets a terrific example in this area. When he's with a group of friends, at some point in the conversation he'll ask a question like "So what did you think of the sermon on Sunday?" or "Can I share something God is showing me?" or "What's the area God is helping you to grow in?"

Do you know what is Joseph doing? He's initiating biblical fellowship. He's asking questions that help him and his friends share the new life they have because of Jesus. He's leading them in talking about reality of God in their lives.

Joseph isn't a spiritual show-off. That should never be our motive. His goal is to serve his friends and enrich his own life. He knows how easy it is to let a whole night go by without having a serious a serious, God-focus conversation. He knows that in fellowships he and his friends are truly growing closer.

Men, in marriage we'll be called to be spiritual leaders of our homes. Before marriage, let's practice leading in biblical fellowship with friends and during courtship. Then we'll be that much more prepared to do so with our wives and children.



3) Do Little Things In Your Relationships With Women That Communicate Your Care, Respect, and Desire to protect.

This doesn't have to be complicated. Simply be a gentleman to the women in your life. Your goal is to show through your actions that their status as a woman is a noble one.

Let them feel your concern and respect in as many ways as you possibly can. You can do this through small actions: open the door for them, pull out their chair, escort them to their car (or house) at the end of the night. If you need more guidance, ask a few Christian women for pointers. You'll be amazed how willing they'll help educate you!

In your courtship, remember that you're not doing these things merely to impress or to win a woman's heart. You are doing these things for God's glory. You do them to serve a sister in Christ and honor her as a woman.

(A brief aside to women: If you're just friends with a man, and he's trying to treat you like a lady, don't assume he has a romantic interest in you. One of the fastest ways to derail a man's attempts to practice servant leadership is to interpret his actions as romantic overtures. As my friend Jen put it, "Girls should assume that until a guy express interest, they're just friends")


4) Encourage Women to Embrace Godly Femininity.

Look for ways to encourage your sisters in godly femininity. When they make room for you to practice leadership, thank them. When they're humble and gentle, encourage them. Femininity is not weakness. It requires great strength of character for a woman to be gentle in an age that screams for her to do otherwise.

When you see woman going against the grain of culture by cultivating a skill that will serve her family someday, compliment her. When a girl is pursuing a demanding career, but it is still being feminine, let her know you notice. Let her know you respect her.

Men should be the biggest encouragers and prayer warriors for women who are seeking to glorify God by practicing godly femininity.



A Challenge to the Girls: Be Godly Ladies
I think I can understand how you feel. I'm sure that you can think of ways these biblical truths have been misused and misapplied by domineering and chauvinistic men. I'm sorry that has been the case. Please know that there are many men today who want to spend their lives proving that that's not what biblical masculininity is about.

Don't give up on us. We need your support. We need your prayers. We need you to fix your eyes on God-not on the men who have misrepresented His plan-and live your life in response to His commands for you as a woman.

Here are the four ways you can be sisters to the men in you life and practice mature femininity.

1) In Your Relationship with Godly Men, Encourage and Make Room for Them to Practice Servant Leadership.

If a man's biggest temptation is to be passive, a woman's biggest temptation is to take control. The man isn't setting a course, so the woman grabs the steering wheel. It might fix things in the short term, but in the long run it only discourages men from playing their God-given role as initiators.

You can encourage men to be men by refusing to do the work of leading for them. What you want to avoid is developing a habit initiating your relationships with men. This doesn't mean you never do so, but that it's not the normal pattern in your life. Neither does this mean that when you're single, you're supposed to submit to every man you meet. God asks a woman to submit to her husband. But a single woman can, with men whose character warrants it, encourage servant leadership and respond to their initiative.

So if you're in a courtship, make room for him to lead. Step back and let him be one to take charge. How else will he learn to lead? How else can you practice for the time when you will follow a husband?

Sylvia, who is in her thirties, gave me one example of how women can let men lead. "We ladies can be too quick to fill the silence in a conversation." she said. "We're like, 'Oh no, he's not talking! I need to say something.' But I think it's important for us to let there be awkward moments of silence so the men can step up and lead the conversation."


2) Be a Sister to the Men in Your Life.

What are the categories you have for Christian men in your life-potential boyfriend, potential husband, no potential whatsoever? I encourage you to drop these categories. The first way you should view a Christian guy is as a brother.

Be a sister to the men in your life. Pray for them. Be yourself. Don't put up a front. Be a friend.

And remember, encourage men to lead and to initiate doesn't mean that girls never start a conversation or have ideas for activities. My coworker Dawn and her three roommates make a practice of inviting a group of guys over for dinner every two weeks. They use these times to reach out to new people in their singles ministry and to develop friendships. Dawn and her roommates are being sisters to their brothers in the Lord.


3) Cultivate the Attitude that Motherhood is a Noble and Fulfilling Calling.

Today many people scorn motherhood and the skills associated with managing a home. In our culture children are viewed as a nuisance, and motherhood is considered a waste of a woman's talents. A college counselor once told me that majority of the female students she worked with secretly longed to get married and have kids, but they were too ashamed to admit it. What a tragedy!

Please don't believe our culture's lies about motherhood. If God has placed that desire in your heart, don't be embarrassed about it. The Bible encourages younger women to learn homemaking skills from older women. Learning to keep a home and love husband and children is part of God's plan for the complete training of younger women (see Titus 2:3). Don't hesitate to learn the practical skills that will one day allow you to serve a family. Search out godly mothers in your local church from whom you can learn.

You can process biblical femininity without being married or having children. As a single woman, you can express your femininity by practicing hospitality and by caring for and nurturing the people in your life. But you can also honor God's plan for womanhood by agreeing that motherhood is a high and noble calling.


4) Cultivate Godliness and Inward Beauty in Your Life

A girl once wrote to tell me how God had used Proverbs 7:5 to convict her of being like the wayward woman who led men astray. "I don't want to be a seductress like her," she wrote. "I don't want flirtatiousness or immodest clothing to keep guys from seeing me as a sister in Christ."

If you want godly men to respect and cherish you as a woman, refuse to buy in to our culture's obsession with being physically beautiful and sexually alluring. This is an attitude that springs from the motives of your heart and extends to the way you dress and act around men.

Is your wardrobe an expression of your love for God? Shannon often says to women, "There's a big difference between dressing attractively and dressing to attract." What's your motive? Have you ever asked your father or another Christian woman to honestly evaluate your clothing? Are you willing to sacrifice fashion to be obedient to God?

During out courtship, Shannon honored me by always acting and dressing modestly. A few times that meant getting rid of outfits that she didn't think would cause a problem (Ladies, you'll never know just how differently we're wired until you get married!". Once when I told her that a particular pair of shorts were a little too short and were causing me to struggle, she quickly replace them.

In Scripture, Peter tell Christian women that their beauty should be that of their inner selves -"the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:4).

*****************

A sweet blessing

Flince blessed me last night with a packet of M&Ms. Thanks dear bro, it tastes really sweet. :)

Hmm! :)

Tried the test...

Don't really think the personality test is very accurate though - I mean, look at the 3rd result. Nah... :P

What do you guys think?

Your #1 Match: ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

Your #2 Match: ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're qutie the storyteller! You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

Your #3 Match: ENTJ

The Executive You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others. Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise. Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow. You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence. You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.

What's Your Personality Type?

Convictions

Think my personal conviction abt not using pirated software is being tested... 'cos was thinking of using a pirated copy of Win XP to reinstall on my sister's computer, and quite worried abt how to get a copy of Microsoft Office 'cos my sis may not adapt well to using OpenOffice.

The crunch: *Do I REALLY believe that Jesus wants me NOT to use pirated software?* and do I trust in Him to provide for me the software that me and my sis and dad'll need?

I think this is a real test to see if my conviction is genuine...

I've made the decision - I won't use pirated software, by the grace of God, because the Bible says "Do not steal." And I'm trusting in Him to provide for my needs, one way or another.

Think this is how convictions are formed. At first you just accept it as true... it's just an agreement, not a belief.

Then the crunch comes and the assent that you made is challenged, and you wonder, is it worth it? Is this really worth the trouble to stick to this agreement? And is this issue even worth bothering about?

And the crossroads - which choice shall i make? To stay firm on this agreement, which will make it a true belief - with all its consequences, or to throw aside the agreement, which means that i reject it as true... I realised that even with a simple decision like this, there's no turning back once the decision is made. Either this agreement becomes a belief or it becomes a belief that using pirated software is NOT wrong.

Somehow sensed God's assurance on me when I made this decision to stand firm for Him, the assurance that I've done the right thing and He is pleased with me. I remembered what Sijia said during CG last night, that the Kingdom of God extends to ALL areas of our lives. And that includes pirated software. :)

Really thank God for this invaluable lesson - a "lab demo session" on developing convictions. This has helped me see how a conviction can be formed:
a mere agreement -> a shaky belief -> a steadfast conviction.

And at each ->, there's at least one decision to be made.

Hey! I just realised, this is really wonderful, because recently, I've been praying to God to ask Him to help me grow in conviction for His Word in all aspects of my life, to obey His Word more and more. And think God is answering this prayer by helping me through this reflection just now, the one about choosing whether to use or not to use.

Surely we serve a great Teacher! :D

The stars that shine

[The LORD] took [Abram] outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

Genesis 15:5

Was sitting outside HQ thinking of God's faithfulness in my life. Then remembered the verse above and looked up at the sky. But saw only clouds and darkness.

Then this thought came to me:

The stars are there, even if we cannot see them.

I'm a Kurt Halsey fan now... =)

Recently went to this website from Yufen's blog: http://www.kurthalsey.com

Really like the designs - there's a very melancholic tune to his artwork - yet at the same time, a whimsical hope and dreaminess to his designs. :)

There's even a fan site for his designs: Kurt Halsey's Fandom

The majority of the fans seems to be girls, though. :P Not surprising when you see his designs...

What says you?

Ubuntu, Ubuntu, how do you do? Not very well, thank you - there's only FAT32...

Haha... I like this title... ;)

'Cos I was installing Ubuntu, a desktop edition of the Linux operating system yesterday - with a LOT of help from Weizhu...

Haha... he converted me to Ubuntu... after seeing Windows XP go through 3 Moores Laws' cycles... yah, WZ, XP really is history. ;) LOL

Anyway, "nuked" (i.e. reformatted, but "reformatted" sounds so boring leh...) my hard-disk finally... it felt fantastic at first, to have an opportunity to start afresh...

But in less than an hour, spyware and worms gate-crashed my defenceless laptop and merrily installed themselves onto my harddisk.

*sigh* 8 worms. :P 180degree Search Assistant. Etc, etc...

And oh yeah, seems like there's a little Sasser-type worm floating around... for helpless hosts like me. :P

<geek>
(To the tune of "3 Little Pigs")
Big Bad Worm: "Lsass.exe, Lsass.exe, let me in."
Lsass.exe: "Oh no no, not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!"
Big Bad Worm: "Then I'll hack, and I'll crack, and I'll flow your buffer down!"

You get the idea...
</geek>

The Stolen Sacrifice, the Frustrated Monkey and the Happy Wife

Met Weizhu over lunch yesterday. What he told me was so inspiring, that I want to pen it down as a way to remind myself and share with you guys. :)

In case you haven't heard yet, he got rid of all his pirated stuff.

When he shared this news with me, I was so amazed. A lot of thoughts went through my mind, but the one that stood out was that this brother really has a lot of conviction. So I decided to follow his example, took out my laptop, and started deleting my own pirated stuff.

As he sat there watching, I remarked to him, "Hey... it occurred to me - I'll need some of the software for my design ministry..."

He said,

"Imagine you're a poor farmer in the Old Testament. You want to make a sacrifice to God. But all your cows are scrawny and sick. Then you look over your neighbour's fence and see... yes! a healthy-looking cow! So you steal your neighbour's cow and make your offering. Would God be happy with that?"

I looked at him and smiled.

He went on, "Actually, I was also worried about that. But God will provide for our needs..."

I exclaimed, "Oh! I see... even more when it's for ministry!"

"Yes! You got it."

I thought a while about what he had said, and envied his heart and conviction for God. So I felt very sad, discouraged and angry with myself because I felt that I didn't have his level of passion and joy. So I mentioned that to him.

He replied, "Actually, the problem is not that you hate sin, but rather, you hate the fact that you sin. Can you see the difference?"

The light started turning on in my head.

"You set your own standards, and when you can't meet up to your own standards, you feel angry with yourself. That's pride."

I nodded in agreement. Because that's what a legalist does - he/she sets up his own standards, and if he can meet his own standards, he starts thinking of himself as having pleased God, and therefore being very spiritual.

So he gave me this analogy:

"It's like a monkey climbing a tree. You are the monkey, and the tree represents righteousness. As we grow in our walk with God, we climb up, say 5 metres, and slip 4 metres. But we keep climbing and climbing...

Now what if the monkey climbs 5 metres and drops one metre? He starts focusing on the one metre he drops, and he's very frustrated about it. As a result of being so frustrated, he drops another 2 or 3 metres further. So don't waste all your energy that you spend in being angry and discouraged at your drop. Rather, focus on doing the positive things instead."

I thought about that for another while. Actually, I was still very confused about the difference between legalism and obedience. After all, isn't it important to obey God even when we don't feel like it? Besides, Jesus had prayed to the Father, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

So told him about this. He paused for a while, and then said,

"I think you're seeing it in this way:

if (do the right thing == true)
then God_will_be_pleased;

Say you bought flowers for your wife. You know that it'll make her happy. Even if you weren't around to see her smile when you left the flowers for her on the table before you went off to work, you'd know that she'll definitely be happy.

It's not if (i buy flowers for my wife) then (she will be happy).

rather, it's: Knowing(God_will_be_pleased) -> I_do_the_right_thing.

It's not, if I do the right thing, then God will be pleased. Actually, God IS pleased when we do something that is right."

I was puzzled. Then I thought about what he said about the happy wife... I imagined myself as the husband who buys flowers for his wife... not because he has to, but because he knows that his wife simply loves it, her eyes sparkling with delight, as she sees the flowers. He knows her heart, even if he can't see her smile.

Maybe you'll find it a bit hard to understand... think it's like that in any romantic relationship, where you buy gifts and flowers for your sweetheart, not because you're supposed to, but because just seeing him/her so happy simply makes your own heart jump for joy. You're happy BECAUSE he/she is happy.

************

Later that day, I went up to one of the roof-tops in Engineering Block E5. Was still quite confused, with all those things that WZ had told me swimming around in my head. So prayed, and then prayed some more. Then somehow, I'm not sure how, I think God helped me put 2 and 2 together, until I understood what WZ had told me.

It's quite hard to describe this understanding, I guess - kinda like doing long division... you've been struggling with it for a while, until it just falls into place, and the light comes to your eyes.

Personally, this renewed understanding about making God happy has helped me understand in a newer light Jesus' thirst to glorify and obey His Father... especially His statements to describe His relationship with the Father, such as: "I always do what pleases Him," and "but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me."

And that He IS sad when I choose to disobey Him...

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. (John 6:66-67)

Surely... it's all about Jesus' heart, and not me. At the moment I'm writing this blog entry, I'm thinking of Him looking over my shoulder and looking at what I type. To be honest, I think He's not exactly super-delighted at the moment - this blog entry was written for my own personal reflection, not for His glory really. But I know He is patient with me, wanting me to grow in obedience to Him, because it makes Him smile when I do something good - "something that's of worth / that will bless Your heart..."

Think just want to encourage whoever's reading this (and congrats for making it this far!) with this promise from Hebrews 13:16:
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

bLeSSeD BirThDay Peter! :D

Just celebrated my shepherd's bday. Really thank God for a dear shepherd and friend like him. :D

And you thought your PC was hot...

Cultural eye-opener

Now in LT9 for this Visual Ethnography module...

Very interesting, this module. My lecturer's a blond-haired woman, with a unique accent that borders on the near-unintelligible (or maybe I just don't understand what's she talking about haha). =)

She's lecturing now about this Iranian film made by an all-women crew. It argues "women need to do sociology from their own point of view, and starting from own bodily experience and tacit knowledge." Title is provocative: "Divorce Iranian style."

Thank God for this module, 'cos it's been quite an eye-opener, watching ethnographic films of people. And learning how the film-makers try to express the 'feel' of a culture through various filming techniques - e.g. angle of camera, closeness of distance, facial shots versus long-distance...

Think this is something that I'd love to do in future... maybe if I get to serve in a multimedia ministry next time... =) You know, this joy of trying to express a culture (need not necessarily be a remote tribe in Africa - can be your own caregroup: it has its own unique sub-culture within a sub-culture (my church) within a distinct culture (Christianity)).

Technical details aside, getting an insight into other people's cultures - think it helps open my heart to be more aware of how different people interact with each other - and particularly, how they express common emotions and perspectives (e.g. divorce) in different ways.

Hey... just watched this scene where there's this pretty-looking (and outspoken) woman who pesters a civil servant to find her file. The man sits there, sipping his tea, telling her that the file is mislaid, so she should come back in a week or 10 days' time. Obviously the man is irritated with the woman...

Then the woman keeps asking the guy when she can have her file ("in 10 minutes?"). The guy tells her bemusedly, "You turn my tea into poison when you stand over my head." And the lady says, "Enjoy your tea."

Wah.....

Still a lot more to go...

Guard your heart...

Had a refreshing unit 242 just now. Learnt from Shirley abt God's Word being our filter... we had a Bible quiz + a practical session where we evaluated 3 statements to see if they're biblical.

Now in PGP TV room. Fell back on the sofa, wondering "What is my life going to be? Is this time in NUS meaningful?"
Felt quite worried. But need to jaga my heart, remembering what one bro told me yesterday (i'm paraphrasing him): "Don't let the wrong thots come into your heart."

Yes... need to guard my heart attitudes, and one way I need to do this is to use God's Word as a filter.
Two things Shirley told us:
1. Do I know enough of His Word?
2. Am I practising it?

Ha... in a way, I do know quite a bit of His Word... but it's only surface knowledge, facts.
Frankly, I don't understand the meaning behind what I do know.
So pt 1 applies to me - do I understand what His Word REALLY is saying?

And 2! Ha... plain and simple.

Prayed today after I went back from the 242. Prayed to God to commit this decision that I've made to Him, to help me take captive every thought, word and deed to obey Christ Jesus my Lord.

Yes... jaga my heart, 'cos out of it flows the wellspring of life.

Learning something new every day...

Still, there's this small fear in my heart, "Does my life really count for anything? And what I am doing really mean anything?"

Lord, I long to talk with You abt this, just to be in Your presence.
Was feeling very 'kan-cheong' about a lot of things,
but I know Jesus wants me to focus on Him, not my feelings or problems.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

Breakthrough campaign - Day 1 to 3

Mmm... it's been ages since I last blogged something long. =)

Personally, it really touches my heart to see how much Jesus cares for me. When I see His love for me, I feel so bad I really don't want to sin against Him.

Why the title "Breakthrough campaign"? For two reasons:
1. My church is having a breakthrough campaign. Breakthrough in every area of our lives - be it financial, spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and so on. And this is the general direction for every member in the church. Breakthrough, not only because the church says so, but simply because God Himself wants us to have a breakthrough in faith.

2. On a personal basis, it's a personal desire to want to break out for once and for all - make a full-scale charge "over the top" to tackle one area that has been hindering me in my fellowship with people.

And along the way, while looking for the solution to my problems... I've realised that Jesus doesn't just know the solution... He IS the Solution.

I can't win this battle on my own. I've tried so many, many times, and it's been getting worse and worse... the old wineskin, left unchanged, will burst in the face of new challenges. After my CL and shepherd asked me whether I prayed to God for help with my problems, I realised that I've not been praying to Him actually for help.

Guess I'll just copy and paste from my personal journal here. They're bits and pieces of my thoughts, so might get a bit confusing at times. :P

Day 1 (Sep 1) of personal breakthru campaign started with this:
What Sijia told me:
"...and that He rewards those who EARNESTLY seek Him."
Rewards - a growing character is the MAIN reward; tasks and titles are secondary.
"Do the right things. Not many things."

Note to self:
Learn from QN! After learning God's word, this brother goes back and faces himself honestly with the Word.

To be honest, I still feel scared when I think abt that... would I be able to stand firm and honestly confront myself?

Lord, help me look hard into the mirror.

Attention-seeking... root issue is: have I sensed God's acceptance of me?

Personal thoughts:
Feel quite excited, Lord... I believe You promised me that this semester will be a breakthru. To charge out of the trenches, the stalemate... and with Your help, we'll bring down this attention-seeking area in my life once and for all. No more retreating, no more stalemate... it's been like that for almost my whole life.

Day 2:
Thank You Father for today's shepping. Think my shep was quite drained by the time though. :P but really tks shep. :)

Points Peter told me:
- Assurance from God.
- Seek God's attention.

What makes me want to change? Because people tell me... or God?

YA, remember what made you want to stop your dirty jokes and swearing when you first became a Christian.

"Dear Jesus, I want to be a good testimony to Your name. I don't want to tell dirty jokes anymore. In Jesus' name, Amen."

So now... it's the same thing, Yeu Ann. You change because you want to honour Jesus. You don't want to dishonour Him, to bring shame to His name. You love him, you know that.

What Peter told me near the end of our shepherding:
"Pray to God daily, ask Him to help you overcome these problem areas. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your heart and help you keep watch over these areas and temptations. And you'll see a change. Pray DAILY."

Prayer for Protection:
"... and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Day 3:
Just as my shepherd suggested yesterday night, prayed to God this morning about my problem areas. Was conked out, but thank God for His help, as I struggled to pray while still groggy, somehow He enabled me to pray in more and more detail over my life. Spent half an hour praying... wanted to sleep again, but remembered His words, "Are you still sleeping? Pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Prayed against leaning on my own understanding too.

Near the end of the prayer, I thought about this: I'm a person who really really wants attention.

But perhaps this attention-seeking nature was actually uniquely given by God... my fallen attention-seeking nature seeks to gain attention from men, but really, I think He gave me this attention-seeking nature with the full intention for me, when I have turned back to Him, to seek HIM and HIM alone. And it would bring Him such joy...

I think He, having redeemed me, wants to restore my nature to what it was intended all along to be: To seek God's attention with all my heart... and God, being Himself, would be so full of joy when He sees His son seeking Him, crying out for His attention... it would bring so much joy to His heart, just like when a father's heart jumps for joy when he hears his son just wanting to be with him.

During worship service today, shared with God about the desire again to want to be paid attention to... (somehow God had arranged things such that I really felt left out.) Felt very distracted during service, so cried out to him quietly during worship.

Then I remembered something my shepherd told me the night before: "Don't deny your emotions."

Then think the Spirit here helped me put 2 and 2 together... (It's one of those "Oh yah hor... now I see..." moments.) The emotions that I feel when I feel neglected, feel left out... I've been attempting to suppress these emotions and tell myself it's wrong to feel these emotions.

But as somebody put it so well, "Thirst was made for water." Likewise, my heart was meant all along to thirst for God's love.

Then I remembered one of the films that I had watched for one of my modules. It was a scene of a woman pumping water from a tap. It was good clean water, but it only came in spurts as the woman pumped.

Then I realised that my church, being made up of imperfect people, is at best a pump-well that we have to regularly pump. Of course, it supplies fresh water, good water, clean water... it is part of God's plan all along. And compared to the surrounding desert, well, the well is practically paradise. =)

But the well, as we see it now in this world, only gives spurts at best. The well was meant to sustain the thirsty traveller, the weary wanderer... and point us to the Source Himself, the Spring of Living Water. Think of drinking from a continually flowing, gushing spring of crystal-clear, clean and cool water... I remember what Jiexian's testimony today... she described experiencing God's presence as "very shiok." [Thanks sis! It was a wonderful testimony. Believe God used your testimony to touch many hearts and turn them around that day.]

So I realised then that it's ok to feel these emotions... but I must seek God's attention and go to Him to satisfy this emotional thirst. Whenever I am emotionally thirsty, I need to go to Jesus who loves me and seek His attention.

(Just like it's normal for a thirsty man to feel thirsty... but he MUST go drink some water ASAP.)

Looking forward to spending more time with You, Lord. Thanks thanks for the understanding today. =)

A really really funny animation

Watched it four or five times. And I'm STILL LAUGHING. =D

http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/angry_kid_sofa

God does care

Was thinking how many things I really need to change and grow in. Was dismayed and discouraged at my constant struggle with my sins, especially the sin of pride. Complained to God, but in the end prayed to him.

Then walked out and felt the gentle breeze upon my face. As if God was kissing me gently and holding me close to His chest. And this verse came to mind: "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

And He would know I love breezes.

Haha... really? :)

You are Romans.


Which book of the Bible are you?
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Ramblings II

Ok... the sequel's here. =)

Mmm... school's starting soon. It's been about 3 months or so, the vacation + matriculation programme + church camp + a whole bunch of other things.

Gosh, it's been a really thick 3 months... think if you were to ask me how my holidays were - not the casual "how are you?" - but the deep, sincere one - I guess I'd have to use the phrase "hard to describe - a mixture of fearfulness, expectancy and hopefulness".

It's getting late. Think I'll write down another day.

Ramblings

Mmm... it's been a long while since I blogged. Well, thanks to Flince's prompting, I'm writing...

Ha, somehow it seemed easier to blog when I'm thinking about it... but when I sit at the keyboard, suddenly, I feel like I'm writing for an audience... heh, yeah, that's true anyway. :) Maybe it's that kind of day-dream where you imagine yourself doing some wonderfully amazing impromptu stand-up comedy or give a powerful speech in front of an audience... leaving the audience spell-bound in awe...

and when you actually get around to doing it - hey, you get that sudden nervous twinge - "My God, what shall I say? do? etc. etc..." - 'cos it's no longer just you and yourself.

Think some pple find it easier to express how they naturally feel, in a very candid way that's straightforward, and systematically clear. Ha, just feel that's not very much me at the moment, though I'd definitely like to be able to express clearly n concisely what I'm thinking - not just feeling - at this point.

Maybe it's that desire to look good in pple's eyes that makes me self-conscious about myself, which leads me to organising my words, take ages on a one-page blog... trying to squeeze out some impressive rhetoric.

But, dunno, just want to do something new today in my writing. Just to share what's on my mind at the moment... a little 'candid snapshot' of my thoughts. :) Guess it's prompted in a way by Flince's little egging-on - it touched me that someone would keep checking out my blog... think it's the wanting to know what's going on in someone's life... or just to be entertained by some random ramblings of a friend on a drizzly day. :)

That my random ramblings can actually be interesting in their own unique way... XD

So that would be the main reason for just writing down some ramblings - just to share my thoughts, just being myself. LOL! =)

Realised something abt myself

I'm a "Thumb Sucker".

A "Thumb Sucker", according to John Maxwell's "Be a People Person", tends to pout, are full of self-pity, and try to get people to cater to his/her own desires.

It can be very subtle - probably through a sulky face, the silent treatment, etc.

At first I found it really hard to accept. But like what this bro reminded me, I only hear what I want to hear. So must thank God for helping me see myself for who I really am.

Fact is, people care abt me - but they can't meet my needs all the time. (That was the part I really hate to hear 'cos it implies that I'm looking for people to meet my needs... sounds like a parasite huh?)

But come to think of it, frankly, I realised through my bro's comments that it's not me only who got struggles.

Other people have MUCH more.

And if I got only a few non-critical things on my mind, then how about the other person with 4 or 5 important things on his/her mind?

Then... my moodiness is a choice. I'm responsible for my own responses, my own attitudes, the atmosphere I create with others.

Like what this bro told me:
"We've all got to carry our own burdens. But we can carry our own burdens joyfully."

And, "I don't really care what people think of me. C'mon, I got [all these important things] and besides, I get to serve God..."

Thanks bro, for your frank and sincere feedback. It hurt for a while, but hope this helps me become a better person for Him in the end.

Thanks Jan :)

Jan called me today to see how I am.

*touched*

Thanks dear bro. Really so inspired by your heart and compassion for others, bro.

Aaron's blog

Been reading through Aaron's blog.

Wow, really thank God for His wonderful transforming power in Aaron - when I read his blog, I feel SO amazed, inspired and encouraged by this dear bro's simple, childlike faith, and how his clarity of thought and conviction shows up clearly in his blog.

Really... this brother has been given much by God. Let's pray that he'll be faithful in using the talents and giftings that God has given him. It's so amazing to see what God can do in our lives!

Lord, I pray that Your grace shall be upon this dear bro all his life and may You keep him safe in Your wonderful hands as you mould him through this time in New Zealand. =)

Weizhu's blog

Realised something abt WZ's spirit in his blog - even when he writes abt himself - somehow, it's not inwards-focused but outwards-looking. :)

http://wei.lookingabove.com :)

Wow, really thank God for you, WZ. :) Thanks for leaving a ripple in my life, bro. =)

Sensitive teeth...

Ouch, recently my molars + wisdom teeth have been hurting at times... I dun think it's an infected tooth per se, but rather, sensitive teeth... think parts of the teeth are partially exposed (why? maybe cavities??)...

Chocolate, in particular, are a real pain to chew on... dunno why, my molars are VERY sensitive to choccies nowadays... *oh no*...

So I've visited the NUH website... shall make an appointment wif the dentist... better double-check the condition of my teeth...

Met Gerard from West unit yesterday morning at YIH. He blessed me with a surprise breakfast treat. Really blessed. TQ Lord, it's a joy getting to know another bro, esp one as sincere as Gerard.

Commented to him tt I find him sincere. He mentioned to me tt a lot of pple also say that. Wow... I remember praying the day before that You send me examples of pple who are sincere so that I can learn from them.

Thank You Lord. =) I really want to grow, to learn from others. Think this is true: true humility brings joy to the heart...