Standing up and Facing the World again
John Baillie:
“Let me use
Disappointment as material for Patience
Success as material for Thankfulness
Trouble as material for Perseverence
Danger as material for Courage
Reproach as material for Long suffering
Praise as material for Humility
Pleasures as material for Temperance
Pain as material for Endurance”
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
not a pause...
heh heh ... this time it wasn't a pause. it was just a lapse of space. so what happened then?
firstly, roger federer won his fifth wimbledon, making it 11 Grand slams. amazing mental strength. it is pretty interesting in one of the articles i read. during the game, roger was beaten 6-2 by nadal in the 4th set. it looks like the end for federer. the article wrote that during that time, "it looked like federer was on the verge of self-destruction. but he managed to pull himself together and keep the game going; playing safe, one at a time." (one at a time is one of the most basic and fundamental foundational mental patience of the game of tennis)
made me thought, at the top or when reaching the top, most of the times, it is our choices that are heading our direction. not much of the external factors influencing you anymore. you know that with all the external troubles coming on, it boils down to your personal choice to change it.
and on the verge of defeat or crumbling, stick back to the basics where it is strong and KEEP going on. that's life application.
i was working weekends for the 2 months before july 9th. it is really God's blessings that my manager allowed me to take leave from 10th-13th (tues-fri) which is 4 days so that i can spend that last week with my parents. and also a good rest. i did my part and gave all that is needed at work. spent good times with my parents. my father is working in british council, beijing for one and a half years max.
so my parents left last sunday. i'm a free man. i can do anything i want. party every night. that's what everyone is asking me to do. haha... not really. life goes on like normal. and just make sure i keep things and the freedom under control and not go haywire. a lot of admin stuff to do. anything my parents need, i got to get it done. the man of the house loh...what to do..
lots of weddings coming. somehow, chinese love weddings in september and december. been getting the invitations to attend and also have weddings to play the piano or the organ for. have to get into practise again. won't want to spoil the special day, right? hahaha....
i have a church musical in august 25 and 26. about Joseph. its going to be heavy with the practises and all. i'm in the acting crew. first time working with the music director. so wanted to join and help in the music recordings but work did not permit so with its late nights. so, too bad lah for that part. i got to know the other guys better (Joseph has 11 brothers).
and the best part of all, was that i got to talk to someone in church. was my sunday school teacher. and now a father with kids. i got someone to talk to, and i guess he got to know me better. things of the youth, i'd say i got to learn most of it. and for the adult matters now, career, church work, ministry, direction in life, church matters, waliau.... all different man. not the Christian faith, but more to the way things are handled and done.
firstly, roger federer won his fifth wimbledon, making it 11 Grand slams. amazing mental strength. it is pretty interesting in one of the articles i read. during the game, roger was beaten 6-2 by nadal in the 4th set. it looks like the end for federer. the article wrote that during that time, "it looked like federer was on the verge of self-destruction. but he managed to pull himself together and keep the game going; playing safe, one at a time." (one at a time is one of the most basic and fundamental foundational mental patience of the game of tennis)
made me thought, at the top or when reaching the top, most of the times, it is our choices that are heading our direction. not much of the external factors influencing you anymore. you know that with all the external troubles coming on, it boils down to your personal choice to change it.
and on the verge of defeat or crumbling, stick back to the basics where it is strong and KEEP going on. that's life application.
i was working weekends for the 2 months before july 9th. it is really God's blessings that my manager allowed me to take leave from 10th-13th (tues-fri) which is 4 days so that i can spend that last week with my parents. and also a good rest. i did my part and gave all that is needed at work. spent good times with my parents. my father is working in british council, beijing for one and a half years max.
so my parents left last sunday. i'm a free man. i can do anything i want. party every night. that's what everyone is asking me to do. haha... not really. life goes on like normal. and just make sure i keep things and the freedom under control and not go haywire. a lot of admin stuff to do. anything my parents need, i got to get it done. the man of the house loh...what to do..
lots of weddings coming. somehow, chinese love weddings in september and december. been getting the invitations to attend and also have weddings to play the piano or the organ for. have to get into practise again. won't want to spoil the special day, right? hahaha....
i have a church musical in august 25 and 26. about Joseph. its going to be heavy with the practises and all. i'm in the acting crew. first time working with the music director. so wanted to join and help in the music recordings but work did not permit so with its late nights. so, too bad lah for that part. i got to know the other guys better (Joseph has 11 brothers).
and the best part of all, was that i got to talk to someone in church. was my sunday school teacher. and now a father with kids. i got someone to talk to, and i guess he got to know me better. things of the youth, i'd say i got to learn most of it. and for the adult matters now, career, church work, ministry, direction in life, church matters, waliau.... all different man. not the Christian faith, but more to the way things are handled and done.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
bits of time....
my time is in bits and pieces.
work was packed last week.
whatever bits that there are, i try to do the things that i love, like, have a passion for. i would love to have the time to do the things i love. but in terms of priority, it really ends up at the bottom. there are things i so so so want to do but yeah... it starts at the bottom of the priority list. time is precious. energy is precious too. God, You there?
my parents are going to China on july 15. next 2 sundays.
spending time with them is important. trying to. but having so many things to juggle. i got some complete so its pretty much okay for now. it is manageable.
my father is working in british council in China. so the plan is that they will be away till the end of next year. if it is till the end of the year, they can go see the Olympics. but its not a carreer chasing thing, so there are no worries. more of a just-try-and-see what is there. i recently watch a video about Christians in china. fooh! blew me away. i'll type something about that next time.
i admit i do get confused that, hey, God? i thought You told me to come back for my parents? weirdness-es. of course also, its not that my parents are obligated to stay in malaysia because i came back.
going on the internet is a luxury. so its rare. i am posting less because of the rarity of onlining and also not much time to think slowly and put a good post. i just realised i have a LOT of drafts. typed but unfinished.
i think i'm resting enough. or maybe its not enough and i'm pushing myself more on the edge. God, You there? Please, show me more of You.
on another note, wimbledon is going on now. i admire the tennis players mental strength, focus and concentration. i always try to increase mental strength.
work was packed last week.
whatever bits that there are, i try to do the things that i love, like, have a passion for. i would love to have the time to do the things i love. but in terms of priority, it really ends up at the bottom. there are things i so so so want to do but yeah... it starts at the bottom of the priority list. time is precious. energy is precious too. God, You there?
my parents are going to China on july 15. next 2 sundays.
spending time with them is important. trying to. but having so many things to juggle. i got some complete so its pretty much okay for now. it is manageable.
my father is working in british council in China. so the plan is that they will be away till the end of next year. if it is till the end of the year, they can go see the Olympics. but its not a carreer chasing thing, so there are no worries. more of a just-try-and-see what is there. i recently watch a video about Christians in china. fooh! blew me away. i'll type something about that next time.
i admit i do get confused that, hey, God? i thought You told me to come back for my parents? weirdness-es. of course also, its not that my parents are obligated to stay in malaysia because i came back.
going on the internet is a luxury. so its rare. i am posting less because of the rarity of onlining and also not much time to think slowly and put a good post. i just realised i have a LOT of drafts. typed but unfinished.
i think i'm resting enough. or maybe its not enough and i'm pushing myself more on the edge. God, You there? Please, show me more of You.
on another note, wimbledon is going on now. i admire the tennis players mental strength, focus and concentration. i always try to increase mental strength.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Fannie's Birthday...
saturday night! fannie's birthday!
and also danny's farewell! oh? um, eh hem... *solemnly* and also danny's farewell.
refreshing? yeah it is. to have spent time with the OCFers and also with danny who returns for a while. apologies to those that i forgot to call. will do better next time.
look at the happy birthday girl. she definitely didn't expect it. Age cannot be revealed due to safety reasons; my safety, that is.
and also danny's farewell! oh? um, eh hem... *solemnly* and also danny's farewell.
refreshing? yeah it is. to have spent time with the OCFers and also with danny who returns for a while. apologies to those that i forgot to call. will do better next time.
look at the happy birthday girl. she definitely didn't expect it. Age cannot be revealed due to safety reasons; my safety, that is.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
exam period...
it is the exam period for the whole of australia.
my thoughts fly back to adelaide. accumulating sleep debt, drinking coke for that sugar boost, drinking Red Bull for even more sugar boost, skipping meals, eating biscuits for meals, coffee replaces water, not bathing, not changing, the whole cupboard of clothes are in the laundry basket, smell the least smelliest clothes and re-wear them, wear the same shirt for 5 days (or more), wearing underwear 4 times (inside, outside, frontside, backside), becoming Jack's best friend (eating Hungry Jack's (Burger King) everyday for every meal), the house is covered with dust, the sink piles up with dishes, the toilet is --let's-not-talk-about-it--. wake up, study, sleep, wake up, study, sleep. sick but not taking medicine because it causes drowsiness.
a very interesting lifestyle, though of course, not everything listed above is done by me, or anyone else(i hope). living independently, that is called kicking in the survival gear. when nothing else matters except preparing yourself for your exams. and after its over, its time to enjoy till the next semester starts. or in crisis situations, supplementary papers.
a physical list was given above, but the underlying current is the fear, pressure, stress, failing strength, distractions, frustrations, sadness. to sum it up, emotional turmoil, spritual dryness, mental anguish and physical burdens.
and it is always a reminder to give, never forget God in the midst of preparation. or perhaps, people remember God more because here comes times of trouble.
i remember my dear friend, Kah Wai, sharing about praising God for exams and praising Him in the exam halls. yeah, i was going to throw a hymnal at him. till i grow up a little more later to realise and understand faith and God's working in each of us. i'll let God's Word answer.
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."(Romans 15:4)
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Psalm 29:2
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:8
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning i lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint," says the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:25
Jesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Mark 6:31
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.
James 1:4
God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained for it.
Hebrews 12:10-11
my thoughts fly back to adelaide. accumulating sleep debt, drinking coke for that sugar boost, drinking Red Bull for even more sugar boost, skipping meals, eating biscuits for meals, coffee replaces water, not bathing, not changing, the whole cupboard of clothes are in the laundry basket, smell the least smelliest clothes and re-wear them, wear the same shirt for 5 days (or more), wearing underwear 4 times (inside, outside, frontside, backside), becoming Jack's best friend (eating Hungry Jack's (Burger King) everyday for every meal), the house is covered with dust, the sink piles up with dishes, the toilet is --let's-not-talk-about-it--. wake up, study, sleep, wake up, study, sleep. sick but not taking medicine because it causes drowsiness.
a very interesting lifestyle, though of course, not everything listed above is done by me, or anyone else(i hope). living independently, that is called kicking in the survival gear. when nothing else matters except preparing yourself for your exams. and after its over, its time to enjoy till the next semester starts. or in crisis situations, supplementary papers.
a physical list was given above, but the underlying current is the fear, pressure, stress, failing strength, distractions, frustrations, sadness. to sum it up, emotional turmoil, spritual dryness, mental anguish and physical burdens.
and it is always a reminder to give, never forget God in the midst of preparation. or perhaps, people remember God more because here comes times of trouble.
i remember my dear friend, Kah Wai, sharing about praising God for exams and praising Him in the exam halls. yeah, i was going to throw a hymnal at him. till i grow up a little more later to realise and understand faith and God's working in each of us. i'll let God's Word answer.
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."(Romans 15:4)
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Psalm 29:2
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:8
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning i lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint," says the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:25
Jesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Mark 6:31
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.
James 1:4
God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained for it.
Hebrews 12:10-11
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