Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Das Festival 2014 - Wir sind am Ende!
Are you going? I'm excited!
1. Meeting new people
2. Hearing new stories
3. Serving in kids ministry
4. Babyphone-sitting LoL
5. Surprise me, God.
It's the last BIG Christian camp by Hoffnung Deutschland (Hope Germany). Next year we will multiply into smaller Festivals.
If you're reading this, and you wish to go, head on to Hope Germany Website and register!
Ask me if you need any help.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Das Festival 2011 – A Look Back
..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Seriously, after Beauty and the Beast, I think Tangled is the next Disney cartoon that I like. Congrats to Disney for the successful 10th princess story in 50 years and to Many Moore for outstanding voice for Rapunzel. I love this song; it’s called “I See The Light”, sung by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. It became my favorite worldy song since 2 days ago. I’m thinking of covering it, but maybe I need a girl to do duet with me.
I See the Light – Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi
[Rapunzel.Verse1]
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
[Rapunzel.Verse2]
Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be
[Chorus]
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you
[Eugene.Verse1]
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things the way they were
[Eugene.Verse2]
Now she’s here shining in the starlight
Now she’s here, suddenly I know
If she’s here it’s crystal clear
I’m where I’m meant to go
**
Okay that’s more like a “big talk” than “small talk”.
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Okay some of you might know that I’ve been saying how God “slapped” me, in a way, before, during and after Das Festival. It’s an annual church camp organized by Hope Germany and this year the topic was based on Romans 8:14
“… because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:14 NIV
For me, what I picked up the most from Paul the apostle’s letter to Romans was that we are to constantly check ourselves what is the driving force in our lives. It usually can be anything and it differs from a person to another. But the fundamental principle is this: All else will fade other than God’s faithfulness to us. Therefore, it is always the best choice for us to have this driving force, powered by (Spirit of) God, for God, and to God. As we all long to live to be righteous, God made it clear by saying
“For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written (in Hab. 2:4): ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
Romans 1:17 NIV, Parenthesis mine
Are we living by faith into our God, whose name is worthy to be praise forever and ever more? Or are we still being indulged with the sinful nature of the world?
1. Don’t judge others
I do believe God has the power to change a situation 180° in a blink of eye, the question is only about if He is willing to, because if He does, will the people involved give Him credits and glory, or will they just be happy with the change? In other words, God tests our heart and through the test He wants us to know our heart. Therefore most of the time God changes people through time. Where am I getting at? I really thankful to God, for He has shown me mercy, by putting me in Germany, to learn to grow spiritually, and He has placed people, the people in the house church around me for that very own reason. A month ago God started to work in my by putting me into a situation where I have to explain some of my actions, and was rebuked by one of the members that I was being judgmental against other people. In short, I label, tag and judge people according to what I’ve seen what they have done.
I had a thought in mind, that I want to only really befriend with people whose intelligence are higher than me. I kind of like looked down on and didn’t want to mix with people who I judged as less smart than me, because I think it is just another waste-of-time thing, neither does it help in my personal growth. But I was convicted by Holy Spirit through verses in Romans.
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
Romans 2:1 NIV
and
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his (or here) own master he stands or falls. And He will stand, for the Lord is able to make him (or her) stand.
Romans 14:4 NIV, Parenthesis mine
On top of that, I was confronted with verse from Romans 12:16. I shouldn’t look down on other people and only befriend with those I think worthy to befriend with. Instead, I should be willing to associate to different people without any discriminations.
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Romans 12:16 NIV
It was so intense and real, for God didn’t just throw me with the verses; He first reveal my problem through other people and then through series of events and Bible verses. I asked for prayer from Jia Uei and asked for forgiveness from the people whom I have judged. I pray that I will not repeat the same problem, for Christ Jesus Himself didn’t look down on other people, nor did He judge others in His own human form. And we are called to be Christ-like.
2. Repent, so that God can work in me
For the past 3 years, my prayer never differs from “Thy Will be done”. Matthew 6:9-13 has been my daily prayer:
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us away from the evil ones.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Somehow I was quite troubled by the fact that God hasn’t been using me well. At least I haven’t know what are His will for me. I know He would definitely show it to me as He promised in Jeremiah 29:11. Sometimes I did get impatient. But as I was reading Romans in the train, Holy Spirit confronted me:
Qi Hao, Qi Hao, how am I supposed to work in you, for your stubbornness and unrepentant heart blocks every signal from all channels I intended for you?
True enough, a lot of people, including me, have been complaining about how God doesn’t do what He promised His people. We indirectly put the blame on God and make excuses by saying God has His own timing and we should wait. Yes, God definitely has His own timing, but I guess God is not the God who lets us wait for nothing. He make us wait for Him, to test our heart, to teach us how to be faithful, but of all, He doesn’t think we are ready to receive what He has for us. God doesn’t want us to wait passively, but while waiting for Him, we make ourselves ready.
He says,
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God (said in Proverbs 24:12) ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking, and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
Romans 2:5-8 NIV
“therefore, I urge you, brothers, (Qi Hao), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer in the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV, Parenthesis mine
And to be real krass:
“Those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God.”
Romans 8:8 NIV
3. fear of God
To fear God – that is another prayer that I lately prayed for. I find that I don’t fear God, unlike those people in the Old Testaments. My stand was that God supposed to be our friend and He definitely seemed to be much friendlier in the New Testaments.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes”
Romans 3:8 NIV
On that subtopic, Paul mentioned about no one is righteous. A little look up in other verses I found that actually we are called to fear Him:
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1. Peter 2:17, Underline/bold mine
“Great and marvelous are Your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are Your ways,
Kings of the ages.
Who will not fear You, O Lord,
and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 15:3b-4 NIV, Underline/Bold mine
I want to learn to fear Him, the King of all kings, Lord of all lords, and the creator of the world.
4. Submit to authority
I must confess that it is hard for me to bow down and submit to someone who is near of my age, or someone whom I much consider as friends. So in the midst of transition of “throne” within our house church, I find myself to pay less respect to the leaders. And for that, I “earned” myself a slap from God.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exists have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1 NIVokay to put it a little bit more krass:
“He (They) is (are) God’s servant(-s), an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoers.”
Romans 13:4b NIV, parenthesis mine
I will pray for them, our new leaders. And I will pray for myself, pray that God will correct my heart and show respect to these God-appointed people.
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Hold On – 33 Miles
[Verse1]
I’ve been there a thousand times,
I’ve felt the rain like a thousand knives.
And it hurts,
I know it hurts.
I’ve been there like a fighting plane,
Trying fly my way through the hurricane.
And it’s hard,
I know it’s hard.
[Pre-Chorus1]
Don’t be afraid,
You’ll make it through,
Just call out to me and I’ll come running to you.
[Chorus]
Hold on, hold on!
When the current pulls you under,
and your hearts beats like thunder.
Just give me your hand,
And hold on, hold on!
Until the storm is over,
And I’ll be fighting for you,
Just give me your hand and,
Hold on!
[Verse 2]
I’ll give you hope, I’ll give you faith.
And if it’s dark, I’ll like the way,
For you, for you.
By your side until the end,
Until you’re standing tall again,
I’m here, I’ll always be here.
[Pre-Chorus2]
And if the tide, sweeps you out to sea,
When your strength is gone, and it’s hard to believe.
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enough to chew for quite a long time. But I pray to You, Father, as You have reveal all these things to me, I pray that You will teach me to learn all these lessons in me. I pray that Father, You will change my heart and to allow You to be the driving force of my life. I pray that Father, I will not be stubborn in my head, but to let go the anchor that binds me down, and let You to be the wind and guide my path in accordance to Your will that You have for me. Father I know that You have plans for me and Lord, I know I have not been given to things I don’t deserve, because I am not ready for them. Father, I want to pray to You, to give me lessons and the desires to be ready for You. For You alone knows the past, current and the future. Draw me close to You, Father, and never let me go, because You’re all I want and You’re all I ever needed.
In Jesus’s name I ask and pray,
Amen.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Between Collectivistic and Individualistic
Question 1:
In which kind of culture (collectivistic or individualistic) do ppl experience more loneliness?
Question 2:
which culture would there be more crime?
Question 3:
which culture would ppl experience the most happiness?
It's funny to see that the answer for all the three questions is individualistic.
Yes, we both agree they're arguable, but based on what I observed in lives of the people around me, I guess it is true.
It's just that there is one problem: they masked it up very well. They are so defensive, that you can't even have a heart-to-heart talk with those individualists about their private lives. It'll take years and maybe not even success, to step into those people's mind and know what are they thinking.
That is what that makes them tend to do something. Something abnormal, for example crime. That explains also the reason they experience the most happiness. But for that it'll have to be broken down into the characteristics and personalities of the person him-/herself. If they are to have strong drive, they can be most successful and thus to have greater joy. And to achieve something based on yourself - what else can be proud of other than yourself?
That is what that makes these people to suffer loneliness. Because of their I-can-depend-on-myself attitude, they form a barrier against the society, with the thought that they can survive the world without other people. They are the people who don't believe in "gemeinsam sind wir stark" ideology. Or "if we are together nothing is impossible. If we are divided all will fail" by Winston Churchill. Or "一木木,二木林,三木森,单丝不成线,独木不成林". They are the people who think that the people around them are not as good as them, and if they are, they will compete just to win against them. In short, they want to be "the one" in their cloud. These are the people who dominate, or want to dominate the high class in the social hierarchy, which also on the feedback make them to be "unfriendable". Or at least they are the people whom I feel uncomfortable to befriend with.
I'm not saying they're just who they are. I'm not going to cast them aside. It's just that I believe in any relationship, both sides have to do something to make the relationship work. I've seen people struggling hard and managed to get themselves out of the hole. These are the people who I want to be like one: successful, energetic, active, proactive, strong; a man of vision and character, a king; a man of power and strength, a warrior; a man of faith and wisdom, a mentor; and at the same time understanding, empathetic; a man of heart and love, a friend.
What do you think?
p/s: It's dangerous to see how much my mind can ripple from those 3 questions. :P
p/p/s: Thanks Gloria Tsan for the 3 questions.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Surprise Me, God!
..:: My Story ::..
It was Thursday. We had our usual 15:30h coffee break in between my two blocks of Regelungstechnik 2 (Automatic System Control 2) classes. I bought a paper cup of coffee and we chatted. The topic? It is, again, about studies, and about how Jon claimed that he can beat me. He was joking, of course.10 minutes plus passed and we got ourselves up. On our way back to our Labor Digitaltechnik, I suddenly remembered that I have, again, forgotten to take out my Mensakarte (mensa debit card) out from the coffee machine. So I ran back to the caféteria, hoping to find it still left inserted in the coffee machine. But I guess a same good thing seldom happens twice, and nothing was seen in the machine. So I asked the caféteria lady. Not only she said she didn’t see it, I got myself extra lecture from her. Well yea, I mean I think I deserve to be lecture because of the mistake, but I wasn’t really in the mood, so I just let her finish her naggings and asked a group of people there who were getting themselves coffee too.
Something told me that my card was taken by of one of them. Of course, who didn’t want a free mensa card with some debit cash in it? But then again, I thank God somehow that I got myself a reality check, that I shouldn’t jump straight into conclusion that they took. And after asking some of them, I went back to my lecture class, feeling extremely down. I was down, and not even Prof. Wölfmüller’s loud voice could bring me back to focus in the class. It was bad bad day. That’s what I thought.
That night, I really couldn’t get myself to sleep. I even tried to play as many games of Solitaire as possible with my phone to get myself to sleep. And somehow, I slept – but for a while. zzz
I was awake then again around 04:30 am. I knew myself that I couldn’t sleep back again, so might as well just start-my-day. I took my Bible from my bed and continue my to-finish-reading-the-Bible-first-round project. I was reading Philippians. But well, I couldn’t really focus. My mind kept on thinking about the card. Not just about losing a card, but also €37 in it. With the deposit it means around €42 gone just like that. So I prayed.
Father God, what do you want me to learn from this? Why it happened? If everything is in Your hands, why is this?It was a struggle and around 06:15am I turned on my Digsby and found Gloria online. And since I haven’t really thank her yet for making my current candid-but-awesome new Facebook profile picture, I chatted with her. If you know me well enough, I would always tell someone about my problems, and Pat should understand that very well. But anyway, I told Gloria about the story and asked about her opinion of what she thinks God want to convey through the incident.
..:: Her Story ::..
She told me that she had the similar case as well. When she was in New York she accidentally dropped some cash from her pocket and didn’t know where it went. But instead of being like me, complaining sulking whatever, she told herself, thatmaybe someone was praying, maybe someone was hungry, or somone really needed a miracle from God, and found the money on the floor..and she felt better after that. But of course, one should learn from mistake as well. And honestly, that kind of thoughts never come in my mind. God put it in her head.
..:: What I learned ::..
And thus I was given answers of what I asked:(1) it is not necessarily to be a bad day because of losing a mensa card, (2) and I am being selfish to just thinking only about I-lost-a-mensa-card, (3) when I should learn about giving to others, because someone else might needed that money more than I do, (4) and I should learn to think positively about what happened in my life.
..:: Her “Surprise me, God” ::..
After that we updated each other about our current lives. And she talked about how she was inspired by a guy on the airplane about doing daily prayer and prayer for “surprise me, God” and God really gave her lots of surprises. Not necessarily the good ones all the time, but there are also bad surprises but with lots of things to learn from them. She gave a testimony about what happened recently, as in her latest surprise that day. And I felt encouraged...:: My “Surprise me, God” ::..
And time flew quite fast, it’s already 7 something in the morning. And I packed my stuffs and went school, which in the end found out that the class “Ethic” was cancelled. I was praying (ohhh it’s good to start rely on God no matter what :3 ) “God, how then shall I know when the classes would begin, since I missed the class last week?” And at that moment, I saw my Cameroon friend sitting near to the place where I was sitting. I got up and asked him if he is taking the same class. And thank God he is, and he gave me all the needed information about the class...:: Your “Surprise me, God” ::..
God can really surprise people :) And to think of it, chatting with Gloria which led to so much encounters is already a surprise from God Himself, in return of my prayer to hunger for Him more. Now it is your turn. When you wake up in the morning, pray to God to surprise you on that day. And be ready to be surprised by God! And I am soooooooo much blessed to have tons of godly angels around me.God, You’re awesome!
He who is having a joyful heart,
Vincent :3
Monday, June 14, 2010
Movie "Fireproof" and song "While I'm Waiting"
This is the one of the soundtracks of the movie, titled "While I'm waiting". Highly recommended as well =)
While I'm Waiting - John Waller
[Verse1]
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
[Pre-Chorus]
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
[Chorus]
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
[Verse2]
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
Do go buy the movie and watch it over and over and over and over and over and over again!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
不可说的秘密
-----
--恐惧--
我认为,每个人的个性都是从他们自己的亲身体验而塑造出来的。而恐惧感也是一样。今天我不是讲道理,而只是想分享自己的故事。每个人都有自己恐惧的人/事务/周遭环境。因为某种的恶遭遇,我们心里产生那种害怕。我,现在就在这种感觉中。
--脚踏车--
它,其实不是我最怕的东西。只是,我和它有很多次不祥的经历。它,也是我的恐惧感的幕后首脑。说实在的,也不是它的错。故事是这样的:
在一个风和日丽的下午,我突然心血来潮,到了储藏室,把脚踏车推出来,然后就踩了上去,浩浩荡荡的在我家前面踩来踩去。虽然我那时才12岁,但是骑着大人的脚踏车,煞是好看,挺有型的。就是那一天,我想试试新东西,就踩着脚踏车,从草原越过一铺砖块。第一次,我顺畅地越过,通过!第二次,也通过!
就在第三次
。
。。
。。。
。。。。
。。。
。。
。
也通过!
嘿嘿,蛮酷的。
不知道自己尝试了几次,就在那么一次,我把脚踏车柄拉了起来,上了砖块,后轮一滑,即使小心翼翼地,也是失足摔了下来。当然,作文里常写的“四脚朝天”根本就是骗人的。根据医生的调查,当人类摔倒的时候,左右手都会扑向前去来扶助自己。当然,除非你是“一公升眼泪”里的 池內亞也。我不是她,虽然我其实多想当时我是她。所以,左右手主动向前了。如果记忆没错的话,我实在听见了“咔啦”两声。不过当时手脚神经线传达给脑袋的讯息是一字 -- 痛。
--痛 - 与泪--
在故事书里,每一次发生了什么事,英雄永远都会及时出现来救美女,或者美女及时出现来援救英雄。但是,在这短暂的人类世界里,世上事实都是残酷的。人会饿死。富有的会更富有,穷人跌了楼梯还折了腰。孤掌并非难鸣也,是不鸣也。当时爸妈都不在,家里剩下大姑。当然,我当时已嚎啕大哭了。她听见我的哭声,赶紧跑了出来,把我扶了起来,抱着我回到房子里。当然,她通知了爸妈,他们也赶紧回来。但他俩人在郊外,回来也需要一段路程。不知过了多久,眼泪也流了多过一公升,干了,累了,也睡着了。当我醒来了,他们送我到中央医院去。
--中央医院--
医生确定是左臂肘骨移了位,打了plastercast,吊了三角布,给了不知什么药,还说了不知什么对白,也记不清楚了。我们就这样回家了。当时的苦,想起心都疼。睡也睡不安,吃也吃不顺,羽毛球更别提了。庆幸的是,当时羽毛球训练休假,不然,那将会是一个人生第二次的打击。医生说,必须抱着沙包不知多久。
--不知多久--
那不知多久也过去了。沙包也解开了。恶梦也开始了。自己发现,原来骨已移位了。当时,有点害怕,所以不告诉仍何人。爸说要做候诊,带了我去看中医。
--开不了口让她知道--
有一天,我决定鼓起勇气,告诉妈妈。她还以为我在开玩笑的,直到我把两只手伸出来给她比较。她,也慌了一下。我们决定再去中央医院。今天的我,仍然还记得当时医院的情景。我们见了一位护士,据说是妈妈的学生。她检验了我,很明显的也慌了,但告诉我们说,我还小,骨骼还在发育,只要一天做10轮俯卧撑,每轮20次,或许它在我20岁之前会回到原本的位置。就这样,我相信了第一个诺言;第一个谎言。
--谎 与 放弃--
我实在地尝试了两年多,什么都没改变。一种希望,如果看不见任何进展,人自然会灰心,放弃。我觉得,那应该是我第一次放弃人生的滋味吧。痛与苦,没尝试过的人是永远都不明白的。我也之后了解,除了亲身体验,很多东西都是不能理解的。我想,就像现在,你们都不会了解那种感受的。当你选择放弃你拥有的东西,是很痛的。其实,当时我放弃羽毛球,虽然小部分是因为教练、学业,其实,是我自己看见自己球艺大跌,选择放弃的。我在羽毛球球会的成绩一向不错,都在前三名。当我初次回到球场上的时候,左手伸起,手指却指向其他位置,是很灰心的。羽毛球球艺大大大大大跌,是很灰心的。尤其是当你把羽毛球当作人生伴侣时,那种感觉,不好受。还记得有一次,爸爸忘了来接我,自己独自坐在球会所外面,想起它,憎恨它,还哭了。想象一下,就好比如在你的婚礼上,未婚妻突然临时逃婚,不好受。就好比如当你付出了许多但却不及格、没回报,不好受。看见自己喜欢的东西别人拥有,不好受。
--不好受--
站起来,也不好受。很多时候,一旦发生了什么事,四周的人都会劝你站起来,一定可以。你做得到。其实,你可知道,站起来是很辛苦的?你可知道,站起来,你又有可能会跌倒的?别叫他站起来,如果那是易如反掌,他自己也做得到的,不必你的罗索。要鼓励人,不是告诉他该做什么、不该做什么,而是给他一个方向。为什么呢?若你给了他一个目标,告诉他如何去做,当他抵达了,又会犹豫自己,因为那可不是你俩同意的方向。若你告诉了他方向,他会朝那儿走,自己选择该走的路线。毕竟从 A 到 B 不一定只有直径可走。别把自己困在世界盒子里。看开看开。很简单的,尝试用 3 个折把一个 3x3 的点子儿一笔牵完。伸出援手,当他离开了方向。
--所以我说--
今天,我跌倒了,还扭了手腕。说实在地,我真的真的很害怕。另一根手腕骨又好像移位了。旧疤痕或许又被撒盐了。很疼,很疼。我有恐惧。告诉你,我写了这么长,我不是在埋怨。我不是要你的同情。我不需要你的一通电话。我不期待你的留言。我不希望我们之间的尴尬。我只想要的,是你们的看开。是你们的明白。是你们的知道。是你们的领悟。毕竟当一个人把他不可说的秘密说出来时,泪也不知流了多少。心也不知疼了多久。脑汁脑也不知绞尽了多少。实在的,心里的挣扎也不知放弃了许多。就趁它已十周年纪念,悄悄地告诉你。我很不开心。真的很不开心。可能星期五若情况还是不妙,我将会去看医生。原本这个月还想弹一首歌呈现给大家,看来又是 gg 了。
祷告?谢谢。
Monday, April 05, 2010
m-Project: the story telling part 3
20100224
So on the 24th morning, I got up, and final check that I had everything with me, Aunt Nancy sent me to Johor Bahru KTM station. Daniel was surprisingly late. But expectedly the train which supposed to arrive at 8:47am also delayed for like 15 minutes. So we boarded the train and we were on our way from south to a little up the globe. It was a Express Rakyat train, and to my surprise, there’s squad-toilet in the train. And although I was half a globe away from Germany, there were two Germans sitting in front of us. We didn’t dare to uhmmm… talk to them. But I guess they’re everywhere, just that previously we didn’t know the language, so we didn’t ‘catch’ their words. Assumption.
But anyway, the train arrived at Tampin around 13:30. Daniel called Michelle and well, actually I wasn’t informed about anything. But anyway, I made sure to call mom, Aunt Nancy and Stephanie to tell her GongGong PoPo, to tell them that I was at my supposed destination. I wondered if they would really ‘send’ a squad to retrieve me. Anyway, not soon after that Michelle came with her new Proton Saga 1.3cc. So she drove us through the ‘only’ main road in Tampin to her house. And her house was big. Pretty much like those Sibu/Kuching wealthy people. Damn rich people. So we parked in, carried our stuffs into her guess room, and waited for her mom to finish the cooking. Okay, I did offer to help. Just that well, it’s common to be rejected, given drinks and being ‘ordered’ to sit down at the living room and waited. So I used her laptop to surf net for a while. And lol, I couldn’t recall when was the last time I touched a Windows XP powered laptop. A little diverted: A lot of people thinks that Windows XP is the most stable OS. Well, that might be true, the only thing is the ‘wifi connection after awaken from sleep’ problem. It wasn’t solved? I don’t know. I just think that Windows 7 by far is stable to. And as far as I see from various aspects, it is better than XP. But we’ll leave that to Microsoft to deal with that ;)
Not long after that Michelle’s dad arrived, along with her younger sisters Magdeline and Melissa. So lunch was cook and we all ate together. Wonder what were on the menu?
I think I missed out one dish =(
After lunch we were at the living room. Browsed through some childhood photos albums. Chubby lovely those kids were lol. After that we all went out together to get don’t-know-whose fixed necklace, at the same time look around the places. I saw big bears and felt like buying one, to accompany James’s lonely boy. But reality stroke me that I had no more space for anything. Sigh. After a while Daniel, Mag, Michelle and I sent Lisa to piano lesson and we went for some pearl milk drinks (珍珠奶茶) and sight-seeing.
Dinner time we had ‘longkang mee’ and dined outside the house at the compound. We chit-chat ted with her parents, but I was little quieter. I guess I am not that kind of daring to speak anything/jokes/magic tricks/haha like Daniel. =.=” But after dinner we waited Lisa and Mag (is it to informal? lol) to come back and we went to A-Famosa Resort to see the 21:00 fireworks show. I love to see fireworks since I was a kid. Imagine the hopeless dark sky being covered by bright warm particles, awesome =) I even had the thought to have fireworks as my birthday present lol.
Love the light. Just that my camera isn’t capable of capturing what I saw in my eyes =(
After that we went for satay. The satay was nice, the dip was superb, the meat condition was good, and we chatted and laughed. The only flaw was that I let the dip fell onto the NUS polo T-shirt that BingHan gave me. It was the first time I wore it. Argh. I wonder if the stain was still there, forgot to check after putting my laundry to wash. Anyway, after my stomach is fed, we went back. We stayed outside of the house and surfed net, chatted with James, and Jan, confirming stuffs about Campus Alive. They camho-ed but I guess I didn’t join in. And someone didn’t want to take photo with me =(
Daniel, Michelle and I chatted and I-don’t-know how long before we decided to sleep.
20100225
The next day I woke up, the first thing I saw after opened the door was to see her father. Sweat. I went into the bathroom, had myself splash with some water, before I realized I forgot to switch on another pump for the hot water so it was cold.
sorry this is 18-rated picture of me, and camho-ed without Steph again. And those who said I’m skinny, think twice again ;)
After we got ourselves prepared, stuffs carried downstairs, we were served with dark WanTanMee as breakfast. 9:30am we took off. Michelle and her parents and us went up from Tampin. It was quite a journey before they dropped us at Kelana Jaya LRT Station. Before we bid goodbye we took a photo with her, and I guess that was the only picture with her. =(
come to think of it, the photo was nice. Taken by her mom.
We took train to KL Sentral and transit to Shah Alam. Then we took cab to Kolej Cemara and went to the office to get our room key. We placed our stuffs in and Daniel took rest. I wasn’t that tired at that time so I took out my camera and went around to familiar/memorable places to just reminisce all the unforgettable memories.
Kolej Cemara Entrance --- The new futsal field --- the place where the wounds were slowly healed
where our internet came from --- The goal that I failed to score --- the place where the love started to grow
The place where I used to live --- the place where you used to live
Not long after that Zhang Zhi arrived. So after a while he drove us to Campus Alive! at New Life church. And as usual, before CA started, we went to eat, as part of our tradition.
After dinner we went up, got welcomed by the ushers. The worship team was preparing the song. And Zhang Zhi, the ex head of Coordinator was ‘angry’ at the not-punctual-anymore start.
The worship team rehersal --- Clearly, his hands tells it all?
So we started with ice-breaking game. Adopted from the outdoor church activity in Germany, it’s a game that we have to put in everything just to make longest possible queue. So they were excited and made long lines, and we told them that the winner is the team fastest to keep everything back. And the awards were chocolates from Germany. After that, Zhang Zhi shared his testimony in Germany.
The queue --- The price giving
“So I guess you all are cool, no worries about overseas” – Zhang Zhi
And then we had worship session led by Jan. Arh I forgot the songs, I only remembered “’Til I See You” because tears went down my cheek =S And we had sermon from Pastor Michael Ngui from Damansara Church with sermon title ‘How then shall Iive?’
We read in the Bible about love the Lord our God with all our mind, strength, heart, soul, basically everything. So in this sermon Pastor tried to dissect the content by tackling on the word ‘everything’. A lot of times we do say ‘Yea, we love our God and we will give everything of ours to Him”. Pastor Michael challenged on the vague word ‘everything’ and yea, to think about it, that was the standard answer that we always say, but we didn’t carry anything in the ‘everything’. Then he talked about the heart – where we set our heart to make God as the number one priority in life. The soul is the invisible quality of human character and a balanced soul is needed. Loving God with all our soul is to:
1. relate ourselves authentically to God
2. love Gdo with all we are, all our inner being
3. open up all that we hid in the closet to Him
Pastor Michael Ngui --- The CA people --- another view
We all are a soul with body. Therefore we should live before Him holistically. That includes surrendering ourselves in whole to God. Surrendering to God only on certain part of us can be best described as fragmenting our life and that creates tensions in us. But we are all sinners and fall easily. That’s why we need allow God to bring balance into our life. That includes constant conversation with God and to seek Him passionately. And we should love our God personally, as who we are, not to be someone else. Lord, I want to learn to love You. I want You to be at the center of my life.
It was an awesome night, just to be back in CA again. Thank You Lord for bringing me so much changes in life.
---
That’s all for now, again, more to come.
More pictures are available at:
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Breathless - Taylor Swift
Thank you, Amy, for (attempt to) cheer me up; which instead frightened me =.="
"You must suffer!" - John Piper. Go youtube it.
Sweat.
Anyway, I like this song. And yes, I am studying, just came across this by chance. But it's nice!
Breathless - Taylor Swift in album Hope for Haiti Now
[Verse1]
Here you are now
Fresh from your war
Back from the edge of time
And all that you were,
Stripped to the bone
I thought you'd want to know
[Chorus]
When you feel the world is crashing
All around your feet
Come running headlong into my arms
Breathless
I'll never judge you
I can only love you
Come now running headlong
Into my arms
Breathless
[Verse2]
Lay down your guns
Too weak to run
Nothing can harm you here
Your precious heart
Broken and scarred
Somehow you made it through
I only ask that you won't go again
Chorus
[Bridge]
So glad to see you smiling
It's so good to hear your laugh
I think that you've found you even missed yourself
I'm only asking this b'cause I think that
Truth be told
Oh, you'll never go again
Again
Chorus
[Outro]
So when you feel the world is crashing down
Would you come and run into my arms
Saturday, December 05, 2009
JS - Officially Missing You - Tamia (cover)
All I hear is raindrops
Falling on the rooftop
Oh baby tell me why’d you have to go
Cause this pain I feel
It wont go away
And today I’m officially missing you
I thought that from this heartache
I could escape
But I fronted long enough to know
There ain’t no way
And today
I’m officially missing you
[Chorus]
Oh can’t nobody do it like you
Said every little thing you do
Hey baby say it stays on my mind
And I, I’m officially
[Verse Two]
All I do is lay around
Two ears full of tears
From looking at your face on the wall (face on the wall)
Just a week ago you were my baby
Now I don’t even know you at all
I don’t know you at all
Well I wish that you would call me right now
So that I could get through to you somehow
I guess it’s safe to say baby it's safe to say
That I’m officially missing you
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Well I thought I could just get over you baby
But I see that’s something I just can’t do
From the way you would hold me
To the sweet things you told me
I just can’t find a way
To let go of you
[Chorus]
All I hear is raindrops
And I’m officially missing you
Saturday, December 27, 2008
New Year Meme
Got this from someone who requested me to blog this out. So here goes.
*update: Editted into longer version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The year is drawing to a close shortly, so here’s a quick meme about the past year and what you hope for in the coming year!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
a) It took me a while to really putting the trust into Jesus, despite all the bad times that spammed me throughout the year.
b) Being crazy with friends and seniors. I mean REAL crazy. (Christmas party)
c) Really stop indulge in DotA. No, I mean, really retire from touching that game.
d) Bought myself a super expensive guitar.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I guess I did not achieve most of them, mainly due to my lack of concentration on what I wanted to achieve and being distracted easily by things around. To think again, I didn’t even have a proper new year resolution thingy. I’m still on my way doing the one for next few years. Yea, Jia Jin, I’m not done it yet =(
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not really sure lol, I guess no?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my grandmother.
5. What countries/states did you visit?
a) Germany.
b) France – Paris, Nice
c) Monaco
d) Malaysia (inclusive? Haha)
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a) Better concentration in things
b) Being more active in life – not just studies, but also things around, news etc. 2008 was really a “passive” person, quoted from someone.
c) Better academic performance. 2008 was, erm, really not good.
d) Better planning for my time. As in to seek the balance in time – social, studies, spiritual life, personal life, Sabbath.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
a) When I earned the title MGSS Champion. Because it would not happened if it wasn’t God’s miracle. >.<
b) Day 1 of Purpose Driven Life. It was a date when I really got excited about a book since, ermmm, Harry Potter series?
c) Fathers’ Day 2008. It was a time when I really put in effort to understand my dad’s actions since I was still young.
d) Sweat! Do I really need to mention those days when I cried?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Haha, a nice question. I never cried so much before in the past so I guess this is my greatest achievement in growing up? Yes, growing up is a painful process. Yes, I’m proud to claim that “crying a lot” was my biggest achievement.
*Someone starts to feel sorry reading this, right? the one who made me cry…? haha. Nah, keep it up =P*
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm… Failed to trust God. There were times when I really did things on my own, without seeking Him, discuss the matter with Him. I went in blindly on things and yes, caused misunderstandings, tensions, cold wars, accidents, and yes, failed so many subjects in my studies.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Minor injuries, yes. Ermm… If running nose + headache for 2 weeks counts then yea. And ermm… nose internal bleeding, yes. Other than that I’m fine, PRAISE THE LORD for my good health! =)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My precious €300 guitar. *Don’t convert, don’t convert… zzz*
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Ermmmm... someone, I guess? =P
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The very same someone? Yea, that person made me depressed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
At first I thought it was ebay, but then I guess the most expensive thing was the guitar. So I conclude that my money went to Stuttgart-Heilbronn travelling (at least €46,00 per month) and the guitar.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ermm.. God!!! oh yea, and music. Yes, no doubt.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Ermmm.. Ermmm.. “Still” by “Hillsong Music Australia”, “Undo” by “Rush of Fools”. Don’t really know.
17. Compare the this time last year, are you a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) sadder if look directly on my life, but happier if look at the whole picture.
b) fatter, hu hu. I sort of hearing people saying "if you're fat, then we're furball..."
c) suddenly from a dead-broke to ermm, ok ok la. So richer. Thank you JPA. LoL.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Investing more time in studies other than playing around. Giving in more effort in a lot of stuffs rather than doing half-heartedly.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Skipping lecture class (yes, and I felt guilty). Playing computer games. “Perasan”-ing. “Kepo/sampat”-ing about people’s privacies. <del>Imagining things that won’t happen.</del> Storing hatred and dislikes on some people (Plural for people is?). Talk bad behind people. Telling other people others’ secrets.
* I must confess here about these things, especially the last 3 points – I really did them. >.<
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The westerns celebrated Christmas with family, so we scholars celebrated together, since no family here. Ermmm.. Afternoon futsal at Stuttgart, and night had a crazy and wild Christmas party. =)
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Sadly, yes. And sad also. Well, luckily I didn't fall, thank you ABS to save my life, a little.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn’t watch anything other than Simpson (thanks to my Malay friend), but that was, is, will not be my favorite TV program.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
NOW- no one. THIS YEAR - got some, but just little frusted and annoyed. My bad to store hatred. So, I chose to forgive and forget. *being honest here.
24. What was the best book you read?
Haha, I didn’t read a lot of book, but I guess it should be Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
“Wow, so it’s like this to transpose guitar chords”, “Wow, so it’s like this to change from guitar to piano keys”, and “Wow, so these are a little about the theories of music”
haha.
26. What did you want and get?
At least not a lonely Christmas, I got =) Grow-ups, I got. A drawing block, I got =)
27. What did you want and not get?
Gundam Strike Freedom Full Burst (MG), I did not. Get some-adalah, I did not. Desktop, I did not. DSL-R, I did not.
28.What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t really like any film. Wait. I think I found one: Wall-E.
sweat.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Jia Jin, on whose birthday I did nothing in return, made a supposed-to-be-surprise party for me and every Heilbronner Chinese were here. Kind of touched. =P I was 20 years OLD.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If only I could trust God more than my own self-proclaimed-smart brain...
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Not so many clothes to play fashion here >.<>.<
32. What kept you sane?
God. =)
33. Which celebrity/ public figure did you fancy the most?
Ermmm.. I don't fancy anyone. Eh, ermm... Emma Watson! =) Ms Granger, Hermione. Reminded me of a secondary school friend.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Malaysia's "Ketuanan Melayu" or Malay supremacy issue that raised up last time.
35. Who did you miss?
Sweat. Ermm. Someone. Sometime, some place.. *wink*
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Can I use "persons"? because it was best "new", not "newest", and I got lots. So 1 is the one that gave me this thingy to write.
Ermm… another would be the one who made me cried the most? Haha.
*ok, I admit I keep on bringing him into this thingy. Haha.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Want to have a long post? No no. Just read my blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay, hey, I finished.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tony Melendez
Thank you ch33z3 ™ for providing me the link =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That day my cousin asked me, "how many tears do you have to shed at Germany?"
I laughed.
But I cried, for this:
You have to try. You have to do it by yourself.
Truly I respect him. What is my failure in Maths compare to the difficulties that he faced? How little my one problem is compare to his everyday difficulties?
Yet, he stands stronger than me. And his faith and love towards God is stronger than most of people out there, including me.
Tony Melendez, you're my source of inspiration to go on. I want... I can... and I will move forward.
"Tony, why do you feel so complete?""Because in God's eyes, I am whole".
Vincent


