Attended Gwen Stefani's concert yesterday night. She mentioned in her concert that she found it hard to comprehend that a girl from Anaheim would fulfil her dream and ambition and one day be performing in front of a Singapore audience. She also said that she was thankful for people who listened to her music because that was what kept her going in her passion.
The concert was world-class. I didn't really know her songs but I liked her music, I liked her style and I liked her personality. She's got a fantastic group of dancers and band backing her. She was fantastic and the band's music was very tight.
During the concert, she came down to the audience level. She was running around the seats and then she appeared to our left, just one row away. I, of course, forgot my dignified self and everything else, and just flung myself in that direction. My four other friends stayed in their seats.
I had to battle a big and beefy bouncer plus screaming teenagers in order to get as close to her as I could. How close was I? I managed to touch her arm!!!!!!! I took three shots of her through my handphone but unfortunately, the screaming and the shoving meant that my shots of her turned out so blurred. Sigh...But this was the first time I was so close to a concert performer (two persons away).
After a while, she moved on and I had to escape arms and bodies and legs as I struggled to get back to my seat. My four friends were a bit mortified by my behaviour but well, that's me. :-)
All too soon, the concert ended and it felt too short. Gwen Stefani's really a wonderful singer and performer and I hope she comes back to Singapore soon.
And to my four friends, C, L, P and SL, I had a fantastic time in the presence of a world-class performer and great company. Thanks for making the night such a memorable one for me! And thanks for the concert treat!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A day of significance
Just came back from supper with a very dear friend, who is one of the few people I can fully open my heart to. I appreciated the fact that she was with me in the early hours of a significant day of my life, just spending time with me. We talked about things big and small, and we both updated one another on the happenings in our lives.
I was doing most of the talking while we sat at Mr Bean on Selegie Road. She ordered a mushroom soup, a prawn wrap and a Mickey Mouse drink, while I ordered a seafood soup, a carbonara and a Mickey Mouse drink.
We talked about people, work and church. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, and as we were talking, I had the thought that I could see us in our old age still meeting up with one another and having such wonderful chats as well. Most of what we talked about are meant only for our ears.
Here, I have to drop a note of thanks and appreciation to her husband, who invariably will feel the fallout whenever our friendship develops tension or grows strained. He is also home alone whenever she has supper with me, although he does join us quite a bit. He is very loving towards her, and I am very happy for her. Thanks, D!
I ordered one more glass of lime juice, and before we knew it, it was time to go. We asked for the bill, left Mr Bean and took our separate cabs home.
I smsed her later to thank her for spending time with me, and that I considered the time well-spent. I told her that I count her as one of my most valued friends and among those I could trust 100 per cent, and that I hope that she will always bear this in her heart.
Indeed, it is a blessed person who has friends that she can count on and grow along with her through her entire life. :-)
I was doing most of the talking while we sat at Mr Bean on Selegie Road. She ordered a mushroom soup, a prawn wrap and a Mickey Mouse drink, while I ordered a seafood soup, a carbonara and a Mickey Mouse drink.
We talked about people, work and church. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, and as we were talking, I had the thought that I could see us in our old age still meeting up with one another and having such wonderful chats as well. Most of what we talked about are meant only for our ears.
Here, I have to drop a note of thanks and appreciation to her husband, who invariably will feel the fallout whenever our friendship develops tension or grows strained. He is also home alone whenever she has supper with me, although he does join us quite a bit. He is very loving towards her, and I am very happy for her. Thanks, D!
I ordered one more glass of lime juice, and before we knew it, it was time to go. We asked for the bill, left Mr Bean and took our separate cabs home.
I smsed her later to thank her for spending time with me, and that I considered the time well-spent. I told her that I count her as one of my most valued friends and among those I could trust 100 per cent, and that I hope that she will always bear this in her heart.
Indeed, it is a blessed person who has friends that she can count on and grow along with her through her entire life. :-)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Pop goes Sodagreen
Attended the Sodagreen concert on Saturday. When I came back home, I immediately messaged my HOCC "boss" the following in unfortunately a string of long messages again:
Went for the Sodagreen concert on Saturday. FANTASTIC! I felt the lead singer, Qing Feng, was quite disappointed with the response of the crowd in the first half hour but gradually the crowd became extremely responsive to the band and he became so high that the band came back for two encores.
My two friends and I enjoyed ourselves so much!!!!!! He actually walked around the audience but I was a bit shy and so withdrew from him instead of reaching out to share his hand the first time around. The second time he walked around the audience, though, I reached out to shake his hand. :-)
I bought four of their CDs albums/singles at the concert, including one signed by the band members. I was very happy at the end because the lead singer Qing Feng said that since this was only his second visit to Singapore, he has to be honest and cannot say that he loves the country. But he says he's being honest when he says he loves the fans at the concert.
He was so high that he forgot to thank the sponsors until the second encore. And he came down to the audience area twice to shake hands with people etc. I was very glad that the band left with a fantastic impression of Singapore fans - that we take a while to warm up, but once we do, all hell breaks loose.
It was really nice because at the second encore, some of the fans were sitting on the stage with the band members while Qing Feng and the piano player were moving around the audience. Very heartwarming and very intimate. I LOVED IT.
The reason I liked the concert was also because they sang their own songs very well and when they sang covers of songs by other artistes, they put their own style and music to the songs - so it was like their own Sodagreen take. I always love improvisation and live performances like that. So needless, to say, I was very impressed by Qing Feng and the band members.
Of course, I was jumping up and down and swinging my hands above my head to the music. And screaming like crazy. I think the band was very touched by the fans in the small auditorium.
Happiness --- I like talented, creative people. I feel very alive when I'm among them.
Went for the Sodagreen concert on Saturday. FANTASTIC! I felt the lead singer, Qing Feng, was quite disappointed with the response of the crowd in the first half hour but gradually the crowd became extremely responsive to the band and he became so high that the band came back for two encores.
My two friends and I enjoyed ourselves so much!!!!!! He actually walked around the audience but I was a bit shy and so withdrew from him instead of reaching out to share his hand the first time around. The second time he walked around the audience, though, I reached out to shake his hand. :-)
I bought four of their CDs albums/singles at the concert, including one signed by the band members. I was very happy at the end because the lead singer Qing Feng said that since this was only his second visit to Singapore, he has to be honest and cannot say that he loves the country. But he says he's being honest when he says he loves the fans at the concert.
He was so high that he forgot to thank the sponsors until the second encore. And he came down to the audience area twice to shake hands with people etc. I was very glad that the band left with a fantastic impression of Singapore fans - that we take a while to warm up, but once we do, all hell breaks loose.
It was really nice because at the second encore, some of the fans were sitting on the stage with the band members while Qing Feng and the piano player were moving around the audience. Very heartwarming and very intimate. I LOVED IT.
The reason I liked the concert was also because they sang their own songs very well and when they sang covers of songs by other artistes, they put their own style and music to the songs - so it was like their own Sodagreen take. I always love improvisation and live performances like that. So needless, to say, I was very impressed by Qing Feng and the band members.
Of course, I was jumping up and down and swinging my hands above my head to the music. And screaming like crazy. I think the band was very touched by the fans in the small auditorium.
Happiness --- I like talented, creative people. I feel very alive when I'm among them.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Contact in cyberspace
In an earlier post, I said that I came across a real gem of a contemporary Cantopop singer in HOCC.
I went online to hunt for websites about her and the first website that popped up when I did a google search was this one.
I got lost on the website and decided to e-mail for help. The site's administrator was really nice and guided me quite a bit through our MSN Messaging exchanges. I told her that I couldn't believe that I had not heard of HOCC until now, and that I had gone through almost all the HOCC videos on youtube. Her reply was succinct: she was also like that when she first heard of HOCC.
I think her very kind and very patient with me because of the following, which betrays the fact that I'm behind the curve in certain things:
- I asked her how to navigate the website because I was utterly confused (it's me - the website's actually well-organised);
- I asked her how she decided on her user name (a whistle is involved);
- I asked her why the singer was known as HOCC when her name was Ho Wan See (HOCC is a nickname - pronounced as Ho - C - C);
- I had to introduce myself because I realised that I had used my name as my MSN name instead of Plain Forgiven (she then told me her real name);
- I asked her how I could save an emoticon that she had sent to me during one of her replies (the emoticon was that of a fainting dog in her reply to me after I told her that my common sense and knowledge was affected by my three very long hospital stays of one month each during my primary school years);
- I told her about the HOCC post on my blog, warned her that it was a Christian blog but told her that I would not attempt to force Christ on her (I've kept my word);
- I asked her repeatedly about what she does for a living because I couldn't really figure it out (she's a ....sorry, I can't put it up here);
- Being new to MSN Messaging, my messages to her were extremely long and she said that usually the messages were meant to be short (After that, I started breaking up my usual string of 3-4 long messages into 10 short ones);
- I told her that I may help translate the Chinese articles on the website (but after looking at the articles, I have wisely decided to contribute to the forum in other ways);
- I called her "boss" during our exchanges because it was more exciting for me to message "Hi boss!" rather than "Hi site administrator" (she found that funny);
- I asked her whether I could write about her on my blog and mention that she is the person behind the HOCC forum but I won't name her (she said, sure);
I admire people who have a passion for something. It's not easy to set up a fan forum for years and to update it regularly with news articles, photographs, music videos etc.
I haven't yet asked her why she set up the forum or when she set it up, but I'm sure I'll get to those questions soon, through short MSN messages.
Many thanks, boss. You've been a wonderful contact in cyberspace for me. :-)
I went online to hunt for websites about her and the first website that popped up when I did a google search was this one.
I got lost on the website and decided to e-mail for help. The site's administrator was really nice and guided me quite a bit through our MSN Messaging exchanges. I told her that I couldn't believe that I had not heard of HOCC until now, and that I had gone through almost all the HOCC videos on youtube. Her reply was succinct: she was also like that when she first heard of HOCC.
I think her very kind and very patient with me because of the following, which betrays the fact that I'm behind the curve in certain things:
- I asked her how to navigate the website because I was utterly confused (it's me - the website's actually well-organised);
- I asked her how she decided on her user name (a whistle is involved);
- I asked her why the singer was known as HOCC when her name was Ho Wan See (HOCC is a nickname - pronounced as Ho - C - C);
- I had to introduce myself because I realised that I had used my name as my MSN name instead of Plain Forgiven (she then told me her real name);
- I asked her how I could save an emoticon that she had sent to me during one of her replies (the emoticon was that of a fainting dog in her reply to me after I told her that my common sense and knowledge was affected by my three very long hospital stays of one month each during my primary school years);
- I told her about the HOCC post on my blog, warned her that it was a Christian blog but told her that I would not attempt to force Christ on her (I've kept my word);
- I asked her repeatedly about what she does for a living because I couldn't really figure it out (she's a ....sorry, I can't put it up here);
- Being new to MSN Messaging, my messages to her were extremely long and she said that usually the messages were meant to be short (After that, I started breaking up my usual string of 3-4 long messages into 10 short ones);
- I told her that I may help translate the Chinese articles on the website (but after looking at the articles, I have wisely decided to contribute to the forum in other ways);
- I called her "boss" during our exchanges because it was more exciting for me to message "Hi boss!" rather than "Hi site administrator" (she found that funny);
- I asked her whether I could write about her on my blog and mention that she is the person behind the HOCC forum but I won't name her (she said, sure);
I admire people who have a passion for something. It's not easy to set up a fan forum for years and to update it regularly with news articles, photographs, music videos etc.
I haven't yet asked her why she set up the forum or when she set it up, but I'm sure I'll get to those questions soon, through short MSN messages.
Many thanks, boss. You've been a wonderful contact in cyberspace for me. :-)
Full of praise for Him
I went for the Festival of Praise 2007 last Saturday.
A church friend (who had gone with me on a mission trip to Kyrgyzstan two years ago) had rung me up earlier and asked if I was free to attend the event. I had said yes immediately because my favourite Christian band Delirious formed the worship line-up, along with Don Moen.
I really appreciate this friend a lot because ever so often, she will call me and check on how I'm doing as well as alert me to a Christian event, or a live sermon being broadcast online at the time of her call.
She also smses me frequently to ask me to pray for her about certain things in her life. I really thank God for her because she knows that I am currently not attending cellgroup meetings, and she makes the effort to connect with me and tell me about what's happening in the church etc.
She had gone for the first day of the Festival of Praise on Friday and so she warned me during her phone call that we would need to be at the Singapore Indoor Stadium by 5.30pm even though the doors opened at 7.30pm. I picked her, her husband and her former colleague up at Braddell before heading for the indoor stadium.
True enough, the queues at the stadium snaked across roads and under bridges. We joined a queue. It took us about an hour before we could get into the stadium. I was stunned at the number of people who turned up until my friend reminded me that the festival was being hosted by City Harvest Church, and supported by 123 churches in Singapore. The stadium, which could seat 10,000 people, was packed to the brim.
I had a fantastic time because it felt really wonderful to be among thousands of people just doing what God desires most - praising and worshipping Him in unity and in spirit.
I looked around and most of the people there were young people, and I told my friend that my prayer is that many many great Christian leaders will arise from among them. As I said that, my throat choked because I was really so happy to see the Joshua generation. I can scarcely begin to imagine the impact on Singapore and the world if every single one of them becomes a history-maker for God. I pray that I will be bold and courageous enough to be also a history-maker for God.
I thank God that in Singapore, He has anointed wonderful leaders who have reached out to the youth successfully and have touched their hearts for Him. I count among them City Harvest's Senior Pastor Kong Hee.
I have been to City Harvest's church services and I have listened to Pastor Kong Hee's sermons online through the church's website. I have also bought some of his materials in audio CD format, the latest being "Marketplace Evangelism". I thank God for faithful servants like him who obeyed the call and plunged straight in.
Before the main message by the guest speaker, we all prayed as a body for Singapore - this was days before National Day. We prayed for our leaders and those in the government, that God would continue to guide them in His wisdom.
We also prayed that God would continue to bless Singapore so that it would be the Antioch of Asia and the world. It was a wonderful feeling to be praying for our country as a corporate body and to be assured that God hears our heartfelt prayers because it is stated so in His Word.
I'm a patriot and I'm very proud of my country. I thank God that He has blessed Singapore so very much over the years.
Before the guest speaker Reverend Dr Phil Pringle started his message, he talked about Pastor Kong Hee. He said that 17 years ago, Pastor Kong Hee had first invited him to speak at his church. Pastor Kong Hee's church had numbered only about 250 members then but had been sited in a warehouse that Dr Pringle said "could have held millions". Dr Pringle then turned to Pastor Kong Hee and said: "This man has faith!". (City Harvest now has about 10,000 members and counting.)
Among the points in Dr Pringle's message were the following:
1. Just because we have trials or troubles in our lives, it doesn't mean that God doesn't love us.
2. God couldn't love us any more or any less. God loves us.
3. Trials are meant to strengthen us, never to destroy us. Their purpose is to build us up and enable our faith to grow and mature.
4. If we roll the stones away in our lives, Jesus will bring forth miracles. (This was in reference to the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The stone that covered the opening to Lazarus' tomb had to be removed in order that Lazarus could step out and show that Jesus had already performed a miracle while he was still in the tomb.)
5. In today's materialistic world, we all too often look to the blessing, rather than the one who blesses us, and we hanker after things, rather than the thing-giver. We need to always remember that God is the provider of all things.
6. We are commanded to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind.
7. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
All too soon, the Festival of Praise ended. We hurried to the stores near the stadium's north entrance where I bought the latest Delirous CD and their book (well, I am their fan!). I decided against waiting in yet another queue for their autograph. :-P
Following that, my friend's former colleague took a ride from a friend. My friend, her husband and I then took a bus - number 16 - down to the 24-hour Kopitiam near SMU to have supper.
We ordered a plate of roast meats. My friend had wan-tan mee, and her husband ordered a bowl of rice. I ordered kidney soup with rice. We finished everything and after that, we parted ways.
Such a day was time well-spent for me. :-) And I thank my friend for that.
A church friend (who had gone with me on a mission trip to Kyrgyzstan two years ago) had rung me up earlier and asked if I was free to attend the event. I had said yes immediately because my favourite Christian band Delirious formed the worship line-up, along with Don Moen.
I really appreciate this friend a lot because ever so often, she will call me and check on how I'm doing as well as alert me to a Christian event, or a live sermon being broadcast online at the time of her call.
She also smses me frequently to ask me to pray for her about certain things in her life. I really thank God for her because she knows that I am currently not attending cellgroup meetings, and she makes the effort to connect with me and tell me about what's happening in the church etc.
She had gone for the first day of the Festival of Praise on Friday and so she warned me during her phone call that we would need to be at the Singapore Indoor Stadium by 5.30pm even though the doors opened at 7.30pm. I picked her, her husband and her former colleague up at Braddell before heading for the indoor stadium.
True enough, the queues at the stadium snaked across roads and under bridges. We joined a queue. It took us about an hour before we could get into the stadium. I was stunned at the number of people who turned up until my friend reminded me that the festival was being hosted by City Harvest Church, and supported by 123 churches in Singapore. The stadium, which could seat 10,000 people, was packed to the brim.
I had a fantastic time because it felt really wonderful to be among thousands of people just doing what God desires most - praising and worshipping Him in unity and in spirit.
I looked around and most of the people there were young people, and I told my friend that my prayer is that many many great Christian leaders will arise from among them. As I said that, my throat choked because I was really so happy to see the Joshua generation. I can scarcely begin to imagine the impact on Singapore and the world if every single one of them becomes a history-maker for God. I pray that I will be bold and courageous enough to be also a history-maker for God.
I thank God that in Singapore, He has anointed wonderful leaders who have reached out to the youth successfully and have touched their hearts for Him. I count among them City Harvest's Senior Pastor Kong Hee.
I have been to City Harvest's church services and I have listened to Pastor Kong Hee's sermons online through the church's website. I have also bought some of his materials in audio CD format, the latest being "Marketplace Evangelism". I thank God for faithful servants like him who obeyed the call and plunged straight in.
Before the main message by the guest speaker, we all prayed as a body for Singapore - this was days before National Day. We prayed for our leaders and those in the government, that God would continue to guide them in His wisdom.
We also prayed that God would continue to bless Singapore so that it would be the Antioch of Asia and the world. It was a wonderful feeling to be praying for our country as a corporate body and to be assured that God hears our heartfelt prayers because it is stated so in His Word.
I'm a patriot and I'm very proud of my country. I thank God that He has blessed Singapore so very much over the years.
Before the guest speaker Reverend Dr Phil Pringle started his message, he talked about Pastor Kong Hee. He said that 17 years ago, Pastor Kong Hee had first invited him to speak at his church. Pastor Kong Hee's church had numbered only about 250 members then but had been sited in a warehouse that Dr Pringle said "could have held millions". Dr Pringle then turned to Pastor Kong Hee and said: "This man has faith!". (City Harvest now has about 10,000 members and counting.)
Among the points in Dr Pringle's message were the following:
1. Just because we have trials or troubles in our lives, it doesn't mean that God doesn't love us.
2. God couldn't love us any more or any less. God loves us.
3. Trials are meant to strengthen us, never to destroy us. Their purpose is to build us up and enable our faith to grow and mature.
4. If we roll the stones away in our lives, Jesus will bring forth miracles. (This was in reference to the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The stone that covered the opening to Lazarus' tomb had to be removed in order that Lazarus could step out and show that Jesus had already performed a miracle while he was still in the tomb.)
5. In today's materialistic world, we all too often look to the blessing, rather than the one who blesses us, and we hanker after things, rather than the thing-giver. We need to always remember that God is the provider of all things.
6. We are commanded to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind.
7. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
All too soon, the Festival of Praise ended. We hurried to the stores near the stadium's north entrance where I bought the latest Delirous CD and their book (well, I am their fan!). I decided against waiting in yet another queue for their autograph. :-P
Following that, my friend's former colleague took a ride from a friend. My friend, her husband and I then took a bus - number 16 - down to the 24-hour Kopitiam near SMU to have supper.
We ordered a plate of roast meats. My friend had wan-tan mee, and her husband ordered a bowl of rice. I ordered kidney soup with rice. We finished everything and after that, we parted ways.
Such a day was time well-spent for me. :-) And I thank my friend for that.
Time out II
After a day, I responded to my friend and told her that I valued deeply time spent with a friend. This is my key measure of friendship. And I told her that the fact that she seemed to have no time for me indicated to me that she did not really value me as a friend. In response, she told me about some of her frustrations.
I then said that I needed to be mindful of the fact that in general, she will have less time for me than I have for her because she has a family. I told her that she must think me selfish and childish, but I was just frustrated that I was not even able to get some time with her to catch up with her at the moment.
We decided that we should meet up every four to six weeks. I then said I was glad that I told her how I felt about the current state of our friendship, and even gladder that she voiced her frustrations. We ended on a good note.
Through such times, I understand that much more of what grace means.
I then said that I needed to be mindful of the fact that in general, she will have less time for me than I have for her because she has a family. I told her that she must think me selfish and childish, but I was just frustrated that I was not even able to get some time with her to catch up with her at the moment.
We decided that we should meet up every four to six weeks. I then said I was glad that I told her how I felt about the current state of our friendship, and even gladder that she voiced her frustrations. We ended on a good note.
Through such times, I understand that much more of what grace means.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Time out
I had a dear friend sms me recently, saying that perhaps the current distance between us stemmed from her not having enough time to sms me or meeting up with me. I didn't reply to her but that set me thinking about whether she actually really valued our friendship as much as I did, and whether she valued it enough to want to make time for me.
I started reflecting on my friends, who fall broadly into these categories:
1. There are those I don't meet very regularly because they are busy and I've got a pretty difficult schedule to match, but they would always make it an effort to try to arrange to meet up once in a while and commit to that. They surprise you by spontaneously agreeing (during a recent dinner) to go for a concert on the day of your birthday because that would be something special for you. Or they really make a big sacrifice by spending time with you on a Saturday (given that they have families and husbands and boyfriends etc and hence their weekends are extremely precious to them) because they know that your definite days off are Saturdays.
2. There are those who would tell you, okay let's meet up on a certain day, and when the day comes, it's invariably "I'm too tired, or It's late, or I don't feel too well or Let's make it another time?". Again and again, these phrases get recycled and the promised catching-up session drags on into the next week or the next month or the next few months etc. I think to myself that perhaps, they don't really value my friendship as much as I treasure theirs, and ask myself whether my time could be better spent with other friends who value me more.
3. Then there are those who really shouldn't be meeting up with me because they've got a really full plate at the moment but they still go that extra mile to squeeze in some time for me.
One, for example, warmed my heart recently because she had arranged a lunch with me but had warned me that she had to leave at 1.30pm because of a pilates class. When she met me, however, she said: "Oh, I've cancelled my pilates because I decided the time was really too short to catch up with you in a meaningful way." Trust me, at this time, she has a pretty full plate on her hands.
It was wonderful catching up with her and knowing that despite her busyness, she still made time for me. I know I can depend on her 100% and that says a lot for her in both character and friendship.
4. Then there are still those who somehow seem to know that you're free on a particular day, and invite you to their homes for a lunch they have prepared themselves, or pass you home-made oatmeal raisin cookies they have baked.
They paint you something for your new home, even though you have yet to even own one. Or they meet you at Kinokuniya and both of you spend time just looking at books and discussing the latest book you've just read.
They are among the ones you first turn to, when you need some sound advice and words of wisdom regarding a certain situation.
5. Then there are those who are not even physically here in the country but whom I really appreciate because they always make the time to e-mail and let me know the highs and lows of their lives. And they call you once in a while. I really treasure their e-mails because those are the main form of communication and connecting for me.
One friend's emails always make me laugh because she is so her in her e-mails - she wasn't termed the "verbal diarrhoea queen" for nothing. I have to confess that sometimes I skip through some of her e-mails because they are so long, but I totally appreciate her and I can't wait to see her new-born next year when I visit them.
I pray that I am one of those who will always make time for friends because they cared enough to make time for me.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
I started reflecting on my friends, who fall broadly into these categories:
1. There are those I don't meet very regularly because they are busy and I've got a pretty difficult schedule to match, but they would always make it an effort to try to arrange to meet up once in a while and commit to that. They surprise you by spontaneously agreeing (during a recent dinner) to go for a concert on the day of your birthday because that would be something special for you. Or they really make a big sacrifice by spending time with you on a Saturday (given that they have families and husbands and boyfriends etc and hence their weekends are extremely precious to them) because they know that your definite days off are Saturdays.
2. There are those who would tell you, okay let's meet up on a certain day, and when the day comes, it's invariably "I'm too tired, or It's late, or I don't feel too well or Let's make it another time?". Again and again, these phrases get recycled and the promised catching-up session drags on into the next week or the next month or the next few months etc. I think to myself that perhaps, they don't really value my friendship as much as I treasure theirs, and ask myself whether my time could be better spent with other friends who value me more.
3. Then there are those who really shouldn't be meeting up with me because they've got a really full plate at the moment but they still go that extra mile to squeeze in some time for me.
One, for example, warmed my heart recently because she had arranged a lunch with me but had warned me that she had to leave at 1.30pm because of a pilates class. When she met me, however, she said: "Oh, I've cancelled my pilates because I decided the time was really too short to catch up with you in a meaningful way." Trust me, at this time, she has a pretty full plate on her hands.
It was wonderful catching up with her and knowing that despite her busyness, she still made time for me. I know I can depend on her 100% and that says a lot for her in both character and friendship.
4. Then there are still those who somehow seem to know that you're free on a particular day, and invite you to their homes for a lunch they have prepared themselves, or pass you home-made oatmeal raisin cookies they have baked.
They paint you something for your new home, even though you have yet to even own one. Or they meet you at Kinokuniya and both of you spend time just looking at books and discussing the latest book you've just read.
They are among the ones you first turn to, when you need some sound advice and words of wisdom regarding a certain situation.
5. Then there are those who are not even physically here in the country but whom I really appreciate because they always make the time to e-mail and let me know the highs and lows of their lives. And they call you once in a while. I really treasure their e-mails because those are the main form of communication and connecting for me.
One friend's emails always make me laugh because she is so her in her e-mails - she wasn't termed the "verbal diarrhoea queen" for nothing. I have to confess that sometimes I skip through some of her e-mails because they are so long, but I totally appreciate her and I can't wait to see her new-born next year when I visit them.
I pray that I am one of those who will always make time for friends because they cared enough to make time for me.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Monday, August 6, 2007
My building blocks of faith
As a Christian, I have often vacillated between manic fervour for God and total disinterest in Him. I'm not proud of my attitude and I still need a lot of God's refining fire. I'm just extremely thankful to God for His mercy and His promise that He will forgive us when we repent of our sins because of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for us.
One of my pastors told me that when she prays, she thanks God for His grace and pleads with Him for His mercy first. At this juncture, I finally understand why she always starts her prayers in that manner. I'm beginning to do so, too.
It has taken me this long to appreciate the full weight and meaning of these words: "there but for the grace of God, go I". God shows mercy and grace to every single soul who answers His call and who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He extends His love to us even when we stumble and fall and when we grow cold towards him. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us any less and nothing we can do to make Him love us any more. God loves us.
I feel that I have been blessed more than some other Christians because in my life, God has given me two visions that have enabled me to have child-like faith in Him.
The first vision came when my uncle died suddenly in a drowning accident about 22 years ago. I was devastated because I never got around to thanking him for all he had done for my family. He was integral in ensuring that my elder sister and I took our studies seriously and both of us ended up getting a university education even though our parents were not highly educated.
Every weekend during our school days, he would drive us to his place and ensure that we studied and did our homework. He was very strict with us in other aspects of our lives as well.
The night after he died, I was in bed and I asked God: "God, where is my uncle now?" God showed me a vision of a bright and shining sword in the shape of a cross and said: "Child, he is safe with me." The impact on me was tremendous and I had peace in my heart. The vision also led me at a very young age to believe in God. (I can hardly wait to see my uncle, thank him and hug him in heaven.)
God gave me the second vision when the Holy Spirit opened my heart to the Gospel and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour six years ago. It was of me standing on two very gigantic hands, which were sheltering and supporting me. I can't fully describe it in words, but that intense feeling of God's love for me in that vision has remained entrenched in my heart, my soul and my mind ever since.
Philippians 3: 7-11
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 And so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
One of my pastors told me that when she prays, she thanks God for His grace and pleads with Him for His mercy first. At this juncture, I finally understand why she always starts her prayers in that manner. I'm beginning to do so, too.
It has taken me this long to appreciate the full weight and meaning of these words: "there but for the grace of God, go I". God shows mercy and grace to every single soul who answers His call and who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He extends His love to us even when we stumble and fall and when we grow cold towards him. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us any less and nothing we can do to make Him love us any more. God loves us.
I feel that I have been blessed more than some other Christians because in my life, God has given me two visions that have enabled me to have child-like faith in Him.
The first vision came when my uncle died suddenly in a drowning accident about 22 years ago. I was devastated because I never got around to thanking him for all he had done for my family. He was integral in ensuring that my elder sister and I took our studies seriously and both of us ended up getting a university education even though our parents were not highly educated.
Every weekend during our school days, he would drive us to his place and ensure that we studied and did our homework. He was very strict with us in other aspects of our lives as well.
The night after he died, I was in bed and I asked God: "God, where is my uncle now?" God showed me a vision of a bright and shining sword in the shape of a cross and said: "Child, he is safe with me." The impact on me was tremendous and I had peace in my heart. The vision also led me at a very young age to believe in God. (I can hardly wait to see my uncle, thank him and hug him in heaven.)
God gave me the second vision when the Holy Spirit opened my heart to the Gospel and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour six years ago. It was of me standing on two very gigantic hands, which were sheltering and supporting me. I can't fully describe it in words, but that intense feeling of God's love for me in that vision has remained entrenched in my heart, my soul and my mind ever since.
Philippians 3: 7-11
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 And so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Malachi 3:13-18
13 “ Your words have been harsh against Me,”
Says the LORD,
“ Yet you say,
‘ What have we spoken against You?’
14 You have said,
‘ It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.’”
16 Then those who feared the
LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and
heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
17 “ They shall be Mine,” says the
LORD of hosts,
“ On the day that I make them
My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
The Lord lays down the charges against His people in judgment:
- They have come to the conclusion that it is useless to serve God and that there is no gain in observing God's ordinances.
- They also think that the proud, the wicked and those who tempt God have gotten away with it. So to them, there is no reason to fear God.
In the next few verses, however, God shows a very different side of Himself to those who fear Him. He listens and hears the faithful. A book of remembrance is also written before Him for His flock. This faithful remnant fears the Lord, submits to Him, heeds His word and meditates on His name.
The Lord also claims ownership over His flock. On the day of His coming, He will make them His jewels. He will spare them from His judgment in the same way a man spares his own son who serves him. A line will also be drawn between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who spurns Him.
My thoughts: I am humbled by the fact that God views us as jewels. Indeed, he values us so much as to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. How deep His love is for us.
For those who sometimes doubt that God even listens to our prayers, the verses underline the truth: God listens to His people and He hears them.
What a privilege, what an honour, and what a blessing.
Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say rejoice. Amen.
References:
1. Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Bible
2. John Calvin's Commentary of the Bible
Says the LORD,
“ Yet you say,
‘ What have we spoken against You?’
14 You have said,
‘ It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.’”
16 Then those who feared the
LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and
heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
17 “ They shall be Mine,” says the
LORD of hosts,
“ On the day that I make them
My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
The Lord lays down the charges against His people in judgment:
- They have come to the conclusion that it is useless to serve God and that there is no gain in observing God's ordinances.
- They also think that the proud, the wicked and those who tempt God have gotten away with it. So to them, there is no reason to fear God.
In the next few verses, however, God shows a very different side of Himself to those who fear Him. He listens and hears the faithful. A book of remembrance is also written before Him for His flock. This faithful remnant fears the Lord, submits to Him, heeds His word and meditates on His name.
The Lord also claims ownership over His flock. On the day of His coming, He will make them His jewels. He will spare them from His judgment in the same way a man spares his own son who serves him. A line will also be drawn between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who spurns Him.
My thoughts: I am humbled by the fact that God views us as jewels. Indeed, he values us so much as to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. How deep His love is for us.
For those who sometimes doubt that God even listens to our prayers, the verses underline the truth: God listens to His people and He hears them.
What a privilege, what an honour, and what a blessing.
Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say rejoice. Amen.
References:
1. Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Bible
2. John Calvin's Commentary of the Bible
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Is it too much to ask?
To many, God is a God of answers. We cry out to Him, seeking a quick fix to a problem, a band-aid on a wound, an end to a dispute or a resolution to a crisis. But, as a visiting speaker to my church noted, God is also a God of questions and it is important that Christians also have a questioning mind.
God used a question in the way He reached out to Adam and Eve after they sinned. He asked: "Where are you?"
I have often wondered at that question, a question that an omniscient God should not even be asking because He would already have known where Adam and Eve were.
What had God hoped to achieve by asking such a seemingly unnecessary question?
The answer is clear when we look at the responses of Adam (God, I sinned because of Eve) and Eve (the serpent tempted me). Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, both Adam and Eve pushed the blame to others. This was why God wanted to ask that question - to gauge whether Adam and Eve were willing to take ownership of their lives and actions or to relegate it to others. As well, He wanted to ascertain whether Adam and Eve would be honest with Him. He asked the right question and well...we all know the end result.
Questions serve us well in evangelism. Asking the right questions can open doors for us to tell non-Christians about Christ. As Christians, we are called to spread the Gospel, but most often than not, people respond first to our ability to be sensitive to their needs and concerns and to establish a meaningful relationship with them first even before they are willing to hear our story and be receptive to the message of salvation. Asking the right questions could help us understand their fears, concerns and needs, and enable us to reach out to them in a way that touches their hearts.
Questions also help illuminate the Word in our lives. Whenever we have doubts about Jesus, God, the Bible or issues such as suffering, pain or poverty, we should not be afraid to ask God, our pastors, our cellgroup leaders or the more mature Christians. Many Christians would probably grow deeper and broader in their walk with God if they started asking more questions about their faith. Our pastors, our cellgroup leaders or our more mature Christian friends may not have all the answers but they would be able to offer sound counsel and point us to God's Word for the answers. As for questions to which no human can offer answers, God will reveal them to us when He comes.
God has given us an intellect. We should use it.
God used a question in the way He reached out to Adam and Eve after they sinned. He asked: "Where are you?"
I have often wondered at that question, a question that an omniscient God should not even be asking because He would already have known where Adam and Eve were.
What had God hoped to achieve by asking such a seemingly unnecessary question?
The answer is clear when we look at the responses of Adam (God, I sinned because of Eve) and Eve (the serpent tempted me). Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, both Adam and Eve pushed the blame to others. This was why God wanted to ask that question - to gauge whether Adam and Eve were willing to take ownership of their lives and actions or to relegate it to others. As well, He wanted to ascertain whether Adam and Eve would be honest with Him. He asked the right question and well...we all know the end result.
Questions serve us well in evangelism. Asking the right questions can open doors for us to tell non-Christians about Christ. As Christians, we are called to spread the Gospel, but most often than not, people respond first to our ability to be sensitive to their needs and concerns and to establish a meaningful relationship with them first even before they are willing to hear our story and be receptive to the message of salvation. Asking the right questions could help us understand their fears, concerns and needs, and enable us to reach out to them in a way that touches their hearts.
Questions also help illuminate the Word in our lives. Whenever we have doubts about Jesus, God, the Bible or issues such as suffering, pain or poverty, we should not be afraid to ask God, our pastors, our cellgroup leaders or the more mature Christians. Many Christians would probably grow deeper and broader in their walk with God if they started asking more questions about their faith. Our pastors, our cellgroup leaders or our more mature Christian friends may not have all the answers but they would be able to offer sound counsel and point us to God's Word for the answers. As for questions to which no human can offer answers, God will reveal them to us when He comes.
God has given us an intellect. We should use it.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Have you heard Him today?
Prophet Song
I hear the words of the prophet
I love to sing with the angels
I love to hear children praying
I love to see weak made strong
But most of all, I love to hear the voice of God
I hear the prayers of the prayers
I hear the songs in the silence
I see the joy of the dancers
And all the healing they bring
But most of all I love to hear the voice of God.
Most of all I love to hear the voice of God.
We'll call on the name of the Lord
For He is the one who can save
He is the giver of life to the world
We'll hunger and thirst for your word
For here we will meet you Lord
The voice of the living God Jesus Christ
We long to see heaven open
And see your glory come down
We long to hear words Eternal
Forever changing our hearts.
And if you'd come we'd love to hear the voice of God
Oh will you come we long to hear your voice Oh God.
Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK
I was clearing some stuff in my room (as usual) and running through some songs on iTunes when I heard Prophet Song by Delirious. I have had this album for a number of years but it was the first time I heard this song. After the song ended, I searched for the lyrics online.
The song accurately describes my heart and I hope it does yours, too. That above all else, we yearn and love to hear the voice of God and walk with him in intimacy and in love.
I turned to the Bible and read this part on Elijah's encounter with God in 1 Kings 19. Although God could have spoken to Elijah through a great and strong wind, through an earthquake, through a fire, displaying all of his sovereignty and power and might, He chose instead to talk to Elijah in the most unexpected way - through a still small voice. Elijah heard it and responded to God.
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
I sometimes wish that God would speak to me like someone trying to speak to an elderly person who's hard of hearing. That way, I won't miss whatever He says. Having said that, though, I pray that increasingly I would be like Elijah, who was able to hear the still small voice of God. As well, I pray that I would be increasingly sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit and respond to its leading in my life. And day by day, I would increasingly love to hear the voice of God. Amen.
I hear the words of the prophet
I love to sing with the angels
I love to hear children praying
I love to see weak made strong
But most of all, I love to hear the voice of God
I hear the prayers of the prayers
I hear the songs in the silence
I see the joy of the dancers
And all the healing they bring
But most of all I love to hear the voice of God.
Most of all I love to hear the voice of God.
We'll call on the name of the Lord
For He is the one who can save
He is the giver of life to the world
We'll hunger and thirst for your word
For here we will meet you Lord
The voice of the living God Jesus Christ
We long to see heaven open
And see your glory come down
We long to hear words Eternal
Forever changing our hearts.
And if you'd come we'd love to hear the voice of God
Oh will you come we long to hear your voice Oh God.
Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK
I was clearing some stuff in my room (as usual) and running through some songs on iTunes when I heard Prophet Song by Delirious. I have had this album for a number of years but it was the first time I heard this song. After the song ended, I searched for the lyrics online.
The song accurately describes my heart and I hope it does yours, too. That above all else, we yearn and love to hear the voice of God and walk with him in intimacy and in love.
I turned to the Bible and read this part on Elijah's encounter with God in 1 Kings 19. Although God could have spoken to Elijah through a great and strong wind, through an earthquake, through a fire, displaying all of his sovereignty and power and might, He chose instead to talk to Elijah in the most unexpected way - through a still small voice. Elijah heard it and responded to God.
God’s Revelation to Elijah
1 Kings 19: 11-1311 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
I sometimes wish that God would speak to me like someone trying to speak to an elderly person who's hard of hearing. That way, I won't miss whatever He says. Having said that, though, I pray that increasingly I would be like Elijah, who was able to hear the still small voice of God. As well, I pray that I would be increasingly sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit and respond to its leading in my life. And day by day, I would increasingly love to hear the voice of God. Amen.
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