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We are all discoverers... travelling the world, learning its truths, its people and its meanings every single day. Grab your backpacks and let's embark on this journey of mine, one that holds a lot of meaning to me... Lilypie Kids birthday Ticker

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

 

Reunion with a Dear Friend

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Catching Up Over Briyani and Martabak
It has been some 8 months now since my last day at work at my ex-workplace. Last week, I called up my ex-colleague for a chat and we agreed to meet up for dinner with another friend today. Although it is just a simple dinner eating nasi briyani and martabak and most of the dinner was spent listening to my ex-colleague sharing about her ups and downs at work... it was nonetheless a nice evening catching up with her...


The Good O' Times
We just kept reminiscing the good o' times when we had to be squashed up in a small office, we laughed as we recollected how rocky our working relationship started, how we went for "project slim down" during lunch time and visited the gym everyday (but later stopped when we started to say "busy today, maybe tomorrow") to the time she came to know that I tendered my resignation and my last day at work. (Picture "Time" by obyvatel)

When Saying Goodbye is so Difficult
But one thing remain true... we both appreciate each other as colleagues and dear friends; we appreciate how we worked well together and we were genuine with each other, sharing with each other when we are upset with the other person. It was a wonderful "tag team" but it was sad that it had to end; but at least we were glad that we had met one another... parting was difficult on that fateful last day at work. In fact, as I was talking about the last day at work and recollected the scene where my colleague and I were closing the shuttle gate together for the last time, I could still feel a tinge of sorrow. I guess that scene will be deeply etched in memory for some time to come... (Picture "to say goodbye" by ticci)

I was so pleasantly surprised that this dear friend of mine noticed and remember little actions of mine e.g. when I took off my watch after sitting down at the dinner table, she would exclaim to her friend, "this is codfishy... taking his watch whenever he settles down to eat or work".

James 1:19
Today during staff devotion in the morning, we were discussing about being quick to anger and whether as Christians, this would be acceptable. Well, as you may have guessed it, it wasn't, despite whether Christian or non-Christian. But never would I expect that I would be angered several times during this very day...

I Don't Have to Take This!
The first, I felt rejected when I called someone to discuss a project only to have him ask another colleague to call me back to tell me that he is busy and want me to read the email he sent me (which I have read)... somehow he also seems to not be very keen about taking charge of the project and had even asked me to contact another colleague to discuss the details... To me, I took it rather personally that here I am calling you from HQ to discuss the project but you don't even want to speak with me... when in fact, this is not even my project, I am just helping to support the project. I was so so upset that I was tempted to write an email to his boss and my director to say how disappointed I was when I tried to support the project but receive no support whatsoever.

Suggestion: Think Twice
But ultimately, I am so glad I did not let my anger get the better of me... I recall a friend told me once that if you are angry and want to shoot an email to complain or get another person in trouble, think twice; draft it but do not send it, keep it in the draft folder, go home and come back to review it the next day before you send it. This really helps... well at least now, a few hours later, the urge to send that email is not that strong now although I am still rather upset by it.

You Are Ruining it All!
Second, I received news from the president of my ex-workplace that he has tendered in his resignation... so has another committee member who had been a pillar for some years now and also the vice president... apparently, it seems that they have all left because they just can't work with my ex-"acting" boss who I also had difficulty working with... Slowly but surely, she seems to be tearing the whole organization apart but does she know? I do not know how I should react to this, to be angry or just ignore... after all, I have put in quite a bit of effort in that place and in my project (together with the committee) and everything seems to be collapsing now...

I am challenged to be slow to become angry.

End of the Road
Had my first challenge of "firing" volunteers yesterday when I assigned a couple of volunteers to assist in a project. However, being rather young and jovial, they seem to be more suited for direct services rather than backend support work in an office environment; they were rather chatty and this disrupting my other colleagues' work, so much so they complained to me. I felt bad placing them in the wrong place although they did choose to do it.

At the end of the day, I was tasked to be the terminator but soon realized it wasn't easy at all... I thought it would be easy to be genuine and feedback to them that they had been disruptive but in the end, I just could not say it. It was just so difficult to say "no" with my character; do not want to hurt them. In the end, I just told them that there will not be any opportunities for them to help the next day... I felt real bad about the wrong placement and also bad that I was not as genuine as I would like to be with them... (Picture "The End" by Glen26)

Sunday, May 28, 2006

 

Touched by the Spirit

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The End of the Desert
I had been feeling as if I was in a "spiritual desert" lately, for quite some time now, and was becoming rather concerned about me "just going through the motion". I remember the special feeling I felt in the months I came back to Christ late last year; as if touched by the Spirit and I could really see how God was at work in various aspects of my life.

Today, I felt touched yet again and could sense great gratitude for the grace I have received welling from within as we sang praise and worship songs... it was such great gratitude that was strong enough to bring tears...

Deep Gratitude to God
I also thank God for working with a friend and when she told me that she is visiting us in church today, my day just brightened; it really made me so glad to see a fellow sister-in-christ coming back to join us...

I just love praise and worship because I am a man of little words (those who know me knows that I am always a very quiet person) and I love to express my praise and gratitude to God through songs, meaning every word I sing...

Peter, who denied Christ 3 times on the day he was arrested, later wrote (1 Peter 2:22-25):
22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Worship Songs
To be reminded of what God has done for us:
  • Divine Exchange
  • How Could I Live
  • At the Foot of the Cross
To be reminded of hope in God:
  • Hosanna
  • Unto You
  • Thank You for the Cross
To be reminded of God's Love for us:
  • When God Ran
  • So You Would Come
To praise God for his wonderful work:
  • How Great is our God
  • Give Thanks
Committing back to God:
  • I Offer My Life
  • Here I am to Worship
  • To the Ends of the Earth
  • Deeper in Love
To be reminded of what it means to worship God:
  • Heart of Worship
Try this Experiment
They tried this at service today... give it a try:


Stare at the four black dots in the center of the image for 30 - 60 seconds. Then quickly close your eyes and look at something bright (like a lamp or a window with sunlight coming through it). You should see a white circle with an image inside it. (Source)

Who do you see? :)

 

Hosanna

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Learnt 2 more new worship songs that have really touched me today with their meaningful verses:

Hosanna
Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Pres - ence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Chorus:
Ho - san - na, ho - sanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Ho - san - na, ho - sanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Verse 2:
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Pres - ence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Thank You For The Cross
Words and Music by Mark Altrogge

Thank You for the cross, the mighty cross,
That God Himself should die for such as us,
And ev-'ry-day we're changed
Into Your image more and more,
Yes, by the cross we've truly been transformed.

CHORUS:
And we're so amazed, and we give You praise
That You would save us at such a cost.
We're so amazed, and we give You praise
For the pow- er of the cross,
For the pow- er of the cross.

 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

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I have always liked the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32, mainly because I could identify with the story... having strayed away from God and now back.

Movie by Dong Haeng

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'

22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

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