people without HOPE

for those who have read my previous blogs, i have been quite busy lately... and i have not have the time to read newspapers at all. however, the occasional news i watch on tv had informed me of the tragic death of this lady who was suffering from cancer and brought her two young daughters off the parapet.

finally today, i had the chance to read about the sad incident in the new paper... for those who are pretty ill-informed of the news, this 36 year old lady found out she was suffering from womb cancer. so in her desperation, she refused treatment and brought her two young daughters (aged 2 and 4, i think) to the top of this hdb flat in chin swee. leaving behind just a bag with some belongings, she tied each of her hands to her daughters with red string. and off she jumped! leaving behind a grieving husband, parents and siblings....

i asked myself, "how can someone do this?". what can drive someone to such a stage of desperation and decide to end her life with two young lives accompanying her? didn't she give a thought to those who would mourn for her? what crossed her mind when she was on that parapet, gazing at her daughters and preparing to take the first step?

i agree with what jon said... this lady is just so selfish. she not only wasted the life she had, but also took matters into her own hands and ended the two young lives she was entrusted with. this simply showed me that there are people who are like this lady... living in a world without hope. she found out she had cancer and it proved to be too much for her. so i thought to myself, "what can we do for such people?" i'm sure there are many more like her... although not all will seek for a high-rise hdb building to jump off. and jeremiah 29:11 crossed my mind, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

there are many people in this world.. lost in the darkness... and can't see the light. this is when tragedy strikes. i don't know how many people around me ever had such thoughts racing in their minds... but i thank God that He has preserved my family and all my friends from coming to such a stage. but i see the great need for us to bring hope to people around us... tell them the meaning of joy and where we draw our strength from. but first, we must live the life we want to tell others about. how can we tell others about joy when we are always so unhappy? how can we tell others about hope when we always have pessimistic words upon our lips? let's reflect on our lives and make sure we live out the meaning of hope as an example to the world!

now i'm a makeup brand?

compliments from denice's blog...

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You are Chanel!




What (non drugstore) Makeup Brand Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

rush here, rush there

these few days swift by in a hurry. i'm out early in the day and back late in the night. my brother just commented that he hasn't seen in in the past 3 days because every night when i come home, he's already lost in dreamland. i was trying to recount what i have been doing for the past 3 days and i think i can actually get tired just looking back..

went down to funan with jon yesterday to check out notebooks for work. and i can't believe it... notebooks are either too expensive that they cost an arm and a leg, or too heavy they weigh as much as a cow! but thank God jon's classmate's dad owns a few shops at funan, so the salesperson gave us a pretty good deal. eliminated toshiba (simply coz they are very heavy), fujitsu lifebook and sony vaio (coz they are too expensive)... so my eye actually caught a BenQ Joybook. (hey joy... my notebook shares your name!) it as a nice sleek silver interior and a white exterior... don't usually see people using white notebooks. the casing was so pretty that sharon and i now call it "pretty".


but i was watching the huang biren show at 9pm this evening... and i saw the benq notebook that ivy lee was using. completely silver. think it was so cool... but i didn't see that at the shop... so post-purchase dissonance is not that high. although the only downside is that the notebook is quite weighty because of the battery. but aiyah... notebooks with specs like mine is usually quite heavy. so this 2.6kg is not that bad lah...

temp-ed at APcomm today, helping my friend finish some catalog and brochures for her EMC² event tomorrow. boy, was it a killer! we had to prepare something like 260 sets of catalogs which had about 15 sets of stuff to put in the folders. but i'm not complaining... it was quite fun. and when zihui and jac had to leave early to bar none for the microsoft event, i thought i was going to be quite bored. but suddenly the room was filled with 3 more temps who were dragged in by suleen to finish the stuff by 5pm. we had a pretty entertaining time... laughing and motivating each other to meet the 5pm deadline.

just finished designing the 40 DoP invitation cards. i'm so excited for the campaign... my cousin just told me that one of his friends is interested in registering for the campaign. wow... God's really working in my cousin man! he's actually taking the initiative to tell his friends about it. i pray that he is going to change his life for Christ, and that God would teach him how to concentrate on his schoolwork too.

okie... going off to see what time jon's gonna call me. that poor boy... i bet he's anxious about his keyboard exam tomorrow. Lord, please give jon the peace even as he practises and plays his pieces tomorrow... grant him favour in the eyes of the examiner.. honour his wish that he can upgrade his skills to glorify You...

that's my share of life in the past 2 days. i'm super tired.... zZZzzzZZzzzzz....

just one drop...

have you thought about how much effort does it take to change the world? how much time does it take for one phrase or line to travel round the globe? how long does it take to touch the hearts of 6 billion people?

it always starts with one person. every movement always begins with a visionary - someone who sees the vision and shares the passion. every project starts with a leader - someone who is clear about the goals of the projects and ensures smooth progress. every invention starts with a thinker - someone who is not satisfied with life and hopes to find a solution to some (maybe everyday) problems.

on the contrary, every argument also starts with one person, regardless if it was a misunderstanding or genuine conflict of views. every fight starts with one person too - whoever that throws the first punch/kick/poke/step/etc.

so for everything that happened, it started with one person. and from that one person, many people were impacted and touched by it. from one person, the "Feed the Hungry" program benefited millions around the world. from one person, the United Nations act as a mediator to prevent more wars from breaking out. from one person, we now have the light bulb (so we don't have to die of smoke poisoning from candles).

so as an individual, my question posed to you is: how much can you do for the world?

let's start small... just look at a close group of friends around you. is there something you want to influence them about? is there an issue you want to make a stand about? is there a dream you want to share with them about? is there a life-changing experience that you want to share with them so that it would impact their lives? all it takes is for you to tell a few people... and if it is something impactful enough to be heard, more and more people will get to hear about it. but it all started because you were willing to share with the people around you.

just like the picture i posted above. it's actually a drop of ink in a beaker of plain water. when the ink is dripped into the water, it will eventually change the water from being colourless (trying to remember my chem terms) to being coloured. so imagine if we are a drop of ink... and the friends around us are like plain water. we are to be a positive influnece on the friends around us. therefore like the drop of ink, we are to slowly diffuse into the colourless water and cause the plain water to transform its current state. (i know my use of words here is pretty conflicting to chem terms... but who cares?)

similarly, a negative influence has exactly the same changing power as the drop of ink. a negative friend can also slowly diffuse into the colourless water and stain the water and cause it to change for the worse.

so to what extent are we influencing our friends? and how much extent are we allowing our friends to influence us? let's be that positive drop of ink... to add a little sunshine to the people around us. to brighten up their day with a smile. to remind them that we were made for a purpose. to encourage them when they've got the blues. to love them enough to say we care.

i'm suddenly reminded of an old song that we used to sing in PL (and sometimes sunday school)...
it only takes a spark to get the fire going
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
that's how it is with God's love
once you've experienced it
you want to spread to everyone
you want [echo: yes you want] to pass [echo: to pass] it on
pass it on, pass it on...

there's gonna be a breakthrough!

all praise to God for His bountiful blessings upon me this week!

Synergiz!


the synergiz youth conference this year was such a blast! three full days of Spirit-filled worship and messages. although i was only there for the whole day on monday and for the concert last night, i just felt God's presence surrounding me. for my friends who are not Christians, i cannot explain to you how it felt, but my prayer is that one day, you will be able to experience it too.

the keynote address by rev patrick lau and late morning sermon by rev ken teo on monday was simply encouraging. it was revolving around the same point: the harvest is ripe, and we have to do something! relying on the POWER of God and His Word, the POWER of our personal testimony and the POWER of the Holy Spirit... we can do great things for our Lord!

throughout the whole day.. i can sense God ministering to me. it was the same point... over and over and over again... the same thing kept coming back to my mind. be it during the sermon, the workshops and the worship concert.. God kept telling me to be prepared for a breakthrough! THERE IS GOING TO BE A BREAKTHROUGH... not only in our church, but in the nation! and let's ask ourselves: are we ready for it?

planetshakers from australia led worship every evening and they led us to worship our Almighty God up to a different level... it was no longer just normal worship. it was no longer physical worship. it was no longer just worship for the sake of worship. imagine 600 youths praising God... jumping and shouting... lifting up their hands... it was what freedom is all about! it was freedom in Christ! it was liberation... and last night, there were 1000 over people raising their praises to the heavens... i stop to imagine how it would be like from the outside of the dome we were in? how would the people outside react to such loud voices? i'm sure it drew curious onlookers to wonder what was going on... and i'm sure some people would have found out that the people of God were inside rejoicing! that's what spreading the fire is all about!

what encouraged me the most was when i see our own youths being so charged up for the Lord. i've never seen them so enthusiastic, so vibrant, so tired after worship but with that big wide smile on their faces. they were asking for more! that's what we should be doing... asking God for more of Him! but at the same time, telling God to use more of us! let us not forget to come before God on our knees and ask Him to reveal His Will to us in a special way. let us not forget the blessings and experiences we have over the last three days. let us make sure it doesn't become just another spiritual high period... but let it be sustained through prayer, faith and action!

just to share with everyone... the song that is ringing in my head now is...
there's gonna be a great awakening
there's gonna be a great revival in our land
there's gonna be a great awakening
and everyone who called on Jesus, they will be saved.

special bonus to the end of my uni life
just last night, when i got home after the conference, i found a brown envelope on my table. and because zihui called me just when i was walking home, i knew that it was my results transcript. and a letter before it confirmed that i was awarded the degree with distinction! i can't say i didn't expect it... i have been calculating my points every semester to see if i am getting closer to it. and when the results came out last sem, i knew i should be able to make it. but to see the confirmation letter just made me so thrilled. i'm also just as happy for zihui... she was more excited. coz she didn't expect it, thinking she was going to miss it by a few points... but i'm so happy for you girl! and because of that... this pic is just for you!



Goodbye late mornings...
i shouldn't be sighing to that! thank God i found a job! and God answered me with somewhat my dream job... coz i have a Christian boss (who most probably be allowing me to go for mission trip in dec!), a job that doesn't just deal with one product for the next 5 years (i need variety!) and i won't be desk-bound (i need flexibility and space!). how great is that?

for those ZGMers reading this blog entry, i'll be working for sharon. work would be a bit busier, given that we are the only two in the company. but i am quite sure i will be enjoying my job! and i am definitely excited about my new job... taking my first step to deal with clients in the textile and fashion industry would open my eyes to an area that i have never been involved in. so we'll just see what happens... but i will trust God that wherever i go, and whoever i meet, i will fulfil His purpose for me!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

lynn sent me a quiz through icq... and to humour her, i did the quiz. haha... no lah... i answered the questions according to my PL and TP days, and guess what i found out?! i'm a super-slacker student... and you know what is the funniest thing? lynn also got the same result! i say the quiz is a hoax! how can lynn be a super-slacker student?! hmm.... *ponder* for those who are interested, just follow this link: Which Stereotypical Singaporean Student Are You?

just for miriam

and since i've found the picture link to all the bubblegum pics... i found a perfect pic just for miriam to celebrate her passing her driving test. (i've heard how God gave you the license despite the kerb issue... hee!)

thank you speech

i would like to express my countless thanks to those who helped me today with the bulletin board in church... namely lynn, vicky, wenhao and joanna... your help was much appreciated. special mention to wenhao who also did the shoe-rack booth.... great job!

so here's a virtual flower from one of my favourite cartoons.... BUBBLEGUM!

think: meet the folks!

i was just watching this so-called reality show on tv just now... and i have watched a few episodes in this season and some in the previous season. something that never fails to catch my attention is the lie detector test. does anyone share my sentiments? why is it when the parents ask negative questions like "have you lied to us this weekend?" or "have you dated someone when he/she was still romantically involved with someone else?", the silly balding guy always points him thumb down when the person answers "no"?! does it mean these people are definitely lying and they must have done all the wrong things in their lives? it's just so mind-boggling...

consider the attention we are giving these so-called reality shows. survivor... amazing race... bachelor... bachelorette... joe millionaire... what is involved when they are termed "reality show"? that it seemingly resembles a collage of real-life experiences, or that it is held in a non-make believe environment? wouldn't it be so similar to a normal sitcom? so how much should we be influenced by what we watch on these shows? so i tink we all should be mindful of what we watch and how much is going into our minds...

with blessings come inconveniences..

had a good chat with lynn on the phone. i am encouraged by what she just shared with me, and i am thankful that God is working in her life. showing her new opportunities and opening new paths for her to tread. i'm excited that she is going to walk new grounds... of course i would be supporting her along the way, but i'm sure God has great and mighty things to show her through it all.

the 40 days of purpose campaign team finally had the opportunity to share the vision of the campaign with leaders and some members of the church. hiccups were inevitable but i am glad that most of the people who were at the meeting were convinced to come alongside the team and run this campaign to the end. it's really going to be an exciting journey for each and every one of us... lives are going to be changed, hearts are going to be opened, friendships are going to be grown, new leaders will be blossomed.. wow... it's going to be quite an adventure!

as i believe and pray that God would work in the lives of our church members first, then the lives of their friends, i know He would pour our His blessings in due time... according to His will. but with bountiful blessings, inconveniences will surface. consider this: if God blessed someone with a lot of money, the fear (which is the inconvenience) of losing the money and how to keep it in a safe place would result. so if God blessed us with many people coming to church to find out more about Him, wouldn't it mean we have to increase the number of services, correspondingly, the worship team will have to play for more services and people will have to serve in more areas in church, therefore they would have less time to sit around and slack. hmm...

are we prepared for God to work in our lives and our church? are we prepared for the inconveniences that result when we enjoy His blessings? or are we going to bargain with God and tell Him, "thank you Lord for the blessings, but can you make the transition as smooth as possible and like it was before so that i don't have to change too much?" this is not how God works. when God promised to bless Abraham, He took him out our his hometown into an unknown land. when God promised to bless Moses, He brought him from the life of a prince to an exile. you might be thinking: "so much for blessings, huh?" but let's look at the end of the road... Abraham was made father of all nations, Moses brought the Israelites out of bondage and close to the Promised Land. yeah, the process was tough... they may have thought of giving up... they may have considered the trouble they have to go through... but the important thing was that they stayed focused on the goal God has set in their hearts. they trusted the Lord and went the way He called them too.

so i just want to leave a few questions for you to think:
1. are we ready for His blessings?
2. are we availing ourselves to His work?
3. are we focused on the goal of serving God?

jon is schroeder...

hee hee.... jon just did the peanuts' quiz and here's his result.

i think it's so him.... those who agree with me, raise your hands!!!


Which Peanuts Character Are You?

the golden man...

as i am watching the repeat telecast of the 76th annual academy awards (famously known as the oscars, and often referred to its most-coveted red carpet), i feel the urge to just scribble some thoughts about it...

i think the lord of the rings: the return of the king swept every award it was nominated for. (jon just told me they got about 11 out of 13!) i woke up late this morning during the live telecast, and i watched the film receive the award for all the categories it was nominated for in the last 1½ hours of the show. the only ones it didn't get were the ones it wasn't nominated for... such as best foreign film (unless it was best foreign-venue film), best actress (liv tyler can't beat charlize theron and diane keaton!) and best actor (hobbits are too small for nominatons. hee...). and now, as i sit here watching the repeat, i'm wondering how come lotr got best sound mixing... hmm... it was up against shows like finding nemo and master and commander. okie, perhaps i don't see how they can single out a film for best sound mixing. i seriously don't understand how it works.

anyway, special mention to the song i just heard... from the movie "a mighty wind" - a kiss at the end of the rainbow. it's a pretty nice song... and it was well-performed. didn't catch the name of the performers though. it's a good mix of instrumental and singing... just a glimpse of the lyrics as far as i can remember... Oh when the veil of dreams has lifted, and the fairy tales have all been told. there's a kiss at the end of the rainbow more precious than a pot of gold.

p.s. lotr just received an award for best original song "into the west".... do you even know which song that was?! haha... get what i mean?!

the 10 golden rules...

[ Current print exposure: ]


how much do you know about the 10 commandments? having gone to church for over 20 years and being a Christian for almost the same time, i was still not confident of quoting all the 10 commandments (although i am pretty sure i know the gist of it!).

i was at life bookshop a week ago, picking out a present for ting-en when i stumble upon this book in the youth section. i'm a sucker for nice front covers and nice text layout and font. so i casually took this book and gave this a browse. flipped to the second chapter over a glance at the contents page: Amercian Idols. "this must be pretty interesting", i thought to myself. but at that point of time, i wasn't so willing to fork out money to get the book. however, i found myself thinking about the 10 commandments pretty often after that day.and i told myself i had to get that book...

it's a simple read. nothing too literary, yet not as contemporary as most youth books. it states in simple language the crux of each commandment and its implications to current-day issues. i appreciate the author relating commandments like "Thou shalt not use God's name in vain" to issues like Jesus' name on bumper stickers, "Thou shalt not murder" to war, abortion and suicide, and "Thou shalt not steal" to mp3 downloading.

it set me thinking that the commandments weren't just words God had inscribed on two pieces of stone and passed to Moses on Mount Sinai. there's more to the commandments than helping us keep a disciplined life. it's about God giving us freedom (if we observe his laws). if we seek to obey the commands of God, we would not be worried about many things in life. wouldn't that be freedom from the bondage of fear and guilt? i understand that when we say the word RULES, it scares people off and they would start to think "rules are just to limit the fun we can have". why not think of rules helping us to enjoy what we have, without the need to worry whether we are right or wrong?

i have yet to finish this book... but i'm earnestly reading it to have a wider perpective of what God is teaching me. for those who are interested in giving it a browse, just let me know and i'll be glad to lend it to you when i finish it.

as for now, i'm quite sure i know the commandments by heart... (paraphrased them myself)
1. You shall not have any gods before me.
2. You shall not make any graven images or idols of anything, and worship them.
3. You shall not use the name of the Lord in vain.
4. You shall remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. You shall honour your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not lie.
10. You shall not covet your neighbours' possessions.