these sails

Some ask me...

2012-01-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

"Daniel, what's your New Year/ Birthday resolution for 2012?"

Seriously, I haven't thought about it. And I do not feel the need to make any. Still. All these years as December draws to a close, I have always sobered myself to spend some time reflecting and jotting down resolutions. All except this year, and what's more ironic is that it's my 21st this year and I am supposed to be full of ideas and plans for my future! Which I am not.

Just a few days ago, I read a friends blog posting about uncertainty upon graduation. When we were young, we thought that we would have life figured out by the time we reach 21 and years after that, here we are- uncertain about the future, not even about tomorrow! I used to think that I could be so many things, do so much and achieve so much, but when reality sets in and time takes it's toll, I realised the actual experiences that I have differs so much from my expectations.

I guess expectation always differs from reality and that is the main reason that I start dreading to make resolutions that never ceases to be unachieved. Blame not the expectations, rather blame the person who expects much- me. When I was 12, I wanted to be the best swimmer, top athlete, top in the school, straight A scorer and when I was 14 I wanted to enter UWA but later changed my obsession to MIT, I always thought I could write a book by the age of 20 but later realised I couldn't even keep a diary, even though I didn't shout out loud, my actions spoke about my resolution of becoming popular, I wanted to be recognised, I wanted to be the best in everything that I did. In short, I was power hungry, driven and least of all, humble.

My goal was always set at an unattainable level so that, even if I didn't achieve it, I would be still better than the average. Everything was performance and efficiency oriented! Even in my spiritual life, I strived to study the bible and gain theological understanding because I wanted to know more than my contemporaries, I compared myself with them and that was my motivation. For those who had wonderful experiences, I wanted to have better; And for those who lived a godly life, I wanted to be holier! Many times I failed and fell short from the standards of God and I thought I could do better but always managed to fall again. And of course, the Lord Jesus was gracious and times after time he used these failings to remind me to trust in Him but every time I start trusting in Him and experiencing His wonderful hand in my life, I started to feel great about myself and my pride starts to well up. That, is when I normally fall again.

How true is the saying in Proverbs, "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Even history tells us that.

Today, by God's mercy I come before you still able to boast about the achievements that I have, although I am not a straight A scorer; I am at least in the category of the smart, although I did not enter MIT, at least I am in UWA; although I am not the best and fittest sportsman, I can play and run fairly well; Although I am not the most popular, at least I have a good network, but all these, I am ashamed to share even now, because I have to admit that I have done these in my pride, my haughtiness, and most of all, my independence of God. The only reason I am able to be what I am today is only and only because God, in his forbearance and tolerance upon this stubborn soul, has bestowed good gifts upon it although absolutely undeserving.

Again, coming to think of it, I am just but a speck of salt in the ocean of undeserving people and chances are, you who are reading this now would identify with me that most of the time, reality doesn't match up with our expectations, we fall short. That is my reaction to New Year's resolution- I am tired of falling short that is why I'd just live life as it is, do what I can and take things as it comes.

But again, it is not achievements that defines us, why would I have a million friends on facebook and yet not enjoy a proper conversation? Why know so much about Jesus when I don't have a relationship with Him? Why work so hard to earn a million bucks when you burn out your own body? In other words, why strive so hard for so much when there is no purpose and joy?

Some say mid-life crises comes when we have reached a certain status in life- reaching 40, having a family, financially stable, having all the latest gadgets and yet asking ourselves what have we actually done in the past that has a purpose? Have I wasted it? I have been pondering over these issues over the last month and I ask myself, 20 years down the road, how would I look back and evaluate myself? What is really important that I would truly be proud of? How do I not waste my life consumed by strife of worldly things?

In a way, I am having pre-mid-life crisis now.

A quote

2012-01-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

By Ray Ortlund Jr. in The Gospel Coalition:

The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the answer to the greatest personal question ever asked by a human soul, the question: How should I be right with God? And how do I stand in God's sight? With what favour does he look upon me?

There are those I admit that never raise that question; There are those who are concerned with their standing before men, but never with the question of their standing before God; There are those who are interested in what people say, but not in the question of what God says. Such men however are not those who move the world- They are apt to go with the current, they are apt to do as others do, they are not the heroes that are to change the destinies of the race.

The beginning of true nobility comes when a man ceases to be interested in the judgement of men and becomes interested in the judgement of God.

It is so freeing to stop needing human approval; It is so freeing to get up and follow Christ, though inevitably some will find fault (like the pharisees). It is so freeing not to be bound by how things look in the eyes of men and to be deeply bound by Jesus, in fact ultimately it doesn't even matter how we appear in our own eyes.

We give ourselves to Christ for his Judgement; If he is our only Justification then He is the only reason we need to live.The doctrine of justification creates a culture of manly, noble thinking for ourselves as servants of Christ, only men like that can change the course of history.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

So I officially got an original 2010/2011 Manchester United Jersey for a rip off price of RM70 and not to mention a G2000 suit for my birthday, a book by John Eldridge, a new pair of soccer boots, 3 piggy banks, a cheese spray, a big blue t-shirt, visitors and a lot of weight gained from a mum-home-cooked Christmas dinner. Not much. But again. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I guess I am always tempted to desire more than what I have been given but thanks be to God who continues to empower us, I am truly grateful for His providence in my life in this year of 2011. I know there were Christmases before that weren't this nice, and I do believe there would be Christmases in the future where presents and gifts would be lesser. But what I hope would not be taken away ever is the love shared with loved ones and the focus of this so meaningful event- Jesus Christ.

I do look forward to the time where all my brothers are grown up and earning so that we can start buying proper gifts for each other (proper as in good quality- usable items) and when we can buy proper stuff for the parents who are now basically on the giving end and we the receivers. But more importantly I look forward to the time when we can sit down together, sing christmas carols, and share from the word of God and his providence in our lives. Something that we missed out this year.

It really doesn't matter how much we get or how much fun we have because when we strip all these things down it's the birth of Jesus that matters, it's the cross and it's His salvation. I see when Christians especially many churches nowadays sugar coat christmas with layers so thick that what the lost see is nothing but a glamourous christmas tree that appears sacred, cool pop music laced with some christmas-sy lyrics, lots and lots of santa hats and guess what?! They even have a concert and Korean Pop dance! Gosh, I am entertained; But WHERE IS JESUS? WHERE IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?! Is the church trying to please the world or is it speaking that radical, life-changing message that demands one's whole being and yet gives eternal life? If they fear the authorities, let the message be subtle but let it not be defiled! What does "Merry Christmas" mean when you know that not even one person in that audience would go back reflecting on what their life is without Jesus? When you know that they would go back even fuller with their own self then they were before the concert? Fun. That's the word. It is fun that has infiltrated the professing christian world of today. It is fun that dilutes the message of the cross; it is fun that turns the church of God into a whore.

As I ponder upon this, I feel as guilty as one of those people who treat christmas as another "reason to partay!" I am as guilty of defiling the gospel as those who planned the concert to have K-Pop dance moves. I am as guilty as a person who asks, "How many presents did you get?" And compares. As I rethink my words, I realise that I am speaking more to myself than to anybody else. It is a illustration of my state of heart. All I think is about how I can get myself a better christmas this year.

And that's it! That's the reason Christ came to earth, to shift the focus of those who are blinded by their own pride and lust for themselves! I don't need to point fingers, I NEED IT THAT FOCUS FOR MYSELF! And so does everyone else!

Christmas is just but another day of a reminder that Christ came to save the lost, to save me, and you from materialistic and individualistic blindness and may it be another special day of encouragement and sharing of His providence. Let traditions be secondary, designed to reaffirm his goodness and mercy to us, earthlings.

Blessed Christmas.

And Now...

2011-12-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

I have left the Orang Asli Youth Camp early because I have to work in KL. As I was driving away from the campsite as they were enjoying their morning dose of exercise of captain ball, I felt a strong urging to call up my office and take an emergency leave just so that I could be with them a little longer. That is how much I have seen my passion to serve them grow during these 2 days.

Being less involved in the planning and organising this year, I have had more chance to engage with them in conversation and group activities, and as broken as my malay is, and as shy as they are, every positive response from them warms my heart in a very special way and thus fuelling my desire and hope to see them become God-fearing and spirit-filled young man and woman that lives for a clear sense of purpose in today's world. Although it is quite saddening to see them having such low motivation and goals in life, credited to mostly the lack of exposure and Godly influence, it all the more increases my hope to see them miraculously transformed by the power of Jesus and His grace. And all the more I pray.

A few weeks ago, I read this facebook post from a friend's wall (I am paraphrasing),

"We are always marvelled at Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine, but what we fail to see so very often is that miracles are always happening, just as the grape vines absorb water through the soil to form new grapes, and then through crushing and fermentation due to time and climate, God is still turning water into wine."

I truly believe that He is working, and He has begun to call these young generation of people to Himself and as miracles. Pray with me that just as God did with the Lumbawang tribe of Sarawak, a revival will spread through the ranks and file of these natives of my beloved country- Malaysia.

We're almost done...

2011-12-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

...With an Orang Asli Youth Camp and it truly touches me to see those significant few who approach and thanked me after a humiliating session of BGR (speaking in broken and terrible malay for HALF AN HOUR!!!) I am truly touched and it will be beyond my joy to see them one day living a successful life and having a good family and most importantly trusting in Jesus Christ our saviour and God.

For them my heart prays.

The iPhone 4s craze has started in Malaysia

2011-12-15T00:54:00.000-08:00

And the way people lunge to obtain this latest gadget disturbs me.

They are literally "consumed" with a "must-get it" desperation (even if they don't exactly need it).

If they would go after Christ with the same commitment.

Therefore, in strike to this worldly craze, I shall not get one of this phone although I wanted to.

I'll go after Jesus instead.

A soldier's whole life is preparing himself to have one good shot at battle...

2011-12-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

Many times I see myself as preparing to have one good shot at becoming a parent.

Why do we...

2011-12-12T14:34:00.001-08:00

always want to settle for second best?

When we know that Christ is the best?

Humans always finds a chance to celebrate.

2011-12-12T08:13:00.001-08:00

And party. Always.

Asians vs Caucasians

2011-11-10T19:55:00.001-08:00

Dinner/ Lunch:

I come from an asian culture and namely a chinese one. So an exposure to the western culture has left me staggering with afterthoughts of my own.

Now, in a Chinese Malaysian Culture, when a head of a family (which is normally the husband) invites another out for a meal in a , he (whom we will call "the host") will be obliged to pay for the whole meal (meaning he will have to pay for both families), well, this will be his priority during the whole meal unless "the guest" (with some hidden motives or reasons)cunningly outwits the host and successfully foots the bill. The host will then feel very embarrassed for having the tables turned against him because "The Host" has now become "The Guest" and he has just embarassingly "lost face" (a chinese expression used to describe a person when he or she is unable to maintain a certain facade that is put out for others too see.) By the way, it is something to be ashamed off when a family member "loses face" the other family members will also feel the embarrassment and try to "gain back the "facade" that they had been putting up).

So now what happens, is basically a great big fuss that will take place between the 2 parties, it can be also called "the act" of the newly converted guest (the ex-host) to regain his image or credibility as a host, he will make a statement together with some hand-waving

gestures and goes somehow like this:

"Aiya, you haaaa, this place, my territory la, why you need to pay o? Next time i want to invite you also malu oredi... (malu means shy)"

And the new host (ex-guest) would try to ease his new guest's mind saying something like this:

"Aiyaaa, dun worry la, next time round you can belanja (treat) ok? This time, food very cheap, so I pay la..." (When in actual fact, he showing off that he IS THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED HOST and HE IS HERE TO STAY)

So now, depending on the level of persistence of both parties, the conversation end there, or drag on for another 5 minutes, discussing about "how worthy art thou for me to treat you". As a child, I am a spectacular witness in enjoying these conversations because I was sure, this was unique to the chinese culture.

Now, years later as I work as a part time waiter in Australia, serving food to the caucasians, I can safely say that the "Chinese Culture" is still yet unique to the Asians, at least unique when compared to the Australian Caucasians.

The caucasians would make much less a spectacle when paying the bill, if the agreement was that everyone share in the bill, they will quietly retrieve the cash in their wallet to chip into the common fund when the bill is charged, if the agreement was a treat by the "original" host, then the host it is that pays the bill. Simple. No complications.

Sometimes I wonder how I would act when the same thing happens to me one day in Malaysia. Cunning? or Simple?

"Physical Laws are the origin of life"

2011-11-07T10:26:00.000-08:00

(This post is inspired by the book entitled "Gunning for God" by John Lennox, the contents and ideas of this post is paraphrased or quoted directly from the book)

New Atheism challenges the existence of God by denying the necessity of a divine being creating the universe.

The Darwinians and the evolutionist chants away, "The laws of physics and mathematics is sufficient to explain creation and everything after it."

Paul Davies, a well-known Physicist seems to agree with this:

"There's no need to invoke anything supernatural in the origins of the universe or of life. I have never liked the idea of divine tinkering: for me it is much more inspiring to believe that a set of mathematical laws can be so clever as to bring all these things into being."

But there is an obvious flaw with that theory stated above, most of us who study physics and mathematics know that it is by studying these subjects that we gain a more accurate understanding of our universe, in other words, the laws we study describes the universe to us,

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Ps 19)

Now, the physical laws on their own cannot create, or cause anything; they merely describe a pattern that the law behave under the known conditions. For example, the Newton's first law of motion states that a body will keep having the tendency to move if moving or resist the tendency to move if it's stationary. That explains the phenomena of inertia that we encounter even at this moment but it does not even explain how inertia was created. For instance, the laws of motion cannot cause a snooker ball to zip around the pool table, it can only be done with people using their muscles and cues to cause that action. The laws enables us to analyse the motion and predict the trajectory of the ball movement but it it completely powerless to move the ball, let alone bring the ball into existence!

A set of mathematical laws would help us understand the numeral variations that can be produced by adding or even integrating arguments. But it would never be able to create anything! If I multiply 10 with 10, I would most certainly not get 100 dollars on my table! Instead if I work for 10 days earning 10 dollars a day, the law of mathematics would prove to be a worthy explanation of me having 100 dollars by the end of 10 days.

C.S. Lewis also has a say regarding the law of nature in Miracles:

"They produce no events: they state the patten to which every event - if only it can be induced to happen - must conform, just as the rules of arithmetic state the pattern to which all transactions with money must conform - if only you can get hold of money. Thus, in one sense, the laws of nature covers the whole field of space and time; in another, what they leave out is precisely the whole real universe - the incessant torrent of actual events which makes up true history. That must come from something else. To think the laws can produce is like thinking that you can create real money by simply doing sums. For every law says in the last resort: "If you have A, then you will get B. But first catch your A: the laws wouldn't do that for you."

Why does Jesus have to die?

2011-11-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

There was once a director of the police station who went through the summons issued by his fellow police officers and he chanced upon a traffic summon issued to one of his dear friend who just recently offended the law. Being a man of integrity, instead of destroying the summon, the police director took out his wallet and paid for the fine for his friend.

It would be immoral for the the director to tear the summon and treat it as if the offence never happened! He would be fired and kicked out of the police force!

So it goes with God, who by himself is the law; it would be impossible for Him to write off our offence against His holy nature and treat it as if it never happened! Our sins has to be paid for, so instead of issuing us the summon of death, he paid it for us and boy did it cost him!

Because of Jesus's death- paying the penalty of our sins that we can now be set right before God and through Jesus we find peace with God.

"That is the Gospel! No more, no less."

Love Me, by Yiruma

2011-11-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

Some say music tells stories, but I tell you, it's much more than that. This is Yiruma and the song that he composed entitled "Love Me" is undoubtedly a timeless classic.

Yiruma - Love Me

"It makes my heart sing out aloud, but not with voices, nor the power of chords, but the sweet melody and a gentle silence that powerfully touches my soul."

"Philosophy is dead"

2011-11-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from John Lennox's book: Gunning for God

The argument is whether the universe requires a designer. New Atheism champions the idea that science is the only explanation of everything. Stephen Hawkings, in his latest book, The Grand Design, argues that the law of physics and not God provides the real understanding of the universe and it's origin. And because of this the Big Bang was the inevitable consequence of these laws: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing."

This is certainly not what we christians believe in, the law of physics undeniably provides us an understanding of the universe and how everything around us ticks but it most certainly does not provide an understanding of why creation itself takes place and the motive behind this grand design. New Atheist denies the possibility of a philosophical answer to this question because they simply claim not to believe in philosophy. Stephen Hawkings even writes, "Philosophy is dead." which in itself is a philosophical statement. John Lennox describes this as "a classical example of logical incoherence." It contradicts itself.

Facing Up: The Journey Up Everest [By Bear Grylls]

2011-10-27T01:23:00.000-07:00

I bought this book off Koorong Bookshop (An Australian Christian Bookshop) while buying a birthday present for my cousin and it is about Bear Grylls, the ex-SAS Briton made famous by the TV Series on Discovery Channel's "Man vs Wild".

I always take a liking to outdoor-ing and adventuring but this guy has taken it to a whole new level! In his documentary he literally lives off the jungle and shows us how to survive in even the harshest circumstances.

But this book is about his biography 10 years ago, before "Man vs Wild" was even heard about. It is his account of his journey up Mount Everest, the highest and most renown mountain. And just a few days ago, I was thinking discussing with my adventure friends back in Malaysia about climbing the Himalayas in 2014 to reach Base Camp (The location where aspiring Everest Climbers start their journey up to the peak). Just 5 chapters into this book gave me a perspective on how tough the pre-climb training would be and the training it would involve. Bear Grylls paints an vivid picture of his past that spurs him on to achieve the "unachievable' and cracks opens a window into his soul just wide enough for us to be gripped with anticipation. I am in fact challenged to take to the peaks of Mount Everest, something that would only lurk in the dark corners of my dreams years ago. I am truly challenged and inspired to bring that dream into the illuminative light of the day and make it come true one day.

"All men dream, but not equally, those that dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake up in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act upon their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom

An Appreciation Overdue

2011-10-02T04:38:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful 3 months here in Australia, and as I get to know more and more about living in the land that once was but a grasp too far, I can't help but marvel at the sovereignty of God in putting me wherever he wants and giving me the desire to go where he wills. One of the things that I recognise very distinctively is the fact that friends do not come easily, be it in your home country or even more in a foreign land. Keeping that in mind, what are the odds to find a friend whom you share so much in common? That is why I think it is time to dedicate a post to one of my closest friends. (I am a bad poet and this is very spontaneous but I hope it does mean something)

Since we stuck up a conversation,
we haven't since stopped caring;
Our paths took of on a shaky start,
jumping head over heels;
taking unknown turns,
giggling about our very own secrets,
and running ahead of the light that shines our way.
Oh many a time did we stumble,
many a times did we fall;
but what I see inspiring is
that we picked ourselves up,
brushed away the dirt and moved on ahead.
Never an instance did we say "I don't care"
nor did we wallow and quit.
I am not saying that it was easy,
nor did it not involve tears,
but I truly cherish now
the strength you shared with me.

Our journey was unpredictable,
and dangerous it was too;
but through the rain and sunshine,
and through the calm and storm;
I got to know you truly,
and you got to know me too!
Now as land and sea separates us,
I can truly say,
I will always remember who you are
and know you will do too!

You take care my fair friend,
for I know you are glory-shy;
I would have mentioned your name,
but I know you well won't want me to!

You fare well my little friend,
for life is not that simple;
You can change all you want,
but I know you'll stay true.

You be strong my dear friend,
as you strive to do whats good,
and I won't say goodbye my friend,
coz I will see you soon!

Yours Truly.

Study Break

2011-10-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so I am back from a church camp babysitting young kids and believe me I am starting to miss them! It's amazing how young kids can inch their way into your hearts and like infatuation, makes you think about them and entertains the thought of having one yourself in the near future! It's frightening yet exciting...

My co-babysitters and little cute Zoe~ <3

And not surprisingly there goes the one-week study break that I was so looking forward to! And looking back I am actually glad that I have actually "achieved" so much during these short 9 days.

Day 1-3: Visit to Albany, The southernmost town of Western Australia- A few friends and I took a 4 hour long drive down to a beautiful coastal town called Albany. It's full of beautiful scenery, the best being the windmills, they are tall 100m structures that harness the wind to produce power. What makes it more amazing is the scenery around it, being surrounded by vast the vast australian bush overlooking the indian Ocean.

Day 4-7: Relaxing and chilling at home. A bit of homework here and there at leisure.

Day 8-9: Babysitter at church camp.

Hello uni, I am back!

Perhaps Love

2011-08-29T09:39:00.001-07:00

"I want to live free- free from the control of anything, be it religion, relationship, discipline or anything that will hinder me from happiness."

That is the code many people live and act by and although it may not seem directly apparent, we- oh yes, including me and my wretched life seem to speak it clearly through my thoughts, my actions and choices. And as we seek to fly out in the open, like an eagle, free and soaring, our minds tend to get trapped in the condition of unrealistic fantasy; even the eagle is bound by the design God has willed for it, it is bound by it's wings to fly, it can't get around by walking (oh yes it can but that would just defy the purpose God has for it); it is bound by it's eating habit, it cannot eat grass.

As I ponder about the similarities between me and the eagle, I also ponder upon the difference between men and beast - we are creatures with choices made in the image of God. I have to painfully admit that there is no way of achieving the "freedom" the phrase above carries- we have to be bound by something.

"You either serve God or the devil."

God, there is nothing in between serving you or satan, let me be bound by the code of Christ- the servant king, let me be bound by humility and selflessness and righteousness that stems from a desperate dependence on you. For my righteousness are like filthy rags, Lord. Let me be free to serve You.

30th August 2011 A.D.
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Log #2: Australia (Wicked)

2011-08-17T09:07:00.001-07:00

I have just returned from watching a musical entitled Wicked and I was truly blown away! (See my hair from the picture there) I actually spent my pre-musical week listening to the Original Soundtrack on my iPod and attended the musical with an already rough idea of the story and yet the whole musical still left me mesmerized!

Since I first heard of the musical playing in Perth, I have heard comments from people of how good it was and I entered the musical fearing that it might not meet the lofty standards I had conceived in my mind, after all, how could a fairy tale that precedes Dorothy's encounter in the land of Oz captivate a "thinker" like me? Well, maybe the comedy would be funny I hoped...

The first act was basically the built-up and it was indeed a dream come true to see Elphaba soaring up in the air "defying gravity" with her hitting on insanely high notes! "...so if you care to find me, look to the western skies... as someone told me lately, everyone deserves a chance to fly...". Well, I thought that was it, at least the climax- the coolest part of the whole show, at least i thought...

The second act was where I was truly blown away, the story actually h.a.d. s.u.b.s.t.a.n.c.e. The author of this book had to be a genius to produce such a plot that narrates the story of such a painful reality of human nature cloaked within the veils of a dreamy musical that does justice to arts itself.

I won't spoil it for you because you would have a chance to watch it one day and also partly because I am at lost of words (vocabs) to describe the wonderful experience that I just shared together with my few "musical buddies" up in the photo. Definitely a musical worth watching!

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Test test

2011-08-14T02:05:00.001-07:00

If this post is published, that means I can publish posts via my BlackBerry!!!
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Dear Lord,

2011-07-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

I want to live this life right; it is far too important than to live it for myself...

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Australia: Log #1

2011-07-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

It's day 3 here and surprisingly colder than I expected. Well, what was I thinking when I packed all shorts and mostly short-sleeved tees. It's winter here and the average temperature is way below that of Cameron Highlands! But I'd rather count my blessings than brood over the unchangeable- I have wonderful relatives who treats me as their own family and I have a warm and cozy place where I can call home. It's my third day here but I already feel comfortable here especially with my beloved cousins who are willing to go the extra mile to make me feel at home by driving me around to buy my stuff and showing me how things around the house are done! Thank you guys!

Life in Australia is really an eye opener for me- a born and bred Malaysian, it's like seeing all those people on TV finally for real and interacting with them! I was at the nearby shopping complex getting some outstanding stuff (buying woolen long pants, webcam, SIM Pack and bank account) done and the people I encountered were just... Different... For one, their spoken English made me feel embarrassed about mine, for I tried my best to slang like them but sounded kinda stupid. Secondly, I see more Caucasians than my entire life before this put together. Thirdly, the exchange of greeting is much longer. For example if I said to a sales woman at the counter, "Excuse me miss..."

She would reply,"Oh hello, how are you today?" At first I was a bit surprise that she actually took interest in my day! Well, which sales girl in Malaysia would actually care to do that?

But later on I realized that it was just a normal way of greeting people, and I would reply,"I am doing good! How are you?" Back in Malaysia, a stranger would think you are hitting on her if you provided such an interest in her personal welfare! Well, I'm just saying...

Fourthly, the high school students I see walking around with their blazers resembles exactly those in HSM or Glee! It's like I am in TV or something (Well, i'm just trying to get it jotted down before a sight like this will become a norm to me)

And finally, I will be chilling around for a few more days before I attend a camp organised by the Australian FES starting next monday. Praise the Lord!

The life of a cat.

2011-06-06T21:43:00.001-07:00

Loyalty is not in my dictionary,
I am God,
In my house,
There is a feeder who makes sure my food is ready,
There is a groomer who strokes me till I purr,
There is a maid who cleans my shit,
There is a person to play with me,
There’s an entertainer who always makes funny sounds and makes a fool out of himself.
And there is this servant who always disobeys me and hits me!
And his name is Daniel…

Inspirations from Miri

2011-05-17T23:45:00.001-07:00

I am back from a 4 day trip to Miri with INTI Concert Band Members.

During these 4 days we accustomed ourselves with the place, people and food of Miri which I truly appreciate and thank the host and hostesses for. Miri along with Brunei (which we visited for a day) will always have a special place in my heart.

However what inspired me to write this post is not so much about the experiences I had visiting the places and the food although they were awesome. The reason this post will end the way it is is because of the people I have hung out with these few days.

Outwardly they look like any normal, regular human and there is nothing that will differentiate them from me. I fitted in perfectly in the group, outwardly.

But the true difference is observed when they start producing music, when their senses is used to listen, observe and produce the songs that speaks right down to the depths of my heart. Being with the Concert Band members for 1 semester and ending it by staying with them for 4 days really opened my eyes to the talents that God bestows upon His creation.

As I sit here in front of the computer in the lab, listening to the ever popular remix by Jon Schmidt (Love Story meets Viva La Vida), I feel a deep sense of passion welling up from my heart nearly drawing tears from my eyes and I am reminded of the heavenly tunes played on the piano in Miri, the lovely voices and also the cello. I recall further back during the concert practices where I sat there alone in MPH witnessing the strings of musical tunes weaved together to produce a colorful fabric of harmony that will always warm that tuneless heart of mine. Bravo dear band performers whom talent has God bestowed upon!

I want to believe that I have seen and experience music at it's utmost ingeniousness through the people that I have met but I know that there will always be greater heights to be witnessed and ever inspiring pieces to listen to... and all the more until we finally meet the one who created music Himself and bow before His throne A.W.E.D. by the songs and music that will give glory to His name and His name alone.

This post is dedicated to all the talented musicians who has undoubtedly impacted the world by that beautiful talent of yours. As I sit together with you at the table of performing arts, let us lift up our champagne of choruses, with outstretched arms and a unified voice drink down a toast to the appreciation of one of God's greatest gift to mankind- Music.

Friends, let us celebrate music!

Annual Dinner

2011-04-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

I guess it made up for all the dinners we didn't have together. =)*winks* Thx!

I asked God...

2011-04-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

... what should I write on my blog today? This was after I was suddenly inspired from reading a blog by a dear sister (Sarah Wong) who writes beautifully. She amazes me by succeeding to capture fleeting thoughts and deep doubts in life that I would normally ponder about during my subconscious thought flow.

Suddenly I looked at the time and it was past midnight. I haven't showered. As I walked over to the bathroom visualizing the cold water running down my already chilled skin, I reminded myself to get the water heater repaired next week.

"Bracing myself for the first splash of cold water, and feel my muscles contracting as the icy cold water trickled down my body, I wondered why in the world would anyone in their freewill choose cold water over warm water? As I pondered upon this, my thoughts trailed off to the many practices of people that goes against our default will. I think of people who wake up early to do morning exercise, I think of those who fast from the elusive attractions of the world, I think of those who chooses to lead a humble life over money. And I think about what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9: 27:

"...but I beat my body and make it my slave, lest after preaching I myself will be disqualified."

Discipline. It is needed.

As I stepped out of the bathroom appreciating the warmth of my towel, I think about the cold shower and I actually feel good after taking it!

Family life

2011-03-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Taken from "Tested and Tried" by Russell Moore via thegospelcoalition.org

"...This is one of the reason we need an intimacy between generations in our families and in our churches. These days most people spend a large portion of their lives staring at screens and “consuming media.” Previous generations would have ended their evenings gathered around listening to one another tell stories or sing ballads or recite sagas. There is something lost there. When all I have is my peer group and the “entertainment” marketed to my peer group, I lose the kind of perspective that sees the ultimate comeuppance of pride or the heartbreak of sexual licentiousness or the sadness of dying with nothing more than a bunch of stuff piled around you..."

Let us preserve the practice of the preceeding generations and carry it forward. I won't want my kids finding refuge and solutions from staring into big screens and clicking away on the computer.

Let us discover the untold stories that will be of recount-able value to our children's ear. Let us seek the goodness of God that will so encourage our young ens...

O how beautiful it will be to "... end evenings gathered around listening to one another tell stories or sing ballads or recite sagas...."

How beautiful it will be...

Is life going easy for you?

2011-02-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

A life after Christ is a daily battle to resist and expel every thoughts that will exalt anything other than Christ himself.

If life goes easy for you, think again.

Hachiko- A Dog Story

2011-02-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom..."

Or rather a dog waiting for His master...

"Hachiko- A Dog Story" touched my heart so deep when a dog faithfully awaits his master's return. Beating the frosty cold of winter and weathering the stormy rain, the loyal hound sits patiently at the same place always ready and alert to welcome the master when he returns. I also learnt that a dog's mind never forgets the face of the master, the goodness and love shown by him. And even after 10 years, it has stood the test of time.

As I ponder upon the love and goodness of my master in heaven, I cannot help but draw inspiration from the loyal hound named Hachiko and his faithfulness in awaiting his master's return. I remember the times he spoke to me and revealed his heart to mine. I remember the times where he walked with me and guided me through the thick forests of ideologies; and I remember the time when he fed me and clothed me.

As a dog awaits his master's return, so will I await the return of the Lord Jesus who loved me and cared for me so, and as I live everyday, I shall continue to be reminded of his goodness toward me because unlike dogs, I am very forgetful.

Thank You Lord Jesus for reminding me of your goodness and that I have a hope to live for. I fear not because even when I forget, You won't.

"... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." ( Matt 25)

...from visiting a tennis shop

2011-01-23T08:58:00.001-08:00

Courtesy of Simon Leau for his camera and photo editing.

It's interesting to note that everytime I take any major steps forward in tennis, my uncle and cousins will be there to take it with me. The surprising thing is that they stay in Australia and we only meet each other only once a year (or less). The last time was three years ago when I received my first brand new tennis racquet from the Leau family, I remembered I was over myself with joy and gratefulness. Here's the link: http://hissails.blogspot.com/2008/04/thank-you.html

Now, we visited a tennis shop on ampang park as they wanted to get fresh tennis supplies and as I tagged along, I found this relatively cheap racquet used by Rafael Nadal (my favorite tennis player) before he recently changed his into a newer version. I bought the Babolat Aeropro Drive for RM350- less than half of it's original price but nonetheless as good.

Specs:
Babolat polyster strings
String tension: 53 pounds/sq inch
Grip size: No 2. 4 1/4 inches
Colour: Yellow

I had my first tryout with Andrew and the racket performed just to my satisfaction, very nice spin, good feel and most of all, an aesthetically pleasing design. I still cannot believe myself owning Nadal's racquet so fast!

Thank you Lord for giving me this racquet.

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Wealth

2011-01-02T09:05:00.001-08:00

'The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who need the least.' Author Unknown

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An Honurable Wish

2010-12-23T21:19:00.000-08:00

To every lovely lady bright, I wish a gallant faithful knight.
To every faithful lover, too, I wish a trusting lady true.
-Sir Walter Scott-

Growing up amid stories of beloved kings, enormous castles, noble and faithful knights battling the enemy and defending the throne and protecting maidens, it does not take long for me to envision a interesting parallel between the medieval age and the post modern world today.:

Guys, we are born to be knights, in full body armour, brave and courageous, initiative, loyal to the king, faithful and noble always. We are born to defend His kingdom, to battle the enemies, to glorify the king's name and protect the ladies.

And we do it at all costs, even if it means sacrificing everything! As the knights would say, '... till the death!!!'

Guys, this is our identity, our honour!

Ladies, await, till your knight appears and test him to prove him faithful!

The Parable of the Workers in the vineyard Matt 20: 1-16

2010-12-21T19:26:00.001-08:00

Matt 20: 1-16

It doesn't matter when we respond to God's call- during a later age which we may regret or at a young age which we may grumble.

To those who have gone through hardships and have more years behind than ahead, thank Him! For he has brought you to a realisation now which is better than never, the mistakes you have made, don't feel guilty for he has forgiven you, the wrong choices you have chosen, regret not for he has redeemed you for His own name sake. It all these experiences, praise Him; for yet again He has proven himself faithful! Make use of the remainding years because our God is generous and will still pay you your denarius.

For those who have more years ahead than behind- like me, let us forfeit the thought of joining the group above, to only respond to his voice and calling in our later years rather rejoice that we have heard his voice and calling and respond in obedience.

O Lord, let us taste your goodness,and mercy, let us follow closely to your word and please do circumcise our heart to the things of this world; O Lord, wrestle with us just as You did with Jacob and wrestle away the things that we hold on to so dearly and may you find us yet faithful.

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John and Betty Stam

2010-12-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

This is a passage taken from the autobiography of John and Betty Stam who were missionary martyrs in China.

"...In May 1931 Betty graduated and left Chicago for Philadelphia.
John missed her mightily and desired to carry on their relationship imediately via correspondence.

Yet he felt an inward constraint not to do so.
He simply couldnt actively promote a relationship that he was not fully sure was within the scope of God's will for his life.

On may 24 he recorded his inner wrestlings in his journal: " Betty is in Philadelphia now, but I have not been able to write to her a letter. After much searching of the heart and of the scriptures, I feel that the Lord would be displeased at my going forward in this direction.

And only last week a man came up to my room to have me type a letter for him. A former student, he told me, with tears in his eyes, that he had gotten out of the will of the Lord when he stopped studying and got married.

What a grief he has had since. And now while Betty and I are looking forward to the same field, I cannot move one step in her direction until i am sure that it is the Lord's directive will.

I dont want to wreck her life and mine too."

A few years later they met as missionaries in China and soon after that got married.

You Are My Father - True Worshippers

2010-09-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

Thank You for renewing my love for you Jesus through this song!!!
Thank you for answering my prayer and bringing me back!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LplB6L3q3rY&feature=related

It doesn’t matter where I run,
You’re there for me,
It doesn’t matter what I’ve done,
Your love’s for me,
You wipe the tears,
You lift me when I fall.
My life is saved by the mercy of your grace.

It doesn’t matter where I go,
You walk with me,
It doesn’t matter where I fall,
You cover me.
You wipe away my tears,
You lift me when I fall
My life is saved by the mercy of your grace.

You are my Father, Provider,
You’re my Deliverer,
Your mercies embrace me,
Surround’s me with your everlasting love,
Father I worship you,
Father I worship you.

And Your love is for me,
And Your love is for me
And Your love is forever.

Fly, Fly Now...

2010-08-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Fly away Nightingale,
fly far away,
above the horizon and beyond the sea,
fly away now and never look back,
for as far as your wings take you,
you will not be far from the maker's hands...

Blessings

Religion and Christianity

2010-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is a really catchy statement made by Ps. Calvin Carr in Connexion Conference 2010 concerning Christianity and religion.

"Religion: Is the man on earth trying to get to the God in Heaven.
Christianity: Is the God in Heaven trying to get into the man on earth."

Christianity: It's the relationship. =)

True love

2010-07-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

"True love isn't just expressed in passionately whispered words or an intimate kiss or an embrace; before two people are married, love is expressed in self control, patience, even words left unsaid. Joshua Harris"

A Walk to Remember

2010-07-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

A Walk to Remember:

"Relive the love,
forgive the past,
keep the faith and,
enjoy the moment..."

Must Watch!

Movie Review: How to train your Dragon

2010-04-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

The movie started off with a bang, as the dragon soars to unimaginable heights, so did the climax of the movie! In fact, I couldn't recall any moments which was a bore... Thumbs up for Dreamworks first 3D movie, it has managed to entertain the audiences thoroughly!

Vikings and dragons have become a common character in the movie industry and I was wondering why Dreamworks would dare to tap into producing another film of this background... Nevertheless, it still manages to pull through with a huge amount of success...

I agree with Rotten tomatoes:

"Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars."

I would definitely still consider it as a must watch movie of the year! Though I wont recommend watching it again...

I love Night Fury!

3.5/5 stars!

The Proof!

2010-04-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

How can we trust that which is unseen?
Simple.
Look for the proof

The shadow proves the sunshine
The echo proves the sound
The steam proves the heat
The watermark proves the flood
The rustling of leaves proofs the wind

We struggle to believe what we cannot see
But we cannot see because we are not really looking!

The creation proves the creator
The heavens proves His Glory
The son proves the father
The cross proves His love

And this I want to add...

The miracles prove His power!!!
His supernatural power that prevails forever and ever more!!!

(This video is taken from the testimony of Michele Hamilton who testifies God's wonderful power from saving her from a 3 days adrift at sea)

To all animal lovers

2010-04-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

To all animal lovers, I dedicate this movie to you.

Its a story of how a dog taught me how to love, of course it taught the family, but yea, it went further to impact that proud little heart of mine- so incapable of loving...

Marley was like any other dog, playful, mischievous, naughty and even dubbed the world's worst dog >.<>

Because of Marley, it caused many heated arguments, many frustrations and most of all, many destructions... How would we have responded when this calamities plague us?

Besides the main character, Marley, the movie paints a very realistic picture of a marriage and family life... As better job opportunities and attractive portfolios start to pressure us to make a decision, how would we respond? Would that which is close to our heart still have that prominent place- which is our family? Will the pressure of this world sway our choice to stay close to this gift God has entrusted us with? That is a point of thought... Where does our heart lay?

From the character of Marley, I could see myself, I could see my mischievous attitude that frustrates my master, I do things equivalent to Marley pooping in the sea while everyone's looking, I tore up my master's couch and embarrassed Him in front of everyone... I failed Him again and again... I was dubbed the world's worst dog!!!

But my master knows better than to cast me away, He knows better than to put me in a place deprived of love and care... Instead, He put me in a place where His love and care is most prominent, he pout me in His own home!!! He lets me share his bed and takes time off for me... He walks me, but what's most beautiful of my master is that He tolerates me no matter what I do... Until one day i wake up from my mischief and become a true servant of my master, a servant from my heart.

I couldn't hold back tears when Marley waited everyday for the children to return from school, at that particular spot. He became faithful! He became their brother, he was part of their family!!!

Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs, it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

I want to end this post by quoting from the movie:

"A dog doesn't care for rich or poor,

Clever or dull;

smart or dumb;

give him your heart

and he'll give you his..."

Jesus has given us His heart, let's give Him ours...

Every second, every day...

2010-01-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

The Lord sayeth to Jeremiah,
" Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you;
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Oh you dear sister of mine,
you who are really hard to find,
I hardly know how to rhyme,
but I'll try to let it chime...

It all started
in a small little car,
that innocent little prayer,
didn't know it will take us so far...

Now we are here,
not knowing how this will last,
Neither do I fear
because I know where to cast...

I love the sound of music,
the chirping birds in the air,
the warmth of the sunshine,
because it is all past...

Oh it was through the nights,
I tossed and turned,
And never felt that burn,
The choice you gave was too great to make...

The lion or the lamb,
the anguish or the hurt,
the fog of uncertainty
had encircled around me...

I used to cry,
I used to beg,
I used to try
my very best...

But now my heart is settled,
the thumping and moaning indeed was dwindling,
the prayer I used to pray,
after so long finally gave way...

Quickly and nimbly
I whispered my prayer,
finding new and joyous words
for the song anew:

O how sweet doth the morning come,
O how quickly doth the darkness flee,
As the night gives way to the morning,
So doth His grace and strength come to me...

I tried to seek,
I tried to judge,
I tried to pursue every single stuff,
Oh yeah, I tried so very very hard...

The anguish of my heart always doubled up,
every time you made your mark,
I wish I knew, I wish I understood,
I wish I never had to go through and through...

Now I know, now I see,
What this has become of me,
It was like a mirror,
Reflecting the warts deep inside my soul.

And Good God has allowed this,
as a reply to all my pleading,
Dear Daniel, I have measured all your preaching
and did I find you wanting...

He led me down the path,
Into the streets of the lonely,
He took me pass the gates of the ignorant,
He finally brought me facing the statue of my own self.

The statue I saw I didn't like,
This statue I saw wasn't me at all!
He took me by the hand and looked into my eyes,
" Dear Daniel, as the refiner refines gold,
so am I refining this statue from all its flaws..."

It will be painful,
It will be tough,
But I can promise you,
It wont be too much...

"... Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,
Before you were born, I set you apart,
I appointed you for my very own purpose...
Yes! For my very own..."

I will sing of His faithfulness forever,
I will sing,
I will sing of His mercies forever,
I will sing,
for my prayer of anguish and uncertainty,
Has broken into a new and joyous song...

He hath taken my sins,
He hath healed my brokenness,
He hath taken me by the hand
And led me out of darkness...

I will promise to live second by second,
minute by minute;
hour by hour;
day by day,
Abiding in Him forevermore...

Glorify Your name O My God...

AVATAR

2009-12-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Another cool movie to catch this holiday!

"It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking." rottentomatoes.com

I agree with that!

It exemplifies the fact that we are human not because of our outward appearance but because we are humane- we put the interest of others before ourselves...

Must watch! 4.5/5

2012 Review

2009-12-16T18:32:00.001-08:00

I've been spending a lot of time and money on movies this holiday...

And the best is...

still 2012...

"Roland Emmerich's 2012 provides plenty of visual thrills, but lacks a strong enough script to support its massive scope and inflated length." rottentomatoes.com

Amid the controversies surrounding this movie being shallow and stuff I think this movie is very thought provoking and compared to Roland's previous blockbusters and all the other movies this year, it is DA BOMB!!!

Roland Emmerich manages to captivate the audience by guiding them through a roller coaster journey filled with emotions, fear and awe... Fantabulous! danielcheng

It is a MUST watch movie because it is worth every cent!!! After all, you don't get movies this length that often...

Just a food for thought: What would you do if the you were in the middle of the earthquake in California? Where would you find refuge?

Blades!!!

2009-12-16T09:16:00.000-08:00

Today I spent my time researching on my new interest- knives...

Boy!!! Are you pretty...

This is by far the most pretty blade I have come across... Its called the Outdoorsman made by one of the worlds best knife company- Cold Steel.

Imagine me having one of these babies... I'll be like Bear Grylls in 'Man vs Wild'!

Too bad it costs 284.99 USD which- after converted would be well above 1K...

Who has money to spare for a Christmas present? 1K? Anyone? =P

Black Hawk Down- Sacrificial love

2009-09-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing through this war movie which always has a special place in my heart. It illustrates the many modern war situations happening around today. It opens my eyes to the painful reality of the modern world.

I wanna share something that struck me as the show was approaching the end. Anyone would expect the soldiers to lies down a have a good rest after a grueling 15 hours operation that took may lives. Despite this, there was a soldier who started preparing himself to go out to the battle field, when he was questioned by a fellow soldier, he spoke with full of conviction and told him this, " There are still people out there..."

After a long pause, he started, " Some people ask me why I am doing this? Am I a war junkie? I won't say a single word, you know why? Because they dun understand it at all... Its about the man next to you..."

The last few words struck me so hard because I just realized how selfless the soldier was, he did not do this in order to earn a medal, nor trying to rise in rank... No!!! There must be something deeper for him to be willing to put his life in such danger even at the point of knowing that he may not come back alive. This can be nothing more than the compassion Jesus has put in us, we know that our lives does not matter when put in the context of sacrificial love.

" ...it is better to know that we died for a purpose than to live without a purpose..."

Jesus knew that only in His death that man can gain life and reconnection to God, and He knew that nothing, not even the weeping of His family or the objection of His friends can prevent Him from doing the will of the father.

It caused me thinking...

2009-04-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

One day a man had a dream, he was standing in heaven and he saw his past life flash past him. His life's journey was long and winding, he noticed that there were 2 sets of footprints- one belonging to him and another belonging to Jesus.

He man also noticed that there were some times that there was only one set of footprints, and also noticed that it was during these stages that he experienced difficulty and hardships- in short, these were the toughest times of his life.

The man turned to Jesus and asked, "Lord, why is it that during my toughest times of life you left me and I had to walk alone?"

Jesus turned to him and told him, "I did not forsake you, those footprints you saw, those were mine, I carried you."

I read this from a little note in Alvin Victor's bible and I paraphrased it.

As we celebrate Good Friday and Easter, let us be reminded about Jesus sovereignty in our lives and what he has done for us- His children. And bow our hearts in gratitude because he has showed us who we are.

My life is in you Lord...

2009-04-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

Hey folks, sorry i had not been updating my blog about the gospel of John, in fact I had not even studied it ever since i started college.

But what I want to share today to you and also as a spiritual milestone for me is about what i learnt today at the International Students Ministry Seminar at First Baptist Church, PJ. Nathan Mirza from The Navigators, Colorado Springs came and talked on knowing Christ and making Him known.

Issues of the heart- core issues was touched on and I was guided to see only the really important things in life. Christianity no longer stands without me knowing who Jesus is and following his example-living my life according to His will for me. Many a times I plan my life on my own, and always, I trust my own understanding. Little or none, I rely on the faith I have in Christ Jesus nor did I live a life victorious over sin. Why? Because I was getting my priorities wrong, because I regarded my SELF more sovereign over JESUS's sovereignty in my life- when my own selfish nature is at work, I start to think of ways I can fulfill my selfish desires- being ill disciplined- and when my pride takes control, I start treating people in ways I want them to respond to me- compromising on my stand in order for them to accept me- when in fact I should rely on Christ to be the author of my life and actions, not caring how they will think of me- "Hey, Daniel is a weirdo, he doesnt wat to hang out with us and enjoy life... He thinks he's so holy...." I have greatly sinned solely to the one issue- My unwillingness to be under Christ's sovereignty but I was trying to be in control of my life. I was cooperating with Satan in rebellion to God's authority and character. In short, I relied on myself.

What I have learnt today is to put Christ as the head of my life and everything I do, my worries and care, entrust it to Him and He will lead me, my plans and aspirings, leave it to Him and He will take care, what I have to do is sit at His feet every day and let Him teach me His ways, let Him take control, for he has not forsaken them and I believe He will not forsake me.

I Got Tagged!

2009-03-29T04:58:00.000-07:00

ok, I just got my first tag by Tan Pey June. Thanks...

1. Put your iTunes/mp3 player/Cellphone etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write the name of the song, regardless of however weird :D
4. Tag some friends who might enjoy doing this.Here We Go :

IF SOMEONE SAY "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Shake it Off- Mariah Carey
haha...

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Dont think of me- Dido
Yeah... Think of you huh...

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
whenever whenever- Shakira
No sense...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Gone Going-Black Eye Peas
NOOO...

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Where do broken hearts go?- Whitney Houston
love is complicated...

DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Gimme More- Britney Spears
HUH??? I didnt know I had this song

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Circle of life- William Hung
Yeah, its a circle of life... my parents, me, my children, my grandchildren... But wait! Theres much more than this rite?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Hijau-Zainal Abidin
GREEN???

WHAT IS 2+2?
Dancing Queen-ABBA
Nope. wrong answer.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Big Girl(You are Beautiful)-Mika
Yeah... and handsome(for guys)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Your Song-Elton John
errm... Doesnt make sense.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Back to bedlam-James Blunt
Whats Bedlam?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Crash-Chris Daughtry
Crash what? (Crash tester)haha

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Hearse rent a car- terminatot soundtrack (Marco Beltrami)
Is Hearse a person?

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Turn your car around-Lee Ryan
No sense...

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Fearless-Jay Chou
Oo... Fearless...

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Take me home, country road- John Denver
I'd love it, many will cry..

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Smoke gets in your eyes-(evergreen)
No! Its tennis...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
My boyfriend's Back-Various Artist
WHAT!!! This song shouldnt be here...

WHAT'S THE WORSE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
This I promise you- N SYNC
haha... really?!

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Papercut-Linkin Park
...

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Imagine-John Lennon
Yeah one of the things i regret...

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Beautiful Sunday- Daniel Boone
YEAH!!!!

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
100 Years- Five for Fighting
I want more... haha

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
If only tears could bring you- M2M
Yeah I hope to get married but if its God s will for me not to, I will obey...

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Soulmate- Natasha Beddingfield
haha... Maybe...No?

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Speedy Gonzalez- Various Artist
Does he???

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Oh Carol-Neil Sedaka
OOps...

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Unwritten-Natasha Beddingfield
Unwritten=Nothing

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
You Raise Me Up-Josh Groban
Amen!!! Indeed You raise me up!!! Praise You !!!
Good night.

Taggy taggy... Tabitha Lim, Janice Lee, Daniel Chong, Kelvin Chiong, Madonna Nobel, Khor Seng Kiat, Low Zi Yang, Kelvian Noel Cross, Ong Sue Ann, Wee Chuan... Yeah thats ten...

God loves Us Sooo much...

2009-01-27T00:36:00.001-08:00

This is a video that never ceases to touch my heart and open my eyes to God's love for us. I first watched this video in Banting Church and I wept as this wonderful love of God touched my heart.

After watching this a few times over, I still feel the sense of God's love so strongly and my heart cries out gratefully to God for loving us so dearly.

This is a real story, Rick Hoyt was born with a umbelical cord around his neck and the doctor advised his parents to put him aside as he had no chance of talking, walking nor behaving as a normal human. Both Rick's parents would not do such a thing so they brought him up as they would to a normal kid.

Rick would follow them for a swim and enjoy movies together.

One day while watching a marathon ad, Rick was asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?" The father who despite having a heart condition, said, "Yes".

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying, "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let us join the Ironman together; to which his father said, "Yes", too.

Father and son went on to complete the race together.

Rick says, 'Dad is my hero!'

I cannot upload this video just yet but i strongly encourage you all to watch it and experience the father's heart of God through this man-Dick Hoyt.

the link: Team Hoyt

2009-01-22T01:59:00.000-08:00

Hi again!!!

Its thursday evening and I will be going to adventure club general meeting in 15 minutes time. Just to update you on my activities and keep a quick simple record for myself on what I have gone through this whole week, I shall do a run through.

This week was tough overall and people I met along the corridor said that I looked tired and down cast. Even if i were, I didn't really feel it, but I would think there would be a valid reason for being tired. Monday was dance practice, tuesday was adventure club gathering night, wednesday was CNY reunion dinner and today will be general meeting. Thats quite a lot to juggle in a few days... Anyways, I took my friends word seriously and had a good rest just now, and I am looking fresh now. I thank those commitee members whom worked alongsde me, their sacrifice and commitment were also enormous.

Gathering night was fun, I got to know many nore people and loved the pool games!

CNY reunion dinner was a blast and I filled my stomach to the brim, I am grateful for the effort put in to make this event so successful! Ziyang and me prepared sweet sour pork which was sooo delicious... haha (actually we bought it coz we didnt have time to buy the stuff and cook it) =p

Well, thats all for now, I am looking forward to CNY break and I really need to study!!! structural analysis is so 'burmese-like' my lecturer just cant really make me understand the subject...

My 3rd semester in INTI University College

2009-01-16T05:38:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!!!

I am blogging from college and am in a relaxed state of mind coz tomorrow is weekend!!!

Right now i am taking 4 subjects: Engineering Drawing, Programming in C++, Civil Engineering Materials and Structural Analysis 1.

Its interesting so far, but some lecturers lecturers with monotonous voice or bullet speed reading, and I cant catch the point, and when my mind is idle, it tends to hibernate and therefore I fall asleep in class and the best thing is, the lecturer wont bother to wake me up!!! When I am when my battery is fully charged, ill wake up and make the lecturer explain everything he said. I know its a bit rude of me, but I do it in a way thy wont get offended, and my classmates will be grateful to the utmost coz I saved them from their confusion too!!! (apparently they cant understand the lecturer too!!!) Muahahaha!!!

I am very active in Adventure club too!!! Very busy too!!! We just had a trip to port dickson beach and are done with exhibition week- where we promote our club and get new members! Tiring!!!

In Port Dickson

I went to City Harvest Church gathering too on Thursday and I enjoyed it!!! We had steamboat, watched transporter 3 and met lots of my brothers and sisters in Christ!!! So much like a big family!!!

I went to secret recipe for the first time in my life with some of my adventure club buddies and quite enjoyed it. I took a grilled dory fish with lobster sauce. The cakes were creamy and nice. Sorry, no pics!!!

I had dinner with 4 american guys on thursday night, we had Pakistani food and quite enjoyed it... I enjoy hanging out with them, coz its a whole new experience!!! Guys, if youre reading this, its a compliment!

Of Carols and novels- Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I went for caroling yesterday with the church youth and it was tiring but fun! A great time to meet new friends and to catch up with old friends. But still i felt something lacking, the sense of belonging to a family, the sense of warmth, it has become to impersonal and this is something i hope the committee can work on. Most people have been working and over stressing themselves unnecessarily because of inexperience. Well, thats all i shall say.

This christmas season, I would like to introduce to you a christmas story beautifully written, by
Henry Van Dyke and has very much brought to me the true meaning of christmas. it is a must-read novel.

The Other Wise Man
Henry Van Dyke

You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren in the presence of the young child Jesus? Of the great desire of this fourth pilgrim, and how it was denied, yet accomplished in the denial; of his many wanderings and the probations of his soul; of the long way of his seeking and the strange way of his finding the One whom he sought--I would tell the tale as I have heard fragments of it in the Hall of Dreams, in the palace of the Heart of Man.

I

In the days when Augustus Caesar was master of many kings and Herod reigned in Jerusalem, there lived in the city of Ecbatana, among the mountains of Persia, a certain man named Artaban. His house stood close to the outermost of the walls which encircled the royal treasury. From his roof he could look over the seven-fold battlements of black and white and crimson and blue and red and silver and gold, to the hill where the summer palace of the Parthian emperors glittered like a jewel in a crown.

Around the dwelling of Artaban spread a fair garden, a tangle of flowers and fruit-trees, watered by a score of streams descending from the slopes of Mount Orontes, and made musical by innumerable birds. But all colour was lost in the soft and odorous darkness of the late September night, and all sounds were hushed in the deep charm of its silence, save the plashing of the water, like a voice half-sobbing and half-laughing under the shadows. High above the trees a dim glow of light shone through the curtained arches of the upper chamber, where the master of the house was holding council with his friends.

He stood by the doorway to greet his guests--a tall, dark man of about forty years, with brilliant eyes set near together under his broad brow, and firm lines graven around his fine, thin lips; the brow of a dreamer and the mouth of a soldier, a man of sensitive feeling but inflexible will--one of those who, in whatever age they may live, are born for inward conflict and a life of quest.

His robe was of pure white wool, thrown over a tunic of silk; and a white, pointed cap, with long lapels at the sides, rested on his flowing black hair. It was the dress of the ancient priesthood of the Magi, called the fire-worshippers.

"Welcome!" he said, in his low, pleasant voice, as one after another entered the room--"welcome, Abdus; peace be with you, Rhodaspes and Tigranes, and with you my father, Abgarus. You are all welcome. This house grows bright with the joy of your presence."

There were nine of the men, differing widely in age, but alike in the richness of their dress of many-coloured silks, and in the massive golden collars around their necks, marking them as Parthian nobles, and in the winged circles of gold resting upon their breasts, the sign of the followers of Zoroaster.

They took their places around a small black altar at the end of the room, where a tiny flame was burning. Artaban, standing beside it, and waving a barsom of thin tamarisk branches above the fire, fed it with dry sticks of pine and fragrant oils. Then he began the ancient chant of the Yasna, and the voices of his companions joined in the hymn to Ahura-Mazda:

We worship the Spirit Divine,
all wisdom and goodness possessing,
Surrounded by Holy Immortals,
the givers of bounty and blessing;
We joy in the work of His hands,
His truth and His power confessing.

We praise all the things that are pure,
for these are His only Creation
The thoughts that are true, and the words
and the deeds that have won approbation;
These are supported by Him,
and for these we make adoration.
Hear us, O Mazda! Thou livest
in truth and in heavenly gladness;
Cleanse us from falsehood, and keep us
from evil and bondage to badness,
Pour out the light and the joy of Thy life
on our darkness and sadness.

Shine on our gardens and fields,
shine on our working and waving;
Shine on the whole race of man,
believing and unbelieving;
Shine on us now through the night,
Shine on us now in Thy might,
The flame of our holy love
and the song of our worship receiving

The fire rose with the chant, throbbing as if the flame responded to the music, until it cast a bright illumination through the whole apartment, revealing its simplicity and splendour.

The floor was laid with tiles of dark blue veined with white; pilasters of twisted silver stood out against the blue walls; the clear-story of round-arched windows above them was hung with azure silk; the vaulted ceiling was a pavement of blue stones, like the body of heaven in its clearness, sown with silver stars. From the four corners of the roof hung four golden magic-wheels, called the tongues of the gods. At the eastern end, behind the altar, there were two dark-red pillars of porphyry; above them a lintel of the same stone, on which was carved the figure of a winged archer, with his arrow set to the string and his bow drawn.

The doorway between the pillars, which opened upon the terrace of the roof, was covered with a heavy curtain of the colour of a ripe pomegranate, embroidered with innumerable golden rays shooting upward from the floor. In effect the room was like a quiet, starry night, all azure and silver, flushed in the cast with rosy promise of the dawn. It was, as the house of a man should be, an expression of the character and spirit of the master.

He turned to his friends when the song was ended, and invited them to be seated on the divan at the western end of the room.

"You have come to-night," said he, looking around the circle, "at my call, as the faithful scholars of Zoroaster, to renew your worship and rekindle your faith in the God of Purity, even as this fire has been rekindled on the altar. We worship not the fire, but Him of whom it is the chosen symbol, because it is the purest of all created things. It speaks to us of one who is Light and Truth. Is it not so, my father?"

"It is well said, my son," answered the venerable Abgarus. "The enlightened are never idolaters. They lift the veil of form and go in to the shrine of reality, and new light and truth are coming to them continually through the old symbols." "Hear me, then, my father and my friends," said Artaban, "while I tell you of the new light and truth that have come to me through the most ancient of all signs. We have searched the secrets of Nature together, and studied the healing virtues of water and fire and the plants. We have read also the books of prophecy in which the future is dimly foretold in words that are hard to understand. But the highest of all learning is the knowledge of the stars. To trace their course is to untangle the threads of the mystery of life from the beginning to the end. If we could follow them perfectly, nothing would be hidden from us. But is not our knowledge of them still incomplete? Are there not many stars still beyond our horizon--lights that are known only to the dwellers in the far south-land, among the spice-trees of Punt and the gold mines of Ophir?"

There was a murmur of assent among the listeners.

"The stars," said Tigranes, "are the thoughts of the Eternal. They are numberless. But the thoughts of man can be counted, like the years of his life. The wisdom of the Magi is the greatest of all wisdoms on earth, because it knows its own ignorance. And that is the secret of power. We keep men always looking and waiting for a new sunrise. But we ourselves understand that the darkness is equal to the light, and that the conflict between them will never be ended."

"That does not satisfy me," answered Artaban, "for, if the waiting must be endless, if there could be no fulfilment of it, then it would not be wisdom to look and wait. We should become like those new teachers of the Greeks, who say that there is no truth, and that the only wise men are those who spend their lives in discovering and exposing the lies that have been believed in the world. But the new sunrise will certainly appear in the appointed time. Do not our own books tell us that this will come to pass, and that men will see the brightness of a great light?"

"That is true," said the voice of Abgarus; "every faithful disciple of Zoroaster knows the prophecy of the Avesta, and carries the word in his heart. `In that day Sosiosh the Victorious shall arise out of the number of the prophets in the east country. Around him shall shine a mighty brightness, and he shall make life everlasting, incorruptible, and immortal, and the dead shall rise again.'"

"This is a dark saying," said Tigranes, "and it may be that we shall never understand it. It is better to consider the things that are near at hand, and to increase the influence of the Magi in their own country, rather than to look for one who may be a stranger, and to whom we must resign our power."

The others seemed to approve these words. There was a silent feeling of agreement manifest among them; their looks responded with that indefinable expression which always follows when a speaker has uttered the thought that has been slumbering in the hearts of his listeners. But Artaban turned to Abgarus with a glow on his face, and said:

"My father, I have kept this prophecy in the secret place of my soul. Religion without a great hope would be like an altar without a living fire. And now the flame has burned more brightly, and by the light of it I have read other words which also have come from the fountain of Truth, and speak yet more clearly of the rising of the Victorious One in his brightness."

He drew from the breast of his tunic two small rolls of fine parchment, with writing upon them, and unfolded them carefully upon his knee.

"In the years that are lost in the past, long before our fathers came into the land of Babylon, there were wise men in Chaldea, from whom the first of the Magi learned the secret of the heavens. And of these Balaam the son of Beor was one of the mightiest. Hear the words of his prophecy: 'There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall arise out of Israel.'"

The lips of Tigranes drew downward with contempt, as he said:

"Judah was a captive by the waters of Babylon, and the sons of Jacob were in bondage to our kings. The tribes of Israel are scattered through the mountains like lost sheep, and from the remnant that dwells in Judea under the yoke of Rome neither star nor sceptre shall arise."

"And yet," answered Artaban, "it was the Hebrew Daniel, the mighty searcher of dreams, the counsellor of kings, the wise Belteshazzar, who was most honoured and beloved of our great King Cyrus. A prophet of sure things and a reader of the thoughts of the Eternal, Daniel proved himself to our people. And these are the words that he wrote." (Artaban read from the second roll:) " 'Know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore Jerusalem, unto the Anointed One, the Prince, the time shall be seven and threescore and two weeks."'

"But, my son," said Abgarus, doubtfully, "these are mystical numbers. Who can interpret them, or who can find the key that shall unlock their meaning?"

Artaban answered: "It has been shown to me and to my three companions among the Magi--Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. We have searched the ancient tablets of Chaldea and computed the time. It falls in this year. We have studied the sky, and in the spring of the year we saw two of the greatest planets draw near together in the sign of the Fish, which is the house of the Hebrews. We also saw a new star there, which shone for one night and then vanished. Now again the two great planets are meeting. This night is their conjunction. My three brothers are watching by the ancient Temple of the Seven Spheres, at Borsippa, in Babylonia, and I am watching here. If the star shines again, they will wait ten days for me at the temple, and then we will set out together for Jerusalem, to see and worship the promised one who shall be born King of Israel. I believe the sign will come. I have made ready for the journey. I have sold my possessions, and bought these three jewels--a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl--to carry them as tribute to the King. And I ask you to go with me on the pilgrimage, that we may have joy together in finding the Prince who is worthy to be served."

While he was speaking he thrust his hand into the inmost fold of his, girdle and drew out three great gems--one blue as a fragment of the night sky, one redder than a ray of sunrise, and one as pure as the peak of a snow-mountain at twilight--and laid them on the outspread scrolls before him.

But his friends looked on with strange and alien eyes. A veil of doubt and mistrust came over their faces, like a fog creeping up from the marshes to hide the hills. They glanced at each other with looks of wonder and pity, as those who have listened to incredible sayings, the story of a wild vision, or the proposal of an impossible enterprise.

At last Tigranes said: "Artaban, this is a vain dream. It comes from too much looking upon the stars and the cherishing of lofty thoughts. It would be wiser to spend the time in gathering money for the new fire-temple at Chala. No king will ever rise from the broken race of Israel, and no end will ever come to the eternal strife of light and darkness. He who looks for it is a chaser of shadows. Farewell."

And another said: "Artaban, I have no knowledge of these things, and my office as guardian of the royal treasure binds me here. The quest is not for me. But if thou must follow it, fare thee well."

And another said: "In my house there sleeps a new bride, and I cannot leave her nor take her with me on this strange journey. This quest is not for me. But may thy steps be prospered wherever thou goest. So, farewell."

And another said: "I am ill and unfit for hardship, but there is a man among my servants whom I will send with thee when thou goest, to bring me word how thou farest."

So, one by one, they left the house of Artaban. But Abgarus, the oldest and the one who loved him the best, lingered after the others had gone, and said, gravely: "My son, it may be that the light of truth is in this sign that has appeared in the skies, and then it will surely lead to the Prince and the mighty brightness. Or it may be that it is only a shadow of the light, as Tigranes has said, and then he who follows it will have a long pilgrimage and a fruitless search. But it is better to follow even the shadow of the best than to remain content with the worst. And those who would see wonderful things must often be ready to travel alone. I am too old for this journey, but my heart shall be a companion of thy pilgrimage day and night, and I shall know the end of thy quest. Go in peace."

Then Abgarus went out of the azure chamber with its silver stars, and Artaban was left in solitude.

He gathered up the jewels and replaced them in his girdle. For a long time he stood and watched the flame that flickered and sank upon the altar. Then he crossed the hall, lifted the heavy curtain, and passed out between the pillars of porphyry to the terrace on the roof.

The shiver that runs through the earth ere she rouses from her night-sleep had already begun, and the cool wind that heralds the daybreak was drawing downward from the lofty snow-traced ravines of Mount Orontes. Birds, half-awakened, crept and chirped among the rustling leaves, and the smell of ripened grapes came in brief wafts from the arbours.

Far over the eastern plain a white mist stretched like a lake. But where the distant peaks of Zagros serrated the western horizon the sky was clear. Jupiter and Saturn rolled together like drops of lambent flame about to blend in one.

As Artaban watched them, a steel-blue spark was born out of the darkness beneath, rounding itself with purple splendours to a crimson sphere, and spiring upward through rays of saffron and orange into a point of white radiance. Tiny and infinitely remote, yet perfect in every part, it pulsated in the enormous vault as if the three jewels in the Magian's girdle had mingled and been transformed into a living heart of light.

He bowed his head. He covered his brow with his hands.

"It is the sign," he said. "The King is coming, and I will go to meet him."

II

All night long, Vasda, the swiftest of Artaban's horses, had been waiting, saddled and bridled, in her stall, pawing the ground impatiently, and shaking her bit as if she shared the eagerness of her master's purpose, though she knew not its meaning.

Before the birds had fully roused to their strong, high, joyful chant of morning song, before the white mist had begun to lift lazily from the plain, the Other Wise Man was in the saddle, riding swiftly along the high-road, which skirted the base of Mount Orontes, westward.

How close, how intimate is the comradeship between a man and his favourite horse on a long journey. It is a silent, comprehensive friendship, an intercourse beyond the need of words.

They drink at the same way-side springs, and sleep under the same guardian stars. They are conscious together of the subduing spell of nightfall and the quickening joy of daybreak. The master shares his evening meal with his hungry companion, and feels the soft, moist lips caressing the palm of his hand as they close over the morsel of bread. In the gray dawn he is roused from his bivouac by the gentle stir of a warm, sweet breath over his sleeping face, and looks up into the eyes of his faithful fellow-traveller, ready and waiting for the toil of the day. Surely, unless he is a pagan and an unbeliever, by whatever name he calls upon his God, he will thank Him for this voiceless sympathy, this dumb affection, and his morning prayer will embrace a double blessing--God bless us both, the horse and the rider, and keep our feet from falling and our souls from death!

Then, through the keen morning air, the swift hoofs beat their tattoo along the road, keeping time to the pulsing of two hearts that are moved with the same eager desire--to conquer space, to devour the distance, to attain the goal of the journey.

Artaban must indeed ride wisely and well if he would keep the appointed hour with the other Magi; for the route was a hundred and fifty parasangs, and fifteen was the utmost that he could travel in a day. But he knew Vasda's strength, and pushed forward without anxiety, making the fixed distance every day, though he must travel late into the night, and in the morning long before sunrise.

He passed along the brown slopes of Mount Orontes, furrowed by the rocky courses of a hundred torrents.

He crossed the level plains of the Nisaeans, where the famous herds of horses, feeding in the wide pastures, tossed their heads at Vasda's approach, and galloped away with a thunder of many hoofs, and flocks of wild birds rose suddenly from the swampy meadows, wheeling in great circles with a shining flutter of innumerable wings and shrill cries of surprise.

He traversed the fertile fields of Concabar, where the dust from the threshing-floors filled the air with a golden mist, half hiding the huge temple of Astarte with its four hundred pillars.

At Baghistan, among the rich gardens watered by fountains from the rock, he looked up at the mountain thrusting its immense rugged brow out over the road, and saw the figure of King Darius trampling upon his fallen foes, and the proud list of his wars and conquests graven high upon the face of the eternal cliff.

Over many a cold and desolate pass, crawling painfully across the wind-swept shoulders of the hills; down many a black mountain-gorge, where the river roared and raced before him like a savage guide; across many a smiling vale, with terraces of yellow limestone full of vines and fruit-trees; through the oak-groves of Carine and the dark Gates of Zagros, walled in by precipices; into the ancient city of Chala, where the people of Samaria had been kept in captivity long ago; and out again by the mighty portal, riven through the encircling hills, where he saw the image of the High Priest of the Magi sculptured on the wall of rock, with hand uplifted as if to bless the centuries of pilgrims; past the entrance of the narrow defile, filled from end to end with orchards of peaches and figs, through which the river Gyndes foamed down to meet him; over the broad rice-fields, where the autumnal vapours spread their deathly mists; following along the course of the river, under tremulous shadows of poplar and tamarind, among the lower hills; and out upon the flat plain, where the road ran straight as an arrow through the stubble-fields and parched meadows; past the city of Ctesiphon, where the Parthian emperors reigned, and the vast metropolis of Seleucia which Alexander built; across the swirling floods of Tigris and the many channels of Euphrates, flowing yellow through the corn-lands--Artaban pressed onward until he arrived, at nightfall on the tenth day, beneath the shattered walls of populous Babylon.

Vasda was almost spent, and Artaban would gladly have turned into the city to find rest and refreshment for himself and for her. But he knew that it was three hours' journey yet to the Temple of the Seven Spheres, and he must reach the place by midnight if he would find his comrades waiting. So he did not halt, but rode steadily across the stubble-fields.

A grove of date-palms made an island of gloom in the pale yellow sea. As she passed into the shadow Vasda slackened her pace, and began to pick her way more carefully.

Near the farther end of the darkness an access of caution seemed to fall upon her. She scented some danger or difficulty; it was not in her heart to fly from it--only to be prepared for it, and to meet it wisely, as a good horse should do. The grove was close and silent as the tomb; not a leaf rustled, not a bird sang.

She felt her steps before her delicately, carrying her head low, and sighing now and then with apprehension. At last she gave a quick breath of anxiety and dismay, and stood stock-still, quivering in every muscle, before a dark object in the shadow of the last palm-tree.

Artaban dismounted. The dim starlight revealed the form of a man lying across the road. His humble dress and the outline of his haggard face showed that he was probably one of the Hebrews who still dwelt in great numbers around the city. His pallid skin, dry and yellow as parchment, bore the mark of the deadly fever which ravaged the marsh-lands in autumn. The chill of death was in his lean hand, and, as Artaban released it, the arm fell back inertly upon the motionless breast.

He turned away with a thought of pity, leaving the body to that strange burial which the Magians deemed most fitting--the funeral of the desert, from which the kites and vultures rise on dark wings, and the beasts of prey slink furtively away. When they are gone there is only a heap of white bones on the sand.

But, as he turned, a long, faint, ghostly sigh came from the man's lips. The bony fingers gripped the hem of the Magian's robe and held him fast.

Artaban's heart leaped to his throat, not with fear, but with a dumb resentment at the importunity of this blind delay.

How could he stay here in the darkness to minister to a dying stranger? What claim had this unknown fragment of human life upon his compassion or his service? If he lingered but for an hour he could hardly reach Borsippa at the appointed time. His companions would think he had given up the journey. They would go without him. He would lose his quest.

But if he went on now, the man would surely die. If Artaban stayed, life might be restored. His spirit throbbed and fluttered with the urgency of the crisis. Should he risk the great reward of his faith for the sake of a single deed of charity? Should he turn aside, if only for a moment, from the following of the star, to give a cup of cold water to a poor, perishing Hebrew?

"God of truth and purity," he prayed, "direct me in the holy path, the way of wisdom which Thou only knowest."

Then he turned back to the sick man. Loosening the grasp of his hand, he carried him to a little mound at the foot of the palm-tree.

He unbound the thick folds of the turban and opened the garment above the sunken breast. He brought water from one of the small canals near by, and moistened the sufferer's brow and mouth. He mingled a draught of one of those simple but potent remedies which he carried always in his girdle--for the Magians were physicians as well as astrologers--and poured it slowly between the colourless lips. Hour after hour he laboured as only a skilful healer of disease can do. At last the man's strength returned; he sat up and looked about him.

"Who art thou?" he said, in the rude dialect of the country, "and why hast thou sought me here to bring back my life?"

"I am Artaban the Magian, of the city of Ecbatana, and I am going to Jerusalem in search of one who is to be born King of the Jews, a great Prince and Deliverer of all men. I dare not delay any longer upon my journey, for the caravan that has waited for me may depart without me. But see, here is all that I have left of bread and wine, and here is a potion of healing herbs. When thy strength is restored thou canst find the dwellings of the Hebrews among the houses of Babylon."

The Jew raised his trembling hand solemnly to heaven.

"Now may the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob bless and prosper the journey of the merciful, and bring him in peace to his desired haven. Stay! I have nothing to give thee in return--only this: that I can tell thee where the Messiah must be sought. For our prophets have said that he should be born not in Jerusalem, but in Bethlehem of Judah. May the Lord bring thee in safety to that place, because thou hast had pity upon the sick."

It was already long past midnight. Artaban rode in haste, and Vasda, restored by the brief rest, ran eagerly through the silent plain and swam the channels of the river. She put forth the remnant of her strength, and fled over the ground like a gazelle.

But the first beam of the rising sun sent a long shadow before her as she entered upon the final stadium of the journey, and the eyes of Artaban, anxiously scanning the great mound of Nimrod and the Temple of the Seven Spheres, could discern no trace of his friends.

The many-coloured terraces of black and orange and red and yellow and green and blue and white, shattered by the convulsions of nature, and crumbling under the repeated blows of human violence, still glittered like a ruined rainbow in the morning light.

Artaban rode swiftly around the hill. He dismounted and climbed to the highest terrace, looking out toward the west.

The huge desolation of the marshes stretched away to the horizon and the border of the desert. Bitterns stood by the stagnant pools and jackals skulked through the low bushes; but there was no sign of the caravan of the Wise Men, far or near.

At the edge of the terrace he saw a little cairn of broken bricks, and under them a piece of papyrus. He caught it up and read: "We have waited past the midnight, and can delay no longer. We go to find the King. Follow us across the desert."

Artaban sat down upon the ground and covered his head in despair.

"How can I cross the desert," said he, "with no food and with a spent horse? I must return to Babylon, sell my sapphire, and buy a train of camels, and provision for the journey. I may never overtake my friends. Only God the merciful knows whether I shall not lose the sight of the King because I tarried to show mercy."

III

There was a silence in the Hall of Dreams, where I was listening to the story of the Other Wise Man. Through this silence I saw, but very dimly, his figure passing over the dreary undulations of the desert, high upon the back of his camel, rocking steadily onward like a ship over the waves.

The land of death spread its cruel net around him. The stony waste bore no fruit but briers and thorns. The dark ledges of rock thrust themselves above the surface here and there, like the bones of perished monsters. Arid and inhospitable mountain-ranges rose before him, furrowed with dry channels of ancient torrents, white and ghastly as scars on the face of nature. Shifting hills of treacherous sand were heaped like tombs along the horizon. By day, the fierce heat pressed its intolerable burden on the quivering air. No living creature moved on the dumb, swooning earth, but tiny jerboas scuttling through the parched bushes, or lizards vanishing in the clefts of the rock. By night the jackals prowled and barked in the distance, and the lion made the black ravines echo with his hollow roaring, while a bitter, blighting chill followed the fever of the day. Through heat and cold, the Magian moved steadily onward.

Then I saw the gardens and orchards of Damascus, watered by the streams of Abana and Pharpar, with their sloping swards inlaid with bloom, and their thickets of myrrh and roses. I saw the long, snowy ridge of Hermon, and the dark groves of cedars, and the valley of the Jordan, and the blue waters of the Lake of Galilee, and the fertile plain of Esdraelon, and the hills of Ephraim, and the highlands of Judah. Through all these I followed the figure of Artaban moving steadily onward, until he arrived at Bethlehem. And it was the third day after the three Wise Men had come to that place and had found Mary and Joseph, with the young child, Jesus, and had laid their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh at his feet.

Then the Other Wise Man drew near, weary, but full of hope, bearing his ruby and his pearl to offer to the King. "For now at last," he said, "I shall surely find him, though I be alone, and later than my brethren. This is the place of which the Hebrew exile told me that the prophets had spoken, and here I shall behold the rising of the great light. But I must inquire about the visit of my brethren, and to what house the star directed them, and to whom they presented their tribute."

The streets of the village seemed to be deserted, and Artaban wondered whether the men had all gone up to the hill-pastures to bring down their sheep. From the open door of a cottage he heard the sound of a woman's voice singing softly. He entered and found a young mother hushing her baby to rest. She told him of the strangers from the far East who had appeared in the village three days ago, and how they said that a star had guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging with his wife and her new-born child, and how they had paid reverence to the child and given him many rich gifts.

"But the travellers disappeared again," she continued, "as suddenly as they had come. We were afraid at the strangeness of their visit. We could not understand it. The man of Nazareth took the child and his mother, and fled away that same night secretly, and it was whispered that they were going to Egypt. Ever since, there has been a spell upon the village; something evil hangs over it. They say that the Roman soldiers are coming from Jerusalem to force a new tax from us, and the men have driven the flocks and herds far back among the hills, and hidden themselves to escape it."

Artaban listened to her gentle, timid speech, and the child in her arms looked up in his face and smiled, stretching out its rosy hands to grasp at the winged circle of gold on his breast. His heart warmed to the touch. It seemed like a greeting of love and trust to one who had journeyed long in loneliness and perplexity, fighting with his own doubts and fears, and following a light that was veiled in clouds.

"Why might not this child have been the promised Prince?" he asked within himself, as he touched its soft cheek. "Kings have been born ere now in lowlier houses than this, and the favourite of the stars may rise even from a cottage. But it has not seemed good to the God of wisdom to reward my search so soon and so easily. The one whom I seek has gone before me; and now I must follow the King to Egypt."

The young mother laid the baby in its cradle, and rose to minister to the wants of the strange guest that fate had brought into her house. She set food before him, the plain fare of peasants, but willingly offered, and therefore full of refreshment for the soul as well as for the body. Artaban accepted it gratefully; and, as he ate, the child fell into a happy slumber, and murmured sweetly in its dreams, and a great peace filled the room.

But suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion in the streets of the village, a shrieking and wailing of women's voices, a clangour of brazen trumpets and a clashing of swords, and a desperate cry: "The soldiers! the soldiers of Herod! They are killing our children."

The young mother's face grew white with terror. She clasped her child to her bosom, and crouched motionless in the darkest corner of the room, covering him with the folds of her robe, lest he should wake and cry.

But Artaban went quickly and stood in the doorway of the house. His broad shoulders filled the portal from side to side, and the peak of his white cap all but touched the lintel.

The soldiers came hurrying down the street with bloody hands and dripping swords. At the sight of the stranger in his imposing dress they hesitated with surprise. The captain of the band approached the threshold to thrust him aside. But Artaban did not stir. His face was as calm as though he were watching the stars, and in his eyes there burned that steady radiance before which even the half-tamed hunting leopard shrinks, and the bloodhound pauses in his leap. He held the soldier silently for an instant, and then said in a low voice:

"I am all alone in this place, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace."

He showed the ruby, glistening in the hollow of his hand like a great drop of blood.

The captain was amazed at the splendour of the gem. The pupils of his eyes expanded with desire, and the hard lines of greed wrinkled around his lips. He stretched out his hand and took the ruby.

"March on!" he cried to his men, "there is no child here. The house is empty."

The clamor and the clang of arms passed down the street as the headlong fury of the chase sweeps by the secret covert where the trembling deer is hidden. Artaban re-entered the cottage. He turned his face to the east and prayed:

"God of truth, forgive my sin! I have said the thing that is not, to save the life of a child. And two of my gifts are gone. I have spent for man that which was meant for God. Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?"

But the voice of the woman, weeping for joy in the shadow behind him, said very gently:

"Because thou hast saved the life of my little one, may the Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace."

IV

Again there was a silence in the Hall of Dreams, deeper and more mysterious than the first interval, and I understood that the years of Artaban were flowing very swiftly under the stillness, and I caught only a glimpse, here and there, of the river of his life shining through the mist that concealed its course.

I saw him moving among the throngs of men in populous Egypt, seeking everywhere for traces of the household that had come down from Bethlehem, and finding them under the spreading sycamore-trees of Heliopolis, and beneath the walls of the Roman fortress of New Babylon beside the Nile--traces so faint and dim that they vanished before him continually, as footprints on the wet river-sand glisten for a moment with moisture and then disappear.

I saw him again at the foot of the pyramids, which lifted their sharp points into the intense saffron glow of the sunset sky, changeless monuments of the perishable glory and the imperishable hope of man. He looked up into the face of the crouching Sphinx and vainly tried to read the meaning of the calm eyes and smiling mouth. Was it, indeed, the mockery of all effort and all aspiration, as Tigranes had said--the cruel jest of a riddle that has no answer, a search that never can succeed? Or was there a touch of pity and encouragement in that inscrutable smile--a promise that even the defeated should attain a victory, and the disappointed should discover a prize, and the ignorant should be made wise, and the blind should see, and the wandering should come into the haven at last?

I saw him again in an obscure house of Alexandria, taking counsel with a Hebrew rabbi. The venerable man, bending over the rolls of parchment on which the prophecies of Israel were written, read aloud the pathetic words which foretold the sufferings of the promised Messiah--the despised and rejected of men, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

"And remember, my son," said he, fixing his eyes upon the face of Artaban, "the King whom thou seekest is not to be found in a palace, nor among the rich and powerful. If the light of the world and the glory of Israel had been appointed to come with the greatness of earthly splendour, it must have appeared long ago. For no son of Abraham will ever again rival the power which Joseph had in the palaces of Egypt, or the magnificence of Solomon throned between the lions in Jerusalem. But the light for which the world is waiting is a new light, the glory that shall rise out of patient and triumphant suffering. And the kingdom which is to be established forever is a new kingdom, the royalty of unconquerable love.

"I do not know how this shall come to pass, nor how the turbulent kings and peoples of earth shall be brought to acknowledge the Messiah and pay homage to him. But this I know. Those who seek him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed."

So I saw the Other Wise Man again and again, travelling from place to place, and searching among the people of the dispersion, with whom the little family from Bethlehem might, perhaps, have found a refuge. He passed through countries where famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread. He made his dwelling in plague-stricken cities where the sick were languishing in the bitter companionship of helpless misery. He visited the oppressed and the afflicted in the gloom of subterranean prisons, and the crowded wretchedness of slave-markets, and the weary toil of galley-ships. In all this populous and intricate world of anguish, though he found none to worship, he found many to help. He fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, and healed the sick, and comforted the captive; and his years passed more swiftly than the weaver's shuttle that flashes back and forth through the loom while the web grows and the pattern is completed.

It seemed almost as if he had forgotten his quest. But once I saw him for a moment as he stood alone at sunrise, waiting at the gate of a Roman prison. He had taken from a secret resting-place in his bosom the pearl, the last of his jewels. As he looked at it, a mellower lustre, a soft and iridescent light, full of shifting gleams of azure and rose, trembled upon its surface. It seemed to have absorbed some reflection of the lost sapphire and ruby. So the secret purpose of a noble life draws into itself the memories of past joy and past sorrow. All that has helped it, all that has hindered it, is transfused by a subtle magic into its very essence. It becomes more luminous and precious the longer it is carried close to the warmth of the beating heart.

Then, at last, while I was thinking of this pearl, and of its meaning, I heard the end of the story of the Other Wise Man.

V

Three-and-thirty years of the life of Artaban had passed away, and he was still a pilgrim and a seeker after light. His hair, once darker than the cliffs of Zagros, was now white as the wintry snow that covered them. His eyes, that once flashed like flames of fire, were dull as embers smouldering among the ashes.

Worn and weary and ready to die, but still looking for the King, he had come for the last time to Jerusalem. He had often visited the holy city before, and had searched all its lanes and crowded bevels and black prisons without finding any trace of the family of Nazarenes who had fled from Bethlehem long ago. But now it seemed as if he must make one more effort, and something whispered in his heart that, at last, he might succeed.

It was the season of the Passover. The city was thronged with strangers. The children of Israel, scattered in far lands, had returned to the Temple for the great feast, and there had been a confusion of tongues in the narrow streets for many days.

But on this day a singular agitation was visible in the multitude. The sky was veiled with a portentous gloom. Currents of excitement seemed to flash through the crowd. A secret tide was sweeping them all one way. The clatter of sandals and the soft, thick sound of thousands of bare feet shuffling over the stones, flowed unceasingly along the street that leads to the Damascus gate.

Artaban joined a group of people from his own country, Parthian Jews who had come up to keep the Passover, and inquired of them the cause of the tumult, and where they were going.

"We are going," they answered, "to the place called Golgotha, outside the city walls, where there is to be an execution. Have you not heard what has happened? Two famous robbers are to be crucified, and with them another, called Jesus of Nazareth, a man who has done many wonderful works among the people, so that they love him greatly. But the priests and elders have said that he must die, because he gave himself out to be the Son of God. And Pilate has sent him to the cross because he said that he was the `King of the Jews.'

How strangely these familiar words fell upon the tired heart of Artaban! They had led him for a lifetime over land and sea. And now they came to him mysteriously, like a message of despair. The King had arisen, but he had been denied and cast out. He was about to perish. Perhaps he was already dying. Could it be the same who had been born in Bethlehem thirty-three years ago, at whose birth the star had appeared in heaven, and of whose coming the prophets had spoken?

Artaban's heart beat unsteadily with that troubled, doubtful apprehension which is the excitement of old age. But he said within himself: "The ways of God are stranger than the thoughts of men, and it may be that I shall find the King, at last, in the hands of his enemies, and shall come in time to offer my pearl for his ransom before he dies."

So the old man followed the multitude with slow and painful steps toward the Damascus gate of the city. Just beyond the entrance of the guardhouse a troop of Macedonian soldiers came down the street, dragging a young girl with torn dress and dishevelled hair. As the Magian paused to look at her with compassion, she broke suddenly from the hands of her tormentors, and threw herself at his feet, clasping him around the knees. She had seen his white cap and the winged circle on his breast.

"Have pity on me," she cried, "and save me, for the sake of the God of Purity! I also am a daughter of the true religion which is taught by the Magi. My father was a merchant of Parthia, but he is dead, and I am seized for his debts to be sold as a slave. Save me from worse than death!"

Artaban trembled.

It was the old conflict in his soul, which had come to him in the palm-grove of Babylon and in the cottage at Bethlehem--the conflict between the expectation of faith and the impulse of love. Twice the gift which he had consecrated to the worship of religion had been drawn to the service of humanity. This was the third trial, the ultimate probation, the final and irrevocable choice.

Was it his great opportunity, or his last temptation? He could not tell. One thing only was clear in the darkness of his mind--it was inevitable. And does not the inevitable come from God?

One thing only was sure to his divided heart--to rescue this helpless girl would be a true deed of love. And is not love the light of the soul?

He took the pearl from his bosom. Never had it seemed so luminous, so radiant, so full of tender, living lustre. He laid it in the hand of the slave.

"This is thy ransom, daughter! It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King."

While he spoke, the darkness of the sky deepened, and shuddering tremors ran through the earth heaving convulsively like the breast of one who struggles with mighty grief.

The walls of the houses rocked to and fro. Stones were loosened and crashed into the street. Dust clouds filled the air. The soldiers fled in terror, reeling like drunken men. But Artaban and the girl whom he had ransomed crouched helpless beneath the wall of the Praetorium.

What had he to fear? What had he to hope? He had given away the last remnant of his tribute for the King. He had parted with the last hope of finding him. The quest was over, and it had failed. But, even in that thought, accepted and embraced, there was peace. It was not resignation. It was not submission. It was something more profound and searching. He knew that all was well, because he had done the best that he could from day to day. He had been true to the light that had been given to him. He had looked for more. And if he had not found it, if a failure was all that came out of his life, doubtless that was the best that was possible. He had not seen the revelation of "life everlasting, incorruptible and immortal." But he knew that even if he could live his earthly life over again, it could not be otherwise than it had been.

One more lingering pulsation of the earthquake quivered through the ground. A heavy tile, shaken from the roof, fell and struck the old man on the temple. He lay breathless and pale, with his gray head resting on the young girl's shoulder, and the blood trickling from the wound. As she bent over him, fearing that he was dead, there came a voice through the twilight, very small and still, like music sounding from a distance, in which the notes are clear but the words are lost. The girl turned to see if some one had spoken from the window above them, but she saw no one.

Then the old man's lips began to move, as if in answer, and she heard him say in the Parthian tongue:

"Not so, my Lord! For when saw I thee an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? Three-and-- thirty years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my King."

He ceased, and the sweet voice came again. And again the maid heard it, very faint and far away. But now it seemed as though she understood the words:

"Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."

A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban like the first ray of dawn, on a snowy mountain-peak. A long breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips.

His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man had found the King.

My 2nd semester in INTI!!!

2008-11-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

My second semester in INTI has finally ended!!!
I have been busy at home now for exactly 16 days and have more or less cooled down from college life and more accustomed to home life.

Let me tell you what I have been busy with:

Practising my driving
Helping out as an assistant in Kumon Centre
Playing Need for Speed - most wanted
Chatting chatting chatting
Tennis tennis tennis
Jogging (only for a few days)
And trying to read up the books for d'NA

I was just transferring the photos from my phone to the PC and I couldn't help but to browse through them...

Memories of the past semester came flooding back and I was surprise that so many activities could be accomplished even during this short semester of 10 weeks.

Well, I would love to share it, so, here goes...

ADVENTURE CLUB GATHERING NIGHT!!!

check out more here

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
I joined the adventure club trip to Bukit Tabur a.k.a Crystal Mountain. We call it Crystal Mountain as its original name didn't sound very appealing...

It was very challenging and I never imagined a mountain in Taman Melawati, KL to bestow such a wonderful experience for us. Thank you Woei Jing and the committee to spot such a wonderful place!!!!

Just one of the many peaks of Crystal mountain

I got to meet new friends too!!!

And believe it or not, there were real crystals up on the hill!!! Nah, just kidding... Just some stones resembling crystals.BEHOLD!!! The spectacular view from Crystal Mountain!!! ( I didnt know KL had such nice scenery until then)
We could see the twin towers and KL tower from here.

MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM
We organised Mentor- Mentee program which actually is a gathering of students and lecturers, here, they get to know each other more and lecturers get to share their experience to students as a friend and mentor.

Siang Ling(the girl below the stage) and I(on the stage) were the emcees

Can you spot me???

Bon Voyage
d'NAers had a farewell gathering at KLCC for our dear Tabby and Caryn who will fly off to US to further their studies... Owwh they have flown there ady... To check out how they are doin, Click Tabby and Caryn. Dun worry girls, I;ve been keeping up with your blog, although not so frequently sometimes...*embarrased* Good that you all are doin well over there!!!

Tabby: Rock on!!!
Caryn: MOOO all the way!!!

Caryn (in grey) and Tabby (in yellow)

INTI CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP LUNCH
We had lunch at Pizza Hut!!! Nicest food i have tasted in months!!! haha

Kelvin, Ben and Qin Le

Sharon, Jia Lerd and Karen

SHANNON and MEGHAN
Meghan(with pink bag) and Shannon (blue sling bag) came over to INTI from US as exchange students just for one semester and I got to know them pretty well... Also, through them I got to meet Shola( in white) and AJ *issit?*(in black)

Girls, thank you so much for being such great friends!!! Take Care!!!

CASH FLOW GAME
Its a game which involves making investments and earning money. Person with more passive income will win. And Charis (the girl beside me) beat everyone to emerge the winner, and even then she said that she wasn't sure how the game worked... LOL... *Eh Charis, belum belanja pun...*

Ben, (the guy next to me) emerged second... Try harder next time, but hey, you got second!!! *I wasn't even near*
Btw, thanks Jason(chairperson of House of Commerce) for organising such a cool activity!!!

LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMP!!!

woohoooooo!!!!
*super duper excited*

It was the coolest camp i've ever went to in INTI, this is just a little little bit out of the many activities we did...

the clockwise group!!!!

camping style
Cool yeah!!!

and thats Brittany- super cool name

WOORRMMMSSSSSS!!!We have to pick up the sweets from the plates with our teeth!!!
Thats Charis eating worms

zion
*cant recognise*
hong yek

hong wei
they just love the stinky smell of worms and that smelly prawn paste...

Some of my group members- Adrian, YY, me, chin yang and Jason!!!

Random pictures...

Mr Anand in our static class

looking like Ah peks... Anbin looks real Ah Pekish

I got this super nice and good quality jacket for only rm10 =)

*trying to pose*

Wai Quai took this photo during our last days of the second sem... Niceeee...

Gary in my room discussing maths

I got the excellence award!!! YAY!!!

Meghan painting Staley's face during treasure hunt

thats valerie taking her pic on my phone.

at chilling waterfall for our committee camp survey

Halloween night by AUP club

sorwee

2008-11-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

sorry, this blog's kinda dead... Will post stuff up asap!!! Ideas are coming!!!

Flickering Flame

2008-09-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

To whom it concerns,

I finally realized the feeling of stressed and tiredness... Just getting tired of the ever increasing workload and responsibility. I feel the heat of the overworked brain swelling in my skull- the indication of my capability reaching its max.

I finally understood that after much of my care and concern of others, they continue to expect it ignorant of the fact that care and concern is a two way thing...

Anyway I am burnt out and I need rest!!! I will rest otherwise you ll see me in mental hospital...

Gonna watch House!!!

11:11:11- 20.08.2008

2008-08-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

Now is 11:11:11- 20.08.2008 what a moment in time... I thought it would be best to capture tis moment in my blog. Dun bother the time on the blogpost.... Its inaccurate...

The Reign of the New Champion!!!

2008-08-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

Nadal winning the prestigious Wimbledon in 2008

Nadal winning the Olympic gold for Spain

I feel that now is the time to blog about my favorite tennis player-Rafael Nadal!!! I have been his die-hard fan since I got involved in the tennis scenario- that was exactly around 2 years ago! I have been seeing him win and lose. and shared the joy and excitement!!! Sigh, how I feel the disappointment when Gonzalez took the set at last years quarterfinal...

But NOW!!! He has inherited the Throne of Tennis from one of the best players- Roger Federer by winning the French Open, Wimbledon and now the Olympic Gold Medal.

Federer was once solid and unbeatable and I respected his calmness and refine character. He is a real gentleman. Never shouting or throwing his tantrum, he demonstrates to the world the real character of a sportsman.

Now the time for Nadal has come! He is the rightful heir to become the 'Prince of Tennis' which Federer once was. He will be looked upon the world to demonstrate the beauty of tennis and the spirit of sportsmanship.

I am sure that Nadal is more than qualified for taking this position. Based on his on court appearance, he never shows off but carries the image of a humble and helpful person. He always respects his opponent whether strong or weak and never fails to nod as a sign of gratitude to the referee or ball boy. In the Olympics village, Nadal is dubbed the most friendly sportsman of the Spanish team (according to 'The Star' newspaper 19-Aug-2008). I am truly inspired by a man like this and I am sure he has inspired many more.

All I can say now is "Nadal!!! Way to Go!!! You have done wonderfully and I wish you all the best not only for the ATP and Grand Slams to come but your entire life!!!

Children

2008-08-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am back for semester break and I see so many things about dear little children.

Those little 5 year old girls are so cute and so responsive. They smile and wave in response to my greeting. They are just so "themselves"!

But those girls 5 years older seemed to have changed so drastically. They were no doubt like that once, so innocent and carefree... But now... They have become so self-conscious. Their eyes always darting here and there, avoiding any eye contact, and in response to my greeting, they give a quick gesture that seems like a semi-wave or just a quick-fading smile... Sigh... Why were the once angelic little character changed so much in just 5 years???

The main reason I feel is due to the conditioning of the child during these years... They are exposed to school life and are thrown into the limelight of sarcasms and sheer neglect by their older ones... They are pressured to achieve perfect marks and treated as a robot programmed to generate flawless output... Worst of all, they are not conditioned by LOVE... In other words, their parents who are the rightful souls God has ordained to shower them with encouragement, security, assurance and quality time has but failed in their duty as this role... They equate "Love" with "Toys", "Money" and try to give the "best" without knowing that the "best they can give is "THEMSELVES".

So friends, we who will one day be parents, let us consider how we would condition our child so as to fulfill our God given duty to nurture a secure, confident, loved and outspoken offspring...

heehee...

2008-07-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

SURVIVAL CAMP

Not that long ago, adventure Club organized a Survival Camp:

I was the program master.

We went to Pulau Besar, Melaka.

Its a wonderful place...

very Beautiful

And clean...

Survival Camp was a little like the reality show survivor...

Gordon Had to brush his teeth like that...

while i didnt brush my teeth at all for three days two nights....

There were around 40 of us

we slept in tents

and cooked our own food
and Played tiring games...

Amazing Race and treasure hunt...

it was really fun...

We went back to the hostel tired but happy...
Praise God!!!

2008-07-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

BANANAS

Hee Hee...

Is it cool???

I didnt buy it though...

I love banandas or balaclavas or bananas...

whatever you call it...

At Ikano...

2008-07-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

i went to kl last week and crashed in kay auns house...

kay aun

we went shopping...
the hamsters
at ikano was
so cute...

nice trip!!!
thanks for everything...

2008-07-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

yo folks pray for me...

Campus Life...

2008-06-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

Monday, 8th June 2008 -1800GMT

You cannot imagine how college life is until you experience it. I mean an on-campus college life. I am not trying to make those pre-college-on-campus-goers envious or impatient because home stay is vital in preparing us for the future living-independently.

Teacher dismissed the class around 5.40pm when it should be 6pm-as usual… I was walking back to hostel 1km away with the thought of revising some work. I missed today’s math class because of the site visit this morning. Well… It was fun and a good experience, but tiring and I had my first meal in SUBWAY which I spent 20 bucks… 20 BUCKS!!!! 2 days budget on one meal… Well, after all it’s just once in A WHILE >.<

I was walking home with the knowledge that we were meeting at the ‘bakery’ to celebrate Alwyn’s birthday party around 730pm… (Alwyn is my classmate) The tennis practice was on as I passed by the tennis court. Maybe I should join them… I went to buy highlighter. Coming back, I met Eric and Kelvin. They were on their way to play captain ball organized by Inti CF… maybe I should join them too… The basketball courts were full… Nah, I thought. No playing basketball, I’m falling sick… Reaching my hostel, Ivan, Alwyn and Issac were in their swimming gear, going swimming… Hmmm, maybe I should go swimming…

Well, that’s just some activities… Imagine everyday bustling around busying ourselves with activity after activity… There would be hardly anytime for studies… And with the computer around… Oh ya and I have assignments!!! Oh ya and clubs activities… 5 clubs…Its enjoyable but too much will be the end of everything… Thank You Lord and be my guide…

To conclude, I haven’t been blogging and I feel it’s a good time to blog… Life enjoyable and exciting and hope you are doing fine too!!!

In INTI Nilai

2008-05-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Today is my first night in INTI and its a totally new feeling for me!!! I feel so free and INDEPENDENT!!! I can sleep whenever I like and wake up whenever I like and do whatever I like... But no la, thats actually not freedom, that seems like freedom but it actually bondage to an ill disciplined lifestyle. So well, Im just feeling free to further discipline my lifestyle...

Only on the first day I have met so many friends and they are so friendly. We went out for dinner... thanks to Xin Zhe... Tomorrow we will be going jogging at 7 am.

Thanks to Jia Min for lending me your laptop too!!! Its really nice of you. After this, i will be using the computer in the library for my correspondence until I really feel the need to get a laptop.

Ill post more photos when i get more snapshots around the college.

So long, danc

updates

2008-04-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

Its been one week since i ve been blogging and I have a news overload right now!!! I don't know where to start...

Ok, the more important things comes first and no doubt it goes to my experience as a first time interviewee in INTI, Nilai. The interview was nothing like what I expected and the questions I prepared was less then 10% helpful. All I can say is that the questions asked were tailored according to my life... The interviewers were more interested in asking about my experience as a head prefect and also about how I 'juggle' my time in studies and co-curricular activities. They also wanted to know about my family situation and my views on certain issues such as whether I find that it is necessary to enforce discipline in school such as keeping short(for boys la) and black hair or wearing fashionable clothes... Basically I answered all their questions based on my personal experience and convictions and my viewpoint on the issues(if you wanna know) were all positive... hahaha...

Overall, it was easy going and I was quite glad to dress up so smartly... (I'm from Kluang you know...) Special thanks to Jiamin for dropping by the scholarship unit to say hi... And also my family- Mum, Dad and Jo (Paul was at school) for sending me all the way there and back.

The news came on a hot Monday morning two weeks after the interview it was one week overdue as promised by the interviewers. But it was GOOD NEWS!!! A commendable success!!!

It was then when I knew I received full scholarship for my whole diploma programme!!! which means I will be relieved of 24000 bucks of tuition fees!!! It may not be much for some of you but it sure is to me!!!

Special thanks to ALL my friends and teachers who gave me support and encouragement! I also would like to specially thank my headmaster- Mr Yew Kok Leh who encouraged me to go for INTI and was always backing me with recommendations. Thank you sir. I also would like to thank Miss Stephanie from INTI JB for her help to supplying me with information and brochures!!! Also thank you mummy for helping and encouraging me!!! Last but not least, thank you Mr Danny and Mr Jagdeep and the scholarship unit for being so gracious and wise in entrusting me with this scholarship!!! I promise that I will make you proud!!!

Yeah that was my first scholarship interview experience and it has left and will leave a deep deep impression in me...

Sorry, no photos...

2008-04-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

I went to kl last week and stayed in Elise's house. And Andrew's

Then we went to klcc on the next day.

We went after church in Tabby's car.
Tabby: you drive quite well...

With all my childhood friends:

Then we had lunch and watched a movie- 'Definitely Maybe'
Too bad it rained and I couldn't play tennis with uncle David in the evening...
Overall,it was a very nice trip.
Thanks kl folks especially Uncle Fatt Sian and family for the lovely stay!!!

2008-04-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

The interview in INTI was okay... It didn t turn out as i expected. It was very interactive and personal... they asked about my family background, my experience as a head prefect, my aspirations and many more...

I am still waiting for the reply and I hope i can get the full scholarship....

Whatever will be will be... Its all in your hands O Lord... Thank you...

danc

2008-04-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

I will be going to INTI University College, Nilai tomorrow for a scholarship interview. This would be my first interview in my lifetime!!! Therefore, I am (not really nervous but) anticipating what will happen there tomorrow...

I have prepared few points in case they ask:

Interviewer: Why should we give you this scholarship instead of others?

Daniel( takes a deep breath): I believe that i am entitled to this scholarship as much as anyone or even more. It is specified on the scholarship brochure that this scholarship is offered to those who achieve good academic results, have outstanding leadership qualities and have the financial need. These three criteria I have fulfilled and I am not only confident but anticipating to get this scholarship. (smiles)

Interviewer: Ok, should we give you this scholarship, what would you contribute to INTI UC?

Daniel: Well, there are a few aspects that I can think about, but as I am still yet to get acquainted with the lifestyle and environment in INTI, there may be other aspects that I may be able to contribute to INTI which I still do not know... I would greatly value it if you could let me know which specific aspect that I could contribute in. Basically, there are a few aspects that are timeless and it is my responsibility to contribute to the University College:

First will be my studies and academic results. It is true that academic results does not prove everything but it DOES prove most of the person's quality and character. Therefore, studies will no doubt still stay at the top of the list throughout my whole academic life as it has always been.

Second on the list will be my involvement in co curricular activities. I love being involved in clubs because thats how I learn to work effectively with others. Through the activities I get to socialize and interact. And considering that I am a person who loves to make friends, I will no doubt find excitement in my involvements in clubs and societies. I also dare to say that from my past involvements as the leader of clubs and societies, I am very passionate about my job.

Last but not least is that I am proud to say that one of my objectives as a future student of INTI University College would be to be a positive influence on my fellow students. Basically, I aim to inspire my friends to study hard and achieve good results and also be a model to them that a life of purity, honesty and integrity can be lived.
____________________________________________________________________________________

It is only thus far that this tired but excited mind can predict...
____________________________________________________________________________________

Daniel: Thank You.

2008-04-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

While I was at national service, we (christians) attended the Mersing Presbyterian Church. The service was conducted in chinese and we sang only hymns, the piano was the only musical instrument and the church had a steady congregation of around fifty. I personally liked that church very much and I learned much from the sermons although I found it quite difficult to keep with the Reverend's fluent and somewhat 'deep' command of mandarin. It was through these sermons that he expounded the old testament through a twenty-first century window. I saw myself as Abraham who lied that Sarah was his sister and I saw myself as one of the Moses after striking the rock out of frustration. These were and still are a few of my many valuable insights. During our last week there, we presented the song 'Shout to the Lord' as a token of thanks to the church for their hospitality.

To Mersing Presbyterian Church, Thank you for the nice refreshments you never fail to prepare for us and the hospitality shown. Ill be sure to visit you all one day!!! God Bless!!!

Thank You

2008-04-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

This racket is given to me by Uncle Kee Tua, Simon, Andrew, Thomas and maybe even James while i was still at national service!!! I was speechless, astounded, grateful, shocked, amazed, and many many more inexpressible thoughts- in short, I fell prostrate before God thanking Him for his kindness and blessing for putting me in this family. A BIG BIG 'THANK YOU' to Uncle Kee Tua, Simon, Andrew, Thomas, James and Aunty May Chu!!!

Love, Daniel

A day in the life of myself

2008-04-08T03:24:00.000-07:00

Last night i decided to spring clean my room and i stumbled upon an essay i wrote one year ago, i still remember vaguely that my English teacher had given this topic: 'A day in the life of...'

Being myself is the best i can ever be. That does not mean being complacent and just living another day for the sake of it. Everyday is complete in itself, everyday is a new challenge, a new life to live and a new step to climb.

From my personal point of view, everyday of my life has to be fulfilling which means being able to achieve the targets set for that day and one common target is to make a difference in the lives of those around me. Therefore, a day in the life of a millionaire would leave no deep impact, this is solely because all the things i may be able to do to contribute to the community or even the world would be just a one day action and many great deeds in a day cannot be compared to a life lived with consistency and a life constantly changing for the better so that the life lived would be a great example, a role model for others which will havethe greatest influence and ultimately the greatest impact on others.

Sometimes we can be so avidly superficial in our daily lives and try to have fun in school and in our workplace but when we return home, we find ourselves in a restless state because we realise that another day has just gone by without having done anything fulfilling. Therefore, a day in the life of myself must be a special one, a day which I will strife to live to the fullest, to handle every opportunity wisely and not to tell myself, "Never mind, I'll do it tomorrow."

The keyword is discipline and passion. Passion because it is the inner drive and the inner creativity to do what i like and what i am good at, it is also because i want to do strife for the better in terms of building relationship, maintaining friendship, excelling in studies and also maintaining a clear conscience. Discipline because it is the ability to put thoughts into action. Being equipped with passion and discipline everyday i arise, it will give me a headstart to a fulfilling day's journey.

School is always the most exciting part of the day, i get to see so many familiar faces and get to relate to so many friends, whats more, i get to help others especially in their studies and personal life and hopefully, i get to influence my friends.

The End

Hmmm, well, just some thoughts...

2007-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

I have an older cousin
I hardly ever know
Though we love each other
Times we met are few

But when we met each other
Boy! I said 'What a character!'
For he being 17 and i being 13
Having nothing much in common
Could get along pretty well
We could click with each other
Even with different intellectual powers
For he was a bright studetn while i a normal

Four years has passed and we never met
Although I wanted to know him with all my best
Oh how deep I regret now
For I never knew what fate would bestow
Nor could i understand God s sovereignity

My dear cousin David passed away on 27th October 2007
After many months of battling the dreaded cancer
His experience,
Not many could have endured
And beared with so much a positive attitude
To hear nothing resounding a complain
Is but a miracle in itself

David,
Although your life on earth here is but 21 years,
Your legacy will live on for generations
For the life you live you live for others
The hearts you ve touched have outnumbered others
your mere concern has brought them encouragement
and most of all,
Your humility has created ripples in our lives

Now your absence is a loss to our family
I thank God for choosing us as your cousin
And now i wish you everlasting joy in heaven.

Your cousin forever

2007-11-26T17:19:00.000-08:00

For you, My Dear Friends...

memories may be good, memories may be bad
they may hurt, they may make us sad
but who says that our heart must be waxed?
God gave us a heart to patch up the empty spaces of others...

I've just been browsing through my posts which i have not uploaded, this ones so nice and i didnt even post it. Its like 1 year overdue...

I would like to dedicate this post to my former schoolmates and friends who have known me during my Form 4 and Form 5 years...

Its good to have friends who are sincere. they hardly talk but what the do conveys enough to show that they care.Thank you for bearing with me this whole year.Although i admit that i am frequently prone to bad moods due to my heavy responsibility in studies as well as at work and the clubs. Thank you for being so tolerant and patient.You are great and I really cherish our friendship. Although gossip may be frequent and sometimes hurt people, I hope that we all may grow to be more loving and love each other irrespectable of each others differences that may be an offense to others. If theres a problem, lets open it out and discuss it openly with and open mind-a mind which is able to accept others decision even if we don't agree. After all, we have shared a class for two years and it will be a part of us for the rest of our lives. And as we go our separate ways from now onward, let us cherish this two years of our memory together and may we meet as God would decide. May wisdom be your guide and discernment be your shield. Love you forever.

danielcheng (november 2007)

This is not only for my schoolmates but also all who knows me... THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP... I value very single friendship...

Although the times we spent together are limited, I believe that a chance will arise when we can meet together again...

To You

2007-10-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

Walking in complexes,
Strolling in parks,
Reading books,
Watching movies,
Couples,
I perceive

Then,
I start to wonder
Who You are
How You feel
and where you live

I close my eyes
and try to picture
I search my dreams
and stare into space
but all I see
is but an outline
of an unknown person
looking back at me

I look harder
and try to move closer
but you remain there
all the same
the same distance,
always unreacheable
I cover no distance
nor I see anything
more than that sillhoutte

Then i realize
that I am not prepared
for this just yet
for as much as I yearn
it is still kept hidden
for its time has not yet come

I look around
knowing that I had seen
a mirage
And now,
in reality,
lies a long winding path
which ends beyond the horizon

Then it occurs to me
that this pilgrimage
has just but started
I have much to see
much to learn
and much to experience

But before I move another step
I stop right here
and make a silent vow
that I will continue my journey
with the end in mind
to trudge the last few steps
unashamed and confident
bruised and battered
but not defeated
to be able to stand tall
before you and look into your eye
and say,

'I Love You.'

redemption

2007-10-27T03:38:00.000-07:00

God does not move a finger if we encounter problems
God does not perforn a miracle even if we face a blank wall
God may... I dont know...
But what i know is that
God sits above, looking and waiting for his children
To turn to Him to ask for help
To share a problem

Unless His creation turns to Him for advice
And turn away from their self sufficiencies
God will remain there not interfering
Seem to do nothing
Well, He may give us a nudge;
Or send an angel
Ohterwise He will remain silent

'Lord, help me'

As a human, we sometimes tend to give too much advice
When our friend encounters a problem
Or we may try hard as we can
To help our friend as we may think
To look back one day and realise
That our friend had never asked for advice

What i should do is learn from God
To keep quiet until someone knocks on my door
Calling out my name and asking for advice
Even then,
As i gladly open the door
And accept this priviledge
i should look to God
And give Him this priviledge too

2007-06-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

Blogging has just entered my mind... Maybe its just because i want to improve in my expression or maybe i want to express my tots in black and white... or maybe i am just sick of keeping a diary... Well, i guess i am not sure...