Light in the Dark

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19

Standing near the water's edge, I savoured the light sea breeze. I could see a lone sailboat with a bright pink sail, probably launched off from the nearby sailing club. Open seas, that's what I saw. Nary a landmark, except for a bright yellow buoy.

"I don't know where God's leading me but I've faith that it'll be good," shared my ministry mate. Of late, I've wondered about identity, and now, purpose. Who am I, where am I going... why why why? I almost sound like a teen.

It's not how good you are, but how good you want to be - this book title from our church bookstore certainly caught my eye. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate again.

Stars

Switchfoot

Maybe I've been the problem
Maybe I'm the one to blame
But even when I turn it off and blame myself
The outcome feels the same

I've been thinking maybe I've been partly cloudy
Maybe I'm the chance of rain
And maybe I'm overcast
And maybe all my luck's washed down the drain

I've been thinking 'bout everyone,
Everyone you looks so lonely
But when I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars, I see someone else
When I look at the stars
The stars, I feel like myself

Stars looking at a planet
Watching entropy and pain
And maybe to start to wonder
How the chaos in our lives could pass as sane

I've been thinking 'bout the meaning of resistance
Of a hope beyond my own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent
Begin to look like home

I've been thinking about everyone
Everyone you looks so empty
But when I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars, I see someone else
When I look at the stars
The stars, I feel like myself.
Yeah!

Everyone, Everyone feels so lonely
Everyone, yeah everyone feels so empty
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars, I feel like myself
When I look at the stars
The stars, I see someone...

Rest

Remember, even God rested after creating the universe.

Valley Song

Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I'm crying out to you

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a Gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

Alleluia...

Oh, Lord sing of Your mercy,
Mercy
Your mercy



Awaking this morning, it felt like God was there already, waiting... Waiting for me to meet Him. And meet Him, I surely did.

This is Me

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Would you use biometric payment?

From ZDNet: Citibank on Wednesday launched a new fingerprint authentication payment service that lets its credit card customers pay for goods and services with a touch of the finger. Touted by the company as the world's first biometric cardless payment service for credit card transactions, the service uses technology from San Francisco-based biometric authentication vendor Pay By Touch.

1:25:50

Run run run...

Identity

Caught The Observatory with ZH last sunday. One dark, angst-laden song after another got me thinking about the "I" word - Identity. Looking at the band on stage and the audience seated around (and the sub-culture they embody), I wonder who I could have become.

Somehow their music appealed to me - is it their sound, their lyrics or a certain spirit captured in their music?

*ponder*

Finding Love There?

From the Arts House: "A Brief Affair with Infinity follows the story of a young Mathematics student who falls passionately in love with a married man. Pursuing studies into the concepts of infinity, the nameless protagonist begins to discover uncanny parallels between her research findings and her forbidden love affair. What is the square root of two lovers? Are all movements and journeys an illusion? How does one contain the all-consuming nature of infinity or desire? Blending aspects of Greek mythology, philosophical paradoxes, literary metaphors and stream-of-consciousness revelations, A Brief Affair with Infinity takes audiences on a stunningly intense journey of distraught love and piercing inquisitions."

Call me a prude, but my reaction of practically one of "what?!" when I read the write-up of this play in Life!. Some lines just shouldn't be crossed, no matter how strong the urges.

I Didn't See Her

The Observatory




Lovely local synth. Came across this video on their website. Wonder why I never really heard their music, though I'd heard of them. Somehow their music seems to 1. lull me underground (in the cultural sense) 2. be heard probably in some arty short film.

It's not that I try, though different really does become me. Well, this ain't the age to be grappling with identity, but it's a reminder nonetheless.

Dad's Love

Dad waited more than an hour by the roadside, just to fetch me home while my ministry meeting unexpectedly over-ran till midnight. Sure, he's not the expressive, hug-a-lot kind of father, but he shows love & concern in ways he knows how.

*cue Awww...*

Laos-Thailand Pics

Click!

Exhilaration!

Ok, indulge me the rare poser pic :)

This morning, got kicked and hit in the face while underwater, suffered abrasions 2km into the run, and felt left chest cramp up during last 2km... Thank God I survived!

In case you're wondering, it was the Singapore Biathlon @ East Coast Park. Beginning the swim was particularly awful, with everyone diving & fighting to get ahead. Panic nearly set in when I found myself almost immobile against the floating markers.

Timing's roughly 1h30m, didn't time properly.

T'was definitely an achievement and quite an experience (though I gotta waddle for the next few days). Must strive harder next year! Now on to my next race... marathon anyone??


Notice the medal features a woman puking??

Back in SG!

Helloooooo, clean-toilets-potable-tap-water-aircon-home-sweet-home! Oh, and family and friends too, of course :)

Thank God for His protection & provision during this trip - more to tell laters. Gotta catch up with work & stuff.

Manolo, Ma' Foot Hurts

Manolo Blahnik @ Design Museum

When Carrie Bradshaw, the shoe-loving central character of the HBO TV series Sex And The City, took a wrong turn after lunch in SoHo she found herself on one of New York’s grungier side streets and face-to-face with a mugger. “Please sir,” she pleaded. “You can take my Fendi baguette, you can take my ring and my watch, but don’t take my Manolo Blahniks.”


No, I don't have a secret fetish for 3 inch heels. But my new work shoes are really giving me grief...

Running & Listening

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24

1. Retail therapy rocks - bought new shoes.

2. Komala Villas' Thali Set Meal rocks - absolutely value for money, especially for the carbo-lovers, and chock full of flavours. Question: am I supposed to eat the yoghurt on its own? And why do people keep looking at me (the only chinese)?

3. Dreamgirls almost rock - a tad too many musical numbers, but entertaining nonetheless. Moral of the story: Hang on to your dreams, but don't screw yourself over either trying to realize them.

Tchaikovsky & Stravinsky

Check out BBC3's special on these 2 composers. Great site to explore, esp. the radio programmes!

Scream and the world screams with you

Aren't there days when you just feel like screaming? And questioning everything you've been busy with?

Amidst the busy-ness, you stop for a breather and wonder if you're headed for the right direction.

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
1 Pet 5:2-3

So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
Deuteronomy 1:15

Some time ago, G the SIA gal was encouraging me to take heart and gave me the first 2 verses. Earlier today I plonked onto my bed and flipped open my bible and read about how Moses delegated his duties to men of varying capabilities.

I'm tempted to jump ship, I really am. But it would be cowardice, wouldn't it?

Come on, get on your knees and pray, and then grit your teeth through it, the heart says.

Grrrrr.

Try

Because I'll only know after I try, I muttered to my mom in defence of the water I was wastefully running in capturing some experimental shots.

Ok, the food bits in this pic are a tad gross...

Caught Lake House today on VCD (yeah yeah, get with the programme, whatever). Same old romantic what-if/never-meant-to-be, though it is rehashed in a refreshing manner.

So who is that special someone?

*ponder*

Seek First

When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."

Psalm 27:8

Geylang Bahru

After Zoe's baby shower last Sunday, I was inspired by S & Z's photo-passion (though now overtaken by family duties). Their Nepal pics really renewed my interest anew. So on the spur of the moment, I wandered around Geylang Bahru. Really liked the waning sky and tried to capture it, albeit partial success. It was only today that I realized I left out the old Serangoon fire station.

Listening to New Light of Tomorrow by Husky Rescue.


Update: Suspected food poisoning... not a great a feeling on day 1 of CNY. At least I'm not puking... *sigh* As they say in mandarin, tomorrow will be better! ;)

This morning, attended parent's CNY service at the Kreta Ayer People's Theater and surprisingly, was encouraged in many areas:

1. Remembering the work of the Cross during Holy Communion
2. Giving to God solely to please Him
3. Continuing to be faithful in serving God despite busy schedule and work pressures

Except singing Hillsong's "All I Am" in mandarin takes a little getting used to.

Spent the afternoon resting and then had DIY steamboat dinner. Mom's ever the busy bee, from washing the floor to preparing the steamboat ingredients to cleaning the sofa. She's got a certain tenacity that I just have to admire.

Ok, logging off now. Let's hope I can binge stomach-churning-free tomorrow... heh!

Grandma's 80th Birthday

T'was a smaller gathering than in previous years; Aunt Ds chose not to publicize the event. And all's good, gram's 80yo - we always celebrate on the last day of the lunar year, i.e. 1 day before CNY... And we'll be back for more on 2nd day of CNY!

Whatever

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!

Moulin Rouge

Mom's throwing a hissy fit in a bid to bake her annual pineapple tarts and I'm simply too tired to be bothered.

I guess I really ought to be strong and not let circumstances or lousy feelings get the better of me. But empty is really how I feel right now.

It's day 47 of the year and I'm already beginning to lose perspective. Swimming/jogging's hardly helped, though going up and across Mt Faber felt like a serendipitous achievement.

All I need is love? Whatever...

32m37s

I passed! Swimming on! :)

For the umptieth time

I've no V Day plans. I do instead have a date with some unknown swimming instructor - eh, it's my biathlon swimming trial. So there :)

Confession: Was checking out car prices.

Bottletrees & Birthday Bash

Be Amplified

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10

Mouth to Mouth Referral

Thought of the day: How far would you go to voice your opinions? What about protecting your own rights? And the rights of others?

This occurred to me over dinner, cake & non-fair-trade coffee. While B was busy quizzing hapless service staff about fair trade (and the lack thereof), L related a recent incident where D not only got fleeced of his money but got into an awful shouting match with a hawker.

Earlier today I'd received an email mailer for a coming event and the organizer had inadvertently exposed about 100+ email addresses. I promptly shot a note back to voice my concern and to my surprise, an email recall quickly ensued - however no apology was made, whether individually or en masse.

I wonder what really prompts people to write in to forums with impassioned letters or to call into 93.8 and voice their views. Is it an altruistic desire to better public goods or an urge to simply opine (and sometimes whine)?

That said, here I am, opining.

Sympathy For The Devil

Rolling Stones
from "Beggars Banquet" (1968)

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith

And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
(woo woo, woo woo)

I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
(woo woo, woo woo)

I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me
(who who, who who)

Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
(woo woo, who who)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
(who who)
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
(who who, who who)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
(woo woo, who who)

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
(who who, who who)

So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
(woo woo)
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
(woo woo, woo woo)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
(who who)
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
(woo woo, woo woo)

Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
(woo woo)

Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame

Oh, who
woo, woo
Woo, who
Woo, woo
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Oh, yeah...

From Wikipedia: [the song provoked] media rumors and fears among some religious groups that The Rolling Stones were indeed devil-worshipers and a corrupting influence on youth. It should be noted, however, that one interpretation of this song is that "The Devil" is in fact mankind. The lyrics are a brief history of some of the most notable atrocities committed by man against man...

Meek, Willing, Focused

These words echoed in my mind since morning. What times are we living in? What perspective shall we adopt? What are we called to do - individually and corporately?

*pause*

Number one on my list of resolutions, still: Time management, especially ensuring sufficient sleep and a health QT.

*click*

Celebrated dad's birthday today - 54yo this year. Beyond the fish head curry and dinner jokes, we prayed prayers of blessing and encouragement. May revelation upon revelation caused this family to be set upon a secure place, on high.

Life's Short, Love Hard

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

The tributes during S's memorial service today reminded me of one thing that should matter most in life: What do I want people to say in their eulogies for me?

Of course, other thoughts occurred like how I would want my own tributaries to be organized. Seriously though, it's certainly not about one's academic qualifications or sales clinched or accumulated wealth. But rather about the relationships forged, the lives touched, the service made to others...

So there. To plagiarize M1, "One life, love it... love others."