Crisis Management

Ever wondered what to do if something really bad happens? Discovered SCDF's emergency handbook online while doing some research.

Journeyz to the West

From Wired.com: Gorillaz Frontman Goes Ape Over Opera

Loving Others?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1 John 3:16

If God loves me, who am I not to love others?

If even God can be grieved if we ignore Him, how would a man ignored feel?

What would Jesus do in such a situation?

Does love have to take the form of fellowship and help?

Would it be selfish for one to rationalize his way out of this?

What does being others-minded entail?

Tick Tocking Away

Day after day, time flies. The papers ramble on about global climates gone wonky. Watch thee now the hands that tell the hour. Lest one gets caught with his pants down.

Silence

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:1-9

In the midst of dryness, I find cool assurance. Looking back into the murky past, I wonder how far these tired feet have trod. And how far more must I press on. Silent is the sound of one crying in the wilderness.

Support Homeground?

Homegrown phone brand SEVO.

The SEVO P809 provides dual SIM card slots and a 3-inch touchscreen display. It comes also with a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP support, microSD expansion card slot and functions as a USB drive. Both handsets, however, work only on the GSM 900/1800 network, which is really quite unheard of these days.

SEVO is a "new-generation company of mobile phones, offering the latest models with fruitful features, better quality and cheaper products"

Hmmm...

Telepresence

From Continuity Central: According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, three of the key business trends for the next 15 years will be globalisation, atomisation (businesses fragmenting into smaller and more distributed operational units) and knowledge management... Recent research from occupational psychologists Pearn Kandola has shown that while dispersed teams may take... an average of 17 weeks to overcome the lack of trust created between multi-cultural teams due to ‘virtual silences’ – a failure to respond immediately to e-mail and voice messages – and a lack of face-to-face conversation... The take up of technologies such as telepresence, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepresence] instant messaging and video over IP will help to address many of these communication problems.

Here's the irony: Being visibly online but not wanting to be contacted.

Grand Old Dame

aka National Stadium. Was there today for a visit. Though my memories of it are few, I recognise that it be both a place of nostalgia and national identity.

Back from MY

It's good to be home. And thank God for His protection & provision. More pics to come later.

Ever So Clearly?

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9

Ever so often, things simply fall in place and you realize... He's been up to something.

Wonder and gratitude ensue.

And a deep desire to be and do more.

Captivated, I am.

When the music fades

tin·tin·nab·u·la·tion (tnt-nby-lshn)
n. The ringing or sounding of bells.

As the music fades, as confetti linger in the air, and as tired feet journey home, the calling is clear in spirits, stirred-up strong. The great commission, the cultural mandate, the call to brokenness.

Cool Melts

1 Jun 2359hrs Got back home, sleepy & tired. Filled up kettle to boil water. Went to bed.

2 Jun 0730hrs Awoke. Ritual morning hydration. Greeted by cool melts.

300

Enoch walked with God 300 years... then he was no more, because God took him away.

Genesis 5:22 & 24

Gotta walk the walk, never know when you might just end up in heaven.

KOKO

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Psalm 69:3

Busy-ness & Stress

Busy-ness is a result of time management. Stress is a state of mind.

The NSman's aphorism "rush to wait, wait to rush" really comes to bear. And now I'm rushing to dinner.

Of Peace & Colour

Awoke at 6am on Saturday morning, more than an hour earlier than I'd intended. Then it occurred to me - I gotta get out and snap some at Lower Seletar reservoir.

Off I went and found a tranquility that only peace & quiet can bring - something that's rare amidst our constant bustle.

An open sky yawning brighter and brigher. Distant clouds reflected in still waters. Water snails mating & laying eggs, oblivious to voyeurs like me. Fishing hobbyists, determined for a catch.

But even as I took it all in, I felt an impression, worship God and not the things He's created, be they beautiful and good.

Thank God for His creation. Seek God as His creation.

Light in the dark

Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!
-Eleanor Roosevelt

"Life is unfair," blurted my friend, before abruptly breaking out into tears. And I realized how strong and vulnerable she was.

By the end of the night, her told story stirred up distant, dark memories of my own.

Thanks for sharing, I text-ed, out of your experience, you'll minister to others. Like me.

Feeling weary, I sat silent in the cab ride home.

Vindicated

By Dashboard Confessional

Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye

And roped me in
So mesmerizing, so hypnotizing
I am captivated

I am Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
I swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

So clear
Like the diamond in your ring
Cut to mirror your intentions
Oversized and overwhelmed
The shine of which has caught my eye
And rendered me so isolated, so motivated
I am certain now that

[Chorus]

So turn
Up the corners of your lips
Part them and feel my finger tips
Trace the moment, fall forever
Defense is paper thin
Just one touch and I'd be in
Too deep now to ever swim against the current
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip against the current
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away

[chorus]

Slight hope
It dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption...

Post-weekend Pics of Pre-weekend Activities

Trust

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Parting is such sweet sorrow

And with beer, marshmallows & sparklers whistling at 2am, we bade farewell to S & J. We may move on for different reasons, but onward for greater fulfillment, that's for sure.

All the best. God bless. And... cheers!

Passion That Eludeth

Seemingly, staff work doth keep one running in circles. Meeting after meeting, paper after paper, words followed by more words. Now, a shoulder ache nags me to commune less with the laptop.

An ergonomic chair, I need not. And late in the night, as I pore through agendas and presentations, I doubt I am giving my all. Just as my cubicle neighbour hasn't proposed because he hasn't met The One, should I wait for my One (metaphorically speaking) in life?

Received a devotional reminding me that many go through life, wondering about God's will for their lives but may miss the real point - it's in obeying God's will, that He reveals His purpose through our lives.

Oh, God. Truly my soul and spirit cry out.

"And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise from the inside out. Lord my soul cries out."

Cut Cut Cut!

Politically incorrent but definitely hilarious!

Check out the musical numbers too: Part 2 & Part 3

God Will Save

This pic by Kevin Yang reminds me of a pic I took in Laos (below).

You... You are the God who will save
Cling onto all that You say
And for always

You... You covered my life with Your grace
Darkness You turned into day
When You give Your all away

Hosanna...

Caffeinated

Imagine feeling like this everyday...

Another One Bites the Dust

And so leaves a High I individual from the department - the third in a row.

Somehow it feels like a chapter's ended. He even left a heart-warming farewell video.

I wonder what's next.

Stepping Out

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:28

Sometimes you see each other much or may not even speak much when you're together. But one anointed word - especially if from God - can make such a difference.

Be blessed.

My saving grace... all my days

By CCC

grace (grs) n. (http://www.tfd.com)
- Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
- A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
- Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
- The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
- An excellence or power granted by God.



It's been a dry week, both spiritually & at work. Can't seem to get up early enough everyday and have been slow to produce deliverables.

Sigh.

Insufferable Co-worker

This is me venting my communication woes - colleague who seems quite self-centered and unable to listen. Or perhaps I need to listen better...

Sunrise, Sunset

I awoke this early morn and grabbed a quick breakfast before rushing out to Expo. But spying the sky without, I couldn't resist snapping some (hence the hurried blurriness).

The sky's been simply captivating - I can't get enough of the expanse of white painted across endless blue unfurled.

Again in the evening, couldn't stop peering out of J's picanto while zipping along ECP. And through the windscreen's shaded top, I admired the sun's near-blinding halo some more.

Then, passing by the Padang, the photo-siren song of the financial district amidst the setting sun called out. And to my surprise, a snatch of a rainbow peered down at me over the cricket club.

And you know what? We'll probably see even more beautiful scenes up in heaven :)

Yahweh by U2

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

...

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

...

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

No One Else Will Do

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:1-3

What does it take to please God?

Swimming to Music

"The new SwiMP3 is revolutionary in that it relies on bone conduction of sound. When the device is placed on any bones of the skull (i.e. the cheek bones or the mastoid tip) it leads to vibration of the fluid in the inner ear."

Only S$356 for the 256MB version.

Too Much Wine Doth Cloud the Senses

*headache*

Consumed by Consuming

I do wish I'd more time for domestic gastronomic escapades.

Whole New World

Checked out a couple of exhibits, part of the Under the Crescent Moon, happening at the National Museum. Was most intrigued by the foreign, domestic lifestyles featured - from nomadic tents to "hive houses" made of soil to modern Arab architecture. Also saw a photo-exhibition featuring facets of modern Arab life - a disturbing video installation featured children play-pretending as militia, rounding up and slaying enemies.

Click here for a decent review.

Would love to explore the region if given the chance.