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.

Mom's Day Coming

By Anne Geddes

Ever Searching

Revelation

Awoke around 5am to realize it was beginning to pour heavily outside. Quickly got up to shut the windows in my bedroom and the kitchen as well when I didn't hear anyone else getting up. Shuffling sleepily back, I slumped back into bed and tried to return to sleep.

Then this thought occurred to me: My moment in life would be when there is a critical need to be met and only I am at the right place and the right time to fulfill this important calling. After all, if I hadn't gotten up to close the windows immediately, the bedroom and kitchen would have gotten drenched. And I could possibly spend my life simply preparing for that grand moment of truth.

While watching Mr Bean's Holiday a couple of weeks ago, I wondered, why wasn't I born a French man, trotting about in a fashionable corporate suit? I could only assure myself that there had to be a reason why I'm here.

So do I already have a ready answer? No. But I do believe something's up God's sleeves.

Meaning

Sian certainly became me after spending much time and energy pushing paper these 2 weeks. Main challenge: learning the art of communication - listening and communicating with people who don't listen.

Reflection

Caught Little Heart Songs with Iv & gf. Was a tad disappointed upon realizing that "nostalgic" really meant old-school, hand-drawn animation and simplistic storytelling to cater to the kids. At least it ended with a catchy and meaningful tune.

One thought: going on a kamikaze mission is something I can't identify with. As I told Iv, I would go to war, doing my darnest to survive as long as possible to increase my usefulness.

Spinning around spinning

Caught an SG filmfest showing, Cheech by Patrice Sauvé, with ZH.

In my opinion, it's a brilliant film. Not just the whodunnit plot, complete with character interweaving, but the absolute point of the film: We could be spinning ourselves around lies or self-denial, while in search of happiness that seems ever elusive.

Life's about perspective

Spent the morning snapping pictures from Jln Besar to Beach Rd. View all pics here.

Loving Others Fervently

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

It's so easy to think that I'm better than others - I'm smarter, speak better, dress sharper, think about less petty issues... But as they say, pride goes before a fall.

Who am I to judge others around me? Sure, it's best for people to help themselves, especially if they don't seem happy or satisfied where they are. As they say again, teach a man to fish and...

Now, loving others fervently, that's tough, isn't it? Perhaps I haven't found the secret key yet.

No, pls don't go on

Ed said: brings shivers of deja vu doesn't it
Lemming said: it does? I know we played it horribly
Ed said: ahaha

In My Life

One of those songs that makes you stop to listen and go, "awww..."

Beatles

There are places i'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends i still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life i've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When i think of love as something new
Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more

Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more
In my life i love you more

From the Inside Out

Hillsong United

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Remembering Rosa Parks

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??