Flying Asia

Tomorrow I will be on the fly again, this time destination à Asia. This trip was never planned but it came as a surprise from KLM Flying Blue web award promotion where for very little miles I am able to redeem tickets to Manila, Philippines. Our original plan was to spend the 2^nd week of July in Normandy, France but with this promotion we are heading to Asia.

Manila is not our final destination but Kota Kinabalu is. We will be spending a few days in Manila, just to check out the city but will then fly with Air Asia to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the land below the wind.

I am getting very excited now, all packed and although not really know what to expect from Manila, but surely we will enjoy ourselves there...

Now is the time to catch some ZZZZZzzzzzzzz.

p/s: photo of Makati city in Manila, Philippines.

A Taste of Malaysia Curry Chicken

Rica brought me some curry pastes from Malaysia which I took them home with me from Paris last weekend. I cooked the chicken curry with one of the pre-packed paste and it reminds me of home cook curry. It has been a long time since I smell this aroma and the taste of authenticity. With her arrival tonight, we are going to eat this with Nasi Lemak.

Zandvoort Overnight Event

Just came back from our company half yearly overnight event at Zandvoort. It is a beach resort and we took up quite a lot of room in NH Hotel. It was a leisure event with a bit of presentation but easy going overnight with lots of drinks and food. Some call this a 'pampering' session to reward our hard work. The weather is not bad but a bit too windy, but we all enjoyed ourselves.

TIME

TIME, the enemy, a man-created rival. Firmly rushes us from being a new born baby to toddler, from toddler to teenager, from teenager to youth, and from youth to adult, and from adult to old age…

Yet, pace her, and she grants reprieve – For us to award ourselves accolades; to relish our own accomplishments. By her measure; we excel; we limit ourselves; we succeed.

For time has no patience, every second tick’s away tick… tick… tick…

She won’t wait…. For time has no patience.

Yet, in taking up arms to fight her war; the SUN, in faithfulness, SETS and RISES.
Where man does not abide by the laws of the sun, his body, defeated, is unable to fight the war of Time.

The laws of Time are non-negotiable, every minute wasted is a lost opportunity, for time has no return.

Think about it – Time is not our ally!
She smiles at the tenacity of her disguise.

I want to stop the TIME but I couldn’t, it is beyond my limit. I can only cling on the SUN who is FAITHFUL.

We are on Cover Page

Dutch Orange Fever

About 2 weeks before the European Cup 2008, some of the houses around our neighbours already were decorating their houses, streets with orange banners and ‘Hup Holland’ flags. Finally the day arrived and yesterday the Dutch team was playing against Italy of which even the Dutchmen weren’t confident if their national team would win the first match. However, the moment of truth is that it turned out with a score of 3-0. The Dutch team WON!!! The match was quite entertaining and I must admit the Dutch team are playing quite well with team spirit. Looks like these orange decorations will be flying up high for a little longer…

Whistle Blower

Today we have another special speaker at our church. He is from the European Commission – Paul van Buitenen. He is an assistant-auditor in the Commission’s Financial Control Directorate. He is also a whistle blower that exposed and fought against some internal fraud of European Commission.

I was doing the translation up there at the auditorium when he starts sharing his testimonies on what its means to be a Christian in European Commission. It didn’t occur to me that he is ‘somebody’ for he seems to be an ordinary Dutchman working for European Commission and he looks like any other Dutchman on the street. Our God uses a simple man to do extra-ordinary thing so that His name is glorified.

This is the quote I found on his personal website which perfectly depicts his sharing this afternoon, that ‘the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.´ (Albert Einstein). Paul has also written a book ‘Blowing the Whistle: One man's fight against fraud in the European Commission’.

For more information check out http://www.paulvanbuitenen.nl/

A man who tamed the Tiger

Yesterday (7th Jun 2008), we have a special speaker at our church FMC workers’ meeting. He is a half Chinese-Italian man with heavy English accent, very blunt and straight forward guy full of compassion for the lost souls.

I am sure many of us who where there at the meeting were in one way or another find his sharing very rebuking but he is right. How many of us, ‘workers of FMC' actually make an effort to share the gospel of Christ actively or even daily?

He has an interesting life story that transforming him from a three time world kung-fu championship winner to be a serious follower of Jesus. He has written a book 'Taming the Tiger' and it was on sales yesterday but only the Dutch version. For more information about his ministry,check out www.avantiministries.com

Another Restoration!

1^st Jun 2008

Another marriage blessing ceremony at FMC! Another family restored in the Lord and under the blessings of God. Another big celebration on Earth as it is in heaven. God bless Erich and Bianca Appel.

Photo (L/R): ME, Sandra, Erich, Bianca, Sylvia, Munce.

Wordless Blossom