After the rough patch of rather shitty office politic in May, followed by an unassigned June, and 2 weeks of
I told my career counselor (also my practice lead) last Friday that I don’t wish to travel abroad for project, and praise the Lord that I didn’t get any objection but support to remain ‘on the ground’ at least till the end of the year. This would give me enough time to make things happenJ.
I hope that by God’s grace this ‘back to work’ will be full of victories and success for FY09.
Not that we were there for the dance parade but we just happened to be at one of the cinema for a movie (The children of Huang-Shi) where Johannes has gotten 2 free tickets from someone.
To me, the dance parade was the most disgusting event, there is no specific theme but just loud disco music that attracts crowds alike party animals. People were drunken, shouting, yelling and the streets were littered with empty cans, bottles, rubbish. By the time we finished the movie, the party was over, what left as a street scene is like a post modern liters. Today, the news announced that 25 people were caught during the dance parade due to various misconduct and fighting.
(1) A long waited and full of critics Olympic games grand opening in Beijing, China at 8:08 pm. Eight symbolizes and sounds like prosperity in Chinese. It is believes to be a very lucky day, let's hope it will bring more luck to China and the world.
(2) My first day of return to work after my vacation and sick leave. Hopefully 080808 will also move my career to another greater height.
I don’t know how to explain this, but I just knew that I have had a very sweet dream last night. I couldn’t recall the details but when I woke up; I just knew that the Lord has given me a very peaceful and joyful dream. So far, my own experience with dreams are usually unpleasant, stressful (if not nightmare) or when God reveals the face of someone that needs intercession or dealing, but last night was a perfect sweet dream.
The key verse from today's preaching.
Proverbs 22: 4 says "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life".
This photo is taken on the late afternoon two days ago (30th July 2007). It was a very hot day and when the heat took off a little in the late afternoon, we drove to the
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Isaiah 45:5 -7
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
~~~
Photos taken at Kijkduin during sunset on 28th July 2008 and a passage from Isaiah which the Lord has placed in my heart.
Achievements so far...
(1) The pain has subsided a lot
(2) I can now stand up and walk a little more freely now.
(3) I have also taken my first shower 2 days ago and removed the plaster.
However, the bruise is getting bigger and spreading just underneath my navel, but the good thing is there isn't any pain though.
With this progress, I hope to be back to normal life in a week's time.
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Confusus
But Jesus fed not just our physical bodies but also empowers us to fulfil His Great Commission. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
Photos: Above – fishes at Sapi Island, Below – fishes at Manukan Island
Above:
Below:
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
~~~~
P/S: This is a thought about the 2 mountains that I have seen recently.
Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Photo taken on 6th July 2008 at Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu where many local people are enjoying the splendid colour of sunset together in harmony.
Yesterday, we received a SMS text about a sister in our FMC church, who is already in full term for labor but the baby is stillbirth and died in mother’s womb. I feel very sorry for this sister and family, so much more that my own pain becomes insignificant.
Lord, I pray specially for this sister and the family that You remain in control in their lives and make them strong and this family continues to find joy in You.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I received 2 banquets of flowers in 2 consecutive days. Thank you, my employer and especially my HR representative who take time to care for me.
Another banquet of flowers received today from my CARE group. Thank you all... I feel blessed because of you all.
God bless you all!!
By the time I woke up everything is over, I was that the out patient for another 2 hours and was a little shock when I saw the wounds at my navel and pelvic.
I am still taking pain killers but thanked God that I no longer feel the pain. Movements are still limited as I cannot use the muscles at my waist or abdominal. But the recovery is progressing....
Very soon, at 12:15pm, I am going to go through a microscopic operation.
This verse from Isaiah 26:4 'Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal', gives me strength. I have the peace from God for I know that this is a process that I have to go through and I know that God will be with me and my care group and church leaders are praying for me....
Hopefully I will return home swiftly and the recovery process will be speedy.
May God bless me and be with me, my HEALER!!!
This is my birthday gift I got from my honey!!
3rd July is also marking our 3rd marriage blessing ceremony. Although we have married or almost 6 years now (25th Oct 2002), the last 3 years of marriage life has significantly improved after the blessings of God has showered upon us. With Him presents more stronger each day in our lives, we are growing towards each other. We didn't celebrate this in a special way here in Manila but a remembrance of the occasion is enough to mark a celebration and further more we are on our vacation in Asia, that itself is already a great treats from the Lord. May the Lord bless us with many more fulfilling years and multiplication.
3rd July 2008
Weather: 32C, cloudy, humid with occasionally sunshine
This is our 2nd day in Manila, we slept so well the night before and by the time we woke up, it is already past 10am. Feeling a bit more energized and adventurous, we decided to walked to another malls within Ortigas area i.e. the Podium and the SM malls. SM malls are huge and covering 2 big buildings which is a bit overwhelming and made us feel lost in the mall. The brands are primarily the same but this place is definitely lack of charm but huge in size. We didn't spent very long here but head back to the hotel with a coffee pause at Starbucks located at the Podium.
Makati City
Having enough of Ortigas, we took a cab to Makati ciity which is may be 5 to 8 km away from Ortigas. The taxi ride experience was okay, not as scary as what described in lonely planet or hotel warning. Makati is a new blooming commercial and financial centers where most of the five stars hotels are located here. This is definitely a better part of Manila where again boasts of more shopping malls. We walked around the Greenbelt square which is like an oasis in the midst of the concrete jungle. In the center of the park,, there is a church and surrounding the church is a man-made ponds, plenty of leafy greens and fauna. The 5 Greenbelt shopping malls are evolving around the park. We spent most of the time walking at the park than actually going inside the malls (we already had enough!!). The place and concept reminded us very much of Florida, Miami. Partly due to the humidity of the weather, but mostly is due to the merchandised brands are predominately from the USA. Banana Republic, Bubba Shrimps, Guess, Nine West, outdoor cafe concept etc you name it, they most likely have an outlet here.
2nd July 2008
Weather: 32C, cloudy, humid and drizzling
After slightly over 12 hours we finally arrived at Manila International airport (including a missed landing). The flight was almost full but passengers were quite polite. I watched August Rush, Atonement, Charlie Wilson's war, Linger (Cantonese movie), Micheal Clayton, Match Point and etc. The immigration and custom were quite welcome. We were greeted by the pick up driver and directly transferred to the hotel. The view along the ride were quite depressing, even though I already kind of expecting it, perhaps the recent after typhoon effect worsen the city view and the cleaning up is definitely still in process. This is particularly clear at the slums nearby the airport.
Once checked in to the hotel, the Lord blessed us with an upgrade to a suite. We slept for hours as soon as we saw the bed, although the original intention was for a quick nap, the jet lag is definitely after us.
We spent the rest of the evening checking out Galleria Robinson which is a relatively small (big to western standard but small compared to other shopping malls in Manila) and discovered that things are really cheap here.
Tomorrow I will be on the fly again, this time destination à
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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/
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
