Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

And yes, that includes YOU, who're reading this now.

Hope this Christmas will remind all of us of what God has done for us. Let us all be reminded that He didn't have to come to earth to live among us (to be born in a manger and eventually crucified on the cross), but He did it anyway because He loves us so much and knew that we needed Him to come.. despite many of us thinking otherwise. Indeed, God works in way we do not expect Him to.

Let us also remember that this precious baby that was born in a manger was called "Immanuel" - which means "God with us". Christmas day (25th Dec) may not be the exact date of when Christ was born.. but at least it serves as a great reminder to us that on the day Christ was born, God came to be with us. What a marvelous Christmas gift that was! God, the Almighty, coming to be with us, lowly beings. We were the reason He came down, left His glory, and gave His life for.

We are the reason, that He gave His life
We are the reason, that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

Such amazing grace, such amazing love.





Will leave you all with this meaningful Christmas song, that has been frequently requested to be sung during caroling yesterday.

Christmas isn't Christmas til it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts
So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you do
That is Christmas really Christmas for you

Even Chris couldn't escape from singing the solo part again this year. Hope this song will continue to be sung every year to remind us that Christmas isn't Christmas til it happens in our hearts.

Merry Christmas.

The Letter

Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?"

The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."

Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"

The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university."

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.

"Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurse asked.

Sally nodded yes.

The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could."

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her o n the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what!, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.

It's A Race, A Christmas Race

It's the TIME of the year again! The TIME we'll all be reminded of the great GIFT that God has given us on Christmas day - yes, it was the greatest GIFT indeed.

So come and join us as we race together in search for this great GIFT.

Let us race with the hope that we'll all find this amazing gift, the amazin' grace of God.

We present to you...

AMAZINGRACE!!

(For all college and university students..)

_______________________________

Anyway to all Bpsyc and ADP students, and also those who're in the midst of exams, ALL THE BEST!! God bless.

Pray?

Don't pray when you feel like it, but rather have an appointment with the Lord
and keep it.

Corrie Ten Boom

Something I need to keep reminding myself..

Prayer is not just a routine word of thanksgiving before a meal, or a 911 call in times of trouble and need, or a mumbling of sleepy sentences before a quiet time. There is so much more to prayer. Would like to say more but am too sleepy now.. may continue another time.

Kena Tagged Again!

Hhmm... what's with all these tagging thingy lately?

Anyway as the title suggests, I got tagged again. Not once, but TWICE this time... by 2 different ppl, namely Alicia and Sue Ann, to do the same tag.

So what tag is it this time?


Six (6, enam, lù) Weird Facts About Myself
[this is tough]

1) I can't stand it when it's too cold or when it's too hot... that is my tolerance for cold and heat is not as good as any normal human being. I think so lah.. hehe.

2) I don't like Coke. I think I don't quite like Pepsi either. Does this pass as weird?

3) I can be really lame sometimes. This is thanks to my 'sifus' Aaron Teo, Joshua Johnson and Oon-Yow, who taught me well.

4) I usually take quite a long time in the shower, compared to a lot of other guys. Hey, can't blame me for wanting to be clean right? Although so, I'll never be able to beat the master of it all, Kin Mun, who can sometimes take up to an hour to bathe.. heheh. Nevertheless, those who will share the same room as me in future camps, be prepared to wait. Haha!

5) I was somewhat addicted to football (soccer) PC games, such as FIFA, Championship Manager, Football Manager. I could spend hours playing them daily. Others will die of boredom. Only the likes of Lukas and Jon Ong can match me in this. Heheh. Not sure if I am still like that though... I've deleted all those games from my PC liao due to insufficient space.

6) Though I'm left-handed, I use my right hand to play sports. So can I be considered as a double-handed person? Heheh. Plus I also use my right leg in football instead of my left, whereas most left-handers I know use their left leg.


Finally done!

I shall tag anyone who's free enough to do this tag.

On 2nd thought, I think I'll think tag some ppl from HELP. Hhmm.. haven't seen Priscilla Cheong do any kinda tag before also. Must see if S'pore has helped her develop an weird character or habits or not.. Hehe.

So, here goes. I tag:
- James Quah (the ultimate monyet)
- Anna Teoh (peanut)
- Priscilla Cheong
- Betsy Yeo
- Kingsley - that's if you do read this lah


For BPsyc students, you can do this after your finals lah if you can't find enough time in between your studies to do this.


And yeah.. before I forget. ALL THE BEST to all Psyc students! May you do well in your finals. God bless. If you're feeling really stressed (which you should) right now, I hope these verses will help give you some confort and peace:

Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He CARES for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Do remember that our heavenly Father is also the God who feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass of the field. Will He not care and look after you as well? Aren't you much more valuable than the birds or the air and grass of the field?

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

What an assurance.. to know that He's always there by our side, waiting for us to call out to Him.


In whatever you do, do it for the Lord. ALL THE BEST!

THANKS!

THANKS!

Just wanna say a big "THANKS" to all of you who made my birthday special this year.

I thought celebrating it in the hospital was already special in itself actually.. haha!

And yes.. THANKS for all your prayers too. Though I'm not fully 100% recovered yet, I'm feeling way much better than when I was first admitted to Damai Services Hospital.

Special THANKS to all those who visited me at the hospital too.

Among those who visited me were Lukas and Lydia.. who gave me this Body Glove pencil box. Thanks for coming together with Hon Chien and Ruth.




Oh yes... let me introduce you to J-me.

J-me is my first ever teddy bear.

Trust me... I neither named it nor asked for it. But I am thankful for it as it accompanied me while I was on the hospital bed. A good companion I should say.. although it doesn't talk.

The Yong sisters - Ennie and Yennie - deserve a special "thanks" for this. Especially Yennie.. who came and surprised me in the hospital. Totally didn't expect you to come all the way and alone somemore. Brave lah you. Heheh.







This mini Adidas ball is also another first-timer. The first ever ball I've ever got in my life.

Hard to imagine how a football freak like me haven't got a ball his whole entire life until now eh. Heheh.

Thanks Deborah, Elise, Sue Ann and Andrew.









'Boy Meets Girl' by Joshua Harris.

Jamie Khoo (DQ)... you tricked me. I thought you wanted to buy the book for your own.

Thanks though... I'm sure this book will come in handy. Heheh.

Other contributors were James, Peanut, Fishilla, Amanda, Hui Min, Oon-Yow and Victoria. Thanks guys.

So this is the actual present eh... these guys gave me 'fake' presents as well. The 'fake' presents are the toy gun and the Ridsect aerosol. Haha.. funny lah you guys.

Don't worry... I'm sure the Ridsect will be useful in keeping mosquitoes away from me.

I don't quite get the toy gun part though. uuhh.. what's it for ah? -_-



My very own Birthday Umbrella!

Man, this really got me emo-fied.

All the 'get well' and birthday messages really made me super emo. Haha..

Thanks to all you HELP CFers!

Special thanks to Fishilla who thought of the idea. You stole Sharon's umbrella eh? Haha!





The 'fake' presents! Haha!

Getting the toy gun somewhat reminds me of the time when we gave Hon Chien some toy musical intruments. You guys curi-ed my idea eh... Haha.











ALL the presents. And cards too.

Thank you so much every one of you!

I'm truly thankful to God for allowing me to have all of you as my friends.

THANKS again.

Fly

One is flying to Germany...



The other, I hope, will be flying high in her future undertakings...
















Mei Yee and Ennie... I would like to wish the both of you "ALL THE BEST!" as you face new challenges and experiences ahead.


Mei Yee... hope you have a safe flight and settle down well in the foreign place you're about to step on.

Ennie... CONGRATS! You're now a graduate... which also makes you officially unemployed until you get your posting.. heheh. Anyway.. wherever God sends you to, I'm sure He has great plans for you. Hope you will be able to make a difference in the place you're destined for.



OK.. I shall end my babblings with a verse for the both of you. Take care!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5,6

Doulos

Doulos..

I'm really thankful that I've got the opportunity to finally visit Doulos again!

Can't quite remember when was the last time I stepped into the ship cos I was way younger than I am now. I think I was still in primary school at that time... long time ago.. haha!

So yeah.. 10th July 2006 is a historical date for me. heheh.. visited Doulos together with some church members - Wong bros (Hon Yau & Hon Chien) and the Yong sisters (Ennie & Yennie).

Here are some pics from the Doulos trip (thanks to Hon Yau's new Sony Ericsson):


















Look at all the happy faces.. satisfied with the books they got from Doulos. Definitely worth the trip. Shah Alam was indeed a long drive from Tmn Melawati... all thanks to Hon Yau who was willing to drive us there!

Anyway, I'm kinda impressed with all the volunteers at Doulos. Especially those who travel with the ship... some of them willing to sacrifice 1 or 2 years of their studies or work just to help up with missions, going around the world in the Doulos ship. It's not easy to give up some part of your life to serve... but those volunteers are able to do so. Why? How come they can be so willing?

Well, I guess the joy of serving the Lord is what drives them to do so. The fulfilment in seeing God work in their lives. Each of them have different roles to play on the ship... just like in one body, there're many parts.. not all have the same function. It's such a pleasure to see how with all their different roles and gifts, they're able to worship God by offering their bodies as living sacrifices... working together as one. I hope that we'll some day have the chance to serve God in that way too... or in other ways. But yeah.. I've to admit it won't be easy to be willing to serve Him. Many times, I've found myself unwilling to serve 'cos of various reasons. But then, I forgot what God has done for us all when He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and pay the ultimate price for us at Calvary. God has shown us such unconditional love... why can't I show some gratitude to Him by serving Him? I guess I'll have to constantly ask myself that question.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spritiual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

Reply to SliderGirl

The above title has got something to do with this ...


So Alicia, here are your 'answers':

1. MU nut? hhmmm.. can't disagree with you on that. Heheh.

2. I think the tougher challenge would be trying to get hold of that book. So far I think the only ppl who have that book are Priscilla, Siaw Lin and Tabby. Priscilla is in a land far, far away from KL. Tabby and Siaw Lin... their books are like precious belongings to them (think the ring in LOTR) - it would be pretty hard to borrow the book from either of them I think.. heheh. But I'll try. Like you said.. siapa tau it'll come in handy.

5. Misconception?... but.. you ARE creative. Aren't you? I still think you are.

7. Really talk? hhmmm.. as in serious close-to-heart stuff? hhmm.. not really lah. I have to admit we're not really close.



Anyway, thanks for your comments.




______________________________________________

Jeremy - what you waiting for?! (you must at least do for me, ok?)

Uuhh.. must admit, I was a bit lazy to type.. haha.. OK, doing one for you now.

Sorry for keeping you waiting so long for this.. heheh.


Alicia:
1. Your love for writing, writing, writing, AND writing (and oh, typing too of course.. hehe) is what makes you YOU. And just in case you're wondering, it's a good thing. Heheh.
2. Hhmmm... what should I dare you to do? hhmmm... aha! heheh.. since you were kind enough to give me a not-so-tough challenge, I shall repay your kindness. Given that you love writing so much, this shouldn't be too difficult for you... : write a book about your brothers, how they spark your life.. hehe.. and let me read it when you're ready to do so.
3. A soft toy kinda light pink.
4. How you express yourself in your blog. It's really interesting to read how you pen down certain feelings and thoughts of yours.
5. (First:) hhmm... my memory is failing me.. I think it was Sunday School. You were such a quiet girl then. Not that you're not quiet now though.. sometimes you still are.
(Clearest:) heheh.. you kept thanking me after the laptop incident.
6. A care bear.
7. What is one thing, that you've not done, you'll regret not doing?

Adios...

I don't think I've ever been to as many farewells as this year. Yesterday we had another farewell... this time it was for Priscilla, Simeon and Wy Leong. The funny thing is that none of them are going any further than Singapore.

Hope you guys enjoyed the farewell..



Well if you're wondering who they are, here are a pics of each of them.



This is Priscilla Cheong, 19 years of age.

She'll be going to Singapore to further her studies.

We'll miss your bubbly character and your laughter.

Then again, I guess we'll be seeing you around every few months... S'pore ain't too far away.. Haha.

Must make sure that you're around during the next World Cup yah! Wanna see you cry when Germany loses again. Haha! *joking*




Simeon Koh, 25 years of age (am I right? do correct me if otherwise), Pastor's son.. still available (I think).

Our very own Superman! Haha.. he does look like Clark Kent, don't you think so?

This guy's leaving to an even nearer place! - PJ.. haha!

We do hope that you'll still be able to come visit us despite your tight schedules. I'd like to headshot 'Shadow' at least once more. Heheh...

Hope you'll settle down well at First Baptist Church.




Ee Wy Leong, 20 years of age.

Another one going to Singapore to further his studies.

Wanted to say "we'll miss you very much".. but then, you said you'll be back every 2 months. So looks like we'll still be seeing you around lah. Heheh..

Neway, remember the conversations we had on the way up to Penang? heheh... well, hope we'll get to have a good chat like that again when you're having your hols. Looking forward to future road trips.

Stay close to the Lord and hope you find a good church there.




Well, take care you guys. Hope these verses will be of an encouragement to you.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand.

- Isaiah 41:10

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

- Colossians 2:6,7

My Community

I've been to 2 camps over the past 2 weeks and I really thank God that I've indeed learned a lot from these 2 camps...

God has thought me how important it is to have a community... a community to support, encourage, teach, scold (hehe.. I need a lot of scolding sometimes), and build each other up.



My Community:










Indeed.. something to thank God for...

_______________________________________________

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

- Hebrews 10:25

Azzurri Rock On!

Wow! Germany lost on home ground.. in the stadium in which they haven't lost, until now... to Italy.

Just when everyone thought the match would go to penalties (again, just as the quarter-final match against Argentina)... THIS suddenly happened.

It came in the 118th minute.. from a conner, which the Germans failed to clear. The ball somehow fell to Grosso, who took the opportunity with a well-taken shot.



The Germans, who only had less than a minute left so save this match, went on the attack.. leaving their defence almost empty.

Del Piero took advantage of that to score with the last kick of the game.

Final score: Germany 0-2 Italy


So the moral of the story...

NEVER GIVE UP!

The Italians didn't give up.. though they were on the disadvantage, since they were playing on German soil.

We'll be surprise what can happen if we keep persevering to the end.

Even if there's only 2 minutes left to do something, don't stop! Keep pushing. Something can happen.




:: Priscilla called this match a curse... she better not read this post then.. or else she'll cry even more ::

Brand New Blog!

Goodness... haha..

Never ever did I think that I'd ever blog... how unexpected - that I would eventually be influenced by younger friends to start one... thus the existance of a Xanga account...

Never ever did I think that I'd ever succumb to creating another blogging account... not so unexpected - that I would actually end up with a Blogspot account... haha!


Well, I'm not sure if this (the creation of a new blog) would actually encourage me to blog more often though. But I have to admit... Blogspot does have more features compared to Xanga.

Who knows.. maybe (because of the extra features) I would eventually end up blogging more than I used to... or NOT.. haha!