Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Music Anyone?

I am totally checking out some albums... nice really nice... here's a list you can look out for...

- Starfield - Beauty In The Broken... their self-titled debut not too happening, I find Beauty a much more interesting ride.
- Leeland - Sound of Melodies... a little taste of Coldplay but better.
- Chris Tomlin - Not To Us.. and his latest See The Morning... great songwriter here...
(edited: sorry... wrong album. Didn't quite like "Not To Us"... the album after, "Arriving"... now that's a good one.)
- Brenton Brown - Everlasting God... not a thrilling ride but nice tunes to worship and relax with... good songwriting here too.. very Vineyard
- Monk & Neagle... this self-titled album is so cool. Their songs are all celebration about their love for their wife... groovy and catchy tunes... acoustic guitar driven

And for the holiday season...
- Holiday Jazz 2005 - Various Artiste.... this is very cool if you like jazz... big names here too... Sergio Mendes, Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour... etc

and some other albums which I have yet to set my ears to..
- Steven Curtis Chapman - All I Really Want For Christmas
- Christina Aguilera - My Kind of Christmas... I stumbled on this... dunno when it was recorded but demo-ed it and it sounded cool
- Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas... a classic by Mariah when she was actually singing.... well you figure it out... good singing here good album.
- Jewel - Joy: A Holiday Collection.... haven't heard this yet but I really like her latest album "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland"... nicely done.

OK... later....

Friday, October 13, 2006

Mission Trip...?

I went on a Mission Trip last weekend. It was an interesting experience. First of all, it wasn't an ulu place (as in remote...) It was a semi-town-village area with loads of Cantonese and Mandarin speaking people. I don't speak either language well... almost none actually. So, 'missionly' speaking, it was more of a ministry outreach more than a mission... Somehow my basic understanding of Mission implies that you go to a really remote place as in a unreached people group to spread Jesus' truth and salvation... better if it's to China... then it defines "Mission" 100% where you go to the villages and really dig into God so that you don't get caught... Know what i mean... I'm pretty messed up...

So, I learned a lot in this trip. I dunno... I guess the mission trip wasn't so much of a mission for the people there but more for myself... I met a man. What a man he was. God healed him of cancer. His life is now God's and what does he do? He gives up what he does and goes to this semi-town-village and starts a community center for the youth - the delinquent or those that just need some caring. So, he spends all his money on this place... turns it into a workshop-school of mechanics, music, english and God knows what more... Wow's the word. He gets certified teachers/lecturers to teach music and school lessons and he does the auto-mechanic workshop classes. He doesn't earn a single cent from it. Then, not enough. In the early morning, he goes to this special park in the Taman opposite his, and helps the senior community, those that have succumbed to stroke and need physio workout. He does some massaging for them (which he picked-up cos he did not know how to do it earlier), then not enough some more. He then builds them some more exercise devices that he puts at the park for them. So, now they have those gym-like bicycle exercise thingy, and a reflexology walk-path round the little field. Not enough... he builds a place to where the old ladies can leave their vegetables on so that they can have their exercises after they do their marketing. Everything's covered and more equipment is on the way. And all this on his expense. I've not met anyone who would unselfishly do this as a blessing and as a part of their lifestyle. His common words would be "..if you don't let me do this, you don't give me the opportunity to bless you.." What to say...? This man just has to bless you... and he did that with us... and here we are on a mission...


I met another man. Apparently before he was saved, he was a chief gangster. In that small town, he was the most feared man. As he said in his own words in Cantonese, no one comes and beat me, it is I who beat them up. So, there it is. Now he is saved. He is a changed man. His whole family testifies to it, though people in the area are still cautious of him. He owns a house to which he converts to a guest home. It is just opposite the house which he lives and operates his business (He's in the pork business). We've learned that the guest house is NEVER locked. He says no one will come and disturb because it is God's house. But actually we've also learned people are afraid to go in because it belongs to him... otherwise he'll beat you up! hahaa.. This guy is nice. He shared how much of his behavior changed when God came into his life. He would show how he gets angry and that his word at home is law. Whatever he says, you must do... or else. Now, he says, can negotiate already... haha. And the good thing, he never wants to do again what he did before becasue it's not worth it and God has made it possible.

The interesting thing is, when these 2 men speak, the first thing they speak of is about Jesus. At dinner, they were speaking of the sermon they heard just before and what it means to apply it to their lives. It's just natural for them to talk like that. How many times do we talk among friends about God's goodness, or a topic we heard at church, or the difficulty in applying the pronciples of God in our lives? Hardly...most of the time we gossip (yeah, even men gossip). It is very apparent that they are excited about their salvation.


At the free medical clinic that we also conducted, the Christians that came (the senior citizens), they were excited about their God too... they are definitely sure about their salvation. One lady was quoted saying in Cantonese, "if was not for Jesus, I would have died already"...


It was interesting to be among people who has much to say about His goodness, in spite of their situation; many are poor and go thru hard labor in the farms and fields to support their families. Especially the senior folks. They work really hard. Yet they are thankful for the simplest of things where to many of us, we complain of life being tough and too persistent.


So, what did I learn? I learned to be thankful. I couldn't do much at the clinic... I don't speak any Chinese and I'm not a med student... but I learned to serve... in whatever capacity. Before the trip, I made a conscious note to serve. And not to choose what to serve in. If there's a need just do it. I'm glad I was able to wash the urine bottles...(ooh man...gross..).. but I believe God would have been pleased. At the youth group performance, my guitar decided to fail me... but somehow it did not affect me one bit. I knew I was there to serve Him. I wish I wasn't dead tired though.... But there was just this peace... serving Him became easy.


So what mission was this? I think the mission was for me to see what God has done...and what He can do with those that fully trust and believe Him. Was the mission for the people there? Yeah. But it was for me too. I saw His goodness... and how can we be quiet about it when He is good. These people are not quiet about it. In the man's house (the Youth Center), he put up mini posters everywhere and these words were in most of them - "FAITH IN ACTION..." wow... how much of our faith is put to action? How much of my faith is actually put into action? I wish I could answer that... but that's the mission. A mission to know our potential in God. A mission to know what God can do with us if we say yes. A mission to put our faith in action. Was it succesful? For the people there, I guess it was succesful at this point. For me, the question remains. Whether faith will be put into action is more than just words. Faith is believing and believing in His Word. The problem is we don't always do what His Word says... so it's a lifetime of putting faith into action there... :)


Until then, let's keep pressing on towards the goal... the prize... Here's to the people in Sungai Ruan. God bless and keep you and expand the boundaries of His Kingdom.


Friday, September 22, 2006

It's All About You...

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
It's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the things
I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

Listening to Matt Redman's Blessed Be The Name of The Lord album.... awesome stuff. What is worship anyway? The heart of worship... It's all about Jesus.... yeah.... but what? Worship is the expression of our faith, the expression of our love and affection, worship is surrender... worship is saying it's You Jesus, and not me.... it's You Jesus that matters, not what I do or did, not my career, not my ministry, not my talents and abilities, not my family, not money. Worship is saying You own everything and is everything. Worship is saying... do as You will with me. I worship you Jesus. I wanna come back to You because You are the life. You are my life. I praise You Jesus because You are worthy. Because you deserve it. Because You are the Son of the Living God. Because You are the only One who saves. Because it's all about You. It's all about You Jesus.

Will you worship Him too?

Monday, September 11, 2006

Steve Irwin

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When I heard the news that Steve Irwin passed on, I felt sad. A friend happened to call that night and one of the things we talked over the phone about was Steve's untimely death. We were both in shocked. The thing is, we don't really know who this guy is except that he chases crocodiles and does some absolutely insane stuff on tv. But one thing we knew is he's lovable and a great family man. Somehow at some point, we connected to that part of him... through tv. That itself is interesting... So, we were talking... my friend said that its sad that we can 'go' anytime. So I told him he should stop smoking and drinking otherwise he might just 'go' while doing that... with his reply followed by some light cursing and swearing... The sad part is leaving our family behind. Steve has 2 kids... one 8 year old and a 3 year old. We both have kids around that age and it felt painful. Man, I can't even imaging leaving my kids and wife like that. Thinking about how his family will miss him really saddens me. On top of all of this... being a Christian... I wondered if he ever believed in God. What if he didn't.... man that really sucks.... In the news, he has touched many all over the world just being himself. Yesterday Astro showed a Steve Irwin marathon program and I happened to watch the episode they did with his dog, Sui... it was where the dog died. Sui was his best pal. She went with him on many of his croc hunting adventures. She had some terminal sickness and passed on. I think it was the first time I saw Steve vulnerable... he cried when the dog died. He had slept together with Sui to just be with her.. she was really sick... she passed on in her sleep. It shows the more sensitive, emotional and humane part of him which you don't really see in the regular Croc Hunter shows where he's just all excited and running around.

Here's a tribute to him. For the many lives that he has touched thru his work, attitude and love for his family. May he find rest at a better place now. For his family, may God make this time of mourning and loss painless as possible, may they find peace in God's unfailing love; may they carry on with strength knowing Steve has truly indeed left a legacy for his children to follow and uphold. May they look forward with hope and strength for the future that lies ahead of them. May they find God to be their true father and companion in all that they do.

God bless and keep all of you. Amen.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Blogging?

I'm not used to typing out thoughts. This is strange. Blogging is new to me but it looks like fun. I switched to blogspot so its easier to update my webbie. No scrambling on dreamweaver and such. Just type and it updates. Easy. Anyone looking will see lots of photos of my kids.... like this one...

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wahlau... this site is boring man.

Sean talks a lot. It's a good thing. At 2, he feels a lot of things but can't seem to control how it should translate to proper speech or expression. Sometimes it comes out as crying, screaming, whining, sulking... which are normal at this age. Sometimes you can see it in his face. Sometimes you just pull your hair off.

But in all of it, he's a great boy and I'm proud of him. Tough time for him now though... but eventually he'll learn to understand what life is all about as he grows up.

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This is Nemo. He's sitting on a tractor.... duhh

Nemo's going for a ride on Sean's tractor. Nemo's his best pal. Don't mess with the fish or you'll be in trouble. It's a strange thing how they got together. His teddy-bear was immediately ditched when the fish and him got together. Poor bear. He brings Nemo everywhere he goes.

Great clown fish.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Anatomy of THE Car

This is Sean's ride. They always say that its not the car that makes the difference, its the driver. Sean's a driver alright. Check out his car.

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Smooth ride.

This is Sean on his car.

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Beware of the driver. He might run over your feet.


Thursday, August 24, 2006

The Rising Tides

Was going thru my photos in my pc and found this. It is the last youth camp my group had.

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See larger image here -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/kingja_lah/therisingtides.jpg

Things are different now... How the times have changed.
Hello hello... now here am I at this blogger of thing... well, this is home now for all things Jason and his weird brain.

Check me out later...