so patriotic. 

many birds!! HMAS Sdyney memorial in Geraldton 

Euro-English (my Dad sent me this in the mail... )

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c".
Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expected to>reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always>ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the language is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v". During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords containing "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza.
Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru. Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

Aren't changes part and parcel of our lives?
But i guess they always seem to be the uncertain and weary stage-- venturing into the unknown may be a pastime for some, but to most it's simply a coercement. A forceful shove out of our comfort zone.
i guess, change is good... some how.
changes mould you, give u oppurtunity to adapt and to strengthen ur stakes... to be ready for what lies ahead- for what is to come.

ha, so there.... change... i welcome you.

some cruise! 

The important decisions in life, are those made in the quietness of your spirit before the Lord your God... who sees ur heart more than anyone else. These decisions are more vital than the ones made in front of man- with physical changes to be seen by all. After all, its the issues of your heart that is the wellspring of your life.

IT'S over!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

haha it's high in demand!!!  

The little things

You realise in ur friendships that people do little things for u, and big things for u.... But its in the little things that u find the greatest joy in.... ain't it?
Likewise, for the creator of heaven and earth to have a relationship with u, He certainly has already done BIG, GIGANTIC things for u n me.... but it's in the little things that u and i really treasure or remember.

God noes how much i spend on petrol. (this is not slang, He really noes.)
and just this past 3 days He made me realise that He cares and wants to be involved in helping me save. So on monday the prices were 103.5... den yesterday it dropped to 99.9-- and i was almost empty, how timely! so i filled it up... and today prices rose to 112!
This happens smtimes when caltex on brdway is ex, and i pass by subi's one and it's Cheap.

My heavenly father noes how to take care of me very well... and that means the world to me; )

got this from Miki's blog. haha so cute. 

hahah, it's ok to be abit unglam. 

stop pecking my head!  

Chinchilla History (haha, i was curious... so went to look up... interesting)

In 1918 a gentleman by the name of M.F. Chapman was working in Chile and saw his first chinchilla. This individual is responsible for bringing these furry little creatures to the United States. About a year after he had his first encounter with them, he gathered a trapping party of 23 men to capture as many chinchillas as possible; however, they were so scarce(almost to the point of extinction) because of excessive trapping for their pelts, that they were only able to capture 11 and this took them 3 years. It took 12 months to bring these down the mountain of Chile. They took every precaution necessary so they would not lose any to the temperature changes they encountered on the way down. It paid off being so careful, as they all survived. By the middle of the 1960's, thousands of chins were being raised throughout the United States and Canada.

Chinchilla means "little chinta" a name given by the Indian tribes in their area. The chinchilla is from South America, more specifically in the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains. Their scientific name is Chinchilla lanigera, which means long-tailed chinchilla. Their class is Mammalia (Mammals), their order Rodentia (Rodents), and their family is called the Chinchillidae (Chinchillas and Visachas).

don't worry, they're not from the Chin genealogy... haha. from Chile.... Relax.

An Accolade

Dad, the older i get, the more i realize wad an important influence you've been,

I see all the ways u're been there for me.

The way u've guided my decisions while encouraging me to stand on my own

The way you've offered suggestions and opinions while accepting me as i am,

The way you've supported my endeavours while allowing me the freedom to experience the world on my own.

And i want u to noe that i appreciate it.

So for all the times that I've left it unsaid...

I love you....

Happy Fathers' Day!

Quiz time again!!


You are Ephesians.


Which book of the Bible are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Got this test from nikki's blog
Funny thing is, haha it's abit true lah... i'm an undercover procrastinator. or maybe not so undercover den....

You scored as Overdoer. Your procrastination type is the overdoer, who agrees to more than he or she can handle. Overdoers are hard-workers and get some things done, but cannot succeed at everything. They can be hard to detect as being procrastinators, because they are always so busy doing something. They have difficulty declining people’s requests but sometimes feel resentful when the time comes to do them. Overdoer 94% Defier/rebel 94% Perfectionist 81% Not a procrastinator 81% Crisis-maker 69% ADD 56% Worrier 50% Dreamer 44% Teenager 44% What type of procrastinator are you? created with QuizFarm.com

i feel privileged, and fortunate to be in my course of study.

i think there are alot of things/perspectives/ biaseness in the world that we live in.
and i think it is important always, to get both sides of the picture in anything that we do.
Especially in conflict resolving- or a situation which has spun decades or centuries, and now has root causes so deep that even identifying the path to peace would take years.

Was watching the documentaries that LC passed me, one was about why the Muslims blamed the Jews for their grievances esp in the Middle East- the unconditional support for Israel by the US has caused militancy and sectarian violence.
Rather then to pause and stop to understand the situation, it is easy to stereotype and to classify the actions of a few militants as the beliefs of an entire religion.
I mean, we'd be offended to be accused of radicalism or fundamentalism just because some christian group decided to fly planes into the WTC right?

Anyway, my point is... this world, for many who come from a culture drenched in traditionalism, the religion of Islam has most often been used for political purposes (state sponsored or societal outcomes). Most so called "terrorists" have only known dying for Allah as the only way to paradise, because they were taught that in madrassahs and were brought up to strap bombs to themselves for a greater glory. don't be surprised.

i think there must be a growing awareness that there is a moderate stance and their voices must be addressed. The term 'Jihad' is very misunderstood.

When we watch the news (esp aussie news), lets not be quick to judge.

Was reading this article online... and i thought the first point was quite funny, cos i do exactly that. Yea, i cut my own hair (just like louise does, just maybe not as nice as hers)....
and i trim my fringe when i'm feeling... bored, stressed... or.... stressed.
haha....

Here's the Quote:

Hair mistakes...
1. Baselessly cutting your own hair.
Let's say there appears to be one strange and straggly piece that somehow emerges longer, looser or odder than any other piece on your head. You are tempted to trim it, but don't self-cut!

hahahhahahhahahhahah

My favourites

Fav weather: NOT winter
Fav channel: Discovery/ National Geographic/ cartoon network
Fav drink: Avocado juice/ anything milky or fruity/ camomile tea
Fav food: Macdonalds
Fav Subject: History
Fav Movie/s: LOTR trilogy, disney/pixar films
Fav line: toot/ tootface
Fav actress: Jessica Alba/ Jolie/ (recently... Charlize Theron- have u seen her in monster?)
Fav actor: Dexter- in Dexter's laboratory
Fav colour: green! or anything with that shade.
Fav hair: NOT tangled.
Fav guitar: Baby taylor (when i'm rich n skilled enough)
Fav artist/singer: Emi Fujita/ John mayer/ norah Jones/ Corrine May/ any Jazzy voice
Fav travel destination: Fiji islands- OR meditteranean region.
Fav sport: netball/ rock climbing/ scuba diving
Fav shoes: slippers (ha)
Fav month: Dec/ Jan- lotsa hols!
Fav feeling: adreneline- esp when on rollercoasters or sky diving
Fav moment: being still in God's presence.
Fav cell: the one in which we tld ghost stories... til late! (ha)
Fav teddy bear: Xiao mao tou.
Fav magazine: Time/ Newsweek
Fav thrashy magazine: Women's day
Fav books: Falling Leaves- Adeline Yen mah/ God-chasers- Tommy Tenney/ LOTR trilogy/ Harry potter series/ Most shakespeare plays- esp TEMPEST/ Scribbles from the same island- Neil Humphreys/ all of Dan Brown's books/ most of James patterson's books.
Fav animal: this is hard... a LEMUR from madagascar? (ha)
Fav food in sg: ba chor mee
Fav hangout in sg: Yishun Safra (i literally hang)
Fav historical sites: Damascus/ Gaza, west bank/ China's great wall/ Italy's religious monuments/ Cambodia/ India's taj mahal
Fav mountain to climb: K2
Fav flower: lily
Fav interior design style: Zen
Fav cosy place: huge/ big hammock
Fav Aroma theraphy scent: Rainforest
Fav waterbottle brand: Nalgene (hasn't failed me yet)
Fav place i've been: Krabi, Thailand/ New Zealand (south Isle)
Fav lecturer: my pakistani lecturer Samina Yasmeen
Fav key on the keyboard: the spacebar
fav...... fav.... fav..... til next time!

its 9 degrees... and i'm wearing my Arc'teryx polartec jacket. Yes, the one i wear when i'm REALLY cold. my dad got it for me, it doesn't look like an expensive jacket, but people use it mountaineering. so go figure.

was driving Jon to school just now, and there was this huge fog/mist/haze, dunno what u call it. just covering the whole freeway and it got thicker when i reached murdoch. haha, like seriously i cldn't see 50m in front of me. quite funky.
So Jon saw ice on the floor in school last week, and that was hail.
we both think the weather is erratic.
*brr*

Preparing for my only exam nxt week... do leave ur exam details in some form with me, will be praying for u people!! ; )
Free massages are only extended to CERTAIN people. and the rest can self massage. ; p
For other forms of relief from back aches, neck aches and arm aches (from writing too much in exams) please try the tiger medicated plasters. they really work!

Lastly, who wants to go climbing after the exams??

can u see the pygmy seahorse?? 

Neon Triplefin on star coral 

that's where i wanna be 

paradise! 

MALAYSIAN DRIVERS (super funny, taken from Nikki)

1. One hand on wheel, one hand on horn: IPOH driver.

2. One hand on wheel, one hand out the window with cigarette: KEPONG driver.

3. One hand on wheel, one finger out the window, cutting across all lanes of traffic: DOWNTOWN KUALA LUMPUR driver.

4. One hand on wheel, one hand with parang, foot solidly on accelerator: JOHOR driver. (so notorious?!)

5. One hand on wheel, one hand with non-fat double decaf cappuccino, cradling cell phone, brick on accelerator, hands-free on the lap: BANGSAR driver.

6. Both hands on wheel, eyes shut, both feet on brake, quivering in terror: FOREIGNER, driving in MALAYSIA.

7. One hand with 12 oz. double shot latte, one knee on wheel, talking on cell phone, foot on brake, mind on radio game, banging head on steering wheel while stuck in traffic: SUBANG JAYA DRIVER.....on the Federal Highway!!!

8. One hand on wheel, one hand on passengers head rest, alternating between both feet on the accelerator and both feet on brake, throwing rambutans or durian shells out the window:KARAK HIGHWAY ; KUANTAN driver.

9. Four-wheel drive pick-up truck, READY-TO-KILL attitude, rear window stickers read "Make my day", beer cans on floor, wedding ribbon still attached to antenna: CONSTRUCTION SITE....PUCHONG driver!

10.One hand on the handphone, another hand picking nose, One leg on the dash board, another leg crossed on the seat with a beer can in the middle ~ turning anywhere he likes, parking anywhere he likes, in fact, driving anywhere he likes. aaahhh..... this is a heaven for drivers......welcome to PENANG!

11. Two hands gripping tightly to the wheel, eyes glued on the windscreen, alternately stepping on the accelerator and brakes every 5 seconds. WOMAN DRIVER!!
- i disagree with this point.

Ain't this yellow? 

Its 12 degrees!!!!!! i absolutely detest winter.

Check THIS out!

Been always intrigued by Nike's advertising abilities...
it's like they have sports' people tell them (individually) what exactly they want, and how to meet their needs.
Whoa... the captivating adverts, always draw out ur innermost desires... (in this case, to wear shoes that don't feel like shoes... thus the caption of "running barefoot")

NICE.

At the dinner 

mavis n me! 

another one 

Nice pic taken at Crystal n How Boon's wedding 

History is not a record of all the facts: that would be impossible.

it is a record of some of the facts, selected for their significance, and set forth in such order and combination, with such a touch of realizing imagination, with such colour and life as shall cause them, if possible, to make the same impression on us as they must have made on those who were actors in the midst of them.

- Woodrow Wilson




gee, now i noe why History is my favourite subject. :)

its the joy in simple revelations daily that sometimes amazes me.
Was driving my brother to school this morning- it was raining cats and dogs.
And whilst the rain beat down hard on my windscreen- i remembered my old car and how the windscreen wiper wouldn't work. (then at the moment i was counting my blessings)
I was thinking to myself- and it was on the freeway- if i was driving my old car, i probably wouldn't survive that storm.

Not being able to see the car in front of me would be disastrous, plus keeping to my lane would be a problem- if i didn't have my windscreen wiper.
Then the windscreen wiper has different timings- thr are faster notches (for heavy rain) and slower ones (for drizzles). So adjusting it to the conditions is a good thing.

i thought that this windscreen wiper was much like our relationship with God. we set it to the timings we like- according to our situations. Like if we're in a tight and tough circumstance and the rain is beating hard on us, we turn up the communication with God. We tlk to Him more, pray more and fast more... but as the drizzle gets lighter and easier to bear... we sorta ease out of this dependence on God mode. And when there's no rain, we forget that the windscreen wiper even exists.

i guess its a silly analogy for smthg that probably doesn't relate.

So now i noe that the windscreen wiper is always there.... rain or shine.
Likewise, our heavenly Father wants to share as much in our sunshine, as well as in our rainy days.

Life is a journey. Jesus is my compass.

"But this precious treasure- this light and power that now shines within us- is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.... Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an aternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. "

2 Corinthians 4:7-12,16-18

When Blood and water flowed
I didn't know it was for me...

Overwhelmed.

Simple things...

Its the small, little, simple things that really catch my attention.
Sometimes u want to be a big-picture kinda person, looking into the future and doing life long planning. Most times i wish i had better organisational abilities, better planning skills... But largely, i realise that I'm not in control, it's so much easier to look simply- to see things in an uncomplicated way. To trust and hope like a child does.

In our world of chronic busyness, pause for reflective time with Him.
Call it quiet time or quarantine time, ENJOY THE AUDIENCE OF ONE.
Luxuriate in His lavish love.
Journal your thoughts.

*How lovely is your dwelling place*

Research is on the way- reading lots of info, sometimes abit lost lah.. its a huge undertaking and the topic itself is vast! mm... neeed to really focus. *mumbles*
Great thing is, my mom actually has material lying arnd at home- some books she n dad got from Israel. *yay* think she's going to scan n mail for me the relevant info according to date. ; )

It's been raining and pouring the past 2 days... *cats n dogs*
den those snails start to come out onto pavements and get stepped on. (i didn't step on any, if that's wad u're thinking... i just dislike the crunching sound the shell makes) *ugh*
so i must put them back to the soil n grass... they're safer there!

Yep, time for bed! Goodnight!

San Luca Cathedral glows behind the city's porticoes. (taken from travelandleisure.com)

 

It's a tuesday morning... feeling sleepy as usual- after mowing thru a stack of my research books- just plainly labelling them. (helps me to find whatever info i need when i'm desperate and rushing). Well, i wld scribble on the library books, but i'm not a vandal. *library cops knocking on my door*

Had a sumptous crabby dinner last night. Notice the pun. Anyway, there's this thing when u eat crabs- it's just an intricate affair. Just u and the crab, nothing else stands in the way. Of cos the "Man tou" and the dipping of the sauce (chilli sauce) i might add- wld be a major distraction from the actual delicacy itself. Yes, i consider the crabs a delicacy- not some Buddha Jumps over the bridge. or was it a wall?

Shall not give u the gory details of how the juicy meat of the crab was really droolicious.

I'm stuck with (counts fingers) 11 days- for my history essay (50%), 14 days for my Politics essay(35%), and 24 days for my English essay (50%). would anyone wanna trade that with exams? *i think not*. ; (

ya, ok... enough of MSN encarta and Wikipedia. i need a nap.

Weekend is here!
.
.
.
.

Let me cut to the chase.

The truth is that "church" or peer pressure in church can be a form of worldliness too. i dunno how many people can agree or disagree with me. Yes, there's good pressure and bad. (not bad in an explicit way... probably very sublime) But just doing things for the sake of it, doesn't really sound like something coming from ur heart.

Worship can be seen on an outward and physical way, but worship is not equated to an outward expression. It's a matter of the heart. No one can look at u on the outside and judge whether u're really worshipping or whether ur heart is right. This being said, it's really between you and God, yes we should correct and advise in a loving, kind and tactful way-- but only thru the power of the Holy Spirit's conviction can come true transformation. (forcing the auto pilot ain't going to help)

Know that the work on the cross is a finished work, it's completed n perfect.... and u'll realise that nothing else u do can improve it, lessen it or void it.

"He was pierced for our trangressions, crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed!" Isaiah 53:5

I must be tired.... i think i picked up and put back the same book 3 times. and when i finally realised i needed it, the librarian had placed it on a sorting shelf too high for me to reach. (that happened within a span of an hour tho) i guess i'm not so bad...

and den today, my presentation partner didn't turn up!
Well, wad can i say.... ok, she's not exactly a presentation partner. not partner as in we essentially need each other's material kinda partner. (if u get my gist)
So she didn't turn up, and i had to tackle the one and a half gruelling hours by myself. and of cos with the good and lively discussion it wasn't that bad.
Blessing in disguise...

Yingzi's self made bag of surprise for me!! ooo. 

so corny uh... ;p Thanks girls!  

Tiramisu from Nikki n elaine too! from Michel's Patisserie- ; ) 

From Nikki and Elaine!! can't show u wads inside tho. 

The whole pack with the card and earrings! ; ) 

He is the Rock of my salvation. Tower of refuge, Help in times of need.  

i was at the university club today... it was ABC's 'Australia Talks Back' with presenter Sandy McCutcheon, he's absolutely funny i tell ya.. aha
Anyway, it was a live radio forum regarding "Islam and Australia"... they took callers from around the country, took questions and comments from the audience... ; ) it was a good experience mingling with world renowned speakers and a vast mix of cultural backgrounds.

Basically, disussions surrounded the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept 11, 2001, and the Bali bombings a year later led to many equating Islam with terrorism.... with a focus on changing attitudes towards Muslim countries and Islam as a religion. THe problem i found with the understandings of many people were the ideas that Islam consisted of a single entity, and was looked at as a whole. So wad some radical muslims do-- is frowned upon and taken to be a majority belief or action. When in fact, there are so many different intepretations of the Quran, from the orthodox schools, moderate progressives to the liberals.

what i mean is that, we don't see a cult intepretation of the bible being taken for the sole understanding of the entire religion of Christianity. but that's a whole other debate.

i am tired... haha can u believe it, i thought ZLM was today... ; ( gah... so silly.

I've reformatted my comp... i've got no programs on it... : (

Woah, been a long few days... Dad and bro arrived on weds aftnoon... we've been doing ALOT since then. getting him started in school, admin stuff- uniform, sch books... timetable. blah blah, stuff in the room- table lamp, and all the necessities. ; )

Praise God for my HD in my Roman Empire Sources tests!!

this week has been relatively short, maybe cos of the ANZAC day break, plus my politics lecturer is in Canberra- so NO tutes or lectures! woo hoo. but been doing tonnes of reading late into the nights, been listening to Pastor Prince's sermon cds- but always can't keep my eyes open beyond 1am- cos of the 7am early mornings (gotta send my bro to sch).

I'm still alive and well, i must say.
it feels funny to be typing this and being at home on a friday at 940pm, usually thr's cell. (shifted to 4pm) yea... i like my beef lasagne (which yee siang thought i lovingly made, but the lovingly part is true. just lovingly bought.) haha.

to prove to u that i'm still rather energetic (altho i'm rather low on fuel now) I'm going to screeeaaam and shout!!!
iiiiiiii wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaannnnnnnnaaaaaaaa SSSLLLLeEEEEEEEPPPP.....

same website... beginning of a triathlon. woo.

got this from miki's blog... she took it from www.sportshoot.com.au... nice. *athlete at rest*  

They're coming...... *yay*

Your Grace is Sufficient

Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect
When i am weak
All that i cling to I lay at your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me

I'm no longer striving to merit your love

I rest in your promise to me

That all of my sins have been

Washed in Your blood

Your mercy is all i need

You see me as righteous

Becos of the blood

That made the atonement for me

Your Mercy has triumphed

Where i should be judged

So now, by your grace, i am free.

*one of my all time favourite old songs... really feel blessed everytime i sing it and remember His love and grace. Yes, it's sufficient! More than enough for me!*

Watched 28 days later last night. It's a really alienating film... I mean, watching it was simply disturbing. Imagine waking up to an empty world- like literally empty... u walk for miles and miles, but u see no one. not a soul. I thought that was extremely tough to film tho. The camera spanned for miles over London and it was lifeless. Brought back memories from a book i read a couple of years back. Titled "The Hot Zone" By Richard Preston, this book basically describes real life events in 1976 when the virus Ebola broke out in Zaire and Sudan.
"Ebola does in ten days what it takes HIV ten years to accomplish."
And i watch this show, 28 days later... and this virus takes 10-15 seconds to infect it's victim... driving the person wild/mad- infusing the blood and distinguishing the infected with bloodshot eyes.

Anyway, it got me thinking about these viral infections and what it means for us today.
Everyone's afraid of nuclear weapons and bombs and all that, but imagine fighting something u can't see, something that kills u from the inside out? makes u crash and bleed? how gruesome and horrifying is that? gah, honestly- if u think SARS was bad? read more about Ebola.

*shudders*
It'll blow u away.

Without God, Life makes no sense.
(summary of First Chapter: The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren)

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for the longest time ever. According to Rick Warren, it's a wrong starting point- becos we ask self-centred questions like: "What do i wanna be?" What can i achieve, What shld i do with my life? What are MY goals, My ambitions? But the focus on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose.

Contrary to many popular books, movies, and seminars- i doubt u'll discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself. You didn't create yourself, so there is no way u'd beable to tell yourself wad u were created for.

You were made by God and for God- and until u understand that, life will never make sense.
It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other seemingly good path leads to a dead end.
Many self-help recommendations often lead to great success. Consider your dreams, Set some Goals. Aim high! be disciplined. Never give up.
But being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue.
You could, reach all your goals, become a raving success by the worlds' standards and still MISS the purposes for which God created you.

God is not the starting point of your life, he is the SOURCE of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God's word, not the worlds' wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories.

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible.... everything got started and finds its purpose in Him." Col 1:16

Unless you assume a God (the existence of one), the question of life's purpose is meaningless.
-Bertrand Russell, atheist
************************************************************
Started my reading yesterday- it's 3 days late i noe, and altho i've done this book before.... i think like all things that u do the 2nd time-- u do it cos u want more out of it. You've experienced the essence, not so much wad Rick Warren has to say... but wad God has to say thru him and his book. Just like how u go back to the same restaurant to eat (for good food and service) or you visit the same retail store twice (goods value for money)... u go back to the same place because u wanna see wad more u can get out of it, and that's prolly how i'm seeing reading this book again...

Anyway, for more info (if u're interested)... visit www.purposedrivenlife.com
***********************************************************
What drives you?

Isn't it Ironic??

A few many years ago, Alanis Morissette wrote a very popular song about irony.

The irony of it was, many of the things she singled out as ironic weren't actually ironic. They were merely unfortunate--like having a black fly in your Chardonnay. Irony only happens when the result is not what was intended, especially if it's absurd or funny.
And that's why it's ironic when people misuse this word.

Let's get literal

When people say things such as, "His breath literally knocked me dead," I wonder for a minute how they managed to come back to life without looking, u noe--rotten. And then I realize that they're using literally when they mean figuratively.
If something literally happens, it means that it actually happens. It's ridiculous to say "literally" when u mean the opposite.
The best way to avoid this language mangling is to keep the word literal out of your sentences unless u really mean it, and u want your listener to know the cat really did jump three feet in the air when it saw the dog.

Disregard for the dictionary

Irregardless is not a word, regardless of the fact that people sometimes use it as one.

Be accurate, more or less

There's a difference between less and fewer--and if you use these words correctly, you will really sound like you've got a high-powered brain sitting atop your shoulders.
Use fewer when you're talking about things that can be counted, such as individual hairs and snowflakes. Use less when you're talking about things that refer to general quantities, such as hair and snow.

Use your head

Use and utilize generally mean the same thing. Why use those extra letters if you don't need to? Most words ending in -ize should be euthanized.

A unique kind of error

Unique means "one of a kind." Therefore, despite what the salesman tells you, something can't be "completely unique." It either is unique, or it isn't. Just like it's unanimous, or it's not. Or there is consensus, or there isn't. (just like when someone says "general consensus"-- isn't consensus something that's general=majority??) haha, unless u mean General consensus-- in gladiator, u noe, that guy)

Once your ears get sensitive to this mistake, you'll hear it and related mistakes everywhere. (i dunno if it's a bad habit or something)

What's up with Aussie's Channel 10 promoting "all new" episodes of their TV shows? Does this mean that some shows are only partially new? (Trust me, they feel only partially new.)

Could you care less?

Is sounding smarter something you still could care less about?
If you couldn't care less, I would be worried. Unless, of course, you cared so little that you didn't care enough to care less. Gulp.
So there you have it.

Beg to differ

Some people think i have horrible english.. and i agree- for the large part of this post i've tried to type U as "You" and exclude the excessive use of shortcut/MSN/chat lingo, but i fail disastrously. My dad refuses to believe that he's paying for my university education, only to have me email him in my singlish, half-broken jargon (if that even qualifies as a classification)- best part is that i'm doing an English major- what a joke.

Some Favourite Political Quotes....

Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas. - Joseph Stalin

All warfare is based on deception. - Art of War, Sun-Tzu, Chapter 1, Paragraph 18

There never was a good war or a bad peace. - Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

To accept civilization as it is practically means accepting decay. - George Orwell, 1940

A-Zs of A friend....

Accepts you as you are
Believes in you
Calls you just to say "hi"
Doesn't give up on you
Encourages you in anything you do
Forgives your mistakes
Gives unconditionally
Helps you
Invites you over
Just "be" with you
Keeps you close at heart
Loves you for who you are
Makes a difference in you life
Never judges
Offers support
Picks you up
Quiets your fears
Raises your spirits
Says nice things about you
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it
Understands you
Values you for who you are
Walks beside you
X-plains things you don't understand
Yells when you won't listen
Zaps you back to reality.

A friend gave this to me.... i now give it to all my friends. ; )
You noe who you all are.... This is for You.

Faith, when walking thru the dark with God, only asks Him to hold your hand more tightly.

"Help me overcome my unbelief" Mark 9:24

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

— Robert A. Heinlein.


haha.

wadya think?

Journey

It's a long, long journey
Till i know where i'm supposed to be
It's a long, long journey
and i don't know if i can believe
WHen shadows fall and block my eyes
i am lost and know that i must hide
It's a long, long journey
Till i find my way home to You

Many days I've spent
Drifting on thru empty shores
Wondering what's my purpose
Wondering how to make me strong
i know i will falter I know i will cry
I know you'll be standing by my side
It's a long, long journey
ANd i need to be close to you

Sometimes it seems no one understands
I don't even know why
I do the things i do
When pride builds me up till i can't see my soul
Will you break down these walls and pull me thru?

Cos it's a long, long journey
Till i feel that i am worth the price
You paid for me on Calvary
Beneath those stormy skies
When Satan mocks, and friends turn to foes
It feels like everything is out to make me lose control
It's a long, long journey
Till i find my way home to You

Words and Lyrics by Corrine May Ying Foo

It's a beautiful song, first heard it on Sat's Youth service when it accompanied a video presentation from Meulaboh- a Tsunami Hit area. The words reminded me of how much we should finish the race well, not simply start well. The whole journey... tideous it may seem, but yes... we're all going home!!

The Great Life

(Oswald Chambers Utmost for His Highest)

"Peace I Leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled..." (John 14:27)

Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God.

Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.God's mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, "as the world gives," but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.My questions arise whenever I cease to obey.

When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, bcause I know that my FATHER KNOWS and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how HE WILL UNRAVEL MY PROBLEMS.

-Quote from Derek Dieu (my 10XXXX old friend)

*Jesus, teach me to Abide in YOU!*

Never really been hungry?

Our problem is that we have never really been hungry.
We have allowed the things of this realm to satisfy our lives and satiate our hunger.
We have come to God week after week, year after year, just to have him fill in the little empty spaces.
I tell you, that GOd is tired of being "second place" to everything else in our lives.
He is even tired of being second to the church program and church life.
Everything good, including the things that the church does, from feeding the poor, to counselling, to teaching kids in Sunday school classes- should flow from the presence of God.
Our primary motivating factor should be," We do it becos of Him and becos it is His heart." But if we're not careful, we can get so caught up in doing things for Him that we forget about HIM.

Good things have become the enemy of best things.
He must be your first and greatest hunger.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they will be filled" (matt 5:6)

You can get so caught up in being "religious" that u never become spiritual. i don't care how much you know about the bible, or what you noe about Him. I'm asking you, 'do you know HIM?" Have we stifled our hunger for His presence by doing things for Him?
Too often we live on a lower plane than what God intended for us, so when He unexpectedly shows up in HIs power, we are shocked. Most of us are simply not prepared to see "His train fill the temple."

Let's allow Him to fan that flickering flame.
Lord we just want your presence. We are so hungry.


Excerpt taken from...."The God Chasers"- by Tommy Tenney

"My soul follows hard after thee" -King David