Anyway, many many years ago, i did some amateur caricatures drawing myself. They are some of my platoon mates...never got to complete it though...
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
I like caricature
I love drawing, especially caricature... During my trip to Taiwan last year i regretted not having a piece done for wifey and myself (blame it on my own indecisiveness)
Anyway, many many years ago, i did some amateur caricatures drawing myself. They are some of my platoon mates...never got to complete it though...
platoon mates
Anyway, many many years ago, i did some amateur caricatures drawing myself. They are some of my platoon mates...never got to complete it though...
Saturday Delight
Last Saturday, wifey and I went to ICA to collect her I.C.
After that we went to McDonalds at Bugis Junction for breakfast.
It has been quite a while since we had that. I enjoyed the meal as their new set now comes with hotcakes and bacon…. No more dilemma whether to eat hotcakes or big breakfast when I can have BOTH!!! Yeah!
After that we went to shop around inside the mall and also played some childish arcade games like shooting basketball, throwing balls at the screen, shooting spiders and water targets… haha. Simple pleasures … really…. But it was a good time of fun with wifey.
Wifey with her breakfast
wifey shooting some hoops
wifey shooting tarantulas ;o)
After that we went to McDonalds at Bugis Junction for breakfast.
It has been quite a while since we had that. I enjoyed the meal as their new set now comes with hotcakes and bacon…. No more dilemma whether to eat hotcakes or big breakfast when I can have BOTH!!! Yeah!
After that we went to shop around inside the mall and also played some childish arcade games like shooting basketball, throwing balls at the screen, shooting spiders and water targets… haha. Simple pleasures … really…. But it was a good time of fun with wifey.
Monday, 19 September 2011
YWMJ - Part 2
Firstly, need to apologize for being late in posting this.
Love…
As mentioned in my earlier submission, the 2nd part of this book talks about the “endangered” character of love that we ought to display as Christ followers.
There is tender love, tough love, sacrificial love and radical love.
Tender and Tough
I remembered that Pastor Jeff preached about what makes a real man on 22 August 2010. It stayed with me because it taught me that a real man must display tender love and tough love at the appropriate time, just as Jesus did in his ministry. I liked that sermon so much that I blogged it so that I can be reminded about it constantly. (http://the-first-garden.blogspot.com/2010/08/lion-and-lamb.html)
In this book, Hybels wrote about the same thing. That it is important, as Christ followers, to display tender love so that we can have compassion and feel for a person/situation. And also to display tough love so that we can be firm and do what is best for a person even though it meant there may be some immediate or short term pain for both parties.
Being someone who is non confrontational, and generally peace loving. I found myself having difficulties all the time in practicing “tough love”, I never really grasp the concept and its importance before. For me, if there is a situation that calls for correction I will avoid it and run away from it. To others, I may seem like a pastoral person because my approach tends to be softer but in actual fact, many times I am just choosing the easy way out to avoid a difficult task.
Sometimes I will ask myself “who am I to correct?”, “am I doing this out of self righteousness?” “by doing this, will I bring further hurt to the person?” after asking myself so many questions I will end up doubting my motives and avoiding to take any actions.
A Truth
During a mentoring session many years ago before I entered into marriage, my then CL spoke into my life. About being a leader in my relationship. In marriage, it is very important that a husband knows how to display both tender and tough love. If not, marriage will suffer.
It makes me understood that in deciding what to do, the key question I need to ask myself is “do I care enough to speak truth into the person’s life, even at the expense of incurring his/her anger?” If I am doing it out of love, God will give me the confidence; the other party will some day realize that I meant no harm and come to appreciate what I did.
Truth telling, is, very often tough love.
Love…
As mentioned in my earlier submission, the 2nd part of this book talks about the “endangered” character of love that we ought to display as Christ followers.
There is tender love, tough love, sacrificial love and radical love.
Tender and Tough
I remembered that Pastor Jeff preached about what makes a real man on 22 August 2010. It stayed with me because it taught me that a real man must display tender love and tough love at the appropriate time, just as Jesus did in his ministry. I liked that sermon so much that I blogged it so that I can be reminded about it constantly. (http://the-first-garden.blogspot.com/2010/08/lion-and-lamb.html)
In this book, Hybels wrote about the same thing. That it is important, as Christ followers, to display tender love so that we can have compassion and feel for a person/situation. And also to display tough love so that we can be firm and do what is best for a person even though it meant there may be some immediate or short term pain for both parties.
Being someone who is non confrontational, and generally peace loving. I found myself having difficulties all the time in practicing “tough love”, I never really grasp the concept and its importance before. For me, if there is a situation that calls for correction I will avoid it and run away from it. To others, I may seem like a pastoral person because my approach tends to be softer but in actual fact, many times I am just choosing the easy way out to avoid a difficult task.
Sometimes I will ask myself “who am I to correct?”, “am I doing this out of self righteousness?” “by doing this, will I bring further hurt to the person?” after asking myself so many questions I will end up doubting my motives and avoiding to take any actions.
A Truth
During a mentoring session many years ago before I entered into marriage, my then CL spoke into my life. About being a leader in my relationship. In marriage, it is very important that a husband knows how to display both tender and tough love. If not, marriage will suffer.
It makes me understood that in deciding what to do, the key question I need to ask myself is “do I care enough to speak truth into the person’s life, even at the expense of incurring his/her anger?” If I am doing it out of love, God will give me the confidence; the other party will some day realize that I meant no harm and come to appreciate what I did.
Truth telling, is, very often tough love.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
An interview with Michael
Yesterday was our 1st session of YWMJ meeting and we have a special guest Michael. Michael is someone I respected a lot simply because he loves God and walk closely with God and because of that he is a very wise and anointed leader.
Before he started his teaching, he attempted to answer some questions that were directed to him from us. Below are some excerpts (I try my best to be as accurate as possible):
Q: How do you deal with discouragement?
M: Choose to forgive quickly. Make a conscious decision to say these 3 things when I am hurt. 1) I choose to forgive insert person’s name 2) Lord take away the hurt in my heart 3) Lord fill my heart with love.
Secondly do not neglect to refill my tank. My annual retreat with my wife Lean Choo helps to refill my tank
Thirdly Keep Pressing on … But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty… Haggai 2:1-9
The Lord commanded us to be strong… and Work. Even when things are not going too well, we are to keep pressing on and work. Many times by not doing work completely just because we are discourage, we end up worse off.
Ultimately, God knows how to encourage his people.
Q: What is God’s plan for you in 3-5 years down the road? How do you balance your personal dreams with God’s vision for you?
M: If we want to know what is God wants to do with your life, look at your SHAPE.
Whenever God designs something He has a purpose. Sometimes we only focus on the H. Look at SHAPE++ as a whole and merge it such that God’s dream for us is also our personal dream.
Q: What are the challenges working at the church office (e.g. Time, financial etc?)
M: Working in church office, multi tasking is something I need to be good at. Sometimes time is really very stretched. However, what I learnt is that you must still love peole sincerely and genuinely even when things gets busy. If there are really things that are beyond me, I have to acknowledge it. No point taking up everything but ended up with poor quality work. In terms of finance, God is faithful in his provision and Lean Choo is very careful with money, which helps a lot.
Q: What is something God spoke to you during the conference?
M: Go deeper, walk/minister in the spirit.
Before he started his teaching, he attempted to answer some questions that were directed to him from us. Below are some excerpts (I try my best to be as accurate as possible):
Q: How do you deal with discouragement?
M: Choose to forgive quickly. Make a conscious decision to say these 3 things when I am hurt. 1) I choose to forgive insert person’s name 2) Lord take away the hurt in my heart 3) Lord fill my heart with love.
Secondly do not neglect to refill my tank. My annual retreat with my wife Lean Choo helps to refill my tank
Thirdly Keep Pressing on … But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty… Haggai 2:1-9
The Lord commanded us to be strong… and Work. Even when things are not going too well, we are to keep pressing on and work. Many times by not doing work completely just because we are discourage, we end up worse off.
Ultimately, God knows how to encourage his people.
Q: What is God’s plan for you in 3-5 years down the road? How do you balance your personal dreams with God’s vision for you?
M: If we want to know what is God wants to do with your life, look at your SHAPE.
Whenever God designs something He has a purpose. Sometimes we only focus on the H. Look at SHAPE++ as a whole and merge it such that God’s dream for us is also our personal dream.
Q: What are the challenges working at the church office (e.g. Time, financial etc?)
M: Working in church office, multi tasking is something I need to be good at. Sometimes time is really very stretched. However, what I learnt is that you must still love peole sincerely and genuinely even when things gets busy. If there are really things that are beyond me, I have to acknowledge it. No point taking up everything but ended up with poor quality work. In terms of finance, God is faithful in his provision and Lean Choo is very careful with money, which helps a lot.
Q: What is something God spoke to you during the conference?
M: Go deeper, walk/minister in the spirit.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Journal – Your Word My Joy – Part 1
Who You Are When No One’s Looking (WYAWNOL)
For YWMJ, I picked another Bill Hybels book. This is a relatively short book which makes for easy reading.
WYAWNOL started off by focusing on some Characters which have became “Endangered Qualities” meaning we are finding it less and less evident in the lives of the people. Namely, Courage, Discipline, Vision and Endurance. According to Hybels, in order to really love, it is paramount that I possess the necessary 4 characters mentioned.
Quitting Point
Naturally, I have a lot to work on in all the characters mentioned but personally, what was being written on the character of Endurance resonated most with me.
To endure means to push past the “quitting point”
Quitting always seems to be the easier way out and in today’s values system; it seems that quitting is perfectly fine. So, couples quit on their marriage when their relations hit the rocks, workers quit their job as and when they feel like it, ministry leaders gave up when they feel unappreciated and misunderstood and the list goes on.
Personally, I have experienced a lot of quitting points in my life as well. As a LGL, there are times where I think it’s about time to step down or aside (usually during disappointments, sometimes during tiredness and many times during frustrations)
In times of conflicts, there are times I wish to quit being calm or reasonable and just trash things out. However, deep inside I know that God does not want me to quit. He wants me to push through the quitting point and stand for what is right in His eyes. For every problem, there is bound to have a solution God endorses. Rather than quit at convenience, we should find that solution and do what God wants us to do.
Something I came across long time ago…
You Must Not Quit
When things go wrong; as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You might succeed with another blow,
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem the worst that you must not quit.
In essence, this seems to be what it is about, isn’t it?
The next half of the book will focus on the different forms of Love and how I can practice it in my life in a sustainable way.
(* sidetrack - I find many examples mentioned here very familiar and I am sure it appeared in “Honest to God/Courageous Leadership” as well.)
For YWMJ, I picked another Bill Hybels book. This is a relatively short book which makes for easy reading.
WYAWNOL started off by focusing on some Characters which have became “Endangered Qualities” meaning we are finding it less and less evident in the lives of the people. Namely, Courage, Discipline, Vision and Endurance. According to Hybels, in order to really love, it is paramount that I possess the necessary 4 characters mentioned.
Quitting Point
Naturally, I have a lot to work on in all the characters mentioned but personally, what was being written on the character of Endurance resonated most with me.
To endure means to push past the “quitting point”
Quitting always seems to be the easier way out and in today’s values system; it seems that quitting is perfectly fine. So, couples quit on their marriage when their relations hit the rocks, workers quit their job as and when they feel like it, ministry leaders gave up when they feel unappreciated and misunderstood and the list goes on.
Personally, I have experienced a lot of quitting points in my life as well. As a LGL, there are times where I think it’s about time to step down or aside (usually during disappointments, sometimes during tiredness and many times during frustrations)
In times of conflicts, there are times I wish to quit being calm or reasonable and just trash things out. However, deep inside I know that God does not want me to quit. He wants me to push through the quitting point and stand for what is right in His eyes. For every problem, there is bound to have a solution God endorses. Rather than quit at convenience, we should find that solution and do what God wants us to do.
Something I came across long time ago…
You Must Not Quit
When things go wrong; as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You might succeed with another blow,
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem the worst that you must not quit.
In essence, this seems to be what it is about, isn’t it?
The next half of the book will focus on the different forms of Love and how I can practice it in my life in a sustainable way.
(* sidetrack - I find many examples mentioned here very familiar and I am sure it appeared in “Honest to God/Courageous Leadership” as well.)
Friday, 24 June 2011
A Vacation at Tioman Island - Paya Beach Resort
What: Wifey and my birthday celebration
Where: Tioman Island, Paya Beach Resort
When: 21st - 23rd June 2011
What we did:Snorkelling, chit chat, rest & relax, play pool, ate cheap seafood (3 crabs cooked in different style), and lots of Sprite with lime ... Nice all very nice !!!!
June/November is always special for Theresa and myself as we celebrate our birthdays/anniversary, and this year's trip to Tioman Island remind ourselves of how blessed it is to be married to each other and celebrate our birthdays with “the one”!!! How wonderful to reminisce through 3+ years of marriage and to look forward with anticipation to the many more years ahead.
Where: Tioman Island, Paya Beach Resort
When: 21st - 23rd June 2011
What we did:Snorkelling, chit chat, rest & relax, play pool, ate cheap seafood (3 crabs cooked in different style), and lots of Sprite with lime ... Nice all very nice !!!!
June/November is always special for Theresa and myself as we celebrate our birthdays/anniversary, and this year's trip to Tioman Island remind ourselves of how blessed it is to be married to each other and celebrate our birthdays with “the one”!!! How wonderful to reminisce through 3+ years of marriage and to look forward with anticipation to the many more years ahead.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
IPPT 2011
Last Saturday, i went for my IPPT test. Thank God i managed to clear it. Not only that, it was an improvement from the previous few years performance where i can only get $100. This time i got $200 which is rather unexpected and very satisfying. After the test , i met up with Alex to have dinner at Clementi Hawker Centre.
wifey prayed for me before the test ;o)
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