I'm A Christian

A poem by May Angelou. :)

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong...
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on...

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say.... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou (you),
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

I'm A Mint!

I'm coming back. Slowly but surely. ;)

You Are Mint

You are a honest person with a strong personality. Your frank point of view is refreshing. You've been quite lucky in your life, though you have made more of your own luck than you realize. You are engaging and disarming. You definitely have the "gift of gab!" You live an edgy, dynamic life. Sometimes you get a little burned, but you always bounce back.

What Herb Are You?

Inspirational

This morning, a colleague forwarded us a link to this video that truly inspired me. Jason McElwain is the source of this inspiration, and I just want to share it with you. :)



I love to follow stories like these, so I clicked link...


after link. ;) This video gets a bit emo though~


On my way to work this morning, I was reading my National Geographic and came across this quote:

Time, our most precious currency, is the most valuable thing we humans can spend.

Jason McElwain spent his on training, managing, and being enthusiastic. Most recently, being totally inspirational.

What might you be doing with yours? :)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Just a few days ago I just celebrated my 25th birthday, and then was facing my project's deadline, Saturday was helping out my parents, and today's Chinese New Year Eve and it'll be gone in a few more minutes!

Before I let anymore time slip by (and totally lose the opportunity or enthusiasm to blog about it), here's wishing everyone, again, a happy 牛 year! :D

Since it's the year of the ox, may everyone be charging forward towards their goals, and may success and prosperity fill your days! Here's handing you a gold nugget (virtually)~

HUAT AH! :D

Lord Reign In Me

HAHA! Didn't expect our church's worship video to land in youtube! Wonder if there's any copyright infringement, but oh well, I'm enjoying this song so much. :P

This worship service was on New Year's Eve, our Watchnight Service counting down to 2009. Try to spot me in the video! ;)

2009 Resolutions

The thing about how each year unfolds itself is how it is so unfathomable that it seems pointless to make any new year resolutions. Take last year for example; I set myself out with a list of things that I barely completed by the countdown last month.

And now, before I know it, it's already officially the 4th week to the new year, and I'm left with less than 50 weeks (48 to be exact) to carry out my resolutions. However, if I am to stop short and not have any new year resolutions, I fear that another year might just slip by again with nothing to account for at the end.

Hmm.. Ok shall stop my long winded introduction (read: lamentations) and start penning down what I originally wanted to do since weeks ago. :D

***

#1 Sleep latest by 11pm daily
Over the last year, I find that late nights were really detrimental for me. No matter if the cause is TV, surfing online, gaming, or work, sleeping late is just bad. That's why this is my top resolution this year, and I'm proud to say that till today, I'm keeping it! At least roughly~ :P

#2 Get to work on time
This resolution has a small clause, which is "even if late, don't be too late". *loL~* Due to my previous job nature, I was accustomed to flexible working hours. I carried that habit to my current work and for the past year, I think the number of times I reach work on time can be counted by the fingers of one hand. I'm happy to say that I've kept this resolution intact till today too! :D

#3 Spiritual Growth
Read the following books for my spiritual growth this year (apart from the Bible of course) :)


#4 Exploration in my career
Self study the following for my career (will definitely spill into the following years). I won't be elaborating what they are or my decision to study them. If you want to know, just chat me up. Think not many people who read my blog are really interested in these dry topics. REALLY. *loL~*

• php
• jQuery
• dojo
• Adobe Flex
• Adobe AIR
• Design patterns
• Technical mathematics
• Game programming
• Artificial intelligence

#5 IPPT
I dint exactly get a chance to blog about it, but I got silver for my IPPT last year. Shall blog about it in another entry, but the resolution for this year, is that I'm aiming for GOLD. ;)

#6 Spend less time on games
Spent so much time on casual games last year that I really under perform in many areas of my life. I'm just going to spend at most *2 hours per week* and I shall stick to it.

#7 Blog more on all my blogs
Blogging is good. That is why people blog. To pen down their thoughts, to leave a mark in history, so that they can look back. I need to spend more time to pen my thoughts down. It makes reflection for the year a lot easier too. :)

#8 Japanese studies
Planning to make a trip down to Hokkaido this year with my bestie. Really want to brush up my Jap again before I head there. Shall see how aye?

#9 Build an application with Adobe AIR
Again, techy stuff. Just thought of building some applications that you and I can all get to use. Just have to pen down again what I should build. Anyhow, gotta start somewhere.

#10 Start using more social network services
Rarely will I upload photographs online because I'm not really an online social networking person. But since last month, spending time on facebook, commenting on friends' photos and stuff have really made me realised that a lot more things are more fun when it's social. At last, I will only do all those things if I have time left from what you see above. haha..

#11 Learn guitar
Been a resolution for a couple of years now, but still no time for it. Shall still put it here and see what turns out for this year. :P

***

As I reflect on this list, I think I'll be just contented to complete till Resolution #6. The rest I will leave it to their initiation in God's time. *loL~*

Happy New Year 2009!

Nearly a week had passed by and I've finally finished the biggest thing I set out to do back in December: To clear my room. It was such a *monumental* task that it took me the whole month! It saw me throwing, cleaning, recycling and packing of all the papers, clothes, toys, bags and furniture. Simply madness stuff~

I purposed in my heart that till I finish clearing my room, I will not blog. Not at my geek blog, not at my Christian walk blog, not at my cell's blog, nowhere. And so I did, at least I try to.

There was a single exception when God called me to blog for a brother facing family issues. If it interests you, you can read my entry here and my brother Ezekiel's reply here. :)

So now that you have read this blog post, it only implies one thing. I'm happy to announce that I have a proper study area for the year 2009, a very clean room, and I hope I will not mess it up anytime soon. :P

In my next post, I will be penning down my new year's resolutions. I can't write it down now because it's past 11pm, and one of my new year's resolutions is to actually sleep by 11pm. :D

Till the next post then!

And You Think Singapore Is Bad?

Did anybody want to alight? *loL~*

Korean Boy Singing "Touch My Body"

haha.. I don't exactly know what to say. *loL~*

Pretty funny stuff. :D

(Because the youtube logo blocks some funny subtitles, I would recommend you go watch the video on the youtube page itself.)

Bruce Lee Plays Ping Pong

Awesome stuff! :D

Jesus, Lover Of My Soul

While I was rummaging through my MSN received files, I came across the lyric to this song called "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul". I could only vaguely remember who sent it to me, but I should be correct in my guess. :)

Anyway, that's not important. :D Here's the lyric to the song, and may God's blessings be showered upon open hearts! Amen!

Jesus, Lover of my soul
Jesus, I will never let You go
You've taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the Rock
and now I know

I love You, I need You
Though my world may fall
I'll never let You go
My Saviour, my closest Friend
I will worship You until the very end

Let's Clean Things Up

Not that I'm spacing my day out, but I'm not getting much things done either. Too many things were crying out for attention in my mind that I just have to pour them out to my to-do lists. These in turn, requires clearing up too, but at the very least, they are no longer mind-bugging me for now. :S

It's amazing how much rubbish one can accumulate if there's no habitual clean ups. I used to have the constant self reminding discipline to clean things up but as some areas of my life, like work or my responsibilities, got busier, other areas suffered.

There's no secret now aye? My room *IS IN A MESS*. Neglected for too long, but I've been lazy for even longer. And guess what? Time flew so fast that the year is already drawing to an end. With no intention to spend my December holidays in that mess hole of mine, the decision was made.

Unbearable, I started clearing last night. Plowed through stacks of insurance papers, advertisements, newspapers, invoices, taxes, receipts, bills, snail mail spams, magazines, books, blah~ Lying on the floor were paper bags, collected either from events that I had attended or remnants after retail therapy. MY GOSH!

2 weeks is my deadline, and I planned to work on the serious load of crap everyday. There's no wonder that there's no photo to show you the embarrassing state of my room, *loL~*, but then again, I don't think I'll ever post any photos of my room _anyway_. :P

Increasing Responsibilities

I'm feeling pretty awesome today. It could be the fact that it had been a joyous weekend spent in church being with my Father and siblings-in-Christ, could also be the nap that I stole in the afternoon, or could just be the worship songs that I'm listening to now. :)

Anyway, I wanted to write this post about two weeks ago, on Oct 31, but I just got too busy. The reason for this post is let you get a little into my life and understand "why am I always so busy?" *loL~*

If you check out over at my resume at linkedin.com, it should give you a small hint.

Obviously at the moment, I'm working full-time at my current job, five days a week. Come every weekend, I have committed my time to serve in the choir of my church. This of course is nothing new. :)

For the past year till now, I am also in the committee of the Singapore Flex Usergroup, which is a local technology focused group on Adobe Flex. We are not just a technology focused group though; we just organised the first ActionScript conference in Singapore, called The ActionScript Conference (TAC). It was a really good experience to be involved in organising the conference in Singapore, with all the event planning and stuff. :)

The reason why I wanted to write this post in October is because in the last month, I have *three* new responsibilities now.

When Frank, the product manager of FDT came down to TAC, we hit right off. Since I was very enthusiastic about their product, we had a great chat over it, but I never thought that would land me as FDT's Official Technology Evangelist! You can see the official announcement at their blog.

Ryan from the Singapore Flash Usergroup, which is another technology focused group except that it's on Adobe Flash, contacted me last month as well. He asked if I was interested to be the usergroup's co-manager! It was awesome if you ask me, because I've been messing with Flash since 5 years ago and am ever passionate about the entire flash eco-system. Naturally, I said "yes". :)

My final new responsibility is the one which I felt was a high calling from God. My cell group leaders mentioned to me last month about roping me in to co-lead our cell group. I felt inadequate at first, but thought it should not be my will that is to be done, but God's. You can read my entire post over at my cell group's blog.

Other than this blog, I still maintain other blogs like my walk with God at flashmechchristianwalk.blogspot.com, my tech blog at blog.flashmech.net, and lastly my cell group's blog at infaithwithlove.blogspot.com.

That's a whole lot of new stuff in my life, but I am encouraged daily with this verse from my Father's love letter to me, which you can also see at the masthead too.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So yeah! That pretty much wraps up my 24th year on earth at the current junction. Just want to thank God for these opportunities and for fueling my passion in all these things. Praise God! :D

Satan Caused The Economy Downturn

This is nothing short of a comedy, but don't get me wrong. They are still facts, just presented in a comedy style. *loL~*

Balance

Ah.. The art of life some might say. Sometimes wouldn't you just wish that your life is more balanced? Probably there's too much work, too much stress, too free, whatever. loL~

Anyway, I was amazed with what I saw in the video (below). In balance. It's hard to believe what you see, but there's no trick involved, just skill. After watching it, I find that it relates to life in a certain sense.

Many times things are very hard to balance, and if a sudden wave comes across your path, what you have been trying to balance might just crumble before your very eyes. However, don't let a setback keep you there. Pick up the pieces, persevere and start setting things right again.

When you make the effort to keep in balance, it will begin to mold your character, allowing you to stand strong in all circumstances, and start showing its quality in your everyday life. :)

You Have Our Attention, Lord

A prayer by Max Lucado - October 2008

Our friends lost their house
The co-worker lost her job
The couple next door lost their retirement
It seems that everyone is losing their footing

This scares us. This bailout with billions.
These rumblings of depression.
These headlines: ominous, thunderous -
"Going Broke!" "Going Down!" "Going Under!" "What's Next?"

What is next?

We're listening. And we're admitting: You were right.

You told us this would happen.
You shot straight about loving stuff and worshiping money.
Greed will break your heart, You warned.
Money will love you and leave you.
Don't put your hope in riches that are so uncertain.

You were right. Money is a fickle lover and we just got dumped.

We were wrong to spend what we didn't have.
Wrong to neglect prayer and ignore the poor.
Wrong to think we ever earned a dime. We didn't. You gave it.
And now, tell us Father, are You taking it?

We're listening. And we're praying.
Could you make something good out of this mess?

Of course You can. You always have.
You led slaves out of slavery,
Built temples out of ruins,
Turned stormy waves into a glassy pond and water into sweet wine.
This disorder awaits your order. So do we.

Through Christ,
Amen

Luke 18:7 NCV
God will always give what is right to His people who cry to Him night and day, and He will not be slow to answer them.

(via GodTube's newsletter)

Mom's Home!

There are still many things that I wish I got the time to pen down, but I should write about this one before anything else. :)

Yesterday was a happy day, because mom is finally discharged from hospital after 10 hospitalised days. Officially, she had been sick for 12 days. Here's the story.

Back when I first blogged about her admittance into hospital, the doctor initially suspected it to be a case of dengue fever. The symptoms that showed, including the blood test, apparently pointed the doctors to that suspicion. That night after she was warded, the doctor did a body checkup for her and another possible case was brought up: Urinary Tract Infection.

As the initial days went by, I was still worried because mom's appetite was not showing signs of betterment. Her status written on the board above her bed was "CRIB", which meant "Critically Rest In Bed". Then on Tuesday morning, she had a high fever of 39.7°C and the nurses needed to sponge her to bring her temperature down. From mom's account, the nurses even had to change water because the water became warm. :S

It was getting clear to the doctors by that time that it was neither a case of dengue fever nor urinary tract infection, but was organ inflammation. It was the left kidney, to be specific. Stones jammed up the tract and mom wasn't able to expel the fluid, and that was the primary cause of the condition. With that, Wednesday became the most worrisome day, as a possible operation was mentioned.

Describing the operation made me cringe. It involves injecting a tiny tube into her kidney to allow the fluid to flow out, in order that the swelling might go down. Loss of blood was anticipated and the doctors had to draw her blood again to test for compatibility, just in case.

The following day was utter relief as the doctors said that there was no need for the operation. I was so happy to the point of smiling cheek to cheek. Mom's health began getting back on track, and I was looking forward to her coming home soon.

TADA! Yesterday she was finally home! :D

Now, that's just one part of the story. Here is the other. :)

God once again, showed His love, healing powers, mercy and abundant grace. Throughout this entire ordeal, God's healing for my mom was apparent and I just couldn't give enough thanks to Him that mom did not have to go through the operation.

In my times of weaknesses, His strength held me up to allow me to fight on in keeping my job's deadline, while allowing me to still visit mom in the hospital. I was tempted to worry, but He showed and provided me comfort, assuring that my mom was being well taken care of by Him.

The reason? Because mom means more to God than to me. :)

God works for all good. I had never dared to share my faith openly in the family because of one reason; they did not force their belief on me, so I shouldn't too. However, during this time of distress when I saw everyone worrying, I was greatly encouraged by the Holy Spirit to share more about Jesus Christ our Savior to my family.

I may never know how much they receive into their hearts, but I'm assured the seeds are sown. The time for the seeds to grow is entirely in God's timetable, not mine.

God's love is so vast that we can never comprehend. His compassion is so deep that transcends all understanding. I will continue to pray that one day my family may all bask in the light of His everlasting love.

Romans 8:35,37-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To my dearest siblings-in-Christ and friends, I thank all of you for your love for me and my family. You who prayed relentlessly over the days, you who interceded for us with God against the diseases, you who gave words of comfort and assurance, you who encouraged and provided strength through His Word, thank you. :)

STOP!

Don't mind me. A self reminder.

A Lesson From Naruto

If you know the background story of why Naruto is trying so hard to improve his skills to find Sasuke, you'll probably be able to appreciate this quote better.

Anyhow, I never expected myself to be inspired by a quote from an anime. loL~ It just happened, and it's my pleasure to share it with you.

(The "I" in context, is Naruto, and the "you" is of course, Sasuke.)

If I keep walking without ever stopping, I'll make it to you!

That's perseverance man! It sort of relates to anything that you are pursuing in life. Of course, I'm not saying that you should disregard God's wisdom in pursuing whatever those things might be. For if it's not the will of God, the door will never be open in the first place.

Revelation 3:7
What he opens, no one can close;
and what he closes, no one can open.

However, if God has prompted you in more ways than one, keep faith in Him!

Whatever it is, keep doing. However hard it is, keep walking! God never promises a smooth sailing life with no hardships, but He did promise that He _will be with you_ every step of the way.

Be encouraged in His love! :)

Blogging From Hospital

I'm now in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Accident and Emergency department. Accompanied my mom here because she has been sick for three days (since Thursday) and is yet well.

Initially, it seems to be a case of food poisoning, which included symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, dint exactly go away after a visit to the family doctor. She still isn't able to eat; if she does, she'll vomit. Her stomach is still feeling the pain, and the pain seems to be crawling upwards to her ribs (which I really don't understand why). Her giddiness is also the part that really worries the family; she can't walk as a result.

Not sure why but this episode seems to be a déjà vu case from last year. :|

For my end, I'm going to miss (both meanings if you know what I mean) practice and serving today at church, but mom's health is definitely a higher call for concern at present.

She's still in the observation ward at the moment, so I'm just waiting for them to call me in. Should I have the time later, I'll update again. If God permits, I may even go back and serve this evening and/or tomorrow morning. :)

To all readers (and lighters), please kindly help to pray for my mom that she'll have a speedy recovery. With God's faith, our prayers can move mountains. Amen. :)

Romans 8:31 (NLT)
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?