Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Happy Birthday to.... My Blog!

Wow! Just realized my blog is already 1 yr old - with a total of 61 posts, featured in 3 different blog skins... not bad siah?! heeheehee!

The record month with the highest no. of posts was Dec 2004 - a total of 12 posts in a month. Ok, i know some will find this figure PEANUT compared to theirs but for a starter, give me some credit lah... Anyway, it's not hard to imagine there were so much to write about during that chapter of my life.

My 2nd blog skin (guy with the guitar) had barely last for a month because some don't know how to navigate themselves around the blog & naturally, the visitor count has dropped from the already pathetic low. Besides, it seems a bit gloomy & lost it's appeal... Therefore, the birth of my 3 blog skin - white based, projects a refreshing look! Hopefully, this will attract more to visit... haha!

OK! Enough of crap!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Interview with 3notes

...features a brief magazine interview with 3notes...

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: it's been almost 2 months since your return from australia, how do you feel now that you are back?
3notes: it's always good to be back where the familiarity is - among family & friends whom i missed during my 6 months overseas, although i've not regretted the decision to go away for this on-job training program. in fact, having to return to a hot & humid Singapore is the only downside...

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: so, what have you been up do?
3notes: everything seems to fall back into routine... apart from the 5days work, mondays & wednesdays = nights at home; tuesdays night = dinner @ my "2nd home" + movie night / meeting up with friends; thurdays night = bible study + supper with friends; fridays night = home / out with friends; saturdays = free & easy day, open for whoever ask me out - shopping, movie, makan, anything! sundays = church & family...

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: what is one thing you have learned during the 6 months in Australia?
3notes: i suppose being away from home has taught me to cherish the relationship i have with my family. when i was alone in Australia, there were times i felt distanced away from friends, even those close to me. during those times, it was my parents & brother who have made me feel really cared for... in the past, i would always place friendship above kinship but through this (6 months away) experience, i have made the swop.

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: what do you miss?
3notes: the company of my friends. since my return, i've been meeting up with friends for fellowship over lunch/dinner/supper & through outings. i learn not to take them for granted because when i was away & alone, they are the ones i wish were with me...

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: is it true that you will be going back to Melbourne? when would that be? how long will you be there?
3notes: when i came back from Australia i was told that i'll be going back to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games project for the period Nov 2005 - Jun 2006 but today, i'm not so sure any more... the decision lies mainly with my CEO. he is so busy with his business traveling, i'm waiting for him to confirm what's my next project, where & when is it, etc... and i don't exactly like the way things are now - the waiting in anticipation for direction is just annoying! people have been asking me & i have nothing to tell them because i don't even know myself... sigh!

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: how are you coping with this?
3notes: i've to learn not to be anxious about such things, learn that he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom i trust. (Ps 91:1-2). i know God has great plans for me - if it's not Melbourne & Commonwealth Games, it will be somewhere & some project far better! i claim for His best for me because i am greatly blessed, highly favoured and deeply loved through the finished work that Jesus has done on the cross. Amen!

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: what are you doing during this interim period?
3notes: apart from handling some work related to sports events, helping a colleague from another dept with his project, checking on email, wrote 3 articles for the press release, most of the time i'm quite "eng" in the office... too slack until i feel tired just waiting for time to pass... well, i'm not complaining but thankful that i'm paid a good salary to "chou bo" (do nothing) in office. haha!

Peoplewannaknow Magazine: since you are so free, why are you not updating your blog?
3notes: two words - plain lazy!

Thursday, August 04, 2005

WWJD - The New Definition

Everyone knows the most popular abbreviation - WWJD (What would Jesus do?), but how many really know how this all came about? Well, i'm "eng" enough to search the internet & here's the answer:

(quote) "What Would Jesus Do?" all started with a youth group from the Calvary Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan. As members of "Generation X," they wanted to influence their community for Christ. Inspired by the 1896 Charles Sheldon Book, "In His Steps" (which asked the same query), these youths were moved to apply this question to the daily choices that they all faced. As a tangible reminder, they had simple cloth bracelets made that used the abbreviation, WWJD. The bracelets caught the attention of friends, classmates, parents, and town's people. Soon, almost everyone was wearing one of these bracelets. As their popularity grew, the bracelets were mass-marketed, causing the retail revolution that we see today. (unquote)

So, now you know! While many of us use this phrase as a reminder to act in a manner which WE THINK Jesus would response to every given circumstance, but there were things that Jesus did which we would not even consider as an option to do...

For example, if we enter a church and see people selling pirated VCDs instead of worshipping God, and we ask ourselves WWJD? What would our choice as a correct course of action be? Perhaps we think Jesus would give a long sermon & lecture them but surely Jesus will not be angry... Hey, guess what? Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves in the temple area (Luke 21:12-13)!

Or say we come across a blind man on the street, and we ask WWJD? Who would have thought that Jesus would spat on the blind man's eyes to restore his sight (Mark 8:22-24)??

The thing is, if we ask WWJD? in our situation, we are only setting a boundary to what Jesus can do with our limited human understanding. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My (God's) ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:9). It would be us doing things by our own efforts, really...

So why not change "What would Jesus Do" to "Watch What Jesus Does"? In other words, we rest in Jesus as He does the work (hey! who would know better what to do then God Himself?) and we rejoice in Him!