Hello from M'ca!

Hi! Cool...I'm writing from M'ca! Yes and am using the laptop that was with me in Sydney. I guess this is made possible due to by sister who is very into net serving and msn chatting and hence figured out how to get online with this revived laptop!

92.2fm is on the air, it's called light and easy, equivalent to class 95FM in S'pore.

Ok here are some random sharing from my stay here so far:-

- i realised my style of writing (which I sometimes use) or on blog is a style that uses ellipsis a lot

- the new M'sian Idol (second one) is Daniel Lee (wow how time flies...cause i remember seeing the quarterfinals when I was last or last last in M'sia), was quite controversial because he is not the obvious winner, some pundits call his win a fluke! But he is very popular with the gals...and i'm sure his voice is quite good. :)

- the 2006 M'sian budget just came out today! so lots of discussion about it and panel discussions covered by various m'sian tv stations. The budget is called Maintaining Resilence. (And i know a friend is very busy deciphering it :). Yup it will be in the front page of the national newspapers tmr.

- mum has cooked herbal chicken soup for me last night, today...it's chicken curry (for lunch) and bak kut teh (for dinner)...so am enjoying great home cool meals which are so rare for me.

- to my uttermost pleasant surprise, i learned that there will be a part 2 of sepet...coming out early next year....yes! the sequel to sepet! Ironically, it was this time last year that i saw sepet at the cinemas and now i learned one year later that the sequel is coming out! It's called Gubra which means anxiety.....and sequel continues off where sepet ends.....and the cast will be the same! yes! the cute sharifah amani who is now 19 (a number which resonates with me), filmed also in Ipoh as was sepet (Ipoh was where I was borned)......the plot that is given away at the moment is that Orkid marries Arif and bumps into Allan (Jason's brother) and learns more about Jason.....and so the plot thickens....... (i guess we'll just have to wait for next year!)

According to the newspaper write-up....'sepet was a simple teenage inter-racial love story while Gubra is more intricate, and there is more to chew on.'

I also learned that one can catch amani in the movie 'Gol and Gincu' - a movie now screening at Orchard Road Cineleisure (part of the 2nd Malaysian Film Festival in S'pore). So I hope to catch it this monday if it's still on!

- watched desperate housewives for the first time over channel 5 (yes we can receive it in M'ca) last night (12-1am).....was quite good .....interesting....

- tonite my 5th uncle (based in S'pore) returns to M'ca and tmr my 4th uncle (based in KL)returns as well......these 2 uncles of mine are very close to me (more about them....perhaps sometime later)

- dengue problems also plague M'sia....as bad as 600 cases a week....so the government are seriously taking efforts to combat it.

meantime.....with hurricanes plaguing the world, a miss international crowned (from the Philippines), football being played...... (chelsea and liverpool this Sunday), a youngest F1 champion being crowned (from Spain), a 27 year old man married a 42 gal, federrer playing at the thai open, etc etc........one fact remains for certain......Jesus Christ is Lord......who is now seated at the right hand of God......he is the real no. 1.

Catch u later! Gtg shower....most likely see you in S'pore.

ps: some new albums to check out...jack johnson, james blund, il dimo (i think)....

the Psalms

The Psalms....ah the psalms.....well this book......i think the Jews read them at least twice or more times over in a year.....martin luther preached through it at least once a year (which made me wish I could preach through it ....maybe when I pastor my own church :) .....i think this book is perhaps the most quoted OT book in the New Testament. (i mean....like...right now...just turn to any NT book...just see how many times the Psalms are quoted....like for the gospels, acts....wow.....just numerous times.....like in Romans, Hebrews, ...etc. etc)

And the psalm....it's a unique genre isn't it....in there you see so much human emotions being poured out. Take any psalm......there will be anguish, frustrations, fear, praise, thanksgiving etc).

That's why I love to read the Psalms for sometimes I feel like that too. But of course I have to see how it is read in light of the NT.

Certainly points to Christ (see Luke 24) and the obvious Messianic psalms like Psalm 2, 8, 22, 110.

Over the past decade or so, there has been attempts to see how the Psalm is to be read. Read as one unit in totality all 150 psalms....to see the progression of the 5 sections within the 150.

I guess all these helps us to appreciate the Psalm better. But nevertheless, the contents remain the same....... so much can be learnt from the psalms. (read it and you will know why)

So naturally, so many songs come out of the Psalm....

like Psalm 8 - oh lord, my lord how majestic is your name in all the earth
Psalm 19 - the heavens shall declare
Pslam 23 - He makes me lie down in green pastures....a don moen song
Psalm 24 - nicky chiswell's song....the earth is the lord....from the Resurrection album
Psalm 42 - as the deer pants....
Psalm 42 - why so downcast o my soul...put your hope in God
Psalm 47 - clap your hands....
Psalm 48 - Great is the Lord and most worthy to be praised...the city of God...etc
Psalm 52 - a mark peterson song called 'Blessed Father' is based on this psalm
Psalm 84 - better is one day in your courts... Rebecca St James and Deb Fung
Psalm 89 - I will sing of the Lord's great love forever...an EMU song
Psalm 96 - sing unto the Lord a new song (great song!)
Psalm 97 - The lord reigns, the lord reigns, let the earth rejoice....
Psam 100 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving in our hearts...
Psalm 103 - a mark peterson song...praise.....praise the Lord oh my soul....
Psalm 113 - From the rising the sun....
Psalm 134 - Come praise (bless) the Lord..all you servants of the Lord.....
Psalm 137 - by the rivers of babylon....
Psalm 139 - a Deb Fung song...word for word from the bible...great song!
Psalm 150 - let everything that has breath praise the Lord

Wow...this is to just name a few...top of my head....

ok i better go....pack my bags for M'ca and then go to work.

Oh the riches and depth of God's Word....can i encourage all us to just immerse ourselves in God's Word......just immerse...immerse....immerse.....

Psalm 119......just powerful! Let's meditate on His Word day and night. (yup during the reformation and after that....there was morning and evening reading of Scriptures....OT in the morning and NT in the eve...no wonder they were so attuned to God :)

The company we keep

That was the title of tonite's CLOB-Lobs study. But I'm not going to go into that study. Besides the study, the title caused me to think about the company I keep.

Not much these days since most of my peers have moved on. But it got me to remember those times. :)

It was late 1996 I think. I was looking to change church, a new church to settle into. Somehow, I got involved in a tuesday night bible study at ARPC. Little did I know that it was 'magical', it was something God has so blessed me with that on hindsight, now that I think of it....wow! How amazing God works....for prior to that, my world was upside down, in topsy turvy and there was my aspirations to serve God in a fulltime paid capacity.

For at that bible study, there was a large cohort of returnees from Sydney amongst others. And they were doing the book of Mark. My first bible study where I covered a book systematically from cover to cover. It completely blew my mind! It was like scales fell of my eyes, it was truly enlightening, it's like how Martin Luther finally understood that salvation was by grace and not by works when he read Romans or how John Wesley felt the warmth in his heart when he finally understood God's grace working in his life.

Yup, it really warmth my heart and renovated my mind.

Then, of course there was the company. A bunch of single guys whom about 4 were ex-FOCUS (trained under Philip) and 1 from perth (was very well read and exposed to the Reformed teachings) and 1 from UK (trained at St Helens).

Yeah, after bible studies, we would adjourned to Adam Road Hawker Centre and talked and talked and discussed about various theological issues and life. I really learnt a lot from those sessions besides from the bible studies! Wow! That kind of company was for me, once in a lifetime, so since then, I've never come across such an experience. (for at bible college, most of my understanding has already been formed prior to it ....so mostly fine tuning and of course some new learning for sure). Oh how I asked so many questions and yup learnt a great deal!

Yeah, it was a tremendous blessing I must say. One that perhaps can never be reproduced.....can only come from God....the timing.....the provision.....it was magical. :)

It must have been very formative for me and a significant contributer to the shaping of me. A significant turning point.

And that was the period too when I bought and I read and read lots of Christian books, the bible (yup i remember how i read verociously....just couldn't stop reading...chapter after chapter of the Bible), listen to lots of Christian music etc.....yup those were my formative years......the company I kept, yup indeed mattered. And I thank God for providing me with such a company.

Where can one find such a company again......I wonder......

(Then of course there was the PWCF and the Returnees ministry....those were different but fine company too!)
(Then in the mid 90s there was a surge of Christian music from Hosanna Integrity fueled by Don Moen and the gang and the usual suspect of Christian contemporary music like Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant etc etc)

Dad

After weeks of listening to JC and MJ, I thought for a change, I'll listen to some classical music.

Well songs from soundtracks and classical pieces. So like right now.....'For the Love of a Princess (from Braveheart)' is on by James Horner.

Soon, God-willing, I'll be back in M'ca celebrating my dad's b'day with my family.

This Sunday, he turns 60.

My dad......when I think of my dad....i think...starting from my primary to secondary school days....how every weekday morning, he would wake up 5+am to prepare the family's breakfast and packed lunch.

Those mornings, he would prepare, for me....it's 1 mug of milo and 1 half-boil egg and i usually take 1 spoon of cod-liver oil. Then, there's my packed lunch .... usually some sandwich.

When I was in primary school, he would send me to school by his motorbike. How I would sit behind, looking at my surroundings....holding on to him when I was younger.

My dad and I usually don't have as deep a conversation as I would have with my mum.

But there has been some great conversations. One in particular was when we were walking down a beach.....then when he was wondering about the meaning of life....this was the time when my mum had cancer of the colon. Then we talked about God and it was a great conversation.

Then by God's grace, he was saved and then my mum and him attended church..... when my dad was a young Christian, he had a hunger for God's Word, so he bought a life application bible.....then being in a brethen church.....they even asked him to preach....so today he does preach in his church several times a year.

Last easter, he was even involved in their church musical! Anyway, I do pray and hope that he will keep growing in Christ, being steadfast in his faith and persevere in believing and following Christ as his lord and savior.

When I was in uni, I was praying for both my parents salvation almost every day after hearing a speaker saying that if u don't pray for your parent's salvation, then who will?. Now I should be praying for their growth in Christ. Today, I pray as often as i can, for my sister's salvation.

My dad comes from a very poor family....so he would tell me so often about how it was when he was growing up as a child....to instill frugality in me. To a great extend this has been incalcated in me.

My dad is really simple and down to earth....great qualities dad! Till today....he rides on his motorbike around M'ca!

My dad is hardworking......saving monies for both my sister and I.....so that we could study overseas.... he sacrificed a great deal for me......and by God's grace......when he (my earthly father) thought of helpling me have a great education in Australia, God instead gave me a great salvation in Christ. It's amazing how God worked through my parents decision to send me to Down Under to bring me to Christ and now to serve him in the capacity I'm now in!

And then, now this great salvation has come to them. Now, that's an amazing dream come true and I am tremendously grateful to God for that. For no amount of money in the world could exchange for this great gift of life and salvation that has now been extended to my parents! Thank you God! You have been so so kind.

So dad or daddy, on your 60th b'day, I wish you Christ which I thank God for saving you in Christ. I wish you Christ because only in Him, can there be true life, true meaning in life, true everything, my only wish is to see you continually love God and His people, to keep serving Him, to keep hanging on to Him, to keep sharing Him with others, to keep .....just hold on to Him so tightly....never letting Him go, never....no matter what the circumstance....for He is the Lord, the Savior, the Lamb, the gate, the morning star, the redeemer, the Christ, the Messiah, the Judge, the Good shepherd...the alpha and omega, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Vine, the sacrifice, the great high priest, the king, the cornerstone, the Son of Man, the Son of God, ......... (oh the riches of God's Word!).

You get the the idea dad. And also I pray that you will help mum to grow in Christ too. Help her to delight in God's Word (Psalm 119).

I wish you Christ dad on your 60th b'day.

And thanks for all your love and sacrifice all these years!

Good nite!

ps: a great father and son movie is Frequency starring Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel

pss: a great Christian book on fatherhood is 'Fatherhood' by Tony Payne. When I read it....I almost couldn't put it down.

Cinderella Man

I was tempted to write just 3 words about this movie...... a must see!

Probably the best movie I've seen this year.

I think it's the story, the character of James Braddock.

Set in the Great Depression, I was thoroughly touched seeing how the family of Jim coped with the GD. In fact I was touched numerous times. Seeing how Jim related to his wife, his children, his boxing as the GD and his physical condition affected him. (And of course, there is the boxing....the very miraculous story of his boxing life which served like a shining beacon of hope in the GD. And as I watched it, I can't help but think, wow! God must have raised this man for a purpose in that time.)

In all these, Jim stands and shines out as a man of integrity, full of honor, courageous, noble, a true blue family man ......for me....simply one of those 'a few good men' types.

Ah such men, hard to find these days. Of course though he appears to be too good to be true, I'm sure he is also a sinner ...... (yeah...he seems to give up on God given the circumstances he is in).

But his other qualities ironically shine perhaps like the male version of Proverbs 31.

Apart from Jesus Christ, yes such a man inspire me.

Relistening MJ (...about love songs)

I've been relistening to MJ recently. To his Invincible album. It's really cool!

The beat to unbreakable and heartbreaker are infectuos indeed!

Then I realised how many of the songs are about women and love. So we have....the girl is a Heartbreaker, so stay away from her.....then...the girl...she's Invincible...just can't get through to her....then in Break of Dawn, I'm your man girl, can u see and feel it...then oh girl..you're the one...you give me Butterflies and you make me Speechless .....then girl ...You are my life .... please girl....Don't walk away.....then, Whatever happens girl, don't let go of my hand.....

In songs like butterfles, speechless, break of dawn and you are my life......it makes me wonder of love, of expressing love...... is it wrong? Is there room for such expression?

Then, I think of Song of Songs in the Bible, then I understood why God placed such a book in the Bible.

Ah the love between a man and woman, husband and wife....tis beautiful! God ordained it! So let's rejoice and take pleasure in it.

Ok, being single kinda makes it difficult to take pleasure in it....so you marrieds...what are you waiting for?

Enjoy the gift that God has given you. Speak, act and make love to each other....you marrieds! Things that only singles can or ...... maybe not dream of. :)

Only you can sing songs which have lyrics like 'I won't stop 'til break of dawn makin' love' and sing the 'Song of songs'!

Oh how I envy you (although they are hardships in marriage ie 1 Corin 7:28), only you can sing such songs to a REAL person, unashamely and meaningfully.

So sing them and mean them to each other!

Spacing

MJ is in the air. The Emmys ended not long ago. The fan is blowing behind me. I hear drops of water. Not from the rain although it has been raining. It's overcast. I sit, I think, I wonder.

Myriad of things float in and out of my mind. I'm spacing out.

Is she the one?

I guess from the male's perspective, have you wondered 'Is she the one?'

What makes her the one?

Her looks, her legs, her hands, her body?
Her smile, her laughter, her voice?
Her godliness, her love?
Her encouragement, her help?

Is there the one?

MJ

Reflecting on MJ brings a big smile to my face. Here is another old friend of mine. (And it's rather refreshing - away from the 'craziness').

Why am i reflecting on him now? Well it's because recently he has been in the news where he is writing a song called 'From the bottom of my heart' and will be singing it with a bunch of singers to raise funds for the Hurricane Katrina victims, that's why I thought about him.

MJ and I go way back to 1984 when I was 12. I actually got to know him at the grammys. That year he won 8 of those gramophones (i think it's still a record). That year also saw other nominees like Lionel Richie, Sheena Easton, Cindy Lauper, Boy George, The Police etc. His win was not suprising since Thriller sold phenomenonly well (still hold the record of most sales for one record, i think).

Then in 1987, when I was 15, the whole world eagerly awaited Bad, and the music video for Bad was released worldwide on the same day. I can still remember how I waited for that day and when that day came, the video was telecast on national tv, saw it, and thought ok it is interesting. I guess Bad did not 'hit' me but later on the song grew on me.

Nevertheless, the first single released from that album wasn't 'Bad' (the song). It was 'I just can't stop loving you'. I can still remember the day i first heard it on the radio. It was like 'Wow! A great song!' A song he sang with Seidah Garrett. Was just awesome. The first few lines of that song will forever be stuck in my mind! Just simply cool lyrics! And I thought, ok rather interesting that the 1st single released was a ballad, not the usual fast songs he sung. Of course that song debuted i think like no2 or something on the billboard chart and was soon no.1. Then 'Bad' was released. And of course, soon the whole world was singing that song which weird al yankovic did a spoof on it entitled 'Fat'. It's a real attitude song that one ie Bad.

Ok, then I think the next song released was 'The way you make me feel'. Now, when I first saw the music video for that one.... it was mind boggling man! The feel, the clothes, the move, the hair, the dance, the song, the lyrics....wow when one sings that song, one can really feel the adrenaline rush from the moment that song begins.

Then, you have 'man in the mirror'.....wow...all time great song on humanity and caring for the world. Man the lyrics, the way he pronounces the words.... it's a magical song.

Then, what was released was 'Smooth Criminal' which video has reached iconic status - u know the moves and that classic slant move.

Then i think was (ok at this point I forget the order)....but yup there was 'Leave me alone' - great video - a msg to the press...to leave him alone. Cool video. Then Liberian girl...really smooth sound. 'Speed Demon' cool song to sing when driving (ok maybe not). I still remember the music video of this, he danced with an manlike animal. Hmm....was this in a movie he did ....i think was 'Moonwalk'.

Then, Dirty Diana, Just Good Friends, and Another Part of Me. For 'another part of me', the music video was one of his live stadium performances.

Anyway, almost all the songs in Bad hit no.1 or was in top 10. It was an unbelievable achievement and I thank God I was fortunate to grow up as a a teenager when Bad came out. It was simply magical. Because he released the songs periodically, it was like 1 song after 3 months or something like that, so Bad lasted from 1987-1989. A girl I was corresponding with, who was in boarding school in london, actually taped one of his interviews when MJ was in london for his wembley stadium performance and sent it to me. That was nice!

So that saw me through high school in M'ca. Then I went to Melbourne in 1990. ('Met' sheila majid there :), remember?) . Then, in 1991, MJ released Dangerous and of course....the first song released was....u say it....yes! it was black or white....again the music video was released worldwide on the same day. Now after thriller, bad, one would think that that's it for MJ, how can he possibly come up with another mind boggling album. But he did it again with Dangerous!

What a treat! Now when a genius is at work...it's really a gift from God to produce such 'magical' stuff. :) . Oh with dangerous, again, like Bad...all the songs are great....lots of no.1s and top 10 hits! U know, Jam (saw the video?...awesome! with the other MJ), in the closet (with Naomi Campbell), remember the time (with Eddie Murphy), heal the world, who is it, will you be there (in the free willy movie) (also notice the intro...it's taken from a classical piece...beethoven's ?) Keep the faith, gone too soon, dangerous..... the songs again in this album is just simply unique ... u know....from just the intro...you can feel the 'magic' of the song! Now only a genius can come up with something like that....it's like living in the classical era...when there was Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel etc....in this era....it's the likes of Michael Jackson, ? etc

You know, MJ began singing and performing since 5 or 7 years old. And he also writes and of course, dance and produce his albums! Now, to find such talent is extremely rare! And there is his biography - Moonwalk...have a read...rather insightful to his life...but that was written after Bad...so he needs to update his biography...because so many things have happened since then!

So dangerous saw me through University. Then when I came back to S'pore to work - to the big bad world. 'History' came out! Ok this album was not as great as the 2 previous ones but it still had great stuff like 'Scream' (saw the video...with his sister janet...), 'They don't care about us', 'Earth Song', 'You are not alone', 'Childhood'. I guess the sound perhaps is revealing the maturing MJ (he was 37 then in 1995).

Then there was all that jazz about him and marie presley. Followed by some allegations of him sleeping with boys etc.

Then I went to Sydney to study. In 2001, at the end of my first year at college (near exam time), he released Invincible. I still remember walking down King Street, walking briskly and excitedly to buy his album. Hm...ok yeah this album is not as great as Bad or Dangerous but again it still had great stuff like 'You Rock my world', 'Break of Dawn', 'Speechless', 'Unbreakable', 'Don't Walk Away', 'Cry' (remember the video...super cool...people from all over the world holding hands).

Then of course, there was the child mollestation charges...then the whole MJ in court drama unfolded. Then it ended not too long ago.

So MJ, he has been with me since I was 12, at High School there was Bad, at Uni, there was Dangerous, at Work, there was History, at College, there was Invincible. Now back in S'pore for new work (diff from before), what will MJ come up with? Well he's already 47. Not young...so maybe MJ you should write more mellow songs....reflecting on life, ballads perhaps...on love, yeah write about what you see is happening here on earth.

But more importantly, MJ, i pray that you will come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then you can write songs about and for Him. Now that would be really really simply awesomely brilliantly magically cool!

I hope you will be saved before it's too late. Remember your song......Gone Too Soon. Time flies, before you know it, we're gone too.

For now, I await with abated breath for your new song, 'From the Bottom of My Heart'.

From the bottom of my heart, MJ, I wish you Jesus Christ.

Crazy

Wow! It's been a while yeah since I wrote.

Why? It's been crazy. Practically every night I had something on. For weeks now. No wonder I really needed the time out tonight (even though there was something on). To rest, to recuperate, to gain some sanity back. :)

I probably have enough work that will take me all the way to January or maybe forever. :) Oh well, so I need to take care of myself and watch my sanity level. I hope by reading this, readers.... don't panic...just pray for me.

Oh many things have happened since I last wrote. Like:

- the EP retreat: great learning from 2 Corinthians and board games and being with and knowing God's people. It's amazing to see 3 generational levels of God's workers esp the younger generation. It will be interesting to see how God uses them.

- many things have been discussed regarding the 'gathering'.

For the futre, many things needs to be planned and done. God helped. And need to pray, pray, pray.

In all these 'craziness', my soul is at peace with God. (Phil 4:6-7)

Goodnite!

Struck by Jesus' Death

Lately, I've been struck by Jesus' death.

I think it was triggered by preparing for JFN Session 4 on Jesus' death...seeing the significance of Jesus' death in the Lord's Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane. Seeing the prediction of it in Luke 18 and then the events that took place as he hung on the Cross in Luke 23.

Then at our morning office devotions....Hebrews 2 (i think), reading in Jesus becoming man, what his death achieves for us......was just amazing.....as i read it....it seemed like the words of God just seared my mind, imprinting itself on my heart.

Ah Jesus Christ, thank you for the death on the Cross, thank you so much for your death, without it, there is no faith, no hope, no salvation, no Christianity, no nothing.

By your death, you have taken the death and God's wrath that was due to us and destroyed the devil.

With this thankfulness......lingering in my mind, I go to M'sia for the EP retreat.

Strengthened by God

For the past few weeks, I've been having like many consecutive nights of ministry. Like this week it's 5 days in a row! And I've been tired....then I remembered Paul's statement in Philippians....4:13...' I can do everything through him who gives me strength.'

I prayed this. Then, amazingly, I could feel strengthened to do God's work despite the busy schedule. Then, I reflected on Scripture.... how busy Paul was....preaching throughout Asia Minor, how he toiled so much....in Philippians 2:17, he is poured out like a drink offering. In Colossians 1:28, Paul says, 'We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling will all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.'

You know, Paul really pours out his entire life in his service for God plus he worked to maintain himself. Yeah...some of us may think he is a 'superhero' but when one searches the Scriptures....he is enabled to do this work...because ......he does it with God's strength...God's energy..... no wonder though I do feel tired...I am still able to do His work....why?....just like Paul....God enables us to do so. :)

So thankful Lord. So thankful. To experience the strengthening of God is indeed amazing...now that's supernatural.....from God.

ps: subscribe to Christian magazines? Do check out the Briefing and Case....this month's issue for both has so many good articles......so good....that they are certainly must reads :)

also...john chapman is out with a book entitled...a sinners guide to holiness (ah...a topic that resonates deeply with most Christians I would think, me definitely included....I remember spending quite a few weeks in a particular period of my Christian life...reading lots of stuff on 'holiness'. (for a great historical survey on holiness...read J.I Packer's keep in step with the Spirit).

also greg clarke has come out with a vcd on the da vinci code.