juz clear up the mess that jeff made!!!!!urgh!!!! that dog arh. . .reali wana KILL HIM!!!!

anyway won't be blogging for a time being. . .

-*taking break from my problems*- 

*yawn* very tired man . .. guess i will go n ZzZzZz. . .hahaha!

*yawns* feeling very sleepy now. . . .later at 5pm got theory test! *urgh* hopefully i can pass with flying colours. . . . only can have less than 6 wrongs. . . .haha!help!my eyelids are so heavy now!!! 

anyway have an enjoyable time with hannah juz now! realise that i reali can learnt alot from her! juz create a new mail! wahahahhaha!!!

hehe. . .got alot of things to say but unable to express it out here. . . haha!

wana go back n find my first love. . .

who held my hand whenever i am feeling so lost. . .

who kissed me on my cheek just before i go n sleep. . .

who held me so tightly to Himself to let me know that He loves me. . .

who helped me to my feet when i fall down. . .

who protected me when i am facing danger. . .

who sang songs for me to calm me down. . .

who picked up the phone whenever i call Him. . .

who tolerated all my rubbish whenever i vent my anger on Him. . .

who gave me a surprise when i am losing all hope. . .

thru it all. . .He who bleed to death on the cross just to acknowledge me as His child. . .

just tell me,where can i go n find someone else like you. . .

*Never Let Go* by Josh Groban

I can't understand it
The search for an answer is met with a darker day
And we've been handed these moments forever
But I'm reassured there's another way
 
You don't have to close your eyes
There is room for love again
Ease the pain to realize all that love can be
Forced apart by time and sand
Take a step and take my hand
 
And don't let it go Never let go
Broken, once connected
We were so strong and so blessed in a simple way
So don't let me go it alone
 
Turn your head up to the sky
Nothing down below but me
Face the truth to realize all that we could be
Torn apart by rage and fear
Hold on to what brought you here
 
Don't let it go Never let go. . . . .  

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i pass my CPR test!!!!!!!! hahaha!!!! this time group 19 broke the record of having many passes!!! hahahha!!!!! this class rocks man!!! thank God he put me in a wonderful class!!!! well, this time i reali wana thank this my assesser! he is Mr Tan! i think if God didn't bless me to have him as my assesser i would have failed! thanks alot Mr Tan!!!!actuali during the test alot of funi things happen man!!! when i was giving the 2 blows or rescue breath, "theew" was the result! understand by it? you knw the sound that's produce when you blow on grass? yesh it was that sound! so embarassing! coz i did around 6 times? n each time i blow, "theew, theew" was the result! from being nervous to pag chek!!!! urgh!!!!!! but of coz i was trying to control my laughter as well!!! wahahhahaha!!!!but reali by grace i was able to pass!!!

God is reali a wonderful God. .guess only God n I will knw that reason y i am mentioning this. . hehe~thanks alot God!!

from yesterday till today have been listening to Josh Groban's songs! i am so in luv with his voice man!if i am not wrong he is the 1st guy that i fall in luv with (only his voice). . . it's like his throat is been kiss by God! waa. . . .doo loo doo. . . .

hehe. . things have became better for me this week. .reali learnt not to be so uptight as there's always a way out for everything as wat God promise!!

enjoy this lyrics man. .

When You Say You Love Me  by Josh Groban

Like the sound of silence calling,
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breath.
 
When you say you love me,
The world goes still, so still and silent.
When you say you love me,
For a moment, there's no one else alive.
 
You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth ,
And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.
 
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still and silent.
When you say you love me
For a moment there's no one else alive.
 
[bridge:]
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me,
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.
 
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still and silent.
When you say you love me
In that moment I know why I'm alive.
 
When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?

Thinking like a servant
(From The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren)

Service starts in your mind.

God is more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements. King Amaziah lost God's favor because " he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart." Real Servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes.

Think more about others than about themselves
This is true humility: not thinking less or ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. (Not low self-esteem; but less concern of our own needs/wants, whether they are being met. And being aware of the needs around us). Paul said. "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." This is what it means to "lose your life".

Jesus "emptied himself by taking the form of a servant." When is the last time that you emptied yourself for someone else's benefit? You can't be a servant if you are full of yourself (self-denial).

Unfortunately, we serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals. That is manipulation, not ministry. The whole time we're really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are. Some people try to use service as a bargaining tool with God: I'll do this for you God, if you'll do something for me." Real servants don't try to use God for their purpose.  They let God use them for His purposes.  The quality of self-forgetfulness (forget about own self) like faithfulness is extremely rare.

It is difficult as it challenges the basic problem of life: I am, by nature selfish. I think most about me.  That's why humility is a daily struggle, a lesson that must be relearn over and over. You have the choice to meet the meets of yourself or others.

We can measure our heart by your responds when you're taken for granted, bossed around, treated as an inferior.

 
Think like stewards, not owners

They remember that God owns it all.  Servanthood and stewardship go together, God expects us to be trustworthy in both. The bible says, The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master," How are you handling the resources God has entrusted to you? All your time belongs to God.  He insists on exclusive allegiance, not part-time faithfulness.

Money has the greatest potential to replace God in you life. God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant. How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life.

 

Think about their work, not what others are doing
 
They don't compare, criticize or compete with other servants or ministries.
Real servants don't complain of unfairness, don't have pity-parties and don't resent those not serving. They just trust God and keep serving.

Follow the example of Moses, who showed true humility in the face of opposition.  Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say and whether your service is being recognized. Affirmation is a bonus.

 
Base their identity in Christ
 
Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. The more insecure you are, the more you want people to serve you and need their approval.
Paul said, "You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval." The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.

 
Think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation
 
They enjoy helping people, meeting needs and doing ministry. They "serve the Lord with gladness." Why? Because they love the Lord, they're grateful for his grace, know serving is the highest use of life and know God has promised a reward. Jesus promised, "The Father will honor and rewards anyone who serves me." Paul said, "He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians."

It doesn't matter what your age, God will use you will begin to act and think like a servant. The only really happy people are those who have learned now to serve.]

 
Point to ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant
 
Verse to remember: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus                                     Phil 2:5
                                    Phil 4:8
Question to Consider: Am I more concerned about being served or finding ways                                    to serve others?

"Portrait of a Friend"

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.
--Unknown

Commitment is The Key
By Dr John C. Maxwell

Back in the middle 70s, I reached a major decision-making period in my life. I was facing choices that would determine the course of my life and the effectiveness of my ministry. For over a year during that period I carried in my pocket a card, which I pulled out and read time and time again. After making my decision, I would waiver—and then reach for my card. I’ve read it hundreds of times. Because commitment is the key to success, I want to begin this chapter with the words that helped me in this area:

Until I am committed, there is a hesitancy, a chance to raw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also, and a whole stream of events erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons, and material assistance which I could never have dreamed would come my way begin to flow toward me—the mo­ment I make a commitment.

The greatest days of your life are the days when you sense your commitment to its highest degree. Your greatest days are not your days of leisure. Your greatest days are not even times when you have your closest friends around you. When something has seized you and caused you to have a high level of commitment to it, those are your greatest days. They may he your days of struggle, they may be your days of suffering, and they maybe the days of your greatest battles in life, but they will be your greatest days.

If I could choose only one word to describe what it’s like to be committed. I think I would choose the word alone. If you become a person who is deeply committed to a cause, the world won’t understand you; you will be alone. It’s human to stand with the crowd; it’s divine to stand alone. It’s manlike to follow the people, to drift with the tide it’s godlike to follow principles, to stem the tide. It’s natural to compromise conscience and follow social and religious fash­ions for the sake of gain and pleasure; it’s divine to sacrifice fashions on the altar of truth and beauty. “No one supported me, but all deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:16). Those were the words of the battle-scarred Apostle Paul in describing his first appearance before Nero to answer for his life. Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves. Think about it for a moment.

Noah built the ark and voyaged alone except for his family. Abraham wandered and worshiped alone. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone. On His lonely way Jesus said to His disciples, “For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matt. 7:14).

Margaret and the kids and I went to the East Coast for a vacation last year. It was kind of a founding-and-forming-of­ our-country vacation. It struck me that every historical site we visited was a monument to somebody’s commitment in life. We went to New York City and saw the Statue of Liberty. There on Ellis Island stands the lady with her torch, the first thing so many immigrants saw in our country. I listened to the guide talk about some of the things that happened to the immigrants when they landed at Ellis Island. They had such great hopes for life in America, yet they couldn’t speak the language and didn’t have a friend in the country. Sometimes they were detained on the small island for weeks or months; some died there. But many got to New York City and worked hard to carve out a place for themselves in this free society. That’s commitment.

Then we got on a train for Philadelphia, a city rich in American history. As we sat in Constitution Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, I realized the com­mitment level of our nation’s founders. By signing their names to this document, these wealthy men were risking their lives and all they possessed. We also visited the graves of many of the signers, many of whom died penniless.

We went to Williamsburg, Virginia, where Patrick Henry began his leadership. He was the first American governor there, the man who said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Two of the most impressive monuments we saw in Wash­ington, D.C., the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, were built to honor the presidents who had the greatest struggles. One had the struggle of forming the na­tion, and the other had the struggle of keeping the nation. These are all monuments to commitment.

The World’s Reactions to Commitment

In Scripture God gives us many great examples of committed men and women, with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego among them. King N4uchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon, has taken Israel captive and selected some of the promising young Hebrew men to be trained to serve in his court. Of course, the one known best is Daniel, but we’re going to look especially at his three friends.

Nebuchadnezzar built a golden idol and instructed his people that at the sound of the music they were to bow down and worship this idol. It seemed that everybody was cooperating, but then some Chaldeans came to the king with an upsetting report: “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Baby­lon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men. O king. have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up” (Dan. 3:12). The world reacts in several ways to people who are committed. The first response is brought out in this verse: the world takes notice of our commitment. These three guys really stood out.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king” (Dan. 3:13). The second thing that happens is this: the world will be annoyed by our commitment. Nebuchadnezzar was downright mad; he flew into a rage. He couldn’t handle somebody who didn’t think the way he thought, believe the way he believed, or walk the way he walked.

“Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, ‘Is it true. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?’ “(Dan. 3:14) This verse brings out the next reaction: the world will question our commitment.

Nebuchadnezzar had to double-check; he couldn’t believe these guys had such strong backbones.

Nebuchadnezzar then said he would give them another chance to bow down to the image. “But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (Dan. 3:15) The fourth reaction is this: the world will test your commitment.

As those three Jews stood there that day, I imagine several thoughts went through their heads. They probably asked themselves questions like, Can God deliver us? What would it hurt if we bowed down just one time? I’ve often thought that would have been a convenient time for them to tie their shoelaces, so they could bow down; not to worship the idol, of course, just to tie their shoes.

When we come to the crossroad of our commitment the strength of our commitment has to prove itself. The choice will not be easy, because it’s all or nothing. Our security, our identity, and our popularity may be at stake. It will not be a decision we can make lightly.

Characteristics of the Crossroad
 
When I’m at a crossroad of commitment in my life, a person­al decision must be made. Other people may care; they may pray; they may offer advice; but the decision will be mine alone. I’m the one who will have to live with it and answer for it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego stood together, but each had to make his own decision, his own commitment.

A second characteristic of a crossroad commitment is that the decision will always cost something. There is no such thing as a free commitment. In this situation commitment could have cost the Hebrews their lives. Your commitment may not be quite that expensive, but it will cost you some­thing. It may cost you a friendship. It may cost you a few points in the popularity poll. But if it were free, it would also he worthless. Count on its costing.

A third thing I find at the crossroad is that others will he influenced by it. We never make a major decision at a crossroad without affecting other people. We may make the decision alone, and we may walk the commitment alone, but we never make an important commitment that does not affect other people. It’s like the rippling effect when a stone is thrown into a pond. The whole pond is affected.

Fourth, it’s the place where God reveals Himself to us. Note that Nebuchadnezzar asked the men, “What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Even the world realizes that our commitments are valid only because God intervenes.

A Right Concept of God

Our concept of God in crisis situations will determine our commitment. If we think God will fail us, flee, or he fickle, we 11 never make strong commitments. We would he foolish to commit ourselves to someone who is irresponsible. But if our concept of God tells us He’s sure, steadfast,
true, and faithful, then we can make those commitments confidently.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were able to make the right kind of commitment because they’ had the right con­cept of God. They said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this. If it he so. our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king” (Dan. 3:16.17). Their first concept of God was that He is able.

They went on to say, “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up (Dan. 3:18). They’ understood that God expects us to do right regardless of the consequences. If we have that twofold concept of God, we have the glue for a very strong bonding for our commitment.
If we can begin to see God as one who expects us to do right regardless of the consequences, we won’t waver; God many- times will bring healing and deliverance and power and anointing to our lives, but that’s just the icing on the cake. Our concept of God makes a great difference.

Results of Commitment

What resulted from the commitment of Shadraeh. Meshach, and Ahed.nego?

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach. Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded some valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of fire slew those men who carried tip Shadrach. Meshach, and Abed-nego. But these three men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. (Dan. 3:19-23)

The first result of our commitment is that we will be tried Bank on it: when we stand up for God, we will be tested.

The second result of our commitment is that God will be glorified. When we are truly committed to Him, He will receive praise.

Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace and asked, “Was it not three men we cast hound into the midst of the fire?” For he saw in the furnace four men ‘loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” He called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to come out, and the three guy’s came out. In Daniel 3:27, we can see that the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high offi­cials gathered around and saw that the fire had had no effect on their bodies. Their hair wasn’t singed, their trousers weren’t damaged, and they didn’t even smell like fire. We can’t even do that well if we go to a restaurant and sit in the nonsmoking section,
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and deliv­ered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.

Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way” (Dan. 3:28-29).

How is the world going to know about the greatness of God without committed Christians? Our problem is not a lack of display of the power of God, the miracles of God, or the anointing of God; God is ready to His part. He’s just waiting for somebody to get into the furnace. He’s looking for people who are totally committed, people whose purpose goes beyond their own abilities. There is a relationship between our willingness to die for God and His willingness to deliver us.

A third result of our commitment is that God will bless our lives. The king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed­nego to prosper in the province of Babylon, according to Daniel 3:30.

Ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact on their own world. The secret lies in being totally committed to the cause of Jesus Christ. If you read the biographies of great men, you’ll become convinced of a couple of things very quickly’. One, all great men struggle; all great men have a fiery furnace in their lives. The second thing is that the degree of their commitment is what really made them great. They weren’t smarter, they weren’t faster, and they- weren’t better educated; they were more committed.

Developing Commitment

How do we develop commitment in our lives? From the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we can pull out several principles.

Commitment usually begins in an atmosphere of strug­gle. Very seldom do we see strong commitment arise out of a context of prosperity. Squandered time, wasted living, and distorted values may come out of prosperity, but commit­ment does not. The three Jews were captives in another land, with new customs, new surroundings, new values, and differ­ent priorities. It was for them an atmosphere of struggle.

Winston Churchill really achieved greatness during the struggle of World War II. His finest hour was the hour of confrontation, the hour of challenge. After the war he be­came an average prime minister, but not a great one. As Churchill was anticipating the fall of France in 1940, he said, “The battle of France is over; I expect the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.... Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, this was their finest hour,”Forty-five years later, nine out of ten people would proba­bly say that Britain’s finest hour came in the days of Chur­chill’s leadership during World War II.
Commitment usually begins in dark hours,Commitment doesn’t depend on abilities or gifts. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were among many good-looking and intelligent youths chosen for special training, according to Daniel 1:3-4. But I like to think they weren’t really chosen for those qualities. Rather, they were chosen because of their commitment.
Commitment is the result of choice; it’s not a condition. People do not make great commitments because their condi­tions are right. People make great commitments because they’ choose to do right in spite of the conditions. In Daniel 1:8, it says, “But Daniel made up his mind.”

The moment that Daniel made up his mind, the moment that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego made up their minds to serve God—that was their great moment. That’s the mo­ment God lifted them up. God blessed them because they chose commitment.

Commitment starts with the little things in our lives. No one ever made a big commitment without first making little commitments. It’s a lot like learning to walk; we gain new confidence with each step. When we see that God blesses our small commitments, we begin to trust Him with bigger ones.

Don’t make a commitment today to win your world for Jesus. That’s idealistic and unreasonable. Make a commit­ment to win one person to Jesus. With the confidence you gain from winning that one, you can win two more.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego started out on the right foot by’ refusing to eat the king’s food. If you can’t stand up and say no to the king’s food, you can’t stand up and say no to the king’s idol. You don’t all of a sudden get that kind of courage; it starts with the little things. You realize that when you said no to the king’s food, God blessed you, and you prospered. If God helped you on the food issue, He can help you on the idol issue. And step by step, we begin to build a foundation underneath us that gives us strong character for strong commitment.

This principle also works in reverse. Herein lies the danger of sinning: when you sin once, it’s easier to sin twice. That’s why we ought to have a healthy fear of temptation and a healthy fear of sin. Sin breaks down the walls of resistance. It causes our focus to become blurred, and all of a sudden we’re doing things we shouldn’t be doing. If you didn’t make any strong commitments yesterday, it will catch up with you today.

Settle the issue of commitment before it arises. Don’t get caught up in the emotion of the moment, because then your commitment will waver. Make your decision before the issue arises. The battle is won before the battle is begun. That’s the secret behind the three Hebrews’ success. They already knew what they were going to do. They didn’t stand there and listen to the music and look at each other, wondering what to do. They’ had already settled the issue, so they didn’t have to think about it.

Trust in God. In Daniel 3:28, after the Hebrews had been rescued and delivered, Nebuchadnezzar made an interesting statement. Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His ser­vants who put their trust in Him.” Great commitments art built on trust in God.

Be single-minded In Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar made another comment about these three guy’s. Not only did they trust in God, but he said they’ “yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any other god except their own God.” Single-mindedness.

In his book, Choices, Frederic Flach writes. ‘Most people can look back over the years and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when, because of a readi­ness within us and a collaboration with events Occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives.” We are never too old for that to happen.

There are some of you reading this book today, and you’re thinking, My goodness, I’ve already been in this rut for twenty-five years! Make some choices, make a commitment, take a risk—that’s where the fruit is. It’s never too late. Go for it! Don’t allow circumstances or age or whatever to limit you.

Only you can limit yourself In 1970 I read a book by Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Lead­ership. I became convinced after reading that book that the only people who are going to affect their world for God are those who become leaders and take a stand on principles that perhaps the rest of the world doesn’t stand on. I can remember writing in the back of that book that regardless of the size of my congregation and regardless of the opinions of others—and I even wrote that regardless of what my father says, and my father is the greatest influence and the most important person in my life—there are some things I’m going to stand on and believe in. I’m still living off of that decision.

I was reading recently about John Wesley, a favorite hero of mine. He was writing a letter of encouragement to a fellow named George, who was leaving England to evangelize the new frontier. He wrote, “Dear George, the time has come for you to embark for America. I let you loose, George, on that great continent of America. Publish your message in the open face of the sun and do all the good that you can.” I love Wesley’s liberating phrase, “I let you loose.”
Commitment will free you and let you loose to do great things for God.

WooHoo! today is the day that i will be taking my CPR practical test! *praying hard for the rite dummy to do CPR* haha. .

hey to this fren, thanks alot man! was reali surprise when you pass me the CD! hehe. . Josh Groban. . FINALLY I HAVE IT LIAO!!!! hahaha!!! his song "oceanio" is reali a great track man! reali appreciate you alot man. . thanks for being such a good buddy to me!!

anyway yesterday went to meet hannah n boy~ we do reali have alot to talk n do man! guess this time is a dry period for both of us but we do wana still firm man!!! rite hannah? hehe. .Deoborah is moving hse today! hapi moving gal!!! haha! remember you must invite me to ya hse arh~ or else i will go to your hse myself! wahahahahha!!!

yesterday had our NYP CL meet at. . . . . ."The Cafe Cartel" hmm. . .is it rite? hahaha! wateva! the food is expensive but great! all thanks to our UL! hahaha!!! had an learning experience n even though i was reali reali very physically tired but my ears refused to shut! great man!! hahaha!

ppl are gone n new ppl have came. wat is the reason behind all these? am i doing my very best to win more ppl for God? have i done my best actuali? how abt the ppl in my group? are they moving towards the vision that God has set for us? when the group is not growing, is it coz of the leader? hmm. . . .anyway i knw the answer once i pass the test  that God has set for me. . well ppl reali wana share the lyric of "you raise me up" by Josh Groban. hope you guys will understand the lyrics. . too bad i duno how to put the song in or else you guys can listen as well!

 
Josh Groban - You Raise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
 
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
 
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
 
There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
 
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I
 am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
 
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

TaDa! well, today is a cool day for me. . .went to PS to buy strings then went to orchard for a stroll. . .

anyway,this whole week reali make me think alot abt my life. .the problems i am facing in class, the things i am going thru reali is testing my patience man. .always telling myself that i have a BIG God but still kinda hard to focus man. .Isaiah 40:30. must remember this.

*listen to my heart's cry Lord. . *

 

 

*reali need a break now*

wow. . . hmm. . .*speechless* man. .

*wana sleep* ZzZzZzZz. .

*-tired-* -sad- *-needs strengthening-*

wow. . .this is wat i am going thru this week man. . toturing! but i knw i got a BIG GOD to help me. haha! anyway finally i finish composing my song! title is. . .. hahah! come n ask me yourself! hehe! now doing the 2nd one. . hmm. . just sang to my mom n she says it sounds the same. . hmm. . . hahaha!!! I WANT TO DO NOSE PIERCING!!!!! so cool n nice. . .when will my mom allow. . hahaha!!!

*going crazy liao*

hey ppl go n check this website out man!

Story of a Butterfly

http://refer.flowgo.com/refer/redir_ng.cfm?p=139874&d=07-15-04&id=eyrmmCiq18SnhbdkxxDqzc

it's meaningful n it's true!

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if  the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The  pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of  course, the sand filled up everything  else.  He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things- your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. 

Play with your children. 

Take time to get medical checkups. 

Take your partner out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your  priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

o man. . this story is so cool!

Lessons from a Young Nurse Rebecca Manley Pippert

In an article in Campus Life a young nurse writes of her pilgrim­age in learning to see in a patient the image of God beneath a very "distressing disguise." Eileen was one of her first patients, a person who was totally helpless. "A cerebral aneurysm (broken blood vessels in the brain) had left her with no conscious control over her body," the nurse writes. As near as the doctors could tell Eileen was totally uncon­scious, unable to feel pain and unaware of anything going on around her. It was the job of the hospital staff to turn her every hour to prevent bedsores and to feed her twice a day "what looked like a thin mush through a stomach tube." Caring for her was a thankless task. "'When it's this bad," an older student nurse told her, "you have to detach yourself emotionally from the whole situa­tion...." As a result, more and more she came to be treated as a thing, a vegetable.... But the young student nurse decided that she could not treat this person like the others had treated her. She talked to Eileen, sang to her, encouraged her and even brought her little gifts. One day when things were especially difficult and it would have been easy for the young nurse to take out her frustrations on the patient, she was especially kind. It was Thanksgiving Day and the nurse said to the patient, "I was in a cruddy mood this morning, Eileen, because it was supposed to be my day off. But now that I'm here, I'm glad. I wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing you on Thanks­giving. Do you know this is Thanksgiving?" Just then the telephone rang, and as the nurse turned to answer it, she looked quickly back at the patient. Suddenly, she writes, Eileen was "looking at me.. .crying. Big damp circles stained her pillow, and she was shaking all over." That was the only human emotion that Eileen ever showed any of them, but it was enough to change the whole attitude of the hos­pital staff toward her. Not long afterward, Eileen died. The young nurse closes her story, saying, "I keep thinking about her... It occurred to me that I owe her an awful lot. Except for Eileen, I might never have known what it's like to give myself to someone who can't give back."

ONE I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I should do and, with the help of God, I will do!
 
Everett Hale

wow. . .it's been some days since i update man!!hahaha!
SAT SERVICE WAS FANTASTIC!
i was reali enjoying myself listening to the songs during the competiton. hahaha! i was in the backstage shouting 'loli, loli! you go gal!!~' hahaha! so so happy that lalita won during the 2nd service! hehe. . .
HEY GUYS
you ppl reali can sing so well yet dun wana join singing ministry?!? except for lalita,jenny n nel n. . .. wait. . .hmm. . .it seems that it's only YiXiu,Winstar n Jerald is not in singing ministry hor. . . oops!
well,i have ppl coming up to me asking me, "hey Jo, how come you sound so gentle when sharing testimony?" hey! i gotta clear this man! i sound gentle is coz 1stly. . . I AM GENTLE! 2ndly. . .i. .was. .having. . butterflies. . in. . my. .tummy? don't ask me to catch it arh. . i will chop your head off man. . *lame*
anyway i was glad that i have cleared this song presentation. . *phew*  hahaha! i was so afraid that i couldn't do it well coz it was so loooow for meeeee!
reali  LUV  the sermon very much! it's true that when are the times that we will go back to God with songs in our mouth?!? whether is it during bad times or good times. .
anyway that's all. . hahaha!gotta do my hmwk liao. . dooddo! 

SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH YOU. . .

the first time i saw you i was attracted to you but ain't sure whether i reali like you. . but as time went by i found out that i like you alot or rather to say I LOVE YOU ALOT! i found out that you have always been supporting and encouraging me during my happy or sad times. wow. . where can i found another one like you. .

"you are my strength when i am weak,
you are the treasure that i seek,
you are my all in all. . ."

thank YOU for YOU! yeah!

hehe . . .nv imagined wat i did today. . . i actuali cook my own dinner!!!! wahahahha! everyone was surprised! *hmm. .am i reali a bad cook?* anyway how it taste like? hmm. . .i only can say that i am so full!!!! taste good or bad it's up to you guys to think. . hehe. . guess wat ppl? this sat i will be bringing down a malay fren for ss!!!aren't that great?!? so need you guys' prayer that she reali will come n that she will want to accept Christ into her life!!! NYP3, we gotta do to our best this week!!!

wow. . today is reali a very very tiring day man. . was having a bad headache in the ward! wa. . . . .reach home immdiately bath n drop dead on my bed! hahaha!! slept until 5.45pm!! hahaa! thanks Big J for the call!!! anyway this week is CENTERSTAGE!!!!!!!!! wow!!! reali excited for the service!!! hehe~ come on NYP3 remember our goal!!!! let's see it comin to a pass!!! JiaYou!!

yesterday Jasmine came to NYP's SOS meet! hahaha! reali learnt a very good teaching! so many points i reali wana apply man! hmm. .. NYP reali needs a ministry hse liao. . .urgh!!!!!!!!!!! quick quick!!! y am i saying this? well. . .coz yesterday DI was using the ministry hse till NYP gotta go to somewhere else. . .hahahha! but it's a good sign coz it means that. . NYP n DI are growing until we have to "kick" one another out of the hse!!! wahahahaha!!! ministry hse. . ministry hse. .!~

to a fren.

hey i knw wateva you are going thru is not pleasant at all.it's not wat you wan n it's tough.but do knw that God is moulding you in all areas to make you become a better person in life!juz wana encourage you to go thru these tough times with God!"the medicine taste bitter but it's good for you." understand this rite? things aren't going smoothly for me too! i guess you knw rite? hehe. .let's go thru together n see ourself been transform by God's luv! must persevere on!!!! so are you with me in this? seeing each other at the end of the race?

wow. . . alot of things are happening man. . but sure i will stand firm in the Lord.

hey guys for my previous entry i apologise for such negative msg.guess feelings came over me n thus putting in such stupid msg! I'M SORI PPL! but of coz most importantly, "God i realise my mistake already. . . w/o you i reali duno wat i will become. .thanks 4 all the love that you have given it to me!"

LiYan, i luv you alot! i will stand firm in God n be your strong armor bearer! i will SLAP Satan if he comes n 'kajiao' u! muhahahahah!

God just need you to protect us!guide us in standing firm in you!

NYPians, we are called by God to follow him in his vision n plans. so let's be faithful in this n see that we conquer the lost ppl for God! let's always put our focus on him n luv him with all of our heart! remember we serving a living n wonderful God! trials n difficulties sux alot! BUT it always thru these, then we will grow n become mature! i like this saying, "Don't Quit! every obstacles is a step of success." so NYPians or even B.A.S.I.C, are we in this together?

My Lawyer

After living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end. The first
thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I
thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the
defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a
villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was
the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and
gentle looking man whose appearance seemed familiar to me. The corner door
flew open and there appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded
an awesome presence as he moved across the room. I couldn't take my eyes
off of him.

As he took his seat behind the bench, he said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you
why this man belongs in hell."

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the
past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that
were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I
sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own
lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten
about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was
equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any
form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I
had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of
the harm I had done."

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is
guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove
otherwise."

When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the
bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and
beckoned him to come forward.

As he got up and started walking, I was able to see him in his full
splendor and majesty. I realized why he seemed so familiar. This was Jesus
representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly
said to the judge,
"Hi Dad," and then he turned to address the court.

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of
these allegations. And yes the wages of sin is death, and this man
deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted me as his Savior, so he is mine."

My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied,

"There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all."

The judge lifted his mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from his lips...

"This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I'll win the next one."

I asked Jesus as he gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"

Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, Paid in Full."

Broken heart , broken body. .
come n heal me Lord. .
troubled spirits , burden mind. .
come n lift me up to you. .

wat shall i do O Lord , wat shall i do. .
it keeps on repeating itself till i'm
already worn out. .
on the verge on giving up. .
is that wat i am askin for now. .

i am giving it all up. . time to let go already. . my heart is aching terrible but i have decided to give it all up. . whether is it the right or wrong, i had it. . wat is the use. . trying to be a nice person yet in the heart it's all so fake. . "Let God change you. . hey! you have change alot!" , is this all true. . i dunnno. . . ha. .

is it true >> "do you practice wat you preach?"

whow. . .my heart is reali very painful but yesh i shall harden my heart. . i luv where i am in n coz it looks bad that i am letting it go now. .

is this wat i am doing now. .
letting you go at this moment of time. .
is it right or is it wrong. .
i have no say. .
just hoping someone to tell me so. .

well today is my 1st day of attachment!so tiring. . . .my legs are gonna break liao. .anyway,yesterday went home with XueTing n reali. . . i'm getting lots of testings from Him. .very tough ones n even tos i nv thought i will ever be tested! wow can reali see myself struggling alot. .hahaha! but i knw after this, i will be more matured! YEA!

Dad, i reali wana focus on you more. .to become more like you each day. .change my life totally. .i had enough of my life now! i reali wana help NYP3 to become a word-centered group! seeing people charging towards ya vision n seeing their lives been change by u. . Dad, that's all i am asking. .1st. . is it alot? hahahaha!

Jonathan Liu, thanks 4 always been such a wonderful brother to me! even though we fight alot in the past, yet this time seeing you coming to know Christ, i am reali over-joyed! hey let's work hard n serve this wonderful God n see that daddy n daniel coming to know Christ soon!!!! do you believe in this vision with me? luv you lots. .

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed,no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?

That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister..please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what lse to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said.

"He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.

He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts.

A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door.

He kept the dent there to remind him of this message :

"Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts.Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator,
your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Face , friend - He is crazy about you!

Send this to every "beautiful person" you wish to bless. God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

The Choice to Love or not to Love

The passages below are taken from Max Lucado’s book “In the Eye of the Storm,” published in 1991.

“WHY DO I WANT TO DO BAD?” my daughter asked me, unknowingly posing a question asked by many seekers of truth. “Why do I do the thing I hate? What is this ape that gibbers within?” Or, perhaps a more basic question is being asked. “If sin separates me from God, why doesn’t God separate me from sin? Why doesn’t he remove from me the option to sin?”
To answer that, let’s go to the beginning.

Let’s go to the Garden and see the seed that both blessed and cursed. Let’s see why God gave man . . . the choice.

Behind it all was a choice. A deliberate decision. An informed move. He didn’t have to do it. But he chose to. He knew the price. He saw the implications. He was aware of the consequences.

We don’t know when he decided to do it. We can’t know. Not just because we weren’t there. Because time was not there. When did not exist. Nor did tomorrow or yesterday or next time. For there was no time.

We don’t know when he thought about making the choice. But we do know that he made it. He didn’t have to do it. He chose to.

He chose to create.

“In the beginning God created . . .“ (Genesis 1:1)

With one decision, history began. Existence became measurable.

Out of nothing came light.

Out of light came day.

Then came sky . . . and earth.

And on this earth? A mighty hand went to work.

Canyons were carved. Oceans were dug. Mountains erupted out of flatlands. Stars were flung. A universe sparkled.

Our sun became just one of millions. Our galaxy became just one of thousands. Planets invisibly tethered to suns roared through space at breakneck speeds. Stars blazed with heat that could melt our planet in seconds.

The hand behind it was mighty. He is mighty.

And with this might, he created. As naturally as a bird sings and a fish swims, he created. Just as an artist can’t not paint and a runner can’t not run, he couldn’t not create. He was the Creator. Through and through, he was the Creator. A tireless dreamer and designer.

From the pallet of the Ageless Artist came inimitable splendors. Before there was a person to see it, his creation was pregnant with wonder. Flowers didn’t just grow; they blossomed. Chicks weren’t just born; they hatched. Salmons didn’t just swim; they leaped.

Mundaneness found no home in his universe.

He must have loved it. Creators relish creating. I’m sure his commands were delightful! “Hippo, you won’t walk . . . you’ll waddle!” “Hyena, a bark is too plain. Let me show you how to laugh!” “Look, raccoon, I’ve made you a mask!” “Come here, giraffe, let’s stretch that neck a bit.” And on and on he went. Giving the clouds their puff. Giving the oceans their blue. Giving the trees their sway. Giving the frogs their leap and croak. The mighty wed with the creative, and creation was born.

He was mighty. He was creative.

And he was love. Even greater than his might and deeper than his creativity was one all-consuming characteristic:

Love.


Water must be wet. A fire must be hot. You can’t take the wet out of water and still have water. You can’t take the heat out of fire and still have fire.

In the same way, you can’t take the love out of this One who lived before time and still have him exist. For he was . . . and is . . . Love.

Probe deep within him. Explore every corner. Search every angle. Love is all you find. Go to the beginning of every decision he has made and you’ll find it. Go to the end of every story he has told and you’ll see it.

Love.

No bitterness. No evil. No cruelty. Just love. Flawless love. Passionate love. Vast and pure love. He is love.

As a result, an elephant has a trunk with which to drink. A kitten has a mother from which to nurse. A bird has a nest in which to sleep. The same God who was mighty enough to carve out the canyon is tender enough to put hair on the legs of the Matterhorn Fly to keep it warm. The same force that provides symmetry to the planets guides the baby kangaroo to its mother’s pouch before the mother knows it is born.

And because of who he was, he did what he did.

He created a paradise. A sinless sanctuary. A haven before fear. A home before there was a human dweller. No time. No death. No hurt. A gift built by God for his ultimate creation. And when he was through, he knew “it was very good“(Genesis 1:31).

But it wasn’t enough.

His greatest work hadn’t been completed. One final masterpiece was needed before he would stop.

Look to the canyons to see the Creator’s splendor. Touch the flowers and see his delicacy. Listen to the thunder and hear his power. But gaze on this--the zenith--and witness all three . . . and more.

Imagine with me what may have taken place on that day.

He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground.

All of the Garden’s inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched.

“You will love me, nature,” God said. “I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose.”

All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. “It’s called ‘choice.’ The seed of choice.”

Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.

An angel spoke, “But what if he . . .”

“What if he chooses not to love?” the Creator finished.

“Come, I will show you.”

Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the
realm of tomorrow.

“There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter.”

The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth.

“Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation.”

“Ah, but you’ve only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter.”

A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, “What is it?”

The Creator spoke only one word: “Selfishness.”

The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths.

“This is the result of choice?” the angel asked.

“Yes.”

“They will forget you?”

“Yes.”

“They will reject you?”

“Yes.”

“They will never come back?”

“Some will. Most won’t.”

“What will it take to make them listen?”

The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him.

With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler of a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it.

He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear.

“Will you go down there?” the angel asked.

“I will.”

“Is there no other way?”

“There is not.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn’t it be easier to not give the choice?”

“It would,” the Creator spoke slowly. “But to remove the choice is to remove the love.”

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in soldiers’ garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn’t leave. “I will stay,” she said softly. “I will stay.”

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.

“It must be done . . . ,“ he said, and withdrew.

But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) He wrenched at tomorrow’s agony.

The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful . . .”

The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn’t be love.” They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God’s form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.

But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.

Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since.

Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:

“It looks like . . . it appears so much like . . . it is him!”

The angel wasn’t speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside--at the soul.

“It’s eternal!” gasped another.

Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth’s mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.

Now it’s our choice. (237-243)

PORTUGAL WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *ahem* dunno who are the 2 ppl who owe me dinner on sat. . (if you 2 are reading this, YES it is you!!! wahahahha!!) suppose to catch the match but i though taking a nap 1st will help but..........urgh!!!!!!!!! yes i misssed the whole match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sobsob*
anyway, i had a great time yesterday!!hehe. . . after meeting Jeraine for the last shepherding i went to bishan's J8. . suppose to watch movie but dun have the show i wanted to watch. . waaaaaa. . . hmm. . .watch movie alone is very funi is it? hmm. . .i think is't rather cool le. . haha!!!
you knw yesterday i got a chance to peek at how guys lead their cg. .n i gotta say i'm impress!reali!haha!
finally i got the song 'where is the love'!!!hahaha!!!! thanks caleb!!!!reali appreciate you alot!!