Friday, June 30, 2006

Horizon

Ain't nothing quite like the city skyline circling the lil' island of Singapore... Work's always there, deadline's long dead, frustration's a punctuation in life - so c'mon, take a breather and take in the beauty of life we call creation. Cheerios! ;)











Bruce Philosophies

More than a martial arts enthusiast, an actor, a director and film producer, Bruce Lee was a loving husband to Linda Lee Caldwell, a great father to Brandon and Shannon Lee and a devoted family man. Unknown to many film enthusiasts, Bruce Lee majored in philosophy in the University of California where he met his wife Linda. Reading up on his biography did a thing or two for my self check. Here's some...

On Marriage:

In marriage, the excitement of romance is bound to dwindle with the years; in its place must grow the day-to-day companionship that would endure throughout the adventure that is human life.

Marriage is a friendship, a partnership based solidly upon ordinary, everyday occurrences. Marriage is breakfast in the morning, work during the day – the husband at his work, the wife at hers – dinner at night and quiet evenings together talking, reading or watching television. Marriage is caring for children, watching over them in sickness, training them in the way they must go, sharing worry about them and pride in them.

A married couple isn’t one and one. They are 2 halves that make a whole. You have to apply yourself to be a family – 2 halves fitted together are more efficient than either half would be alone!

On Life:

The oak tree is mighty, yet it will be destroyed by a mighty wind because it resists the elements; the bamboo bends with the wind, and by bending, survives.

Be pliable. When a man is living, he is soft and pliable; when he is dead, he becomes rigid. Pliability is life; rigidity is death.

Life is a process. Through the ages, the end of heroes is the same as ordinary men. They all died and gradually faded away in the memory of men. But when we are still alive, we have to understand ourselves, discover ourselves and express ourselves. In this way, we can progress, but we may not be all successful. But at least we are closer to truth.

My Strength & Light


"The strength of a man is found not in brawn and wit. The strength of a man is found in his stability and composure in the face of adversity - he doesn't walk away from the storm – he stays on to shield, protect and fight." – A.T.

You fought with me through my negativity and self doubt.
You stayed when it’s so easy to walk away.
You loved when I’m unlovable.
You became my strength when I fell.
You showed light that pierced my darkness.
Thank you for your love.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Preserving Humanity

Spiritual dictatorship in particular - which has devastating consequences for countless people - must be resisted. Church totalitarianism in particular must be opposed with the freedom of the conscience, the freedom of a Christian.
- Hans Kung

The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn. - Luther

The devil - the proud spirit - cannot endure to be mocked.
- Thomas More

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Welcome To My Life

Do you ever feel like breaking down?
Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you
Do you ever wanna runaway?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels all right
You don't know what it's like
To be like me

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life

Do you wanna be somebody else?
Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more?
Before your life is over
Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With their big fake smiles and stupid lies
While deep inside you're bleeding

No one ever lied straight to your face
No one ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy but I'm not gonna be okay
Everybody always gave you what you wanted
Never had to work it was always there
You don't know what it's like, what it's like

- Simple Plan

Friday, June 23, 2006

To Mrs. Wong with love

She is truly a treasure and an impressionable figure in my life. Gave her a great big hug and stepped into the house. Her home is so filled with love, ease and warmth.

There are homes filled with emptiness.

There are homes filled with broken expectations.

Her home is filled with all that I need and want and desire. All that I longed for and never had - all that I'd like to provide for in my future home.

I see in her who I want to be. Loving people and believing in them. Displaying and instilling godly, moral values. Imparting her life to her family, children and students. A strong pillar in the home, an advisor, educater, comforter, confidante.

Each visit to her home is short, but like a drunk on a hang-over, it leaves me hanging on for more - for all of the goodness of God, evident in her life and in her family.

"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". The might and power of a woman in bringing forth a child and educating him to positions of great leadership and influence. Surely she is such, when I observe the fine management of her home and children.

She is all I want to be, and more.

To my teacher, coach, mother and friend; Mrs. Wong, with love. ;)

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Hope

It’s time once again to slay the irritation of frustration. Brewing dark juices in tight veins.
I reckon if the inner thoughts could be penned down in detail, it could be the sooth cure for the torture of the inner soul.


I gain encouragement and have my pain eased through reading. That is why I believe in writing - words can serve as an encouragement to the weary and despondent. We are not unique proprietors to emotions, i.e. we are never alone in how we feel, and experiences shared through writing can be powerful cures to many.

I found my soul food today, an article by Stuart McAllister from Ravi Zacharias International Ministry:

Israel neglected their heritage and the people walked away. They pursued other loves and became enamored with the nations around them. Israel forgot their high calling, and the consequences were tragic. The prophet Habakkuk was understandably grieved. Unable to understand what was happening to his community, the prophet walked through stages of depression, anger, acceptance, and faith. His chapters move from asking "why?" to expressing hopelessness or exclaiming anger, and finally, to singing.

I believe there are times in life when we are on a similar journey. Though at times we may find ourselves stuck in one stage or another, we are called to follow a similar sense of story and to remember God's involvement in our past, present, and future. Between the pages where Habakkuk cries out for God's answer and where he ends in a mixture of fear and faith, we learn something of the ambiguity, tension, and struggle that is ours until the journey ends.

Through trial and uncertainty, the apostle Paul encourages us likewise. We are to cling to what we know along the way: "For in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

Despite seeming triumphs of evil, the people of God continue to discover anew that the promises of God are sure. In the words of the prophet Habakkuk, "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (2:14). It is not easy. There are real dangers, costs to bear, and always a demand for perseverance. But ultimately and exclusively, our hope is in God alone.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Take Away My Pain


Much pain. Loneliness. Loss of vision. Lack of work. Fear of going home. Fear of over-dependance on a man to fulfil my needs and desire for intelligent partnership and quality companionship. Pride that swells up in retaliation and self-defence.

My God, can you hear me? Can you take away this pain?

I walk away from him because I don't know how to handle my disappointment and pain. I was in pain and I needed to cry.

It tears me apart to know how vulnerable I am - that I am so utterly fragile - like china in his hands.

God, please tell me why am I so fragile, why do I cry so much, why do I hurt so bad.

I've had so much pain, heartache, loneliness, rejection, abandonment that I live the many years after seeking hard to protect myself against similar pain. I wouldn't even allow myself a single moment of misery. I shun and shudder at the approaching or croaching familiarity of loneliness, rejection and pain - and counter-react violently involuntarily. I had to fight to keep sane. I had to counter-react with aggression in a desperate futile attempt to protect this bleeding heart. Have I not God I'd have collapsed into the dreary dungeon of despair and possibly depression.

Not tragic enough for suicide because I try hard to look around me and see so many who are in worsed-off states. The abandoned, lonely, roaming and penniless elderly. The mentally retarded, shunned and looked upon with a mixture of pity and disdain. The young mother left to care for her child, helpless with no support from the run-away man.

So much pain, heartache, misery and grief - who could possibly bear? But these disadvantaged ones move on. They survive their pain.

What right do I have to give up? So what if I have a limp? I can still walk on, can't I?

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

The Heart

The mind is a most powerful tool - with our thoughts we frame our world. If we can think it; gestate that thought; we can achieve it.

May I submit today that the heart is no less powerful. When the heart is troubled with much emotions, it so overwhelms the entire being that even the mind could not conquer the depth of the heart. In a conflict with a loved one, try hard as I may, the heart is in such turmoil that even as I keep confessing "that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard my heart and mind...", the mind can do little to alleviate the sting in the heart.


"And now abide faith, hope & love... but the greatest of these is love."

"Because He love... He gave.."

God is love; and love is a central theme of the very nature and character of God.

And love flows out of the heart, not just the mind. Yes, the mind is needed to make a decision to love when loving ain't easy (it never is). Out of the heart flows the essence of love and the creation of the world and mankind.

It is then little wonder that the devil is staking it all on wrecking this world we live in with much conflict, bitterness, hate and death. That which holds the world (i.e. love) is the very thing that the devil seeks to destroy. Much as the mind is powerful, so is the heart. Guard it with all diligence, for out of it flows the issues and boundaries of life.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Angel

I miss knocking on your front door
To have you open it ajar
As I stand in the doorway

I see my lil' princess in her cot
Not feeding nor slumbering
But standing firm on both tiny legs
Eyes wide with wonder and amazement
At the new stranger at the doorway

As she stares on intently
Her tiny frame bursts with excitement

"Here comes my new playmate!"
She must have mused in her mind
She breaks into her mischevious wide smile
Displaying her newly grown set of baby teeth

And almost simultaneously she chuckles hilariously
"Come play with me", she seems to say
As she stretches forth her tiny hands

And utters in clear diction
"Pau pau" (Hug hug)

I miss my lil' angel



Friday, June 02, 2006

Goodbye (for now)

Allow me to indulge in a lil' melancholy here. Just bid farewell to some loved ones. But one thing's for sure, goodbyes aren't forever. With every arrival there is a departure; and likewise with every departure there is an arrival. Looking forward to the next cycle of arrival and much reunion.

Till then, I miss you.
How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.

I thought we'd get to see forever
But forever's gone away
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through.

If we get to see tomorrow
I hope it's worth all the wait
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

- Boyz II Men