Musings of A.T.

The most powerful tool bestowed unto man - that distincts him from all other creatures, is his mind - his ability to think, rationalize, analyse, and reason. His ability to convince and be convinced. His ability to persuade and be persuaded. His ability to find illumination from the darkness that so often surround and grip. - A.T.

Below are thoughts, illuminations and revelations over a period of some 10 months:

___________________________________________________________

In conflicts, differences and misunderstandings, isn’t it funny how we don’t speak the language of love.

Fact is, we should.

190506

____________

How do you find strength in pain?

Psa 77:10 "this is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord."

In your anguish remember the goodness of God and His works in your life.

180506

____________

Psa 77:15 "Your way, oh God, is in the sanctuary."

If you need directions for life, go to the house of God. You'll find directions for life in the house of God.

180506
____________

When we truly seek God with all our heart, mind and strength, the revelation of His presence is more powerful than the struggles in our lives.

180506

____________

The thoughts of a darkened mind and cold heart upon seeing the plight of a woman made widow by a sudden stroke which claimed her late husband's life, leaving her with huge business debts and uncaring children who refused to provide for her now in her old age - my heart is bleeding turmoil not because it's beyond my capacity to help, but because I'm afraid I may turn out as unfillial as her children are. Yet I ask myself, do I want my thoughts to be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Certainly not! Thus I will arise and make amends.



Apr 06

_____________

In a crowded bus right in front of me sat a young pretty girl but with her head bowed low. Next to her sat her boyfriend. Neither looked happy together. It broke my heart to see a young girl who has so much in store for her to carry herself with such low self esteem and unhappiness.

And a sudden illumination dawned on me: That love edifies and builds up. Love makes a plain Jane a stunning Julia. ;)

Mar 06

_____________

Friends are important. The happiest people are those with good buddies to hang out and venture sports, music or interests with.

Mar 06


____________

We constantly need to lose something because that's when God steps in to fill the void.

170805

____________

A person with purpose never feels lonely. He's a madman on fire chasing after all he's worth.

290705

Concluding Marriage Quotes

Marriage means handing over yourself, your body, your future, your keeping to the one whom you dearly love, although this person may in many ways remain a stranger.

This tremendous act of faith is something that can unlock in each lover powers of compassion, generosity, joy, passion, fidelity and hope that no one guessed was even there.

That is why the confidence of young lovers is not foolish or arrogant, but an expression of a basic fact in human experience, that the greatest of human gifts are set to work only when people are prepared to risk everything. And first you risk it before God.

The above quotes were made by Ravi Zacharias in his message "I, Isaac Take you Rebekah" available on podcast via iTunes. Search for "Ravi Zacharias" under podcasts. He has 2 programmes: Just Thinking & Let My People Think. Both are phenomenal.

Quote Me Baby!

If our homes fail, history collapses. - Ravi Zacharias, on the value of the relationships and marriages

Without a determined sacrifice, we will never accomplish the call to which God has placed us. - Ravi Zacharias, on the purpose of men

Fear tastes like a rusty knife, don't let her into your house. Courage tastes of blood. Stand up straight. Admire the world. Relish the love of a gentle woman. Trust in the Lord.

- John Cheever, on everything

When your soul prospers, eveything becomes positive. When your soul regresses, everything becomes negative - that even when opportunities surround, you can't see them.

- Angeline Tan, on the inner self

Secret Force

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.

Action always generates inspiration.

Inspiration seldom generates action."

- Frank Tibolt

We have a life to give.

We have talents to dislay.

We have creativity to innovate.

We have a mission to accomplish.

Equipped with the same love for music & a mission to accomplish, here we are on our first get-together.

Beneath the funny faces we're on a serious business.

Chill it! Laughter is the antidote of the soul.











"First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head..."
- Matt 4:28

The Power of Love

Love makes one beautiful

Love makes one joyful



Love makes one fashionable

Love makes one arty/creative

Phil Wisdom On Struggles

International speaker, preacher, author, painter, song writer, Phil Pringle from CCC Australia phenomenally expounds on an issue very often you and I are abashed to share publicly and struggle privately.

May you find encouragement and inner strength from the truth shared below, a direct excerpt from Phil Pringle's message:

__________________________

God wants your attention more than He wants to give you your results. He does want you to have your results - that glorifies Him, but He knows that giving you results without your attention on Him as No. 1 is gonna destroy you; it's gonna damage you; it'll steal your heart. So He will always arrange for things to be in your life that will get your attention.

Jacob in Hebrews 11 "by faith he blesses his children, blessing God, leaning on a staff."

Jacob had a limp, and he had a limp all his life. God never fixed that problem up. Jacob always got to walk with a walking stick.

Faith is not a thing for a moment. It's a thing for a lifetime.

So that everyday, even though you've got a limp, you get up and you walk again. You lean on a staff and God isn't fixing the problem, but the very strength that it takes for you to get up and go, in spite of a limp in your life causes you to finish your life, worshipping your God and blessing your children. You have no cynical attitude, but you're a worshipper and a blesser of the people in your world.

People struggles with all sorts of areas in their lives. Some struggle with their sexuality, some with eating disorders, some with drugs or alcohol addiction - and it doesn't seem to get fixed. For many people their addiction never really got fixed; they are always susceptible to it, and they walk through life with a limp. And God doesn't fix it. Coz He wants your attention more than He wants your comfort.

The first half of the book of Hebrews is about people who had a moment of faith and they got set free from the mouth of the lions, but the second half of the book of Hebrews is about ppl who didn't get set free, but still had faith and lived above their circumstances.

Remember the movie "A Beautiful Mind". John Nash, a mathematical genius, made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim, but soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of schizophrenia. His problem never got fixed but he managed to live above it and ended up receiving a Nobel Prize.

Understand this, there are many things that God will fix in your life - tonnes of things, but generally there's just one thing - one thing you pray e'day of your life "If only I could get rid of this" - and you find yourself stretched by that thing - and that causes you to grow. That gives you prosperity on the inside.

Love Is... Commitment

Marriages are meant to last a lifetime, but why don't they in this current age and time?

Below are extremely wise and hard truths to digest from author & apologist Ravi Zacharias, but when we are desperate and honest enough to get past the unwillingness of the flesh to the eternal reward and blessing of a live of obedience based on the truth, we will find ourselves cherishing every single moment of life with our loved one, namely, our spouse, or for many of us, our spouse-to-be ;)

_______________________

Love is as much a question of the will as it is the emotion, and if you will to love somebody, you can.

Love is stronger than a mere flutter of the heart.

Love is an enormous commitment: -

• A commitment that will test you at some of your most vulnerable areas of spirituality.


• A commitment that will force you to make choices between some difficult issues that you'll be faced with.


• A commitment that will force you to deal with your lust, greed and every area of temptation that the Bible talks about.

That commitment is a constant dying to self, and giving - it is hard work.

Romance has to be transcended by a strong will and a degree of commitment to it.

There is never a reason to be unkind - there may be reasons to disagree, to struggle; after all it's 2 wills emerging into 1.

There are compromises and struggle, but there is never a reason to be unkind.

Thomas Lang

"The pulse of life is the heart as the pulse of music is the drum." - yours truly, ahem! A.T.

Here's one young, superb and promising drummer-cum-producer, Thomas Lang. Below are excerpts from his homepage.

“To play the unplayed… ” That is the self-proclaimed lifelong aspiration of drummer/producer Thomas Lang. Given his astonishing independence of limb and his stalwart dedication to improving his craft – Lang’s aspiration is more than well on the way to reality. Thomas Lang has dedicated his life to the exploration of all things drum.

A native of Vienna, Austria, Lang took up drums at the tender age of five. Inspired by a televised performance of a heavy metal band, Lang assessed (quite rightly!) that he wanted to be a drummer when he grew up because, “the drummer looked like he was the boss – AND he got to sit down!”

I religiously follow a constantly-evolving practice routine. It’s not glamorous, but for me daily practice is a principle source of growth and inspiration in my playing,” says Lang.

Despite his reputation as an innovative and prolific drummer, Lang has a surprising take on technique. “Technique has nothing to do with music. It’s like a tool, like a hammer. You can build a shed – or you can build the Sistine Chapel,” Lang told Modern Drummer magazine. “Some days I want a shed – some days I want the Sistine Chapel – or a villa… or maybe a bowling alley…!

On the Da Vinci Code

My first introduction to Marina Mahathir is her weekly contribution to the Malaysian local newsfeed, The Star Online, her column titled "Musings by Marina Mahathir".

Below is an excerpt in relation to the infamous Da Vinci Code, now made even more famous with the movie starring Tom Hanks.

Musings by Marina Mahathir (excerpt):

A friend was relating how after her daughter had read the Da Vinci Code, she had wanted to read the Bible. Which is not in itself a bad thing except that she was concerned that an impressionable young mind would not be able to differentiate fact from fiction. Also it seemed that perhaps what was needed is a Da Vinci Code-type book for Muslims to spark off the same level of interest in young people in their own religion.

Except that if anyone tried to write a similar thriller based around Islam, they'd be hounded and pilloried and threatened with death, thousands would riot in protest and people who would never have been able to read the book either because they are illiterate or can't afford it would have died.

Such is the difference between our religions. While there are many Christians who are upset about the book and movie, they are countering it with seminars and other educational events to balance what is being said in the book, even if the book is only fiction. There have not been Da Vinci Code-related riots or deaths thus far. Which speaks volumes for the adherents of the faith.

It would be nice if everyone could brush off similar challenges and say "we are strong enough to withstand any attack". Even if a book or a movie becomes a runaway hit, compared to the total number of any faith's followers, the numbers sold can never match it. Books are by nature, in a world where illiteracy is still common, a luxury item. As are American movies, no matter what arguments people make about cultural imperialism.

_____________________________________

Woo-hoo! Amazing isn't it? That this actually flows from the viewpoint of a female Muslim apologist. And she hails from my birthland, mind you. ;p

Am proud, real proud, of her. ;)

Marina Mahathir

In all aspirations, there is often a neglect of home-grown resources or resources within the vicinity of one's background, experience and knowledge.

One good example, of which I am humbled, is my new found discovery of Ms. Marina Mahathir, a prolific writer and Muslim apologist, whose mention of name would have you immediately associate with Malaysia's former premier, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad.

Hailing from Malaysia, I realised how much of a well-frog I have been, oblivious to the many intellects, writers and thinkers in my nation who are progressively making headlines with their contributions in their respective fields of expertise.

Ms. Marina Mahathir is no small name in the Muslim as well as international world. From the many acclaims of his service in the Malaysian political scene, Dr. Mahathir has been hailed as the engine of modern Malaysian growth, and given his leadership calibre and keen mind, his offspring is no less significant in the intellect department as well.

As staunch a Muslim as she may be, and contrary to the expected behaviorials of staunch faithful adherents of certain groups, she is a liberal minded and impartial thinker and writer. Maybe it is her social background - she is twice married to foreigners and lives overseas.

It is truly liberating to know that there are Muslim advocates for an impartial judgment of Malaysia.

In an article she wrote for the AsiaWeek magazine, the title of her article reads: A Need To Truly Value Women, and a quote to which I applaud with all enthusiasm: "In Malaysia, we should change the way society looks at their (women's) roles." (Click on the bold & underlined caption to read the full article)

A highly interesting read, please do not pass this up. You are sure to be as liberated as I am!

Of Passion & More

The only constant in life is change, thus to ride high in life, let's be quick learners and sharp minders. Here are life-changing points (elaborated by and picked up from Pastor Mark Conner, Melbourne) which I leave you to ponder & work on:

1. God dwells in a state of perpetual enthusiasm. - A.W. Tozer

2. Intelligence alone is not gonna lead to success in life. See the statistics below: -

- 75% of the American Presidents were in the lower half of their class;
- 50% of Fortune 500 CEOs average C- in school; &
- 50% of self made millionaires have no university degrees.

If intelligence alone ain't the answer to success, then it's gotta be:
i. ATTITUDE - how you think, and ii. PASSION - how you feel.

3. Enthusiasm and persistence will make an average person superior while indifference and lethargic will make a superior person average. - William Ward

4. The enemy targets our strength.

5. Often your frustration is the key to your anointing and to your gifting.

6. Many of us may not be prominent but everyone of us is significant.

7. What you tolerate, you will never change.

Bigger Than Life

Growing up I've always wished I was born in a different family, in a better environment. Yet through the years I've come to thank God for everyone of them, despite our quirks, disagreements, arguments, conflict, hurts and pain - and am grateful for this family that God has given me.

What could be bigger than life if not for the family that so richly shapes our lives - a place to belong to, a unit of identification, a cell of love.

Big bro Wilson & me

2nd bro Willy

Sis Irene & me

Willy's lil' ones: Eunice & Isaac
Irene's lil' one: Sheena

Willy's wife & 2 adorable ones

P/S: Pics of Dad & Mom are not yet available.

Blessed Union

3 ingredients for a lasting relationship:

Communication, Compatibility & Commitment

True love is not demanding & taking, but giving & sharing.

Marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person.


Pic: J & T, united on 190406

Wind Beneath My Wings

Caught the Progressive Rock fever yesterday when Alvin introduced the head banging Sonata Arctica and their fantastic rock remix of the all-time classic "Wind Beneath My Wings" originally by Bette Midler. Up & rising guitarist from the East, Jason Ong, has a rather comprehensive write up on Progressive Rock in his blog - http://jasonguitartalk.blogspot.com, with videos from Dream Theatre & Sonata Arctica. Check it out.

Below are the words behind the song - to which I dedicate to larlin' JO. ;)

It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight in your face
And you can content to let me shine
You always walked a step behind

I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strength
Only a face without a name
I never once heard you complain

Did you ever know that you're my hero
And everything I would like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle
Cause you are the wind beneath my wings

It might have appeared to go unnoticed
but I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know, I know the truth, yes I do
I would be nothing without you

If I Never Knew

If I never knew I was made for great things:

i'd be really ordinary

i'd live & let die

i'd settle for mediocrity

i'd not dream, let alone dream big

i'd see the world in black & white - why bother about colors

i'd get high, drunk, hang over & regret

i'd defy every possible rule that tries to govern me & my life

i'd rebel against authorities b'coz i'd want things my way on my terms

i'd be utterly selfish b'coz each man for his own

i'd slog for wealth & fame

i'd rise in arrogance & despise low graders

i'd be real cynical & judgmental & self righteous

i'd be pretty on the outside & real ugly & messed up on the inside

Scary thought, isn't it? Thank God I am told again & again that I am made for great things. Thank God I don't just live for myself - I have my Lord & the world to live for. M1's slogan put it best - ONE LIFE, LIVE IT!

Love

"Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay.

Love isn't love till you give it away."

- a quote by Oscar H.

Love can remain true & eternal when it is built upon the foundation of self serving & self receiving.

A sacrificial & unconditional love... to love in spite of the other's weaknesses and shortcomings - to love the other for who they are.

Love doesn't keep on growing by itself. You gotta make a choice to keep on loving or the love will wane. Love isn't just a feeling. It's a choice, a commitment. You can if you want to.

West Side Story

A splendid display of theatrical jazz moves, stage presence, powerful crisp vocals (and I do mean, POWERFUL in every sense of the word) of a Romeo & Juliet bitterweet romance set in the 1950s against the backdrop of New York city - a play that entwines youthful zeal, anger, love, dilemma, hate, murder & bitter end.

A word of thanks to my sponsor who opened my eyes to the shimmering & captivating world of Broadway musicals. Catch him in glasses below with his rock babe.

Now Is The Time

Not "when", but "NOW".

Not when things happen, now when I get what I want, not when I feel like it - but now.

I become a better worker not when I settle in the job of my dreams - I become a good worker now in my current job, notwithstanding my interest or lack of interest in my job.

I become a diligent person not when my living conditions improve - I become a diligent person now in the mess of my living environment.

I become a patient and filial child to my parents not when I have the emotional capacity and time to do so - I become a patient and filial child now while I still have them.

I love people not when they are nice, kind & fun to hang out with - I love others now when I really don't feel like it & they are not the least lovable.

Chinatown: Ann Siang Hill

Statistics: Pastorship

From the book "Pastors At Risk":

Consider what pastors think about work, home, and lifestyles as reported in a recent survey conducted by Leadership magazine:

1) 94% feel pressured to have an ideal family;

2) The top 6 problems in clergy marriages are:

• 81%, insufficient time;
• 71%, use of money;
• 70%, income level;
• 64%, communication difficulties;
• 63%, congregational expectations; and
• 57%, differences over leisure;

3) 24% have received or are receiving marital counseling;

4) 33% of pastors are dissatisfied with the level of sexual intimacy in their marriages; and pastors report 16% of their spouses are dissatisfied, which 69% blame on their busy schedule, 54% on their spouse's schedule, and 35% on frequent night church meetings;

5) 22% seek supplemental income to make ends meet;

6) 28% feel current compensation is inadequate;

7) 69% of the spouses work outside the home to make ends meet;

8) 67% of the pastors feel positive about their spouses working outside their home;

9) 9% of clergy have had extramarital affairs;

10) 19% have had inappropriate sexual contact with another person other than their spouse;

11) 55% of clergy have no one with whom they can discuss their sexual temptation.

Now who says that life is a bed of roses for the spiritual? Even pastors have it tough in their lives.

May you find comfort in knowing that the most imperfect of lives can love & serve God fervently, if only one is willing.

Truth vs. Error

Have men become so derailed that the authencity of the Bible is to be challenged again & again? First there was the uproar of the blasphemous Da Vinci Code, and now fresh from the National Geographics News is the finding of the lost gospel of Judas as discovered by the Coptic, or Egyptian Christian which also is yet another absurd attempt which depict the gullibility of some intellectual groups.

Here is an excerpt of the news:

"After being lost for nearly 1,700 years, the Gospel of Judas was recently restored, authenticated, and translated.

Biblical accounts suggest that Jesus foresaw and allowed Judas's betrayal.

As told in the New Testament Gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus for "30 pieces of silver," identifying him with a kiss in front of Roman soldiers. Later the guilt-ridden Judas returns the bribe and commits suicide, according to the Bible.

The Gospel of Judas, however, gives a very different account.

The text begins by announcing that it is the "secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week, three days before he celebrated Passover."

It goes on to describe Judas as Jesus' closest friend, someone who understands Christ's true message and is singled out for special status among Jesus' disciples.

In the key passage Jesus tells Judas, "'you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.'"

Kasser, the translation-project leader, offers an interpretation: "Jesus says it is necessary for someone to free him finally from his human body, and he prefers that this liberation be done by a friend rather than by an enemy.

"So he asks Judas, who is his friend, to sell him out, to betray him. It's treason to the general public, but between Jesus and Judas it's not treachery."

The newfound account challenges one of the most firmly rooted beliefs in Christian tradition."

______________________

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."

"Take heed that no one deceives you."

(Matt 24: 11, 4)

One

There is nothing too hard for God in a marriage.
Seek God in problems and for answers.
The only hard thing in a marriage is when parties stop seeking God.

The marriage licence is like a hunting licence. One hunting licence to hunt down one deer only.

One licence, one deer. One marriage, one dear. ;P Woo-hoo!

Res Ipsa Loquitor

"Res ipsa loquitor", a Latin term used in a legal context, means "the thing speaks for itself" - which otherwise means, it needs no further explanation than what can be seen with the eyes or heard with the ears or proven with action.

Action speaks louder than words.

Simplicity & sublimity conveys the love of Christ. The touch of a hand to the dejected, the warm hug to the despaired, the cash aid to the financially burdened, a shelter to the homeless, a family to the orphan, love to the unwanted.

Action speaks louder than religion.

Islam talks of Allah, the compassionate one. But it was Jesus who went to the cross. Compassion literally means to suffer weight.

Leadership

When leaders make a mistake, they say, "I was wrong."
When followers make mistakes, they say, "It wasn't my fault."

A leader works harder than a follower and has more time;
a follower is always "too busy" to do what is necessary.

A leader goes through a problem;
a follower goes around it and never gets past it.

A leader makes and keeps commitments;
a follower makes and forgets promises.

A leader says, "I'm good, but not as good as I ought to be;"
a follower says, "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."


Leaders listen;
followers just wait until it's their turn to talk.

Leaders respect those who are superior to them and tries to learn something from them;
followers resent those who are superior to them and try to find chinks in their armor.

Leaders feel responsible for more than their job;
followers say, "I only work here."

A leader says, "There ought to be a better way to do this;"
followers say, "That's the way it's always been done here."

Stairway To Heaven

Life’s Lessons: Adversities

“In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)


Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely and doctors didn't expect her to survive. She did but at the age of 4, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with her left leg paralyzed. At the age of 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had depended on for the past five years and began walking without it. By 13, she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year, she decided she wanted to begin running. She entered her first race and came in last. For the next three years, she came in dead last in every race she entered. But, she kept on running until the day came that she won a race. Eventually, the little girl who was not supposed to live and then who was not supposed to be able to walk would win three Olympic gold medals.

___________________

Before the Civil War, Edmund McIlhenny operated a sugar plantation and a saltworks on Avery Island, Louisiana. Yankee troops invaded the area in 1863, and McIlhenny had to flee. When he returned in 1865, his sugar fields and saltworks were ruined. One of the few things left were some hot Mexican peppers that had reseeded themselves in the kitchen garden. McIlhenny, who was living hand to mouth, experimented with the ground peppers to make a sauce that would liven up his dull diet. His newfound sauce is known today as Tabasco sauce. To this day, over one hundred years later, the McIlhenny Company and its Tabasco business is still run by the McIlhenny family.

___________________

Bette Nesmith was a single mother trying to support her young son on the meager pay she received as a secretary in a Dallas Bank. While typing letters for her employer, she found that electric typewriters don't erase very well, so she developed an idea: Artists paint over their mistakes, why not try it with typing mistakes? She continued to develop this idea, which eventually became the product known as Liquid Paper. This simple tool increased the efficiency of secretaries throughout corporate America. Eventually she sold the company for $47 million. One good idea, acted upon, was the difference between poverty and wealth for Bette Nesmith. (p.s. Bette Nesmith's son, Michael Nesmith, later became a member of the 60's rock group, The Monkees.)

One Love

Sunshine, on the horizon

Over two young lovers, while its goin' down

Somewhere, the same sun rises,

On another two lovers, as the world goes around

Same scene, played over and over

Same sweet passion, same warm blood

Softly speaking, the universal language

So many lovers ... One love

One love, might make a difference

Might take the walls, and tear them down

One light, might keep on shining

If we take one love and we spread it around

Old religions, new generations

Caught in a struggle about a righteous way

Can't see the forest for all the frustrations

So many lyin', so many dyin' .. but only one love

Too many stories we've all come and shared

Too many roads untraveled, all reach the same end

Same scene played over and over and over now

Same young passion, same red blood

Universal language, goes unspoken

Too much hatred, too much hatred now ... but only one love

-Hootie & The Blowfish