I received another wonderful surprise as a follow up from all the surprises I received on my birthday. Although this one was not so subtle but I did not realize it until the last minute.
I received an awesome and cool watch from the JC leadership. Thanks, everyone! I really love the watch.
Thinking back even before camp there were a few indications that come to my memory that I would be receiving a watch as a gift.
1. On the morning of camp Alvin Phua asked me how I was going to tell time without a watch. I almost bought myself the $8 watches from Batam...
2. Alvin Phua asked me one night before sleeping what are the gifts that I've received so far.
3. Kelly Tan singing happy birthday one morning out of the blue when they were planning to give me the watch. I forgot why I did not get it that day but I thought Kelly was just being random.
4. Alvin Phua took out the bag that morning and said it was food for us to eat. I so wanted to eat it since we had not had breakfast at that time yet.
5. On the final day Alvin Phua took out the same bag. I thought it was still food and I still wanted to eat it.
6. Alvin Phua starts gathering all the leaders other than me and he did not do it discreetly. This was when I realized I was getting something.
Yup, somehow I did not realize all the things that happened had to do with my receiving the watch. Once again, thanks, everyone. The watch is super cool!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Empty Cup
For a few weeks now Jay Chou's "Qi Li Xiang" has been stuck in my head. Been years since I first listened to it but out of nowhere it suddenly keeps playing in my head...
Anyway, I watched Forbidden Kingdom a few weeks back, the movie with Jackie Chan and Jet Lee.
There was one scene in the movie that really struck me.
The protagonist was this kid who watched a lot of Kung-fu movies and was magically transported into another world or another time. It was the world or time of Sun Wukong the Monkey King.
Anyway, there was one scene after Jackie Chan's character agrees to train the protagonist to learn Kung-fu. Jackie was sitting around a camp fire and the protagonist initiates some small talk. Something about what he wants to learn next.
He was saying he wants to learn, "Buddha Palm" or "Tiger Strike" or "Rising Talon" (I'm just making up the names at this point), basically some of the stuff that he watched from Kung-fu shows. He was so full of this stuff in his head and was ranting at how he wants to learn it.
The protagonist was at this point holding a cup of water and drinking from it and the cup was full. Jackie's character then said something like, "You're cup is full. How can you learn when you are already full? Empty your cup!"
It was a metaphor but the protagonist took it literally and he threw away the water in the cup. At this Jackie's character sighs and says, "This is hopeless," and he walks away.
That particular scene struck me because it remind me of how sometimes we think we know everything about God and His love and there is no room to really experience it; we're so full of head knowledge that we miss out on having that everyday experience with Him.
There's no real experience because everything is head knowledge. Our cup is already full.
How then can we "empty our cup"? For me it was when I started expecting. I had to come to a point where I bring an empty cup before Him and ask Him to fill it. I do not want to fill it with my own head knowledge. I want Him to fill it with His touch; His word for me.
As the camp draws near I want to come expecting and not come in with a full cup. I cannot wait for Him to fill my empty cup!
Anyway, I watched Forbidden Kingdom a few weeks back, the movie with Jackie Chan and Jet Lee.
There was one scene in the movie that really struck me.
The protagonist was this kid who watched a lot of Kung-fu movies and was magically transported into another world or another time. It was the world or time of Sun Wukong the Monkey King.
Anyway, there was one scene after Jackie Chan's character agrees to train the protagonist to learn Kung-fu. Jackie was sitting around a camp fire and the protagonist initiates some small talk. Something about what he wants to learn next.
He was saying he wants to learn, "Buddha Palm" or "Tiger Strike" or "Rising Talon" (I'm just making up the names at this point), basically some of the stuff that he watched from Kung-fu shows. He was so full of this stuff in his head and was ranting at how he wants to learn it.
The protagonist was at this point holding a cup of water and drinking from it and the cup was full. Jackie's character then said something like, "You're cup is full. How can you learn when you are already full? Empty your cup!"
It was a metaphor but the protagonist took it literally and he threw away the water in the cup. At this Jackie's character sighs and says, "This is hopeless," and he walks away.
That particular scene struck me because it remind me of how sometimes we think we know everything about God and His love and there is no room to really experience it; we're so full of head knowledge that we miss out on having that everyday experience with Him.
There's no real experience because everything is head knowledge. Our cup is already full.
How then can we "empty our cup"? For me it was when I started expecting. I had to come to a point where I bring an empty cup before Him and ask Him to fill it. I do not want to fill it with my own head knowledge. I want Him to fill it with His touch; His word for me.
As the camp draws near I want to come expecting and not come in with a full cup. I cannot wait for Him to fill my empty cup!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Saved Memory
I can't believe it's been three and a half years since we all met.
I was surprised to find out that not all people who meet in JC keep in contact as much as we have.
I really love the photo album and messages that I received. It's probably the most touching gift I received this year.
Thanks, guys and gals. Though we may not meet as often as we used to I'm glad we're still able to just gather and still be comfortable with each other. That's very precious to me because I don't open up easily.
No words can express my thanks. The only way I can return your precious friendship is through prayer and I pray that my wish will be granted.
Many more memories to come, ya?
I was surprised to find out that not all people who meet in JC keep in contact as much as we have.
I really love the photo album and messages that I received. It's probably the most touching gift I received this year.
Thanks, guys and gals. Though we may not meet as often as we used to I'm glad we're still able to just gather and still be comfortable with each other. That's very precious to me because I don't open up easily.
No words can express my thanks. The only way I can return your precious friendship is through prayer and I pray that my wish will be granted.
Many more memories to come, ya?
Sunday, June 08, 2008
My 21
I really thank God for His undeserved, unmerited, unearned favour upon my life.
My 21st Birthday turned out to be a truly unforgettable one, filled with even more pleasant surprises.
My mom was asking me what time I would be leaving the house. She said she was asking for no apparent reason so I decided that it would be good if I stayed home to spend time with them.
I had baked spaghetti for breakfast and was looking forward to having that again for lunch.
At around 10.30 the doorbell rang. I thought it was my Dad and he forgot to bring his keys. I opened the door and saw that no one was there. I thought someone was playing a prank so I opened the gate and looked out into the lobby but no one was there. I was about to go back inside when Clarice, Johannah, and Katie came out from the staircase.
They brought me McDonald's breakfast but I already ate so I had that for lunch.
It was really a pleasant surprise and I was already thanking God for His favour. I felt really loved.
Even more surprises were in store for me.
Thanks, Coach Gary for the Starbucks coffee; an introduction to hot coffee drinks because I usually drink iced stuff.
After Arrow the CG gave me this really cool pink shirt. I will never wear pink unless it's that shirt because the shirt is just so cool. They made me try it out immediately. I went to the cubicle to change and when I came out Lanz was standing there with a piece of cloth in his hand.
I thought the shirt was cool enough but turned out there was something more. He blindfolded me and led me back into the auditorium. They made me leopard crawl a bit (I forgive you all for that) and then led me to the front of the auditorium. Oh, and I was made to hold this big piece of pink paper that says, "Today is my 21st B'day =)".
While I was blindfolded everyone in the auditorium just started singing a birthday song. What I love most about that experience is that they also sang "May the good Lord bless you". I was so privileged to just be able to receive blessings from everyone there. Really thankful that even people I do not know sang for me and blessed me. This ministry is really an awesome family and I'm truly thankful to be placed here.
Arrow Ministry rocks!!!
After that I was treated to dinner by Dave. Thanks, Dave! Haha. Carl's Jr. Haven't had that in a while.
I also received a blue shirt that had messages written on it from many people. Thank you all for that.
My thanks also goes out to all those who simply remembered. Even a simple greeting was sufficient a gift for me.
This 21st is really something that I will remember. I remember my 20th because it was so miserable. I was still in SISPEC then and that day we ran 6km.
I just felt like this 21st was the compensation for that. I've received so much so far and from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this past week the most memorable birthday of my life to date.
May God bless each and everyone of you as much and even more as you have been a blessing to mine.
My 21st Birthday turned out to be a truly unforgettable one, filled with even more pleasant surprises.
My mom was asking me what time I would be leaving the house. She said she was asking for no apparent reason so I decided that it would be good if I stayed home to spend time with them.
I had baked spaghetti for breakfast and was looking forward to having that again for lunch.
At around 10.30 the doorbell rang. I thought it was my Dad and he forgot to bring his keys. I opened the door and saw that no one was there. I thought someone was playing a prank so I opened the gate and looked out into the lobby but no one was there. I was about to go back inside when Clarice, Johannah, and Katie came out from the staircase.
They brought me McDonald's breakfast but I already ate so I had that for lunch.
It was really a pleasant surprise and I was already thanking God for His favour. I felt really loved.
Even more surprises were in store for me.
Thanks, Coach Gary for the Starbucks coffee; an introduction to hot coffee drinks because I usually drink iced stuff.
After Arrow the CG gave me this really cool pink shirt. I will never wear pink unless it's that shirt because the shirt is just so cool. They made me try it out immediately. I went to the cubicle to change and when I came out Lanz was standing there with a piece of cloth in his hand.
I thought the shirt was cool enough but turned out there was something more. He blindfolded me and led me back into the auditorium. They made me leopard crawl a bit (I forgive you all for that) and then led me to the front of the auditorium. Oh, and I was made to hold this big piece of pink paper that says, "Today is my 21st B'day =)".
While I was blindfolded everyone in the auditorium just started singing a birthday song. What I love most about that experience is that they also sang "May the good Lord bless you". I was so privileged to just be able to receive blessings from everyone there. Really thankful that even people I do not know sang for me and blessed me. This ministry is really an awesome family and I'm truly thankful to be placed here.
Arrow Ministry rocks!!!
After that I was treated to dinner by Dave. Thanks, Dave! Haha. Carl's Jr. Haven't had that in a while.
I also received a blue shirt that had messages written on it from many people. Thank you all for that.
My thanks also goes out to all those who simply remembered. Even a simple greeting was sufficient a gift for me.
This 21st is really something that I will remember. I remember my 20th because it was so miserable. I was still in SISPEC then and that day we ran 6km.
I just felt like this 21st was the compensation for that. I've received so much so far and from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this past week the most memorable birthday of my life to date.
May God bless each and everyone of you as much and even more as you have been a blessing to mine.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Surprise, Surprise
It's not even my birthday yet and already I've received some pleasant surprises.
A surprise birthday celebration from the JC Leaderson the 31st. Thanks, everyone. I was wondering why you all locked me out of my own house. It was really unexpected.
I came back home on Sunday and found a box on my bed. It was a pair of shoes. The kind that I was planning to buy. Courtesy of my brother. Thanks, bro.
I'm getting new spectacles and I've changed to my own line with 2000 free sms. Thanks Mom and Dad!
At around 2300 plus hours on Monday night my doorbell rings. I was busy transferring my contacts to the new phone that comes with the line. I thought it was my brother and he forgot his keys. I peeked into the hole and I saw two figures. I don't have my spectacles yet so I was not sure who it was. One of the guys was bobbing his head forward and back so I guess it must be someone I knew.
Only when I opened the door did I realize it was Oinky and Des.
I asked them what they were doing at my place at that time. They delivered their birthday present for me.
A Nintendo Wii! It came with the two games that I wanted to have too. Thanks, you guys. They wanted to bluff me by just showing me the two games at first and saying that the Wii is too much for now so slowly they'll get it. In the end they were hiding it. I could not believe it at first but after trying out both games yesterday I can safely say that the box was not filled with sand. =D
Thank you all! Did not expect to receive so many things days even before my birthday.
A surprise birthday celebration from the JC Leaderson the 31st. Thanks, everyone. I was wondering why you all locked me out of my own house. It was really unexpected.
I came back home on Sunday and found a box on my bed. It was a pair of shoes. The kind that I was planning to buy. Courtesy of my brother. Thanks, bro.
I'm getting new spectacles and I've changed to my own line with 2000 free sms. Thanks Mom and Dad!
At around 2300 plus hours on Monday night my doorbell rings. I was busy transferring my contacts to the new phone that comes with the line. I thought it was my brother and he forgot his keys. I peeked into the hole and I saw two figures. I don't have my spectacles yet so I was not sure who it was. One of the guys was bobbing his head forward and back so I guess it must be someone I knew.
Only when I opened the door did I realize it was Oinky and Des.
I asked them what they were doing at my place at that time. They delivered their birthday present for me.
A Nintendo Wii! It came with the two games that I wanted to have too. Thanks, you guys. They wanted to bluff me by just showing me the two games at first and saying that the Wii is too much for now so slowly they'll get it. In the end they were hiding it. I could not believe it at first but after trying out both games yesterday I can safely say that the box was not filled with sand. =D
Thank you all! Did not expect to receive so many things days even before my birthday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)