Here's a satellite shot of PD Beach Resort, where we had our church camp this year...
Friday, August 18, 2006
Google Earth Updates for Malaysia
For those of you who makes use of Google Earth, you can try checking out images for Malaysia as they have updated some of the locations with high resolution photos. They've included places like Melaka town, Port Dickson, some parts of Kuantan... however, still no Klang yet. I guess they're not interested in where bakuteh comes from.. hehehe... have fun!
Here's a satellite shot of PD Beach Resort, where we had our church camp this year...
Here's a satellite shot of PD Beach Resort, where we had our church camp this year...
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The Glory Of Your Name
The Glory Of Your Name
Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels
Verse 1:
It was in the way You came, As a lowly babe
That Your glory was displayed
And it was in the sacrifice
Of the purest life
It was in Your Father’s will obeyed
Chorus:
The perfect Lamb that was slain
And there’s the glory of Your name
No other one, no other way for me to see
You took my place, You are the way
And there’s the glory of Your name
Yes, there’s the glory of Your name
Verse 2:
It was in Your victory, risen for the world to see
That all who would believe could enter in
And it is in the passionate price
Now demanding all my life
And beating in the chambers of my heart
Bridge:
And there is nothing in this world
That could take the place of You
That could take the place of You my Jesus
And there is nothing in this life
That could take the place of
One life, one love One power to save us all
One hope, one truth
And one glory in it all
One glory in it all
©2004 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Rocketown Music, LLC. (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels
Verse 1:
It was in the way You came, As a lowly babe
That Your glory was displayed
And it was in the sacrifice
Of the purest life
It was in Your Father’s will obeyed
Chorus:
The perfect Lamb that was slain
And there’s the glory of Your name
No other one, no other way for me to see
You took my place, You are the way
And there’s the glory of Your name
Yes, there’s the glory of Your name
Verse 2:
It was in Your victory, risen for the world to see
That all who would believe could enter in
And it is in the passionate price
Now demanding all my life
And beating in the chambers of my heart
Bridge:
And there is nothing in this world
That could take the place of You
That could take the place of You my Jesus
And there is nothing in this life
That could take the place of
One life, one love One power to save us all
One hope, one truth
And one glory in it all
One glory in it all
©2004 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Rocketown Music, LLC. (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Fall
Of the four seasons that I've experienced in the US, fall, also known as autumn, has to be my favorite one. Since my first fall in 1998, I've loved that 3 months of the year, which takes place from early September till end November.
I adore the leaves on trees that changes from green to golden brown. And then, one by one, they will start to fall off and begin to fill the landscape with its color. The grass will also begin to change its color in preparation for the cold days ahead.
Another thing about fall that I like is the weather. It's comfortably cool. At least where I was anyway, that in Lincoln, Nebraska. You could either choose to put on a sweater, or not. Either way, the light breeze of cool air always brought refreshment, especially after enduring the hot days of summer.
The thought of Thanksgivings and Christmas also always bring a cheerful mood to me, knowing that days of celebration are ahead.
I miss those days...
I adore the leaves on trees that changes from green to golden brown. And then, one by one, they will start to fall off and begin to fill the landscape with its color. The grass will also begin to change its color in preparation for the cold days ahead.
Another thing about fall that I like is the weather. It's comfortably cool. At least where I was anyway, that in Lincoln, Nebraska. You could either choose to put on a sweater, or not. Either way, the light breeze of cool air always brought refreshment, especially after enduring the hot days of summer.
The thought of Thanksgivings and Christmas also always bring a cheerful mood to me, knowing that days of celebration are ahead.
I miss those days...
Monday, August 14, 2006
What is an IE?
Many times, people have often come to me and ask me what was my educational background. The moment I tell them that I took up "Industrial Engineering", I'd like get a blank stare from them. Often, they would reply asking "Is that like Mechanical Engineering?", I would say, yes and no.
My good friend Vai Seng recently sent me an article regarding this issue, and though long, I thought that it clearly describes what an Industrial Engineer is. This would be useful for those of you studying, who are still choosing between majors. Anyhow, here it is:
Student’s IE Answer to “What’s an IE?”
Industrial Engineer. A very impressive title. Slides easily over the tongue. But what is one? Must be an engineer, but what type?
“Industrial” brings to mind bellowing smokestacks, mighty gears turning, the screaming of a steam whistle, forges flaring, millions of fellow workers building a stronger nation, the American way of life!....all very soul stirring, what does an IE do?
First, let’s see if we can find a niche for the IE in the vast engineering disciplines. There are four main fields:
Chemical: Bubble-bubble, toil and trouble. If it's sticky, gooey, gummy, grubby, bubbly, they're in it;
Civil: Bridge builders, architects-to-be, road makers, stress and strain types;
Electrical: Zap! Crackle! Pop! AC/DC! Tiny black boxes with tiny black boxes
within;
Mechanical: Clink-clank-clunk! What makes the world go round: gears, spindles, sprockets, and spanners.
Others seem to consider the IE as a sadist whose biggest kick in life is making people work faster-for-lesser. “Efficiency Experts.” The management's stool pigeons. “Young wet-nosed punks to tell me, after 10 years with the company, that I'm working too slow!”
These people are entitled to their opinions, but for those that have no idea at all about the difference between an IE and the other engineers, probably 90 percent of the people in the world (89 percent of who have never heard of IE's), the following may help. It is an attempt to describe some of the many different parts of being an IE, stressing the difference between IE's and other engineers.
The IE brings a sense of business reality to the other engineers. The IE straddles the vast gap between practical managers and the development engineers. He is the guy who tells the EE that his solid gold, platinum plates, lithium-line relay contacts in a design are being replaced by tin ones. “Is that third brace really needed?” This is where the IE's training in the various engineering fields comes in handy. He is a translator. The engineer can communicate with an IE when he may be unable to show the non-engineering boss what he is trying to do. And visa-versa, the IE can bring the word from above to the engineers, reminding them that they are here to make money. Also, the IE has a sporting chance if the engineers try to snow him with technicalities; they do not know what he may know.
He is a step backer. He takes the proverbial one step back. He gets the big picture. Often people working intensively on the details of a project or design fail to see where they are going overall. While the ME is wondering if the right-torque framastan should have 5 or 6 spokes for the wombat model, the IE has decided that the fritler doesn't even need wombats.
An IE is a people buffer. Not only does he work with the bright shining, purring machines, but also with their hairy, ham-fisted operators. Is Joe Blow working as fast as possible with the thingie cutter? How much should he be paid? Per piece or not? Call in the stop watch people, the IE's. They will help you set up work standards for comparison, they will suggest ways of job evaluation, possible incentive plans to use, etc. Joe Blow may complain at first, but the IE's help him, too (if, admittedly, he's not part of the dead wood trimmed away), (that is life, Joe), as more efficient work is usually easier work.
Most IE's really don't go around pulling wings off flies, kicking old ladies' crutches, etc. They're are more or less human. They don't want Joe's job. They want to find faster, cheaper ways to do it. Also, safer ways, which brings up the next topic:
An IE is a people protector – safety. Keeping Joe Blow's paws out of the cutters “field of authority.” If not for Joe's sake, then it is at least more efficient. Many people consider safety as a joke –never take it seriously, like security. “Hah, the rope will hold, whatch’a worrin ‘bout?” IE's make Mr. Blow safe if he wants to be or not. The IE's ears perk up at the sound of “famous last words…”
An IE can be a plant planner. Building a factory? Should the tinker-tuners go near the fudge-forgers? Should there be a moving belt or a passageway? How much? How soon? Which way? Where? When? Don't ask the Civil Engineer – he's trying to keep the roof up; the ME's unsticking the door life; the EE is working on the lights, the ChemE is making smoke in the basement….well anyway, it is the IE who's had the training, he is the dude who coordinates and plans. It is his neck if the feather fluffer winds up next to the molasses mixer. His training includes human factors as well as traditional engineering knowledge.
The ME may see no reason why he shouldn't have the walls painted black to absorb heat, but the IE will also balance in the effect it will have on employee moral. Also, where will you put the plant. Once the plant is located and built, it is very expensive to correct any major errors. An IE would be a valuable asset in designing the assembly plant.
He can be a sampler. Who decides, out of 100 wombats, how many samples must be take to be 95 percent certain that 90 percent of the goods are good? A good IE can. He has been trained in statistics, probability, and reliability. Practical, applicable statistics, too, as opposed to what a math major would get. The other engineers? They may have at most 3 hours of statistical theory. Not much of a confidence there.
An IE is a betterwayer. She has “Is this the best way?” constantly rattling around in her head. Here, perhaps, the difference between and IE and the other engineers is less than noticeable. All engineers try to come up with better methods of making something happen. The ME's, EE's, etc., have the advantage of technical knowledge in their own fields, but the IE may be able to pull something from, say, the ChemE's and apply it to an ME's problem. The IE's big advantage comes in after the prototype is made. He knows the assembly line better than the other engineers, and can see a great use for the new No. 1
zoot sticker in the No. 3 wombat assembly line. The IE has ideas on what to do with the engineers' new ideas.
An IE is good at maximizing. If you want to ship your fresh wombats, and route A takes 3 hours at $4 per wombat, route B makes 6 hours at $2, and route C takes 4 hours at $3.50 each, and you lose $1 for each hour a wombat is outside, what is the best route? This example may be simple, but when you consider a plant's normal production of wombats per day, and all the various methods of transportation available, it gets very sticky.
Many people would be surprised at the elaborate formulas IE's use to solve these types of problems (when they are not pulling wings off of flies or winding their stop watches). You just can not pull the answer out of your hat. The other engineers could possibly “plug and shove” to get the answer, but an IE is trained at it.
One main difference between IE's and other engineers is ladder climability . An EE can look forward to being head of the EE department someday, but that is usually about it. The IE finds it a comparatively easy transfer to management; she usually has a foot half-way into management to begin with. Her background will be an asset. Also, she may be a bit more open minded that the EE, who would favor his old department. An IE's “old department” is the whole plant.
Another important difference is survivability. An IE is like a cat – he can always (well, more often than not) land on his metaphysical feet. His knowledge can be used in almost any field, from industry to hospitals, from military to research projects. If the rubber market drops out, he can jump to, say, aeronautics. The ChemE, however, will be caught in a fairly specialized field, and he may go down with the rubber duckies.
Now then, many IE's are not going to like the fact that we may have brushed over lightly or even skipped their pet IE subject, but it is hard to cover IE’ism completely, which brings up the next characteristics of Industrial Engineering.
Indefinablityness. One of the most frustrating characteristics of Industrial Engineering to some, but appealing to others, is that IE cannot be defined in a little capsule summery. There are no definite boundaries to IE. It is so wide, from management to time study, from quality control to design analysis, almost anyone can find her niche sooner or later.
An EE is an EE with fairly predictable limits, but when you say “I am an IE,” people still haven't gotten you pinned down, pegged away in a mental cubby hole. You are an unknown factor, they don't know what to expect.
The world needs non-superspecialized engineers – people who can get an overall view, bring together the specialists, and handle new, presently unforeseen and unpretrainiable events.
I hope it has given you at least some vague idea of what an IE is and how she differs from other engineers. I admit it is biased, if not a little aggressive, but then many an IE walk about with a large chip on her shoulder, because when she says, “I'm an IE!”, people still say, “Whatzat?”.
Based on: Ronald Smith contribution “A Student IE’s Answer to “What’s an IE?” in the book Intro to Industrial Engineering and Management Science by P.Hicks
My good friend Vai Seng recently sent me an article regarding this issue, and though long, I thought that it clearly describes what an Industrial Engineer is. This would be useful for those of you studying, who are still choosing between majors. Anyhow, here it is:
Student’s IE Answer to “What’s an IE?”
Industrial Engineer. A very impressive title. Slides easily over the tongue. But what is one? Must be an engineer, but what type?
“Industrial” brings to mind bellowing smokestacks, mighty gears turning, the screaming of a steam whistle, forges flaring, millions of fellow workers building a stronger nation, the American way of life!....all very soul stirring, what does an IE do?
First, let’s see if we can find a niche for the IE in the vast engineering disciplines. There are four main fields:
Chemical: Bubble-bubble, toil and trouble. If it's sticky, gooey, gummy, grubby, bubbly, they're in it;
Civil: Bridge builders, architects-to-be, road makers, stress and strain types;
Electrical: Zap! Crackle! Pop! AC/DC! Tiny black boxes with tiny black boxes
within;
Mechanical: Clink-clank-clunk! What makes the world go round: gears, spindles, sprockets, and spanners.
Others seem to consider the IE as a sadist whose biggest kick in life is making people work faster-for-lesser. “Efficiency Experts.” The management's stool pigeons. “Young wet-nosed punks to tell me, after 10 years with the company, that I'm working too slow!”
These people are entitled to their opinions, but for those that have no idea at all about the difference between an IE and the other engineers, probably 90 percent of the people in the world (89 percent of who have never heard of IE's), the following may help. It is an attempt to describe some of the many different parts of being an IE, stressing the difference between IE's and other engineers.
The IE brings a sense of business reality to the other engineers. The IE straddles the vast gap between practical managers and the development engineers. He is the guy who tells the EE that his solid gold, platinum plates, lithium-line relay contacts in a design are being replaced by tin ones. “Is that third brace really needed?” This is where the IE's training in the various engineering fields comes in handy. He is a translator. The engineer can communicate with an IE when he may be unable to show the non-engineering boss what he is trying to do. And visa-versa, the IE can bring the word from above to the engineers, reminding them that they are here to make money. Also, the IE has a sporting chance if the engineers try to snow him with technicalities; they do not know what he may know.
He is a step backer. He takes the proverbial one step back. He gets the big picture. Often people working intensively on the details of a project or design fail to see where they are going overall. While the ME is wondering if the right-torque framastan should have 5 or 6 spokes for the wombat model, the IE has decided that the fritler doesn't even need wombats.
An IE is a people buffer. Not only does he work with the bright shining, purring machines, but also with their hairy, ham-fisted operators. Is Joe Blow working as fast as possible with the thingie cutter? How much should he be paid? Per piece or not? Call in the stop watch people, the IE's. They will help you set up work standards for comparison, they will suggest ways of job evaluation, possible incentive plans to use, etc. Joe Blow may complain at first, but the IE's help him, too (if, admittedly, he's not part of the dead wood trimmed away), (that is life, Joe), as more efficient work is usually easier work.
Most IE's really don't go around pulling wings off flies, kicking old ladies' crutches, etc. They're are more or less human. They don't want Joe's job. They want to find faster, cheaper ways to do it. Also, safer ways, which brings up the next topic:
An IE is a people protector – safety. Keeping Joe Blow's paws out of the cutters “field of authority.” If not for Joe's sake, then it is at least more efficient. Many people consider safety as a joke –never take it seriously, like security. “Hah, the rope will hold, whatch’a worrin ‘bout?” IE's make Mr. Blow safe if he wants to be or not. The IE's ears perk up at the sound of “famous last words…”
An IE can be a plant planner. Building a factory? Should the tinker-tuners go near the fudge-forgers? Should there be a moving belt or a passageway? How much? How soon? Which way? Where? When? Don't ask the Civil Engineer – he's trying to keep the roof up; the ME's unsticking the door life; the EE is working on the lights, the ChemE is making smoke in the basement….well anyway, it is the IE who's had the training, he is the dude who coordinates and plans. It is his neck if the feather fluffer winds up next to the molasses mixer. His training includes human factors as well as traditional engineering knowledge.
The ME may see no reason why he shouldn't have the walls painted black to absorb heat, but the IE will also balance in the effect it will have on employee moral. Also, where will you put the plant. Once the plant is located and built, it is very expensive to correct any major errors. An IE would be a valuable asset in designing the assembly plant.
He can be a sampler. Who decides, out of 100 wombats, how many samples must be take to be 95 percent certain that 90 percent of the goods are good? A good IE can. He has been trained in statistics, probability, and reliability. Practical, applicable statistics, too, as opposed to what a math major would get. The other engineers? They may have at most 3 hours of statistical theory. Not much of a confidence there.
An IE is a betterwayer. She has “Is this the best way?” constantly rattling around in her head. Here, perhaps, the difference between and IE and the other engineers is less than noticeable. All engineers try to come up with better methods of making something happen. The ME's, EE's, etc., have the advantage of technical knowledge in their own fields, but the IE may be able to pull something from, say, the ChemE's and apply it to an ME's problem. The IE's big advantage comes in after the prototype is made. He knows the assembly line better than the other engineers, and can see a great use for the new No. 1
zoot sticker in the No. 3 wombat assembly line. The IE has ideas on what to do with the engineers' new ideas.
An IE is good at maximizing. If you want to ship your fresh wombats, and route A takes 3 hours at $4 per wombat, route B makes 6 hours at $2, and route C takes 4 hours at $3.50 each, and you lose $1 for each hour a wombat is outside, what is the best route? This example may be simple, but when you consider a plant's normal production of wombats per day, and all the various methods of transportation available, it gets very sticky.
Many people would be surprised at the elaborate formulas IE's use to solve these types of problems (when they are not pulling wings off of flies or winding their stop watches). You just can not pull the answer out of your hat. The other engineers could possibly “plug and shove” to get the answer, but an IE is trained at it.
One main difference between IE's and other engineers is ladder climability . An EE can look forward to being head of the EE department someday, but that is usually about it. The IE finds it a comparatively easy transfer to management; she usually has a foot half-way into management to begin with. Her background will be an asset. Also, she may be a bit more open minded that the EE, who would favor his old department. An IE's “old department” is the whole plant.
Another important difference is survivability. An IE is like a cat – he can always (well, more often than not) land on his metaphysical feet. His knowledge can be used in almost any field, from industry to hospitals, from military to research projects. If the rubber market drops out, he can jump to, say, aeronautics. The ChemE, however, will be caught in a fairly specialized field, and he may go down with the rubber duckies.
Now then, many IE's are not going to like the fact that we may have brushed over lightly or even skipped their pet IE subject, but it is hard to cover IE’ism completely, which brings up the next characteristics of Industrial Engineering.
Indefinablityness. One of the most frustrating characteristics of Industrial Engineering to some, but appealing to others, is that IE cannot be defined in a little capsule summery. There are no definite boundaries to IE. It is so wide, from management to time study, from quality control to design analysis, almost anyone can find her niche sooner or later.
An EE is an EE with fairly predictable limits, but when you say “I am an IE,” people still haven't gotten you pinned down, pegged away in a mental cubby hole. You are an unknown factor, they don't know what to expect.
The world needs non-superspecialized engineers – people who can get an overall view, bring together the specialists, and handle new, presently unforeseen and unpretrainiable events.
I hope it has given you at least some vague idea of what an IE is and how she differs from other engineers. I admit it is biased, if not a little aggressive, but then many an IE walk about with a large chip on her shoulder, because when she says, “I'm an IE!”, people still say, “Whatzat?”.
Based on: Ronald Smith contribution “A Student IE’s Answer to “What’s an IE?” in the book Intro to Industrial Engineering and Management Science by P.Hicks
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Limitation to kindness... :P
A couple is in bed sleeping when there's a rat-a-tat-tat on the door.
The husband rolls over and looks at the clock, and it's half past 3 in the morning.” I’m not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over. Then, a louder knock follows.
So he drags himself out of bed, goes downstairs, opens the door, and there's a man standing there. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk.
"Hi there," slurs the stranger, "Can you give me a push?" "No, get lost. It's half past three and I was in bed," says the man as he slams the door. He goes back up to bed and tell his wife what happened and she says, "That wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby-sitter and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost?"
"But the guy was drunk," says the husband.
"It doesn't matter," says the wife.” He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him." So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs.
He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere,
He shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push?"And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please." So, still being unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Where are you?" The drunk replies, "Over here, on the swing."
The husband rolls over and looks at the clock, and it's half past 3 in the morning.” I’m not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over. Then, a louder knock follows.
So he drags himself out of bed, goes downstairs, opens the door, and there's a man standing there. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk.
"Hi there," slurs the stranger, "Can you give me a push?" "No, get lost. It's half past three and I was in bed," says the man as he slams the door. He goes back up to bed and tell his wife what happened and she says, "That wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby-sitter and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost?"
"But the guy was drunk," says the husband.
"It doesn't matter," says the wife.” He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him." So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs.
He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere,
He shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push?"And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please." So, still being unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Where are you?" The drunk replies, "Over here, on the swing."
Christian Quotation of the Day - August 13, 2006
Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment: for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul is unemployed and the body is at ease; no easy, healthful, idle person was ever chaste if he could be tempted; but of all employments, bodily labor is the most useful, and of the greatest benefit for driving away the Devil.
... Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
-- 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 (NIV)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
'A History of Conflict' - Israel and the Palestinians
Check out this link to learn more about the history behind the Middle East conflict. This summary was put together by BBC.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
A Quote
Got this from my inbox today, from CQOD (Christian Quotation Of the Day)
Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust, not in the living God but in dying men. The unbeliever denies the self-sufficiency of God and usurps attributes that are not his. This dual sin dishonors God and ultimately destroys the soul of man.
... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Knowledge of the Holy
[1961]
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
-- Hebrews 3:12 (ESV)
Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust, not in the living God but in dying men. The unbeliever denies the self-sufficiency of God and usurps attributes that are not his. This dual sin dishonors God and ultimately destroys the soul of man.
... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Knowledge of the Holy
[1961]
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
-- Hebrews 3:12 (ESV)
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
A lesser heard viewpoint
Here's a lesser heard viewpoint of Israel's stand, especially in the midst of the current Israeli - Lebanese conflict. Local and international media views tend to be very biased and one sided. Read this and make up your own mind.
Here's the speech titled "Counter-Terrorism Speaks Out" by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese.
Don't miss the interview.
Here's the speech titled "Counter-Terrorism Speaks Out" by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese.
Don't miss the interview.
Love
1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV)
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
As stated. No comments needed. Do you have love?
Sunday, August 06, 2006
New Every Morning
In Lamentations 3:22 - 23, it says:
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
(NKJV)
Isn't it great that we have a God that gives us new mercies every day? It is God's mercy that we have this morning to wake up to, and this day to live.
It's Monday, and I pray that your week ahead will be one where you can constantly see the mercies of God working in your life!
Carpe Diem!
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
(NKJV)
Isn't it great that we have a God that gives us new mercies every day? It is God's mercy that we have this morning to wake up to, and this day to live.
It's Monday, and I pray that your week ahead will be one where you can constantly see the mercies of God working in your life!
Carpe Diem!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Still
These days I dread to read the news. I feel that to some extent, I have been desensitized to a point where other people's grievance no longer affect me. Finding myself in news websites, I read the following:
"Iraq market massacre leaves 48 dead"
"Indonesia tsunami toll 231, hunt on for more"
"Attacks hit Israel, Lebanon
-Hezbollah rockets rain on northern Israel
-Loud explosions in Beirut's southern suburbs
-170 reported dead in Lebanon; 24 Israelis dead"
I try getting myself to feel sympathy and compassion for the dead and the injured, but I know its not sincere. I try anger, but it doesn't seem to do anything either. So, often, I'm just left the feelings of indifference, and still trying to find meaning in this chaotic mess we call "earth".
I ask questions like "when do I react? only when it begins to affect me?" or "where shall i stand on issues like these?" The questions keep coming, but the answers that I believe would bring consolation, or closure, still seem distant.
At times, I feel guilty to indulge myself in the better things of life, like watching movies and fellowshiping with friends. This is because behind my mind, runs continuously the consciousness that people somewhere out there are suffering, and are perishing. I ask myself how could i enjoy while others are struggling to survive.
Still, I'm left with questions. No answers. Sometimes I ask God where is He in all these. I guess even if He decided to tell me, I wouldn't be able to comprehend it. But faith perseveres. That's all I have. It's what that keeps me sane. Ignorance and apathy can only bring one so far, and I've no plans to go down that road.
Reuben Morgan from Hillsong Church Australia penned this song, "Still", which I find very comforting especially in times like this. I believe that God is calling all of us, that in times of chaos, we need to hang on to God, and learn to be still.
Still
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan
Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust
Jesus, thank you.
"Iraq market massacre leaves 48 dead"
"Indonesia tsunami toll 231, hunt on for more"
"Attacks hit Israel, Lebanon
-Hezbollah rockets rain on northern Israel
-Loud explosions in Beirut's southern suburbs
-170 reported dead in Lebanon; 24 Israelis dead"
I try getting myself to feel sympathy and compassion for the dead and the injured, but I know its not sincere. I try anger, but it doesn't seem to do anything either. So, often, I'm just left the feelings of indifference, and still trying to find meaning in this chaotic mess we call "earth".
I ask questions like "when do I react? only when it begins to affect me?" or "where shall i stand on issues like these?" The questions keep coming, but the answers that I believe would bring consolation, or closure, still seem distant.
At times, I feel guilty to indulge myself in the better things of life, like watching movies and fellowshiping with friends. This is because behind my mind, runs continuously the consciousness that people somewhere out there are suffering, and are perishing. I ask myself how could i enjoy while others are struggling to survive.
Still, I'm left with questions. No answers. Sometimes I ask God where is He in all these. I guess even if He decided to tell me, I wouldn't be able to comprehend it. But faith perseveres. That's all I have. It's what that keeps me sane. Ignorance and apathy can only bring one so far, and I've no plans to go down that road.
Reuben Morgan from Hillsong Church Australia penned this song, "Still", which I find very comforting especially in times like this. I believe that God is calling all of us, that in times of chaos, we need to hang on to God, and learn to be still.
Still
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan
Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust
Jesus, thank you.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Dad
Dad turned 60 last Thursday. That's 5 cycles in the Chinese calendar. Just found out that he will be moving back from PG in 2 weeks time. He has finally decided to take his retirement seriously. I think what is strange for him and even for us back here is that he is finally coming home.
Dad left for PG almost 13 years ago, where he initially while working there, stayed in a hotel provided by the company, then later on renting with a colleague, and finally buying a small property there. He made trips back home at least once a month, in which I believe that the travel between PG and here took alot of his time, and his life as well. Life for me was strange, because I would come home and after sometime, did not expect him to be there anymore. I think it affected mom too, as she had to learn how to be independent.
My relationship became a little deeper with dad when I went over to the states to study. Somehow, email has allowed us to reveal alot to each other boldly. We shared alot about life, about family and even about future plans.
When I came back, dad was still hundreds of miles away. His occasional trips home was often enquired by me of when it will end, that is when he will be going back to PG. It's not that I wanted him to leave, its just that I knew his trips back will always have an end.
Well, in 2 weeks time, dad will finally come home. For good. It's gonna be a big change for him, leaving the surroundings that he has gotten accustomed for the past 13 years. It will be a big change for us too, as dad will be back home for good. No more travelling bags, no more farewell dinners, and no more questions of when he's going home. Because, he's home. At last.
Dad, thanks for everything. For the sacrifices, tolerance, and understanding me when I could not understand myself. You will eternally be my hero! Welcome home.
Dad left for PG almost 13 years ago, where he initially while working there, stayed in a hotel provided by the company, then later on renting with a colleague, and finally buying a small property there. He made trips back home at least once a month, in which I believe that the travel between PG and here took alot of his time, and his life as well. Life for me was strange, because I would come home and after sometime, did not expect him to be there anymore. I think it affected mom too, as she had to learn how to be independent.
My relationship became a little deeper with dad when I went over to the states to study. Somehow, email has allowed us to reveal alot to each other boldly. We shared alot about life, about family and even about future plans.
When I came back, dad was still hundreds of miles away. His occasional trips home was often enquired by me of when it will end, that is when he will be going back to PG. It's not that I wanted him to leave, its just that I knew his trips back will always have an end.
Well, in 2 weeks time, dad will finally come home. For good. It's gonna be a big change for him, leaving the surroundings that he has gotten accustomed for the past 13 years. It will be a big change for us too, as dad will be back home for good. No more travelling bags, no more farewell dinners, and no more questions of when he's going home. Because, he's home. At last.
Dad, thanks for everything. For the sacrifices, tolerance, and understanding me when I could not understand myself. You will eternally be my hero! Welcome home.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Tragedy
179 or more people died today in a train bomb explosion at Mumbai, India, while hundreds others are left wounded or struggling to stay alive. For those who were there before it happened, I'm pretty sure that they were thinking that this is just another day. But they were wrong. It turned out to be one of the worst days of their lives. For us, today is just another day. Why? Because Mumbai is so far away, and soon, this will be old news. How many people need to die first before we come to grips with the truth, that our life is just as fragile as everybody's else? How many limbs need to get blown off before we learn how to love others as our self?
Sorry for the rant. I'm just having a lousy day, and I'm feeling really sad over those people who perished just like that. No warnings, no second chances. Just like that.
Sigh.
Sorry for the rant. I'm just having a lousy day, and I'm feeling really sad over those people who perished just like that. No warnings, no second chances. Just like that.
Sigh.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Yasmin
Sepet is one film that has really captured my heart. Yasmin Ahmad who directs this local production has managed to make a memorable epic depicting the realities of life here in Malaysia. I guess the reason why it captured so much of my attention is because of its frankness (in the movie's dialogues) in a country where racial discrimination goes hush hush, and often never shared from the heart between different colored people.
Yasmin made another film this year, titled "Gubra". I've not gotten a chance to watch this yet, but will probably do so soon.
Truth is, I'm actually blogging "parallel-ly" with Angeline. When I saw the title of her entry, it reminded me of the person, and not the pill.
Lame-o. I know. It's Tuesday.
Yasmin made another film this year, titled "Gubra". I've not gotten a chance to watch this yet, but will probably do so soon.
Truth is, I'm actually blogging "parallel-ly" with Angeline. When I saw the title of her entry, it reminded me of the person, and not the pill.
Lame-o. I know. It's Tuesday.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Firefox slow?
I usually don't do technical blogs, but I was trying to figure out why my Firefox browser's been sluggish at work and at home, and I found a 'fix' while googling...
- Type "about:config" into the address bar and hit enter. Scroll down and look for the following entries:
- Alter the entries as follows:
- Set "network.http.pipelining" to "true"
Set "network.http.proxy.pipelining" to "true" - Set "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" to some number like 30. This means it will make 30 requests at once.
- Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set its value to "0". This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Viva Italia!!
For all those of you who supported France, well, a big raspberry for you.. hahaha.. Can't believe Italy won. I'm surprised. I guess the Godfather and his band of mafia can make things happen...
Anyways, to be honest, I did not support Italy from the start. In fact, I'm surprised they even got to the finals. So kudos to the inventors of pizza, pasta, the Mona Lisa, the leaning tower of Pisa, and the Ferraris! And to those who are still crying over their escargot and french loaves, don't worry, there's always another World Cup coming up... (and maybe next time u'd smart to choose the winning team!)
The World Cup has come and gone. The Italians has conquered the game, and yet today, its just another day. Ho hum... now I know why I'm never into football or soccer, or whatever...
Anyways, to be honest, I did not support Italy from the start. In fact, I'm surprised they even got to the finals. So kudos to the inventors of pizza, pasta, the Mona Lisa, the leaning tower of Pisa, and the Ferraris! And to those who are still crying over their escargot and french loaves, don't worry, there's always another World Cup coming up... (and maybe next time u'd smart to choose the winning team!)
The World Cup has come and gone. The Italians has conquered the game, and yet today, its just another day. Ho hum... now I know why I'm never into football or soccer, or whatever...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
World Cup? What's that?
After almost a month of nations gathering in Germany to kick a piece of round object that retails RM400.00 at our local sport stores, it boils down to this, who will win the 'World Cup'? To the dissapointment of many of my friends and colleagues, football has been one of the things that I can do, and live without. I've tried to get myself hyped up with the sport, but I just couldn't. Hence, it would be a waste of your time to ask me to wake up at 3:00am to watch on the telly a bunch of men in shorts running around while millions jeering them to kick the ball in some direction. Forgive me. I'm not a sports person. No F1, no NBA, no PGA, no Thomas Cup, no Wimbledon...
Even with the recent World Cup going on, I was still trying to figure out who Ronaldo was. I first found out that he was a player for Brazil, but then later on, I found out there's another Ronaldo from Portugal. I'm still confused who's who. Then, there's this guy called Ronaldinho. Why do they all have names there are so similar??!!.. sigh..I am hopelessly lost for things that are sports related. Forgive me.
Anyways, all I know now is that France will meeting up with Italy in the finals. I've not the slightest clue who the players are in French or Italian team, but ask me who I'd vote for, I'll say this: Italy. Why? Cause I prefer pasta over escargot. Again, forgive me. :P
Even with the recent World Cup going on, I was still trying to figure out who Ronaldo was. I first found out that he was a player for Brazil, but then later on, I found out there's another Ronaldo from Portugal. I'm still confused who's who. Then, there's this guy called Ronaldinho. Why do they all have names there are so similar??!!.. sigh..I am hopelessly lost for things that are sports related. Forgive me.
Anyways, all I know now is that France will meeting up with Italy in the finals. I've not the slightest clue who the players are in French or Italian team, but ask me who I'd vote for, I'll say this: Italy. Why? Cause I prefer pasta over escargot. Again, forgive me. :P
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
I've been busy...
...with wedding preparations! Angeline came back for 10 days last month and we made full use of those 10 days to get our photos taken, decide on furniture, and of course, meet her parents, among many other things. For those of you who don't know, I'm getting married on the 11th of November this year. Maybe I'll blog about some events that led us to this decision at another time.
For now, here're some of the photos from our pre-wedding photo shoot-out. They're unedited, meaning you can pin point pimples, and other imperfections. But I still think they look good, considering that we're not professional models.. hahaha..
Any comments? Enjoy!
For now, here're some of the photos from our pre-wedding photo shoot-out. They're unedited, meaning you can pin point pimples, and other imperfections. But I still think they look good, considering that we're not professional models.. hahaha..
Any comments? Enjoy!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
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