Saturday, December 03, 2005

Miracles

Have you ever wondered, or give a thought, about this question : Does God still work miracles NOW? I personally don't think so, well at least not in the following context. It's very rare to see miracles such as those in the New Testament. We don't see the feeding of a crowd with only five loaves of bread and two fishes now. We don't see demons get cast out now (at least not like in Jesus' time). We don't see lame people walk miraculously, or the blind receive their sight now (I don't mean through operations or surgeries), what more to say the dead being raised? BUT, I definitely believe God works miracles in a different way now. Don't believe? Judge it for yourself at the end of this post.

It has been so many years since I started going to our youth group, Elim Youth. When I was much younger, nothing mattered to me, cause all I do was have fun, without a care in the world. But now, many things are different. I'm no longer just another normal Elim Youth-goer but I'm someone with responsibility. I'm in the committee. I have always considered our youth to be so-called "unlucky". Why? Well, I have always envied at other youth groups of other churches. They have everything. From quality to quantity. "Why?" I asked God. What is wrong with our youth group? Not to say we don't have quality, but the quantity. Everyone knows that quantity does not matter when compared to quality but isn't it discouraging when you attend the youth and the number is like 10?? It definitely is, especially when you're in the committee. Throughout the years, the numbers have changed. Not that it got bigger but instead, it got smaller. Now, stop for a second and think. A small number of people is already discouraging enough, what more to say when that small number grows smaller? I don't remember whether it was this year or last year but there was a time when only 5 people turned up for EY. 5. Only. I thought to myself at that point, how could this youth group survive??

But by the grace of God, a miracle happened. I truly and strongly believe in the power of prayer. I prayed (not sure about the others) and waited. I prayed again and waited. I thought God has given up on us. The only reason I could think of why there was no increment in our numbers is that God was not satisfied. The prayer I prayed - "Lord, please bless our Elim Youth. Pray that more people will come for our EY, Lord. Let us, the committee, first correct our attitudes and our lives before we try to bring more people to the EY. Strengthen us in our walk with you so that we can lead the other youths in EY." That's the gist of it. Well, God doesn't always answer prayers speedily and He didn't with mine either but He surely DID answer it after all. And this is the part which I claimed, was a miracle. Would you believe it or not, just lately (for the past two weeks), our numbers have gone up from barely over 15 to nearly over 30. That's twice the amount, people! TWICE!! Praise the Lord indeed!

Now if this is not a miracle to you, ladies and gentlemen, then I don't know wat is. I'd never really know why our numbers have not grown for the past years but two things I know for sure is that God answers prayers (in His time) and God works miracles even now. I know now that God's favour is upon the youth group. And that's the only and very reason why we are growing - in quantity, and not forgetting spiritually. May this story be an encouragement to all who read. Miracles have not extinct.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Wake Me Up When September Ends



Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends


Encoded By Clarence's Records

Here is a great song with great music, great lyrics and great video. I'd really wish to wake up when September ends. SPM trials is a stress! But think twice, I'd rather wake up on 3rd of December. Haha. Cheers.

Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

Music Mania


White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

Here are some happening albums(my favourite). Definitely worth your time. Few are unreleased but anyway there's always www.isohunt.com! Haha! Have a nice day!

~ The Rasmus - Hide From The Sun
~ Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
~ Nickel Creek - Why Should The Fire Die?
~ Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better... with Franz Ferdinand
~ The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
~ The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
~ The Killers - Hot Fuss
~ Green Day - American Idiot
~ Keane - Hopes & Fears
~ Gorillaz - Demon Days
~ Coldplay ~ X & Y
~ Crossfade - Crossfade
~ Crazy Frog - Crazy Hits
~ Staind - Chapter V
~ Seether - Karma & Effect
~ Cake - Motorcade Of Generosity
~ Cake - Prolonging The Magic
~ Cake - Fashion Nugget
~ Cake - Comfort Eagle
~ Cake - Pressure Chief

Ok that's about it. I know it's a hell lot but anyways you can not get it if you don't want. Just some food for thought. Out.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

The Dark Side Of National Service


Otto Von Bismarck

One of the things I've dreaded most ever since the NS programme started is that I'll be one of the 'lucky' ones selected. Today, that dread no longer hold me. For those that are still in the dark, here's the website to check -
I can't prove that this is final but rumours have it that it is. Well, if getting selected for NS is considered 'lucky', I'll rather have bad luck instead and indeed I got what I wanted - that is mere bad luck.

For me, NS is not only a waste of time, enery, cost and effort but also a factor in the rise of crime rates such as molestation, rape and so on. The government and people can babble all they want about the pros of NS but in reality, it's just another lie. Do people really learn anything in NS? Everything is made up - the advantages, the benefit - it's all a fantasy which the government desires. Well, the one and only advantage of NS which I can think of is it keeps you physically fit. This is because half of the programme involves physical activities. But then again, this so-called advantage brings harm too because it is these physical activities that creates opportunity for trainers/trainees to unleash their lust. So do we now consider this advantage an advantage still or disadvantage instead? Discipline? Independency? These are values which could never be attained in National Service.

I am not against the government but this is my view concerning the National Service. If the government would drop the idea of this programme and spend time and money on some more promising programmes instead, I am sure less troubles will occur and the sexual crime rates will definitely go down. I thank God I'm not chosen (I've been praying since last year =p) but if I was, I'll still accept it with a grateful heart. The only problem now is that I only assume that I'm not chosen. Who knows whether there is a second or maybe a third badge??

Chariot

Chariot - Gavin DeGraw

Staring at a maple leaf
Leaning on the mother tree
I said to myself we all lost touch
Your favorite fruit is chocolate covered cherries
And seedless watermelon ohhhh
Nothing from the ground is good enough
Body rised
It puts over me

[Chorus:]
Oh chariot your golden waves
are walking down upon this face
Oh chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your:
Strength

Remember seeking moons of birth
Rings made mirrors of the earth
The sun was just yellow energy
It is a living promise land
Even over fields of sand
City filled with burden
Cover me
From bringing back
More than a memory

[Chorus]

You'll be my vacation away from this place
You know what I want
Holding that cup,
It's pouring over the sides
Make me wanna spread my arms and fly

[Chorus]

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Michael's Acquittal


King Of Pop : Michael Jackson

It's been ages since i last wrote but something struck me to get this blog going on again. I'm not interested in writing stuff about myself here (e.g. my personal things or diary-like entries). Instead, I'm much more into things that concerns Christianity, current affairs, or just plainly my thoughts/opinions on some things (e.g. movie, book, song). What struck me to get this going on again (as you can read from the title) was the acquittal of the infamous King of Pop - Michael Jackson - from all counts. I've always been on his side for no particular reason and I believe he's innocent. I did not know of his acquittal till I heard from one my dumb friends (who calls him a child molester 24/7 in front of me). On hearing the news, I became overjoyed for words, again for no particular reason. I neither like Jackson's looks nor adore his style of dressing but yet i supported him all the time. Funny guy you may say but then again not that funny after all.

After some thought about this matter, I finally came to a conclusion that I was on Jackson's side due to how the defense presented their case. The way they rejected every single charge with indisputal logic and irrefutable evidence was the winning point in this case. On the other hand, Jackson's accuser had a rather weak credibility as she was portrayed by the defense as a welfare cheat who brought a trumped-up lawsuit against J.C. Penney, accusing store guards of roughing her and her family up. With just that, it's already a sure-win case for Jackson even from the very beginning.

Jackson is not my idol or what but I really hope that people will learn to respect him in the future and not simply labelling him a child molester. Every human is a sinner and even if Jackson was guilty, it is not right for us to look at him as a sick freak and pass rude comments about him. In the Bible, Jesus saved a woman who was about to be stoned by saying let him who has never sinned cast the first stone. Jesus also taught us in the book of Luke not to simply pass judgement or condemnation. Let us not judge people by the way the look (just because Jackson had surgery who turned him from a nigger into a white guy with pointy nose, it doesn't mean he's a monster) and if we could practice this, I'm sure the world will be a whole lot better place for us to live in.