Is this what we called Family?

I was shock to read this from a local newspaper, an elderly women died for 3 days before being found by her son in the house. She stayed with her son's family in a four room flat in Singapore. This was published in Xi min or Lian He Wan Pao two nights ago.

How can her death go unnoticed for so many days which I cannot understand. Although my family is not very traditional but it is always a habit to inform the elderly that we are back when we reached home and asked them how's their day. Even during the time when my grandfather was lying on the bed and could not walk, we will go to his room and check on him and my aunt will attend to his daily meals and needs.

Therefore it is no excuse for the family not to notice her death. So what is the difference from having a family and living alone, especially to the older generation which still believe that having family around you at your death bed. But for this poor women, staying with her family is as good as none.

Everyday there are one or two bizarre news that will really question us as a human? What is happening to us?

PowerSuite....my milestone in life

If there is no PowerSuite, I will not have a brunch of good friends now.
If there is no PowerSuite, I wonder what will I be doing now? My job experience might have change... will I be doing what I am doing now?

Guess it's about time to let it go.....so I am writting this now to put a full stop.

Someone once says

Man's time is yesterday as we keep looking back...and comparing it with today
God's time is today as the bible has say that we should do and try our very best for Today
Devil's time is tomorrow, always tempting us to be lazy and push things till tomorrow.

Thus I shall give Thanks to Yesterday and live my Life for Today.

Woes and Worries

GDP is less than 4 – 5 percent forecast this year for Singapore. Cost of living going up and all expenses are growing except my pay. Toxic milk scare, avoid all dairy products from china. Receive sms from friend...what a long list of ‘Do not eat item’
1. M & M's
2. Snickers
3. Mento's yoghurt bottle
4. Dove Chocolate
5. Oreo Wafer sticks
6.. Monmilk
7. Dutch Lady sterilised milk
8. Wall's all natural mango
9. Mini poppers ice cream
10. Manum ice cream
11. Moo sandwich ice cream
12. Mini Cornetto
13. Youcan ice cream

I wonder what will happen next? Life is already so stressful with my growing age and lack of luck in love...but I feel recharge after reading this:

(Luke chapter 12 verse 23 to 32)
Is not life more than food, and the body than its clothing? 24 Give thought to the ravens; they do not put seeds into the earth, or get together grain; they have no store-houses or buildings; and God gives them their food: of how much greater value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by taking thought is able to make himself any taller? 26 If, then, you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you troubled about the rest? 27 Give thought to the flowers: they do no work, they make no thread; and still I say to you, Even Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God gives such clothing to the grass in the field, which today is living, and tomorrow will be burned in the oven, how much more will he give clothing to you, O men of little faith? 29 And do not give overmuch thought to your food and drink, and let not your mind be full of doubts. 30 For the nations of the world go in search of all these things: but your Father has knowledge that you have need of them. 31 But let your chief care be for his kingdom, and these other things will be given to you in addition. 32 Have no fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Human – Nothing but disappointment

Looking at the recent case of toxic milk in China, it disturbs me deeply. Once again the greed of mankind has produced another tragic. What is happening to us? Although this is happening in China and not in Singapore but I still feel sick after reading all the news on the tainted milk added with melamine, normally used in making plastics.

Will we learn our lesson? Guess not….Mad cow disease had barely pass and now this.
For so many century, human without fail fall again and again due to greed, ignorance etc...Like the bible has say, all man are sinners and we will be disappointed when we look at deeds of man. May God have mercy on us and keep us safe always, Amen.

It just dawn on me

For those fellows Christian out there...Do you ever feel like God is talking to you through thoughts? How do you know it is not your mind playing tricks on you? How do you know this is a message from God?

I think this is the challenge we all faced but the Bible did reveal that God will make himself known to us so I guess this is the same for his message and the way he communicate to us.

Something funny happened in church today...they actually play pop song during sermon and although what was shared and preached today is about sharing in the words of Christ and the verse used are as follow:

John: Chapter 15 verse 1 – 17 and Philippians: Chapter 2 verse 1 -13

Maybe I was enjoying this song by Tension – “I’ll be with you “during the sermon but these song lyrics jus caught my attention:

I'll be with you, yeah...　whenever you go朋友no no no
往往快乐就在你我的眼前　却因为悲观什么都看不见
幸福并不是只会存在一瞬间　抬起头来不要再自我可怜
你要发现生命的珍贵　Everything is coming your way
或许我想得太多　让自己好累　
就怕这个不对　那个不对　做的不对爱的不对　
失去了信心面对　你给我力量点燃心中的希望
Remember I'll be with you　You'll be with me
伸出你只手我就随时会出现　
You know I'll be with youYou'll be with me　
心里的梦想都在你眼前出现
在你梦想出现　爱它一直存在你的生命中
　不要因为害怕心里只有痛
That's right 恩瑞　重担交给我不要压力这么重
放行自己才能追寻你的梦　你要发现生命的珍贵
Everything is coming your way　或许我想得太多
让自己好累　就怕这个不对　那个不对　做的不对　爱的不对
失去了信心面对　你给我力量点燃心中的希望
Remember I'll be with you　You'll be with me
伸出你只手我就随时会出现　You know I'll be with you
心里的梦想都在你眼前出现
终於明白曾经失去什么　我的爱不再沉没听见你呼唤我
Rap: Hey! I'll be there for you brother and you'll be there for me
我将会记住这份友情永远不会忘记So counton me
每当你需要我的精神鼓励
And put your trust in me because you gonna believe that I'll be with you
陪你渡过大风大浪 Don't worry about a thing
提起脚步一道踏上这段路旅途有起有落有快乐有悲伤
提起你的胸膛跟我们共同追逐梦想with me
每一天　每一夜　每一分钟　每一秒
I'll be watching over you　I'll be with you
Say the words 我随时就会出现　在你身边　 Standing-by
your side　Remember I'll be with you　You'll be with me
伸出你只手我就随时会出现　You'll know I'll be

It just dawn on me that this song was written from Jesus point of view. Okie...maybe you guys think I am funny to think that way but in the lyrics about being with you every day every nite every min and every sec...hello...please tell me who can do it? As a parent or a husband or girlfriend, you can’t do that so tell me who on earth can do that?

Comparing my life with Jesus

Ya….that guy who got himself kill in that movie...’Passion of the Christ’...or was he the guy that married Mary Magdalene in that book ‘The Da Vinci Code’? So many arguments have revolved around him and so many other people got famous because of Him...at least Dan Brown did.

According to the Bible, He started preaching at the age of 30 and died on the cross at 33. In such a short time...3 and half years, why is this one man have such a great impact on us in our world today?

Did you know the meaning of BC and AD which always appear in the years? I found this in one of the website:

“It is commonly thought that BC stands for "before Christ" and AD stands for "after death." This is only half correct. How could 1 B.C. have been "before Christ" and 1 A.D. been "after death"? BC does stand for "before Christ." AD actually stands for the Latin phrase "anno domini" which means "in the year of our Lord." The B.C. / A.D. dating system is not taught in the Bible. It actually was not fully implemented and accepted until several centuries after Jesus' death.

It is interesting to note that the purpose of the BC / AD dating system was to make the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. However, when the B.C. / A.D. system was being calculated, they actually made a mistake in pinpointing the year of Jesus' birth. Scholars later discovered that Jesus was actually born in around 4-6 BC, not 0 AD. That is not the crucial issue. The birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ are the "turning points" in world history. It is fitting, therefore, that Jesus Christ be the separation of "old" and "new." BC was "before Christ" and since His birth, we have been living "in the year of our Lord." Philippians 2:10-11, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Wow...this really got me to question who this guy is. Died at the age of 33 and was able to have such an impact to the world...amazing.

What is Life and it’s purpose?

I’m not sure about you….but there was a time that I keep asking myself, why am I here? What am I doing with my Life? Spend meaninglessly for so long….to do something great? Nay….not possible when my studies just barely make it....I am just a nobody.

This question keep popping up during my teens, my early twenties and now….at my thirties.

Looking back….I had not done anything great…and did no one harm so far…so live was pretty ordinary and sometimes I will compare with people that I seen on TV…wow…how they did that….those kids at such a young age, they got gold medal in the Olympic. They have such drive and aim in their live. Do you know your life purpose when you are born? How did one know?

Before & After (Part 2)

Betrayal

At certain stage of life, you might meet someone that betray your trust and so did I.

During my teens, I have a crush for this guy for quite some time and I confine in a galfriend of mine. She was a classmate whom I met in Shatec and we were quite close at that time. We always hang out together thus at one occasion, she was introduce to him by me. She told me that she will help me in this so I was very happy. They start to hang out together and I never suspect anything.

During a class chalet, she brought him along and introduces him to others as her boyfriend. I was shock and lost for words ...It is the first betrayal I encountered.

This is nothing compare to the famous betrayal of Jesus by his disciple, Judas (Pls refer to Mark Chapter 14 verse 43 – 52).

Love

I have loved this person for the past 12 years. He got married 2 years back and may God bless and watch over him and his family.

When I first met him, he had jus broke up with his fiancée. She is a Christian jus like me. They were going to be married but broke up at the very last minute as he was not able to convert to Christianity. He is a free thinker and has a strong belief in no one but himself. Everything was good and seems perfect about him except of his belief.

I was not a strong Christian then and even hate my own religion for keeping us apart. We decided that time and being away from each other will be better for us thus he got married and settled down 2 years back.

Many friends say that I am foolish to let my happiness slip away but none knew it better than me. I have no confident in relationship as I have seen many much loving ones had failed. Can anyone guarantees a marriage or love that last forever?

Is there such a thing called true love? Like the one we see in movies or dramas? So perfect but so unreal and why do the people fear even in the movies or dramas? They have the perfect love but yet they still fear…..fear that death will keep them apart...fear that one gives up his or her own dreams to be with each other or even life for each other.

Isn’t this the great love that we are looking for in our own life? But why do we feel so empty or so hallow after watching such a movie or dramas of great love…..why do we feel so drain of emotion like the sky has no more colors but grey and the food just do not taste good anymore.

I am still searching for an answer but I knew that without God’s blessing, all kinds of worldly love will not last no matter how good it seems in the beginning.

For the bible has say in Romans 5 from verse 1 “Let us be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 Through whom, in the same way, we have been able by faith to come to this grace in which we now are; and let us have joy in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the knowledge that trouble gives us the power of waiting; 4 And waiting gives experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope does not put to shame; because our hearts are full of the love of God through the Holy Spirit which is given to us.”

In short, the love we received from God is something that will fill us up and will never left us empty.

Before & After (Part1)

My whole family was baptized when I was barely 1 thus I can say that I was brought up in a Christian family. I don’t see a difference being raised up in a Christian family or any other family, there are still the norms….what you should do and what you should not do. The only differences I felt was that Sunday was always busy. Off to church in the morning and afternoon family gathering.

During my teens as conflict begin between me and my family, I start to dread Sunday. Why can’t I sleep late on Sunday, why can’t I watch my fav TV drama, why do I have to face the nagging of my relatives…..why, why why? There are so many reasons to stay at home or meeting friends that keeps me away from church.

Working became the best excuse in the later stage as I hate going to church. There are so many things out there that seem to be more important to me and church becomes my last priority. I start to drift away from God, from my family and chase after things that I thought were more important but I have no joy.

My relationship with God

It was not much to speak of…..pray only when in need, like before exams. The stories I know by heart from Sunday schools are just interesting stories. All these religious stuff are only guide lines like rules that you go by in life so that we are normal and behave the right way in society. In fact at some point, I thought all religion is the same so why do Christians go to church every Sunday ….there are other religion which require less of our time. Free thinker is the best as it requires no commitment at all. I only believe in myself.

My relationship with my Parents

I hate them at a stage.....they jus do not understand. There is no point in any form of communication; it is jus a waste of time. They love my sister more than me. I am a total failure in their eyes. I will always compare myself with my sister, why do mum and dad bring her to the zoo, to places of interest which I have never been. Why did the family outing became them and without me? Once I asked my mum, why there is double standard in our upbringing and her reply was....because I was ill treated by my baby sitter therefore she do not trust my sister in the care of a baby sitter anymore. I was shock by the reply……since I was the one being ill treated by the baby sitter so shouldn’t I be in a better care now? Guess they think that I am too old for such attention, I was 14 then.

It was the feeling of being abandon by my parents because I was not worthy. I hate them and I hate myself too. We have rows almost every day and I felt disgusted...who can love you if your parents don’t. The more abuse I hurl at them, I felt more hurt and angry and I do not understand why...shouldn’t I felt better?

Looking back now, I see the grace and the work of God’s miracles. At many times in those dark hours, I seek death but I did not succeed thus am able to laugh and feel the joy of life now. You might ask, did I truly able to put down the hatred I had and love my family again...Yes! I am able to love them again thru my Lord Jesus Christ.

For every mortal man sins...as we are born sinners. No one is perfect as we tend to hurt one another unintentionally. Parents are not saints, they will also make mistake and so do I. I have hurt them too as much as they have hurt me. By letting the hate goes, I feels lighter, happier than before. So my friend, did you hate someone before? Are you able to let it go?

Why Life begin at 33

God will help those who help themselves…..this is so true. The world does not revolve around you and you only thus you have to make an effort to change it if you want it to be better.

As mention earlier, this blog is to share ideas and thoughts therefore why do life begin at 33? Have you seen Passion of the Christ? Or read the book by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code? Have you ever wonder who this guy Jesus is and why are there movies, books about him? You might be thinking that I am trying to preach here…..No, this is not my intention. I am jus sharing my life here and questions that bug me before and answers I found. Maybe the same question troubles you too……so what was your answer? Was it the same or you have your own answer and can share it with me.

Back to age 33….this is the age that Jesus dies on the cross; you properly have seen it in Passion of the Christ. So why do life begin at 33? To me…..this is the beginning for our life. If He had not died at the age of 33, my life would not have begun. Sounds funny huh? Maybe you can understand what I am trying to say through my later post.

But before my next posting….can someone share with me the difference between happiness and joy? Is there a difference?

Life before 33 (Part 2)

I started working at the age of 19. My ‘O’ level result sucks thus I am not able to get into any poly. I have a Hotel Management cert but it was not even comparable to ‘O’ level in international standard but I did learn something out of it…….customer service….something that I enjoy doing and became the core of my career path. After much twist and turn, I ended in Abacus Travel System. A place which I make lots of friends and gradually regained my confident in myself.

Turning Point

I have decided to go back to my studies and this is the begining of my turning point. Someone once told me that if you are at the bottom of anything, you have no choice but to take orders from people above even when you feel that the order is not right but with knowledge and capability, you will have more choices in your life.

This motivated me to pick myself up and try to learn more so that I can have more choices in my future.....without any qualification, your job choices are very limited no matter how hard you work.

You cannot teach a man anything; You can only help him find it within himself
Galileo {1564-1642}

Life before 33 (Part 1)

I am not 33 this year but I will be soon if nothing goes wrong.....hahaha but my purpose here is to share my life before 33.


Family background


Born the eldest to my parents who are Singaporean. Both side of my grandparents are from China, mainland Canton province so that makes me a pure cantonese....kind of rare for Singapore now as we are quite well mix like rojak. I have 2 younger sisters difference by 11 and 14 in age. “Wow” was always the respond I get whenever the age gap was revealed.

Yeah....I know it was a great gap but this was not something within my parents control during their days when medical is not very advance or should I say, we are not rich too so not much choice there.....so you can pretty guess what life will be install for me when they have their second kid.

Alright, maybe you will say that I am pretty old to get jealous but it was still not a very good feeling when all the divine attention was no longer on you but your sister. Speaking of divine attention.....I am not sure if I have any to speak of.

My early age

This is longer than I thought it will be but we have to go there abit.....my family was not very well of thus I was look after by baby-sitter when I was 6months old. My mum works long hour and I get to go home only in the weekends. At the age of 4, I was kind of ill-treated by my baby-sitter and this was feedback to my mum by a neighbour......God Bless that neighbour and due to my tender age then, I do not remembered much of those unpleasent memories.

After that incident I was put under the care by my aunt who got married and had a baby boy (my cousin billy) till the age of 6. I only went home at the age of 7 when I started my Primary School.

I was known as a cried baby when I was young as I was deprived of attention from my parents. My dad at that time was not so well tempered like now thus I always get a beating for making a scene during family gatherings. But by God's Blessing, I became independant as I grown and was not much trouble for my parent till my teens.

Yes....some called it rebellious stage but mine last a bit longer from age 14 to 18.

The cause was due to my nightmare which started in my secondary school days in the form of a human.....she is my form teacher and was well known for her caring to her students thus this make me more evil as she is the saint. I have already gotten over it by God's Blessing but I sometimes wonder what will happen to me now if all this had not happened. I guess some way or others we have to get through this to make us what we are today.

Objectives

Blogging seems to be the trend among my friends. They said that blogs enable them to express freely without embarassment or in my own words....without interuption. I guess we are all busy and impatience thus have less time to share our days with family and friends.

I don't really understand the need to blog as compare to many of my friends but recently...something set me thinking......maybe through blogging, I am able to express my thoughts, ideas and questions that were overwhelming me for a moment.

By sharing, I hope I am able to gain feedback and at the same time open up the mind of others.... hopefully this can set them thinking and help them to find their own answers in their life.