ONLY BY GRACE

Donnie Yen is officially my newest Asian hero! Frankly speaking, I never had one except Hugh Jackman who's obviously not Asian! So welcome Donnie to the Hall of Fame! Watched Bodyguards and Assassins yesterday with Anais and I left feeling awed by Mr Donnie's suaveness and ridiculously cool martial arts moves. Given he's an authentic martial arts expert, we were treated to the real stuff. It was a star-studded blockbuster but the joke is all the big shots were killed off really fast! Jackie Cheung (guest star), the joker Leon Lai and Simon Yam were finished in minutes. In Ana's words, need to kill them off for the smaller beings to rise up. How true. Seldom will I entertain asian films but this is an exception. The violence and bloody gore aside, the whole idea of being a rebel for a cause stood out in this show. Passion, ideals, devotion, heroism and love....all heavy concepts that got me thinking. Once upon a time, there was a group of youngsters & no-bodies wh...

2 dear friends from Cambodia arrived on boxing day; Som Ath and Som Oun. The last team that went up to Cambodia wanted to bless the siblings by sponsoring their trip to Singapore. Of course they were exhilarated and overjoyed beyond words. And here they are finally. A short 5 days with quite a packed itinerary for them. Poor things. But more than anything, I believe they just wanted to spend time chilling, talking and fellowshipping with us. Programs are secondary. I'm glad to see them enjoying themselves and am honored to be part of the 'play-host' team. Whenever we go to Cambodia, they will always avail themselves to make us feel at home, welcomed and making sure every of our needs were taken care of. Their love and hospitality just moved me. In all simplicity, they demonstrated pure love; love that is from the heart, with no pretence or strings attached. Having experienced their love when we were away from home, we too wanted to extend the same amount of love when th...

As the years go by, the number of presents received becomes significantly lesser. So is the amount of gifts given! I remember I used to get myself busy over having to buy gifts for every one of my friends. And ironically I was just a poor student then. Now that I have the earning power, I don't do that anymore. I used to feel guilty about not getting friends gifts for Christmas but as I grew older, I realised that's quite a foolish thought. Then, I was absorbed in the whole Christmas atmosphere of giving and an expression would be that of tangible gifts but I was doing it for the sake of doing and because everyone is doing it. Now, I choose to be selective. Not that my friends are not worth the gifts but if the act of giving is not meaningful, then is there a point in it? This Christmas, I took quite a while to think about the gifts I wanted to give to specific individuals. In different seasons of my life, there will be people who have ignited a spark in me and I want to appre...

Jo had the privilege to mark the start of Christmas with amazing Grace! Well well, we finally made our grand entrance into Wild Rocket; 1 of the few fine eating places we (rather I) want to explore. Its pretty cool how we managed to even get a booking as the 'walk-in' concept is not really applicable to this place. Here goes the short story: I made the first call on Monday but didn't get through. Left a voice message but had no reply from them. Thought we had to look for an alternative. Refusing to give up, I called the next day and finally someone answered the call! Enquired about a booking for 2 on the 24th, half-prepared that I will be told its fully booked. Then the sweet news that someone JUST cancelled their booking (for 2) came and my booking went through! Tell me....weren't we meant to go??? Indeed we were! Delighting in her pressie. Handmade with Gracie's personal touch of creativity. Since it was Christmas, there was only 1 menu to choose from i.e. the C...

19th December 2009 : My 1st (of many peers) got married and its just the beginning. It really felt so surreal witnessing her solemnization and eventually the dinner. The Edith I knew in JC has grown up and has entered a whole new world with her hubby. To think she was once so tom-boyish, fierce and iron-womanish. Yesterday, she just blossomed into a woman! Bride & groom were busy so we resorted to picturing with the standees. Creative ay? At the solemnization ceremony, both daddies had to give their consent to marry their child off and I was just trying to imagine how the parents would have felt. The kiddo whom they have lovingly nurtured and brought up is going to be someone else's husband or wife. No more a kid. But I'm sure in their eyes, Edith & Jacky will forever be that precious little girl and boy whom have brought much pain, laughter and frustration to them over the years. As a friend, I too felt emotional. Like I'm marrying my friend off! Flashbacks of our ...

My latest investment : a road bike. Model : Helios (Polygon) 200 (most basic for entry level to do a triathlon) Cost : $750 (excluding accessories) but in total $910. So there goes a bulk of my bonus but its an investment I've been planning for. Goal of 2010 : To complete the OSIM triathlon! I know nuts about bikes but fortunately got friends who are well-versed in such things and so my job becomes easier i.e. just learn how to mount and dismount a road bike gracefully and with poise! Had to try it out at the shop and I wasn't in my most sporty attire but heck! I was guided by the assistant as I had problems mounting and stopping!! I was doing gymnastic moves in public! Well well....its all part of the package call 'LEARNING' so once I get used to it (hopefully soon), I will be off to a flying start! As of now, I'm delighting in my Christmas pressie to myself.

At tonight's workshop, it dawned on me why I'm feeling restless. When Rick mentioned about Christians being under-represented and associated with mediocrity, there was a jolt in my spirit. As I sat there listening, something clicked in me. I don't want to be mediocre but I often see myself as one. I want to be influential and be good at what I'm good at. I want to soar higher and further. But I'm still mediocre. It has been my struggle for this while and in me, I'm crying out for more. I can't stand monotony as much as mediocrity but it seems I'm stuck in the rut. Then there's Pastor George's sermon yesterday that awaken the giant in me. 'Anchor Generation' that will run much faster than the predecessors. WOW. Suddenly I'm excited all over again. 2010 is a year to behold. A year of many 'first times' for me. I don't know but it was a statement that kept ringing through my head yesterday. In any case...the gun has sounded, ...

I am able to do what I want & go where I want to I can be as carefree as I want to be I can travel round the world in unlimited no. of days Loved ones never go away I can eat all I want and never be fat I can speak ALL languages I can play all I want and still get paid I can visit Heaven for a short while I can travel to the moon and back I never feel tired.... I suppose this list is endless; there's just too many 'if-only'. Dabble too much with the 'if-only' and what's left for us is just regrets after regrets. But no harm just imagining and escaping into the realm of idealism or fantasy at times. Well....what if there's no 'If Only'????

Hi Aussie and Bye! Back home in Sing Sing-A-Pore. I wished I had extended the trip by another week. Wish wish wish....who ever wants their holidays to end???? It just felt like a week ago when I left for the seriously literally obstacles-filled road trip to the land of Oz. Even till the last day we had 'road-block'! Our airport shuttle didn't arrive. Thankfully we made it in good time to catch our flight. More stories to come when I get my hands on the 1000+++ pictures from Wx. Despite the obstacles, it went well. Could have been better on some days but no complaints or regrets. Till now, I'm awe-struck by the splendor & magnificence of what I saw in Aus and am wanting more. Its those moments where I realised I'm so small but am so privileged to be in a position to enjoy such spectacular spectacles of nature. From star-studded nights to crashing waves and full-arched rainbows, I've seen them all. No physical pictures to display but all well-kept in my memory...