finding emo

2009-07-02T00:16:00.005+08:00

well-come!

Beyond the developing 6-in-1 abdominal "muscles", the months are flippin' rapidly as with a story desperate for an ending. Scary? You bet. Desperate times call for desperate measures; I'm tempted to call the cops - "Hey Officer, I'd like to report a robbery. Couldn't really get a clear description of the thief, but the loss is pretty major. Someone stole my... TIME."

Mega-dramatic? A little.

Time: it's not about refunds but rather...returns. The outcome of the expenditure. Catching up with a friend over dinner, we jumped into the all-too-familiar "Wow, time really flies when you're having fun"; it's all about perspective, no qualms about that. But what happens when 'all-the-fun-under-the-sun' gets a li'l too scorchy and dry?

Hmm. Someone I'd like to chat up? The Samaritan woman at the well. I call her Ms. Samaria - I've a hunch she was a li'l on the foxy side (for the record: Megan Fox is way overrated). But beyond that, Ms. Samaria had one of the longest 'one-on-one' conversations with a seemingly thirsty, underrated bloke named Jesus... recorded in the Bible.

Here's a rundown:

He's sits at the well. She arrives with an empty jar. He asks her for a drink. She snubs him. He offers her better water. Ooh! She yabbers on ancestral stories. He asserts her - its the only Water she'd ever need. She's smitten. She wants. He tells her to call her husband. She denies having one. He busts her fib - 5 husbands and counting. Ouch. She puts him in the 'Holy' box. She puts on her 'holy veil' and starts a mountain of a story on worship and God. He tells her worship isn't not really about 'where' but 'who'. She snubs him again and speaks of a Saviour who knows best. He goes "I am He." Duh! His mates arrive with lunch - "Jesus talking to Ms. Samaria?" Awkward. She runs off leaving her jar behind. She twitters about Him to her 'world'.

Discovery Channel gets a new story: Ladies and gentlemen, Samaria has found...Living Water.

The dry spell. We were made for all-seasons, and the seasons have us made - bringing out the good and the ugly. What a reminder! I need those 'one-on-one' conversations. I need a refill. Is my jar empty? What's it filled with? Runners need water... I need the Living Water.

"Time and tide wait for no man."

Jesus? He wasn't thirsty... He was merely waiting. He still is. It's about time.

2009-03-27T23:14:00.010+08:00

the sky is falling

Rumour has it that they soared the skies once upon a time. Thanks to Tony Fernandez & his zesty crew, chickens now can forget about the whole 'domestic' flight ordeal, book em' flight tickets online and just stay finger-licking-good. I'm guessing Chicken Little had a foot in this, taking "What's the matter? Too 'chicken' to fly?" perhaps a tad too seriously.

Acrophobia,rather... fear of heights?

Nah, not me. Catching the pilot divulge "We'll be experiencing a slight turbulence, please buckle up" over the intercom on my recent flight was pretty amusing though. Seat-belts were clickin' and half-baked-drowsy eyes were rollin'.

nice storm?

Window seats. Wow, thank you. They're for the brave. Seriously. Capturing the storm brewing outside kinda pricked the security bubble, conjuring up a familiar verse - "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

"His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered."

- The Message, Hebrews 12:26 & 27

Gulp. He sounded pretty serious about it, as if He was saying ... "This is your Captain speaking - we're about to go through turbulent times, buckle up and hold on tight. I'll carry you, and you...don't have to carry anything. Know that I AM in control."

Alrighty. You the Man.

When calamity strikes, victims tend to escape and cling to that which is precious; more often than not, they escape empty handed, hanging on to dear lives. Perhaps, that's where You need me to be... "empty handed but alive in Your hands".

No. The world ain't about to crash just yet. In fact, I found myself secretly applauding Ms. Air Stewardess for her outstanding safety procedure 'performance'. In case of emergencies or under 'pressure'? Grab the oxygen mask and...breathe. Oh, I'm sure breath mints come in handy too!

To infinity...and beyond!

The author reckons Westlife and Buzz Lightyear should high-five: "Flying without wings?" Nah, that's just "falling, with style."

2009-02-28T10:50:00.004+08:00

stop, look & listen

Fishing my way at a coffee joint, I hooked myself up to a caffeine-infused conversation between two college punks. The subject matter? "How to score with chicks." Wow, I really felt like grabbing a pen and paper, pulling up a chair and learning from these 'gurus'. Tempting, but in-earphones on 'mute' seemed like a cooler idea.

Let's call em' Sir Brag-a-lot and Sir Ask-a-lot.

actual conversation:

Sir Brag-a-lot: Dude, it's easy lah! Just go out in a group, then flirt-flirt with the one u like.

Sir Ask-a-lot: Then?

Sir Brag-a-lot: Then add them in Facebook lah. Facebook can chat oso mah. Whack only, you whack 10 girls...sure got 1 you can 'bang'.

Sir Ask-a-lot: Sure or not?

Sir Ask-a-lot: I know lah some girls are quite easy, but those kinds after get STDs how?

Sir Brag-a-lot: Dude, use a condom lah. You not like gonna get married to them right? Girls and condoms are the same lah, use one time, after that throw lah...

*Joel Vijay leaves the 'chat' and hits the PLAY button on his iTunes*

More than knocking just sense, I felt like knocking the daylights out of them. " That's the kind of advise you'd be giving your own kids one day?" Grabbing the headlines, when Alfie stepped into the 'Daddy' shoes at the age of 13...he just gave the shoe stores a new problem. Seriously? That's like the tip of the iceberg in Problemology. Beyond the "Is Alfie too young to be a father?" debate, it's appalling to find the world eluding, forgetting to even greet the mother-of-the-issue...premarital sex. Hello?

"The heart of the problem, is the problem of the heart." This world needs some saving, and I'm itching to take up... CPR lessons.

The author's inflicted with a major ear condition; the folk at Jealous Street call it 'eavesdropping'. Learning to master his 'ability', he's pretty convinced he'll be appearing in the upcoming season of the TV Series, "Heroes".

2009-01-09T12:27:00.017+08:00

cheeky bulls

Bravo, that's the first step in acknowledging the existence of a brain in the human anatomy. Yet, many times in irresistibly allowing the mouth to move quicker than the mind, intelligence is inevitably blown out the windows. Letting the cat out of the bag? Seriously? It looked like a whole herd of Bulls to me.

Evading curiosity & temptations to read-between-the-lines, these thoughts were ripple effects of a statement I read recently, "Assumption is life's lowest level of knowledge."

Honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Some folks tend to make assumptions with hopes to appear smart. Keep those hands down, this isn’t a guilt-trip invite! Forget Levi’s and Dockers, ‘Smarty Pants’ have been a fashion favourite ever since… Adam and Eve took up sewing lessons.

Recalling a trip to the zoo last year, speaking of bulls...they're a whole lot bigger (and badder!) than I had pictured em'. The burly-horny-animal (geez, it IS a big animal with horns) would be crowned king in a game of 'Bluff'' - better yet, the front cover of 'Poker-Face' Magazine.

Taking a li’l spin off, it's intriguing how we draw parallel lines between human personalities and animals:

bull - one who builds sky-crappy tower of lies.

pig - the glutton, face-stuffer.

elephant - just takes up too much space

chicken - the dude who crossed the road to prove that he wasn't just an egg. Get the yoke?

monkey - one that swings all around you in attempt to make you feel smart.

li'l bird - someone you should whisper ONLY your Christmas Wish-list to.

The list goes on. Yet, the spotlight goes to a four-legged creature that often appears to be the butt of jokes for eons.... the donkey; more fondly known as an ASS. I'm pretty sure there was a conspiracy on board Noah's Ark to leave this infamous creature behind. The humans? Some brainiac decided to high-five the animal kingdom in their ploy - "let's not make an ass of you and me." ASS-U-ME = assume.

Wow, we really took it to the next level...the lowest. Don't be an ass. If Jesus can use a donkey, He can use me? Yup, it doesn't mean you've to become one. We're better than that. (No offense, donkey.) Maybe? Let your "Yes" be "Yes" and your "No", "No," - everything else should fall into 'I don't know, but I'll find out?'

On a personal mission to the land of Honey Stars, I've decided to toss boxes of assumptions off my rocketship.

Up, up and away!

2009-01-02T21:12:00.008+08:00

Peekaboo! I see... open doors

Catching up on some TV over the holidays, I found myself flippin' through channels from Oprah right up to National Geographic, even catching Australia's Next Top Model - seriously, these folks couldn't get anymore dramatic.

Drama & Reality TV shows? I found myself pondering on watching re-runs of my life - gosh, sadly it wouldn't be as exhilarating as I'd wish it to be. Yet, I'm pretty smugged-up with 2008 - a truckload of engaging experiences; kick-starting the year with a police chase and drawing the curtains by attempting to commit mass murder at a... fish spa (don't ask me about it),

it's definitely been a good ride and could only get "gooder"!

2009? You've got anticipation written all over ya. "So excite lah!" - Here I come!

2008-11-26T22:33:00.016+08:00

I'd love to..

"...but my dog's about to attempt to speak English. Sorry!"

I can't blame the mongrel for attempting to talk after chewing up all the 'homework'. Forget Einstein, someone should clench the Nobel Prize for "theoretical & creative discovery" in Blame-ology and Fine Arts of Excuses.

In my attempt to conceal my 'blemish' - I've been charged, tried and condemned guilty on countless occasions for making up excuses. I gotta admit, some of em' were close to being bestsellers on the 'fiction' shelves. "..well if you screw up, take it like a man!" Hey! Whatever happened to anti-discrimination and gender equality? Guess what? Real men cry…Boo-hoo.

At times, I think I'd make a pretty good chef. A personal favourite of the ol' excuse menu would be - "not my thing":

damsel-in-distress: Hey, could you help me out with this?

super-dimwit(me): That's really not my 'thing' you know, I'd totally like...mess it up. Rather not.

damsel-in-distress: *whatever. (*puts two "L" fingers together forming a "W")

Speaking of damsels, sometimes I envy em'. "I'm having cramps" has to be one of those gunshot one-liners that send the birds flying across the sky. The lads are often left dumbfounded fearing the aftermath. Far from generalizing, it's merely super-poking those that capitalize on the 'periodical tsunami'. "I have the right to be evil?" Yeah, major irony in that sentence.

Beyonce Knowles poured her soul in "If I were a boy"...interesting perspective. Yet, it would be a shame to tag it as a PMS-theme song wouldn’t it? PMS? Credit overdose.

"Thank you. Honestly, I don't deserve this. After all, I couldn't have done it without YOU". Hilarious, but that's exactly how the speech would probably sound like if anyone would clench the Mother-of-All-Excuses award; If there was one part of ‘creation’ we'd beat the Creator at, this would be it.

Lame excuses. Reflecting on those moments where I could have 'saved' the day or at least made it better for someone else, I'm now bent on giving everything a shot. Worst case scenario? Folks giving me the affirming 'well-you-gave-it-a-shot-but-it-ain't-your-thing-for-sure' as they resort to dialing 911.

Back to my English-speaking dog, she's honestly having cramps and from her howls, she’s not one that holds on to "if you've nothing good to say, don't say it." I'm off to walk her before she starts penning horror stories to Santa about me. *Falalalala-lala-la-la!*

The author has no affiliations and neither is he afflicted with PMS, he’s merely finding an excuse to blog about it.

2008-11-07T10:54:00.010+08:00

living it

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

That day arrived, America voted and...Obama won, belting a song of hope "Yes We Can" creating history as the first African-American to be elected President of the United States. Intrigued I was (still am), with his campaign speeches:

"I did not travel around this state over the last year and see a white South Carolina or a black South Carolina. I saw South Carolina."

"So understand this, South Carolina. The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old. And it is not about black versus white. This election is about the past versus the future."

"When I hear that we'll never overcome the racial divide in our politics, I think about that Republican woman who used to work for Strom Thurmond, who is now devoted to educating inner city children and who went out into the streets of South Carolina and knocked on doors for this campaign. Don't tell me we can't change. Yes, we can."

*"Yes, we can change. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can seize our future."

It's been close 50 years (45 years to be exact) and Mr. King's dream seems to be hiking it's way to its peak. In my attempt to squeeze to my feet into his shoes, I couldn't help but smile as a friend remarked, "Hey, you're where you always dreamt to be - the music scene. You dreamt of it while you were in high school, now you're living it."

Thanks dear friend, for reminding me of my high school ambitions. Honestly, I gotta admit - the dream was that of a selfish, young punk who had fame on his mind. Nothing wrong with that, it's just that I'm a li'l more wised up now. I'm willing to let it go as that of a stringed helium balloon. Fame? The li'l teaspoon I've had tasted pretty good yet I'd hate to choke myself with a bottle of pride. This dream's bigger than me, and the more I look up the more I realize...it's not about me.

Live the dream, don't just dream to live.

*the author finds "Malaysia Boleh" and "Yes We Can" uncannily identical. Who are the 'freakin' pirates' now aye?

2008-10-20T20:25:00.004+08:00

"She'll be coming round the mountain.."

I reckon that it's a really big mountain called.. Marriage. I'm cringing at the thought of even putting it into words, but then again - everyone talks about it. Yeah, from the li'l girl who holds her younger brother's hand to the old man who rocks away in his favourite chair gloating endlessly about his late wife; I think the definition gets clearer with maturity.

Ideally, some of us would love for marriage to function like an instant noodles a microwave - putting our 'hunger' thoughts into action, and hitting the 2-minute dial. Instant noodles? Far from healthy. Speaking of food and as far as sugar levels are concerned, wedding cakes seem to be extra SWEET. *Hmm. Heck, maybe its just me.

If the "Marriage" checklist had only two checkboxes labeled "Husband" and "Wife", I think it might just be.. (in a highly dramatized tone) - a freakin' volcano! Keeping it together? I'm banking on whole load of other prerequisites - the vows made to each other at the altar & the the sacrifices the couple has to make as individuals, for better or worse indeed.

Don't mind me, I've been hanging out with enough newlyweds to catch just a glimpse of marriage life from the 'outside'; giving me a thumbs up when 'sex' is mentioned and the occasional "Dude, I wish I could but I'm married", flashing me their li'l reminder of their commitment - the ring. "Wait till you get married, you'll understand then." Hey, I probably* will.

Moving past the wedding glitter into living as 'one', who's really "Lord of the rings" ? Gosh - though a common problem-solving trait, I'd hate to imagine 'Rock, Scissors and Paper' being the only solution to decisions.

As for me? I'm the bachelor guy in between the li'l girl and the old man; taking down and comparing notes - yet living and obeying, loving and believing as I hum along "...when she comes" with my bench mates.

* "Probably means there's a good chance" - Chris Gardner to his son in "The Pursuit of Happyness"

2008-09-16T01:05:00.007+08:00

die another day

Mr. Chewbacca's ready to hit the streets too. [appearance courtesy of Joel Loi]

She'd cringe at the thought of stepping up to a weighing scale, but let it not be said that she's just grown sideways but also upwards. Today, Malaysia sits for her tests - History and Civics; studying age old lessons and fighting for civil rights... moving from mere knowledge to action.

In a matter of hours, radical changes are set to rock the the nation. As much as I enjoyed Cloverfield, I'd hate to be caught in the way of a rampaging creature, let alone documenting my last words on a video camera. Whoever came up with the term "lucky clover" certainly didn't have these folks in mind.

Hope keeps us going from one chapter in life to another. If the world ended tomorrow, I'd probably be found with a spoonful of Jamoca Almond Fudge* in my mouth... I'm all for happy endings.

*The best Baskin Robbin's ice cream flavour hands-down. Tied down to a major project, the writer is open and immediately accepts the notion of a SPONSORSHIP programme as he holds the "Will Write For Ice Cream" sign.

2008-08-26T02:33:00.009+08:00

the mirror

Been staring at it alot lately. Beyond the hair-gelling and eye-brow flexing, I think vanity gets a run for its money the second I stop to ponder -"Who am I?". Reminiscing one of Toy Story's famed characters, Mr. Potato, it's scary to think that I sorta relate to....potatoes. Gosh, the world is coming to an end.

Someone once said, "No two potatoes are identical". That got me head banging for a second. Much like Mr. Potato, many times I caught myself putting 'on' the ears, the eyes, the nose, and the smile. Occasionally, the signature mustache adds to the mysterious outlook. "Hey, I'm no ordinary potato" vibe tends to get the better of me sometimes. What on earth am I doing? I could be earning and soaring the skies now - Buzz Lightyear: to infinity & beyond!

Reading the recent cancer-hoax-controversy had sparked a great 'heart-check'. Beyond the face of 'good works' and talent, who am I really? Am I defined by the seen or the unseen? Are there any areas of blemish I need to deal with? Who do I have in MY closet?

Boo-yah!

Scary thoughts and insecurities call for the major make-up overdose. Not really a fan of clowns, I'd have to give them credit for the tricks they have up their sleeves, but it's never really enough; churning out new tricks to replace the old, keeping the 'hangar in the mouth' and juggling knives and chain-saws.

Living a circus act daily? Forget it. Too much work. I'd opt for a visit to the ol' Haunted House of Mirrors for a CHANGE.

Searching and dealing with the plank in his own eye, the writer respects Mike Guglielmucci for confronting the mirror.

2008-07-08T08:48:00.003+08:00

alive & kicking

Dreams often lead you to a junction: "Go for it" or "Let it go". Speaking of dreams, I've got this ability, but some experts call it 'lucid dreaming'. I'd stick to 'ability' . Heck, I should be a cast on "Heroes", I'm sure I'd make a great character. But seriously, whenever I'm dreaming and it gets ugly, I can 'hop' onto another dream or wake up in reality...by falling asleep in my dream. Yup. As dumb as it sounds, it actually works for me!

Growing up in my teen years, I had dreamt of playing soccer for the school team...never happened. But in my college years, I saw that coming to past - FUTSAL was my religion. You'd find me in the court right after classes, at midnight... I was determined to make it to the team, and i did, sorta. I was on the Team B - not too shabby! Seriously, with the international imports and their huge feet (size 12-14 on the average), I was honored to be amongst these giants.

I gave it my all and was willing to pay the price to keep this dream alive. Then came...injuries. First, a heavy blow/contact to my left knee. Two weeks away from our inter-campus competition, I wasn't about to let it all go 'down the drain'. Next thing I knew, I was being carried out the court on game-day... knee busted. I was benched for the entire season, and that meant the following semester, I'd have to go for the 'try-outs' again if I intended to make it to the team. Hitting the fast forward button, I didn't make the cut...hung up those futsal shoes, and walked out with a whole load of 'battle' wounds.

So much for religion. Hah - literally adding salt to the wounds, in July '07 I had to undergo a knee surgery for a torn ligament (ACL) on my right knee. It cost a..leg. As if it couldn't get any worse... I found out that I have a complete tear on my left knee. Surprise? Ever had someone you strongly dislike pop by your house when least expected? Yeah, it felt like one of those moments. "Bad news, there's no 100% recovery rate even after surgery for a PCL tear." Just what I needed to hear; I was laughing in disbelief.

Recalling the MRI scans, the epidural treatment - needle-in-spine; If God was trying to get my attention, He definitely got me. Bedridden, I had no where to look but...UP. S0meone once said, "When you look up, two things happen : God gets bigger, you get smaller." Suddenly the "dreams" I had didn't seem all that important anymore. It wasn't a near-death experience and I ain't racing for the 'Drama King' award, but rather a wake-up call to pursue the ultimate Dream Giver.

It often takes a dying of personal dreams to create room for an eternal pursuit.

"You can't seek His face and 'save' your face." - Tommy Tenney, The God Chasers

The author is celebrating his 1st-year-post-surgery anniversary. He's dying to kick some balls...in due time.

2008-05-13T11:36:00.003+08:00

hitting the button

I suffered a mild trauma recently - I kinda reseted my entire phone; it was a 'hard reset' next thing i knew.."Contact List - empty". Uhh..shucks. Dumb move? Major. Almost immediately, I caught myself crossing my toes hoping for clues to numerous SMSes and calls. It kinda felt like I was roped into a game show *"Who's that?". Heck, I wasn't faring too well.

Technically, I lost about 300 friends in one day.

If there's ONE you can't leave home without.. it wouldn't be my mobile phone. I've gotten used to walking around with a dead battery. Some wise crack on YouTube once said "the most dramatic creations on earth are batteries - they just die." Well said.

Back to my 'island', I caught myself applauding the creators of Facebook and Friendster - they're foresaw this dreadful day taking place eons ahead through some prophecy jinx, and had ME in mind. I'm a survivor - Thanks folks, I'm truly touched and I owe you a testimonial, better yet... a Hatching Gift?

Making friends? All you need is some cream. In fact, it's really like OREO's : Two cookies + cream filling : two different people with a common ground in the center. Sweet, now all it needs is a good dunk into an engaging glass of milk and you've got yourself a keeper.

Honestly, I've been a real tough cookie. 'Keep in touch' never amounted anything more than a parting statement. I was a nomad - and when it was time to move, I moved, holding on to nothing more than experiences, memories and a backpack. Freaking tourist? Ouch. Nothing to be proud of, I discovered that I wasn't a feather after all (about time eh?).

It was time to 'settle down', to get rooted and to bear fruits rather than weeds. It was time I asked myself "What am I on earth for?" rather than procrastinate & choke on "What on earth am I here for!?" It was time to hold an account for relationships and friendships, for people I have come in contact with ... and to be accountable.

Going beyond the name and face, I was 'superpoked' into the reality curve; its not really about the ONE THING I'd wish to be remembered for but rather, zooming in on the message behind the whole hypothesis of leaving a legacy - how many lives have I impacted?

"I shouldn't be alive... unless it was for a reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that it's right." - Tony Stark aka Iron Man

*"Who's That" is an imaginary game show that airs occasionally in the occurrence of familiar faces appearing without names at awkward hours. Joel almost never scores & pretty much walks away empty handed at the end of the day.

2008-03-29T23:50:00.011+08:00

dummies for freebies

"There's no such thing as a free meal". Introduced to this economical concept in my early college years, I found myself clapping ecstatically as I sat in the lecture hall, pondering on the rationale behind it. The "Big Bang Theory" didn't really sparkle for me, but here's where Economics and I had a moment of intimacy. Shucks! Brilliant dude - whoever came up with it.

An online buddy,Wikipedia quotes:
It demonstrates opportunity cost. Greg Mankiw described the concept as: "To get one thing that we like, we usually have to give up another thing that we like. Making decisions requires trading off one goal against another."

Something's gotta give. The lesser of two evils? Not really. Rather, the 'greater of two goods'. I guess Abraham aced Economics 101, making a choice between obeying God, and giving up his beloved son, Isaac. Tracing the roots, it looks like God inspired the fundamentals of this whole economical hypothesis. He created the world, and it was good. Then, when the apple went bad, he had to choose between the RESET button or hitting Ctrl-S(apple-S for Mac users); He chose the latter - saving the world and sacrificing His beloved.

"Yeah, this buffet lunch's a free meal to me." Great! But somewhere between the lines, the cost has been incurred. Someone paid the price.

'Paying the price' or 'footing the bill' is really about investment - into the present; with perspective, possibly the future. A tie-in with the whole clockwork issue, there's a "right time to plant and another to reap."

Keep sowing till the time is right, I shall. I'll only know when the time comes. On a farmer's note, I always envied Ol' Mc Donald - not a clue who he is, but everyone's raving about his farm.
A real marketing gimmick, I'd say.

2008-03-20T15:13:00.024+08:00

i'm a campaign manager too.

Politicians and their manifestos; He trumps every one of them. In fact, I caught a glimpse of Him in action, just flipping through the pages. Jesus, was just out-of-this-world (literally), and yet He could be found at street corners, the market place, and even in the homes of the common folk. Down-to-earth would be an understatement; His PR skills ... unmatchable.

He didn't just promise, He delivered.

Better healthcare - He healed the sick, gave sight to blind, even raised the dead!
Feeding the hungry - the remainder food were baskets full
Education system? - real & relevant, His parables and teachings hits understanding in the heart, not just the mind
Gender equality and youth empowerment - He ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well, and He chose young fishermen as disciples
A clean goverment - He wasted no time in toppling over the filty market tables in His Father's House
Safety - We're talking about the One who calms the storms and raging seas
Freedom - He had it written all over Him. He came to set us free
Better living standards - He's prepared heaven-of-a-place for all those who would believe and follow Him

* more promises listed in a really thick book called the Bible. Do check it out.

To amplify the magnitude of His convictions, He made no apologies for what He believed in and unlike J.Co Donuts, He valiantly served the truth plain as it was - sugar-free. He was no crowd pleaser. Condemning Him to death, the angry mob, Pharisees and Sadducees evidently weren't lining up for an autograph session.

Yet, He walked the talk on earth, right to the utterance of 'It is Finished'. He took His Father's business to the next level. He bridged the gap between God and man, between heaven and earth. He paved the way for our future, for the welfare of mankind.

He believed in us. He chose us. He gave His life for us.

Vote Jesus. Make Him the Lord of your life - He's all you need. He'll bring about the greatest change in your life. You could cast your decision anytime, anywhere. All it takes is a simple "Jesus, I believe in You."

2008-02-07T01:04:00.003+08:00

security blankets

Chinese New Year - spelt "HOLIDAY" to me, I really thank God for the... CHINESE! Mandarin oranges, pork invasion and li'l red packets just bring out the white teeth [Off-white to be precise.] 'Twas all good.

Now - everything's kicking into gear. Busy's just another four-lettered word. Pardon me for spotting em', I just can't help it. Seriously. But yeah, busy-ness is often related to time - or the lack of it. Wow. What a revelation!

"I've got no time!" seemed to be the perfect lip sealer to potential burdens and invitations that trespass my comfort zone. I kinda wished that time was stretchable. Adding seconds to minutes, minutes to hours. Being stretched is really uncomfortable - you should try it if you haven't already. A friend of Charlie Brown, I played Linus with his favourite blanket.

Stretched - Doing something that isn't me, not 'my thing'. Uhh - uncomfortable. It almost feels like being asked to...walk on water. "That's you, dude - this is me we're talking about here. Hello?" TV ads and scripts - I like! Write songs - not too bad. Write congregational-friendly songs - kiddin' me, right? I write stuff that's personal, stuff that's meant more for listening than a sing-along. I don't write those kinda stuff. You know what I mean? It's just not...me.

"It's not about you." Ouch*

Walking on water? Yeah, I'd give it a try if i were a stone's throw from the shore; but not in the middle of the sea. That's just crazy. "Come."- Alright, I'll give it a try. Here goes...

First step. Second step. The sea's gonna swallow me - Uh, God - why did I even step out of the boat? Save me!

"Believe. It's not about you. Believe in the One who calms the raging seas. Believe in the One who walks on water. Believe in Me. "

Alright. Here I go.

I don't know what pregnancy and giving birth to a child feels like, but quoting a friend: "it's really painful, really uncomfortable... yet bearable." Wow, again. Personally, the last part appeals to me the most. And when li'l baby pops out - the smiles tell it all. It was worth every uncomfortable ounce a body could take. In fact, the infamous stretch marks serve as a great memoir of a miracle.

It's not about me.

Being stretched and walking out of my comfort zone...Here I come, Baby.

2008-01-10T01:11:00.001+08:00

let me tell you a...

Story. Here goes.

The band had played its first corporate event-gig at Ipoh. 10 songs in 2 hours. The Puri brothers rushed back to KL right after. Yeah, we didn't even get a group hug. The event ended around 11pm, and the four of us headed on towards grabbing a much-deserved midnight snack to compliment the pats on our backs. We were graced by the presence of four lovely young ladies who gladly joined us for a bite & a li'l chat. One thing led to another and we....went on our separate ways.

Seriously.

The journey back to Nic's place was about 30mins, gassed with an uncontrollable amount of laughter. Not a drop of alcohol, just sheer bliss. As we pulled up the front of Nic's house, his front gate wasn't functioning and he directed us towards the back entrance. As I steered into towards the back gate, an unidentified car pulled up right beside us.

Two men got down and one of them came up to my window. As I screened one quarter of the window down, he said "Police, show me your licence & ID." Caught off-guard, I took time to process the entire situation while reaching for my wallet. Philip, being extra cautious, asked the guy for his Police ID again, to which the guy hastily refuses and said, "Get out of the vehicle."

No way. A robbery? No one's gonna take our instruments and the fresh funds away from us. "They're not cops. Go, go..run!" Philip cried, activating the ALARMS in all of our heads. I hit the reverse gear and steered backwards. Cars were parked on my left and right. "God, don't let us crash. Get us out!"

As I reversed, the guy tried to grab hold of the doors. Failed. He then went for the side-view mirror. It flipped around. Great, now I can't see the back! I reversed frantically down the windy road, swerving past stationed vehicles when suddenly, the other man stepped in front and reached towards his belt.

I froze.

Philip: "What are you doing? Go! Go!"
[I silently watched as he pulled it out of its holster]
Nic : "He's got a gun! He's got a GUN!"
Jason Gan : [Prays aloud hitting every possible key with his vocal chords]

I wasn't about to find out if he was going to pull the trigger. I hit the accelerator as hard as I could. The engine roared, the tires screeched but we weren't moving! "God! You gotta get us out of here!" The gear kicked in. We screeched our way out, catching a glimpse of the two men jumping into their vehicle, coming after us.

Jason was praying as loud as ever, Philip shouting, "They're coming, Go! Go!" , and Nic was navigating at the top of his lungs, "Left, right...left" as we headed out of the area, moving towards the freeway. We sped past red lights, leading towards the highway.

The now-identifiable Honda Civic emerged on our tail.

Philip: "They're still behind us. Go! Go!"
Jason: "Head back to KL! Go!"
Nic Chin: "Go to the Police Station."

*Bingo.

Me : Where's the police station?
Nic: "U turn!"
Philip: "U turn! Here!"
Jason: [Praying fervently]
Me: "I can't turn here. We're going too fast, it's too near."

We headed on toward the next possible U-Turn, I hit the brakes, made a swift turn and jammed right on the accelerator. The Honda Civic was hot on our tail. I hit the accelerator harder.

Nic: "Police Station - left"
Phil: [Echoes 'Left']
Me: Here?
Nic: "No! Next Left"
Philip: "Go! Go! They're right behind us!"
Jason: "Shucks, Go!"

We whiz past the first left. It was a Catholic Church, not a police station! I took the next left turn and headed down the road. There it was .. the Police Station. This was it. "If they were really cops, they'd follow us in..if not, they'd just drive by."

I turned in and glanced at the rear view mirror - and in they came! I parked the car. As Phil, Nic and Jason rushed into the station, I had it in my head that...they were indeed cops. I beefed myself up for a punch. What's a few bruises compared to being robbed, I consoled myself.

The now-obvious-mr.policeman gets out of his vehicle and rushes toward me.

Cop: Why did you run? What were you doing?
Me: I thought you were robbers. I didn't see your ID clearly and you weren't in your uniform. You weren't in a police car either. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I didn't know. I really didn't
know.
Cop: Get into the station now.

I walked with him into the station, joining the rest(Phil,Jason and Nic). From the receptionist's face, we had brought chaos to the li'l town. The radio transmission reporting that the "runaway vehicle and suspects have reported in" was enough to stir a "gulp" in our throats. Uh-oh.

We were directed to the Narcotics Department, a block away. The officers searched our vehicle thoroughly. They had our full cooperation. They found nothing, as expected. We were then told to go upstairs into the interrogation room for further questioning.

One look at the place...We didn't like it. It was pitch black, and we were directed upstairs by a torchlight.

"God save us."

In the room, we were questioned on our jobs, our business in Ipoh and why we had reacted the way we did. We then apologetically explained that we had suspected they were robbers, and being scared, we fled for our lives.

Convinced we were telling the truth, and it had all been a MAJOR misundertanding, they released us and decided not to press charges against them with the agreement that we would do the same. By golly, I wanted to give them a hug and snap pictures with them right there and then!

There you have it. A story with cops, guns, screeching tires, red lights, pumping adrenaline and chaos; and yet..no bad guys. To Big Daddy Upstairs, You're the Author and Finisher of our faith; all glory to You!

"Cause you always be da Man" - The Lord's Prayer in Ebonics

This post is also a tribute to Arun and Arvind - "We wished you had been there, but here's to greater stories!"

This is not a fictional piece. it's REAL - fourletterstory

2008-01-08T00:53:00.000+08:00

only one

One of the best ways to keep resolutions I reckon is ... to tell EVERYONE about em'. Trust me, folks love reminding you of what you're NOT doing. Try it and you'll see how much they love you and want to see you succeed. (They really do.*ahem.)

I made a four lettered resolution: G-R-O-W. To grow and mature into a better son, brother, staff, colleague, leader, friend and citizen. In a span of 1 year? I'll try and you...keep laughing.

Quoting the famous words of Ps.Alex The Great : "that you may GROW one year wiser, one year more fruitful..etc."Amusing, ear tickling and cliché: growth speaks of life; more importantly living life to the full. Someone else once said, "LIFE.. live it to the full, not like a fool." I was talking to this friend of mine about music and bands, one of my passions in life, and the conversation led to.. "The way to GROW big in Malaysia in the music scene is to...sing Malay songs. Look at Pop Shuvit."

It's a tough call and a fine line between selling out and meeting the needs of your target audience. Pop Shuvit, they're a great band,no denying that. They're doing what works for them. It's an inevitable fact that Malay tunes get the masses and probably gets you air play. Yet, it all boils down to success - what is it really at the end of the day? If we're headed down that road and actually make it, whoa - fame, fortune and influence. It's all good.

reality check: I'm on a different road.

To me..it's the songs. Have our songs impacted lives? Have we imparted hope? As a band, do we live these songs and spur others to live their potential? Do we point others towards the right direction? Stripped down and in plain text, it looks simple.

Simplicity is at the core. Success and fame seem to be the perfect acid test on the integrity of it all. With every success story, comes pride and glory. A football team rejoices as they score the winning goal. The crowd goes wild. The players 'hail' their hero. They head back into the showers. The fans go back home. Bravo. The team begins training for their next game.

The headlines read, "Gerrard saves the day!". Indeed. But, he couldn't have done it on his own. Even if he could dribble past the entire opposing squad, to be on the field, he needed to be in a TEAM. The presence of his fellow teammates made it possible. The coach pieced the team together. Liverpool FC footed the funds for the player and their coach...and it goes on. I love Liverpool. Interestingly enough, their tagline reads "You'll never walk alone." They just wouldn't allow Gerrard to take all the glory.

"Pride comes before a fall" - Success, fame and all that adds to the name often comes before pride. What do I have to sacrifice to get there? What's a no-compromise? Wow. That's really a whole load to think about. "If you want to dream, dream BIG."

I've always wanted to see the 'big picture' of my life. Where I'm supposed to be in the next 2 years. Who's the 'one' ? Something I caught recently, which serves as a great reminder that is... to Bring In God(B.I.G) into the picture. I'll focus on the GROWing, and He 'll bring the increase.

2007-12-20T23:33:00.000+08:00

stuffed up!

That's exactly what December is like; and speaking of inner beauty, the stuffed turkey takes the crown. Was never a fan of the big ugly bird, yet I feasted on some over a Christmas dinner at a friend's place...best turkey in town. Hah! I'm that easy when it comes to food, but yeah... it was good.

Funny how the stuffing on the INSIDE brings out the best of the big ugly bird. Okay, it's Christmas and I'll try to be at my best. But seriously, if it wasn't for the stuffing, the turkey would have tasted like any other roasted chicken, maybe just a li'l tougher. I was laughing to myself thinking "God, if my life was a feast offering to you, forget the ordinary; I'd want to be ...a stuffed turkey."

Not literally.

In a separate oven, shopping malls are stuffed with holiday-breathing folks. It's intriguing to find Christmas Carols being aired and reaching the masses through the mall radio networks. Subtle yet vocal :

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing"

Doing some gift shopping, I've come across folks from all shapes and color humming, whistling and even singing along to these seasonal hits. Are they all Christians? No, and it doesn't take a CSI expert to point it out either. Some clues are dead give-aways. Christians or not, that's not where I'm going. WHAT ARE YOU SINGING? Yeah. that's more like it.

My thoughts:
"If only they knew. If only You'd reveal Yourself to them."

His:
"If only... you'd tell them about Me."

Snap. I've gotta hand it to Him...He's got it all worked out, as always. "Let every heart prepare Him room - Am I giving him room in my life? Many times we put Him in the hamster cage and pay Him a visit for our source of entertainment and comfort.

Walking past the "Self Help" section, I chuckle at the irony of it all. "Self Help" books are inspirational and motivating, helpful to an extent - no doubt about that, but the help ends on the last page. A thought just zapped in - "The only 'help book' folks need is the all-time best seller.

New Years' around the corner. New doors. New opportunities. New experiences. New problems. New beginnings; not forgetting...new RESOLUTIONS. Here's to a great year, and greater years to come!

Cheers.

2007-11-06T23:36:00.000+08:00

doors

Packed in a 100ml bottle and marketed worldwide, "NEW" would be the world's hottest cologne. New shoes, new cars, new houses ... everyone loves NEW! New doors have the same impact. Opening new doors often stirs anticipation, the hidden possibilities, untapped abilities. Unwrapping a surprise gift is just priceless. What's beneath inside is a whole other story.

This year, I opened a couple of new doors.

Door - 1 : AYA
It's been a great 9 months working here. Really believe in their vision, mission, and call towards young people. Not too many folks get to say, "Hey, my Pastors' are my bosses!" An amazing couple leading and believing in a great team. I wouldn't say its been an easy ride, but it's a journey I wouldn't trade, not even on sellwhatever.blogspot.com!

Door - 2 : Blogging
Oh wow, that totally blew the anticipation off the door knobs. But yeah, I started blogging. It takes some pumping energy, alot of determination and a dab of excitement or boredom to get this thing going. Hats off to those who do it on a daily basis - they deserve... a hat labelled 'Blog Champion'? Speaking my thoughts brings perspective; serving them with words and often brings clarity. I'm still learning.

Door - 3: Songwriting
Well, I kinda opened the door a year ago, but I just nosed around by poking my head in occasionally. But this year, I've decided to give a go at this. Thank you God for opening it. It's been a real interesting journey this far, not that I've written any Grammy Nominee material, but I'm learning what works, what doesn't, what connects and stuff like that. Learning to not just focus on my whims, but zooming into the listener(s).

I closed one major door for this year:

Door - 4: Futsal
Futsal has been a part of my life for 7 years. Never thought I'd give it up this easy. I guess when it comes down to choosing health and cringing at the thought of tearing a ligament again, I'd pick the couch where potatoes sprout. Friday nights have never been quieter. I've got to find an alternative, Nintendo Wii? Aha.

Sometimes I wish these doors were made out of see-through glass. But, then again, where's the fun in that? I think I'll opt for guessing the secret passwords.

Open Sesame!

2007-10-01T14:15:00.000+08:00

more than survive, thrive!

'Everyone dies. It's a dice roll between sooner and later; it's not so much how you leave earth, but how you live on earth.'

I picked up a book called "Tuesdays with Morrie". Excellent read, I must say. Pictures speak a thousand words , but sometimes thousands of words paint better pictures, yah? Mitch Albom, in his best seller, definitely puts life into perspective as he unearths the "taboo" - death.

How would I face death? The T-Junction of extremes, I'd either..
1. Embrace it with arms wide open. It's about time I got to see my Maker.
2. Deny the reality of it and run away from it - like a little girl playing hide-and-seek.

Holding that thought, I decided to pull out the dvd, "Me Vs. Death" and hit the play button.

Me vs. Death : Part 1
At 4, intrigued with the circus...I decided to do my own balancing act with little beads on my nose. Tilting my head back and balancing a bead on one of my nostrils, I had an remarkable idea to launch it into the air. On the count of 3 : One, two....*takes a deep sniff in. Oops. "Bead in the hole, bead in the hole." I was rushed to the hospital, and tubes were shoved down my nose...took a couple of minutes before the bead received its thunderous applause as it made its way out of my nostrils. That kinda ended my circus career.

Me vs Death : Part 2
If I were a fish, I'd probably be a starfish - buried deep and washed ashore. Not much of a swimmer, having sensitive ears didn't help. My ears and water don't get along too well, once the water gets in...it kinda creates an ocean in my ears and never comes out but by force. Hence, the use of earplugs. At a youth retreat, I found myself in a pool looking for one of my earplugs which popped out. The next moment, I'm having leg cramps, and begin to sink. As Celine Dion grabbed the microphone, I noticed a whale(of a friend) coming towards me. Man, I was never so glad to see Henry. I grabbed on to his neck and..I was back on the surface. *Thanks Henry. Even if it wasn't a conscious effort.. you're a merman - a lifesaver.

Me vs Death : Part 3
With Sports Day around the corner, school folks were busy, the teachers were preoccupied. What an opportunity to skip classes for a day. At 17, a driver's license was a good enough escape plan. Three young students putting on our Fast & Furious minds, set out to 'drift' the windy roads on a hill. First 2 bends were clocked at 90kmph. It was time to set a 'new record' - being in the passenger's seat, I cheered my driver mate on. Pulling the handbrakes at 110kmph, on a hilltop - unwise. Having spun out of control, we were headed off the cliff. This was it . "3 School-Skipping Students Killed in Freak Car Accident" was ready to make its headlines on the news, if not for a small milestone on the side of the road. We're alive. "Let's head on to Mc D's to celebrate!". * Lesson learnt : Skipping school....bad.

My 'close encounters' with death, are miles apart from clenching award-winning-blockbuster titles. I'll embrace death,but till its time, not denying the possibility of it... I've decided to celebrate LIFE.

2007-09-05T00:27:00.000+08:00

sunday best

Sundays. "Day of rest", "Sabbath", "Sleep-in-day"; whatever its called, it sounds good. I found myself reflecting on the life I'm living, and there's no better day then Sunday; the end of a week, the beginning of another.

It's probably one of mankind's greatest gift, the mind. Seated comfortably in church on Sunday, I'm nodding in response to the preacher who's preaching his heart out, but I couldn't help but take a good look around. If there was a giant LCD screen projecting our thoughts, scanning the congregation would be like flipping through TV channels - shows like 'Saturday Night Rewinds' and 'Whats for Lunch Today?' among many others would be airing LIVE in their heads.

I could help but realise that in those few seconds, I had ventured into my very own reality TV show. Guilty of being on a taking a mind trip that Sunday, I confess and repent of my sinful ways. Buy Message-to-Go, I shall.

Sunday Service in a box. 'Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so' , a Sunday School classic. Do I love Him? If I were a book, would my stories tell of my love for Him? I begin to go further in thought...the Sunday Mentality.

the lies

Sunday Service...

It's like going for to the movies. High expectations? I might be let down terribly. It's best to have zero expectations, in that way I might pleasantly surprised.
Its burning a hole in my pocket. Worship was alright, here's my dollar. Impress me with heartfelt video clips and I just might take up the Missions Pledge.
My weekly Stand Up Comedy dose. Humour me, dear Pastors & Leaders. I've had a long week already, The Bible's a great bunch of stories, but I need something closer to home.
A wardrobe change. It's bound to get people to notice me. Speaking of Sunday best, I am. I've got a new mask and great smile, no one's perfect in church anyway.
Wish List. Attended church on Sunday...check! God is pleased now. Ahem. "Hey God, you've got to get me that Ipod. I really want it. "

the truth

expect nothing, I get nothing.
My money isn't actually mine...I'm a steward of what He has given me.
I need the Truth more than just humour. The truth may hurt, but the Truth also sets me free.
Sunday Service isn't about me. Changes on the inside matters more & no one is perfect, but Jesus is the benchmark.
Having a great relationship with Him is what matters most, not being religious.

The Sunday Mentality? There's only one mindset I should strive to put on ...the mind of Christ. He created the SUN, He numbers our DAYS. He deserves my best on Sundays. He deserves my best.

2007-08-17T14:20:00.000+08:00

care bear city.

I love the sky. I just rediscovered that yesterday. There's just something about them that gets to me, and I can't quite put my finger on what that exactly. It could be the fact that clouds are like floating play-doh, they look great in frames and photos, or a tempting endless supply of cotton candy.

People often look to the sky for 'signs'. Some get rainbows, others get alphabets, words and even illustrations! I'm just a sucker for something that just blows my mind. They kinda remind me that it's okay to not have everything figured out. We all need a li'l of life's mysteries to bring us back to the fact that we're not really in full control. Avid gamers, fans of Warcraft, even the Sims ; you get to control your 'world' - sorta like a God-role. But if you were literally held accountable for each life, meet every need and tend to every detail including hunger pangs, you'd think twice...heck, a zillion times before taking on the role. "With great power comes great responsiblity" suddenly ain't that cool a phrase anymore.

Not in full control? - Hey, it ain't that bad. Looking up to the sky keeps me on ground. It serves not just as great post-it reminder that I'm responsible for what I'm entrusted with on earth, but a pillow of comfort knowing that I'm in great hands.

Speaking of great hands... I've developed biceps. Wait, a bicep. Forget dumbells, crutches are the next gym toys - they work wonders!

2007-07-30T22:53:00.000+08:00

cat killer

Its thrilling to find that as humans we've made it freakishly far, messing around with science, which is really like a sponge that could never be squeezed dry. Speaking about sponges, I remember talking to a friend once about .. CURIOUSITY. Some say its a divine gift, others point their fingers toward dead cats. Stretching the limits, walking on the borders - we'll just hit the "unity" button on this and agree that curiousity achieves something : it gets your lazy ass off the couch.

I was a curious li'l kid. At 5, I recall watching a dear ol' uncle of mine, (he's a great guy) take great big puffs out of his big black pipe, the smoke ocassionally finding its way into my nostrils. What on earth was that thing? Big bro & I were regulars at this uncle's house, as my parents occasionally left us in his care as they occasionally went for child-free(hassle-free) occasions. That day arrived. When dear ol' uncle had hurriedly left to answer a phone call upstairs. A real long phone call, I guess. The pipe sparkled. It was still brewing, we could tell from the smoke. Big bro & I looked at each other. He grabbed it, devoured it and passed it on to me. What a great brother! In my head... I was already tasting Chup a Chups' & Melody Pop. Here goes.

* vomit .

That's exactly what we did. It tasted so bad, that we had indigestion and had to be put to bed early. Dear ol' uncle sorta figured out we had our mouths on his precious pipe. Cut the long story short, Curiousity must have had its bests laughs in months. Lesson learnt : Don't smoke.

I always wondered why I was never drawn to cigarrettes, but it kinda hit me just looking at the ashtray laid in front of me at a 'mamak. I was probably traumatised. A hidden scar. Right there, I was also curious to know why I wasn't drawn to beer, and ..let's just say, that's whole other chapter.

Curiousity. Sometimes, its just a matter of leading it on the right path, pulling the breaks before the lights turn red *(heck do it when its orange). Other times, its best to stay clear, to stay far away. Don't sulk over 'what might have been', just keep moving. Yeah, I guess that's exactly what it does : Curiousity gets you moving; moving forward or backward - that's the next step.

2007-07-19T12:39:00.000+08:00

she's hot

She's alot like the girl-next-door. There's just something different about her. She may not be a blonde, but her smile is just captivating. She's multi-talented. She's independent. She's cultured. She may not wear the most expensive dress, but she looks good in nearly anything. People love being around her. Caught with a punctured tire, she ain't afraid to get her hands dirty. In fact, if you happen to be walking home, she might just offer you a ride. Just when you think you've got her all figured out, she'll amaze you with her appetite, better yet - her love for food. She's just full of surprises, ones that just draw you closer to her. At her front door, she already makes you feel .. at home.

Malaysia.

Putting patriotism into perspective, the stats prove we made it big time on the global map - mainly for piracy & suspected linkage to terrorism. Hah - just what we need, a distorted mirror from the ol' Haunted House. Yay..we're a blip on the world's radar, now it's a matter of reflecting who we really are, and what we have to offer. Having faith in Malaysia, believing in ourselves.

We ain't terrorist, we're the BOMB. It's time we step out, blow mindsets and impact nations.

This whole thing about being an INFLUENCE has gotten me all riled up, in a good way. Yeah, there's a place for stoners in the world, but I guess it's a real small corner. Just living life today, what kind of impact would I have on tomorrow? A legacy isn't something you pick up at the 7-Eleven store next door, it's something you leave behind. I guess this is where the beatitudes kick in.

“You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.” - Saint Augustine

2007-07-17T02:31:00.000+08:00

america's favourite dysfunctional family

I wasn't kidding...I did grab a donut. Can't believe the Simpsons are actually making it to the big screens. I couldn't resist checking out their site online and, man...they've got a great one! Being a fan of the americanized Korean art characters, I decided to go one step further :

that's me!

Alright, now I feel connected! It was an itch i had to scratch. The website's cool, the mini-games, downloads and stuff...worth checking out - they just made my day, sorta night actually. Now i can have a good night's rest. Woohoo!

2007-07-15T00:18:00.000+08:00

more than meets the eye - influence

Life Party hit it off well on REWIND, but for now...I'd love to sink myself in a hot tub and click the PAUSE button. Just one of those days, I guess. I know I'm gonna get boo-ed and dunked into some trash can, but the TRANSFORMERS fad just gets me to literally Laugh Out Loud. Don't get me wrong, I love Transformers - its the people that are driving me nuts.

Seriously. Watching 20-30 year olds having a conversation about the movie & its origins, the ringtones and mp3s, the wallpapers, the T-shirts, the merchandise...it's intriguing. We ain't that far from the first caveman discovering fire. We're easily amused, but maybe that's a good thing! Someone who walks out of the cinema muttering "alright lah"deserves to be repeatedly punched in the face for trying to be different or for just having bad taste. [Hope that convinced you that I'm a fan of the robots]

Being old-fashioned suddenly ain't so bad after all. We just have to spunk it up a li'l by giving it a cool name : RETRO , create some hype and ... RETRO is IN! Amazing huh? Bet the older folks never saw this coming, else e-bay would be flooded with 'mint-condition' perishables. Oh wait, maybe the e-bay thing was their idea. Man, they're a brilliant bunch.

Recalling a conversation with Ps.Kenneth the other day, he brought up an excellent point - 'Someone had to say it was IN', or 'cool'. The power of influence. Paris Hilton could make a purse or handbag a girl's next To-Buy-List, even though in a practical sense..you could only fit a couple of dollars into it - which then again would fit perfectly into pockets in your jeans. So in fact, you actually don't need the purse, but it's cool. Again, fashion statements are great, but blame Paris for the rising victims of snatch thieves. Wearing "Bling" achieves its purpose in capturing everyone's attention...everyone ;)

Influence - I guess it's a lot like sugar. You could coat nearly anything & everything & make em' taste sweet. But whether it tastes good, that's a whole other story. What influences me? Who influences me? Who do I influence? What sort of influence am I?

Just talking about sugar gets me all high and hungry. Where's the nearest Dunkin' Donuts again?

2007-07-11T10:35:00.000+08:00

boys will be boys

Just putting these 3 words together would have anyone & almost everyone yell - “Yeah right.” A great one liner for aspiring stand-up comedians. Just uttering them would be one way to get shipped off to join Tom Hanks on his li’l Cast Away Island. What made the whole ordeal more challenging was gearing 20 guys up for it…a good, clean & fun Bachelor Party.

We achieved the impossible. Well, maybe the ‘clean’ part was compromised a li’l but we deserve a slot in the Malaysian Book of Records. Just reflecting on a friend’s Bachelor Party, Robin Hood & His Merry Men was on screen in my head.

The Bachelor's rendition of "It Ends Tonight"

Well, at least we know for a fact that this is friend’s straight - now that he’s a married man - A whole new chapter where he fits into the shoes of a husband, and one day … the cute baby Nike shoes for his kids.

I recall reading a li’l story on a couple that prayed & toiled day and night for their dream wedding. It was a blast – everything was according to plan & picture perfect. The newly weds praised God…and He replied “Great wedding! Now please invite me into your marriage.” A good reminder that it’s important to have Him in every area & detail of my life, not just the ones which are out of my reach.

Back to good, clean fun... we gotta stuff it into a time capsule - It's on the verge of extinction.

*this post is a tribute to the newly weds - Peng Hoe & Rosalind. Here's to 7 new pairs of toddler shoes & 7 minutes of silence. Cheers.

2007-07-10T01:49:00.000+08:00

pigs take the skies

The pigs took Tony Fernandez's words, "Now everyone can fly" seriously. It's high time they got their flying privileges . Seeing them all buckled up and comfortable with the red caps in mid-air, I guess it's about time for me to attempt to walk the talk : talking with my mind and walking with my fingers. Although the fingers tend to get fat, & the mind... a li'l lazy, they're a great couple. You'll be aquainted soon enough.

Monday reflections often are filled with the "I can't wait for the weekend' vibes, but somehow this week, the weekdays are like vibrating atoms. Something I caught this morning :

"Faith is like an elevator. You've got to step in, press the button to get to the level you want to get to, wait patiently..and step out."

The the level of faith you want to reach is entirely & literally in the power of your hands. Your faith will begin to rise to greater heights when you activate the top level buttons. As you wait in anticipation to reach these levels, keep those hands together (in prayer). Finally, as the elevator doors slide open, step out and receive your breakthrough!

Man... this is one exciting week! The elevator's headed up alright :)