You are the Potter, I am the clay

60 cents was all it took for me. I voted once for Hady simply because I wanted to play a part in making him the Singapore Idol that I would be proud of. Not that Jonathon is not good but like what I said, he is too "packaged" for my liking. I asked myself why I supported Hady more than I supported Jonathon. As I thought about it, I think the reason why Hady appealed to me more was because he exudes himself, he's original, he's sincere and he is vocally reliable - a comment by Jacintha. You can find Jon-types everywhere in the market. Shoulder length hair, rocker-style, rocker sounding, etc... While Hady may not have yet developed the full 'package' of a star I believe as the day goes by, his style infused with his personality will win him many fans. No one is born a star, everyone is made a star. His advantage, he has good vocals and I'm sure as he works on it, he'll grow in style. I guess I have little tolerance for cookie-cutter type of artist. I ha...

After last night's competition, I realized that my choice for the Singapore Idol had came down to my personal preference. Honestly, both finalists sang well. However, I couldn't bring myself to support Jonathon even though he has the overall package to be a 'regional singer'. I wasn't drawn to Jonathon because no matter how stylish he looked or sounded, I felt I wasn't getting the real thing from him. He was too 'packaged' in my own opinion and too 'packaged' for me. As for Hady, I think it is his personal style, his tone of voice, his ability to inteprete and bring out the essence of the song that causes me to pay more attention to him. It's very strange that whenever Jonathon comes onto the stage, my ears would shut off voluntarily, maybe I have already stereotyped him. Not maybe, I have. So, the results will be out tonight. I hope Hady will be the Singapore idol and I hope that my 60 cents vote will make a difference.

Yes, Pope Benedict has made a politically incorrect statement. He is not just someone who represents the religious institution but he is also a political figure. Yes, he quoted from the Byzantine Emperor who was a Christian. Yes, early Christianity also spread through the sword via the crusades but let's not deny that ugly history existed on both sides, just admit it. I am not defending the Pope. I think his comments were uncalled for and inappropriate at this time especially after the anniversary of the September 11 event. But ask ourselves, who drove the planes into the World Trade Center? Can we ignore this reality, this fact, in our present time? Yes, we must not go on hating and we must through legal means apprehend the perpetrators and we must not brand all as bad and extreme. But did anybody apologize for Sep 11????? Did those who lost their loved ones, hit the streets in demonstrations, demanding an apology and went on to hurt the innocent who happen to share the same dress...

Ok, i've managed to create this link :P enjoy the picsss

Firstly, I would like to thank God that so far, I am still not feeling too sick in my body as a result of my pregnancy. In fact, sometimes, I forget that I am pregnant. The only uncomfortable thing I am experiencing right now is that I don't really have much appetite for food especially the oily stuff. When it comes to meal times, I would really have to think hard about what food to eat. Due to my poor appetite, I resorted to satisfying my cravings. If I crave for something, I should eat it since in the natural sense I have no desire for anything else. The sad part the stalls that could satisfy my craving were closed. My favourite fried chicken wing stall at Toa Payoh Lor 5 was closed!!! This morning, I went to Toa Payoh Lor 3, for my favourite "Kuey Chap", but the stall was closed as well. I resolve to try again tomorrow. Talk about being persistent. :) I really thank God that I am not puking although sometimes I do feel nauseas especially after taking too much dairy a...

I went to the gynae yesterday. For the first time, I heard and saw the baby's heartbeat through the ultrasound scan. It's quite amazing at this point. The gynae told me that the baby is not feeding from me yet, it is attached to a yolk and the yolk is where it draws its nutrients from. It's just great to think that when God created the reproduction system, God saw to every detail. I wonder where did the yolk come from and how it is attached to the baby. It's a mystery to me but it causes me to sing yet again in praise to God. When people heard that I was pregnant, they would expressed their excitement in WOWS & YAYS. For myself, I didn't had such an expression. When I found out that I was pregnant via the test kit, I went "Oh, I am pregnant" - as a matter of factly. Similarly, when Adrian found out that I was pregnant, he had the same response as me. We weren't into screaming the whole house/neighbourhood down. For us, it was sober and thoughtful. ...

One of my bible school teacher, Mrs Angelina Eu, would always tell the class, the longest distance on earth is from the head to the heart. I agree fully. It's one thing to know and another to do. We don't need any more proofs to this truth because if we take a serious look into our own hearts, we know it has always been true. Why doesn't knowledge (biblical truths) make us better people? Because it doesn't until we have converted knowledge to be part of our lives so that they become principles that govern our decision making at any realm. I'm not a saint if you don't already know by now and I don't pretend to be one. I don't share my weaknesses in order to gain any sympathy or to gain any form of understanding or to get any form of support. I do so because it is who I really am inside. I don't try to impress or put up a show for people to think of me other than what I really am. Recently, I had two encounters with healing that exposed my lack of fai...

2 Corinthians 12:7 - 9 "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." The ambiguity lined up in this short passage is too much for my wanting mind to grasp. Was Paul's thorn a physical infirmity or was it a person who troubled him i.e. a Messenger of Satan. I was forced to look at the greek text of the passage but it didn't prove to be of much help. Instead more problematic. If the thorn was a person, why did bible translators, translated verse 7, Paul's prayer to God to remove "IT". But if the thorn was a ...

Those who know me, know that I don't mince my words. I rather tell it in the face then gossip about it. I admit in the past I have been brutal and very brutal and I am regretful, still am very regretful each time I think about the past. (sorry to those who got the brunt of it). My virtue is to say what I mean and mean what I say but the journey of discovering how to say it without the brutal part is still a learning process. I have mild down, toned down quite a bit already. (Yes, if you are looking at me with that weird and skeptical look.) I have come to experience that sometimes, I don't have to always speak my mind. Does it matter? How will that affect eternity? Somethings are best left unsaid & uncommented - it doesn't really matter. BUTTTT certain things in life do hit a raw nerve and I do not know when and how those raw nerves were left exposed or untreated. For example, the grossly inconsistent policy of "GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE" aka "GEMS" tha...

Hai, just found out from my friend, that she will NOT be getting her handphone back today as "PROMISED" by NOkia CSO. I am wondering what is wrong again this time. They didn't even tell her what is wrong! Just wait!!!

Sometimes I pity Big Corporations. They spend hours and tonnes of money designing, creating good marketing strategies but only to have their ground staff aka CUSTOMER SERVICE flame up all their efforts, time and MONEY. It's a total waste of money. Does Good Customer Service exist in Singapore? ? ? ? What Customer Service. Just yesterday I went with my friend to the Nokia Care Centre. This is the 3rd time her newly bought Nokia 6280 is giving her problems. 12 days ago, her handphone was returned to her finally after she make a few phone calls to enquire on the status of the repair - (the service centre promised to call her 3 days later but after 3 days, no calls came). On the report, it was just some numbers that a lay person won't understand. What is "L3" repair??? She was informed that her handphone antenna was faulty so a new one was being replaced... but 12 days later, the same problem resurfaced, no network signal whatsoever. At the counter, the CSO just checked ...

This is Simba (the one on the right facing you) and he is making headlines on my blog today. A Labrador Retriever, Fun Loving, Gentle and is quite obedient except when you ask him to stop loving/licking people.... especially excited when he sees people - He's my people dog. :) nb: please be responsible pet owners, own them for life

"there are always 2 sides to a coin and it takes two hands to clap" familiar sayings suggesting that it usually takes two to understand something and two to complete the picture. It's about perspectives. Seeing things from our point of view either makes us very happy people or sad people. It just depends on which angle we view the matter through the type of lenses. A person who has suffered major rejection from close family members will grow up feeling more rejection than love, hence when he or she gets turned down by others will feel a tremondous hurt. Yet those who turn the person down did not have the intention to injure that person emotionally. An objective and genuine "NO" can cause that person to feel low and lousy about himself or herself. Another person with a more positive outlook of life will take the "NO" objectively rather than personally. It's about how a person has been "configured" throughout the years. Experiences of lif...

2 nights ago, I asked a very close friend of mine if I am an insistent person. Haha.. without any second thoughts, she said yes. Wow, that drove a long nail right through my heart. If you ask, you'll get the answers. Of course, initially I would think to myself, I do not think I am an insistent person all the time but I only insist when I am sure about certain things close to my heart i.e. when I have been seeking God about it or it is IN my system due to long periods of conditioning e.g. spiritually or just my personal value system. That analysis certainly made me felt better but it also got me reflecting (truth heals). As I thought through, certainty about something for me will activate a wish/desire to see it happen immediately and NOW. If it is God's will, it is NOW. As I look back on buying our first flat, it was the same. When I first view the unit (my current place), I was quite sure that the house was IT. But my then fiance and husband now do not think so and asked me ...

Watched a talk show last night on channel U and they were debating whether marriage is a good way of keeping couples together. 2 camps. One obviously believes that marriage is an important institution for the community at large. The other do not think that marriage is THE institution for the community. Those who belonged to this line of opinion felt that marriage is only a paper, a contract and an agreement that does not prove anything. Love between two couples can carry on without this agreement. This mindset stems from the perception that if one gets married, one can get divorce (easily) as well. Therefore, if the agreement can be so easily broken why have it in the first place. The escalating trend of divorce has discriminated the sacred act of marriage. For people who feels that marriage is only a contract, I feel sorry for them. I believe that love for each other finally should bring us to a commitment to want to live lives together and share the good and bad. For better, for wors...

I attended a memorial service of Pastor Derek Tan, Former President of TCA, the bible school which I graduated from. It was a night of remembering. The fondest memory I have of him was his sense of humour. Last night, a lecturer of the bible school gave her eulogy, his sense of humour once again surfaced. On his hospital bed, he asked his fellow colleague to bring him some good food. When asked what he would like to eat, he asked for sharks' fins. Food and humour. As I sat where I was listening to the eulogies, I asked myself, what a person be most remembered for? For Pastor Derek Tan, he will always be remembered for his kindness and graciousness, beyond all that he has accomplished, a man like him will always be remembered by how he has treated others. No hint of ranks lurks each time I sit in his room after a semester ends to discuss which courses I should be taking for the next semester. He would talk to me like how would talk to a friend. I will always remember his reassuring ...

Yes, I have a new blogskin aka template. Decided to make it brighter :) While travelling to work this morning, this passage came to my mind. Habbakuk 3:17 - 19 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. Will I still praise and delight in Him when I do not immediately receive relief from pain? Will I still love Him and cling to Him when I do not immediately receive answers? Will I continue to have faith if what happens around me do not harmonize with what I believe? Will I allow God sovereignty to over-rule? i must.

Just came back from Batu Pahat for our church retreat 2006. I really enjoyed the pace of the retreat and also took time to get to talk to people I see in church on sundays that I seldom get a chance to talk to. It was also a time for many to share their testimonies and it was a good time listening to most of the people who shared their journeys. I want to thank God for helping me find some answers in this camp. There were also a few things that a few people spoke that had impacted my thoughts. I shall write it here and remember these phrases for a long time and come back to it as and when I need to. I paraphrase: 1. Be like a child - simply trust and believe - don't ask why why why... 2. To win the prize, the heavenward prize, all we need to do is to complete the race 3. Have faith in God, pray and believe in the impossible but LET HIM decide on the timing 4. Understanding the experience is important as well as responding to the experience 5. Power need not only be something outwar...

Empower Me by Claire Cloninger, David T. Clydesdale Verse 1: Nobody knows how weak I am, better than You; Nobody sees all of my needs, better than You. And nobody has the power to change me, from what I was born to be. Jesus be strong in my weakness, empower me! Chorus: Empower me, like a rushing river flowing to the sea. Lord, send Your Holy Spirit flowing now through me. Till I'm living as Your child, victorious and free, send the power of Your love, empower me. Verse 2: Nobody's eyes see through my soul, better than Yours; Nobody's love can make me whole, no one but Yours. And nobody has the power to lift me, to reach for eternity. Jesus break through all my defenses, empower me. It's interesting how songs have a way with me. The song above was a song I sang several years ago at my graduation from TCA. Tears rolled down my eyes as I was singing this song and the tears kept on rushing down my face, faster than I could wipe them away. I wasn't sure why but I knew ...

It's my second straight week of leading worship and it's been a while since I had such a routine. Wierd as it may sound, I am leading two hymns again this week. I'm not really a hymns person but it seems that the divine has something else in mind. Last week, I led "On Higher Ground" and "Pass me not" This week, my repertoire of songs include "I don't know about tomorrow" and "It is well with my soul". To be honest, on Monday night, I was trying very hard to shake these two songs out of my mind but it never materialized. Finally I 'gave in' to the divine because obviously, He knows what HE IS DOING. Chance or Divine? I always believed everything happens for a reason and the reason is sometimes only known to the Father. We may not even get to know the reason but obedience does not require us to know/understand everything. Some people believe in chance. Leaving our life to chance seems fatalistic. It does not require our in...