Whoo!
Today is those days when you dream beyond the 'possible'.
When you are inspired to take on the radical.

It started around the afternoon. My mum found an old CD of mine. Hidden in some corner. It was my moulin rouge soundtrack. It's been a very long time since I listen to it. And since Anna is planning a musical, I decided to listen to the musical again. Listening to the great music sort of triggered me to put hope in seeing my dreams fufilled once again. And later that night, I watch Lea (from Ms Saigon) on youtube. Her voice is just amazing. She sang and her husband cried. It was during their exchange of vows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMeYrmAem8

Well, I know many of you out there share the same zeal and passion for a certain field or subject. But we've always been taught and told to take the secure safe road of getting a stable career (many ending up in jobs they dislike).
I know of people who's dream has always been profesional music...
I know of people whos passion are for dance, design, fashion, singing...
I even know of people who are willing to give up a life of rich business-doing to serve young people.

And you all know what happen. Passion quench under the pressure to live up to a "expectation".

I want to be different. I don't want to take the safe secure road down. I'm young. It's time for an adventure!

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Another thought. Some people are hypocrites. They say money isn't everything. God is. And then, when their kids wanna give their lifes up to serve God. They freaked out and say "why don't you get a regconised degree first... than we'll see about it".

I believe its not the "get a regconised degree" thats the problem. It's the don't pursue the desire God gave you - 'cause there could be a possibility you may not be happy. Oh, what a view of life...

What do you think?

I think pursue the desires God has given you. For your joy is in him and in pursuing joy in what God has for you, you are also pursuing him.

Little Rachel Chan gets to meet DiGi's yellow men

A response entry from Sherman Kuek.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a little girl who becomes so bedazzled by the mascot of a telecommunications company she keeps talking about him day and night, searching for him in unlikely places, writing him a letter without truly knowing if he might receive it, and never ceasing in her amusement at the mascot.

And then this gigantic telecommunications company receives the letter because the little girl’s mother posts it to them on her behalf, and they unexpectedly feel that the secret wish, the little desire, of this child means the world to her. And they fulfil it by sending the mascot over to meet with her and to take her to school one morning.

The Kingdom of God enters into the world of those – such as these little children – whose secret wishes no one typically bothers to care about and whose insignificant dreams go unnoticed.

There are little Rachels all around the world whose desires dissipate into oblivion and whose dreams remain ignored, because their voices are too small and their inspirations of no consequences to the scheme of things in the present world. The Kingdom-people are those who go to these Rachels, that their voices may be heard and their dreams fulfilled with dignity and honour.

And boy, watch how they scream and squeal and hop and dance when the Kingdom is brought to them. Only these can do justice to the the gift of the Kingdom by their sheer delight, for they know what best to value. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

The Kingdom of God is where silliness is taken seriously.

In November 1982 American ten-year-old Samantha Smith wrote a letter to the Soviet leader Yuri Andropov expressing her fear of nuclear war, and pleading with him to work toward peace. Surprisingly, Andropov himself replied, and gave her a personal invitation to visit the country, which she accepted. Samantha Smith's visit was one of few prominent attempts to improve relations between the superpowers during Andropov's brief leadership from 1982-1984 at a dangerously low point in U.S.-Soviet relations.

WikiLink

Well, never underestimate a child.

Okay, imagine the following with me now. You are a counsellor. Opposite you is a young girl, barely passed 20. 48 hours ago, she was hiding under a desk with her hands over her head as a gun was unloaded (3 rounds, possibly 28 to 45 bullets) at students nearby. Norris Hall was silent then, except for the traumatic sounds of random moans and screams. In a few minutes, 30 were left dead... a number more injured.

Now, she is sitting opposite you across the room. You can see from her face that she has barely recovered from the traumatic experience. Fear is in her eyes as she tearfully relates her experience of the "Virgina Tech Massacre" to you.
So what do you tell her?
No, wait...
What do you tell her as a counsellor who believes in a loving God?
What do you tell her as a child of the almighty God?

Good will come from bad?
There is hope? How so?

How do you explain such senseless killings? Moreover, can you explain hope from such evil?

Where is God in this picture? Does he care?
So, you say God hurts for those who were murdered. Then she asked, "Does he care to express it?"
And if God cares, why does he not do something?

What do you say? What do you do? Across the world, the question of life's meaning and the existence of God is asked again...

What is your answer? Where is God?

Memories that evoke much emotion.

Above is a picture. A picture speaks a thousand words. Let's look at a few that speaks to me.

1. Simple
2. Dependant
3. Full of faith
4. Great fun
5. Pleasure
6. Friendship
7. Dreams
8. Different
9. Loco "crazy" (in reference to 2 drummers for a concert)
10. Beautiful

The group picture was taken after the March 11 youth rally - Youth With A Difference. It was one of the best moments I had in the fireBRANDS. We were young, naive, had simple faith and did crazy things. But it was amazing! I miss those times...

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There is something very beautiful about children. Something that I'm jealous of and very much want to learn from them. Church in central zone has been seeing the appearance of many young toddlers. They even started a toddlers ministry. Every sunday, I sit at the back at observe this young children. It is such a joy to watch them. Simple little kids, having simple yet amazing fun. Enjoying themselves even to simple things as a little attention from the adults. After service every sunday I can just stand and watch as they run around and play, believing in simple innocent pleasure that we mature people question.

I believe relationship with God should be like this. Childlike. My mum always said that when I was young I use to cling on to her and not let go... I was so "sticky" then. She says (with a little sadness) that when I grew up, I lost it all.

Well, pleasure in God means, simply getting to know him and appreciating the beauty of the knowledge of knowing him. It's the same kinda feeling when you watch the beautiful sunrise on a clear (hazeless) morning. That's worship - adoration of another. Kids do it best. They just adore their parents, and that results in adoration from the other.

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Futher writting concerning previous entry.
For me the question actually goes back to who is God... really. When we have a distorted view of God, our expectations weight toward the wrong directions and we ask where is God? I have asked that question thousands of times since growing up. But deep down, the real quest was "Who is God?"

STPM is tough... and it's really taking a toll on me.

I can't do this on my own. I really can't. I was not born with the brains that could absorbed everything, process it and then remember it for exam. I forget. It's my weakness... and past achievements (e.g. spm) has made me proud.

Today, humbled... I admit publicly that all my past achievements were divinely intervened, that it was really the grace of God that enabled me to do things I was not built for - physics, math.... 

People, I have become too independent... no longer like a child dependant on his father. The last one year in form 6 has really been a tough time. I've been trying hard to understand concepts and memorise facts in studies - and almost in vain.

So, God, thank you for the pain of studying form 6. Thank you for ensuring I entered school again, though as much as I did not want to. For through this, I remember back when I was young, when my heart was yours. It was for you.
Then, I pursued you before studying... almost consistently.
Then, I would never miss a youth service. My weekends were spend as yours.
Then, I had hope.
I dreamt of dreams bigger than myself. For the dreams were you. Now they are gone...

Forgive me for pursuing academic achievements before my relationship with you.
Thank you for form 6. Thank you for bringing me home...