Remember John the Baptist, The Prisoner in the Third Cell

Christian storyteller Gene Edwards writes about John the Baptist in his book "The Prisoner in the Third Cell".

With simple English, Edwards effectively conveys the life and thoughts of John the Nazarite juxtaposed with the thoughts and prayers of his cousin Jesus during the crucial moments.

The following are excerpts from different chapters in Edward's story book that so powerfully reminded me of the call that the Lord may have on a few and to not be offended by him when things don't happen the way one would have expected of him or others. 

The thoughts of Jesus towards his cousin John when the latter was imprisoned and awaiting his death ...
You will never live to see your thirty-third birthday, nor will you know exactly why I have called you. Nor will you know if your life on this earth counted for anything. Those long years in the searing desert, you denied yourself of everything this earth affords except food and water, and only enough of that to keep you alive. You did this all for me. Yet, as you face death, there is no evidence that your life was anything but wasted. Have I forsaken you in the hour you need me most?

"And blessed are you,

if you are not offended with me"

Despite John's seeming immaculate life of devotion to his Lord, the Lord was silent during John's time of suffering and despair.

Today you are resentful of those who so callously hurt you. But no, not really. The truth is you are angry with God because, ultimately, you are not dealing with men, you are dealing with the sovereign hand of your Lord. Behind all events, behind all things, there is always His sovereign hand. 


Will you follow a God you do not understand? Will you follow a God who does not live up to your expectations?


Your Lord has put something in your life which you cannot bear. The burden is simply too great. He was never supposed to do this! 


That God should allow John the Baptist to be beheaded in response to Herodias (Herod's second wife) as entertainment for Herod and his guests in spite of John having lived a life completely devoted to God.


But the question remains, "Will you continue to follow this God who did not live up to your expectations?"

"And blessed are you 

if you are not offended with me"

If we were never to understand why life circumstances are the way they are or if life seems utterly disappointing, unfair, or just completely against what you believe or expect in your pursuit of truth, righteousness and justice ... that we would never take offense or walk away from living the life he has called us to - one of trust in Him and obedience to His bidding in every way. 

For in doing this, we abandon ourselves to worship him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Invictus

Malaysians can learn a thing or two from watching the movie Invictus, based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Changed a Nation. The movie inspires one to extend grace to those who have mistreated us, looking beyond one's self interest in order to embrace the greater purpose of the nation, and be one nation united regardless of race, creed or color.

A key part of the movie was this inspiring poem titled "Invictus" the Latin word for unconquerable or undefeated, which encouraged Nelson Mandela to "stand when all he wanted to do was lie down" during his time in prison.  


Invictus by William Earnest Henley 

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


And one for the road ...

In Honor of My Warts and All ...

From dear friends who accept others for who they are ... I have much to learn ...

Author unknown

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

So we should learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket. Keep it in your own."

God Bless You, now, and always.

Movies, surprisingly!

Once in awhile, you stumble on a movie that brings life back to the old, dry bones! Well, it has been quite often that I have stumbled on movies that I really enjoy from romantic comedies to cartoons to Japanese anime. One movie leading to another and before I know it, a movie marathon every weekend.

Today, I saw 14 blades - yes, a Chinese movie and I was a little nervous about seeing this one. I had a free ticket and thought, "Why not? After all, the worse that could happen is sitting through a movie that I barely understand except for the subtitles. But surprisingly, I enjoyed the story line or at least I think I understood most of it. It was an interesting activity of reading subtitles and listening to the Cantonese although I must admit the "olden days" Chinese speak quite differently from what we know today.

The story was entertaining, too - the main character was somewhat like the musketeers with the best one having had a difficult past of having to kill his own brother in order to live. This turning point left him with endless nights of nightmare but his dedication to serve and complete missions for the rulers during the Ming Dynasty kept him going and alive. What later differentiates him from the rest was his hesitance to complete a mission when he discovered that seizing a treasure box and delivering it to the requestor would put the nation in jeopardy and many years of war.

The moment of truth - he does not complete his mission and loses his honor but instead journeys on a new mission - to retrieve the treasure box containing the royal seal from the wrong hands in order to restore his dignity. The story unfolds with the emergence of a hero, the discovery of tender love - rather surprisingly for a warrior with his tough exterior - and seeing a man give up what he had set out to gain in order to save the life of the woman he had grown to care for and perhaps love. Lots of bloodshed and all in this action-packed, kung fu movie ... but I thoroughly enjoyed it.



I have never seen this movie star before, but I thought he was pretty hot with his six packs and a broad display of tattoos ... kudos to Donnie Yen, martial artist and Hong Kong movie star who was born in Canton, China!

Totally unplanned, we went for a second movie after dinner. The Book of Eli. Thanks to the GSC-Eon Credit Card, I was able to line up on the VIP lane and obtain our tickets in a jiffy.

The Book of Eli was something else. Also filled with bloodshed - ah, my Saturday of bloodshed movies which is unbecoming of me - but surprisingly, I enjoyed this movie. I didn't care much about the post-apocalyptic setting nor the fashion that made the entire movie dull in appearance, but what made me sit up was that the movie portrayed and brought forth the an individual who is steadfast in this faith and staying the course to transport a book to its destination. To protect the truth ... of the book - The Bible. A very powerful book. A book that many sought for at a time when it was scarce. But oh, the power it brings to the one who would read it night and day and commit to memory its words. The words that would form the inner man. His character. His purpose and mission in life. His lifestyle. His actions. His care and protection towards the weak.

The movie spoke volumes to me, yet not in a way where I can say freely describe except that I would want to read the Bible as often as I can in order to commit His words to memory and know in my heart the path I am to walk and the mission I am to fulfill in this life. The character and lifestyle I am to embrace. And to know that when I walk by faith, and not by sight, He is beside me to protect and care for me. To walk with me through the valley of the shadow of death and give me peace because He is with me.



Now that I think about it, I have been praying about some things. Today, He has reassured me that I am to walk by faith and not by sight for He is with me. I have my answer as to what I need to do. Lord, give me the courage and strength to follow you!

Of Untamed Passions that end in tragedy

It was easy to attend the ballet, a seemingly airy fairy affair in comparison to the heavy segment and finals of Corporate Finance at the National University of Singapore. Yet, it took me awhile to adjust my mind to appreciating the arts that evening and equally difficult to churn out a review for Asia Dance Channel in the midst of corporate work and studies.

I just submitted my second dance review, two weeks after the performance and overdue in the midst of juggling facts and writing a paper about doing business in China. If only I could tell stories in the latter ... I would be able to sleep better.

The ballet, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky - former artistic director of Bolshoi Ballet, is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina novel. Performed by the Finnish National Ballet during its Asian Premier on 29 and 30 May 2009 at the Esplanade in Singapore, the ballet focuses on Anna’s life - her passions, family and societal obligations – and how passions unrestrained, albeit sweet and fulfilling for various moments in time, can lead to a contrived life of guilt, insecurity, dissatisfaction and ultimately death.

The ballet begins with a morbid scene with a nice play of silhouettes of Anna’s (performed by Petia Ilieva) lifeless body and those who mourned her death - her lover Count Vronsky (Nicholas Zieglar), husband Alexei Karenin (Henrik Burman). At her death, close friends and family within the aristocratic society in St Petersburg show their last respects.


The story unfolds with Anna’s lover Count Vronsky reminiscing the days when Anna was still alive. She was young, beautiful, aristocratic … and married. He was an officer - a Count and a good catch for young debutantes.


By chance, they met for the first time at a train station in Moscow. Their eyes lock and a certain attraction drew one to the other. A train accident claiming a victim disrupts their gaze and Anna is quickly diverted back to the obligations of life and society where she attends to her husband and son. She accepts her responsibilities as a wife, mother, and member of the aristocratic society.


They meet again later at a party, where Vronsky was “pursued” by a young debutante, whom he rejects as his affections for Anna grow at this second meeting. Vronsky begins to pursue Anna. She is embarrassed by the outward affection and struggles to remain composed. She succeeds in avoiding Vronsky’s advances and returns home.


Up to this point (after the prologue and in Act One), the ballet and its characters came across as rather constipated. The scenes dragged from one to the other as the choreographer builds the storyline. Unfortunately, the movements appeared constrained, as the lines of the dancers’ bodies, while depicting strength and sound classical ballet training, did not extend their energies beyond the confines of the stage.


As Anna’s affection for her lover Vronsky builds, so did the dance … thankfully! I was beginning to wonder if I should have stayed at home and watched a ballet video instead. Albeit technically excellent as principal dancers of international ballets should be, the ability to transform the beautiful stage sets, costumes, props and choreography and bring the whole ballet to life calls for rare artistry and technical brilliance coupled with freedom – this was missing from the ballet that evening.


The story continues with Anna feeling deprived the love and affection at her home. Her husband Karenin, a dispassionate civil servant, buries his head in work. He ignores Anna’s attempts to “tempt” him with her beauty and sexuality. She, in turn, expresses her love to her son by being the doting mother. However, Anna’s basic, yet desperate, need to love and be loved finds its way beyond her home and into the arms of Vronsky.


Anna falls into the arms of the dashing Vronsky at another social meeting; her husband disapproves of this conspicuous courtship and demands that Anna returns to her home and resumes her societal obligations as a wife and mother. Anna defies as she had fallen in love with Vronsky.


She reluctantly leaves her son behind as she realizes that she cannot live a life without passionate love … and without Vronsky, who loves her deeply. Her passion and irrationality direct her to go away with Vronsky to Italy to begin a new life.


Here I witnessed the saving grace of the Finnish National Ballet’s performance that evening. Perhaps the most spell-binding pas de deux between the lovers and much like the lovers’ duet between Romeo and Juliet, both Anna and Vronsky danced with great passion that transcended the invisible confines of the stage. The lovers’ love and lust for one another were apparent. Their attempts at unabashed displays of their passions were constricted by the limitations of their thinly clad physical bodies. Their bodies intertwined between huge extensions and brilliant lifts and twirls across the stage. The lovers ultimately consummate their relationship drawing the breathlessly beautiful dance to a standstill.


Ah, the taste of “forbidden fruit” was sweet and explosive to the sense, but Anna’s face revealed a deeper emotion – a shadow of remorse as her body sat motionless for a split second next to her lover’s. The realization that she had finally committed the once unthinkable act of adultery and journeyed down a path where there was no return sinks in. She had torn the veils of aristocracy and proper conduct in exchange for a moment of untamed passions and pleasure. That would be the beginning of a life tormented by faded memories of her life in St Peterburg and her duty as a wife and mother return to haunt her.


Torn between her love for her son and her newfound life with Vronsky, Anna makes an attempt to visit her son. She returns to her busband’s home in St Petersburg. Though she was overjoyed to see her son, she was greeted with contempt by her husband.


She then unsuccessfully persuades Vronsky to go to the opera with her and ends up attending on her own. At the opera, she was again shunned by the aristocratic society. Rejected, she returns to Vronsky to seek comfort but senses his feelings for her have changed.


The realization of having lost everything - the love of her family, of Vronsky and the approval of society – Anna was destined to live a life as an outcast. Distraught, Anna calmly stands before an oncoming train and commits suicide. The ballet ends with parallels to the stranger killed by a moving train at the beginning of the ballet.


A moving plot with moments of brilliance, Anna Karenina is a ballet that has the potential of taking you and your heart on a roller-coaster ride with moments of breathtaking beauty, great passion, explosive energy, and yet disappointments of a judgmental and unforgiving society that does not allow second chances for those who have made mistakes in life. The ballet reminds all that there is indeed a heavy price to pay for going against societal norms.


http://www.asiadancechannel.com/AnnaKarenina.cfm

All things extraordinary ...

We live in extraordinary times. While there's been generally bad news all around, there are few things that truly have been uplifting - witnessing the extraordinary and celebrating with extraordinary talents and people ... even laughing out loud is an extraordinary thing for such a time as this!

A star is born on Britain's Got Talent!
47 Year old Susan Boyle wows the judges with her performance in the auditions for Britains Got Talent, singing I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Here's a group of friends from North London presenting a FLAWLESS act. Extraordinary. Their motto is to "chase the dream, not the competition"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GrOMLylvhQ

Father and son team up to present a hilarious rendition of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHvATmUsSg

BRAVO Susan ... Flawless ... and Stavros!

And above all things, it's the knowledge of God and knowing that He has the whole world in His hands that gives me the peace and courage to dream big dreams and pursue them as He opens the doors.

I am privileged to be living for such a time as this. Thank you Lord!

Let me teach you how to dance

I must have seen this movie "Miss Potter" for the third time now and still continue to enjoy every single moment of it. My favorite being the little dance "Let me teach you how to dance" between Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) and Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor).

Let me teach you how to dance,
Let me lead you to the floor,
Simply place your hand in mine,
And then think of nothing more.

Let the music cast its spell,
Give the atmosphere a chance,
Simply follow where I lead,
Let me teach you how to dance.



This movie reminds me of the inner strength of a woman that enables her to stand her ground and pursue her dreams no matter what society thinks. Endure heartbreak and ridicule from those closest to her (her mother), and in the end, still rise above difficult circumstances in life to succeed.

Here's a nice trailer of the movie ...

Dancing with God

When things seem to move in slow motion, God is at work. He quickens the hearts of friends to share words of encouragement. This note in particular was meaningful to me ...

Author Unknown

When I meditated on the word "Guidance,"
I kept seeing the "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
And everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that,
And lets the other lead,
Both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
Or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,
And attentiveness from one person
And gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word "Guidance."
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "I".
"God, "u" and "I" dance."

God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
That I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
And mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
And guide you through each season of your life.
And I Hope You Dance !

Dancing Seniors

Happy Senior Citizens' Association
Annual Dinner & Dance 2008
Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya

Dance: Doors of Life



I want to be like Mom, when I grow up!
She is so graceful and looks smashing.
*grins*

Of true love and life

I just came back from a hectic week in Bangkok, a city of surprises, warmth & hospitality, and indulgences of sorts as well. Will tell you about a couple of interesting observations and conversations I had another time ...

But the story I received below is so true and good for the record. Read on. I hope you will find some gems that englighten this difficult path we share called Life ...

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while! As she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.


It appears that true love is neither physical nor romantic, but an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank, according to the author.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family.

You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called The Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success.

Here's to our quest for a meaningful and fulfilling life. Cheers!

Are you a Carrot, Egg or Coffee Bean?

Still on the subject of developing the right attitude that makes a positive, lasting impression among those within your sphere of influence, here's an email I received from a Nigerian friend.

The story reminds me of a few things that I have been contemplating of late - on matters of the heart. Of values and principles that help shape our attitude towards life. On how an insignificant person like myself (when compared to the majestic vastness of this universe) can possibly make a lasting contribution.

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

The Young and the Restless

The title suggests one single person having youthfulness and restless energy. It can also describe two separate individuals - one who is young in age with little experience in life, and another who is restless and seeking to experience more of life.

In the course of more than a decade of professional work in the marketplace and having stuck through the good and bad times, my younger friends check in with me from time to time, seeking for some perspectives on their thoughts and struggles regarding their challenging situations.

Just the other day, I came across this quote and it made me think about the various conversations I have had with my friends ...

The error of youth is to believe that intelligence is a substitute for experience,

while the error of age is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence.

Many of these young professionals are incredibly bright and exhibit great thinking abilities. Many of them are also restless and gripe about why they are not moving up the ranks fast enough. Many seem to have the right skills and deliver well at their level but somehow don't seem to be moving up as fast as they had envisioned.

I don't have all the answers really, but in my years of work with multinational companies - both with foreign and local management, small to larger groups of employees, I have come to realize a few things ...

Sometimes, it's not about what you can or cannot do (the hard skills) rather it's about the values, attitude and behavior (the soft skills). The latter is very difficult to learn - it all depends on whether you have a teachable heart, and it becomes more difficult for the proud or older ones who think they have seen it all and done it all to learn/possess. It's not something you pick up from a textbook. Some might say, it can't be taught, it can only be caught (when you spend enough time with that parent, teacher, or mentor.)

In other instances, it may be who you know. Being at the right place at the right time and with the right people is important. It's about being discovered by the people who need your skills and are able to appreciate the value you can bring to the table.

The downside of completely relying on who you know and not allowing yourself time to acquire knowledge and build the right skills is that you may not be selected based on merit. This can cause many side effects such as being promoted to one's incompetence, losing the respect of your colleagues and associates, not being taken seriously for your work, or possibly be the subject of bad gossip.

Yet other times, it may be that there just isn't a business reason for the promotion. And of course, what we all would not want to hear is "you are just not ready for the next level." Sometimes, that can be true; while other times, you will wonder ... do keep wondering and perhaps, it really may mean that it's time to move on, especially if you do not feel you can grow within the same scope of work and in the same company.

What I do know is that each individual is called to different things and grows at different paces/times. Some people have growth spurts while others take time to blossom. Some may get it right the first time (luck maybe) but others may be called to take the path less travelled - to master the basics (mind you, this will take many, many years of life!) so they can think outside the box and be great innovators.

To master the rules, one has to "stick it out" for as long as it takes. Such would be the times to grow in character and maturity. Think of it this way, a very tall building ought to have an equally deep foundation; otherwise it would not stand. Without the depth of character that comes from persevering through time, one would at worse be a miserable creepy crawler (I am sure this has another name but I can't recall at this time!) - shooting up fast by relying on support from more sturdy branches or structures for that short period of time. Without others, they would never stand because they have not stood the test of time and allowed deep roots and strong foundations to be built into their lives.

Therefore, determine this day what kind of professional you will be ... one who aspires to become a very tall building (with deep foundations) that will withstand the test of time or the creepy crawler ... likened to buildings made of sand (a dime a dozen perhaps) that would dissipate and blow away into oblivion with the winds of change?

Having thought through this time and time again, a few questions have helped me work things out within myself and come to terms with current situations:

1. Am I growing in knowledge, skills, and character (and faith) through this experience

2. Am I at the place where I need to be for the grander scheme of things (this is usually my question to God - am I where I need to be and mutually benefiting from relationships in your grand plans?)

3. And finally, if I am still restless about the current situation and cannot find an acceptable resolution, then it really may be a good idea to explore other options that would seek to meet those needs (preferably, in a prayerful manner for those who are in faith).

Whatever those options may present themselves to be, consider that while they may look good in the short run, they can possibly set you back a few years in the long run ... so choose wisely.

In parting, here's a nice quote:

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered,

you will never grow

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What I take this to mean is don't be jaded with the current situation. Determine to get out of your boredom. Challenge yourself to see a different perspective. Seek to create a different approach to the current work or situation. And make the best of your situation ... or at least as long as you are there.

And if all else fails, yes, we hope that the One up there also agrees with us that it's absolutely time to move on to another area of expertise or another work environment all together.

As this is not a post about me having all the answers (as I certainly don't), I welcome feedback on other thoughts and advice that may help me (and perhaps others) think through the situations, as opposed to reacting to the instability of emotions or dire needs waiting to be met!

Mrs. Ruth Sala of Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa

I was tickled when I received an email from a dear friend detailing a sarcastic response to a spam email. Spam mails usually don't get past the "opened and read" stage, and I was amused that my friend actually took time to respond to a suspicious person by the name of Mrs. Ruth Sala.

My accomplished friend, who is usually filled with all manner of grace, social etiquette, and great wisdom that can only come from above, finally succumbed to exhibiting annoyance and used the mighty power of the pen to reply Mrs. Ruth Sala.

Before, we get to my friend's response, it is best to read Mrs Ruth Sala's "solicitous" mail first ....

-----Original Message-----From: Mrs. Ruth [mailto:mrs.ruthsala2@elefant.nu] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:04 AMTo: mrs.ruthsala2@elefant.nuSubject: Saint Raphel's Hospital

Saint Raphel's Hospital
Agboville Abobo.
Abidjan . Cote d'ivoire
West Africa

My dearest One,

After a deep consideration that I am writing this letter to you. I am Mrs. Ruth Sala Mudu a nationality of Cote d'Ivoire and wife of the deceased Mr. Sala Mudu.
My Late husband, who was a contractor with the government of Cote d'Ivoire before he died during the heat of political crisis here in my country.

While he was alive, he made a security deposit of $10,500 million in a Security Insurrance Bank in Cote d'Ivoire for foriegn business engagement.
This moment, the money is still in this Security Insurance Bank here in Cote d'Ivoire . My Doctor told me that it is very likely that I will die of cancer of the blood (LUCKEMIA) in 3 Months.

Because of the war and unstable political situation in my country, I want you to help me transfer this money to your country and to take care of my son Godson and his education.

please reply with my yahoo mail box (mrs.ruthsala0@yahoo.fr)
I await your message for more explanation.
Thank you,
Mrs. Ruth Sala.


And my friend's response ...

My dear fictitious Mrs Ruth,

If indeed you are dying of LUCKEMIA, that is really bad luck, pardon the bad pun!

Sadly the world is full of crooked contractors, and we are not without them in my dear old country of Malaysia either. However, to have purportedly stashed away $10.5 billion in one of Africa ’s most dirt-poor countries takes quite some effort. He must really have screwed the country dry! May the good Lord have mercy on his soul, and I sincerely hope he managed to repent before he passed away to meet his Maker.

As for you, what can I say? Having a billionaire for a husband, who hasn’t left you a dime, and you have to trawl around the internet looking for some poor dumb schmuck to rob, no doubt by depositing ‘fees’ to start a bank account to transfer these fantasy funds to. Have you considered getting an honest day’s work and not prey on gullible but greedy people that use the internet? Maybe by turning over a new leaf the same fate that met with your ‘husband’ won’t be visited upon you.

And good luck with the LUCKEMIA, by the way.

Your dearest One,
Nottodaythankyou


I didn't share in my dear friend's anguish at having received such a ludicrous email first thing in the morning. Rather, I burst out laughing so hard that I cried.

It was a great way to end the day really - after some good exercise from climbing, a healthy dose of laughter, and then to slumber.

I hope you enjoyed the laugther, too!

And here's a parting quote ...

Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody's power, that is not easy.
- Aristotle

Of friendship ...

In the midst of an extremely busy season of work, studies and extra-curricular activities, I chanced on two movies that seem to highlight areas that have been on my mind of late - that of true friendship and of love.

The first was The Kite Runner (view trailer).

Here's a synopsis that was taken directly out of the author Khaled Hosseini's site:

Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable, beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan nonetheless grow up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara, member of a shunned ethnic minority. Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When the Soviets invade and Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him.

The Kite Runner is a novel about friendship, betrayal, and the price of loyalty. It is about the bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of their lies. Written against a history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed. But with the devastation, Khaled Hosseini also gives us hope: through the novel's faith in the power of reading and storytelling, and in the possibilities he shows for redemption.

The depth of true friendship

I loved the way friendship - true friendship - was depicted in the movie. There was a scene where the two young boys' friendship became very evident. They were as close as brothers ...

Here's a conversation the boys had while waiting to retrieve a kite:

Hassan popped a mulberry in his mouth. "It's coming," he said. I could hardly breathe and he didn't even sound tired.

"How do you know?" I said.

"I know."

"How can you know?"

He turned to me. A few sweat beads rolled from his bald scalp. "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?"

Suddenly I decided to toy with him a little. "I don't know. Would you?"

"I'd sooner eat dirt," he said with a look of indignation.

"Really? You'd do that?"

He threw me a puzzled look. "Do what?"

"Eat dirt if I told you to," I said. ...

His eyes searched my face for a long time. We sat there, two boys under a sour cherry tree, suddenly looking, really looking, at each other. ...

"If you asked, I would," he finally said, looking right at me. I dropped my eyes. To this day, I find it hard to gaze directly at people like Hassan, people who mean every word they say.

"But I wonder," he added. "Woudl you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?" And, just like that, he had thrown at me his own little test. If I was going to toy with him and challenge his loyalty, then he'd toy with me, test my integrity.

I wished I hadn't started the conversation. I forced a smile. "Don't be stupid, Hassan. You know I wouldn't."

Hassan returned the smile. Except he didn't look forced. "I know," he said. And that's the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.

And my favorite line from the movie ...

was in response to a friend, who was as close as a brother to him, little Hassan would promise when asked to retrieve a kite for his friend - For you a thousand times over.

What a wonderful world - Part 2

Once in awhile you stumble upon things that makes you smile.

A friend sent me this link in response to the earlier post titled "What a Wonderful World."

I am absolutely blown away by the talents that lie within God's creation. We must certainly be God's pride and joy for Him to give us such great gifts. I think this is an example of a talent developed and refined to bring joy and happiness to others - to make people smile, laugh, or even cry in awe and wonder of God's goodness ...



Yet, to date, nothing beats this little one - a prodigy and star in the making ... seven-year-old Connie Talbot singing because she likes to make others happy.



May we see this wonderful world through God's eyes ... and learn to enjoy the beauty that He has created in each of us and around us.

Thriving in the valleys of life

I subscribe to the daily devotional messages from Today God is First (TGIF) and found today's devotion a pertinent one given my recent interaction with acquaintances and friends, who seem to be going through tough times.

Though I didn't invite or ask to hear about other's problems and frustrations, it does seem that for two consecutive days, I seem to be the target of the frustrated, depressed and oppressed. They have sought me out to vent and pour out their anger and frustrations.

What does one do in such situations?

I do my best to listen. I try to discern the real situation. And I prayerfully consider what I should say to them.

While it would have been the easier route to say "I am busy and don't have time for this!" I could not bring myself to turn away when the troubled desperately needed my pair of listening ears and perhaps, my two-cents worth of perspective.

Furthermore, when such instances happen once too many times, I realize that perhaps God may have chosen to use me in such situations; first to listen, then to prayerfully discern, and speak words of encouragement and life into the troubled person's situation.

While it is easy to nod and agree with everything the troubled person says, as many people vent to others hoping to get agreement and justification for their anger ... it is quite difficult when you have a different perspective and insight into what God may be doing ...

It hasn't been easy delivering what I believe to be godly perspectives on situations ... delivering the message can cost me my friendship with this person ... and that's hard.

For those of you who have been troubled and oppressed by "enemies," consider Os Hilman's devotional message titled "Seeing Through God's Eyes."

Today's devotion was about dealing with our enemies and learning to see our enemies through God's eyes. When we understand why our "enemy" responds the way he/she does, we are "able to pray for him and genuinely love him in spite of the fact that he persecuted me. This is the kind of love Jesus wants us to have when He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us."

Hilman goes on to say, "I believe God does a special work of grace in those who go beyond the realm of normal response to persecution. He brings us to a level of grace we never thought possible. Describing how God worked in Joseph's life, Francis Frangipane reveals what happens when we tap into this grace:

God made him fruitful in the very things that afflicted him. In the land of your affliction, in your battle, is the place where God will make you fruitful. Consider, even now, the area of greatest affliction in your life. In that area, God will make you fruitful in such a way that your heart will be fully satisfied, and God's heart fully glorified. God has not promised to keep us from valleys and sufferings, but to make us fruitful in them. [Francis Frangipane, Place of Immunity (Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Arrow Publications, 1996), 93]

May we be the modern-day Josephs whom God will make fruitful even in the midst of trials and sufferings.

Fellow wintertimer writes ...

Read your winter blog, and have written a little poem from a fellow wintertimer to remind us that spring inevitably follows winter, as He has promised in Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Hallelujah!

In the cold midwinter
Our soul frozen lies
Reflecting back the gloom
Of the never lightening skies

The heart seems trapped
In this season’s icy grip
The rhythms of life wind down
Like the final funereal trip

Yet hope springs eternal
As the Son bids us awake
Arise from our morbid slumber
Burdens from us He shakes

Little did we understand
That beneath the engulfing snow
His faithfulness was preparing
Abundant fruit to grow

As we recall winter’s chill
The brokenness of our lot
Now fully overwhelmed by
The bounty He has bought

So stoop we on bended knee
To lift others trodden down
And bid them rise to share
The Saviour’s golden crown!

Lil' Can Can Dancer ...

During one of my travels down south to Singapore for a wedding dinner, as well as for the Great Singapore Sale, I had the privilege of meeting the three-year-old daughter of my childhood ballet friend, Hsuan.

Back in the 1980s, we used to spend our weekends playing and dancing at the ballet studios, while our mothers taught ballet classes. We trained in classical ballet, modern and tap every weekend for what must have been 10 years ... did our homework, gallavanted around the SS2 Square throughout our Saturdays and Sundays. The ballet studios was our weekend home.

More than 15 years later ...

Hsuan is now happily married to a Frenchman and residing in France. She's been there many years but I have yet to visit her. I must save up to go visit her and experience the major tourist activity of lining up for hours to purchase Louis Vuitton bags at THE LV Champs Elysees, where international peoples (majority women, I am certain!) line up to purchase the object(s) of their deepest desire! I was told some tourist even pay others to stand in line and buy LV bags on their behalf, as each customer is allowed to purchase a maximum of two bags at a time?

Actually, I am not altogether certain I like carrying LV bags, especially when everyone seems to have or carry one ... I guess I don't like to be like everyone else! I am inclined to carry bags that not many people have - not that they are overly expensive or ugly bags, rather the limited editions or beautiful (sometimes quirky) bags that perhaps, didn't quite make the A-list of socialites' must have!

I digress from the little girl I meant to write about. Helene, is absolutely the most beautiful little girl, exuberating with life and mischief, whom I met at the wedding dinner several weekends ago. She wore a "pretty in pink" type of frilly dress and had matching shoes to fit the occasion.

Coming from a family of dancers, Helene was unabashed about her natural ability to move ... yes, she was quite happy to climb up the stairs and onto the stage to share the limelight with the wedding cake, bride and groom at anytime!

At times when everyone was busy eating the Four Season's Hotel's famous Chinese dishes, Helene would be on stage flapping her dress skirt, cleverly fanning her skirt up and down to reveal her matching pink panties and proportionately long legs. She reminded me of the lil' can can dancer ...

When I "grow up," I would like to have a baby girl just like Helene, and perhaps the girls will grow up to dance together, just like their mothers did once upon a time.

Created for Glory, destined for greatness!

"See, I told you so ... my parents lovvvve me ...uh huh

... just as I am!"

- Jeevan -

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration - what a creation!
You know me inside out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculptured from nothing to something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.
[The Message; Psalm 139: 13-16]

Fulfilling our deepest desires - Impossible?

Many times, we cry Impossible! but with God, all things are surely Possible!

I started reading "Wealth Conundrum" by Ralph Doudera and am finding the insights both revelational and practical. In the chapter titled "Relax and Win," Doudera points out how many people have pre-conceived ideas as to what is spiritual and what is not. In this example, he talks about racing (a subject that sparks my interest!)

To some people, driving a race car doesn't seem like a Christian thing to do, and my dad still doesn't let me talk to him about it, but I want to dispel the notion that my spiritual life and my racing activities are not related. I have learned a lot about my relationship with God by driving race cars.

... Several years ago, I decided to buy a Twin Turbo Porsche. I had the money available, but since they were very rare at that time I had to shop around to find one to use for racing. After I made the decision, I decided to pray about it, thinking my request would just get a rubber stamped for approval because I had the funds available ... Listening carefully to the Still Small Voice within, I was impressed that God said emphatically, NO!

When I asked Him why not, He said I wasn't good enough yet to use a car with that much power (over 400 hp). So I committed to learning to drive the car I had, an M5 BMW. I went to several driving schools ... and worked hard on learning how to drive a medium-powered car.

A year or two later, after I had forgotten all about my dream car, I was in a church worship service and out of nowhere I heard in my heart a message to go and get the Twin Turbo. Sometimes I think that God laughs at all the religious stuff that people do. He just wants a relationship.

I agree with Doudera that God is interested in giving us the desires of our hearts when the time is right. Doudera goes on to say, I try not to miss worship on Sunday mornings because it is the highlight of the week for me. This is when I can best hear directly from God, specifically to me, about the practical areas of my life.

The Porsche I really wanted was a 1997 Twin Turbo-S, the last of the air-cooled lined of turbocharged Porsches that came with 424 horsepower right from the factory. It was a limited edition model that was available by special order. Reservations for these cars had to be placed within a 24-hour period with no advance notice given, and you had to put down a non-refundable deposit of $20,000. I had missed the deadline, and found out that there would be only 180 of them made worldwide, and they were all sold.

Knowing how impossible it would be to find one, I asked a friend who referred me to a dealer in Florida who might know something about the car. I called ... and a sales rep ... laughed when I told him what I wanted.

He said that someone had canceled their order less than an hour before my call, and the sales team had just finished a meeting about it ... they were all on the phones calling their clients ... [the car] would be sold in an hour. I told him it was mine and gave him my charge card number for deposit.

Again, my thoughts are in agreement with Doudera's that this is the way life is supposed to work! God's timing, not my timing. No stress, no worry, no hurry, no guilt. Always being willing to let any deal go without anxiety. Whether it is getting a new car ... or hiring new employees, I am learning to turn over all my decisions - both big and small - to God, and not to get obsessed with getting things I want immediately.

One thing I have learned. When someone tells me that I have to act quickly to buy something or it will be gone, I never buy on those terms.

I believe the same principle applies for life all around - whether it be a job offer, pursuing a new hobby, receiving invitations to get to know some better or marriage proposals for that matter. If God wants me to have it, it will be there after I have a chance to discuss it with Him. If I am all stressed out and in a hurry, I am probably not listening, but acting ahead of Him.

This is a good (and true) picture of what it is like to have a relationship with God. He knows our deepest desires and wants to give us good gifts, even gifts that the traditional mindset may not and cannot associate as a spiritual thing, i.e., racing, diving, dancing, etc.

My experiences indicate that I learn the most about spirituality and Christian living by being in the marketplace and doing activities that I enjoy. Amazing revelations seem to crop up when I am on holiday either diving, climbing mountains, and yes ... even shopping!

May we allow our traditional mindsets to undergo a paradigm shift. May we have the best adventures as we pick up courage to relate to and journey with a true and living God!