wow.. another week has already passed.. time flies by so fast! i'm actually kinda getting bored with blogging... but i'll keep it up-to-date as best i can for all of you wonderful readers out there!! anyway, a little update on me: i donated blood!! oo..wow.. big time.. as if i've done the world a huge favour.. like i'm superman or captain america (for those who were born within my age, you'd probably remember the man with the colourful mask and shield lightweight enough to fly like a frisbee..) but i truly remember what impacted me the most. firstly, one of the major benefits (besides the free medical ones that increase the more you donate) of donating blood is the very reason blood donations exist... to save lives.. i have no idea whom my A-type blood will save, but its there for their use and for someone's survival. in the midst of a SARS scare that's gripping the world (although traffic accident-related deaths per day can eliminate more lives than SARS could so far), knowing that i've done a part to help save a life is something i'm proud of. secondly, donating blood gives me this wonderful feeling inside me that i can sort of equate with the sense of peace and joy that i get when serving God. its an awesome wonderful sense of God's favour, i guess, when i do these type of things. i believe serving God is not just being cf president, or serving in praise and worship, or leading a cell group, but even acts such as donating blood would make God happy. its the very same reason as Jesus commands us to love one another as ourselves.. amazing well, there's a lot to it than i can really imagine.. the lives it saves, the smile on the faces of relatives and close friends, the chance that even the life i saved may become the next great leader of Malaysia - hey, u never know! anyway, that's been what's happening so far..a little distraction from the scare and worry of upcoming exams and a weak immune system.. peace!

in cell group yesterday, i realised a very impacting truth about God, something i knew but never saw it in this way.. many of us would know our God by many names and characteristics. names like Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides, or the famous verse in Isaiah where we know Him as Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Almighty God, Emmanuel, etc.. but i realised something new about Him last night.. Mark 10:17 talks about Jesus as the "Good Teacher". In the end, the rich young man who talked to Him turned his back on Jesus, but what i realised from this one verse was the fact that he has and will continue to be my Good Teacher. I took some time to think about this, and my mind led me back to different events throughout different days and how God teaches me something. Through His Word, friends, my family, pastors and Christian leaders, i learn new things both about God and about life. Sometimes he teaches me the hard way. I can remember some of the times where He has rebuked me for not doing things He has asked me to do, or thinking wrong thoughts, or just not looking at issues the way He'd look at it. But through it all, I know that I've learned new aspects of Him and of my life, and how to live it out the way He'd recommend I would. Its tough work trying to live our lives as Christians but let us always be assured that our Good Teacher will always be there to mentor us through our ups and downs... there's a little something to think about... let God be ur Good Teacher be taught well!

hehe..chatting on msn via the microphone..imagine the wonders of global communication.. i found this really cool verse in the Bible this evening... look up Psalms 12:6 "And the word of the Lord is flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times" take some time to ponder on the words..its really amazing.. its awesome when we come to realise that every word that comes from the mouth of God is perfect, so pure and flawless.. understand that silver refined seven times (which is the number of perfection) is absolutely pure and faultless and without any hint of impurity..that's how pure the word of God is! do ponder and meditate on this.. i believe you will gain greater insight into the awesome power of the word of God! take care

i got nothing to say today...so here's a little joke to keep u reading on... no pun intended..hehe The English did invent the English Language, but they cannot use it economically when communicating their intentions. Compare these phrases that Malaysians and Britons use to say the same thing : So, why make things so confusing and waste of money when you are on a long distance call. Make it snappy. WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS Britons: I'm sorry, Sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for you. Malaysians: No Stock. RETURNING A CALL Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone page for me a few moments ago? Malaysians: Hallo, who page? ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY. Britons: Excuse me, I'd like to get by. Would you please make way? Malaysians: S-kews WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY Britons: Hey, put your wallet away, this drink is on me. Malaysians: No-need, lah. WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door? Malaysians: (while pointing at door) Can or not? WHEN ENTERTAINING Britons: Please make yourself right at home. Malaysians: Don't be shy, lah! WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money. Malaysians: Where got? WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER Britons: I'd prefer not to do that, if you don't mind. Malaysians: Doe-waaaan! WHEN DECIDING ON A PLAN OF ACTION Britons: What do you propose we do now that the movie's sold out and all the restaurants are closed? Malaysians: So how? IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION Britons: Err. Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about Malaysians: You mad, ah? WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE. Britons: Excuse me, but could you please lower your voice, I'm trying to concentrate over here. Malaysians: Shaddap lah! WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU. Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for some time. Do I know you? Malaysians: See what see? WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION. Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment. Malaysians: Die-lah!! live long and prosperous, people...

i think it makes real sense for us to take some time to realise how great the BIG guy is... i mean, its awesome when we put our head knowledge deep down into our hearts..we begin to get a really powerful revelation of the greatness of our God ever heard of the band Seventh Day Slumber? its a christian rock band currently hitting the charts in the US at the moment..and guess what.. one of my childhood friends is the bassist in that band! its interesting to know of someone personally who is in a popular music band.. i found that out just tonight.. we don't keep in touch but both our parents are close friends so i know how the band is coming along... his name is Joshua Shwartz.. if you do know who he is, do let me know.. it'll be interesting.. anyway, i'm quite fascinated with this band.. their music akin to creed or puddle of mudd, yet their lyrics are what i found most encouraging.. positive tone lyrics that always ( i mean, always) point to Jesus as the ultimate one and only solution to the problems teens face today, which in essence is the truth itself! their ministry brings them all across the States and impacting the lives of many teenagers.. many have come to know Christ through their concerts where they allocate time at the end to pray and conduct altar call ministry..now that's really being "Christ-ian" in the world of music and entertainment.. check out the band, esp if you're into rock music at www.seventhdayslumber.com..all glory to God if you've been to the Soul Survivor meetings this weekend, i pray that you would've been thoroughly touched by God cause i, for one, had been really touched by God.. there were areas in my life that God had to deal with and as i let Him work through my life, i knew this would really change me for the better. there were times when i cried before Him and times when i felt His joy deep down in my heart.. awesome.. one of the big things i learned tonight was the fact that we do not need to high-up-there spiritually where everything was good and well before we started to serve God..if it was the case, Paul would not have passed off.. the letters that he wrote are full of verses depicting his weaknesses and fear esp. in the epistles to the Corinthians.. and yet, it is in these verses that he states that God's grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9)... now that's simply amazing..it appeals to me so much when sometimes i feel a sense of inadequacy to serve God when i have problems spiritually and with life itself... but that's where the crux of the message God was giving me is - that when we face problems as we serve Him, His grace is sufficient for us to live on - i encourage you to live the authentic Christian life - a life that doesn't believe the lie that when we are Christians, life is like a bed of roses, cause it ain't - however, live as Christ lived, to "carry the cross" and suffer (yes, suffer) for Christ ... stand up for your faith..not all religions lead to heaven, ya know? there really is only one that will bring eternal life and freedom... ponder upon these things before you get ur nightly shut eye - "...when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent" Psalms 4:4 - and may God's grace be upon you as you carry your cross.. good night!

if you've taken the time to actually wonder the mysteries of the abstract, i suppose M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" is probably one of your most-watched top 10. anyway, its one of mine... i watched the movie again today..family night out at the movies.. well, not really a night out but rather a night in my humble bedroom (the local family "mamak stall") watching the dvd from my laptop and some low-end computer speakers..haha..but it turned out quite well.. its amazing, really, to understand the issue or concept in that intensely speaking-oriented movie.. stuff that we would not normally think of as very important in our lives, but still, would there ever be real-life stories like that of "unbreakable"? something we can't just deny off-hand but really..think about it.. there's always that possibility, isn't there? after all, superman and spiderman and even the bit-more-realistic X-Men have caught our attention. not to forget the good versus bad epics of star wars and lord of the rings (*my precioussssss* - quote courtesy of Smeagol aka Gollum).. surely..surely, there's gotta be something about it that makes us so intrigued by it, besides our childlike fantasies of supernatural power.. well, just a lil' something i've pondering about..i do wonder if you do the same..hehe.. if you've not seen the movie, do take two hours of ur time to enjoy a good movie with a box of caramel popcorn.. cheers..

cf today was wonderful... if there's anything i learnt from ps. sivin's message, always ask for someone else's fries.. they break down barriers..haha "...cause the sound of Your name is a beautiful thing, and i love You, i love You, i love You" - Audio Adrenaline its a wonderful song entitled Beautiful by Audio Adrenaline. get it if you can.. anyway, it really revealed to me the wonderful name of God and how we should really really love Him..its awesome to realise how beautiful God's name is and when we do, we would really treat it with utmost respect.. not that we tremble and fall to the floor whenever God's name is mentioned, but a deep heartfelt reverence for the name of God.. we will never ever use God's name in vain and the like... my prayer is that you come to fully realise the beauty of the God's name and continue to love Him more and more each day!

once one challenge ends, another one begins. but at the end of the day, i rejoice for God is always in control.. one amazing God we have eh? life is full of its ups and downs, its surprises and its disappointments.. but hey, that's life.. and thank God there's someone up there to ensure we go through the day with all the strength we need.. really learnt today the need to always pray.. ever since i got sick on tuesday, i've never really remembered to pray until my dad asked me to.. and he told me twice when i should've remembered after "strike one".. nevertheless, i now know the importance prayer puts into everything.. it keeps it all in perspective when we see how God looks at it..my advice to all of you guys, before seeing anything else, pray.. u may be in hard times, maybe you're sick, feeling down, upset, whatever it may be.. take some time to lay into the hands of God.. He'll make it all clear to you as you seek His help, strength and comfort.. peace!

another day, another challenge...another flu virus running around a sprained ankle and an incessant flu plus sore throat just made my day..and everyone mentions that foul four-letter word - SARS - ..causes the worst paranoia i've ever seen.. even the 1997 haze in Sarawak wasn't that bad fear-wise... an emergency declaration and curfew for one week (which meant no school as well) was a cause for joy and rejoicing rather than ultimate fear.. anyway, with all the war and terrorism going on, SARS can really be a terrible icing on the cake anyway, all glory to the BIG guy above, i'm doing much better as i type this blog.. so keep cool..if you've met me within this week or so, don't worry.. as of now, you're still safe so trust God that it'll stay that way as much as i trust that i'll get well and up and running on full steam tomorrow!

it works!!! peace to all!

testing....1..2...3.