A. W. Tozer

"I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking."

- Taken from Defending Contending on Quotes.

Just Noticed

It's been awhile since I put up photos. It may be time to put up somemore pictures soon. Yi Voon's and Pui Ming's birthday had just passed (Voon's was a month ago and Pui Ming's was just yesterday). For Yi Voon's b'day, the only reason why there was no photos was because the waiter didn't let me take photos of food in shogun =( Made me lose interest in taking any more. (Sounded like a good excuse at that time...)

My phone is currently getting overcharged on top of my dear brother's CPU. Sigh. Forgot about it after rushing out of my room to switch off the very loud alarm at 6 AM. It was a good thing everyone else continued (or pretended to continue) sleeping. (Oh, and at that time, I was pleased to see my character leveled up and not dead in WLO. This is the only game you can play sleeping, that is, if you just want to get a high leveled character without effort and enjoying the other parts of the game.)

---

Okay, now that that was over, I have a nice video to share with you. It's called "Lifehouse's Everything Skit". It was a skit I saw some of my teenage youth members practice for a sunday school event a while ago and it was a skit my shepherd in Aussie said she was going to do.

It was also a skit that made me cry...

---

Now don't you think that was an awesome story? We were first friends with God who showed us everything in this world and even though the pleasures (or pains) of this world drew us away further, and further from Him, He has never forsaken us. Even when we're at the lowest points of our lives or when we feel confused and lost to the point where we don't know what is what anymore, He is still there, calling out to us and saving us when we're overpowered by what we cannot handle. Our only saving grace and our only salvation.

Is it not great to know a God who is our friend and father?

Changed Something

Okay... I thought the white was good... after being told it's difficult to read... I started finding it difficult to read too...

Since when did I become easily influenced!?

Anyway =P

I'm trying out different font colours for the time being to see if it's nice. I even made the font larger for easier reading since smaller means more squinting. Yours truly squints too much as is. Especially in dark lecture halls...

Enjoy for the time being =)

Not Too Proud

<.<

There are times when I don't feel very proud of myself to the point of frustration and disbelief. In those times, I often believe that things turned out that way because it was my own fault. I should listen to that other voice that tells me "to be prepared and careful" instead of the other voice that says "saving time and effort is always better".

I got into a car accident last Friday evening. Until now I didn't feel like talking about it. It happened at the flyover in Klang town where traffic was extremely slow moving. (It doesn't matter that it was so slow I got bored.) Upon reaching that place, I was overcome by sleepiness that crept up from goodness knows where. (Sleepy drivers are on my list of 'people who should not drive'. I should not drive when sleepy.)

I took into consideration that I had a long day. I had been awake since 5.40AM that day and had to wait for classes to start at 11AM after arriving in uni at 7.30AM. (It's the same everyday, I arrive in uni at around 7.30AM because my brother starts at 8 each day and I have no other choice but to follow.) But in spite of all that, I still couldn't forgive myself for falling asleep that day. (It was a rather minor accident considering the fact that only bumpers [of the other car] and kangaroo bars [my car] were damaged.) The other driver was, well (after a long period of negotiations and considerations and phone calls and thanking God for friends who can help), extremely considerate (and I'm not trying to be sarcastic).

Until Sunday came.

I had to be there early on Sunday since it was my praise and worship team's duty that day. I was also supposed to play the hymns for the first service since someone else always play for the second service only.

At that time, especially because it was Sunday and I was in church, I get to hear my peers pray or encourage each other in preparation for worship; listen to the songs and really meditating on it; listen to the sermon about persecuted Christians in other countries that really made me realize how self-centered I was. Even later during the training for P&W probationers, learning again and reminding myself what worship means really helped me get over my frustrations. (As to how... eheh... like I said in my previous post: things that should be kept in the heart, should stay in the heart. Haha... Some of my thoughts are just too personal.)

The main thing was, remembering again that there is a bigger picture and that God would never forsake me. He is my God, my Father, my Friend, my Comforter, my Shepherd, my Healer, my Light, and my Guide. In times of trouble and in times of need, He will always be there.

Pink Flowery XML

Heh. I changed my layout.

This is actually much more manageable. I was actually trying out a different one but it had too many extra elements to deal with (top nav bar, search box, super big cute fonts that I liked). I settled for this one since format-wise, I actually like it.

Hmm... come to think of it, it has been many years since I've started blogging (since 2005?) At first, it had been for the sake of learning html. I used geocities back then since it's very basic and would require me to type in the html codes etc. It led me to start a song request site where any songs I had acquired through my own requests and hunting in non-English websites. (That is, Japanese songs from Japanese websites; or OSTs from anime =3) It was fun.

Then I decided to make a personal blog.

It led me to blogspot where my posts became more personal instead of short snippets of what has been happening to the site. I even included what happened to me. (Haha.)

Anywho... today was my first P&W session with my new P&W team. Although I'm still on probation (meaning I don't perform on stage) it still felt good knowing that soon I can serve God again with more than just living each day. I lost my passion awhile back but I'm slowly gaining it back; slowly realizing that it had never been lost from the start.

insensate
"lacking sensation or awareness"

---

Randomness that did not deserve its own post =3
Someone once asked if what I've shared on this blog is share-a-ble with other people. I remembered answering "Yea, since whatever I put up here is no secret. Things that should be kept in the heart should be kept in the heart." Said person paused before saying, "you are very brave."

The many uses of vodka huh...

As much as I know alcohol is more than just for drinking, I'd never think of using it for all these purposes. Do you drink vodka? Or have someone given you vodka and you didn't know what to do with it? =P

The Many Uses of Vodka

This is a very interesting read. I'm even putting a copy of it here. It's authored by Dahlia Rideout.

---

The Many Uses of Vodka

By: Dahlia Rideout

Aside from being a fantastic drink, vodka has many uses which you may not have known about. Since vodka is one of the world's most popular drinks, many of us have a bottle handy in the home. And since its typically filtered and pure, it makes a handy liquid to have around.

Here are a few uses:

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves adhesive.
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.
3. Clean jewelry. Soak the jewelry in vodka for five minutes, then rinse, and dry.
4. Clean lipstick from clothing. Rub the stain with vodka, then throw into your regular wash.
5. Remove the glue left behind by a bumper sticker. Rub the glue with a soft, clean cloth soaked with vodka.
6. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
7. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, then blot dry.
8. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
9. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
10. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or wasps to kill them.
11. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziplock freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshable ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.
12. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
13. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
14. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.
15. vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.
16. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.
17. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.
18. Soothe a sore throat. Add a tablespoon of vodka to glass of warm water and gargle. The alcohol helps numb the sore throat.
19. Eliminate swimer's ear. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, fill an eardropper with vodka, and squeeze it into the affected ear, then let it drain out.

Article source: Miss Charming.com. Photo courtesy of Kaishin on Flickr (via Creative Commons).
First published March 2008

---

Huh, it was taken from somewhere too. Lol.

Mark Twain

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."

That quote is pretty cool. Lol. To think of laughter as a weapon is not entirely what I would do but to think of laughter as something everyone should genuinely have is.

Random Thoughts
There are some points in life where things may result in great frustration or depression and many times it's difficult to get over. But you know, you'll just have to look at it in a different perspective and simply choose to get over it. Many of us do not have the strength or will to overcome our own weaknesses or trauma but there is one who knows us more than we do ourselves, one who will take control if we would let him, the one who can give us the strength.

Not Going to be Bitter

They couldn't do anything about it. Nothing at all. My clashes stay.

Sigh.

Looks like it's more self discipline for me and listening to online lectures from Down Under. Hopefully, I'll find out if there are others who will be doing the same subject and hopefully, I can get them to take down notes or at least record the lectures for me... Or at least tell me of any announcements I need to listen to.

Otherwise.

It's a whole new semester beginning today! Most of my friends will be doing different subjects. Our breaks aren't exactly on the same days either. So not fun. But it's okay. It means new friends. (If I'm friendly enough. Haha.)

Not Happy

How could they?!

For all my 5 semesters with Monash, of course I would have encountered lecture clashes in at least one out of those semesters (it was a total of 3 semesters with clashes). They were always minimal. One lecture with another lecture. I understood it can't be helped. And I was okay with it, even for some subjects that did not provide online lectures. (If Monash Malaysia was consistent with Monash Australia in terms of lectures, then it wouldn't have been a problem at all.)

But this semester is truly a first. Not one, not two, but THREE freaking slots clashed! And it's not just 3 lectures. Oh no, it wasn't all that bad. It's ONLY two lectures and ONE LAB. How can I not complain?!

I typed out an email in an instant and have gotten two replies at present. The first was a forward to another staff. The second was asking me to reply not using my gmail. Well, excuse me if I used my monash account through gmail and excuse me if the webmail is "actually so easy to use". Well, it is easy. Except it holds no more than 40MB and is a pain to maintain with all the extra redundant steps and pop ups.

Not happy and I'm being stubborn about it >(

It hurts

I once told a friend that I often feel as though I'm being carried away by the strong currents of a river. There was nothing to hold on to but a rope and that rope was the only thing keeping me from drowning or being swept away.

I did not have the strength to pull myself to shore nor did I want to try. The sense of security given by that rope was just enough for me to hang on to dear life. It did not matter that the river was splashing water into my face or threatening to keep me below its surface because the rope was there. It was enough.

When I closed my eyes thinking I was alright, I opened them and found myself strangely on the riverbank. The sounds of rushing water caught my ears and all I could do was stare into the water and hug my knees for I was cold. So very cold and very alone. The dark forest was behind me and there was not a sound of anything else. Just the sound of water flowing right before me. I was alone and afraid, more so than I was in the river.

I almost wanted to jump right back in just so I could feel safe hanging on to something. But I knew that if I did, I will just be swept away and be lost forever.

So I would stand up and start walking.

At least then, I might find a path.

Wonderland Online

Yes, another MMORPG. I've gotten myself a lvl 20 chara there. A magical based fire character. (Oh, and a lvl 10 wind chara I'm not using atm.)

This game is another free for life mass multiplayer online RP game from IGG.com (http://wl.igg.com). It's where Tales of Pirates came from too.

The first thing that got me playing this game was... the fact that I missed playing the Sims. (Lol! Well, not exactly... but...) This game lets you build your own house! The idea is very interesting... I'll relate what I remember from the first point of the game.

Based on the story, you get to choose a number of characters that are passengers of a cruise ship (there are even secret characters you can switch to on the ship). Each of the characters can be of either fire, water, wind or earth element. This influences the type of attacks you will get. Then, you get to choose your main stat (either str, con, int, wis or agi). At first, I thought you add the stats based on the skills you want to get, but, having con for def is a lot of help...

Anyway, the cruise ship you were on is shipwrecked and you're stranded on an island. A man named Robinson (thanks tas >.>) saves you and tells you that he has been trying to get out of this place for 28 years and failed! You then begin your journey of trying to survive in that island. You get a tent (that can be moved wherever you go... haha...) and you meet villagers, complete quests, hunt or collect materials to make your house or equipments. You get to compound weapons, armours and other materials even! Very versatile compared to most MMORPG games. It's enjoyable definitely.

Oh! I even have a cool guild: The WWarriors(or The Wonderland Warriors)! Haha... See you there if you feel like playing!

Crab Football

Have you ever heard of such a game? It is one that applies the rules of football with a little twist.

Players have to walk like crabs.

It's really simple actually. You sit yourself on the floor, lean back, and use arms and legs to walk. Then, you use your foot to play football. Of course the "field" is much smaller. Each game lasts 15 minutes. (Honestly, who can walk like a crab for any longer and play football at the same time?)

Our cell group (well, both cell groups) decided to play this game instead of the usual captainball for this month's inter-CG activity. It was really fun. That is, it was a game full of laughs. You have no idea how competitive we can all be until you put us all in a team sports game. Crawling around on your bum and all fours was interesting. Especially since you can't move very fast. It was funny when we had to chase after the rolling ball that was about to get out of bounds. But hey, they all gave up halfway when they realized no one's going to catch up. Haha.

As short and non-informative this post may be, I have to stop typing. It hurts too much. Why? Aha... if you must know...

We all went home with blistered hands.