Monday, July 28, 2008

Life: Anew.

Sometimes, God gives you a reason to live. Slowly, but surely, you'll find another reason to live. But nonetheless, everything happens according to God's will and time.

Somethings come to you unexpectedly. Many unknown ELements will just fLow Your way. Seriously.


For now, I just feel so darn happy!~


"...She said "If we're gonna make this work
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Don't hide the broken parts that I need to see"
She said "Like it or not it's the way it's gotta be
You gotta love yourself if you can ever love me"

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
And give me a break
I'll keep us together, I know you deserve much better...."



Taken from Lifehouse's Whatever It Takes


Love & Peace!~

BC?

Monday, July 21, 2008

(Luck) mois: Moving Forward


The letter has finally arrived!


It's confirmed: I'm now an employee of the company i'm working in. I'm no longer under probation as i stepped into the next sub-chapter in my chapter of the working world.

On Friday, i was on the plane heading to Langkawi, when Hani, the office admin staff here on the island, contacted me that the confirmation letter has arrived. I was thrilled to hear about, as the plane took off from the international airport on this island to the other island.

To sidetrack a little, it not only my first time flying with Firefly, but it has been more than a decade since i sat on an airplane.

Both Masry, my colleague, and i were in Langkawi, The Jewel of Kedah for an assignment. And here's the breakdown of the two day trip; 10% work, 90% sight-seeing, eating, shopping, chatting, meeting people, eating, seeing places, sleeping... and did i mention eating?

Here are some pictures from the island:


Telaga Harbour, where our group had lunch at Tapaz on Saturday.


The Loaf in Langkawi, owned by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammed.


That's the yacht Datuk Azhar Mansur sailed across the world with, resides peacefully out of waters in Langkawi.


There are buffaloes here in Langkawi, The Jewel of Kedah! Doesn't everyone need a water buffalo?

I'll post more pictures, when i get some other them from Masry.

Back to the topic, I got into the office this morning, and received the letter from Hani. I felt relieved and happy, thanking God for placing me here on this wonderful island of Sun, sand and food!

Like i mentioned in one of my past entries, i've still got a long journey to go.

Yesterday, Melissa D gave me a devotional prayer study guide as a gift upon the confirmation. And i will start using it from today onwards.

A long journey for me in my life, both in the working world and my spiritual life.And i'm happy now, for so many reasons. I thank God for where He has brought me alive today.

For now, with His strength, wisdom and guidance, i pray that i can move forward, and be a better person than i am now, on this island.


I want to move forward.


"...Maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Dear God I’ve sealed my fate
Running through hell, heaven can wait

Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight...."

Excerpt from Foo Fighter's Long Road To Ruin

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Free Stuff: How Good Is It?

"The best things in life are free, but sooner or later the government will find a way to tax them."

- Anonymous


For the past couple of weeks, i've been looking high and low for a dictionary application my cell phone; a dictionary to be exact.

Everytime i manage to find one and install it into BlackCell (that's the name of my mobile phone), i could only use the trial version. One said i had to donate before i could use the software. Another was a trial version which only allowed me to find words that begins with the letter A.

It's darn frustrating to find a freeware which can actually meet my expectation. Heck, it's cheaply labeled 'freeware', where you can only see its display before you know you have to pay to use the full version.

If i were to buy it online, i would rather purchase a simple dictionary from the bookstore, which would cost me about the same price. RM20 perhaps?

It's like what someone told me a long time ago, "Good things are not free, free things are no good."

Looks like i have to be content with this real simple dictionary i've downloaded, which has the face of its 'creator' on the background. It's not comprehensive, but that's the best i can get, for free.

*sigh*


Love & Peace!~

BC?

Sunday, July 13, 2008

These Laws are... true?

This is something i got off the bulletin board on Friendster, and i found it amusing. It somewhat rhymes with Murphy's Law (anything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong). Check it out:

Law of QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.

Law of the TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged tone.

Law of MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will
begin to itch.

Law of the WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of the ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat
tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.

Bath THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are
with someone you don't want to be seen with.

LAW of the RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!

LAW OF BIOMECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle arrive last.

LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask
you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Have a great week ahead!


Love & Peace!~

BC?

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Peppercorn

I picked this off from my friend's blog. And i believe this touching story should be shared with the readers out there:


The Peppercorn

Ever pondered about the seemingly humble peppercorn that makes all the difference in taste?

Imagine for a while that you are a berry of the Piper nigrum plant grown mainly in India. One fine day, the fairly immature, almost-ripen berry is hanging out with its fellow berries just minding its own business when it is abruptly yanked out and thrown into a foreign land. The berry starts to shake; quiver with fear; it is confused.

All of a sudden everything the berry has once known becomes but a distant memory. One moment it was basking in the warm rays of the sun enjoying life as it was, the next the berry finds itself fumbling around in darkness, trying to keep its balance as the basket which the berry now call home sways violently – the berry feels lost.

In fear and confusion, the berry cries out “Help... Help... Help!!”

The swaying comes to a sudden stop. The berry breaths a breath of relief, thinking the worse is over! Short-lived moment of ‘peace’ it is, as another wave of violent rattling shoves the berry into yet another foreign land. Loud clanging and a hard-cold surface greet the weary, wounded berry. “Will this ever stop???” the berry cries out. What follows is a unimaginable. Boiling water is poured onto the berry. Water fills every corner of the container... the berry is ‘drowned’ in boiling water... it is scorched and hurt. As quickly as the last ‘trial’ the berry is shoved into yet another ‘trial’. The berry is lifted from the boiling water, and left to ferment and dry naturally in the sun until all that’s left from that once juicy berry is a wrinkled,black...seemingly ugly shriveled raisin-look-alike. It is now a peppercorn.

Confusion still envelopes the peppercorn. Constant questions of “Why? Why me? Why now? Why this? WHY?” torments the mind of the peppercorn. The peppercorn does not understand why it is in such a mess.

If you thought that was all, you’re dead wrong. The peppercorn finds itself in plastic packaging, being transported into yet another foreign land. The peppercorn sits there... Now, everything looks hopeless, meaningless.

Until one day... the plastic package is ripped open. Down come something big, with five protruding stick-like things, it is warm, gentle, it picks up the peppercorn. Ah... this touch seems different. It is... comforting. The peppercorn starts to feel a tinge of hope, when yet again, it is tossed into boiling water. This is the last straw!

“Is there No end to this?!” Rounding up every ounce of strength, the peppercorn puts up its last fight, battling against the scorching waves and ferocious currents. Its energy is exerted... weak... Helpless, the peppercorn finally yields... surrendering and succumbing to change.

Memories of what it once was... the processes and trials, the ‘long and narrow road’ it traveled. Memories flashed through the peppercorn. It finally yielded. Slowly, the peppercorn notices a change.

“Hey, what is this aroma I smell? What is this taste I taste? Wait... it’s coming from me! This can’t be right?! I am not capable of this, not me! How could something so beautiful come out from me – a wrinkled, shriveled, ugly being; How can this be?"

Down comes a ladle, the same hands that tossed the peppercorn into the pot of boiling water now known as soup, picks up a bit of soup and tastes it. Delight fills the face, a look of contentment, a look of approval. The cook is pleased.

The peppercorn now realizes, "This is what I was made for! This is why I was put through so much! This is why, this is why, this is why!"



Sometimes, we need to go through the motion, no matter how painful it is. Then, we wait for our time to shine. All the time we have is an investment. Waste it not, make full use of it. It's a gift from God.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
– Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV


Love & Peace!~

BC?

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

(Luck) mois: Reflections

It has been awhile since i put up an entry. But it has been longer since i started work here; slightly over six months to be exact.

Started in PJ for the first three months of the year, and 'exiled' on the island once the new Pakatan Rakyat DAP-PKR state government was formed.

I learnt a lot of new things, built rapport and made new friends here, away from home. And work is indeed interesting, rarely, if not never, monotonous.

How often can you get to see the stern Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng giving friendly hi-fives to school children?

There is still a lot of room for improvement, and i want to try my best. If i'm meant to be here away from the comforts of home, then, let that be. It's all God's will.

I've got more to type, but i feel like sleeping now. But i'll post up more pictures next time.


For now, i just want to rest and get over this sore throat.


"...She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every day we borrow
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where your treasure, where’s your hope
Forget the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she’s immortal
Don’t say so long
Your not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today till soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is gone,
The world keeps spinning on,
Your going going gone,
Like summer break is gone,
Like Saturday is gone
Just trying to prove me wrong
You pretend like your immortal...."

Taken from Switchfoot's Gone


Love & Peace!~

BC?

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Second Half Begins

"...Time will tell us if we're out of answers when it stops
Climb back down to the beginning
Take it from the top
Who's to say where the wind will blow

What happens when all your dreams are lying on the ground
Do you pick up the pieces all around
And if the world should fall apart hold on to what you know
Take your chances turn around and go

All the leaves are turning and the sky fades to gray
Strange our life coincides with the seasons of today
Who's to say where the wind will blow...."

Taken from Lifehouse's Chapter One


The first half of 2008 have just passed by, as we stepped into the second half of it.

What have you learnt so far?
What have you gain until now?
What have you been through?
What have you experienced?

I know, i have a lot to learn.
I know, i have to improve myself.
I know, i should not indulge in self-pity.
I know, i am a long way from perfection.

I know, i need to believe in God, and in myself; I can do it.

It's a long, winding but interesting path to walk through.


"...Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I?
That the voice that calm the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am.
But because what of youve done.
Not because of what I've done.
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours...."

Excerpt from Who Am I by Casting Crowns


Love & Peace!~

BC?