Good Samaritan

There was a really nice lady I met yesterday.

I was waiting for a cab after cellgroup outside her place (outside HP) and this lady was standing on the opposite side waiting too. After waiting for quite a while, she flagged one down and guessed what? She called me over to take that cab! (I had already been waiting before her)
She said she had already called a cab, so she flagged the cab for me since I've been waiting so long. So nice!

Thanks lady!

Digita Art Workshop (26 & 27 Nov)

I attended a digital art workshop these past 2 days as part of another Bear Fruit workshop programme. Besides interest, it was also partly because I had some spare leave from last year which I needed to clear (or else it would be forfeited). Why not spend it on something useful & enriching? It was interesting; something new to me.

The theme was like expressing heritage through digital art, so we went for a visit to the Children Little Museum on Kandahar Street. It's a private museum of games, toys, etc. of the olden days.

These photos were eventually used as something to work on to create some form of digital art. So this was what I got from my photos.

Of course, there was another piece we were asked to create which required us to draw something on our own. As I am quite bad at drawing, mine was one of those "abstract art" kind of pieces. Well, I guess I work as the thing comes about and takes form on its own...more conceptual stuff.

It was fun to experiment with stuff like kaleidoscope effects, layering, etc. to create my pieces.
We used Corel Painter to do our work, but unfortunately, after conversion to jpeg (from RIFF), you can't really see some of the effects, especially layering, hence some of the texture is lost. But oh well, better than nothing.

My 1st fencing suit

Finally got down to getting my own fencing suit. Chose the Hungarian brand PBT instead of the China one coz it's supposed to fit better. And fitting it is!

Anyway, we're supposed to have a friendly match in Dec. Hopefully I'm up to it.

Baptism (2)

A lot of people asked me after I got baptised today "how do you feel?"
Strangely, I don't know. How was I supposed to feel?

It was a joyous occasion with some old friends and colleagues around. After waiting so long, everything seemed to be over too fast (so yes, please get baptised a.s.a.p. when you have committed to the faith). The full immersion was done in a second and I was like "you mean it's over?"; it happened so fast that it left me thinking "I'm really baptised already?". Haha...But then again, it made me wonder: how could I have waited so long to do this act?

When I got home, while looking in the mirror, I was wondering: how was I different now after the baptism? Somehow, a voice said to me "you are now without blemish". And yes indeed, for the baptism signifies the dying to self and sin.

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." ~ Romans 6:4

The Spirit must have spoken to me then, concisely telling me the simple truth of what this verse means. Just as a newborn baby, we are now without blemish. We were cleansed of sin by His blood when Jesus died on the cross for us.

Even though I have committed myself to this faith for so long, the transformation is not complete without being baptised. And one learns "new" truths every day. There's a difference between knowing it in your head and experiencing it in your soul/heart.

Ok, to end off, I shall share with you what I shared on stage today (everyone got a 5-sec chance to say how Jesus was special to us). "GOD is amazing in creative ways; one can always expect the unexpected".

(heehee...me always slow reaction...from the point of baptism to going home then got something)

Baptism (1)

This Friday, I'm getting baptised.

When I submitted my form and since then, waited for this day, I found myself getting nervous during this period. I couldn't explain why coz I've been planning for this for 8 & a half years, so why this anxiety? Cold feet?...of course not!

I guess that when I submitted the form, I knew that there's no turning back. Not that I'm afraid I would regret (another "of course not") since I've actually gone through 8.5 yrs of waiting, pondering & fighting for it, proving that this decision of mine is not a rash thing or influenced by others (contrary to my parents' belief).

Maybe as my cell leader said, it's like I'm a "bride" meeting my "bridegroom" (this is a common reference used in the Christian faith). After all, it is making an eternal commitment, like a marriage to Christ. As I reflected more, I realised the nervousness is actually due to me taking the step of faith by making this commitment to GOD because like I said, there's no turning back. What would be in store as I now "officially" become part of the family of Christ? Also, this step of faith is like breaking free from "chains" that were previously holding me back, regardless of what would happen because I am obeying GOD's command; the sudden surge of freedom. It's like an escape and I guess when you first break free, there's always some anxiety, like when a caged bird is suddenly presented with an open door to be free. Mine's slightly different as I'm "forcing" the door open.

Light and Shadow

Faced with the light of the Lord in front of us, shadows fall behind us.

Conversely, turn your back to the Light and shadow lies ahead of you.

Nobody's perfect

I think "nobody's perfect" is something that many tend to forget. Why is that? Coz each of us have a certain expectation of people we meet, we work with, we live with, etc. We sort of keep expecting something & hope that person is perfect in carrying out a certain duty or as a person, until the day that person fails to meet that expectation. Slowly, you realise the person is not as "perfect" as you expect and one starts to complain. It is at this point of complaining that one tends to forget that "nobody's perfect" (that's why the complaints).
Well, people are good at some things and weak at other things, and placing your own standards on others (or worse, sometimes you have double standards *gasp*) is sometimes unfair. I don't mean that having some expectations is bad, but if the person is not what you thought he/she might be, you might sometimes need to accept who the person is and look at things in a different way. I guess it's a way of getting to know the person better, in a good way. Of course, this is more applicable in the sense that the person is still a good person, only like anyone, there are "blind spots" or weaknesses. I don't mean people who betray you, that's plain treachery and deceit.

One also tends to forget that oneself is also not perfect. I think all of us are guilty at some point in time of being "perfectionistic", which sometimes means insisting that it can only be our way, even when it is detrimental, irrational or being narrow-minded. Well, hopefully, one would realise it & admit the flaw after the outburst.

busy busy...updates

*sigh* been kinda busy for the past couple of weeks, running around as I prepare for the launch of the fruit of our labour next week, so have not been blogging for what...a month!

However, have been a bit restless this week as we wait for some finalising of content by our legal advisor. After all that buzz for the past few weeks, sort of in a "float" mode now, if you know what I mean. Just waiting...probably inertia. So yes! restless and didn't achieve much this week, although I have lots of other work to clear :P

Yeah...anyway, will be getting baptised on 23 Nov (finally!). Haha..some of my friends will probably be thinking..."Huh? You're not baptised yet meh?" Well, I'm taking that step of faith now after 8 years...well, better late than never. :) Been looking forward to this day and finally it's here! Of course I've chosen a Christian name; it's "Ilsa" which means 'consecrated to God'. Some of you might have noticed me using it here & there already.

Ok, that's all for now.