Super unglam jumping shot! But I LOVE jumping shots! =)

Pictures!

Golden Gate Bridge on a rainy misty day... beautiful nevertheless! =)

Christian Relationships

Recently, I've been wondering about what it means to be a Christian couple... =) Cos there are more and more couples amongst us in church... maybe cos many of us are reaching that "marriageable" age... I think it's definitely important that as Christian couples, we try to live out God's model in Ephesians 5, even in our dating-hood. For those of you who are not as familiar with the bible, Ephesians 5 talks about how the guy should lead the gal and show sacrificial love as Christ did for the church. His priority for her should be to help her grow in her godliness. The gal should submit to the guy and support and respect him. (Of cos we're not talking abt submitting to ungodly decisions here). And both will have to put the other person's interest ahead and above his/her own. With these principles laid down for a christian couple, what are the implications that come along?
Example...

1. Does it mean therefore, the guy has to be a bible study leader (to lead in the relationship) and the gal will definitely have to be a co-leader?

-- I get this feeling from many couples in our midst.. that if you're a godly couple, you will definitely serve together... most ideally in the same ministry, ministering to the same group of people. It will be esp good if you can lead a group together, with the guy leading and the gal being the co-leader.. isn't that the perfect model of a christian couple? I'm not too sure about that... personally, I'm wonderfully blessed that XLQ and I are able to serve God in that area... real privileged to be able to click with the young adults in PUNJ and be able to minister together. I think it's a real blessing and it's a bonus, really! But I don't think every couple should force themselves to be equally effective in the same ministry... many times, I think they will end up giving themselves undue pressure. Firstly, GOd has given us gifts in many different ways... sometimes, as a couple, we just don't have the same type of gifts to be serving in the same ministry... which I think it's actually ok... =) I think sometimes we all try to fit into this mould that we see in church... especially from older couples we admire a lot, who are serving God together. I think as long as we're serving God in the ways that we can, we really don't have to worry too much about intentionally serving as a couple. In simply sharing your struggles with people about trying to have a godly relationship, we're also serving God that way. Of cos I think in terms of time, it's great as a couple to be able to minister together, cos there's only so much time in a week and serving together helps you to have common friends and time to hang out together as a group. Though XLQ and myself spend so much
at PUNJ that it's hard for us to find quality time to spend together... hmm, will it even be worse if we're involved in different ministries? I dunno.. but i guess my point is that there may be times when it's really tough for one party to be serving in the same capacity as the other and if that's the case, maybe they shld take it easy... am not fully decided on this, just thinking aloud...

2. How can a gal support a guy practically? (cos the bible doesn't spell out explicitly what it means to support a guy)
Here are some which I think I learned and observed from other couples as well..
-listening to him when he needs to talk about stuff
-supporting him in the decisions that he makes (hopefully not blindly... but after talking through stuff)
-respecting him in public, not to put him down
-encourage him to utilize his strengths
-reassure him of his strengths and gifts
-reminding him of the priorities a Christian should have
-being there emotionally

I guess it also differs from couple to couple... maybe for some couples, some forms are needed more than others... and I think it's an ongoing process, learning how to help each other better... things to think about...

I've learned that sometimes the bible isn't all that clear on the hows of man and woman's roles... but I guess the basic principle is always the same... to put the other person's needs above your own... really tough call! Cos when the tough gets going, we always think about our own needs first... but that's when we can always look to Christ as an example for us...

Free

One of my favourite songs from Corrine May! Support her! By her orginal album! =) Would LOVE to watch her concert... but found out that it's sold out.. *sniff sniff*


I see the morning glory
It winds upon the tree
It tells the untold story of how things were meant to be
You saw the universe
Caught up in desperate dreams
You came and changed the ending
Changed it to save my fate
You led the revolution
You left your legacy
Embraced the struggle
in the face of mortality
I know I'm not alone in this
Help me believe

I can be free
I can be free from this place
Beautiful healer
Beautiful grace
Help me to see
Everything fall into place
Wake me from dreaming
No more deceiving
Break these chains

It's still the same old story
This great divide
Between the want and waste
And all the hunger inside
I heard the news today
Now I'm trying to find my place
I'm just a single voice
What can I do to erase

All this misunderstanding
All this anarchy
Six degrees of separation
Sometimes it's so hard to see
That we are not alone in this
I need to believe

Chorus

Thoughts about the church

Written on 27 Jan, 2005 (Friday)

Few things on my mind this Friday morning...
The church- is there such a thing as the perfect church? Of cos not! Why not? Cos the church is made up by a group of believers, whose sin has tainted them so much that it's impossible for even believers in Christ to be in perfect unity with one another... I mean, in the ideal state, Christians should be in perfect harmony with one another because Christ has died for us to reconcile us back to God and with one another. Shouldn't we, therefore, as Christians, strive to be in harmony? As much as I will love to believe in that (esp when I am one who hates conflicts and confrontations), we see how it has NOT worked throughout history.
Throughout history, the nation of Israel, even with God leading and guiding them, seems so fallible... we saw throughout church history how people fight over doctrinal issues (sometimes right and wrong, sometimes wisdom issues), we saw how churches split because of differences... we see how sin is played out in the Christian community, one supposedly to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. Guess it shows a few things:
1. Man's sin is so real and man's heart is so deceptive. YET, God chooses to save us and make us His own. What a mystery!
2. Despite man's sin and the depth of hurt and hatred in this world, God is still sovereign and in control of all things. Despite the imperfections, God still uses man as His instruments to bring the gospel to those who have not heard. And the miraculous thing is, people do respond to the the message that fellow sinful humans who are saved bring to them! That in itself is another mystery...
3. It shows another thing... that it's tough to live as a Christian in this world... try telling that to a non believer and he will probably look at you strange. Haha... but honestly, we are called to be different from the world, but yet, many times, we're not all that much different, looking at the way we handle things and treat one another. Just pray that as we try to work out our salvation, that God will show His grace towards us.
THings to think through... sigh...

First Starbucks in the World!!

This is the first Starbucks in the world! In Seattle! It's got a different icon/label...

Yearning for a nice cuppa Caramel Macchiato on this lazy Thursday afternoon... =)

Can you see the double rainbow?

Can you see the double rainbow in the sky? =) Cool pic huh? Just thought this will be a nice picture to cheer everyone's day!

Preparation for the BIG DAY

Hehe, so far, no one has discovered my blog yet, except for XLQ, whom I forced to go and check out my blog... anywayz, busy days at work! Yesterday, I could feel temperature rising, my heart beat 10 times faster, feeling super annoyed at a client who couldn't seem to hear me say "Click on the graph" for like 10 times!! Anywayz, it's ok. I got over it already... Remember, blog not to be used to talk bad abt people. Heh.
So, anything encouraging to say to pp? Hmm.... recently, my wedding prep has been stressing me out like crazy... ask XLQ and he will prob tell you. Why, most will ask? Isn't a wedding supposed to be a happy occassion? Yes yes, definitely, but it's also super stressful! Here's abt the list of things u need to get done:

1. Wedding banquet- done
2. Bridal boutique- chosen
3. church wedding- YIKES, no venue as yet!!
4. BUYING A FLAT!!!!!!! - *GASP*
5. Plus many many many small details...

Scary scary things to do... and honestly, it's a test of your relationship as well. In what sense? It will test what the foundation of your relationship is... Many times, XLQ will bring me back to focus... that the relationship is much much more than just the wedding ceremony, that working out the marriage is more important, and that God is in the centre of our relationship... yes, these are truths that I definitely know, but I guess when u're in the midst of it, sometimes, working them out in reality just seems 10 times harder... internal struggle between my own desires and godly decisions, feeling pressure to accept certain things if I'm truly a content and godly gal... trying to remember that there are worse things in life that can happen to you, trying to remember that this is meant to be a joyous occassion, trying to remember that above all, God is still God and seriously, it's nothing too major a deal to be so anxious abt... haha, the other nite, I think I was so stressed abt my wedding that I had a dream abt it... I dreamt that I went to the bridal boutique. The gown which I loved was altered without my knowledge and the designer added strips of pink frilly cloth to the front of the gown... YIKES!! I almost fainted (in the dream lah)... haha... so funny.

Well, another... let me see... there are less than 11 months (??!!) to go before the actual wedding!!!! Wah, so fast!!! But at the same time, I wish the prep time could pass faster! Hehehe... man... indecisive me... really can't decide if I want it sooner or later... but hopefully, in this coming months of prep, I will be less neurotic and not stress out my poor fiance too much. But I'm seriously very thankful and appreciative to him for putting up with so much of my nonsense. Thanks... hopefully we'll come out of it a closer couple and love God even more, knowing that all things come from Him.

But honestly, I think that to go through the wedding together is not easy... what more marriage??!! SO SCARY... Haha... but couples who are reading, pls don't let me scare u into not getting married. Haha... just wanna encourage u guys to always look to God for strength and remember there is a much bigger purpose behind all this. =) Things you learn in different phases of life... So, for couples planning for wedding, don't be discouraged!

My 2 year old niece, Jojo (Jodie)

First blog in my life

I wonder who will be the first one to discover my blog. The first person, pls identify yourself and I will treat you to a cup of coffee. Hehe... =) For a die-hard loyal diary person like myself, starting a blog is like betrayal! How can I do this to my diary??!!

Anywayz, I'm kinda in a semi conscious state... feeling bit wuzzy from my slight 37.2 degree fever... I'm still undecided if I will continue on with blogging. My intention for starting a blog:
1. Keep in touch with friends overseas
2. To write about my Christian walk with the hope of encouraging others in theirs
3. NOT to replace my diary- I WILL still write in my diary
4. NOT to use it to vent or say bad things about others

I always feel a bit bad when I read other pp's blogs... cos they don't know I'm reading it... and when I see them, I have to stop myself from talking about things I read from the blog, cos they don't know that I know... Man, it's like living a double life. Haha, ok, it's not so serious.

Hmm... so, let's think of something encouraging to put down on my first blog.

1. I'm reading the book of Jeremiah for my QT as part of my attempt to read the entire bible. It's been what... 2 year plus(?), I'm still stuck at the prophets.. haha, anywayz, one lesson I've learned from Jeremiah: God is sovereign over all things. He knows that Judah will go into Babylonian captivity, in fact, it's all part of His grand plan. Before that, He gave lots and lots of warning to the Israelites, asking them to repent of their sins and turn back. However, being the sinful and stiff necked people we are, they did not and God had to show judgement because He is holy and just. The puzzling thing is that God actually uses evil for good. I think that's the hardest thing to understand... anyhow, my point is that God is sovereign. =) Throughout history, and therefore in our lives as well. So brothers and sisters, if you're discouraged from your walk with God, remember how He has worked in Israel's history and how He will work in our lives as well.

That's all for today... =)