in search of meaning.

Sins and God.

2007-01-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

Don't let your sins come between you and the Lord.
Even when you sin, God still wants to spend time with you,
hear and answer your prayers, and help you with all of your needs.
He wants you to run to Him, not away from Him.

- Joyce Meyer -

i love my babe, my darling.

2007-01-14T04:47:00.000-08:00

Just this morning alone, i got up almost every hour, coz nat dropped her 'toot toot' (pacifier)
and was really upset. I hopped in and out of bed at every hour - 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am and even 6am. When i last popped into bed at 6am, i thought i could at least rest before having to pop out at 7am.....suddenly i heard a sleepy little voice next to me...."Mummy, i want to wee wee." This was ian's little voice. Reluctantly, i dragged myself out of bed and accompanied him to the toilet. I stood outside and watched my little boy shooting and wetting the plate. It was a long long pee. After he was done, he washed his hands and climbed into bed with me. We tugged ourselves nicely under the blanket.....i was all ready to close my eyes...this time, hoping to get undisturbed rest. Suddenly i heard a sleepy little voice again.....He said "thank you mummy."

with that, i smiled and felt a warmth in my heart.
it was all worth it my love, both you and mei mei (little nat) are worth it.

good night.

i need a revival.

2007-01-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

i have come to the end of a crossroad.
i need a revival.
i need to form a relationship with God.
i miss Him so much.

In today's church bulletin, it says - Pain is inevitable but suffering is a Choice.
Jesus did an extraordinary miracle of turning water into wine.
Just like how we should turn sadness into joy,
death into life - forever.
Pain is part of our reality, but suffering is a choice.
We have no control over the pains of life that come our way,
but the choice to suffer and give in to self-pity
and blaming others is surely a personal choice.

Reviewing the Past.

2006-05-09T21:34:00.000-07:00

Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it.
Reminisce about it, but don't live in it.

Learn from it, but don't punish yourself about it

or continually regret it.

Don't get stuck in it.

-Morrie Schwartz-

God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.

2006-02-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

we saw the hands and leg (yes saw only 1 for now) waving in the air.
And the rhythmic pulsating heart - the gift of life.

8 weeks plus.

while i was drying my son after his shower.

2006-02-02T02:18:00.000-08:00

He told me, while wrapped up in his tow el (like a little worm)
"Mummy i love you very much. I love you everyday. I love you last time, today and forever.
I love you even during Christmas, on your birthday, on my birthday and even on papa's birthday. I miss you so much when you go to work, i miss you when you go out and take pictures, when you go shopping, when we go for live shows and even when you are at home."

I love my little poet :)

Destined for Greater Things?

2006-01-31T05:48:00.000-08:00

Ian had friends over today, to celebrate the New Year.

As expected, the place was a mess after a while with toys everywhere.

When Ian's dad came back home, he asked the children to pack up the toys before they start on another round of games. In particular, he told Ian that he had a couple of minutes to get the job done.

There was a lot of sound coming from the room. We thought the kids were busy packing up. Then we noticed Ian peeping from the corner and to our amazement, Ian was heard telling the other kid, who was older, "You pack the toys. I will peep to see whether my father is coming over to check". To our surprise, the other kid actually obeyed.

Our little boy. Destined for greather things? A mark of a leader? Or simply lazy?

Perhaps all of the above.

Little big brother.

2006-01-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

Congrats Ian, you are going to be a little big brother soon.
I am sure you will be the sweetest brother ever.

My son saw me using the pillow to cover my face from the room light.
He removed the pillow and stretched himself across my face (of course i could hardly breathe..)
He told me : 'Mummy, is this better? I can stay like this for 15 minutes.
15 seconds later, he added : 'is this better? i can stay like this for 5 minutes.'

His little face was so close to mine, i just smiled to myself - how fortunate i am to have such a sweet little thing.

*heard first heartbeat today*

i'm impressed!

2006-01-26T05:41:00.000-08:00

I was playing pokemon cards with my 4 years old son today and he used this phrase on me : "Mummy, you are so powerful, i'm impressed!"

Later when my hubby got home, i told him how Ian used a big word on me today.
Papa asked ian : " who taught you the phrase - i'm impressed?"
Ian : "mummy used it before"
Papa : "what does it mean?"
Ian : "it means you are very good"
Papa : "so what word did you learn from papa?"
Ian thought for a little while, gave a grin and replied : 'Uh-oh'
Papa was dumbfounded...

yes...that's Ian...my little boy :)

silly mummy...

2006-01-23T01:54:00.000-08:00

my son called me silly mummy.
he told me that he wanted to go swimming today, but i said can't, he may catch a cold as it is getting late.
he was disappointed, he walked away for a while.
He came back to me - gave me a great big hug and said 'I still love you always'.

thank you, my son :)
I still love you always too.

my son speaks.

2006-01-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

Mummy, i love you so much.

I want lots of ang pow from gong gong.
I will use the money to buy you 10 cameras...erm....6 cameras.
I will buy papa most powerful pokemon.
And i will buy myself a packet of soya bean milk.

- Ian at 4 plus years old.

packing up...

2005-06-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

i have come around almost the complete cycle
Finishing up with my last chapter here in Stanford
It seems like i just started with chapter one yesterday
but i guess time flies when everyday brings new meaning into my life

The short stay has helped open my mind, my heart and my eyes
To the many wonderful relationships i have formed
Each person has planted a little seed in my heart
The seed that will be cherished and treasured
Through autumn, winter, spring and summer.

Why Men Lie and Woman Cry.

2005-06-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

If a woman slaps a man's face in public,
everyone assumes he is in the wrong.

A woman needs to know but one man well to understand all men;
whereas a man may know all women and not understand one of them.

Men don't realise they need to be sensitive to a woman's feelings,
but tough and manly in other ways.

Men don't want to know what is on television,
they want to know what else is on television.

We always hold hands.
If i let go, she shops.

What can you tell from a well-dressed man?
His wife is good at picking out his clothes.

Offended.

2005-06-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Being offended is a choice.
Others can't offend you - you choose to be offended.

On discipline.

2005-05-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Lee Iacocca: Quotes on Discipline

I learned about the strength you can get from a close family life.
I learned to keep going, even in bad times.
I learned not to despair, even when my world was falling apart.
I learned that there are no free lunches.
And I learned the value of hard work.

Discipline with love.

2005-05-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

i believe in disciplining a kid, but not tearing his skin or self-esteem.

Grammatical mistake.

2005-05-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

How do you wish to be corrected for grammatical mistakes?

1. be corrected by a person in a straight forward/direct/matter of fact manner when in private
2. be corrected by a person who makes a joke out of it when in private
(less teacher- like)
3. do not wish to be corrected at all.

4. others (please specify)

please tell me your preference and why.

thank you.

Love is...

2005-05-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

making a person happy.

Love's divine.

2005-05-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

Then the rainstorm came, over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my, belief you see
And realized my mistake
But time through a prayer, to me
And all around me became still

I need love, love's divine
Please forgive me now I see
that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes

'Cause I need love, love's divine
Please forgive me now I see that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Oh I, don't bet (don't bend), don't break (don't break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won't forsake
'Cause love can help me know my name

Well I try to say there's nothing wrong
But inside I felt me lying all along
But the message here was plain to see
Believe me

'Cause I need love, love's divine
Please forgive me now I see that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Oh I, don't bet (don't bend), don't break (don't break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won't forsake
'Cause love can help me know my name

Love can help me know my name.

Love's Divine by Seal.

mor.pho.sis

2005-05-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

mor·pho·sis (môr-fss)n. pl. mor·pho·ses (-sz)

The manner in which an organism or any of its parts changes form or undergoes development.

Human beings shape and create their world according to the qualities they express,and are open to receive. Every human being has a metamodel which can express them all.

A Metamodel is more than we think it is.
A metamodel tends to be described as a model which describes other models. This is true up to a point, metamodels go beyond this. They are also able to identify with the models, be included in the models and therefore change them.

The toy known as Lego is the most famous example.

META
Meta is the Greek word, which describes that which is hidden, behind all things. Meta also means, that which is together with all things. And Meta also means, changing all things.

In the state, the landscape, the Garden of Eden, the land of my beginnings, I found the treasure and the key to the treasure, which I swallowed. The key was no longer out there, but hidden deep within me.

Underneath this vast labyrinth, underneath the rubble of the temples, in the centre, lies the Garden of Eden, the state of mind I call the “Meta” This simple state of mind is capable of creating endless labyrinths and temples, of breaking them all down again into one great temple or a million. I believe that the human mind in its original state, the “Meta”, is incredibly simple yet with the ability to diversify and divide into millions of directions, and still maintain a sense of order and purpose. The mind is designed to build and breakdown and transform what it builds into something new to build of value.

My “Meta” is Me, which created all the temples and labyrinths in the first place.

- What is a Metamodel?

Hotel Rwanda 2004 (dangers of intolerance)

2005-05-17T03:35:00.000-07:00

When people ask me, good listeners, why do I hate all the Tutsi, I say, "Read our history." The Tutsi were collaborators for the Belgian colonists, they stole our Hutu land, they whipped us. Now they have come back, these Tutsi rebels. They are cockroaches. They are murderers. Rwanda is our Hutu land. We are the majority. They are a minority of traitors and invaders. We will squash the infestation. We will wipe out the RPF rebels. This is RTLM, Hutu power radio. Stay alert. Watch your neighbours.

Hotel Rwanda - the movie.

Charlotte's Web.

2005-05-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

Charlotte : It's a beautiful medal Wilbur, and you deserved it.

Wilbur : Are you alright Charlotte? You don't sound like yourself.

Charlotte : I'm a little tired perhaps but i feel peaceful.
Your success today was to a small degree, my success.
You will live now secure and safe.

Wilbur : Why did you do this for me Charlotte?

Charlotte : You have been my friend.
That in itself is a tremendous thing.
Afterall, what's a life anyway? We are born, we live a little
while and we die. Spiders can't help being something of a little
mess eating flies with all these trapping and eating flies. By helping
you perhaps i was trying to live up my own life.

Wilbur : I haven't got your gift for words Charlotte
but you saved me and i would gladly give my life for you.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB.

We are called.

2005-05-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

Come! Live in the light.
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord.
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.

We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.

Sing! Sing a new song.
Sing of that great day when all will be one.
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.

We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.

Let's hear it from Morrie.

2005-05-15T02:10:00.000-07:00

"Part of the problem, Mitch, is that everyone is in such a hurry, " Morrie said. "People haven't found meaning in their lives, so they're running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find those things are empty, too, and they keep running."Once you start running it's hard to slow yourself down.

Tuesdays with Morrie

Ex-Indonesia Dictator in serious condition.

2005-05-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia's former dictator is suffering from internal bleeding that is affecting his heart and brain and could be life-threatening, doctors said Monday.

Mardjo Soebiandono, head of the medical team treating Suharto at Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital, said the 83-year-old needs to remain in intensive care and that the chances of recovery are about 50 percent.

Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for 32 years, was hospitalized last Thursday after blood tests showed he was anemic. He has suffered a number of health problems including two strokes and intestinal bleeding since being forced to resign in 1998 amid violent pro-democracy riots.

After his ouster, he was indicted for allegedly embezzling $600 million through a complex web of tax-free charitable foundations under his control. But judges threw out the charges in 2000 after doctors deemed him unfit to stand trial because of brain damage due to the strokes.

asiaone.com

Sophia Loren speaks on motherhood.

2005-05-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.
A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

A fulfilling day.

2005-05-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

I had a fulfilling day, watching the kids play.
The smiles, the love, the comradeship they shared.
The little hands, the genuine response.
Pilate was different with the comical distractions by teacher michelle.
Yoga was awesome with the warmth of friendship, the touching of souls.

Japan prepares for Total War.

2005-05-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

There is a certain irony inherent in the courses that the United States and Japan pursued in the years before Pearl Harbour. In Tokyo leaders committed their resource-poor empire to an attempt to achieve self-sufficiency, so that Japan might be secure in any future conflict. They were instrumental in plunging Japan into a war that made first self-sufficiency and then national security itself impossible. In Washington, at the same time, defenders of a vision of all nations trading freely and in peace resorted to the harshest of commercial pressures, in order to seal off trade between their country and Japan. The result eventually was war - a war that neither nation desired, but one that neither could avoid.

JAPAN PREPARES FOR TOTAL WAR
- The Search for Economic Security 1919-1941 by Michael A. Barnhart

Verbal bullies.

2005-05-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

Verbal bullies use words to hurt or humiliate another person.
Verbal bullying includes name-calling and insults.
This type of bullying is the easiest to inflict on others.
It is quick and to the point.
It occurs in the least amount of time available,
and its effects can be more devastating than physical bullying
because there are no visible scars.

-Adbusters

Kopikia speaks.

2005-05-03T00:31:00.000-07:00

Kopikia
is
no longer the same.
changing, as do you too.
because, we all do.

thanks for this litle reminder which i read off your blog Kopikia - how true!

a true friend.

2005-05-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.

Len Wein

2005-04-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

Safe in a crazy world - corrinne may

Tuesdays with morrie.

2005-04-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Page 174

"As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you have created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on-in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.""Death ends a life, not a relationship."

Mother Teresa on love.

2005-04-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

God has created us so that we do small things with great love.
I believe in that great love, that comes, or should come from our heart,
should start at home: with my family, my neighbours across the street,
those right next door. And this love should then reach everyone.

Strength to love.

2005-04-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence,
and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....
The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate,
wars producing more wars--must be broken,
or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963.

2005-04-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

We are the Easter people.

2005-04-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

when you are truly happy.

2005-04-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

Look what you've done.

one of those things.

2005-04-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

i have never felt such coldness against my skin
it was as though the cold hard surface was slowly drawing the heat out of my body
for the first time i am looking at the passing world from the position i am in
it felt as tho i was lying in a cool lonely coffin, but i am very much alive, lest i think
imagine if i were lying under the earth which people thread on
no one notices me, no one stops to see
the living is as dead as dead can be
i am just watching the moving clouds and the changing sky
O how lonely death must be
O how lonely death must be.

by me.

the poppy.

2005-04-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

The pope didn't command troops, but he deployed principles.

by Nicholas D.Kristof

Honour.

2005-04-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

The difference between a moral man and a man of honor
is that the latter regrets a discreditable act,
even when it has worked and he has not been caught.

Author: H.L. Mencken

Porgy and Bess.

2005-04-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

"I've got plenty of nothing; nothing's plenty for me.
Got my song...got Heaven the whole day long."

Happy Birthday to me, myself and ?

2005-04-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

When you wonder about the mystery of yourself,
look to Christ, who gives you the meaning of life.
When you wonder what it means to be a mature person,
look to Christ, who is the fulfillness of humanity.
And when you wonder about your role in the future of the world look to Christ.

Pope John Paul II

The voice that i hear.

2005-04-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

There is a voice, a voice deep within.
Who is that voice that i hear but yet i don't.
What is the voice saying? why is it there?
Who do i see in the mirror?
Is it You or Me?

I went to the woods.

2005-04-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)

2005-03-30T02:28:00.000-08:00

the waiting game...part of life's journey.

Easter Sunday

2005-03-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday in Arizona
Sunday in Vancouver
Finally, home for Easter.

Michael Jackson is a warrior? so he claims.

2005-03-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

Nothing is real, not in America.
Talk is easy, talk is free.
A burgler can turn a case against the owner of the house he is robbing and wins the case.
A passing remark made at some point in your life can one day become your living will - but whose words are those?
We are bounded by human laws, human judgement, human fallacies.
Is God only for the feeble-minded? or for the wise?
He who is real is real no more, time waits for no one, time changes everyone.
Human defined reality or Godly wisdom?
Choose your path, place your bets.

2005-03-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

Beluga whale

mental games.

2005-03-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

ghosts of the past caught up with me this morning.
never ending thoughts.
different faces, different feel.
the ghosts of my past.

Family.

2005-03-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. - Colonel Potter

2005-03-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

a real threat.

love.

2005-03-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

love bares no boundaries, no nationalities, no race.

love is a strange chemistry.

you will know it, once you have found your true love.

all his/her faults are no longer important, as your love for him/her is more than the pieces, it is the whole picture that matters.

no one is perfect, not me, not you.

to love and be loved is a blessing, a bliss.

don't lose hope, just keep your heart open.

Choose your attitude.

2005-03-04T04:19:00.000-08:00

How much of your attitude is based on habit and how much is actually chosen? Is your response to any given situation based mostly on what you did a thousand times before?
Imagine for a moment that you could rise to a whole new level of living. Imagine that you could break free from your conditioned responses and live each moment as the unique opportunity that it is.
In your mind, step outside yourself and take a look at your thoughts from the perspective of an objective observer. Take note of all the times your attitude is nothing more than a habitual response.
Remind yourself that you do indeed have a choice. Your attitude is yours to determine.
When it's based on habit, your attitude can be easily manipulated by others, by those who do not have your best interest at heart. In contrast, when it's based on choice, your attitude can be a powerful force working in your favor.
In every situation, choose a positive, thoughtful response rather than a habitual reaction. It can quickly take your life to a whole new level.

-- Ralph Marston

Pratiquez mon français

2005-02-28T02:20:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! Comment ca va?

Je suis de Singapour.
Je voudrais être un photographe.
Je ne parle pas français très bien, très pauvre en fait.
J'espère m'améliorer avec du temps.

Au revoir!

Spooky.

2005-02-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

my neighbour...

Open my eyes.

2005-02-24T03:17:00.000-08:00

As my world begins to stretch beyond its shores
i yearn to be reborned again.
Memories linger in my mind
Yet now a distant past i am leaving behind.

Look not on the follies i have made
But on the fresh page which God has granted me.
New grace, new lease, new friends i meet
Take a deep breath and journey on.

Close to you.

2005-02-23T02:54:00.000-08:00

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue.

That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around.
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

To a Skylark.

2005-02-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hail to thee, blithe spirit!...
Bird thou never wert--
That from heaven or near it...
Pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.

Higher still and higher...
From the earth thou springest,
Like a cloud of fire;...
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

In the golden light'ning...Of the sunken sun,
O'er which clouds are bright'ning,...
Thou dost float and run,
Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun. . .

Teach me half the gladness...That thy brain must know;
Such harmonious madness...From my lips would flow,
The world should listen then, as I am listening now.

.....from To a Skylark by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Start Again - Vanessa Williams

2005-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

It's wintertime in the middle of the spring

I can't believe it, loneliness is calling me

And I can hear it

See I never thought I'd feel this way

So soon, no...

There is something that I know I have to do

Start again

And this time I'll make it better than before

I start again

For the second time aroundI'll do much more, yeah...

Cause I refuse to let life end

I'll pick the pieces up

And start again, yeah

Other roads, yeah

Oh this time I must be careful

When I choose them

See love was for the taking

But I refused it

I never thoughtIt cut so deep inside me

Oh no...

There is something

That I know I have to do

2005-02-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

Sanity in an insane world. Courtesy of Phil Hilden in Double Exposure.

2005-02-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

pigeons.

i love...

2005-02-14T14:57:00.001-08:00

i love my life.
i love my hubby.
i love my son.
i love my mum.
i love my family.
i love God.

i wish to record this moment of bliss....right now, right here.
i wish to never forget this moment, this feeling...
of people i love in my life.

ps. i also love my friends (young and old) i have in my life ...those who bother to bother :)

The History of Valentine's Day

2005-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

www.historychannel.com

Paris la nuit - une poésie française que j'ai apprise dans la classe

2005-02-10T01:38:00.000-08:00

Trios allumettes. une a une allumees dans la nuit
La premiere pour voir ton visage tout entier
La seconde pour voir tes yeux
La derniere pour voir ta bouche
et l'obscurite toute entiere pour me rappeler tout cela
en te serrant dans mes bras.

- Jacques Prevert

French.

2005-02-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

Le Français d'étude me donne un mal de tête... que je me sens comme stopper : (

Let it Go.

2005-02-06T02:55:00.000-08:00

The only way to move forward is to put down the past

Two monks on a journey came upon a small river where the bridge had been washed out. Standing at the water’s edge was a beautiful woman dressed in elegant clothing. Seeing the situation, one monk offered to carry her across the river so her dress wouldn’t be ruined.
Safe on the other side, the woman expressed her gratitude, and the group parted company. The men had walked only a few steps when the other monk turned to his companion.
"How could you?" he spat. "You know our order strictly prohibits any interaction with women, yet you carried one across a river!"
"Yes," the first monk agreed, "I carried her, and then I put her down. But it appears you carry her still."

We need to release something significant in order for us to grow in our spiritual and personal lives. How about you? Is there something you need to put down today?

2005-02-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

confession.

2005-02-02T01:39:00.000-08:00

Confession is not telling God what we did.
He already knows.

Confession is simply agreeing with God
that our acts were wrong.

How can God heal when we deny?

How can God grant us pardon
when we won't admit our guilt?

i miss my treasure - my mum :(

2005-01-31T23:27:00.000-08:00

My Treasure - For Mom
by Kit McCallum

I look back on these years
To see how far I've come and grown,
I take a trip down memory lane,
And what I see has shown ...

That every step I've taken,
You have been there by my side ...
From infancy to adulthood,
We've stood the test of time.

You cradled me and nurtured me,
Through all these many years;
You held me and did comfort me,
Through happiness and tears.

You'd pick me up when I would fall,
You'd dust me off and then,
Encourage me to get back on that horse and ride again.

Your constant care and loving,
And your warm inviting heart,
Has always been a treasure thatI knew would n'er depart.

If I could be "just half" the person
You have been to me ...
Then you have taught me well dear mom,
For in my heart I see ...

A woman whose most gentle soul,
Embraces me each day ...
A woman whom I dearly love,
Much more than words can say.

2005-01-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

the friend within the man...

The art of seeing.

2005-01-30T01:37:00.000-08:00

We know what we are looking at is a tree, a house, a person. The art of seeing, however, is on a higher plane; it enables us to discover the character of an object or a relationship between objects that moves our emotions and excites our aesthetic sensitivity – our mind’s eye.

- David Finn

2005-01-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

virginia woolf speaks.

2005-01-27T02:15:00.000-08:00

I will be all light.

Reo Speedwagon.

2005-01-25T01:29:00.000-08:00

I can’t fight this feeling any longer
And yet I’m still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship, has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show

I tell myself that I can’t hold out forever
I said there is no reason for my fear
Cause I feel so secure when we’re together
You give my life direction
You make everything so clear

And even as I wanderI’m keeping you in sight
You’re a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter’s night
And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might

And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
It’s time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can’t fight this feeling anymore

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I’ve been running round in circles in my mind
And it always seems that I’m following you, girl
Cause you take me to the places that alone I’d never find
And even as I wander I’m keeping you in sight
You’re a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night
And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might

And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
It’s time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crushing through your door
Baby, I can’t fight this feeling anymore.

Honor your body...

2005-01-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

Nia is an expressive movement practice that uses The Body's Way to achieve physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual fitness and well-being. Nia is a lot like the Tao. It cannot be defined by any one word or by a single phrase. It cannot be limited to a single way of thinking or perception because it is always evolving and changing, uniquely touching each and every person who experiences her. Nia is personal. It is a sensation that can only be felt. It's like Chocolate. You have to taste it! Nia - Neuromuscular Integrative Action - is founded on the concept that there is a dancer, martial artist, and highly aware person within you. Nia blends nine movements into one routine. From the martial arts it draws upon tai chi, tae kwon do and aikido for strength and mindfulness. Jazz, modern dance and the free-spirited Duncan dance are used to encourage graceful movement. The healing arts of yoga, Feldenkrais and the Alexander technique act as nurturing body therapies. By melding various concepts together, Nia sets this person free. Nia attracts people who are creative and passionate about life, and those interested in becoming active and fit through the intelligence of their body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Through the movements of Nia, we are made mindful of the here and now, rather than dwelling on the past or looking to the future.

http://www.nia-nia.com/

the culture of Cults.

2005-01-22T02:44:00.000-08:00

Cult belief systems differ from conventional belief systems in a number of subtle but significant ways, which may not be apparent to an outsider. To understand the nature of these differences is to understand the nature of a cult.

Cult belief systems are typically:

Independent and non-accountable - believers follow their own self-justifying moral codes

Aspirational - they appeal to ambitious, idealistic people. The assumption that only weak, gullible people join cults is not necessarily true.

Personal and experiential - it is not possible to exercise informed free choice in advance, about whether the belief system is valid or not, or about the benefits of following the study and training opportunities offered by the group. The benefits, if any, of group involvement can only be evaluated after a suitable period of time spent with the group. How long a suitable period of time might be, depends on the individual, and cannot be determined in advance.

Hierarchical and dualistic - cult belief systems revolve around ideas about higher and lower levels of understanding. There is a hierarchy of awareness, and a path from lower to higher levels. Believers tend to divide the world into the saved and the fallen, the awakened and the deluded, etc.

Bi-polar - believers experience alternating episodes of faith and doubt, confidence and anxiety, self-righteousness and guilt, depending how well or how badly they feel they are progressing along the path.

Addictive - believers may become intoxicated with the ideals of the belief system, and feel a vicarious pride in being associated with these ideals. Cults tend to be cliquey and elitist, and believers can become dependent on the approval of the group's elite to maintain their own self-esteem. At an extreme, believers fear they will fall into hell if they leave the group.

Psychologically damaging - when established members leave or are expelled, they may develop a particular kind of cult-induced mental disorder, marked by anxiety and difficulty in making decisions. The disorder exhibits similarities to (but is not identical to) post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain types of adjustment disorders. [ICD 10, F60.6, F66.1, etc.]

Non-falsifiable - a cult belief system can never be shown to be invalid or wrong. This is partly why critics have low credibility, and why it can be difficult to warn people of the dangers of a cult.

http://www.fwbo-files.com/CofC.htm

in French.

2005-01-21T02:12:00.000-08:00

Être ou ne pas être, c'est la question.
Je devrai prendre une décision bientôt.

a thought.

2005-01-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Don't let today's disappointments cast
a shadow on tomorrow's dreams.

- Unknown -

ian speaks.

2005-01-17T23:58:00.000-08:00

you cannot call me baby... only mummy can :o)

a message.

2005-01-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

If God is for us, who can be against us?

2005-01-16T02:48:00.000-08:00

Virtues

the photography exhibition workshop

2005-01-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

i was dumbfounded.

i am speechless.

May 19th 1999

2005-01-12T02:55:00.000-08:00

If love has a face,
then let it be you...
If love has a smile,
let is be yours...
If love has a heart,
then it must be yours beating in the night...
If love has a soul,
then it must be yours singing all the time...
If I am in love,
then it has to be with you, always...
I am in love with you...

Lives in Flux.

2005-01-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

"I decided to give relationships a rest for a while, and i when i met
Steven Okazaki, an independent filmmaker, i told him flatly that i
wasn't interested in commitment. Maybe that's what allowed me to
be a little more assertive with him, a little more myself within the
relationship. As we began to fall in love - discovering shared values
and passions - the feeling of being me didn't go away, it was just
enhanced."

- Flux by Peggu Orenstein

Neuromuscular Integrative Action

2005-01-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

Nia is an expressive fitness and awareness movement program.
Filled with depth, tenderness and clarity, Nia offers a holistic approach to health.
By blending movements, concepts, and theories from a diversity of cultures,
Nia offers an experience that embraces individual creativity, self-inquiry, and free expression. The stillness and concentration of tai-chi, the dynamic poses of yoga, the explosive power of martial arts and the grace and spontaneity of modern and ethnic dance make it possible to stay fit and reap holistic benefits.

Creativity is unlimited, offering students movements and choreographic choices with a diverse blend of Eastern and Western styles, concepts and philosophies. From the worlds of the healing arts Nia is infused with love and conscious care. From the work of the martial arts Nia is infused with power, focus and intent, mindfulness. From the world of dance, Nia is infused with craft and technique. From the world of psychology, Nia reaches into the world of emotions and expression, guiding people to fully express themselves from their hearts.

i love N.I.A.

Something to live by.

2005-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.

Bryan Adams.

2005-01-07T02:23:00.000-08:00

Once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down.

- Heaven

new discoveries.

2005-01-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

1. i enjoy keeping my hair long.
2. i love mexican food...anything with salsa!
3. i love alcohol...3 times weekly please :)
4. i love music from the 50s and 60s....jazz esp.when played on a turntable
5. just signed up for spanish language class today...hope to pick up french too!
6. would love to play saxophone one day...maybe when i am 40?
7. i love wearing my beanie
8. Kickboxing isn't as easy as before...i must be getting old & unfit :(

a list to live by.

2005-01-05T03:03:00.000-08:00

The most destructive habit - Worry.
The greatest joy - Giving.
The greatest loss - Self-Respect.
The most satisfying work - Helping Others.
The ugliest personality trait - Selfishness.
The most endangered species - Dedicated Leaders.
Our greatest natural resources - Our Youth.
The greatest 'shot in the arm' - Encouragement.
The greatest problem to overcome - Fear.
The most effective sleeping pill - Peace of Mind.
The most crippling failure disease - Excuses.
The most powerful force in life - Love.
The most dangerous pariah - A Gossiper.
The world's most incredible computer - The Brain.
The worst thing to be without - Hope.
The deadliest weapon - The Tongue.
The two most power-filled words - I Can.
The greatest asset - Faith.
The most worthless emotion - Self-pity.
The most beautiful attire - A Smile.
The most prized possession - Integrity.
The most powerful channel of communication - Prayer.
The most contagious spirit - Enthusiasm.
The most important thing in life - God.

- Secret Sanctuary.

Ian prays.

2005-01-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

Thank you Jesus for the day, for teen titans,
robin, totally spies and ninja turtles.

Amen.

Morrie speaks on aging.

2005-01-03T01:12:00.000-08:00

The truth is, part of me is every age.
I'm 33 years old, i'm 5 years old, i'm 37 years old, i'm 50 years old.
I've been through all of them, and i know what it's like.
I delight in being a child when it's appropriate to be a child.
I delight in being a wise old man when it's appropriate to be a wise old man.
Think of all i can be!
I am every age, up to my own.
Do you understand?
How can i be envious of where you are - when i've been there myself?

New Year Resolution.

2005-01-01T22:40:00.000-08:00

I want my life to count for you, Lord.

Amen.

my year end reflection.

2004-12-31T22:18:00.000-08:00

The leaves were turning red, yellow and orange - not too long ago.
Within weeks, they turned brown and slowly began to fade.
By now, they are gone forever.
That is how it is with life, it changes with seasons, with time.
Come next season, new leaves will reborn and the whole cycle begins again.

Life has a way of regenerating itself.
What seemed to be the deepest sorrow today becomes a figment of imagination with time.
Someone you held so dear could become a total stranger when you turn around.
What you have lost yesterday will be replaced with new treasures the following day.
That is how it is with life - its amazing abilty to reinvigorate.

So ride the waves, lest you drown.
Surf the changing tides.
For time waits for no one - less than 2 hours to yet another year.

tsunami.

2004-12-31T01:09:00.000-08:00

in the light of the destruction caused by the tsunami,
it makes everything else insignificant
- personal problems, terrorists threats, religious killings, welcoming the new year, etc.
we may be alive today, but taken the next moment
places we visited yesterday have been swept away within minutes - gone forever.

this whole disaster is a rude awakening to everyone - nationwide
can you hear what God is trying to tell us?

is it a sign to remind us to reassess how we should live this life?

God bless the world.

sigh.

2004-12-30T01:14:00.000-08:00

growing up was so much easier for me before...
the world has become so complicated
that it is now beyond my comprehension.

Busy bee speaks.

2004-12-29T02:55:00.000-08:00

we can't do much to change the state the world is in..
but you can change the way one person looks at the world.

Lord of the dance.

2004-12-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

I danced in the morning when the world was begun.
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun.
I came down from heaven, and I danced on the earth.
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

2004-12-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not selfseeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.

Amen.

ian speaks.

2004-12-20T04:07:00.000-08:00

you are batman, i am wonder woman and papa is the flash...