Injection Party

For a different kind of family outing, we decided to get ourselves vaccinated (thanks Liz for the tip), so we trotted to TanTockSeng Hosp - Travellors Clinic.
After a quick consultation - the nurse was really efficient, going through all the kids' vaccination records from diff countries, and ticked off all the jabs we need - a total of 14 injections plus a blood test for the 5 of us... whooppie! Yes, 3 of each of us, with my oldest son getting only 2, and my wife getting the icing on the cake - blood test. "lucky" her....

Now, the kids were surprisingly not all that excited about this, when my wife mentioned it the day before (note: never tell your kids that they are going to get injections before hand). when I got back on Friday night, they spent considerable amount of time trying to get us to change our minds and skip this party! FUTILITY.

Where was I? oh yes, injection party. My oldest decided not to go first, so we got DiYann to go. I tell you, in 5 seconds, it was over.... 1 stab on the right arm, and 2 successive quick ones on the left. My daughter didn't even cry, scream... just looked a bit stunned that it was all over so fast.

My youngest went next... he did say "ouch" during the 2nd jab... but was smiley after that.
[my daughter was bit boastful, saying how she wanted more... bah!]
Well, my oldest went next.... froze, panicked, I grabbed hold, 2 jabs... and well... in case he ever reads my blog... let's just say that his reaction was unique. it's been quite a long time since we brought him for any injections.

[FLASH BACK! I immediately remembered some 8 years back. The first time we brought him to see the local Indon Paed, a Dr. Boy, he was ok. Stunned he was, when he got the first jab, the next visits... he really had the same fear/panic of needles.]

Anyway, we all had a good laugh, after it was over, with a sore left arm, and us covered with plasters.

Oh, we ended the party with a visit to Richard (see previous post), who was also at TTSH. Gracie had "invited" me a few days back to go visit, so I thot that since I was already there, and our kids have all been praying for him - it'll be good for them to see for themselves how God works!

When I got there, I heard Richard asking the doctor - so can I go home now? I nearly laughed. the doctor declined his request gently - wonder why.
But it was really nice to see him - reading newspaper, watching tv. He spoke pretty normally, with a slight swelling on his left head. My kids were surprisingly well behaved (i half feared that they would ask something really stupid/insensitive). We prayed together again, and left him to rest.

How God is so good. What a miracle of miracles... right before our very eyes. He is scaled down version of Lazarus, with all glory to God as God snatched him from the jaws of death. God indeed has a plan for him, a plan that would bring God even more glory.
We take our lives for granted - a good reminder that we are all on leasehold, with the tenancy agreement able to be expire at any notice.

Let us then live our lives, as how we shoud live - with God as God of our lives, and we as his children.

ARE YOU READY TO MEET GOD?
Better get your act together.
Don't wait for the eleventh hour, coz God could have arranged an appointment with you at half past ten.

be careful what you ask God for - you may actually get it!

The leadership in church wanted us to work on our prayer, so God gave us Richard Chiam during church camp (5-9 June 08) to prayer for... lots and lots of prayer.

Richard, whom we just had over for dinner before church camp, was suffering from a headache for abt 2 weeks. On Friday, he went over to the medical center for a check up, after a 2 hr observation, he was sent back with some medication.
He took a nap after lunch, but when Gracie (wife) went to him at about 4pm, he couldn't be woken! Off to hospital, CT scan and doctors find a blood clot in his brain.

Elder Adrian (alsoa gynae) broke the news to us all before night talk (abt 700 of us). I was stunned, and I found myself fighting back the tears. But we prayed, all 700 of us. We even rostered to pray through the night - I decided to do the unthinkable, and wrote my name down for the 3.30-4.30am slot. Thankfully, my wife agreed, and we actually set alarm, work up and prayed for 1 hour!

We really prayed at every opportunity - each morning, each evening, each bible study, each update on Richard. And I felt that we glimpsed at what heaven will be like!
I thank God for the opportunities to pray, I never prayed so much, and even with mom each time! That was a miracle in itself (an opportunity to prayer lots with my mom).

Well, we certainly met one of the objectives of the church leaders, God sure has his way of answering prayer, about prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Of Fishes and Bugs, the Tale ends

It's a sad day whenever u part with cherished possessions.

It's a sad day, that I entrusted my fish bowl (pix left) to a good friend to take care off. I've had this for quite a few years, from my CM office in Sommerset, to Science Park 1, and finally to Science Park 3.
I've gone through a few batches of fish, some don't do so well (dwarf gouramis, clown loach, shrimps), some do (guppies, otos, kullie loach). I've had the pleasure of witnessing quite a few guppy births - abt 10-20 babies each batch, but only 4-5 survived (ok, most died eventually). I will miss my good trusty companion.

Last thursday (12 June) was another sad day - when I sold my bug (see real tears on the left, and the very last pix of me in my bug driving off into the sunset... erh morning sun, to handover to the new buyer, on the right)
This is a bug I've had for a year. I was apprehensive when I got it, struggling with the gears. But I grew totally in love with it, in all its mechanical glory. Every sound, smell, the wind in my hair (I always drive with the windows wound down), and even the memories of the car dying on me in the middle of CTE tunnel (ran out of petrol... again... sigh).

I advertised on sgcarmart (best website for selling/buying cars), and sold it to John - nice young chap, first time car owner, and bug owner (brave guy), real deja vu.
And the funny thing is, he ran out of petrol a couple of hours after I last saw the bug! hilarious. "Curse of the Bug" my wife says... but good thing that he had the tin can to get petrol. deja vu.
Hey John, take good care of her, and I hope that she's as good to you as she was to me.

Best ride I've ever own. Thanks for the memories.

Pray Answered!

God answers prayer.

He does! but not always how we'd like it sometimes... but he does.

Well, I've been wrestling in prayer (somewhat) for the last couple of weeks - related to my previous blog topic. I hate it most, when I know the theory bit, but my hard is hardened and wants to resist. At least if I could justify it away, my conscience wouldn't bug me so much.

In preparing for bible study this Sunday, I came across Romans 5:3-5.
And we did this at Discipleship Group study couple of months back, and I remember then that this is my achilles heel, that I cannot rejoice at suffering.
But when things go ok, it is easy to forget Romans 5:3-5, or even James 1 (on God's definition of Pure Joy).

Well, reading it again, was a breath of fresh air.
That's my problem (unable to take any form of persecution/suffering), and God is answering my prayer right now!
See, I can't really swim freestyle all that far - and if I really wanted to (I don't) to improve on my freestyle, the only way is really to swim it as much and as far as I can. It ain't gonna be pretty or easy, but it'll get me there.
And if I don't have patience, I don't pray "I want patience NOW!". No, God puts us through trials and tribulations, to gives us opportunities to practice and develop patience.

God is right now, teaching me to see "suffering" in His light, not mine. One of the purposes of suffering (besides being a nasty side effect of the fall), is per Romans 5, to teach us perseverance (which unfortunately can be developed only by under going trials), and that develops character (which unfortunately can be developed again through trials & perseverance).

Is loving my enemies the right thing to do? YES
Is living life God's way the best way to live? YES
Is it conceivable for me to say I love God, and still hate my enemies? NO

And if I want to learn to love my enemies, God will answer my prayer, and give me enemies to practice loving ~ seems so simple, but duh...

So thank you God.
Thank you for considering me worthy enough, for my faith to be refined.
Thank you for giving me hope that will never disappoint!
Thank you for the grace of God which strengthens us, guides and never leaves us.
Thank you for answering my prayer.


Romans 5:3-5
...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Love your enemies

Oh, how I hate that command...

Why, why, why... God, did you have make us do the impossible?!!
Why love those who despise me?
Why pray for those who unfairly critisize me?
Why forgive those who make my life miserable?

Turn the other cheek? walk an extra mile when unfairly told to walk one mile?
Give the tunic for those who unfairly demand your coat?
Why God, oh why, is it so unfair?!!

And yet you did.
You loved those who rejected you.
You forgave those who crucified you.
You came to die for those who told you to get lost from their lives?
You died for the sin that is mine.... is that fair?

To be fair, we would be still enemies of God, as we shake our fists in his face
To be fair, we would bear the judgement of sin, that is rightfully mine.
To be fair, God would have excercised some Quality Control, and gotten rid of us, as we failed to live up to his standards.

God demonstrated his own love for us, whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God walked the talk
And God will continue to help us to love our neighbours, esp our enemies as we are freed from the slavery of sin, and now free to serve God.

Please God, teach me to love my enemies, those who hate me, and those I hate.
It's so hard, every fibre in me tells me to hate my enemies.
Oh teach me God... that I may obey...

Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Life

Such is life.


We prayed for Angela Lee, colleagues' bible study leader, whilst she waits in hospital, battling the cancer that is ravaging her body. Angela, all of 37 years, went to glory with her Lord Jesus that night.


Then I heard that my cousin's wife has 3rd stage cancer - I was stunned beyond belief.
Well, my wife and I have grown quite close to my cousin and his wife in the recent year, they've had a tough past year or two, and now their greatest challenge.

Cancer isn't something that happens to young folks in my age! Death is something faced by the generation above me, my aunties/uncles and up.

Yet in all this, God is still sovereign, and in my naive take, I do think that God is drawing them both to Him. Yes, unfortunately, sometimes God uses life's trials and tribulations to bring us to our knees, forcing us to admit that we are not gods, not in control of the world, not even in control of our own bodies and circumstances - pretending that God doesn't exist or just plain ignoring him is completely futile.

But I plead for God's grace,
- that in his mercy that it is in His will to heal my cousin's wife.
- And more importantly, He will lift the veil of darkness that is separating them from Him, and they will come to acknowledgement Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

My prayer is that they will know the true LIE that is found in Jesus - now that's Life!

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Japan!

This is a week of many firsts.

I got to spend a week here in Tokyo, my very first trip to the land of the rising sun.
Well, after 15+ years of recession, the sun is starting to shine again, until the stock market /subprime collapse that is....

The shopping malls are quite something. Went to a newish one called "Midtown" - it is nothing like any of the malls in Singapore. They use this really nice timber decking inside, corridors are really wide, furniture carved from a big block of wood - very nicely done and stylish; even the the smoking room had a row of plasma screen showing stuff. very upmarket, very plush.

Well, I generally love whales, and on Monday night, my first Japanese meal in a Japanese restaurant, I missed the opportunity to try some. It was only after reading the greenpeace clash and Jap whaling ship on Tuesday, did I ask my colleague where I could try some "scientifically researched" whale meat - and she said that it was on the menu Monday nite (the menu was completely Japanese), but she didn't think of ordering (what?!!!! drats... sigh).

On Tuedays afternoon, we had a simple meal at joint, tempura with rice. Amazing, it costs like S$20 - I was quite blown away.

On Tuesday nite, good friend of mine Laurence too me to this this lovely "pub", which looks like an old chinese inn - half expected lady from Kill Bill to burst through and start slashing everyone! (apparently, Quentin T got inspiration for Kill Bill Jap scene from this restaurant).

Food was lovely, he calls it Izakaya (or something), but is like the decent yakitori grills back home. My favorite was grilled black cod - the Japanese really know their fish, and how to cook em. (see pic of chef with their wonderful well exhausted grills)
I saw this "Squid with fermented fish guts" and of course I had to order it! Unfortunately, it turned out fairly tame - mostly raw squid, with bits of stuff in it.

On Wednesday morning, when I woke up, I saw snow flakes floating outside the window, in all directions - my first snowfall! witnessed 37 stories up in my hotel - really beautiful (see pic left... but not so clear)

I was quite miffed coz when I was in Korea last week, it snowed the week before, and the week after (this week). so I missed it even though it was like -10 degrees.
It was supposed to snow in Tokyo Monday/Tuesday, and it didn't... but quite thrilled it did on Wednesday. Moreover, it was Tokyo's first snow in many winters! amazing. well, it wasn't really heavy snow, not quite cold enough (it was abt 1-2 degrees), so it was half snow/drizzle when it fell. if u squin your eyes enough, u can see the bits of snowfall in the 2nd pics above.

Ok, more food thots (do I ever think of anything else?)
Then on Wednesday afternoon, had a nice lunch with bankers, top floor of the building, with this guy cooking right in front of you with the freshest foods (had fillet mignon). the entire meal was like $40, with starters, cooking on the spot, pretty much the works.
A lot of the nicer meals are like $50, which is really reasonable considering that the cheap meals are already nearly $20.
The cheap food is expensive, and the expensive food is cheap - if that makes sense.

Oh toilets! The toilets in Japan is super shiok. In winter, the seat is heated, even the "public" toilets.

Next to the toilet bowl is this row of gadgets, with 2 bidet sprays (one for the bum, the other for the... erh.... nevermind); plus if u see the pics on the left, there's one with the musical notes? music for the ears? yes, but not yours - for others.

Erm, if u press it, u get not music, but a toilet flushing sound - so that any undesirable noises can be masked. funny... certainly a first for me - not the noise lah... the flushing sound.

All in all, it was certainly quite an interesting visit.

It would be a lovely place to come with my wife (only... haha no kids).
And I sure missed her - now, that's not the first.