i'm reading up, preparing for a lesson plan on Noah's Ark for the mission trip. why did we choose Noah's Ark? Well, Jan wanted animals, and we were just a little tired of telling the creation story yet again. Yes we know that it's an important story, but surely there are other stories to tell! and so, we decided on Noah's Ark.
as i'm reading, it's starting to hit me. Noah's Ark is NOT a children's story. it's not just a children's story. after graduating from kid's sunday school, i rarely hear about it. but it's not a children's story. it's a story of how Mankind has gone so far away from God, how wicked they've gotten, that God's patience kind of runs out. He sends his judgement in terms of a global flood and well, it's no pretty sight. Children bibles focus on Noah and family and animals getting on the ark, safe and sound. What they don't talk about is the rest of Mankind who is being judged. The floods are rising. People are being swept away by the waves. Others are shivering in the cold rain that lasted 40 days.
now, this post is not going to talk about the degree of God's judgement, or whether the people deserved to be judged or not. for the sake of this post, let us assume that God's judgement is just. it's just like a King who has been tolerating the rebels in his kingdom until enough is enough.
moving on... the judgement comes. and yet, there is hope. God could have wiped everyone out and installed a whole new human race. But He didn't. He spared Noah and family and the animals on the ark, and kept them safe. He knew they weren't all good eggs. But yet He still spared them. Best of all, God showed his mercy. And He showed a rainbow, which is a symbol that He will keep His promise and not send a worldwide flood to wipe out the earth again. God provided a way for Noah and family to live. God took the initiative. It's all on God's terms. wow.
now how do i teach that to the kids? hmmmmm...
if you've gotten this far, feel free to read the sermon that got me thinking about this. (just click on the word sermon)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Re: Formation of the Bearies Arts Club
Pursuant to the discussion over matcha mambo, azuki freeze and apple twist last night after a disappointingly slow German film, 4 of the 5 film goers have started the Arts Club.
Cookie Cutter will remain in charge of European film choosing, but he has to prove his chops. His reputation just went down this year. Perhaps it was just this year's offering.
Phonetics Fanatic will be in charge of the Japanese film festival and all things Ballet Under the Stars.
YF will be in charge of HK film fest (which is all the time) and musicals.
Chubby Cheeks will be in charge of SSO and most other music. Except rock. And probably except pop. Only exceptions for pop are Corrinne May and Marie Digby.
NC had to leave early due to his strong passion about American Idol. He will revert on what position he will take.
Initial members of the Bearies arts club swear to try different arts genres. All Bearies are welcome to join.
Next up is Phonetics Fanatic's recommendation. Stay tuned to the Bearies' Arts Club channel.
Pursuant to the discussion over matcha mambo, azuki freeze and apple twist last night after a disappointingly slow German film, 4 of the 5 film goers have started the Arts Club.
Cookie Cutter will remain in charge of European film choosing, but he has to prove his chops. His reputation just went down this year. Perhaps it was just this year's offering.
Phonetics Fanatic will be in charge of the Japanese film festival and all things Ballet Under the Stars.
YF will be in charge of HK film fest (which is all the time) and musicals.
Chubby Cheeks will be in charge of SSO and most other music. Except rock. And probably except pop. Only exceptions for pop are Corrinne May and Marie Digby.
NC had to leave early due to his strong passion about American Idol. He will revert on what position he will take.
Initial members of the Bearies arts club swear to try different arts genres. All Bearies are welcome to join.
Next up is Phonetics Fanatic's recommendation. Stay tuned to the Bearies' Arts Club channel.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Had some me-time two Fridays ago. It was just so precious, I savoured every moment of it. I mean, how often does one get time off from everything, from everyone? And even though it was a really hot day, the breeze was always blowing where I was. Sure, I've got a sun-tan from that day (which i'd rather not have haha) but it was a good trade-off. i miss going to that part of the gardens. after all, i'd walked through that same path for 3 years to get to campus before we moved. and well, coming back, it felt familiar, yet strange. no more was the building peach, cream and littered with wooden benches and noisy students. but yet they still were familiar. the names... eu tong sen... manasseh mayer... federal... (and no i didn't go into the new law campus - didn't want anyone chasing me out, though i'd have sorely loved to pop by federal building and sit under the numerous arches there, feeding the mosquitoes and thinking about life haha)
but well, i guess this walk back into my past has helped me get my role in choir into perspective. the past few weeks have been really horrible. i felt as though i'd been skewered, grilled and teriyakied. so many comments were flying my way. one voice stood out louder than the others. and worst of all, that one voice was the voice on unreasonableness. but i really thank all those of you who took the time to listen to me, to talk things through, to not freak out or walk out on me just as i was collapsing, who supported me with constructive comments.
now, i won't say that i'm all fired up, ready to go. all i'll say is that i understand my role as a conductor, and what it entails. i'm still learning, so pls do bear with me and send some encouragement my way. thanks for all the sms-es, emails and msn chats. to two of you especially, my heartfelt thanks. i'm doing my best to interpret the music and feel the music, and i'm loving it. i loved feeling the music and feeling the beat of Secret Garden playing in the botanical gardens. Serenade to Spring and The Rap. Fantastic.
anyway, this is a very abrupt change in topic, but i'm just going to let you all view some of the things i captured on pixel that morning-afternoon. there were so many beautiful things to see, if only we'd stop and see!
Alright, that's it folks! I'm going to scrap about the day, the time i had there. And remember, me-time is always good. (Xin, i hope u do find some me-time!)
but well, i guess this walk back into my past has helped me get my role in choir into perspective. the past few weeks have been really horrible. i felt as though i'd been skewered, grilled and teriyakied. so many comments were flying my way. one voice stood out louder than the others. and worst of all, that one voice was the voice on unreasonableness. but i really thank all those of you who took the time to listen to me, to talk things through, to not freak out or walk out on me just as i was collapsing, who supported me with constructive comments.
now, i won't say that i'm all fired up, ready to go. all i'll say is that i understand my role as a conductor, and what it entails. i'm still learning, so pls do bear with me and send some encouragement my way. thanks for all the sms-es, emails and msn chats. to two of you especially, my heartfelt thanks. i'm doing my best to interpret the music and feel the music, and i'm loving it. i loved feeling the music and feeling the beat of Secret Garden playing in the botanical gardens. Serenade to Spring and The Rap. Fantastic.
anyway, this is a very abrupt change in topic, but i'm just going to let you all view some of the things i captured on pixel that morning-afternoon. there were so many beautiful things to see, if only we'd stop and see!
Rafters pattern in the pavilion i was in
Happy children playing by the pond. Too bad i don't have telescopic lens!
From the bamboo grove. wish it'd turned out more silhouette-ey though!
Pretty purple flowers. Again, my silhouette attempt failed heh.
Love the out of focus yellow flower in the foreground.
Beautiful pink blossom on a short bare tree.
It really made me feel like i was among some cherry blossoms in Japan!
BLACK SWAN!!! i had to wait more than 2 hours just to see this fella! thought they'd all gone!
i love this. from far, i thought it looked like a stick figure of a swan with red beak. on a closer look... it's a beautifully graceful dragonfly!!!
Alright, that's it folks! I'm going to scrap about the day, the time i had there. And remember, me-time is always good. (Xin, i hope u do find some me-time!)
Monday, May 05, 2008
One of the ironies of life. You'd think that expediting something would quicken the process. Now think about it this way. If everyone's submitted a "please expedite" note, then haha well.
Lesson for the day: when everything's expedited, nothing's expedited. wheeeeee!!!!!!
*updates on my picnic for one coming soon!*
Lesson for the day: when everything's expedited, nothing's expedited. wheeeeee!!!!!!
*updates on my picnic for one coming soon!*
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Alright. there's something wrong with the bluetooth function in my lappy... so i'm here blue-toothing songs from mag's com to my phone. and no, it's not hannah montana!!! hhaha. meanwhile, a bit bored so yup here goes! 55 questions from mag's blog.
11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time?
i think monday. or was it sunday? or... wednesday? hrmmmmm...
12. Whose is the last baby you held?
like actually carried carried? or prodded? hahahaha... it'll have to be my 9 yr old couz. she weighs a ton and wants to kill her michele jie jie.
13. Can you spell well?
W-E-L-L.
14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste?
yuck. cinnamon belongs to apple pies or tarts. or my strange concoctions of milk drinks from pacific coffee. yes i pour copious amounts of all the powders in.
15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago?
HAHAHAHAHA. mercs. definitely. but that was then.
16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators?
erm. hurricane or alligator? can i choose neither? okok give me the gators with a good rifle and an army of steve irwins.
17. Last time you went to Six Flags?
wassat?
18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house?
hmm. does paper you put up on the walls count? hahaahaha.
19. Closest thing to you that is yellow?
words on my shirt. it says ABIDE.
20. Last person to give you a business card?
ummmm... i think it's an italian guy. saw too many ppl last week.
21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to?
heeeeee. no current account sorry!
22. Closest framed picture to you?
pic of mag in ballet tutu. yes i'm in her room. hi mag!!!! oops she's sleeping.
23. Last time you had someone cook for you?
someone cooks every single meal right... whether it's mum or domestic helper or restaurant chef or 4.50-an-hr staff at Macs... hahaha. but today, it was lunch. i cooked dinner.
24. Another question is missing.
oh ok. put up the missing persons posters.
25. How many emails do you get in your inbox (excluding spam)?
useful ones? relevant ones? how about... 20-50 a day?
26. Last time you received flowers?
real ones... my birthday last year. heh... serene's got this fantastic habit of giving us flowers on our birthdays! unfortunately they smelled like stinky socks. ugh. but were pretty!!!!!
27. Do you have feelings for anyone right now?
yar. i love my friends. i love my family. i love God.
28. Do you play air guitar?
erm. pretend guitar?
29. Has anyone ever proposed to you?
proposed an idea? proposed a suggestion? sure... lots! *muahahaha* i'm liking the word puns!
30. Do you take anything in your coffee?
sugar and milk. i dun care jasmine if u think it ruins the coffee. haha
31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines?
no.
32. What is/was your high school?
SC.
33. Last person you spoke to from high school?
hmmm. on msn, mel. on sms, ada. on the phone, tsu. in person, cassie. grin.
34. Last time you used hand sanitizer?
has to be camp abide and su-ann. haha
35. Would you like to learn to play the drums?
er no.... i wanna learn a string instrument
36. What color are the blinds in your living room?
bronze. my parents copied the curtains in my room. well, better than the light blue ones we used to have long long long time ago. those were fun though! turn a lever and they change direction!
37. And another...
and the sun goes round.
38. Last thing you read in the newspaper?
there's this italian restaurant at portsdown road that sells fantastic tripe.
39. What was the last pageant you attended?
eh. does the prom night pageant count? hahaha
40. What is the last place you bought pizza from?
canadian pizza when we were at jasmine's! wonderful time wii-ing coz it was a small group! ahahaha
41. Have you ever worn a crown?
hmmm. no. my teeth aren't that bad.
42. What is the last thing you stapled?
some research report
43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi?
pepsi is black. how can it be clear?
44. Are you ticklish?
haha only if u know the correct spots to tickle. mag is very ticklish though!
45. Last time you saw fireworks?
fireworks festival last year.
46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut?
when jasmine came back from HK and bought donuts and we posed with them! hahaa of course we ate too.
47. Who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned?
FIFTY-FIVE QUESTIONS:
Tired of those same old 55 questions about me surveys? Well, here are 55 I guarantee you've never answered.
1. Are you taller than your best friend?
hmmm. i don't have a best friend per se... haha. NEXT!
2. What happened to this question?
it boarded the two-two train and missed it's stop.
3. Look at your planner for October 14, what are you doing?
eh. work. morning investment briefing, then we'll see what else comes by that day!
4. What color are your toenails usually?
i'm glad they're nicely naturally pink. i'd be worried if they were blue.
5. What was the last thing you highlighted?
with a highlighter... some investment paper i was studying for last year. with a pen... newspapers (the same time i got chased out of starbucks for studying. i'm like hello i'm reading the papers...)
6. What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
bronze. matches the warm brown tones of my room decor heh heh.
7. What color are the seats in your car?
i think cream....
8. Have you ever had a black and white cat?
like sylvester the cat? hmmm... does a toy cat count? hahaaha
9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on?
i stamped loads of pictures onto a scrapbook layout... so ya i put the stamp on the layout. heh heh.
10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
no. but if 6 degrees of separation is true, then we're probably 6 people away!
Tired of those same old 55 questions about me surveys? Well, here are 55 I guarantee you've never answered.
1. Are you taller than your best friend?
hmmm. i don't have a best friend per se... haha. NEXT!
2. What happened to this question?
it boarded the two-two train and missed it's stop.
3. Look at your planner for October 14, what are you doing?
eh. work. morning investment briefing, then we'll see what else comes by that day!
4. What color are your toenails usually?
i'm glad they're nicely naturally pink. i'd be worried if they were blue.
5. What was the last thing you highlighted?
with a highlighter... some investment paper i was studying for last year. with a pen... newspapers (the same time i got chased out of starbucks for studying. i'm like hello i'm reading the papers...)
6. What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
bronze. matches the warm brown tones of my room decor heh heh.
7. What color are the seats in your car?
i think cream....
8. Have you ever had a black and white cat?
like sylvester the cat? hmmm... does a toy cat count? hahaaha
9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on?
i stamped loads of pictures onto a scrapbook layout... so ya i put the stamp on the layout. heh heh.
10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
no. but if 6 degrees of separation is true, then we're probably 6 people away!
11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time?
i think monday. or was it sunday? or... wednesday? hrmmmmm...
12. Whose is the last baby you held?
like actually carried carried? or prodded? hahahaha... it'll have to be my 9 yr old couz. she weighs a ton and wants to kill her michele jie jie.
13. Can you spell well?
W-E-L-L.
14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste?
yuck. cinnamon belongs to apple pies or tarts. or my strange concoctions of milk drinks from pacific coffee. yes i pour copious amounts of all the powders in.
15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago?
HAHAHAHAHA. mercs. definitely. but that was then.
16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators?
erm. hurricane or alligator? can i choose neither? okok give me the gators with a good rifle and an army of steve irwins.
17. Last time you went to Six Flags?
wassat?
18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house?
hmm. does paper you put up on the walls count? hahaahaha.
19. Closest thing to you that is yellow?
words on my shirt. it says ABIDE.
20. Last person to give you a business card?
ummmm... i think it's an italian guy. saw too many ppl last week.
21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to?
heeeeee. no current account sorry!
22. Closest framed picture to you?
pic of mag in ballet tutu. yes i'm in her room. hi mag!!!! oops she's sleeping.
23. Last time you had someone cook for you?
someone cooks every single meal right... whether it's mum or domestic helper or restaurant chef or 4.50-an-hr staff at Macs... hahaha. but today, it was lunch. i cooked dinner.
24. Another question is missing.
oh ok. put up the missing persons posters.
25. How many emails do you get in your inbox (excluding spam)?
useful ones? relevant ones? how about... 20-50 a day?
26. Last time you received flowers?
real ones... my birthday last year. heh... serene's got this fantastic habit of giving us flowers on our birthdays! unfortunately they smelled like stinky socks. ugh. but were pretty!!!!!
27. Do you have feelings for anyone right now?
yar. i love my friends. i love my family. i love God.
28. Do you play air guitar?
erm. pretend guitar?
29. Has anyone ever proposed to you?
proposed an idea? proposed a suggestion? sure... lots! *muahahaha* i'm liking the word puns!
30. Do you take anything in your coffee?
sugar and milk. i dun care jasmine if u think it ruins the coffee. haha
31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines?
no.
32. What is/was your high school?
SC.
33. Last person you spoke to from high school?
hmmm. on msn, mel. on sms, ada. on the phone, tsu. in person, cassie. grin.
34. Last time you used hand sanitizer?
has to be camp abide and su-ann. haha
35. Would you like to learn to play the drums?
er no.... i wanna learn a string instrument
36. What color are the blinds in your living room?
bronze. my parents copied the curtains in my room. well, better than the light blue ones we used to have long long long time ago. those were fun though! turn a lever and they change direction!
37. And another...
and the sun goes round.
38. Last thing you read in the newspaper?
there's this italian restaurant at portsdown road that sells fantastic tripe.
39. What was the last pageant you attended?
eh. does the prom night pageant count? hahaha
40. What is the last place you bought pizza from?
canadian pizza when we were at jasmine's! wonderful time wii-ing coz it was a small group! ahahaha
41. Have you ever worn a crown?
hmmm. no. my teeth aren't that bad.
42. What is the last thing you stapled?
some research report
43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi?
pepsi is black. how can it be clear?
44. Are you ticklish?
haha only if u know the correct spots to tickle. mag is very ticklish though!
45. Last time you saw fireworks?
fireworks festival last year.
46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut?
when jasmine came back from HK and bought donuts and we posed with them! hahaa of course we ate too.
47. Who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned?
er... left a message like a note or something tt says call me back? hmmm. i can't remember...
48. Last time you parked under a carport?
never happened. have only been allowed to park in open air spaces.
49. Do you have a black dog?
ummm... black bear? pictures?
50. Are you an aunt or uncle?
oh yar... just recently.
51. Who wrote this with so many questions missing?
i think it's amelia. haha. she's trying to be funny.
52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
hmm. LIYING!!! i can stare at her eyes the whole day man... she has such doll-like eyes. so pretty!
53. Last time you saw a semi truck?
wat's a semi truck?
54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe?
no
55. Do you have a little black dress?
yes! and i want more more!!!!
48. Last time you parked under a carport?
never happened. have only been allowed to park in open air spaces.
49. Do you have a black dog?
ummm... black bear? pictures?
50. Are you an aunt or uncle?
oh yar... just recently.
51. Who wrote this with so many questions missing?
i think it's amelia. haha. she's trying to be funny.
52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
hmm. LIYING!!! i can stare at her eyes the whole day man... she has such doll-like eyes. so pretty!
53. Last time you saw a semi truck?
wat's a semi truck?
54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe?
no
55. Do you have a little black dress?
yes! and i want more more!!!!
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