A conversation...

Had a rather 'interesting' conversation with a colleague this afternoon. He was talking about this girl he was chasing and how he had put on his best behaviour when he was out with her by not smoking and so on. Then he admitted that he wasn't showing his true self to her. And he went on to say that she herself seemed to be putting on an act as well. I replied jokingly that since both of them are pretending anyway, perhaps they really are compatible.

Jokes aside, I guess this is hardly a laughing matter. After all, if we can't be ourselves in front of the person we love, then to whom can we show our true self? Can a relationship that is built on lies last? How long before the true colours are revealed?

Posted on 29 Dec, Monday, 11.30pm

It’s Christmas again. Yesterday, there was the usual giving of presents in the office and almost everyone in my department went back with big bags of presents. Perhaps that’s the result of having so many colleagues. Sometimes, I wonder why it is that we have to exchange presents during Christmas time.

This year’s Christmas seemed to be more subdued, at least for me. Maybe I’m just tired. So many things have happened this year. I don’t even know where to start. But I thanked God for the good things, like my grandma’s operation, and also for the bad things, like the realization that some people are not what I expected them to be, because these incidents had helped me grow as well.

Then again, who am I to judge? After all, we are all sinners and capable of thinking evil thoughts and doing evil deeds. And that’s why we have Christmas. Pastor was right when he said this morning that the first Christmas wasn’t just a joyous occasion, but also one where great atrocities were committed when King Herod ordered the killing of babies, because he wanted to kill the baby Jesus. Yet the prophecy had to be fulfilled and Jesus was killed in the end, 33 years later on the cross.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

And it is this love that He has given us. A love so strong it can wash away our sins. Yet we find it so difficult to accept because we feel so unworthy. Or because we had not experience this love in our lives. I had attended church since primary school but it was only until the end of JC 1 that I accepted Christ in my life. And I had accepted Him not because my parents are Christian, not because I’ve been attending church since young, and not even because it seemed to be the right thing to do. But because I needed His love. There was a void in my life that only He can fill. A thirst that only He can quench. And on that night, I found my first love. No other man can love me despite all my iniquities. But it doesn’t just stop there. My life isn’t perfect and I know it will never be because I am still human. And I have to seek His forgiveness everyday because I still sin.

You see, no one can force us to believe. Yes, an all-powerful God can make humans love Him if He wants to. But a love that is forced isn’t really love, right? At the end of day, it’s still our choice to make.

Posted on 25 Dec, Thursday, 11.55pm

"Do we end up destroying the things we love?"

This question was posed in a book that I've just finished reading. What do you think? Some food for thought...

Christmas is about His glory...

Citygate church had a Christmas event on a ship this evening. Well, actually the ship was docked to the pier the whole time but we could still feel it moving. It was swaying quite a bit at one time and I kept praying that no one would feel 'seasick'. And I regretted eating so much sushi in the afternoon. But thankfully, there were no 'mishaps'.

After the dinner, there was a short skit by the youths, following by sharing cum magic show by a pastor (I forgot his name). Pretty innovative way of preaching I must say, though the children seemed to be most responsive.

Thanks Aver and Jace for attending. And in case you're wondering, they're Ting and XQ la. Haha.

Posted on 20 Dec, Saturday, 11.55pm

Arghh!

Why do I keep having rashes on my face nowadays? ):

Can someone tell me what to do?

Posted on 16 Dec, Tues, 11.50pm

Nature and Music...

As mentioned in my previous blog entry, we went to Hortpark yesterday morning. The plan was to walk to NUS from Hortpark, via Kent Ridge Park. The pics are up on XQ's blog (I forgot to bring my camera). Also met some new friends.

Actually, we wanted to go to NUS partly to lunch at the new Arts canteen. Ok, I know the canteen isn't that new anymore but I've not gone back to NUS since 1 year ago k. Apart from the Arts canteen and Computing taking over the Law Faculty, there weren't many changes. Biz canteen still have those colourful tables and the Western stall was still there, though it wasn't open yesterday. I guess a part of me still missed those days in NUS. Somehow, things were simpler then. But I know that we can never go back to the past and some things have changed.

After that, I went back to the office before meeting Kia and Yuejia for the piano concert. The concert was quite nice, with some entertaining performances by the instructors as well. And I did not fall asleep during the concert. Hee.

All in all, yesterday has been a rather packed day and my legs are aching now. Haha.

Posted on 14 Dec, Sunday, 11.55pm

Post-exams...

I am so glad my exams are over. I think I've blogged before that I do missed my schooling days. Just not the exams. Haha. And maybe I can finally use the book vouchers from Kia (as a birthday pressie) and the other from my company's D&D. Yay!!

Anyway, just a little update on what went on for the past 1 month. Nothing much actually since I've been 'rejecting' my friends' invitations to go out as I've to study =P. But there are some invitations that I just couldn't refuse because it will only happen once in a lifetime. Like the weddings of my two friends. Cindy's and Calvin's on 16th Nov, followed by Paul's and Huiling's on 29th. Maybe I'll put up some photos when I received them. Kia said RJ had put up photos of Huiling's wedding on his facebook. But since I've no facebook, I couldn't see them. So I shall just wait for the 'official' photos from Huiling. Oh, Kia also made us these lovely pearl bracelets with a little ribbon. So sweet right (:

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"To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

I remember hearing these vows on TV shows when I was young. But the strange thing is, of all the church weddings I've attended so far, I don't remember hearing this whole phrase in its entirety. Especially the last five words. Some replace it with, 'for as long as we shall live' (I think), which has basically the same meaning I guess.

And another phrase that I like...

"What God had joined together, let no man separate"

Unfortunately, this is not the case in some marriages. Whatever happened to "til death do us part"? Yet who am I to judge here? I am not condoning divorces but are there times when it would be better to divorce than to stay on in a loveless marriage?

Well, like the old saying goes: "Marriage is a gamble". And I shall just stop here in case I got carried away and start ranting again.

Something happier then. Hortpark on Saturday morning with Ting and XQ and a piano concert with Kia and Yuejia in the evening. Thank God for dear friends like them...

Posted on 9 Dec, Tues, 11.45pm