樂理......到過了

The end of the year is a time to reflect on the year.

As I was going back to the old blog postings of January 2008, the post on Jan 27 was "樂理.....我又來了", I picked up the music theory again after leaving it behind for two years. Taking this exam was one of my goals for 2008, and now 11 months later, I can proudly say that I have accomplished this goal, and got a pretty good score too!

Thank you heavenly Father, for taking me through the process, I know that nothing is to be taken for granted.

Too much thoughts

最近想得太多了, 很累, 思想要休息下

但事實上,又真係有好多野要唸.....

思想有時係最折磨人的東西,但要控制它,卻好難做到

主日學開鑼啦

從個多月前知道Elaine會再執教鞭, 我便「拿拿林」報名, 期待以久....又有機會再聽Elaine以那把溫柔而帶著肯定的聲音, 和我們分享神的話, 感謝神!

今期主日學讀「使徒行傳」, 想起這卷書, 便自然聯想起「聖靈」和「宣教」。

除了經文解釋外, Elaine每次都會與我們分享她從經文中得著的各種「體會」, 盼能啟發我們自己再進深思想(昰次課程也要求我們寫下自己的體會, 如果我以my blog形式來交功課, 不知老師可接受乎?)

昨天的課, 提醒了好多在教會生活, 事奉中需留意旳地方。 有一樣很奇妙的昰, 在早一晚和好姊妹於晚膳中, 各自分享了最近在教會中的一些經歷和感受, 第二天, 神便藉主日學的教導, 給我們指引, 解答了一些我們分享過的問題(God addressed to our concerns or doubts through His Words right in the next morning!) 坐在我旁的好姊妹也有同樣感受。

另外, 昨天的課堂也給了我以下的「體會」:

* 《我的救贖主活著》
「必須從那常與我們作伴的人中 、立一位與我們同作耶穌復活的見證 。」(1:22)
今天我們少著重講主耶穌復活的見證, 比較多提的昰主耶穌為我們釘十架, 洗淨我們的罪這個真理; 其實, 「復活」一樣的重要, 主耶穌若沒有復活, 我們的信便昰徒然了。想起在剛過去的佈道會中, 和決志者陪談時, 我好像也沒有怎樣提到「復活」! 想想自己和人陪談或講福音的時候, 好似大部分時間都無講到「復活」, 為甚麼呢? 昰否「復活」這盼望我漸漸淡忘了, 還昰我把福音變得公式化了?

*《撒但最厲害的武器》
「這些 人 、 同 著 幾 個 婦 人 、 和 耶 穌 的 母 親 馬 利 亞 、 並 耶 穌 的 弟 兄 、 都 同 心 合 意 的 恆 切 禱 告 。」(1:14)
參與事奉有十多年時間, 深深體會到「合作團隊不能同心」往往昰令人灰心失意的點子, 見過本來熱心事奉的弟兄姊妹, 後來因著一些人事上的問題, 離開事奉, 甚至離開教會, 真是心疼(相信天父也心疼)。
記得一位神學生跟我講過, 神看我們的事奉, 不昰看我們能否把事情做得好, 反而, 神看重我們人的生命, 那份與祂與人的關係, 從事奉中我們彼此建立對方的生命。
如Elaine所講, 保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心昰唔容易的, 所以聖經說我們需要「竭力」的去做。

情

最近一連串的事情, 真的令我心情有點「上上落落」, 中間夾雜了不同的「情」。

「情」昰一種很微妙的東西, 好似虛無縹緲, 但因著她, 你的情緒可以大大地被牽動著, 並影響你很多的決定….「問世間情為何物….」

看到媽媽越來越多白髮, 心裡真的有點酸, 不得不面對父母已老的事實, 覺得要對他們好一點, 昰「親情」嗎

排球隊女選手承諾受傷而變癱的丈夫, 一定會俾心機比賽去奪金牌, 並且不放棄去照顧丈夫, 這昰「愛情」吧, 堅貞不移； 雖然金牌已無望, 但情比「金」堅

一個由始至終都對我好的好朋友, 不埋怨我向她發脾氣, 不介意我教訓她, 常常都遷就我, 永不放棄的要和我做朋友,這樣的朋友, 真是上帝給我的恩賜, 這份「友情」從未想過可以維持至現在, 縱隔兩地, 但那份情誼有加無減

如果公司開除了一個長期忠心的員工, 開除人的人會被罵「無情」

還有, 天父的恩情。

Typhoon day

An extra day-off today! thanks to "Parrot"(name of the typhoon)~ ~

A big boss got mad about no phone-coverage, as no one comes to the office due to typhoon....well, an expected outcome of an unexpected weather change, who is to blame? Tried to comfort him by replying with a calm email, took good EQ.


What happened yesterday had surprised me a lot and made me a little happy :) Though I don't know if it's really true or not, but indeed am grateful for this. I know that in the coming days, will have ups and downs, but let God take my course...I am His.

List of recent "give thanks":

- finally able to swim (breast stroke), well, slow but at least I am moving forward in the water!!!

- peace of heart in the midst of uncertainties

- parents are stable physically and emotionally

- being appreciated

- able to forgive myself for the embarrassments

- got time to blog again!

然後怎樣

然後怎樣 ~ 陳奕迅
作詞：林夕

完成了所謂的理想　放縱了情緒的氾濫
汗都流　天都微亮
然後怎樣
擁有了旅行的空檔　卻遺失流浪的背囊
沿著軌道　一直流浪
然後怎樣
假期過完有甚麼打算
走過一個天堂少一個方向
誰在催我成長　讓我失去迷途的膽量
我怕誰失望　我為誰而忙
我最初只貪玩　為何變負擔
為何我的問題　總得等待別人的答案
我的快樂時代燦爛　才領悟代價多高昂
不能滿足　不敢停站
然後怎樣

Some thoughts on a sunny Monday

Finally….need to fulfill an “obligation” that was made awhile ago, starting to feel stressful, keep on telling myself to relax, relax….
Never say yes too fast.

*******************************************
The book of Nehemiah is really interesting, many good reflections can be drawn from there. I’m getting a taste of the” joy of discovery”. Hope my group-mates could feel the same.

*******************************************
Again, interrelationships / people’s management are the most difficult task to handle, it is an art to learn over time, and the skills may get improved after a number of mistakes

半年過去了

這兩天裡, 終於把一些應該要說的話, 說了。
將一些話「卡」在喉嚨裡的感覺很不好受, 也不想自欺欺人(和欺神), 勇氣來了, 便抓緊機會按誠實說出來, 後果就交給上面。

而公司裡最近的「是非」, 聽得太多了。

突然好想在外地生活, 不知道那份無形的壓力會否減少一點、人又會少一點緊張嗎?

08年又過了一半...

Last Friends ラスト・フレンズ

幾好睇
每個人都有著他/她隱藏的黑暗面
(野田妹作男性打扮,又幾man喔,真係佢估唔倒!)

Sleepy day

Lack of sleep can really ruin your day and thereafter. It affects you by an unclear mind which may then lead to bad decision (well, also depends on how you see it), and repercussions come after a bad decision....

a previous late night + a rainy Friday = sleepy day

Need more disciplines.

More scattered thoughts

* Last night, I finally caught the mosquito that had hovered in my room for few weeks already, with no second thought, bang! I killed it. Mom later said, “good catch”

* Human relationships, whatever types, are difficult to manage. Expectations, lies, the need to be in control, to win, fear…..all come into play.

* Promises made, promises broken. Does ”trust” still bear its meaning?

* The more you know, sometimes the more risky it becomes

* Repeatedly, the joy of discovery, how much I desire to be granted with that joy while discovering Thy Words?

* A temptation to read

* Stay calm.

雜亂無章的思想

* 最近的崇拜裡, 聖靈常常向我說話, 那份力量, 讓我有點驚。

* 桌子下常有隻蚊子飛來飛去, 很煩。

* 最近常想起一個人, 有點down。

* 想參加某機構的義工服務, 但又懷疑我可以嗎？

* 要集中精神, 有點困難, 有問題嗎？

* 有朋自遠方來, 很開心。

* 有些決定, 很難抉擇…..「要試試嗎」？

愛♥跋涉 (上)

短短幾天的步行籌款完結了, 但那「讓愛走動」的感動卻未完。

第四次踏足湖北的地土, 和以往不同的昰, 今次的行程可以說昰「又越過高山、又越過谷」, 徒步走過好多崎嶇的路; 但有樣不變的昰, 每次旅程中都看見愛的付出、愛的力量、和因著愛帶來的改變。

同行中有好幾位, 都已不昰第一次一齊參與, 很高興能和這些好伙伴又一同去體會不一樣的環境、不一樣的生命。

楊主任、劉院長、(奉節的)蘇太, 他們從小在一個把「愛」只當作口號的教育下長大，現在他們都因著Medicare多年來所作的, 從而親身經歷何謂「愛」真正的精神 – 奉獻。
他們願意延續這份感動, 把自己的時間、才幹奉獻去服侍老百姓, 讓愛走動在中國不同的角落裡。

而小小的我, 看見這些生命, 又怎能不被感動?

「走過傷心，走過淚水，讓每一顆心再次飛起來。
用你的心，伸出你手，讓每個靈魂再次活過來。
讓愛走動，讓你的愛化成希望的種子，
隨風揚起，編織美麗的夢。
讓愛走動，讓你的愛化成溫暖的擁抱，
綻放陽光，編織神所造的夢。」

全新的你

當崇拜唱起這首詩歌, 很感動…

「你說陰天代表你的心情，雨天更是你對生命的反應。
你說每天生活一樣平靜，對於未來沒有一點信心。
親愛朋友，你是否曾經曾經觀看滿天的星星，
期待有人能夠瞭解你心，能夠愛你賜你力量更新。

耶穌能夠叫一切都更新，耶穌能夠體會你的心情，
耶穌能夠改變你的曾經，耶穌愛你耶穌疼你，
耶穌能造一個全新的你。」

憑信心仰望。

從冇返團契「說」起

上週五晚冇返團契(冇報名去聽講座, 因想留在家休息下)
那天從公司回家後, 爸爸突然問「今晚禮拜五, 你唔係返教會咩？」, 我簡單的回應:「係呀, 今晚冇返教會」
感到「突然」, 因為年紀大、身體(心情)都唔好的爸爸近年很少主動和我說話。

隔了一個小時後, 爸爸再試問「今日禮拜五, 點解唔返教會? 你呢日通常都係返教會哦」。 我答: 「係呀, 今晚想係屋企休息下」

沒有說出口, 但我心裡是感動的, 我知道爸爸是在關心我, 為何會唔返教會, 擔心我是否有甚麼事。平日他對於我放時間在教會雖然常表達不滿, 但過了這麼多年, 其實他都已知道上帝、信仰在我生命裡的位置, 看到我的「反常」行為, 擔心是可以明白的。難得的是, 已很少主動講話的他, 會主動的問我。

Made To Love

Made to Love ~ tobyMac

Whatever happened to a passion I could live for
What became of the flame that made me feel more
And when did I forget that...
I was made to love You
I was made to find You
I was made just for You
Made to adore You

馬太福音 七: 1-5

Mat 7:1 你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷。
Mat 7:2 因為你們怎樣論斷人，也必怎樣被論斷；你們用什麼量器量給人，也必用什麼量器量給你們。
Mat 7:3 為什麼看見你弟兄眼中有刺，卻不想自己眼中有梁木呢？
Mat 7:4 你自己眼中有梁木，怎能對你弟兄說：『容我去掉你眼中的刺』呢？
Mat 7:5 你這假冒為善的人！先去掉自己眼中的梁木，然後才能看得清楚，去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。

今天的查經對自己有很多提醒。
姊妹們分別都分享了一些「論斷」的經歷, 無論是「論斷人」, 還是「被論斷」的, 有一觀點大家都認同 – 就是「論斷」只會傷害關係, 對生命成長沒有建設性。

自己也曾經陷入不同的「論斷」景況中, 特別是在教會裡 –
- 某某人點解會咁做架？
- 某某領袖點可以咁樣處理這件事架？
- 某某人都無應有的基督徒榜樣!
- 某某領袖看來不適合這崗位, 覺得他/她能力不足夠
- 他/她對神咁無信心既？

以上是自己曾被論斷過、 聽過別的肢體去論斷其他肢體、(慚愧地)自己也論斷過別的肢體…
而通常百分之九十所論斷的的事情, 都不關乎於聖經的真理, 換句話說, 這些論斷的說話真係不用拿出來講的 。

善於批評, 少有包容, 似乎是常見到的現象。

主耶穌責罵我們這樣做, 便是「假冒為善的人」(真係罪大惡極, 耶穌傳道期間, 常罵的就是那些假冒為善的法利賽人和文士)。
主耶穌要我們先「搞掂」自己(先去掉自己眼中的梁木), 才可以把事情看得清楚, 搞清自己出意見的動機, 恰當去衡量說話的輕重，這樣才去拔掉弟兄眼中的刺。
但是, 一般情況下, 我們先作的倒是第4節所提到的動詞 - 『說』, 不管後果, 先『說』(論斷), 和姊妹說, 和弟兄說, 和大家說… 然後multiply, 再 multiply, 後果不堪設想。
肢體關係要保護, 不要破壞。

還有一個問題: 當一班人「同心的」在論斷某人時, 自己應該有何反應呢? 怎樣可以去停止這惡性循環？

An affection that can never be earned

A thought from chapter 5…(of the Kite Runner)

It is the servant boy's birthday, each year his master will give him a present. This year it is something unusual.
The servant boy is (unfortunately) born with harelip. To everyone's surprise, his rich master brought home a plastic surgeon on his birthday, as you may well guess, the present this year is something that last him forever.
The master’s son discreetly thought to himself, “it's unfair, what had the servant boy done to earn my father's affections? He didn't do anything!”

As the story goes here, I am then reminded about my Heavenly Father. I didn't do or neither can I do anything to earn my Heavenly Father’s affections. God is already affectionate about me. He freely gives and I freely receive, it is a present which I do not deserve but purely His grace to give it to me.

The Brick

Today I have read this touching story which moved me.

~THE BRICK~

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

記在東京 - 4月11日

Last day working in Tokyo, eventually…
and I suddenly start to miss the time here.
Leaving the regular life behind, and coming here is like taking a short break from some kind of realities.

Over these few days, I’ve kept thinking about a trivia – the quietness inside trains. Tokyo public train system disallows passengers to talk on mobile phones and mobiles must be switched to silent mode. I really like this policy and will miss it the next time when I ride MTR in HK!

The silly me will also miss the cleanliness that you can find in almost all the public washrooms in here! hehe^^

記在東京 - 4月9日

東京天氣變得很快, 昨天昰狂風暴雨, 今天就已轉為雲上太陽, 但就仍然強風。
有人用天氣來形容心情的轉變, 我同意, 因我正是這樣, 今天低落, 明天又可以很高漲, or vice versa…

在返工途中, 心裡自然就啍著「雲上太陽」, 天氣變, 心情變, 環境變, 思想變, 每天變, 但聖經告知神的愛不變; 雖然變幻非一定不好 (其實「變」也昰自然的原則), 但知道有樣嘢係absolute不變的, 心裡就產生一種「敬畏」的感覺。

記在東京 - 4月8日

Today is rainy and windy.

One thing that I have learned from here is how to cram into the train even though there seems no have no space, and how to force your way out (to exit) when so many people are jammed near the door. Just push, without any embarassment, then step your left foot in.
"sumimasen" is probably the Japanese word that I have spoken the most in here.

Believe it or not, I actually have started to feel a bit bored in here, a place that is supposed to be so attractive to most.

記在東京 - 4月6日

A weekend with lots of walking.
Finally have seen the sakura in its full bloom under the sun. The part I like most is when the petals are falling, the view is just like snowing, but that also means the sakura season is ending very soon.

記在東京 - 4月4日

終於來到禮拜五兒童節, TGIF! 香港放假, 但在這裡就要返工囉!

昨晚放工後去了皇宮附近看櫻花, 但看不清楚, 天色太暗了(明天daytime要再去看!!!)。倒看到一個有趣的景象, 原來日本人在櫻花季節, 好多公司會一大班同事去這些地方, 在櫻花樹下「打地舖」, 邊渴酒、邊吃東西、邊暢談、有些還在那裡吸煙(臭臭 :P)。所以, 看到了一片黑色的人海(日本上班一族, 男士基本上都昰穿黑色西裝), 脫了鞋, 坐在地上, 在嘻嘻哈哈, 每當下雪時(櫻花樹落葉), 就會「哇….哇…..」聲, 蠻好玩。

旁邊就是富爭議性的「靖國神社」, 我沒有進去 (後來老闆認真的跟我說, 這個不可以進去喔, 幸好無)。坦白說, 我發現和日本人話題講到近代史時, 真有點「唔知點講落去」或 「呢樣, 果樣可以講嗎？」的感覺, 歷史真係有好遠的影響….

今晚office party dinner, 唔知會唔會好悶呢? 始終都係聽唔明。

記在東京 - 4月3日

<約書亞記9章>

讀舊約, 常看到以色列民忘了耶和華的訓誨, 在重大或看似小事的事情上, 沒有求問耶和華的旨意。看得多了, 好像成了習慣, 反應一般昰：「噢, 佢哋又衰咗嘞!」、「唉, 佢哋真係呀!, 又係咁….」

讀聖經讀到這個地步, 很可怕啊, 只當作故事來看, 一副事不關己、己不勞心的心態。
求天父幫我能明白聖經, 將祢的話帶進我的生命、我的生活之每一部份；頭腦認知、心裏依靠。

請拿走我的麻木，加給我多一點感受。

穿巴叔叔

這幾天坐了office大廈官理處提供的shuttle bus落中環好幾次(講開又講, 這shuttle bus服務是這棟商廈我認為做得最好的租客服務, 其他真是不藉得一提)

負責開車的叔叔(唯一的司機)已做了好多年, 至少有六年, 他每天的工作就是每20分鐘來回灣仔至中環, 每次車程10分鐘, 同一條路線每天開幾十次, 同一個地點每天堵車幾十次.......

若我是他, 絕對會覺得這份工作「超悶」, 工作滿足感係...零。
但我發現的卻是:

- 他每次都準時開車, 從不延誤
- 他每次都面帶笑容
- 有時見到陌生的乘客面孔, 他會盡責的問他/她是否在商廈辦公
- 他每次在到達目的地後, 一定會從司機位擰轉身, 與每位乘客講"Bye-Bye", 還不忘加一句: 「慢慢落呀, 小心D...」

從這位穿巴叔叔身上, 我明白到「敬業精神」, 不管工作本身有多麼無趣, 他仍「忠心」的以最好的態度把它做完。
真係又上了一課。

The Heart of Worship

Awaken by doubts, this song seeped through my mind:

~The Heart of Worship~

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgs79jgEyPw

1. When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

C: I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

C: I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

2. King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Yes, should have been all about You, Jesus. Sorry – shouldn’t have been me.

Maundy Thursday

John 13: 1, 4, 5, 14, 15, 34
Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that His time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, He now loved them to the very end....
He got up from the meal, removed His outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around Himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel He had wrapped around himself....
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example– you should do just as I have done for you.
"I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

John 18: 3-9
They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.) So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground. Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”

代禱人的心

昨日的早禱會裡, 和一位姊妹pair-up祈禱, 與她不熟, 但印象中她家人有長期病患。當彼此分享代禱事項時, 她記念的是, 除了求上帝看顧她有病的家人外, 同時她想求上帝去醫治憐憫其他同樣有家人生病的家庭。很感動, 想起了聖經的話:

「各人不要單顧自己的事, 也要顧別人的事」腓 2: 4

「我們在一切患難中 、他就安慰我們 、叫我們能用神所賜的安慰 、去安慰那遭各樣患難的人 」林後1:4

再一次....「奇異恩典」

今早崇拜是尖福堂16週年堂慶, 當唱著「奇異恩典」時, 心裡十分感動。除了感恩天父對教會的看顧, 還感激天父對女兒自己一直以來的恩典。

「初信之時,即蒙恩惠，真是何等寶貴」 數一數手指, 信主返教會已有十七個年頭。 這十七年裡, 傷了天父的心無數次, 憐憫的父卻每次赦免我的罪, 將我尋回。在祂裡面, 我明白到甚麼是堅定不移的愛, 經歷過甚麼是這世界不能賜予的平安, 還有領受了那無條件的接納。我感恩生命走到今天, 天父與我仍然同行。當年紀日漸增長, 除了所謂「老」了之外, 也看見自己所犯的罪越增多(罪性難移), 但更重要的是, 當中也經歷了天父的恩典和憐憫是何等的奇異、何等的深。

「將來在天安居萬年，恩光如日普照，好像最初蒙恩景況，讚美永不減少」

這盼望何等寶貴。

想

最近好懶, 好多應該做的事情都沒有去做, 正確地說是唔想去做, 一拖再拖……昰有壓力的反映嗎？
想安靜、想慢下來、想享受簡單（早前看到一本書的標題這樣寫「簡單．昰一種幸福、也是一種享受」, 真美妙）、想自己有多一點愛, 多一點憐憫、想少一點容易動怒、少一點憂慮......有太多「想」了。

可能昰時候要去退修吧。

Twenty things to remember

Read the following forwarded email today, I like it...

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day -- it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still just as dead.
16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your 'pity pot' every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another
for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

What a day..

Nice weather today in Singapore, a bit of showers in the morning but the sky has cleared up in the afternoon. The weather is just perfect for a trip to Santosa.

Santosa is a theme park with different attractions, differs from what I had originally in mind (I thought it's resort area with beaches).

The butterfly place is very interesting, having seen and understood many different kinds of insects, and started to appreciate their importance in maintaining the balance of life. Every little thing has its role in life, mmm....

Like what a kid used to do, I took pictures with one parrot standing on my palm and one standing on my head, oh, how worried I was thinking that the parrot was going to leave me his/her droppings on my head as souvenir!

Curiosity has defeated fear today - I touched a snake. Unexpectedly, its skin was not wet nor slimy, but felt like a "handbag" - those made with animal skin leather ^_^

Last but not least today, I have pulled a false alarm for the first time in my life. No arrest, just that I've pressed the RED ALARM button in the hotel elevator when my finger meant to go for the "close door" button, stupid me.

Hahahahahaaa!

Big feet

Today is very hot in Singapore. Over lunch time, colleague took us to see the Merlion (the symbol of Singapore, the legend have it that the man who discovered Singapore saw a creature which had body half like a mermaid and half like a lion, so he named it “Merlion”....(well, I guess that man must be very drunk at that time!)

My feet started to swell since yesterday, might be due to traveling or eaten too much salt? An already big size 7.5 now has expanded to an 8.5, couldn’t fit my big feet into the shoes, aches!

好心人

昨日遇到了一個好心人。
話說我在鴨利洲上巴士, 因唔肯定方向, 就隨便問一問排在前面的女仔：「這巴士去到銅鑼灣地鐵嗎？」, 她答: 「可以, 妳於Sogo那個站落車啦」

上了車就冇再見到佢, 而到了銅鑼灣, 我這個「路盲」見好多人落車, 我又跟人落車, 落車後就立刻發現我早落了一個站, 正當開始發自己脾氣時, 突然有人拍我膊頭, 擰轉面, 竟然係剛才上車時我問路的女仔！
佢友善兼溫柔地同我講:　「妳落早了一個站啦，去地鐵站妳從這條路一直行，到紅綠燈位，過了大馬路就會見到地鐵站嘞。」

我很驚訝佢咁熱心，同時當然很感動佢咁關心我唔識路，我很感激的同佢講「唔該晒妳呀！」　（我又唸佢會唔會係基督徒呢？）

坦白講，係香港地，很少會有個「三唔識七」的人關心你；各人自掃門前雪這concept都幾強，又或者都係怕麻煩（這也可能只係我個人偏見）。　
幾年前，有次在屋企附近，突然好肚痛，感覺到自己要暈，已行到搖擺不定，好記得當時我好驚咁同神講：「神啊，祢唔好讓我係條街度暈低，呢度係唔會有人理我架」　可想而知，我係點唸．．．

但昨天的經歷，讓我知道好心人還在，我都要好好向她學習。

氣流~ ~

從台北回港只需個半鐘, 而「氣流」就陪足我一個鐘頭十五分鐘, 仲要係無間斷過。
整個過程就係「好驚」、「好緊張」(緊張到連電視都集中唔到精神睇); 在搖搖晃晃震盪中, 負面思想就出晒嚟……『唉, 難道要返去見天父？(好誇張!但當時真係有咁唸; 同埋, 見天父唔係件好事咩, 點解會咁驚？)』…..身旁的友人仲因氣流搞到佢嘔吐。 總之一句, 好驚, 我係好細膽。
希望下個禮拜果程機既氣流唔好咁勁啦~

我知誰掌管明天

1.我不知明天將如何，每一天只為主活，
我不借明天的陽光，因明天或不晴朗，
我不要為將來憂慮，因我信主的應許，
我今天要與主同行，因祂知前面路程。

2.每一步越走越光明，像攀登黃金階梯，
每重擔越挑越輕省，每朵雲披上銀衣，
在那裡陽光常普照，不再有淚流滿面，
在美麗彩虹的盡頭，眾山嶺與天相連。

3.我不知明天將如何，或遭遇貧苦飢餓，
但那位看顧麻雀者，祂必然也看顧我，
祂是我旅途的良伴，縱遭遇各樣災害，
我救主必與我同在，祂寶血把我遮蓋。

副歌：有許多未來的事情，我現在不能識透，
但我知誰掌管明天，我也知誰牽我手。

明天是一個x or y (unknown), 無人能知道明天會如何。
每次唱這首古老詩歌, 都有種「不容易」的感受, 當靈性低落的時候, 根本唱不出來。
這真是一首好歌, 在人所懼怕的unknown裡面, 把人帶回上帝的身邊, 重申祂的應許, 按著信心相信上帝並沒把我忘記, 祂與我同在。

配得....不配得

路7:1-10
「1: 耶 穌 對 百 姓 講 完 了 這 一 切 的 話 、 就 進 了 迦 百 農 。有 一 個 百 夫 長 所 寶 貴 的 僕 人 、 害 病 快 要 死 了 。
3: 百 夫 長 風 聞 耶 穌 的 事 、 就 託 猶 太 人 的 幾 個 長 老 、 去 求 耶 穌 來 救 他 的 僕 人 。
4: 他 們 到 了 耶 穌 那 裡 、 就 切 切 的 求 他 說 、 你 給 他 行 這 事 、 是 他 所 配 得 的 ．因 為 他 愛 我 們 的 百 姓 、 給 我 們 建 造 會 堂 。
6: 耶 穌 就 和 他 們 同 去 。 離 那 家 不 遠 、 百 夫 長 託 幾 個 朋 友 去 見 耶 穌 、 對 他 說 、 主 阿 、 不 要 勞 動 ． 因 你 到 我 舍 下 、 我 不 敢 當 ．我 也 自 以 為 不 配 去 見 你 、 只 要 你 說 一 句 話 、 我 的 僕 人 就 必 好 了 。
7: 因 為 我 在 人 的 權 下 、 也 有 兵 在 我 以 下 、 對 這 個 說 去 、 他 就 去 ． 對 那 個 說 來 、 他 就 來 ． 對 我 的 僕 人 說 、 你 作 這 事 、 他 就 去 作 。
9: 耶 穌 聽 見 這 話 、 就 希 奇 他 、 轉 身 對 跟 隨 的 眾 人 說 、 我 告 訴 你 們 、 這 麼 大 的 信 心 、 就 是 在 以 色 列 中 我 也 沒 有 遇 見 過 。
10: 那 託 來 的 人 回 到 百 夫 長 家 裡 、 看 見 僕 人 已 經 好 了」

兩星期前小組查經查了以上一段經文, 沒想到當日的查經帶給我很大的impact, 到現在一直都在腦海裡。

若去比較長老和百夫長的「求」,發現很不一樣。長老的「求」是跟耶穌說「耶穌、你要幫這個人喔, 他配得你幫, 因他做了乜..乜...乜...」; 反觀百夫長的「求」, 他說了一堆話講自己「不配」 (雖然按地上的條件, 他是個好人又有地位), 他所「求」的不只是耶穌的幫助, 相信他心底裡真正在求的是耶穌的憐憫, 因面對著耶穌, 他謙卑的自覺不敢當。

再反觀自己, 我不正是很像當時的長老嗎？ 坦白地檢視自己, 我心裡不就是暗暗地想, 覺得自己都蠻乖, 「所以神啊, 你要祝福我喔」; 或當神不按照我的祈求去成就或當遭遇困難時, 我不就心裡埋怨: 「神啊, 我已經咁樣、咁樣啦...祢點解唔咁、咁、咁 或點解會咁、咁、咁？祢係咪唔記得咗, 有冇搞錯呀？」我以為自己的所作所為, 「配得」神的眷顧, 想到這裡... 真的很難過、慚愧, 信主多年, 原來我是要把神放在我手裡, 而不是把自己放在神的手裡。

耶穌特別的反應 (希奇並稱讚這百夫長的信心), 可能指的是這種知道自己在神面前不配, 但對神的憐憫有信心的祈求?

耶穌喔, 真的需要你在我生命中, 求祢常將祢的話教導我。

樂理.....我又來了

兩年多前, 給自己「充分」的理由, 決定將學到2/3的五級樂理放低, 無限期地押後考試……
今年決定要重拾樂理, 好好的做練習, 好好的去考, 好好的拿個合格回來, 那明年就有機會考六級長笛了…

但點解樂理要好似數學咁, 要計數….哎呀…真係煩！

堅強的她

今日在searched其他東西時不經意地讀了一個陌生女孩子的blog, 這個陌生人的blog吸引我讀下去的原因是, 她患有肝癌,很嚴重那種,她年記應該約20多30歲左右吧....

在她的blog, 你會感覺到生命力, 她有低落的時候, 但好多篇的日誌裡, 她都是很樂觀, 你會常常看到"Hahahahaha..."這類歡樂的表達在當中。頭髮因化療全都掉光了, 但她也可以從買假髮事件中發現有趣的地方! 就如她在blog裡寫「....將自己的經歷share 給大家.目的係希望讓更多人知道患癌雖然係辛苦.但有時都會有讓人開心及感恩的地方....」
同一個經歷, 用不同的角度去看, 出來的影響力很不一樣。

她雖然有個致命的病, 但她對生命負責任, 真正的在「活著」。
她是一個很堅強的人, 我自己忽然係度唸, 如果我有同樣的遭遇, 我估我一定係會好軟弱。

雖然我唔認識你, 但真的很希望你能夠好番。

喜歡『不能說的．秘密』

回程在飛機上看了『不能說的．秘密』, 說實的, 我不是「周董」的粉絲, 但出乎意料之外, 我喜歡這部電影, 很浪漫、又帶著懸疑、音樂好好聽、還有那一點點的「笑位」。

小倫和小雨在舊琴室四手聯彈、騎腳踏車送回家、在海邊吃冰淇淋、還有他們那似是而非的對答, 都帶出了小情人的浪漫。

鬥琴那一場戲, 除了「周董」很厲害的琴藝之外, 在鬥琴的背後, 有著愛情 -- 原來小倫是為了要送那很難找的琴譜給小雨。

小倫每天放學都在同一個菜檔大嬸的手中拿已為他準備好的菜回家煮飯, 那場與父共舞的一幕, 都讓我看得很有意思。

故事發展下去, 那不能說的秘密慢慢的被揭露出來, 是不可思議的, 但無損電影整體的感覺。

桂綸鎂 - 第一次聽見她的名字, 覺得怎麼會有人的名字是這般的不平凡, 不過她真的把路小雨這角色演得很好。

回來後, 已急不及待要把電影soundtrack買回來…

百感交集

A week in Tokyo has passed, different feelings come around in this week.

Frustration - Tokyo is a place that most would love for shopping and for food. But this time I find, not knowing the language has really caused a lot of hiccups at work. A meeting that can normally finish in an hour has been doubled in time. 還常有種書到用時方恨少的感覺;

Lonely - everyone around you are talking in a foreign language and you don't really have "friends" in here, makes you feel more lonely than you can imagine. The frequent travelling over the last few months brings me an "unsettled" yet routine feeling. Routine: pick what movie to see on the plane, buy bottled water to ensure not to become dehydrated, watch TV in hotel room; Unsettled: missed a lot of things back home.

Tired - the long day of work and the mental pressure of not being able to finish certain task can push you to the point of exhaustion;

Fear - the other non-Japan work issues are getting more complicated, all has come back to haunt me again; not knowing but thinking of what might happen is really emotionally draining;

While having all these mixed feelings, the weak faith behind the back of my mind that God is control and everything is possible in Him, has been the strength to continue on. Faith seems to come "live" in times of adversity.

Move on, another week to go....

Tokyo again

In Tokyo again for work. The sleeplessness last night has made me very tired today.

Queued up for almost 1.5 hours in the Tokyo airport immigration, it's driving me nuts. While many other things in Japan are neatly handled, really can't believe the airport immigration can be so disorganized.

A long week to go.....