Friday, March 25, 2005

So you're still single ah??

I was having a dinner with Stephanie tdy...and while catching up, we were sharing some stuff abt the state of single-dom. Some "soundbites" from our conversation:

1) Why do attached/ married pple like to exasperate the singles by asking if they are attached yet? (and proceed to give them looks of pity when singles answer no. it's like we're diseased!)

2)Steph: I don't need a guy. I have Gin (her 8mth old mini-schnauzer)!

3)Why do pple assume that if a gal hasn't been attached for several yrs, it means that she hates guys? (or worse still, she's a "BITTER BITCH")

4) (this is the best one) Why do I think that I'm smarter than most guys?? And how do i stop thinking this way? haha!
(obviously we're not the naturally submissive sort to say the least)

5) Why do pple who don't really know us, assume that we're attached, when we're not?? Must be giving off wrong 'unavailable' vibes. Someone pls tell us clueless ones, where to buy the right 'single and available' vibes. If got discount somemore, lagi best!

Thursday, March 24, 2005

"Music that will melt the stars..."

" When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You
have ordained.
What is man that You are mindful of him?
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honour."
- Psalm 8:3-5-

Daniel, my boss...wrote a song based on Psalm 8. He let me listen to it today.

It is always a special moment, when a piece of music touches you, moves you so deeply. Even more special and significant, when it points you back to God...when you feel the Lord's heartbeat through that song. It wasn't a very complex composition....just 3 main chords: Cmaj7, Em, G. I'm amazed at how beautiful a song it is.

In 4 short lines....I was reminded once again of His love, His awesomeness...and I felt that connection with my maker. His divinity was upon that spark of musical genius. That must be the most beautiful music on earth.....a composition that was inspired and driven by God's love, and flows out from a heart is drawn to worship Him....to love Him too.

There is a quote from Flaubert's Madame Bovary: "Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars."

Isn't that a beautiful phrase? I wish I could make such music too....
music that will melt the stars...and melt the heart of God.:)

Friday, March 18, 2005

Random Ramblings

People are not always who they seem...as cliche as it sounds, "still waters run deep". I'm learning this lately...as I've gotten to know certain friends better, and their true colours really appear.

Some of those bubbly, fun-loving types whom we all love, turn out to be pretty shallow afterall....or just aren't as fabulous as we thought they were. On the other hand,those quiet, low-key types turn out to be gems with a charm of their own...beautiful hearts, and a whole lot of maturity and wisdom too. Yeah...pple are like onions. It's impt to peel off the layers to get to the heart.

Anyway...i hope that my plan to go Bangkok in June with my colleague(s) will materialise. (Hillsong Conference Sydney is not happening anymore....*sobz* bye bye to Marty Sampson!) At this point, I really need to get away from here. I don't really care where....well...as long as it's not Malaysia again. haha! *shudders*

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Every beat of my heart

-by Corrinne May-

This is a song from Corrinne May's new album...was listening to it as I doing my end of term grading. Pamela my colleague likes to ask me "what's so great abt Corrinne May". haha! At that moment, I couldn't come up with a gd, articulate answer....and maybe I never will. But fans of Corrinne May are kindred spirits who will understand that her music strikes a chord deep in our hearts.....for me, it's an involuntary physical reaction that often produces 'precipitation'.

At this point in time, I'm learning what it means to love and to have faith in God...and in friends too. I just wanna say to my friends, that you're not alone...although sometimes it feels very much like it. We are all going through our own journeys.....and as we do so...I'm keeping each of you in prayer, even though you may not realize it. :) And I will be here for you....we're all in this 'friendship ministry' I believe. You don't always have to preach to show God to each other.

Lastly, this is a quote that struck me as I was watching a documentary on Tolkien.

"There is no real courage without fear"

It sounds paradoxical but it makes so much sense. If there was nothing to fear, nothing to risk and lose....there wld be no real need to overcome, to muster up courage! What is my point with this quote? Well, I leave it up to you to chew on. :)

p/s: you can listen to Corrinne May's new songs on her website. http://www.recordtrax.com/PROMO/radionew.htm

Every beat of my heart

====================
So here we stand
Anchored in hope
Letting the rain wash away every fear
Stars in the sky
Twinkle and shine
I pray they won’t disappear
Cause I don’t know
Where your journey goes
Or how long it will take to unfold
But as long as we keep this moment shining in the dark
I will be watching over every beat of your heart

I wish that time
Could be replayed
I’d keep you here with me everyday
They say that love is letting go
I hope that you find your way
Cause I don’t know
Where your journey goes
Or how long it will take to unfold
But as long as we keep this moment shining in the dark
I know you’re watching over every beat of my heart

Every beat of my heart (repeat)….Ohh

Saturday, March 12, 2005

'Tis a dark day....

I am upset...nobody has died literally, or is abt to. But I accidentally found out (through the most misfortunate of channels) some heart-breaking news abt a friend of mine. I can't understand the choices and the path that this friend has taken. I feel disappointed, shocked, and the pain that God must be feeling. I thought I had helped to steer this friend back to the right path...but I guess not for long. Sigh....why like dat???

Funeral blues
By: W. H. Auden
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West.
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Tell me why....

I don't get it
How did things turn out like this?
Why do we hv to complicate human r/ps so much?
I just don't understand how we think sometimes.

Something happened today
I don't really know what to say about it
But i feel dazed, stuck in the middle
I wish I could help and make things better

Everything's a big mess now
A pile of misunderstandings and hurts
Lord I pray that you mend these r/ps
may your love shine through

In times like these
I am reminded of Jon's song
"Tell me why, O why
Just tell me why
Do I feel this way"

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

G.K Chesterton: a re-discovery of faith and beauty

A couple of quotes from Philip Yancey's "Soul Survivor" (an incredible bk i must say)...regarding the irrespressibly optimistic and humourous thinker/apologist/writer G.K Chesterton.
----------------------------------------------------------------

When "The Times" asked a number of writers for essays on the topic 'What's wrong with the world?' Chesterton sent in the reply shortest and most to the point:

Dear Sirs:

I am.

Sincerely yours,

G.K Chesterton

[One of G.K Chesterton's strongest arguments in favour of Christianity is the failure of Christians, who thereby prove what the bible teaches about the Fall and the original sin. As the world goes wrong, it proves that the church is right in this basic doctrine]
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Chesterton who saw inexhaustible beauty in the humblest weed, like a danedelion. In a memorable passage, he contrasts our state with that of God who

"is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Yancey on Chesteron:

"Chesterton himself said that the modern age is characterised by a sadness that calls for a new kind of prophet, not like prophets of old who reminded people that they were going to die, but someone who would remind them that they are not dead yet. "

Friday, March 04, 2005

I FOUND IT!! Phew...

My Corrinne May CD went missing for a wk...n it really destroyed me. I hv a burnt copy...but it's not the same lah. Why does this event render a blog entry u might ask? I don't know how to explain really. haha! Hmmm.....i guess her music has accompanied me through many yrs, through many significant events/ seasons. So losing tt cd became a minor crisis. Recovering it was like recovering my life-line again!

So here's a tribute to my beloved Corrinne May! This is one of my fav songs from her "Fly Away" album.


All that I need
-------------------
by Corrinne May

I'm sorry that I hurt you
I took for granted all you gave so freely to me
I prayed it's not too late
To save you from a broken heart
To promise you I'll make a brand new start
Believe me when i say

*You are all that I need
The only treasure I see
You're the air that helps me breathe
through the darkest night
When I fall down on my knees
I was blind but now I see
You are all that I need*

When no one far from perfect
Like a child that needs a guiding hand
Can you stay here with me
I finally understand
You've always been the missing part
Complete the jigsaw puzzle of my heart
Please hear me when i say

Please let me hear your voice again
Let me hear you say your love will never end
That whatever it takes you'll be there
When I say