Minimalistic Space | Hamuya

Praise God!!!

2009-01-24T18:22:00.002+08:00

Some really good reports fr friends came in recently and just wanna thank God for His blessings upon those who love Him.

MeiMei got a sponsorship (partial) fr her company to pursue her masters part time - definitely a great reward fr God for her faithfulness in serving the choir ministry and friends around her
Paige received extraordinary favor fr her bosses to continue working full time whilst she goes for SOT this year - definitely a great reward fr God for her faithfulness in serving the cell group as a sacrificial leader and friend
I also got headhunted for a good job offer and will be starting work at the new company this Feb. The pay increment is good and working hours even better! So really praise God for everything.

Praise God!!!

Biopolis Luncheon w Mei Mei

2009-01-24T18:19:00.003+08:00

Finally made time to visit Mei mei at her workplace to look her up for lunch. Judging fr the photo she was really happy! Haha. She took me on a mini tour on foot around biopolis then we took a shuttle bus to GhimMoh Market for lunch. Lasi Lamak + sugar cane drink - her treat. YUM~

Our First Wedding Anniversary

2008-10-28T23:31:00.010+08:00

Found this restaurant on a food review website. Seemed like a really cool place so we reserved a place for our 1st wedding anniversary - its a neo-Japanese restaurant which is really significant for us. Hee...

DOZO - Fine Modern Japanesque http://www.dozo.com.sg/dozo5.html

"Damage": ~$69/pax

Ratings: 9/10

Staff Service: 9.5/10 (they go through every single dish w u patiently and explain to you how to enjoy the dish best. Its amazing!

Welcome dish: mango freeze to whet your appetite for the fine food tt are to follow

Welcome dish 2: Fried "branches" (haha); they are actually tempura spaghetti (some carbo just in case u were hungry)

Starter: Chef's Seasonal Assorted Platter (smoked salmon, scallop, fois gras)

Cold Dish: (Luke) Airflown seasonal sashimi platter

Cold Dish: (Pris) Scampi on Fresh Greens three ways

Side: (Pris) Stewed beef tendon in Japanes Style

Side: (Luke) Gratinated escargot topped with garlic and yuzu butter

Soup: (Luke) Infusion of cepes Mushrooms and truffle

Soup: (Pris) Seafood Brisque

Main: (Luke) Beef tenderloin on "pu-ye" and granite hot stone

Main: (Pris) Oven baked Hamachi Kama on bed of risotto

Drink: Icy Fruit Tea Refresher
Dessert: Freshly baked warm chocolate cake w hot chocolate fudge filling, served with vanilla ice-cream

The little surprise the restaurant planned for us when we asked for the bill =) How sweet!

Eventful Day and Move to BUP

2008-10-01T01:31:00.004+08:00

Met up with loads of ppl today:

boss for breakfast at 930am: received compliment fr customer, will be sponsored for 2-full-day leadership course at SIM in Oct, will be transferred to BUP fr my existng store to drive new project (but need to travel -waste of time and money...sigh)
friend came to pharmacy to buy things for grandma and passed me gifts fr mum, felt blessed and still close/special to this friend which brought a smile to my heart
met another friend for lunch at pasta mania, he's a leader in church and was my customer by chance, another drama guy (haha getting to know more of them) - coincidentally sat next to ex-IMM part-timer who used to attend our church. Got him to join us for conversation over lunch and tried inviting him for enriching life series. He said he would try to come and would let me know (yay! hopeful)
Came back from lunch and found a stalk of rose on the dispensary table, was clueless as to who it was from, tht it was fr a girlfriend who loved to give others flowers, called her to verify but it wasn't her...finally found out tt it was from my dad...haha! he bought flowers for all his female staff for hitting sales target and dropped me a stalk.
Watched anime with hubby n he accidently stepped on my right foot's toe - my poor toe is suffering fr internal bleeding..boo hoo...
btw, bought a nice birthday gift for a girlfriend yest - am so happy at the good find (though kinda ex! hope she'd like it!

Official CG W463 Photo

2008-10-01T01:28:00.002+08:00

Birthday Celebration w Guardian

2008-03-15T01:30:00.002+08:00

Birthday Celebration w e CG

2008-03-15T01:24:00.003+08:00

Ultra Cool Swatch Watches

2008-03-10T12:13:00.003+08:00

Jaci Velasquez \ Imagine Me Without You

2008-02-15T00:07:00.001+08:00

Wanna introduce all of you to this really nice song that YY recommended. Fell in love the moment I heard it. Turn up your speakers and you'll get to hear the song when you open the blog. Enjoy!!! (Can't stop listening to it)
_________________________________________

Jaci Velasquez \ Imagine Me Without You

As long as stars shine down from heaven
And the rivers run into the sea
Til the end of time forever
You’re the only love I’ll need

In my life you’re all that matters
In my eyes the only truth I see
When my hopes and dreams have shattered
You’re the one that’s there for me

When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you, I need you

Chorus:
Imagine me without you
I’d be lost and so confused
I wouldn’t last a day, I’d be afraid
Without you there to see me through

Imagine me without you
Lord, you know it’s just impossible
Because of you, it’s all brand new
My life is now worthwhile
I can’t imagine me without you

When you caught me I was falling
You’re love lifted me back on my feet
It was like you heard me calling
And you rush to set me free

When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you, I need you

Chorus

When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you, I need you oh

Chorus

I can’t imagine me without you

My Valentine's Day and Birthday Presents!

2008-02-14T00:18:00.001+08:00

Yay! Hubby got me a new pair of funky glasses and a prescription ultra thin German shades for my VDay and Bday. Total was $600! Man...expensive...hee....

gong xi

2008-02-02T23:34:00.000+08:00

My Overnight Photoshoot at Suntec Guardian Patient Care Centre

2008-01-24T17:24:00.000+08:00

Haha! It was CRAZY! I worked by afternoon shift fr 1.30pm to 10pm. Then took a taxi down to Paragon for my shoot. But to my shock, only a few staff was doing the closing. Then a staff told me that the shoot is supposed to be at Suntec tt day. Paragon was the day before. BOO! My boss gave me wrong info. So I took the taxi to Suntec later on. Man....

The shoot then lasted fr 10pm to 6.30am this morning. Thank goodness I'm not supposed to be in the Great World City shot at 7am. I got to come home to rest!!! BUT BUT BUT! Though tiring, it was extremetly fun! You got to get a feel of what celebrities go thru for their shoots. You get your own stylist and make up artist, who kept coming over to adjust your hair and makeup every few seconds while you stand on the set during the shoot. And to perk everyone up, I was being extremely corny with my crazy antics. The manager of the external production crew (A Pieces - if I din't rem wrongly) told his producer tt they have a street talent - me! Haha...Then the producer looked at me and said, "This one is Gao3 Xiao4 Xing2 Dong4 material." HAHA! It was really fun! The photographer said I was quite pro at posing and smiling - and tt I had so many different types of smiles. Haha!

Anyhow, it was the first time I ever stayed inside a shopping mall overnight whilst it was closed. The toilet was extremely scary at night cuz there was no light - PITCH BLACK! And to locate the toilet bowl, I had to kick around to find where it is. It was so extremely hilariouos when I heard the production crew guys were so scared 3 off them had to go together. And they said I was super gutsy to have gone alone. But the fact was,I was really scared too. I was half focusing on God while I pee-ed. Haha! And I didn't dare look at the toilet mirror beyond a few seconds' glance while I washed my hands, cuz God knows if I'm gonna see a pale face appear next to my reflection! Haha...the works of all our imaginations....

All in all, I am really thankful to God for this opportunity given to me. Though its against the pharmacy law/legislation for a real licenced pharmacist to be on public advertisements, my face will glance all the recruitment slides and internal promotional materials. BUT you'll still see my face on the public ads - haha, as customer alpha, beta and gamma. The marketing staff ic of this project (Meiling) and the production crew were really impressed that I brought 2 other sets of clothings to change without having been told to. No one did that. HAha, and I was really corny to reply proudly that, "I am a professional!" in mandarin. Then they all laughed. So I got to have 3 different hairdos (the most anyone got during yesterday's shoot) and assumed 4 different roles. So fun! But seriously speaking, after this whole ordeal, I think i could ALMOST understand the hardship stars and celebrities go thru. Imagine doing this almost everynight to rush shoots and filmings! Man...And one thing to add was that my store in charge of IMM actually helped to do my makeup before I left the store for my shoot last night! She was worried that they might not have a stylist/makeup artist to do it for me at the set; which was what my senior pharmacist Charmaine told me. Though it turned out that there was a stylist (ERIC - who does make up and hair for stars fr HongKong and local celebs like ReiEn), and my maakeup was re-done, I am still really grateful for my SIC's kind gesture and the relationship that God has helped me foster at my workplace. All in all, just really happy though tired. Hee.... SO FUN! I look forward to more photoshoots in thee future!

Okie~ photos taken on my handphone for your enjoyment! Haha. Or torture...Sorry, all these pics only shows me in my last hairdo.

The fake (Alica - pharmacy assistant fr ShanDong; now working at Paragon) and real (me!) pharmacists.

Pharmacy assistant (David - pharmacy assistant fr ShanDong; now working at Parkway) and me in front of the Avene counter.

My Stylist Eric and Me (haha, I get to do HIS makeup for a change!)

Sugar Babe and her Sugar Baby Counter!!! Haha...checkout the matching colors! - as the crew all proclaimed. I can be the promoted for the range. Haha.

My Crew! Haha.... the photographer took a pic of me while I took a pic of him!

The Camera that snapped our pics from night to morn! Brand: MAMIYA; haha, and all I had in my mind then was, "Mami ya! I want to go home to sleep soon!" Tsk Tsk.

My at Home (FINALLY) at 7am. Check out the PANDA EYES! One last look at my mock reborned hair before I wash it off for bed!!! Haha...made it home in time to kiss my hubby goodbye for work. The feeling of having been up the whole night to do this was so weird.

My Favorite Japanese Artist: 中村中

2008-01-22T00:10:00.000+08:00

I'm trying to learn the lyrics for this song now: 友達の詩

This singer is super talented. She (dun be shocked but she is actually a transexual - I just found out~! SUPER SHOCKED MYSELF!) plays the piano and sings at the same time. She composes her own music and arranges her music - and directs her cello player and drummer. I love this song cuz of the lyrics and the nice melody. Enjoy! =)

About Her:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataru_Nakamura

This is her:

And this is her with two other well-known singers fr Japan performing her song together.:

友達の詩
作詞: 中村中
作曲: 中村中

触れるまでもなく先の事が
見えてしまうなんて
そんなつまらない恋を
随分続けて来たね

胸の痛み直さないで
別の傷で隠すけど
簡単にばれてしまう
どこからか流れてしまう

*1 手を繋ぐくらいでいい
並んで歩くくらいでいい
それすら危ういから
大切な人は友達くらいでいい

寄り掛からなけりゃ側に居れたの?
気にしていなければ
離れたけれど今更…
無理だと気付く

笑われて馬鹿にされて
それでも憎めないなんて
自分だけ責めるなんて
いつまでも情けないね

*2 手を繋ぐくらいでいい
並んで歩くくらいでいい
それすら危ういから
大切な人が見えていれば上出来

忘れた頃にもう一度会えたら
仲良くしてね

*2, *1 repeat

友達くらいが丁度いい

Tomodachi no Uta
Lyrics & Music: Nakamura Ataru
Romaji by: cori

fureru made mo naku saki no koto ga
miete shimau nante
sonna tsumaranai koi wo
zuibun tsudzukete kita ne

mune no itami naosanaide
betsu no kizu de kakusu kedo
kantan ni barete shimau
doko kara ka nagarete shimau

*1 te wo tsunagu kurai de ii
narande aruku kurai de ii
sore sura ayaui kara
taisetsu na hito wa tomodachi kurai de ii

yorikakaranakerya soba ni ireta no?
ki ni shite inakereba
hanareta keredo imasara...
imasara... muri da to kidzuku

warawarete baka ni sarete
soredemo nikumenai nante
jibun dake semeru nante
itsu made mo nasakenai ne

*2 te wo tsunagu kurai de ii
narande aruku kurai de ii
sore sura ayaui kara
taisetsu na hito ga miete ireba joudeki

wasureta koro ni mou ichido aetara
nakayoku shite ne

*2, *1 repeat

tomodachi kurai ga choudo ii

My Favorite Action Song - Haha!!! - CHU-LIP by Ai Otsuka

2008-01-21T23:46:00.001+08:00

CHU-LIP - You gotta learn its moves!

Its Music Clip & beyond CRAZY MTV:
http://www.channel-ai.com/blog/2007/03/16/chu-lip/

Japanese:
パパのような人に　惹かれてるような
後に気付く　なぞ
ママのような人に　なっていってる気がする
年とればとるほど　なぞ

恋してれば　あなたのすべて ALL RIGHT!
理屈も理論もいらないわ　STAND UP!
惹かれてしまうのが　何より証拠
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

チューリップの恋模様
チューすればするほど好きになる
チューリップの恋模様　
チューすれば気付く運命のお相手

彼と暮らすと　癖が似てくる
ユニぞったりする　なぞ

恋してれば　すべてが2倍 POWER
守りも弱さもいらないわ DANCING!
離れられないのよ　そうゆうこと
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

チューリップの恋模様　
チューすればするほど色深くなる
チューリップの恋模様　
チューすれば1話始まる STORY

チューリップの恋模様
チューリップの恋模様

チューリップの恋模様
チューすればするほど好きになる
チューリップの恋模様　
チューすれば気付く運命のお相手

なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子
なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子
なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子
なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子なぞ　遺伝子

Romaji:
PAPA no you na hito ni　hikareteru you na
nochi ni kidzuku　nazo
MAMA no you na hito ni　natte itteru kigasuru
toshi toreba toru hodo　nazo

koishitereba　anata no subete ALL RIGHT!
rikutsu mo riron mo iranai wa　STAND UP!
hikarete shimau no ga　nani yori shouko
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba suru hodo suki ni naru
CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba kizuku unmei no o-aite

kare to kurasu to　kuse ga nitekuru
YUNI zottari suru　nazo

koishitereba　subete ga ni bai POWER
mamori mo yowasa mo iranai wa DANCING!
hanararenai no yo　souyuukoto
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba suru hodo iro fukaku naru
CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba ichi hanashi hajimaru STORY

CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU-LIP no koi moyou

CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba suru hodo suki ni naru
CHU-LIP no koi moyou
CHU sureba kizuku unmei no o-aite

nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi
nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi
nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi
nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi nazo　idenshi

Translation:
It seems I am going out with/attracted to a person like my dad
I noticed afterwards; mysterious?
I have a feeling I am becoming like my mum
When I get old it'll be like that; a mystery?

While I'm in love everything about you is ALL RIGHT!
I don't need reasons or theories. STAND UP!
The suprising fact of being attracted is the best proof.
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

It's the love-pattern of a tulip
The more you kiss [him] the more you will start to like [him]
It's the love-pattern of a tulip
If you kiss you will find fate's match for you.

When you live with him you will start to take after him,
You become one. Mystery?

While I'm in love, everything becomes twice the power
I don't need defences or weakness! DANCING!
You can't separate us, it's like that.
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha

It's the love-pattern of a tulip
The more you kiss the deeper the colours become
It's the love-pattern of a tulip
If you kiss, one story begins STORY

It's the love-pattern of a tulip
It's the love-pattern of a tulip

It's the love-pattern of a tulip
The more you kiss [him] the more you will start to like [him]
It's the love-pattern of a tulip
If you kiss you will find fate's match for you.

Mysterious genes, mysterious genes, mysterious genes
Mysterious genes, mysterious genes, mysterious genes
Mysterious genes, mysterious genes, mysterious genes
Mysterious genes, mysterious genes, mysterious genes

Pre-Honeymoon Trip to HK Oct- Nov 2007

2007-11-06T01:29:00.001+08:00

Walking down the streets of Macau (haha)

Chilling at a Christian Bookstore

Brooke Fraser - ShadowFeet

2007-11-06T00:39:00.000+08:00

Walking,stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home,a land that i've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in You, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in You

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in You, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4KiGN1j1No

Poor Sick Me @ The 19th Pharmacy Congress

2007-10-22T23:19:00.001+08:00

Presenting to you my pre-reg project poster.

Haha, can't imagine Fatimah actually submitted it as a competitive entry.

It was two day affair but too bad I was too sick to go for the 2nd day.

Thanksgiving + Testimony

2007-10-16T23:39:00.000+08:00

Really must thank God that i was not moved to holland and was given a store that was just one mrt stop away fr my home; IMM! So that was one prayer answered!!! And its a place of opportunity to shine like never before for Jesus!
Next wanna thank God for a fan to use in the store. The IMM store is really hot; its a desert in a shopping centre! It was so hot that I suffered a heat stroke and went on mc for two whole days right after my first day there. Instead of having to buy a fan on my own and the store-in-charge lent me her own to save cost. (But in the end she got a new fan for herself cuz it was too hot for her too). Even though my fan is an old fan, its still a life-saver for me. Without it, I think I would have become a beef jerky in no time! Hee, an old fan is still a good fan; just like how God though old and we think we have known Him for the longest times is till the same good God. Haha... Like that also can...
Dad gave me some krisflyer points to redeem for my wedding. Though we aren't going for our actual honeymoon till next year Apr, many DEMANDED for me to go for at least a short trip right after my wedding to capture the mood. Haha...and so by God's divine provision we are going to Hong Kong! Air tickets free. Just got to pay for the airport taxes and everything else. But hey! Its still a financial blessing in directly. So really praise God!
Also wanna thank God that my wedding studio pics arrived in time for the wedding and I managed to get my goody bags too! So can pack my wedding goody bags when I go on leave on 24th Oct.
Next, wanna thank God for a new handphone! My fiance got it for $0 by re-newing his phone plan. Instead of getting a phone for himself, he got me a phone instead. Though my current phone is way newer than his exisiting one. So nice of him!

Upcoming BIG DAY!!!

2007-09-13T00:50:00.000+08:00

Hee, yes! Tying the knot real soon and I have finally gotten my hands on some of my wedding pics. They are not extremely great but I do have a few favorite shots. The important thing is that it was taken with the one I will cherish for life! =)

Just finished designing the banner for my wedding venue and have fired a few emails to get a quotation on how much it would cost me to print and set-up. Initial quotations amounted to ~$300 for a smaller banner...I wonder how much now.. If you're single and reading this, be warned! Save up for your wedding! And this is coming fr someone who isn't even going to have a banquet, just a SMALL church wedding and reception is all I can afford - or be bothered to go thru the stress for. Getting married sure is a stressful thing though some would try to urge me to think otherwise - that it is really a very fun process. No wonder people need a honeymoon - it to de-stress after the whole ordeal. Or maybe its more difficult when I have a knick for being hard on myself when it comes to certain things...

Work is getting a little mundane... guess I need to push myself harder to contribute so that I may be entrusted with some exciting things - some of which I hope involves a pay rise. Haha. Everything is more expensive by the day! Even the bus fare is rising by 2 cents. Its scary. And hearing my customers complain about how expensive our products are becoming EVERYDAY helped the idea to sink right in. Need to find ways to maximise my income and have some passive earnings coming in. Hee... Investments? - Anyhow, back to the mundane work. If all goes well, I might get a change of working environment and will be transferred to a bigger store like IMM. But with all the recent changes, its hard to say for sure if I'm really going there in 2 weeks' time. Well, I leave it to HIM. I'll go wherever He deems best for me. And it will all unfold as I continue to be faithful in the little things.

Favoured at Work or Made the Scapegoat?

2007-06-01T21:57:00.000+08:00

Haha, this is only the end of my second week w the "big G" and I'm doing zone training for pharmacy assistants and I have gone for two smoking cessation roadshows.... What's next? And they are going to put pics of me doing zone training in the upcoming pharmacy bulletin tt will be circulated to all Guardian branches. And I'm supposed to do a zone training update at the next PPM. Diong... I wonder if I'm really extra cuz no other newcomer is doing what I am doing... Then I've been roped in to help with e community chapter for pharmacy. This is a national effort to do 3 things; to raise the awareness of (1) pharmacist specialisation courses, (2) community pharmacy accreditation, and (3) the de-regulation of selected prescription-only medications. Ha, and so far its just me, Ivan (the top clinical pharmacist in e "big G") and this other pharmacist called Mark Wong (not my classmate). What have I gotten myself into? Haha...its exciting though... Rather than complaining about the pharmacy profession, we shd really get our hands dirty and do something about it...

Anyhow, its just scary when u hear fr a third person that they heard tt you were favoured by the pharmacy big boss... and then make it multiple third and second persons. It makes u wonder what else goes on behind your back. But who cares. I just gotta live right for God and all will turn out good. I dunno what's to come but I thank God for the opportunity to be alive and doing things. Dun wanna be a small fry who contributes nothing to the society. Wanna do things tt will benefit others. Tt's why i was kinda sad when a customer scolded me for nothing... cuz she never received her senior citizen's card after 6 months!!! Hello! I wasn't even here when you applied darling... but she just went on and on, bellowed fr halfway out of the store even... Dang... Even when I tried my best to be nice and offered her 10% discount without her SN card, she was unhappy and vowed never to shop at our store again. Sighz...

Still, I am just thankful tt today's zone training went well by God's grace and the PAs enjoyed it. They tht it was fun and everyone said I did a good job. Hope I really did. Heh...

Random ramblings...

My feet are flat; haven't sat down the whole day except during my 30mins lunch. (Yes, lunch is no longer 1hr) ...painful calves (now where is tt iSqueeze when u need it - scrabble for the electric plug)... the work load ain't better than when I was at AH and I might be just as tired... BUT! I'm happy now... Haha... Like my job... like customer-patient service... interfacing with people and most importantly helping people... its so satisfying to see them smile... makes my day... Haha... Hope this passion sticks...

Scientific Findings Behind Speaking in Tongues

2007-05-29T11:40:00.000+08:00

STUDY: 'BIOLOGICAL REALITY' BEHIND THE EXPERIENCE

Critics deride it as fake, but new research shows that something authentic happens in the brain when someone speaks in tongues.

In 2006, a University of Pennsylvania team headed by Andrew B. Newberg found that the frontal lobe area of the brain usually associated with language skills and willful control of the body slips into low gear when someone engages in this form of ecstatic prayer.

"Our findings are very consistent with what people say they are feeling," Newberg says. "That they are not in charge of what is happening and are experiencing an intense sense of themselves in relation to God."

Newberg, a neuroscientist and co-author of Why We Believe What We Believe, a book on the biology behind belief, used neuroimaging to track blood flow to the brain. The study's subjects were five women from the same Pentecostal church. They were measured twice: as they sang a gospel song and as they spoke in tongues.

The scans found that when the subjects spoke, the frontal lobe showed less blood flow and lower activity than it did during the singing.

Newberg previously examined Buddhist monks in meditation and Catholic nuns in prayer. Their brain scans showed that the frontal lobe lit up with more activity the exact opposite of the tongue-speakers.

Still, Newberg cautions against using the study as proof that God speaks to people through tongues.

"It talks about the biological reality of the experience. It does not address whether there is a supernatural reality," he says. "That question is still left open."

- By Kimberly Winston, Special for USA TODAY

相合傘　Love Umbrella

2007-05-03T15:36:00.000+08:00

Hee, made this for hubby while browsing the web. It sure feels good to be on a good break after pre-reg. Its like liberation from a 9-month stay at AH stress-house. Anyhow, from this one can easily tell who is the more romantic one of us two right? Heh...Okie, more on this symbol below:

One of these I like is called Ai-ai-gasa, which literally means "walking together under an umbrella" but it sounds phonetically like it means "Love Love Umbrella." Supposedly, the idea of a boy and girl walking in the rain under the same umbrella is quite romantic to the Japanese, and this concept is expressed by a cute little doodle that's drawn by elementary school students, the Japanese equivalent of a boy and a girl carving their initials in a tree surrounded by a heart or the old "...sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G" song.

God - Change me...

2007-04-26T00:05:00.000+08:00

I'm prideful, selfish, jealous, petty + inpatient and so forgetful of others' kindness towards me. Need so much grace, prayer and change. Cannot stand myself. ARGH!

Working as a team

2007-04-25T23:55:00.000+08:00

I simply concede defeat. I'm so not a follow-up person. Maybe I'm not a commitment person. Just can't do follow-up. Maybe lacking in patience. Need God's mercy...

But thank God for a cg of people with different skill sets. I can bring e people and others can do the followup which I can't do for goodness sake. Like how I brought YY and HY discipled her. And how I brought Ruth and now YY is helping out. Its really nice to be working in a team. Brings a warm feeling deep inside.

The Weirdest of Weirdest Feelings

2007-04-25T23:35:00.000+08:00

Nothing can express how I feel now. I call it the "shock-happy-queer" feeling.

Went out with YMM today and we had a great time and she didn't say anything. But e moment I reached home and got her sms I was shocked into a on-off crackle of disbelief tt went on till today, and even this present moment!

Oh well, what can I say? God's ways are higher than ours. Even if we deliberately made the decision to say, "no" to certain things, it could still turn out to be a "yes" in the future. - to put it in simple terms tt is.

Like how Ruth said she has decided to join her friend in New Creation. Though I hoped she would change her mind there was nothing I could do to pursued her not to esp w her sounding all determined and stuff. But guess what? She's having second thts after going - her comment was tt e people there were too liberal. Woo... Hope she'll change her mind to come back to CHC!

Back From my 1st Mission Trip

2007-04-25T23:18:00.000+08:00

The mission trip was amazing. It really showed me what it meant by the harvest is great but the laborers are few. And the church we went to was a weak one, the pastor was really old and there was no one in line planned to take over his place. Despite having so many of us there this time round, we still didn't have enough people. Seeing the patients took up so much time, esp since no teams went there for the last 2 months (supposed to have one trip per month), the villagers' medical care were haywire. Only managed to free up 2 people out of the 11 to share the gospel cuz of the language barrier too. Felt to inspired to pick up bahasa indonesia and brush up on my Teochew. Who can teach me? One thing I realised was tt our Singaporean Teochew is so different fr theirs; this I know cuz usually my Teochew pts in Singapore would understand my Hokkien.

Everyone is into missions these days! Paige is. YY is. My preceptor also went to Kunming recently with Linking Hands (a Christian medical missions org). Even Ivan and Cyrus are interested in coming for e Sengarrang mission trips. Suddenly remembered a channel 8 drama and what Pst taught about common grace; "If the unfortunate cannot walk out of their disfortune, the fortunated must walk in to bless." "不幸的人走不出来，有福的人要走进去。" I totally agree with it. Hope tt with my longer working hours in Guardian I'll still be able to go for these. =) Its really great to know tt I can use what I learnt in pharmacy school for the expansion of His Kingdom and to serve others.

And most importantly, Jenny and I spent some quality time together during the trip and we finally had tt heart-to-heart talk I've always been praying about during those cold war days. The greatest thing was she understood me better, she apologized and I was able to release forgiveness. It was the best thing tt happened during the trip.

Medical Mission Trip! Here we go!

2007-04-14T20:02:00.000+08:00

Just really excited over this upcoming mission trip tt I've been given the opportunity to be part of! Its one of its kind because it sees saved medical professionals fr ALL churches and denominations coming together as one and doing God's works in an impoverished land. And using the knowledge, the resources and the skills that He had given us to reach the unsaved.

Now I just gotta get my project, last VIVA and registration done and over with so that I can go. And most importantly for my leave on the 21st to be approved. Need prayers and a miracle for it to happen cuz AH pharmacy dept is currently very under-staffed right now so tt might not be able to let me go. But no matter what its an open door and a new exiciting opportunity to serve.

More on the destination:
Sengarrang is a fishing village situated in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan. This would be the impoverished side of Bintan and not the 'Banyan Tree' side, which is 2hrs away by car. Wesley MC planted a church there in the 1990s and runs a monthly clinic in the church building. The medical team comprises people from all churches and denominations. The only requirement is that they are Christians. The trip is a simple 1-day affair. We leave Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at 830am on Sat and return at 930pm on the same day. The ferry ride is 2hrs 1 way. While there, we see about 90 patients over 3 hrs. So, the more doctors/helpers, the merrier! Depending on the no of trippers, we may engage in some evangelistic work eg. befriending the villagers, sharing the gospel with them, handing out tracts etc. The cost of the trip is $70 inclusive of ferry tickets and 2 meals (good food I assure you).

Recruiting everyone!
Even if you are non-medical, we want you to come along and help! God can use anyone! Non-medical people can help to do set-up, crowd control, play guitar, befriend the villagers and spread the gospel + pray for the sick! The more helpers the merrier and its great fun to have friends go on the same mission trip!!! Hee... aka YOU!!! This mission trip happens every month so you might wanna give it a shot and let me know asap so tt we can put u up for the next one!

End times are near, glaciers are melting and even in our not-so-environmental friendly Singapore (as compared to other countries) supermarkets are charging 10 cents per plastic bags on Wednesdays, a believer needs to really buck up and do God's work in spreading the gospel and winning the lost. Let us do it together as one big family. =)

Teriyaki Boyz - Tokyo Drift (CHC Style)

2007-04-14T19:52:00.000+08:00

Ha! Just when we were crackin' our heads as to how to get our hands on the CHC-remade lyrics (since they sang too fast for us to copy) --> Bernard (one of the trio who sang during Easter drama) popped by at AH and penned the lyrics for me. How cool can it get? Haha. And I gotta say, his handwriting is pretty neat for a guy.

So here it is!

Fast & Prayer (Tokyo Drift - CHC Style)

I wonder if you know
He has power where He goes
If you see it then you know it
then you know what does He sow
Fast and Prayer...
Pray, pray, pray
Fast and Prayer ...
Fast, fast, fast

Hey Listen up!
I've got something to say
There's a special one that's here to stay
More power than ...Bruce or Jet Li
If you don't believe just hear Him speak

The Man-O, Ichiba-O
Jump around and praise the One-O
Walking with Him is the place to be
Best of all, it's all for free!

Many many people following
He's full of power that is growing
Love me, give me, heal me, save me
All the above when we come in
Why can Jesus do miracles?
Maybe our Lord is superman.
Make you, Shake you, Ketsu, Thank you

HERE WE GO!

Pre-Reg Closing Ceremony

2007-04-07T01:29:00.000+08:00

Funny they had the closing ceremony even before I finished Pre-Reg training! It was really depressing to know all your other peers fr other institutions have gotten their licence and half of them weren't at the ceremony that day cuz they were on post-prereg vacation already! AH!!!!! When will it ever end at AH??!!!

Anyhow, the ceremony was dead boring....

Tech Support

2007-04-02T23:29:00.000+08:00

Had read this a million times before but I still find it funny because it can be so true! Haha.... Thank goodness I got a Husband 2.0 - the new and Godly version. =P

Dear Tech Support

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a
distinct slowdown in the overall performance, particularly in the flower
and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.
In addition, Husband 1.0 un-installed many other valuable programs such
as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable
programs such as MLB 5.0, NFL 4.3, PGA 3.0, and NBA 3.6.
Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 crashes the system.
I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?

Signed, Desperate

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

REPLY FROM TECH SUPPORT:

Dear Desperate

First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while
Husband 1.0 is an Operating System. Try to enter the command:
C:\ITHOUGHTYOULOVED ME' to download Tears 6.2, which should
automatically install Guilt 3.0. If that application works as designed,
Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0
and Flowers 3.5.

BUT remember: overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0
to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0, or Beer 6.1.

WARNING: Beer 6.1 is a very nasty program that will create Snoring
Loudly.

CAUTION: DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 or reinstall another
Boyfriend program. These are not supported applications and will
crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it has limited
memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider
buying additional software to improve memory and performance. I
personally recommend Hot Food 3.0 and Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck, Tech Support

Mr Brown Show: More Fishball

2007-03-25T13:31:00.000+08:00

Check this out! First time ever MrBrown Show in Chinese! And its so funnY! This time's parallel is seamless - the English one. The Chinese is slightly lacking in content and alittle different fr the English version but its still fresh!

And the funny thing is the guy buying the noodles (Chinese version) sounds like my sec sch classmate Weishiong. If u heard the news, you'd appreciate this time's featured clips. Haha...

Podcast: the mrbrown show 26 Feb 2007: more fishballs (MP3, stereo, file size: 3mb, Time: 00:03:12)

Podcast (Chinese version): the mrbrown show 26 Feb 2007: more fishballs Chinese version (MP3, stereo, file size: 2.5mb, Time: 00:02:38)

All About Jesus

2007-03-25T00:18:00.000+08:00

It is not I who am strong; it is Jesus who gave me strength.
It is not I who love; it is Jesus who extends unconditional love to all.
It is not I who serve/help others; it is Jesus doing His mighty works thru me.
It is not I who give; it is Jesus who gave me everything He had to set me free.
It is not I who praise and worship; it is Jesus who gave me the very breath to sing.
It is not I who am rich; it is Jesus who gave me stewardship over a teeny portion of His enormous wealth.

"It is not longer I who live but Christ who lives in me." (Gal 2:20)

- revelation during today's service (Casey Treat Weekend)

_______________________________________________

FIRST
City Harvest Church Key: A
Worship
Intro: D / / / A/C# / / / F#m7 / / / E / / /

http://www.guitar4christ.com/modules.php?name=Song_Search&file=printsong&id=770&key=A&acc=sharps

My 25th Birthday

2007-03-18T21:53:00.000+08:00

Just want to say a big thank you to the following persons who have contributed to my birthday this year - from the small to big - thank you everyone!

Mei
- for the Citigems necklace and pendent + lipbalm fr America with our names on it + cute bear card and CD of our photographic & video-graphic memories together!

Hubby
- for the beautiful butterfly-like Swatch watch and three birthday treats (Swenson's, KFC and Mayim) and most importantly for being my hubby.
Paige
- for the nice little blue crystal ear rings

Henry
- for the 28k Gold - Haha, the 28k Nat King Cole CD. Thank you for remembering that I like his music. Listening to the CD now as I type this btw.

The CG
- for the shiny silver shirt from Zara. I promise to become more feminine to wear it soon! Haha.

Jen and Xiuli
- for singing me the birthday song on JianFeng's car today

Ivan
- for the attempt to say happy birthday to me in Japanese

My bros
- Bochao for smsing me from camp this morn at 7.45am
- Boxiang for writing me a birthday post-it for me to find on my bedroom door when I came home fr ECP today (its the first time he ever wished me happy birthday! Haha...zhang3 da4 le)

My mummy
- she gave me a small angbao this morning before I left for service. Though the amount was really small but I was still touched all the same.

The many others who have wished me happy bday via sms.

And last but not least...
- God for bringing me this far for the last 25 years. I look forward to the rest of my life with Him.

Halleluyah~ THANK YOU EVERYBODY!!!

Mission Trips w My Pharmaceutical Knowledge

2007-03-18T00:33:00.000+08:00

Ha! Doors are opening for me to do mission trips overseas in Indonesia with doctors, nurses and pharmacists! Ok, its actually one door. But its really gonna be fun cuz we'll have healthcare professionals from all churchs and different denominations coming together to spread the gospel of God thru our medical know-how and services. My first trip will be this coming June if all goes well! I've always believed in "ONE CHURCH" and fulfilling the great commission. Hee...exciting times are here... And the best thing is its a one day thing and hubby is supportive of me doing it.

How this thing works: The Wesley Church raises $1000 from their weekly offerings and this money is used to purchase medical supplies that we use during these 2-3monthly mission trips. And now we're recruiting more people to join in the cause. Its amazing how God is using the hands of doctors, nurses and even pharmacists to exhibit His unfailing love and healing mercy. - Hee, this Associate Consultant at AH roped me in just yesterday. And in return I inspired him to reach out to his "mentee" MO who I brought to church recently. Haha... Sometimes we can be so caught up with the big missions out there that we forget about the mission field we have here at home within our own social circles and workplaces. - Rem our culture mandate

AH Pre-Regs & Doreen

2007-03-17T22:11:00.000+08:00

Grow tt Brain! Learn More in Less

2007-03-04T22:59:00.001+08:00

http://oedb.org/library/college-basics/hacking-knowledge

New Career Path - Retail Pharmacy Chain

2007-02-25T13:22:00.000+08:00

Well, its the employee's market now for pharmacists. Pharmacists are leaving everywhere so we're shorthanded no matter where you look; be it in the hospitals, polyclinics or retail setting. One may question where all these pharmacists go. Well, probably out of the profession to attempt something more lucrative. While I do not deny the fact that many join the "tai-tai" industry to mind a larger calling in life; motherhood. You can't really blame these people. Afterall, family should rank above one's career and monetary undertakings. Okay, at least that is what I think and what the bible teaches.

Anyhow, I'm going to join the retail pharmacy chain soon. Many asked why I didn't stay back to work in AH. Well, one answer - multiple reasons. Ha, crappy. Simply put, reasons are political, monetary and opportunity-related. Anyhow, I see the retail pharmacy as the frontline of contact w the community at large. If you can win ppl over to the pharmacy profession at the retail setting, you have basically won them all. I've dreaded the rate at which our profession is digging its own grave for the last few years. I admit tt I once played w a naive thought; maybe pharmacists would take more pride in their work if only we had dispensing rights!!! However, working in AH has taught me that at the end of the day if u wanna win the people, u gotta do it thru creating patient value. And tt u achieve tt by putting their interests first! So I hope to create that value in the retail setting when I join Guardian. And possibly gather like-minded people to join my cause to fight for a better tml for pharmacists and our profession.

Oh man...this sounds so corny-ly noble... I can't take it! But well, at least it describes the angst I have towards the current state of things.

CHINA BUBBLE

2007-02-03T00:48:00.000+08:00

Negative Report:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/10/content_779923.htm
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5415cad8-b0a1-11db-8a62-0000779e2340.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/business/stock.php
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/26/business/yuan.php
http://www.asiawind.com/pub/hksr/mark/mark42.shtml

Positive Report:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16840356/site/newsweek/

Woo... Time for Another "Graduation" Trip? (Grad fr Pre-reg) - R&R Days!!!

2007-01-25T01:45:00.000+08:00

Miss This Hair Colour and the Sea + SunTan

2007-01-25T01:33:00.000+08:00

Christmas Feast on Mei

2007-01-25T01:09:00.000+08:00

This is a Japanese Restaurant at Wheel Lock Place. Really nice ambience and I like the presentation of the food being served there. But its definitely not your usual daily food fare unless you're a multi-millionaire. Haha...J/k. But the food there really is pricey. Thank goodness I bought mei a christmas present tt was worth way more than our dinner there. HAha...

My Song Composition!!!

2006-11-19T20:47:00.000+08:00

Hee, suddenly had the greatest inspiration when I was humming in the spirit today and I thought I could try penning it down into a song. And as I was writing and singing and listening, I couldn't help but tear (How disgraceful can one get?). Seemed really stupid cuz I was touched by my own song. Then again, I'm sure the Spirit was my muse. Anyhow, this was my first successful full worship song and I got it all down super quickly which was really interesting...
Here's the lyrics btw:

Title: You're There

You’re there during the glistenin’ of dewdrops in my eyes,
You’re there to blow it dry without havin’ to ask why.

You’re there when my laughter fills the breeze,
Makin’ the meadows green
and flowing treetops dance with me.

Chorus
Now that You’re near
there’s no need to fear.
Your gentle comfort rests upon my heart
assurin’ we’ll never be apart.
I could feel Your breath on my soul
as our spirits flow.

You’re there when I was down and out,
Took me out of the shadows to see the pretty rainbows and clouds.

You’re there even when my heart’s grown cold,
Forever loved me so
and never let me go.

Chorus
Now that You’re near
there’s no need to fear.
Your gentle comfort rests upon my heart
assurin’ we’ll never be apart.
I could feel Your breath on my soul
as our spirits flow.

Bridge
You were there in the past and now You’re still here
even when my hair becomes as white as snow.
Recounting the stories of old
and re-watching Your love unfold.

End
I can almost hear You whisper, “We’ll be together.”
Lord I love You, this I promise You.

Step of Faith: Prayed for A Patient Today!

2006-11-04T00:43:00.000+08:00

I was dispensing to this patient to be discharged in the wards today.
He was having headaches and was on anti-depressive medications but he still couldn't sleep.
I went thru' that same thing some years back and hence, I could feel his agony.
And he shared with me about his possible impending retrenchment and we decided that it might be his fear of being fired that got him this anxious and depressed. Felt it there and then that I should pray for him. But just to make sure that I would not make him feel too uncomfortable, I asked for the permission to pray for him after finding out tt he is also a believer. Just that he isn't tt fervant a Christian.

I prayed for him till I cried and he got teary. His mum who was sitting at the side watching us was thankful. =) I encouraged him to draw nearer to God and even invited him to our church. But he said he stayed at Woodlands and is currently attending his sister's church, then I let him be. And left him with the words that it doesn't matter where he is at as long as tt church allows him to grow best in the Lord. He and his mum thanked me loads.

I felt embarrassed that I cried more than he did but somehow I could feel the agony and pain he was going thru as I prayed for him. Its like I can feel his burden. I pray that God will lift his burden and open doors of opportunities for him. And that he could finally have a good night of sleep tonight.

Though embarrassed, I'm glad I took that step of faith to offer to pray for him. Even if meds dun work, we can always trust God to work. I pray that Mr Tan will no longer need to rely on medications to knock him out and that he would learn to cling on to God + step out of depression with Him. If God can bring me out of depression so many years back, He could do the same for Mr Tan. That, I told Mr Tan too. Sometimes, though we may dread the circumstances and challenges God put us thru but it is these very things that become powerful testimonies for others that God had planned for us to help down the pipeline. I'm glad I had depression (haha...tt sounds weird) before and conquered it by God's grace because it became the very testimony I shared with Mr Tan today.

Little did I know the 1 month of depression, sleepless nights and even suicidal thoughts I had 4 years ago could be useful today. God's ways are higher than ours - always.

Purchase Choices: LCD TV vs. Plasma TV

2006-10-29T22:12:00.000+08:00

Yes dear, I totally agree with you. LCD TVs are better! Its a LCD for the home then!
Now its the waiting for the finances to get one. Hee... 42" and above ya?
___________________________________________________

Plasma Television vs. LCD TV panels
Top Ten things to Consider
Two parallel technologies of flat TV screens, Plasma and LCD technology compete for a position at the zenith. Here is a comparison of the two competing technologies.

Plasma, as the name suggests is a screen where gas-like- precisely charged particles create the sensation of viewing pictures. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen uses a film of liquid crystal sandwiched between two glass plates. Application of slightly varied electric charge creates images.

1. Screen Size
Plasma screens of up to 65 inches are available. A Panasonic 103” plasma screen and the 102 inch-ers from LG and Samsung are the world champions. Of course this Panasonic 65” plasma is already a dream. Up to 45” LCD screens are available for consumers. A 100” LCD by LG is not so much affordable by consumers. This Sharp 45” LCD panel even has a HDTV tuner on board.

2. Picture Quality
Plasma TVs have a definite advantage here over LCD counterparts. The difference is visible when viewing black. LCDs give a glare, where plasma produces solid black color. It is to be noted that LCD technology gradually corrects this weak point. The color saturation is also better with Plasma TVs.

3. Viewing Angle
Plasma screens generally have a wider viewing angle than LCD. You don’t have to stay right in front of a Plasma screen to see what is shown. That much freedom is not available with LCD screens. LCD screen doesn’t have a light source of its own, but should be projected by a fluorescent light source from behind the screen. On a plasma screen the gas molecules emit light when given some sort of controlled electric charge as input.

4. High Speed Action
Plasma screens give you better catch of the action of a football match or an action movie. The image lag is considerably lower with a Plasma screen.

5. Price
Plasma screens are now definitely cheaper than LCD TVs.

6. Resolution (more pixels per inch)
Higher ‘native resolution’ ? if you are looking for highest resolution pictures, LCD is the way to go. LCD screens have more pixels per inch than plasma screens.

7. Power Consumption
Another advantage is it consumes lesser power than plasma screens and in some cases you can expect up to 30% power savings over plasma screens. The power saving is partly due to the absence of fluorescent lighting.

8. Extreme Performance
When taking to higher altitudes, LCDs perform better than Plasma screens. This is because the plasma particles become stressed because of the pressure differences. LCDs have no such problem.

9. Shipping and Handling
Shipping and installation of a plasma TV can also be costlier than that of an LCD (HD)TV screen. This is because of the sensitive nature of the plasma column that needs careful handling.

10. Life of Screen
Plasma screens have a half-life of about 30,000 hours, half that of an LCD screen. In other words, the brightness of plasma (charged gas) particles gets halved after the half-life period. However, it is not a major disadvantage for plasma screens as 30,000 hours translates into TV viewing of more than 12 years at an average of 5 to 6 hours a day. You will have bought some cooler gadgets within that time.

LCD may be the technology of the future, but as for now, especially if you are looking for a big bang of your buck, go for a Plasma TV. Today, it is the in-thing.

More: http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv-plasmavslcd.shtml

Testimony: The name on the dotted line in my Bible under mine

2006-10-29T21:50:00.000+08:00

I thank God for a loving husband whom I can share my visions and dreams with. Someone who will not give me the wet blanket but take the time to discuss ways as to how I can achieve my dreams, not to deter but to encourage.

I am now legally Mrs "Quack" as of 16th October 2006. Hee...

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my cell group members for their gifts, cards, well-wishes and prayers. Especially want to thank HuiYing and Ivan for shopping for that gift you got us on behalf of the CG. I checked the price up and tt Precious Moments figurine costed about $95! Wow! Both Mr "Quack" and I fell so blessed. Its not the price tag tt comes with it that touches our hearts but the willingness of the "sacrifice" of our cg fund. Hee thank you so much. And yes, thank you Huiying for paying for it first. And thank you Paige for her "wedding" edition letter (I love the Japanese sakura letter set and petals) and Yuying's beautiful wedding card ( I love the silver envelope). I'm keeping them with my bible for now. Hee. They go well together because my bible is a wedding edition Precious Moments bible.

Alas! The blank on the dotted line dedicated for the groom's name on the front page of my bible is occupied by Mr "Quack's" name. I've been wondering whose name would be there since I was 13 years old when my first cell group gave the bible to me as a present. Years went by and I wondered and wondered whenever I accidentally flipped to it while turning frantically to the contents page.

~From the day You gave me that bible through the hands of friends, you knew whose name would occupy that "vacant" lot on that dotted line below mine. Thank you Jesus for a wonderful man~

Testimony: Someone bought my guitar!!!

2006-10-29T21:39:00.000+08:00

Someone bought my guitar at the price at which I got it.
$100! And its one week before building fund weekend! Praise the Lord!

And the fact that my buyer transferred the money to my bank account without needing me to contact him or tell him to. Usually people are touchy about transactions and would want to cash and carry. But this buyer trusted me totally and transferred the full amount to me without even asking to see the physical guitar first! Praise the the Lord! The fact that it is so unlike your usual buyer-seller encounter is God's biggest hint to me that its His doing and that I heard right during service some weeks ago that He wanted me to sell this guitar for the building fund. Just when I tht I'd not find a buyer in time for the building fund after I had a few funny ppl offer me ridiculous prices, God sent a serious and sincere buyer who was even willing to drive to my place to pick the item up. Halleluyah!

I want to take this opportunity to thank Ivan for offering to bless me with a guitar seeing that I'd be parting with mine. He really is a good brother and I get so proud of him everytime I see him lead praise and worship during CG these days. God really is using him in a mighty way to impact the people around him and making a difference to people's lives. And the funny thing is that he doesn't really know the extent of his service and how much he had touched others. All he desires is to serve others in his own little ways. His LITTLE ways --> touch ppl in BIG ways. Hee, Ivan if you are reading this thank you so much. Though you didn't get to buying that guitar for me, but the fact that you suggested tt we pop by Swee Lee tt day at Bras Basah told me tt you were serious about getting me one. And for that, I thank you!

Revelation: Selling Guitar for the Building Fund

2006-10-01T23:15:00.000+08:00

I've been thinking of getting an acoustic guitar for ages but with the up and coming building fund, its gotta wait. And while I was thinking of getting a better guitar, I felt prompted in the spirit during service last week that I should sell my exisitng classical guitar for the building fund. So the plan was somehow God will bless me with tt acoustic guitar I yearn for if I'd just move in faith.

Haha, its funny how faith things work. Initially you want a better guitar and the next thing you know it, God asks you to sell the only guitar you have. Even though its a crappy guitar, its still playable. And after I sell it, I won't even have anything to play with. Heh... But at the same time I also know tt my new guitar is on its way to me --- possibly via a person or it might just fall from the sky one of these days...

Gotta go look up at the sky for a falling guitar now...God bless!

Time to get married?

2006-10-01T23:06:00.000+08:00

I've been really blessed by the recent

BS: Finding the right partner
Churchwide Seminar: Making marriage work

I've always been really interested in topics related to relating with people so those were real treats! Haha, now I'm all geared to get married!

AH Dinner and Dance

2006-09-11T21:25:00.000+08:00

AH Carnival

2006-09-11T21:08:00.000+08:00

No time to write. Let the pics paint the thousand words. Attached are the 3 posters I designed for the carnival, and that's me holding up a peak flow meter.

Pre-reg Starts - The Beginning of Non-Existance + Death to Flesh

2006-07-14T00:19:00.000+08:00

Yup, with the graduation ceremony over its back to the cruelity of pre-reg training.
This is probably the last time I will be blogging for the next nine months while I try to fight for sanity amidst the lack of sleep, plus mental and emotional torment of pre-reg training. And the financial squeeze...

And lack of sleep is just an euphemism. Wake at 6.30am...reach work at 8am for PAPT lecture/ pharmacy meeting....work till 6pm... then have meeting/courses till 10pm in the City...reach home 11 something... work on Sats...projects...log books...clinical discussions... a whole "galaxy" of assignments to complete before I can even qualify to take my competency test for licencinge...journal papers to read....textbooks to read....

Mental grill because you are cracking your head trying to rem all sorts of things, and trying to squeeze out the tiniest bit of essence you have inside your after-4-yrs of pharmacy-sch-yet-still-empty brain to answer the "chimest" questions that preceptors can ask you.

Emotional torment because you are shamed everyday for your lack of knowledge.

Financial squeeze cuz now I have to save up for my brother's University school fees (about $583.3333 per month), minus CPF... then there is the non-student transportation fees, food prices outside the school canteen, pre-reg training fees + PSS membership ($280), tithe, offering... I rem going to the toilet to shed a few tears when I was told my cg fund premium was doubled last Sat. And then I had to pretend I was fine + strong when Ivan asked if I was ok.... And then the hospital I'm training under fines us $1/ minute we are late for morning meetings... a glimpse of my life? Imagine having to reach the hospital at 7am sharp for meeting before starting work on a Wednesday morning (remind me tt's NEXT WED I'm talking about...wonder if there is even 195 bus at a crazy time like 6.30am ...) ... Sighz...think can just survive on air...

Oh well, this is goodbye peeps. Till I re-emerge from my 9months' worth of torture .. If I survive tt is...

Would Priscilla live to tell the tale??!! Catch her/me LIVE! ( or maybe DEAD!) May 2007.

- I'm totally looking forward to BEYOND all these crap... to the hopefully sweet + much more enjoyable + financially rewarding career tt God has already mapped out for me...

Ministry: Makeup just ain't me

2006-05-30T22:46:00.000+08:00

Makeup just ain't me. I wanted costume designing but in the end they told me the church website is too backdated and they only offered makeup at the interview.
There and then I thought to myself, "If I wanna serve I can serve anywhere.", so I agreed to join the makeup team. Thereafter I tried to "psycho' myself into thinking tt its still illustration only that with makeup its on a human canvas instead of paper.

Yet after tryin' it out I feel its so not me and I dun see my purpose in the ministry. And the fact that I've always believed that makeup is a waste of money didn't help. Haha... I think a true beauty needs no makeup and makeup clogs up the skin. Haha... Anyway, everytime I think about e ministry I feel so down. So I've finially reached a threshold and told Jason that I want a switch. Thank God he emailed me the ministry form immediately. Excellent! But I think I'll keep my promise and finish serving at EMERGE before saying "bye-bye" to makeup ministry.

Now that I know I'll be changing ministry I feel so liberated. All the more I feel convinced that makeup is really not for me. I want to use my talents to make an impact in the lives of others and I do not see myself doing that in makeup ministry even though in my head I could easily create 101 reasons how I can also make an impact in makeup ministry. At the end of the day, its the heart and not the head that really leads. =) Hee. Wonder which ministry to choose... I was deciding betw multimedia and costume design originally. So maybe multimedia? Heh heh... wanna do graphics design leh...wonder which ministry I can go into to do tt...

Rem some time back Jason was asking which subject we were best at back in secondary school. I topped art for a few years over the whole cohort back then and I was the head of the art and crafts society for my CCA. Jason then said that I should put that creative talent into good use. I want to too.

Gotta pray about it now... Whoever is reading, please pray for me too.
I really hate ministry-hopping; seriously wanna find one that is right, take root and really serve...

God is good and He is a God of open doors.
He will surely lead.

Meanwhile I'm trying to find time to learn these hokkien gospel songs my GSK regulatory director passed me so that I reach out to my parents and grandpa. Hee.

Reflection: Not perfect but striving for perfection

2006-05-19T23:08:00.000+08:00

Thought of this "slogan" while I was encouraging a friend who was tired of continuing her walk with Christ; she was tired of trying to be perfect.

And while trying to encourage her this came, "I'm not perfect by nature, but e HS can help me practice perfect solutions in any situation. None of us have ARRIVED at perfection, but we can STRIVE to be perfect. Perfection is not a criterion for salvation but it is a goal for all of us as we transform into the likeness of Christ."

Genesis 1:26
At the very beginning of the life of men, God says something that implies a great deal more: that He would make man "in Our image." In a nutshell, this is God's purpose for mankind.

Isaiah 6:10
In simple terms, convert also means "to change," as in ice to water or dollars to pesos. Theologically, it means changing from sinner to saint, filthy to holy, worldly to godly. In Acts 3:19, Peter uses "repent" and "convert" together. Both entail a recognition of self and sin and beating a hasty path to righteousness. Paul explains the repentance, conversion, and salvation process by contrasting two terms. We must not be conformed to the world ("similar to, identical to, in agreement with, or compliant"), but transformed ("changed in composition or structure, character, or condition, converted"). Repentance means changing one's whole life!

2Corinthian 3:18
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2 Thessalonians 2:13
Sanctification is also known as becoming holy (Ephesians 1:4) and being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). It cannot be left out of God's purpose because it is the step whereby we are transformed into the image of His Son, as well as into the image of the Father. It is in this step that we begin to take on the characteristics of the Family窶背here we begin to think and act like the current members of the Family of God. The character, the mindset, the attitudes, the perspective, the way we think, the way we look at things begins to become just like the God's.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:14, 16 that "a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works." Sanctification窶琶f it is taking place in a person窶把annot be hidden. Why is God so concerned about sanctification? Because 1) this is the step in His purpose in which the major portion of the transformation takes place, and 2) it can be seen窶杯his is how we make a witness! Thus, when Paul sees the working faith, the laboring love, and the patient hope of the Thessalonians, he writes:

. . . remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. (I Thessalonians 1:3-4)

Seeing the fruits of their lives, he knew that they had been begotten by God窶杯hat they had God's Spirit窶巴ecause they had begun "looking" like the Family. Therefore, if a person claims to be a son of God but habitually lives in sin窶派e is deceiving himself. Those qualities that identify his "spiritual ancestry" begin to show. "Family ties" can be seen.

_______________________

Repentance is not an one-time thing.
Its a lifelong process until one reaches perfection.

Do not be weary of doing good.

Growing to perfection:
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.show/CT/ARTB/k/609

Travel: Graduation Trip to Redang Island

2006-05-13T01:31:00.000+08:00

It was awesome just snorkeling next to schools of various varieties of fishes in the crystal clear blue sea. The water was so clear you could see the sea beds and corals from above! And it was super cool to almost have my head bitten off by this GIANT (about 60cm long) parrot fish. Haha. Thrilling...

I miss the oceans already!

For more photos, click here

Redang Island

Tropical saltwater fishes I saw during the 3 snorkelling trips:

Clownfish/Anemone Fish
Yellow Tang
Emperor angelfish
French angelfish
Copperband butterfly fish
Racoon butterfly fish
Neon Goby
Ocellated Dragonet/ Scooter Dragonet
Eyelash Blenny
Magnificent Foxface Rabbitfish
One Spot Rabbitfish Foxface
Moorish Idol
Picasso Triggerfish
Parrotfish in all sorts of colours

For the pics of some of e fishes I saw on the trip, go to:

Tropical Fish Profiles

Newspaper CATS Recruit: 5 Qualities of effective, motivated people

2006-05-13T01:29:00.000+08:00

Responsibility
Reliability
Resoluteness
Resourcefulnes
Re-learning and Re-thinking

School: Pharmacy Dinner and Dance

2006-05-07T01:43:00.000+08:00

FWAAH!!!
I'm gonna be Emcee for part of the dinner; need a dress!!! Or maybe I can rent a tux! Or should I wear my Yukata? Aiyoh..need to get a proper obi belt in tt case! Profs and the Sci Dean will be there!
And to think I was planning to wear some pathetic dress I got back in JC cuz I tht I'll be offstage just pigging out...dang...

To do list:

Insert logo for DnD poster before printing
Type up 3 ego-speeches for nominees for e best-dressed category.
Prepare Emcee stuff and wellwishes from absent profs.
Get dress or tux!
Coordinate payment for all guests.
Meet up with planning committee to do run down on program and plan event finance.

Someone please remind me to do all these.
Tend to forget!

Reflection: See and Perceive

2006-05-06T23:24:00.000+08:00

Dun just see, perceive.
Dun just hear, listen and understand.
Dun just talk, walk.

Baptism: Into the JOY ANd Abundance of the Lord

2006-05-05T00:55:00.000+08:00

Hm, think she doesn't know it yet but I sure hope she will be happy with what I made her.
Its my most ingenious creation yet! Well, I'm very sure she doesn't know what I'm doing cuz she was just sulking and being iritated with me over our Bali trip just a minute ago. But I seriously have more important things to do and its for her. She just doesn't know... So I shan't be angry or disappointed. But I shd snigger away naughtily cuz she doesn't know the little things I have made. =) Hee...so proud of my creations. Esp since the materials were already prepared one week ago... I couldn't help but feel that God had led me to prepare the raw materials beforehand even before I knew what I was making and helped make these gifts with me. Cuz it was just so coincidental that Ivan called to tell me he doesn't want to buy the entire pack of candles for just one or two tea lights. He was meant to get the candles and salt on behalf of the cg... It was really divine; it was all planned that these little gifts shall be made by my little hands. Hee... Just really amused by this chain of little events.

I wonder if she is going to use that name I gave her...

Anyhow, it will be a grand event to see her share my experience of sheer cleansing joy of baptism this Sunday. And she has invited her non-Christian friends too. What a good chance to show them the love of God too. Hm, seriously you never know who you introduce Christ to; they can be the next Benny Hinn, Auror Roberts or even Pst Kong. And I'm sure she will be great for God; possibly a great evangelist for Christ's harvest field.

7 May 2006 (Sun) 2.30 p.m.Roof Garden Baptism Pool Jurong West St 91
All candidates are to assemble 1/2 hour before the baptism service starts.

Hee..she just doesn't know...

Though sometimes u just get so sad and even cry because a friend just doesn't understand the love you have for them. But today I learnt to enjoy the immense joy of loving someone in silence without any reward nor acknowledgement or credit.
And God made it all possible. Its a breakthrough.

In retrospect: In Commemoration of My Russian Winter White

2006-05-03T00:53:00.000+08:00

I miss squeezing my hamster; my Hamko. Yet I have no time to take care of hamsters now and mum just freaked out in my face this morning when I said that I missed having hamster babies to play with. She knew what I had on my mind; no wonder she's my mum. So before I can say any more she warned me; she said that if I wanted to keep hamsters again I'll have to wait till I get married so that I can keep them at my own place. Haha... I can still rem how happy she was when I decided to take a break from keeping hamsters after Hamko went to heaven.
Oh well... I guess that means I can only look at pics for now.

Eeeee...baby-baby...(squeeze-squeeze)

In retrospect: My Birthday

2006-05-02T23:04:00.000+08:00

=) Was going through some old emails that my class rep sent in search for the list of profs whom we are buying gifts for and I found 'this'.
It brought a smile to my heart.
It was really nice to be remembered.

p/s: I am that Ministress of Finance he was talking about. Yes, I'm the treasurer of the class.

Part of an email sent by our Pharmacy class rep Mr Lew Kuang Yuan to the whole class on March 13th 2006 :

"Birthday
I was looking thro the contacts and realize that our Ministress of Finance birthday is this coming Saturday. Fear her before she starts hanging pig heads窶ｦ. So for those who still owe her money, it is a good time to give her money to buy bday present窶ｦand maybe add a kiss to build out good rapport. "

Lesson: Don't be a Talebearer

2006-05-01T23:58:00.000+08:00

From Mark Conner's Service
- Protect the unity of the church.

If you think a brother sins against you GO to the brother or sister involved directly.

Not share your unhappiness with someone else
Not pray about it.
Not bear a grudge.

Matthew 18:15
A Brother Who Sins Against You
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.
If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

When I heard him (Mark Conner) I couldn't agree any less.

I've been misunderstood by someone before and when I finally found out it was when other people (who were not even involved in or present at the incident) came to ask me why I did this and that? Wow! I was "slaughtered" without my knowing. And when I called the person involved, that person didn't even want to talk about it. So it was all very strange. Till today I still do not know what EXACTLY this person told others that made them think about me the way they did. Sigh.
I have jumped into wrong conclusions about others too. And after having a firsthand experience of being wronged taught me one lesson; deep. Though I'm the type who would rather bottle things up than to share them with the world, the lesson made me understand the "toxicity" of a misunderstanding. This is why I'm now making a constant effort to avoid ambiguities in communication and opportunities for negative speculations; I make sure I confront people directly to clarify matters though some complained that it makes me rather blunt. So now the trick is to be clear but yet tactful. Anyhow, this is way better than blowing things up into a million pieces in front of people (who aren't even involved), realise you blew up based on "wrong info"/ a misunderstanding, find yourself too tired or prideful to clean up the unnecessary mess you've made, and leave that poor maligned fella a criminal in people's hearts for life.

In a nut shell:
Its always better to clarify FIRST with the person involved (directly) instead of jumping into all kinds of conclusions. To speculate or share things with others even before confirmation is the lowest, even if you share it with a disclaimer that you are only guessing or under the sugar coating of "being concerned". What if we have misunderstood our brother/sister? Wouldn't sharing our tainted impressions with someone else before we clarified things make us bearers of false accounts of/ witnesses to our brother/ sister?

And what does the bible say about murmuring and lying?

So...
GO direct to the root of the problem!
Dun stop to share with others until you and that person involved have reached a verbal consensus that both parties are holding on to a right account of each other, and have agreed to allow sharing of the matter.

In our modern yet ironically "uncivilised" society, ppl just tend to forget basic courtesy issues.

Reflection: Answering Nonsense with Sensibility

2006-05-01T23:36:00.000+08:00

A friend's action recently "amused" me and I had a revelation.

"Answer immaturity with maturity,
impatience with even greater patience,
impulsive actions with even clear + careful consideration and
hate with love."

The world says an eye for an eye, but God says "love".

Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Two immature people makes the situation worse.
And bickering with an impulsive person makes you no better than that very person you are trying to correct.

Matthew 7:3
And why do you look at the speck in your brother窶冱 eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

True, a rebuke from a friend is better than the praise of an enemy.
Yet God also said "love" and give grace.

So my verdict --> rebuke lovingly, gently and with grace.

"A gentle rebuke gives grace and allows space for that person to change."

Jesus did not tolerate sin but He also forgave and loved,
and corrected His disciples by being a good example.

縺吶＃縺�縺ｮ謚倥ｊ邏吶�ｮ繧ｷ繝�繝医ｒ縺ゅ▲縺溘ｈ�ｼ��ｼ��ｼ�

2006-04-28T22:21:00.000+08:00

Research: What are the Gnostics?

2006-04-28T21:54:00.000+08:00

During the show Gospel of Judas they made mention of the word "gnostics" alot.
Here's what it means:

Christian and non-Christian groups of the second and third centuries. Although there were many types, they all seemed to think that the individual can obtain spiritual liberation from the bodily world of ignorance and illusion through gnosis or insight and identification with the divine. Their ideas challenged the unity of the church because they denied the goodness of creation and the humanity of Jesus Christ.
gbgm-umc.org/umw/corinthians/glossary.stm

comes from Greek "gnosis" meaning "knowledge of God".
anomalous-images.com/text/appb.htm

Gnosticism is a blanket term for various mostly mystical religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostics

Mother's Day

2006-04-28T18:18:00.000+08:00

Don't forget that May 14th (sunday) is Mother's Day!
Hope to invite mum for service.

Health: Explosive Diarrhea

2006-04-27T18:13:00.000+08:00

Wah...this must be a first in my life!
To date I've had 9 explosive diarrhea episodes in the last 36 hours.
I feel so dehydrated.
But thank God my stomach held up during my DFD paper today.

I want to get better....FAST....

Testimony: GSK JOB

2006-04-26T20:52:00.000+08:00

The HR officer Michelle just called to inform me that I can start work at GSK on 3rd May which is the day right after my last paper. And I'll be working till June 30th after which I start work at Alexandra Hospital on July 3rd. Wow...really packed.

Still I thank God for His timely provisions cuz this way I'll have money to pay for my upcoming mission trip and my livelihood. If not I wonder what I'll be living on for the next 2 months since my bank account is depleted after the many months of penalty from mum. And upon graduation how can one still have the cheek to ask for money from one's parents? Plus my parents are now in their "reaping" mode. So its not very possible to get any moola from them.

So really want to thank God; my Jehovah Jireh.
_______________________________
Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Testimony: Healing

2006-04-26T20:24:00.000+08:00

So far I have had 5 explosive diarrhea episodes with severe stomachache in the last 24 hours.
I was having body aches and fever this morning too. According to Bro Ben last bs session, 70% of illnesses are psychosomatic. Yet no matter how I try to mentally convince myself that I was ok my stomach just wouldn't listen to my brain. And I dun want to be sick during this examination period cuz with or without a medical certificate (MC) I'll have to re-sit the papers next semester.I that happens I won't be able to graduate this year and qualify to start my pre-registration training. In short, if I can't take my exams now I'll have to wait for one year doing nothing at all. Yes, maybe some part-time worker drawing a wage of an A level student.

Moreover, Luis is having dengue fever right now and he had the same symptoms as me. Many people at PGP are down wtih dengue too and I have this other pharmacy classmate called SueHuey who is hospitalised at NUH right now. What really worried me was that I had been bitten by lots of mosquitoes in the last week. It got so bad I started fumigating my bedroom with insecticide but didn't seem to reduce the mosquito population at all. Sigh. But I seriously do not want to have dengue. And I hate seeing doctors. I think I act like a stubborn old lady. So Mum said if I do not get any better after tomorrow's exam I cannot escape the fate of seeing a doctor like I did today. Based on my experience, I'll have to do a blood test if things dun look up. (More on dengue at the end of this article).

Anyhow, I thank God for strength as I forced myself to go for the exam this morning after taking 2 anarax tablets for my fever and body aches. It was hard for me to concentrate on the questions when my stomach was threatening to do a diarrhea on me the whole time. And I was so physically exhausted from all the diarrhea. But I pulled through and I'm just believing God for a miracle for my paper. I haven't been able to study for my paper tomorrow as I collapsed on my bed in total exhaustion from another explosive diarrhea episode after returning home today. I slept the whole time. Yet before I try to do some revision now for tomorrow's paper, I want to thank God for sustaining me today. I have to graduate this semester...

_________________________
Dengue fever

Alternative names
O'nyong-nyong fever; Dengue-like disease; Breakbone fever

Definition
Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, rash, and muscle and joint pains. See also Dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Dengue fever is caused by several related viruses (four different arboviruses). It is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly Aedes aegypti, found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes portions of Southeast Asia, the Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South and Central America.

Dengue fever begins with sudden onset of a high fever, often to 104-105 degrees Fahrenheit, headache, and slightly later the appearance of severe joint and muscle pains.

A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body early during the fever. A second rash, measles-like in appearance, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.

Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers. It is generally self-limited and although uncomfortable is not fatal. Diagnosis may depend on a traveler telling his or her doctor of any visits to areas of the world where dengue fever is known to occur.

Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease and frequently fatal.

Symptoms
fever
rashes
muscle aches (myalgia)
joint aches (arthralgia)
headache
nausea
vomiting
enlarged lymph nodes

Signs and tests
CBC (shows mildly increased white blood cells, decreased platelets, and increase in hematocrit)
acute and convalescent serum (measures an increase in antibody titer for dengue virus types)
serologic studies (demonstrates antibodies to dengue viruses, may be type-specific)
Treatment Return to top

Rehydration is necessary if dehydration is evident. The high fever can be treated with acetaminophen (avoid aspirin).

Expectations (prognosis)
Full recovery is expected.

Complications
febrile convulsions
severe dehydration

Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you have been traveling in an area where dengue fever is known to occur and have developed symptoms suggested above.

Prevention
There is no vaccine currently available for dengue fever. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), research is underway for the development of a vaccine. However, the prediction is that there will not be a vaccine available for 5 to 10 years.

Using personal protection (clothing, mosquito repellent, netting, etc.) and traveling during periods of minimal mosquito activity can be helpful. Mosquito abatement programs may reduce the risk of infection, but vaccination is the only sure method of prevention.

Family: My Japanese Wedding

2006-04-25T13:05:00.000+08:00

Homework for after the exams:
draft for wedding

Ha, never too early to plan.
If you can see it
you can have it.

Family: Singapore Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Measures 2004

2006-04-23T22:00:00.000+08:00

Woah, this is part of my examinable module for this semester's exam titled woman's health.
I went to a do a further research on the government's policy for childbirth at the IRAS website.

One child, NO REBATE under the PTR scheme.
Note: PTR replaces the old STR scheme.

It seems that if we ladies wanna maximise our tax rebates, we must have our 2 second child before we hit 29 years old. Under the Parenthood Tax Rebate you get $15000 if you give birth to your second child before 29 years old. (Yes, the old STR was better) Any other age the PTR is $10000. Third child $20000 regardless of age. Fourth child still $20000 regardless of age. So bo3 hua2 to get a 4th child.

Hospital rebate has been withdrawn for the 4th child so still bo3 hua2 to get a 4th child.

For more details and other rebates available to us ladies you can refer to:

http://fcd.ecitizen.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/4372BDDA-2F95-4484-AE4B-13B1FDF6C93B/0/marriage_parenthood.pdf

http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/corp_press_story.asp?szMod=corp&szSubMod=press&qid=453

http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2004/budget_speech/section19.html

http://app.mof.gov.sg/budget_2006/benefits_calculator/ (interesting link for your to play w/)
____________________________
Side track abit....

If I do my calculations now, I have less than 5 years to
get married and have kids before I hit 29!

Get a guy and ROM = 1 year
Get a place to stay+ renovation + wedding =1 year
Honey Moon period for two only = 1/2 year
Conceive and 1st pregnancy = 1 year
Rest = 1/2 year
Conceive and 2nd pregnancy = 1 year

Wah...running on a very tight scehdule here....haha...unless I get twins...

And hopping over to the congenital birth defects chapter, the risk of getting a Down's syndrome child doubles and triples after the age of 30 and 35 repectively.
Ladies are reaching menarche earlier these days which means that their ova's quality deteriorate and they hit menopause at an earlier age. Down's syndrome occurs as a result of an extra chromosome number 21 which can arise due to an abnormal ovum or from the inheritance of a translocated chromosome 21 from a carrier parent (either from the father or the mother).

Good that we are having the "Finding the Right Partner BS" now.
Haha, hope to get married asap and have healthier children. And then top it up with the maximum government tax rebates and incentives. Hee, I think I can be a govn't spokesperson to help increase the nation's fertility rates. BTW, the fertility rate for Singapore in 2003 was 1.26 and declining. Which means on the average ppl are having only one child. Way below replacement. Haha... no wonder the govn't is worried.
But for me two is just nice to replace me and my hubby.
And a third child is for growing the nation and God's pop of workers here on Earth. Haha.
But it is hard work raising a kid... not to mention two or three...bleah...

Reading Now: Reduce me to Love by Joyce Meyer

2006-04-23T12:06:00.000+08:00

Bought the book before service yesterday because I felt it was calling out to me.

And bro Ben said we should start the day in prayer/praise/ reading God's word and such;
just to dedicate our day to God.
So I'll start my day reading this book so that God can mould me more and more into a vessel of His love for others.

Yes, everything can be solved only if you loved - completely loved the way God teaches you.
(Recall Corinthians..Love is...Love is...Love is...)

Cuz true love leaves no room for doubts/suspicions, fear, selfishness and pride.
And true love seeks/brings out the best solutions in every situation.

If you seek love, seek to love first.
_________________________
Will update this blog entry with the latest keypoints I learn from the book; so that we can all benefit from it.

Haha... this is going to cause me to have even higher expectations for true love.

Family: Naming my Children

2006-04-23T11:41:00.000+08:00

A Christian friend called Shannon (this is her baptism name which means "wisdom" in Hebrew) whom I met while working at GSK last Dec said that the meaning behind one's name is important because when people call you by name they are actually confessing things into your life. So she asked me why I used "Priscilla" which means "ancient" in Hebrew? Dang... But too bad... It was chosen by my church leaders back in my old church as my baptism name. And I liked the sound of it cuz not many had that name in the past until recently. Too bad... But at least it means I will find my Aquila. Haha. And we can be tent makers.

=) Anyway, after a conversation I had with JianFeng in his car after service and after some thought I think I know what to name my children in the future! Haha.

Children are gifts and miracles from God. And it'll be awesome to be confessing miracles into their lives whenever you call them by name. i.e. Mira-chan...Kiseki-chan...("chan" can also be used for calling little boys) Not only will they be the living testimonies of God's miraculous creation, but they will also become vessels of faith through which God can work His miracles through. And I definitely pray that signs and wonders of God will abound in my children's lives.
Haha...

If I had a daughter I'll name her " Mira" "繝溘Λ" for Miracle 繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ in short.

繝溘Λ is pronouced as "mee-ra" in Japanese and not "my-ra"
though the latter sounds nicer in English.

繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ (mi-ra-ku-ru) is pronounced as "mee-ra-ku-ru"
This is the official katakana adaptation of "miracle".

And if I had a son, he can be called "Kiseki" which also means miracle.
This is the hiragana version of the native Japanese word "miracle".
_______________________
繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ
(n) miracle; (P)

螂�霍｡縲舌″縺帙″縲�
(n) miracle; wonder; marvel; (P)
_______________________

In the Dictionaries:

miracle
n 1: any amazing or wonderful occurrence 2: a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of God.
(2003 Princeton University)
mirﾂｷaﾂｷcle ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mr-kl)n.
An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God: 窶廴iracles are spontaneous, they cannot be summoned, but come of themselves窶� (Katherine Anne Porter).
One that excites admiring awe. See Synonyms at wonder.
A miracle play.
(The American Heritageﾂｮ Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
miracle
an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or thesimple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of beingdiscerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission ofa religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38). Itis an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the interventionof a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a powerinterrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power."The suspension or violation of the laws of nature involved in miracles isnothing more than is constantly taking place around us. One force counteractsanother: vital force keeps the chemical laws of matter in abeyance; andmuscular force can control the action of physical force. When a man raises aweight from the ground, the law of gravity is neither suspended nor violated,but counteracted by a stronger force. The same is true as to the walking ofChrist on the water and the swimming of iron at the command of the prophet. Thesimple and grand truth that the universe is not under the exclusive control ofphysical forces, but that everywhere and always there is above, separate fromand superior to all else, an infinite personal will, not superseding, butdirecting and controlling all physical causes, acting with or without them."God ordinarily effects his purpose through the agency of second causes; but hehas the power also of effecting his purpose immediately and without theintervention of second causes, i.e., of invading the fixed order, and thus ofworking miracles. Thus we affirm the possibility of miracles, the possibilityof a higher hand intervening to control or reverse nature's ordinary movements.
In the New Testament these four Greek words are principally used to designatemiracles:

(1.) Semeion, a "sign", i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; anattestation of a divine message (Matt. 12:38, 39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence andworking of God; the seal of a higher power.

(2.) Terata, "wonders;"wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts2:19).

(3.) Dunameis, "might works;" works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Rom.15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power.

(4.) Erga, "works;" the worksof Him who is "wonderful in working" (John 5:20, 36). Miracles are seals of adivine mission. The sacred writers appealed to them as proofs that they weremessengers of God. Our Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof ofhis divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of the commoncourse of nature and beyond the power of man, they are fitted to convey theimpression of the presence and power of God. Where miracles are there certainlyGod is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof thathe comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God'smessenger. The teacher points to these credentials, and they are a proof thathe speaks with the authority of God. He boldly says, "God bears me witness,both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles." The credibility ofmiracles is established by the evidence of the senses on the part of those whoare witnesses of them, and to all others by the testimony of such witnesses.The witnesses were competent, and their testimony is trustworthy. Unbelievers,following Hume, deny that any testimony can prove a miracle, because they saymiracles are impossible. We have shown that miracles are possible, and surelythey can be borne witness to. Surely they are credible when we have abundantand trustworthy evidence of their occurrence. They are credible just as anyfacts of history well authenticated are credible. Miracles, it is said, arecontrary to experience. Of course they are contrary to our experience, but thatdoes not prove that they were contrary to the experience of those who witnessedthem. We believe a thousand facts, both of history and of science, that arecontrary to our experience, but we believe them on the ground of competenttestimony. An atheist or a pantheist must, as a matter of course, deny thepossibility of miracles; but to one who believes in a personal God, who in hiswisdom may see fit to interfere with the ordinary processes of nature, miraclesare not impossible, nor are they incredible.
(Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)

________________________

Other names that can be considered:

MEIR
Gender: Masculine Means "giving light" in Hebrew.
NESSA
Gender: Feminine Means "miracle" in Hebrew.
NOGAH (this one sounds like a name you would encounter in a Jap anime; noga-kun)
Gender: Masculine & Feminine Means "brightness" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of King David in the Old Testament. In modern times it is sometimes used as a feminine name.
SHIRA
Gender: Feminine Means "poetry" or "singing" in Hebrew.

For more Hebrew names :http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/jew2.php

Prayer Request: For my Exams

2006-04-23T00:06:00.000+08:00

YY made this for me to put on my desktop! Sweet right? Exactly how I like it. Japanese!!! And the days of the week are in Japanese kanji too! Wooo...

Lesson: Generosity

2006-04-22T23:10:00.000+08:00

CG offering msg by John:

Abraham the father : God the Father
Isaac the son: Jesus the Son
Eliezer the servant: The Holy Spirit
Rebeccah the bride: You and I

(if you want more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebekah)

Generosity
- not just monetary offering
- forgiveness towards ppl (impacted me)
- time for God (my own reflection)
- time for ppl (my own reflection)

Reflection: The potent combination for evangelism

2006-04-22T23:08:00.000+08:00

Sensitivity to people's needs + high emotional quotient (EQ) = super evangelist

"People wun care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Familiar verse from church! But knowing is one thing and applying it is another.
It won't work unless we apply it.

Read the Aussie magazine that was given to us at service today under Pst Kong's feature story.
What was his secret to growing the church?
Its about being concerned about people's lives instead of church statistics.
If you are in a cell group, it would also mean cg statistics. Friends will be difficult if you are only interested in their attendence and not in their individual lives.

Yes, God is interested in numbers. He knows the number of hair on our heads at the back of His hand. And there is even a book of NUMBERS in the bible. But do you think He is more interested in cg or church attendence or in the number of actual souls saved? When one is sensitive to others' needs growth will soon follow.

Testimony: Blessed Today

2006-04-22T22:47:00.000+08:00

YY blessed me with a cup of my favourite honey green tea bubble tea before cg. It was really good cuz it was a very hot day and a long walk to Huiying's place from my place.
And she carried my bag to Huiying's place (act of service) and it was a good time of fellowship as we walked to her place. So it was good decision to walk instead of taking the bus.
Today's cg meeting was awesome. Brother Ben is as steady a leader as a solid rock and Jasper was a talented guitarist. The message was so relevant for me and it helped to conclude the end of my 2nd depression in life. And this time I made it out of the valley in one short week. (Thank God for the Lily in the Depth of the Valley; for no matter how low we think we go there will always be that Lily of hope cuz God is a good God and He will not allow us tribulations that we cannot cope.) Last time I was in depression was 4 years ago and it was really bad cuz it dragged for 3 months and I went 1month without sleep at all so I was terribly ill. (was depressed over my dad's adultery, my mum's gambling habits, grandpa's death, superficial friends in school, stress from school work, move from a big HDB to a small condo). The only similarity between all my depressive episodes was that GOD was the one who led me out each time! I was in another church but I wasn't as grounded in God's word cuz they did not have the resources. I'm glad to be here with this present church now cuz it thoroughly equips us with the Word of God for spiritual warfare. God is good. And I'm ready to embark on a new journey and start a new season of my life with God. One observation is that everytime I get out of depression I get out of it stronger than before and learning something new. Let's move from glory to glory, level to level! Praise God! Can't wait to get the makeup brushes to start my new ministry.
Silin blessed me with $10 after cg today! She was blessed with $5000 by her dad today. And because she has chosen to bless others in return she is truly blessed to be a blessing.
I ministered to a walk-in called Joyce tonight during service and I'm meeting her for service next Saturday!!! HA! Coincidently I brought two notebooks out today without knowing and I blessed her with one. She was very thankful and it made me so happy! Very joyful Indian lady! And she lives around Woodlands! Hohoho! Pray for her to be integrated! I feel so happy to be used for the extension of God's kingdom. I love evangelism cuz I've decided to live for the great commission. Men perish without a vision. And likewise I thrive and am happy when I know I'm walking in my purpose.
JianFeng met me after service today and blessed me with a cup of soya bean drink, a bottle of honey lemon tea and he drove me home as I was very tired cuz I had not really slept for the last few nights when i was still down. BUT now I'm VERY HAPPY cuz I met Joyce!!!
AND YAY! BoChao has agreed to visit Jason and his mum at the hospital tomorrow with me! Pray for Jason's mum; she has been diagnosed with lymphoma (for more on lymphoma: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=7030)

Dun want to be negative anymore. And if I'm going to be oversensitive let it be used for sensing people's needs instead. Awesome God and great people abound on the face of this earth. My life is on the rebound and it is good!

Testimony: Idols Have to Flee

2006-04-22T22:38:00.000+08:00

I prayed frequently for that idol to break and shatter into pieces or to be removed by my parents. And it left my home officially today after many months of praying.

Apparently, it showed my aunt "supernatural" signs recently after my aunt came to visit my home and took pictures of the idol with her handphone.
The picture flashed on her handphone (spooky) at her home even after she had switched her handphone off. The handphone was not faulty and it was really switched off, but the picture kept flashing on the hp screen. She took it that the idol is telling her it has a special affinity for her.

Anyhow, my aunt and my mum consulted their Buddhist master (Mr Dai) the next day.
He said that the idol does have supernatural powders after he looked at the pictures on my aunts hp. Next he advised them to ask the idol if it really wanted to leave. So my parents went thru a series of "bua3 buei1" (hokkien) and no matter how they rephrased their questions (at least ten) the outcome was it wanted to leave my house and FAST! My parents confirmed the outcome with that Mr Dai, and he added that they can "invite" the idol back home after their daughter (me) got married out. HA! I'll make sure that doesn't happen.

The idol left my home officially today; my parents brought it to my aunt's place asap as the idol had "instructed" them to.
Praise GOD! Where God is, demons and idols will have to flee.
The war had already been won but its up to you and me to claim that authority of victory over Satan. (Recall: Authority of Victory BS)

Now i have a window of opportunity for my family's salvation.
Bro Ben said that it was a powerful testimony and he also agreed its an opportunity for my household to be saved.

Enrichment: 5 Love Languages

2006-04-22T22:37:00.000+08:00

Express your way more effectively and efficiently my knowing your partner/friend/family member's primary love language.

Words of Affirmation
Receiving Gifts
Physical Touch
Acts of Service (My primary love language)
Quality Time

Minimalistic Space | Hamuya

Praise God!!!

Biopolis Luncheon w Mei Mei

Our First Wedding Anniversary

Eventful Day and Move to BUP

Official CG W463 Photo

Birthday Celebration w Guardian

Birthday Celebration w e CG

Ultra Cool Swatch Watches

Jaci Velasquez \ Imagine Me Without You

My Valentine's Day and Birthday Presents!

gong xi

My Overnight Photoshoot at Suntec Guardian Patient Care Centre

My Favorite Japanese Artist: 中村中

My Favorite Action Song - Haha!!! - CHU-LIP by Ai Otsuka

Pre-Honeymoon Trip to HK Oct- Nov 2007

Brooke Fraser - ShadowFeet

Poor Sick Me @ The 19th Pharmacy Congress

Thanksgiving + Testimony

Upcoming BIG DAY!!!

Favoured at Work or Made the Scapegoat?

Scientific Findings Behind Speaking in Tongues

相合傘 Love Umbrella

God - Change me...

Working as a team

The Weirdest of Weirdest Feelings

Back From my 1st Mission Trip

Medical Mission Trip! Here we go!

Teriyaki Boyz - Tokyo Drift (CHC Style)

Pre-Reg Closing Ceremony

Tech Support

Mr Brown Show: More Fishball

All About Jesus

My 25th Birthday

Mission Trips w My Pharmaceutical Knowledge

AH Pre-Regs & Doreen

Grow tt Brain! Learn More in Less

New Career Path - Retail Pharmacy Chain

CHINA BUBBLE

Woo... Time for Another "Graduation" Trip? (Grad fr Pre-reg) - R&R Days!!!

Miss This Hair Colour and the Sea + SunTan

Christmas Feast on Mei

My Song Composition!!!

Step of Faith: Prayed for A Patient Today!

Purchase Choices: LCD TV vs. Plasma TV

Testimony: The name on the dotted line in my Bible under mine

Testimony: Someone bought my guitar!!!

Revelation: Selling Guitar for the Building Fund

Time to get married?

AH Dinner and Dance

AH Carnival

Pre-reg Starts - The Beginning of Non-Existance + Death to Flesh

Ministry: Makeup just ain't me

Reflection: Not perfect but striving for perfection

Travel: Graduation Trip to Redang Island

Newspaper CATS Recruit: 5 Qualities of effective, motivated people

School: Pharmacy Dinner and Dance

Reflection: See and Perceive

Baptism: Into the JOY ANd Abundance of the Lord

In retrospect: In Commemoration of My Russian Winter White

In retrospect: My Birthday

Lesson: Don't be a Talebearer

Reflection: Answering Nonsense with Sensibility

縺吶＃縺�縺ｮ謚倥ｊ邏吶�ｮ繧ｷ繝�繝医ｒ縺ゅ▲縺溘ｈ�ｼ��ｼ��ｼ�

Research: What are the Gnostics?

Mother's Day

Health: Explosive Diarrhea

Testimony: GSK JOB

Testimony: Healing

Family: My Japanese Wedding

Family: Singapore Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Measures 2004

Reading Now: Reduce me to Love by Joyce Meyer

Family: Naming my Children

Prayer Request: For my Exams

Lesson: Generosity

Reflection: The potent combination for evangelism

Testimony: Blessed Today

Testimony: Idols Have to Flee

Enrichment: 5 Love Languages

相合傘　Love Umbrella