evan essence

can't take my eyes off you acapella and tv ad

2012-01-21T17:00:00.000+08:00

i love "the Sing-off"!!

can't take my eyes off you - Yellow Jackets

just to continue in my obsession on the song n TV ads...

i love the Carlesberg's rendition of the song. tho it's cheating... the recording is not "blown" but played... i still love it.

all i want for Christmas is you Acapella

2012-01-21T16:52:00.000+08:00

more "All i want for Christmas is you"!ah... more obsession over this song!i realised... i blogged and put a vid of this song by NOTA some years back n they are the "Sing-off" champions! wow... i didnt know i loved the show before it was even aired in Singapore! haha...

all i want for Christmas MV (again!)

2011-12-24T01:30:00.000+08:00

my fav secular Christmas song. think this is at least the 3rd version i've put up here over the years. this one has 2 artistes that i have been praying hard for: Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber. they have such huge gifting and anointing fr God. i pray that they will experience Christ in a deeper way, way beyond intellectual knowledge. so that their lives and gifts will be unleashed truly in the way they are meant to be.

2011-12-23T15:14:00.001+08:00

my goodness! i had merely wanted to remove a bug in my html n then accidentally changed my settings n the look of my blog! sigh... n i didnt back-up. so there's no turning back. bye bye to the pink and hi to the blue. that's for now until i m super free to change and write one on my own.
oh well... surprise!
merry christmas!

air safety demo christmas dance

2011-12-23T14:33:00.001+08:00

this, i super like! hahaha... made me laugh!
some friends of mine are flying on this airlines. too bad i aint going on hol during Christmas cos it's super peak work period for me. otherwise i would fly with this airlines just for smiles. ;D

2011-12-21T17:13:00.000+08:00

count your blessings.
dont focus on what you dont have or have lost.
cherish what you have now - the support, the love, the friends, the resources.
not grumble about what you have not.
or worse, live in the lament of your loss.
everyday has its own blessings. everyday is full of God's grace and mercies. everyday abounds with joy, hope and faith. if only your eyes are opened to them. only when your hands free from holding onto the past, are they able to pull these blessings close.

2011-12-15T11:08:00.001+08:00

it's interesting how hard it can get - feels like waddling thru water, feels like breathing thickly polluted air... many times i caught myself wishing i was back in Bethel where the sky is clear and heaven is near, where the unseen is tangible and anything is possible, where it felt like being in a bubble, untouched and untouchable. then i had wanted out. then i had yearned for a battle, for a challenge to test my mettle.
now, out of breath and out of gas. it's barely been round one!
to be fair to myself i have had my victories since coming back: camps, speaking engagements, dreams, visitations, travels in the physical and spiritual, sozos, breaking off stuff etc. but really, it's barely round one!

i m getting used to "pastor". it's a bane and a boon at the same time. it is interesting how conversations have changed to a great extent. they have taken a problem-focused mode. whenever people talk to me, they see someone they can bring their problems to and find help, assurance, healing, faith, encouragement, edification - a pastoral concern needing pastoral ministry. the title has changed a normal friend, co-congregant into some sort of God's mini-superman.

on the other hand, it bestows some sort of legitimacy and authority to the office to facilitate the call and the work. it really is humbling. it does facilitate building a kingdom culture, a culture of honour.

i have learnt to receive honour and respond better to it.

i have learnt self-control, learnt communication, learnt to love and pursue, learnt greater awareness.
i have learnt to say "no" so my "yes-es" can be better, stronger, more effective.
i have learnt that some things can be claimed and gotten here and now, others have to a process to be walked through. wisdom is in knowing which is which.
i have realised friends are gifts. i have had many, such that i had taken lots for granted. but i have learnt to take stock and hold dear, to fight for, not neglect.
i have learnt and resolved not to condescend but to lift the other up.
i will resolve to commit to the fight and know that it really isn't a fight in that it has already been won. thus a fight in rest. not a fight to rest. it's not a paradox; it is the true way and we have gotten it muddled up in the first place.
i resolve to live on supernatural hope and perspective.
i resolve to choose to love and bring up in faith.
i resolve to declare and live the truth for Truth lives in me.
i resolve to continually draw from my Home, my Source, my Strength, my Joy, my Love. (home is not a place as much as it is a Person.)
i resolve to not let ministry distract me from my Muse.

As for me and my house - John Waller

2011-11-28T15:38:00.001+08:00

Verse 1:
I'm done
Building my own kingdom
No more
Seeking worthless idols

Pre:
Like sheep
we have all gone astray
We must choose this day
Whom we will serve

Chorus:
As for me and my house
We will serve the Lord
We will serve the Lord
Idols raised, tear them down
Cause we will serve the Lord
We will serve the Lord
To one king we bow down
As for me and my house
We will only serve the Lord

Verse 2:
I'm done
With powerless religion
No more
Living in deception

Bridge:
We will cross over Jordan
We will claim what you promised

Out:
We will not give our hearts to another
Will not give our hearts to another
We belong to the Lord
We will not give our hearts to another
Will not give our hearts to another
We will only serve the Lord

A woman would be much better off if...

2011-11-06T22:40:00.000+08:00

Awoman would be much better off if...

she could distinguish the difference between

a man that flatters her & a man that compliments her...

a man that spendsmoney on her & a man that invests in her...

a man that views her as property& a man that views her properly...

a man that lusts after her & a manthat loves her...

a man that believes he is God's gift to women & a man thatREMEMBERS a woman was God's gift to man.

- Kris Vallotton

2011-10-20T09:18:00.001+08:00

For a sixth straight year, Singapore remains the easiest place to do business, according to the World Bank report published Wednesday.
source: AFP Thursday 20 October 2011, 8:50

2011-10-20T00:27:00.003+08:00

Top 10 Highest Paid Government Leaders

You may think that those wishing to suffer extreme public scrutiny while making decisions that affect millions of citizens would demand the big bucks, but when it comes to pay, many world leaders look like chumps compared to the CEOs of many corporations. While most salaries pale in comparison to the likes of Warren Buffett's, some are downright huge when compared to the people a leader may govern.

Top 10 Political Leader's Salary by Country (2010):1. Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore): $2,183,516
2. Donald Tsang (Hong Kong): $513,245
3. Raila Odinga (Kenya): $427,886
4. Barack Obama (United States): $400,000
5. Nicolas Sarkozy (France): $302,435
6. Stephen Harper (Canada): $296,400
7. Mary McAleese (Ireland): $287,900
8. Julia Gillard (Australia): $286,752
9. Angela Merkel (Germany): $283,608
10. Yoshihiko Noda (Japan): $273,676

Salary Compared to GDPWhat makes a world leader's pay reasonable or outlandish? One way of making this call is by looking at pay compared to a country's GDP per person at purchasing power parity (PPP). Using PPP helps make a better estimate of just how far money goes in a country, since the cost of living will vary from country to country. Comparing each leader's salary (in international dollars) to the IMF's 2010 PPP figures shows how much more a world leader makes compared to an average joe at home.

1. Raila Odinga (Kenya): 255.30
2. Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore): 38.51
3. Donald Tsang (Hong Kong): 11.17
4. Nicolas Sarkozy (France): 8.92
5. Barack Obama (United States): 8.54
6. Yoshihiko Noda (Japan): 8.08
7. Angela Merkel (Germany): 7.86
8. Stephen Harper (Canada): 7.57
9. Mary McAleese (Ireland): 7.29
10. Julia Gillard (Australia): 7.21

What do these numbers mean? Looking at GDP per person doesn't show how a country stacks up in terms of income inequality, a statistic that can measured using the Gini coefficient. Ranking the leaders by their country's income inequality can really show how far out of touch a leader is with those governed. The Gini coefficient changes things up (zero means perfect equality and one perfect inequality).

1. Donald Tsang (Hong Kong): 0.434
2. Raila Odinga (Kenya): 0.425
3. Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore): 0.425
4. Barack Obama (United States): 0.408
5. Julia Gillard (Australia): 0.352
6. Mary McAleese (Ireland): 0.343
7. Nicolas Sarkozy (France): 0.327
8. Stephen Harper (Canada): 0.326
9. Angela Merkel (Germany): 0.283
10. Yoshihiko Noda (Japan): 0.249

Base Salary Vs. Perks
When it comes to what a leader is really paid, a distinction must be made between base salary and additional stipends. Leaders may receive free residences or residential stipends, free healthcare, free travel and other perks. They may be permitted expenses that most people would have to pay for out of pocket. Those figures are more difficult to come by, especially in the murky world of political influence.

Less scrupulous world leaders may pad their own bank accounts with their own country's money through corruption. "Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)," first released in 1995, tracks corruption trends in 178 countries. It assigns a rank of 10 to countries deemed clean, and zero to countries considered highly corrupt. Ranking the leaders by how corrupt their countries are, the ranking shifts to the following:

1. Raila Odinga (Kenya): 2.1
2. Nicolas Sarkozy (France): 6.8
3. Barack Obama (United States): 7.1
4. Yoshihiko Noda (Japan): 7.8
5. Angela Merkel (Germany): 7.9
6. Mary McAleese (Ireland): 8
7. Donald Tsang (Hong Kong): 8.4
8. Julia Gillard (Australia): 8.7
9. Stephen Harper (Canada): 8.9
10. Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore): 9.3

Of these countries, only three would not be considered "full democracies" by the "Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index:" Kenya, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Bottom Line
What do all of these numbers tell us? Leaders of advanced economies earn very similar salaries to each other, and those countries tend to be less corrupt and more democratic. While Lee Hsien Loong may earn 38 times the average resident of Singapore, his country is considered a good place to do business even if it is not fully democratic. On the other end of the spectrum, Raila Odinga earns an incredible amount more than the people he governs, and presides over a country that Transparency International would consider one of the most corrupt around (ranked 154 out of 178 countries).

2011-10-03T12:33:00.000+08:00

1st Oct. "Pastor" evan. little did i know that such a title can be so jarring on my ears. hearing it, seeing it in print, in emails the past few days was hard on my system! the invisible yoke of expectations and hopes (and yes, problems) of people, including my own, weighs heavy. yet i remember that His yoke is easy and His burden light.

but wow yes this is a position that i knew is mine for more than 10 years. i did take this long to get ready for it. and yet, when one reaches "it", one realises, "being prepared" is a myth just as much as the unicorn or phoenix! the state of being ready or wanting to "get ready" exists in one's mind but is as elusive as the mirage of an oasis in the desert. one can never get fully ready as we can never predict the twists and turns of events, much less prepare for every single possibility. so what is left to be done? cliches like "bite the bullet", "step up to the plate" comes to mind. even NIKE's slogan "Just do it" is apt.

i love Steve Backlund's teaching - any area that doesnt glitter with hope is under satan's deception. i'll write it out BIG and paste it either in my office or my work desk at home. life with Jesus - knowing how victorious He is and therefore we are - is saturated with, is full of, drips, overflows with, hope, peace, love, joy.... everything good and yummy and fantastic.

i asked God for a challenge. i want to stretch myself. well, i gotta say, this one is pretty tailor made for me. 2 jobs. one in christian ministry, one marketplace. I... LOVE IT! (think of M1's irritating ad as well as McDonald's "Loving it").

let me rattle on... i realised i like ads alot! interesting. haha... MVs too... well, anything abt media, communications... interesting... i'll think abt it.

2011-10-03T11:57:00.001+08:00

listened to chen nian ren's 喜欢你. i realised i actually know how to sing this song! haha.... didnt know i knew how to sing ANY mandarin songs accept ai ru chao shui. haha...
well, i really do like this song. beautiful and self-indulgent. not really singing to the other person. singing (as if to him) but it's really abt one's liking of that person. haha...

陳潔儀's 喜歡你

喜欢你给我你的外衣让我像躲在你身体里
喜欢你借我你的梳子让我用柔软头发吻你
喜欢你车窗上的雾气仿佛是你的爱在呼吸
喜欢你那微笑的眼睛连日落也看作唇印
我喜欢这样跟着你随便你带我到哪里
你的脸慢慢贴近明天也慢慢地慢慢清晰
我喜欢你爱我的心轻触我每根手指感应
我知道它在诉说着你承诺言语

9/11 10 years on...

2011-09-11T22:04:00.004+08:00

10 years ago, i was glued to the tv in GCTC as i watched the events unfold. same time 10 years later, glued to the tv watching memorial events. praying for the healing of a nation's soul and the release from the grip of trauma and terror.

10 years ago, i was undergoing training in my full time ministry career. was in GCTC (great commission training centre). i felt i wanted to watch some tv after dinner... was there at 8plus pm (8 plus am in NY) when the news (a plane crashed into NY world trade centre) interrupted whatever was airing on channel 5 then. then watched live as the 2nd plane crashed as well as when both towers came crashing down.

10 years on... was told today that i will be my church's youth pastor. back in "full time ministry" part time now.

one reporter was saying on tv that we tend to measure our lives in 10 years - 10, 20, 30 years old... pretty true. how far i've come. 10 years went by... pretty fast. was a good 10 years.

watched the porgramme featuring audio recordings of the victims leaving last words to their loved ones... we dont need to wait for such a time to our loved ones how much we love them.

2011-09-09T12:35:00.001+08:00

i love it, love it, love it!!!!

2011-09-06T00:35:00.000+08:00

Getting Rid of Bad Breath
source:http://www.home-remedy.org/getting-rid-of-bad-breath.html

De-Mystifying the Mouthwash Myth

If you would like to freshen your breath try preparing your own breath freshening mouthwash. A rinse consisting of a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water will do the trick nicely just don’t count on it to kill bacteria. Also just use it as a rinse and do not swallow.

There are other essential oils that work as well. Try tea tree, myrrh, spearmint, and ginger as they are also effective.

Rinsing your mouth with salt water is a great home remedy for a sore throat. It is also good for eliminating bad breath. You might also try rinsing with lemon or lime water as well. Both are equally effective and may taste a bit more pleasant than salt water.

Try drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water at least once a day.

Banish The Breath Mints And Chewing Gum.

Neither of these commercial products are particularly helpful as they only mask the problem and in fact could cause tooth decay. Try some of our alternative recommendations:

Remember the trick the Greeks used? Anise seed is readily available and chewing on a few of them work just as effectively today as they did several thousand years ago. Fennel, cinnamon and cloves also work well. Try popping a few into your mouth after meals to fight bad breath.

There are many other natural replacements for commercial mouthwash. Try adding a bit of baking soda to your toothpaste. After all, not only is it used in cooking and the laundry, we also use baking soda to absorb odor in the refrigerator. It will work well to help eliminate bad breath.

Did you ever wonder why parsley and mint are often used as a garnish when dining out? Just like the Greeks, remember the Romans. Chewing on parsley helps fight bad breath.

The reason is the high content of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll very quickly changes carbon dioxide into oxygen in the body. This prepares the digestive tract to prevent gases and toxins from backing up and by lubricating the tract and various valves.

Boil a mixture of myrrh resin, sage leaves and lavender flowers in a small amount of water. Gargle three times a day as a bad breath remedy.

Aloe vera will cleanse the colon and prevent toxins that could possibly back up in the digestive tract.

Getting To The “Root” Of The Bad Breath Problem.

Poor dental hygiene is a major factor for the cause of bad breath. Yes, you’ve heard it before, brush and floss after every meal and make regularly trips to your dentist for cleaning and examination.

2011-07-25T20:32:00.007+08:00

"Here for Good"

i LOVE this standard chartered bank ad!!

Can a bank really stand for something?
Can it balance its ambition with its conscience -
To do what it must, not what it can?
As not everything in life that counts, can be counted.
Can it not only look at the profit it makes,
but how it makes that profit.
And stand beside people, not above them.
Where every solution depends on each person.
Simply by doing good, can a bank, in fact, be great
In the many places we call “Home”,
our purpose remains the same:
to be here for people,
here for progress,
here for the long run,
here for good.

the making of the ad:

another version of the ad:

another version:

making of this version:

2011-07-20T13:40:00.010+08:00

Guinness Hokkien Mee

Step 1: Prepare the Guinness reduction base

500 ml Guinness stout
3 drops apple cider vinegar
35 grams rock sugar (in blocks)
1 pinch of salt

1. Heat up a big pot and bring Guinness stout to the boil. Light a fire over the stout to burn off the excess alcohol.
2. Add vinegar, rock sugar and salt.
3. Simmer until the volume is reduced to half the original amount or 250 ml.
4. Stir before straining the mixture. Cool and store between 5 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius an air tight container to keep fresh.

Step 2: Prepare the prawn mee stock (can be used for at least 6-8 portions)

500 grams prawn heads (pre-roasted)
1 liter water
500ml Guinness stout
25 grams blue ginger (smashed and sliced)
1 stalk lemongrass (smashed and cut to 4 cm long)
2 teaspoons toasted coriander seeds
1 red onion (peeled and cut into 4 pieces)
1 pinch of salt

1. Pre-heat a non-stick pot.
2. Fry the onion and lemongrass until fragrant.
3. Add the coriander seeds and blue ginger.
4. Add the prawn heads, rock sugar, salt, Guinness and water.
5. Simmer until boiling and then reduce until the stock is halved in volume.
6. Strain the residue and cool.
7. Add 250 ml of the Guinness reduction to the mixture.

Step 3: Stir fry the noodles

2 tablespoons pork fat oil
35 grams minced garlic
3 whole eggs
280 grams yellow egg noodles
80 grams thick bee hoon rice noodles
60 grams bean sprouts
2 tablespoons soya sauce
3 teaspoons fish sauce
60 grams squid rings
150 grams tiger prawns
60 grams pork belly (sliced)
25 grams red chili (sliced)
1 pinch of salt and pepper

Garnishes

2 tablespoons sambal chili
3 small limes
20 grams spring onions (sliced into rings)
Half cup prawn stock
Quarter cup Guinness reduction

1. Heat up a wok with oil and lightly fry the noodles and bean sprouts.
2. Push the ingredients to the side of the wok and fry the eggs.
3. Add in the rest of the noodle ingredients one by one and cook for another four to six minutes.
4. Add in the prawn stock and Guinness reduction and continue stirring.
5. Cover the wok and let the noodles braise in the liquid for one to two minutes or until the liquid thickens.
6. Serve warm with the garnishes.

2011-07-16T21:41:00.002+08:00

10 years ago i started my full-time career in a non-profit faith organisation. 10 years later, i start my career in part-time F&B "career". this is a rude and rough shock for me, to be on the "other" side of the dining experience. worked from 4pm-2am.

i feel like i'm more than 10 years late. youngsters who wants to work temp jobs go into F&B. in my late teens, young adult years, i managed to evade this route, despising the low pay and opting for jobs that bring me more than $20 an hour. yet now, having loads of working and management experience under my belt, i find myself rubbing shoulders, sweating and working alongside pp that i would never have before or otherwise. it's interesting. lots to learn.

the F&B outlet was pretty packed on a fri night. never, never start work in F&B on the weekend. it's c-ra-zy! v shiong. harder than running full marathon.

was so dead tired and hungry after working more than 10 hours but... working with so much good food and seeing loads of food wastes... dont have the appetite.

got alot of thoughts. alot of learning points for me. one such thing is how to eliminate wastes and encourage recycling or conservation practices in a fast-pace and stressful environment.

F&B pp are my new heroes. not easy. yet for those who love the adrenaline and satisfaction of feeding and serving with excellence, hat's off to you!

2011-07-12T00:01:00.001+08:00

Green Hornet:

it's not dying that you need to be afraid of; it's never having lived in the first place.

Alice in Wonderland:

Alice: this is impossible! (when she saw the monster "Jabberwocky" that she has to defeat)

Mad hatter: only if you believe it

Alice: sometimes i believe as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast.

Mad Hatter: that's an excellent practice.

Alice (as she fights the Jabberwocky): 6 impossible things: number 1: there's a potion that can make you shrink. Number 2: a cake that can make you grow, no.3: animals can talk. No.4: cats can disappear. No.5: there's a place called wonderland. No.6: i can slay the Jabberwocky.

and she did!

-- it is indeed good practice to declare the impossible things and see that they are "possible"!

2011-07-11T23:03:00.002+08:00

Francis Xavier's prayer
My God, I love thee;
not because I hope for heaven thereby,
nor yet because who love thee not are lost eternally.
Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me upon the cross embrace;
for me didst bear the nails and spear, and manifold disgrace.
And griefs and torments numberless and sweat of agony;
even death itself, and all for one Who was thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ should I not love thee well?
not for the hope of winning heaven, or of escaping hell.
not with the hope of gaining aught, nor seeking a reward,
but as thyself has loved me, O ever-loving Lord!
Even so I love thee, and will love and in thy praise will sing,
solely because thou art my God, and my eternal king.

2011-07-05T23:06:00.003+08:00

lines from criminal minds

Hotchner: skills i have, but i dont know how to do this (looks at his son).

Rossi: you just need to know what kind of father you want to be. then you will know what to do.

great advice!"

being" precedes "doing". =) "doing" flows out of "being"

---

Rossi: scars show where we have been, they don't define where we will be going.

---

Hotchner: What lies behind us and qhat lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us - quote from Henry David Thoreau

2011-06-24T15:52:00.001+08:00

1) Which animal has a whopping 22 month pregnancy?

A. Gorilla

B. Elephant

C. Whale

D. Giraffe

2) How many eggs does a female octopus lay on average?

A. 500

B. 5,000

C. 50,000

D. 500,000

3) How long does an orangutan nurse her offspring?

A. One to two years

B. Three to four years

C. Five to six years

D. Six to seven years

4) At birth a giant panda cub is about the size of:

A. A stick of butter

B. A loaf of bread

C. A pint of icecream

D. A head of lettuce

5) How does an alligator mom know its time for her eggs to hatch?

A. The eggs change color

B. The eggs virbate

C. A high pitched noise comes from inside the eggs

D. The eggs start to smoke

Answers: 1) B, 2) C, 3) D, 4) A, 5) C

2011-06-23T23:44:00.001+08:00

interesting quote from email:

what ever you give a woman, she will make greater. if you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. if you give her a house, she'll give you a home. if you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. if you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.

she multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. so if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

2011-06-23T23:33:00.000+08:00

15-19 June YaYA Camp - Kingdom Culture @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

it's so so fun!

i've always loved the phase Campus Crusade always use: "in the power of the Holy Spirit". it became my standard, my mantra, my chant. but it eluded me. for years of serving in ministry i felt that the power trickled like a leaking tap instead of a fire hydrant hose. now i realise "in the power of the Holy Spirit" is what it is - in the power of the Holy Spirit. you wont be able to come away claiming any bit of credit. it's not about how well-planned, well-executed etc. He shows up and it is clear only He alone can do it. there's clear power, clear who's in control - definitely not man.

2011-06-12T14:52:00.003+08:00

Robert Capon:

i am and i am not a universalist. i am one if you are talking about what God in Christ has done to save the world. The Lamb of god has not taken away the sins of some - of only the good, or the cooperative, or the select few who can manage to get their act together and die as perfect peaches. He has taken away the sins of the world - of every last being in it - and he has dropped them down the black hole of Jesus' death. On the cross, he has shut up forever on the subject of guilt: "There is therefore now no condemnation..." All human beings, at all times and places are home free whether they know it or not, feel it or not, believe it or not.

But i m not a universalist if you are talking about what people may do about accepting that happy-go-lucky gift of God's grace. i take with utter seriousness everything that Jesus had to say about hell, including the eternal torment that such a foolish non-acceptance of His already-given acceptance must entail. All theologians who hold Scripture to be the Word of God must inevitably include in their work a tractate on hell. But i will not - because Jesus did not - locate hell outside the realm of grace. Grace is forever sovereign, even in Jesus' parables of judgement.

(Mystical Union - John Crowder p162,163)

2011-06-10T23:53:00.002+08:00

the consequence of having a "grasshopper mentality" -

you got to take God at His word and not indulge your low self esteem. God's people are giant slayers, walls crumble before them (see Jericho)... you can keep your "grasshopper mentality". but you would have forfeit the promised land and bought yourself a 40-year desert cruise to nowhere. see Deut 1:19-46, Numbers 13.

God put giants in the Promised land to keep unbelievers out - Jimmy Evans www.kentcrockett.com

2011-06-10T14:33:00.003+08:00

more movie quotes:

Kungfu Panda 2:

Master Shifu: anything is possible when you have inner peace.

Goat (Soothsayer): your story may not have such a happy beginning. this does not make who you are... you are who you choose to be. who are you, Panda?

Lord of the Rings

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

2011-06-07T19:25:00.004+08:00

watched X Men first class y'day.
some nice lines:

Mutants to Charles (Prof X) when they saw his huge castle-like mansion:

is this your house?
Charles: this is our house.
--
Eric (Magneto) after Charles (Prof X) pulled him up to the surface thus saving him from drowning: i thought i was alone.
Charles: You are not alone.
--
Eric (Magneto) to Raven (Mystic): you want society to accept you and yet you cant accept yourself.
--

2011-06-05T17:37:00.000+08:00

christians think they are the thermometer but they are called to be thermostats.

we spend time building our portfolios, resume, careers. how about building your family, your life, your home?

what i gained from 2nd year in BSSM -
got my 3Cs i set out to get. Character, Covenant relationships, Call.
learned to trust my heart. God showed me He trusts me. b4, i "know". now i really know.
know God more. (different from know about God more). i really grew tremendously in knowing Him.
more aware of God's delight, pleasure over me. God ravishes me. i m God's delight and desire.
and that i ravish God's heart. God is my delight and desire.
alot more able to operate in who i m, what God has given me.

2011-05-25T12:57:00.000+08:00

quotes from Henry Kissinger:

"(on LIbya) the true test is what emerges. one cannot deduce the outcome of a revolution form the pronouncements of those who start the revolution. and one has to assess a revolution not only in terms of its initial enthusiasm. as a general principle, the greater the destruction of existing institutions, the greater will be the violence in re-establishing order."

"the Chinese approach to policy is conceptual, while ours in pragmatic. For the Chinese, history is part of current reality. For America, current reality usually begins with the perception of a problem we are trying to solve now... In the West we look to assemble overwhelming force; the Chinese look for a superior psychological balance. The West waits more or less passively for a provocation and then seeks to overwhelm it. the Chinese think that provocations have to be pre-empted, though not necessarily overwhelmed."

"in Afghanistan, i think withdrawal will become a political necessity because of the inability to create a structure which we can turn over. so i would negotiate with surrounding countries who would be threatened by a terrorist Afghanistan if it emerged."

"...i believe in a policy of engagement rather than confrontation. those of us who had access to the Chinese government sought to use our influence to improve human rights through quiet diplomacy rather than showdown."

2011-05-23T21:50:00.000+08:00

wow... i'm back in Singapore. hot and humid. perspire within 5 min of stepping out of the shower.

sweat more in 1 day in Spore than 9 months in redding put together!

2011-05-19T12:50:00.000+08:00

may 13 (friday) was 2nd year BSSM graduation.

facebook status: "tis the time for teary goodbyes, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la~!"

saying goodbye to Bethel, to Redding and to friends are so much harder than i had expected. i ve been down, crying, getting emo, feeling drained emotionally... goodness! i usually handle goodbyes v well, giving myself time to grieve and have closures. but this time the intensity of emotions hit me like a ton of bricks!

it's been a really special 2 years. or more accurately 18 months. family, kindred spirits; people who have made my life so much fuller. tears are threatening to well up as i m typing this. oh Jesus, thank You so much for this 2 years at BSSM.

2011-05-03T11:56:00.000+08:00

i've just gone for my 2nd round of john crowder school of mystics at Chico. 29april - 1st May.

so good!!!!

the cross didnt change God, it changed us.

coming elections - seems like the opposition party has matured v much. it's the most exciting elections with good strong candidates on both sides. too bad i'm not in Spore now. and too bad i wont be casting my vote.

2011-04-29T09:29:00.001+08:00

spring break - 22/04 - 3/5.

went to stanford (and the surrounding cities), SF, gilroy.

met super smart and prophetic people. God is so amazing.

went to Tree of life Church on sat and went to Santa Cruz John Crowder church for easter.

so good. wonderful churches.

Royalty is my identity. Servanthood is my assignment. intimacy with GOd is my life source. So, before God, I'm an intimate. Before people, I'm a servant. Before the powers of hell i'm s ruler, with no tolerance for their influence. Wisdom knows which role to fulfill at the proper time. - Bill Johnson, Dreaming with God p88

2011-04-21T13:39:00.001+08:00

interior design: pirate ship in bedroom and slide
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Pirate-ship-bedroom/ss/events/en/041911pirateroom

2011-04-15T08:55:00.000+08:00

i've changed quite alot!

i came to Bethel to grow in 3 Cs: Character, Covenantal Relationships, Call. and i realised, by God's grace, i've grown so much in them.

i've gotten what i've come here for.

i've worked on getting rid of condemnation - a fuller work of Rom 8:1 in me. even when i stumble, i found grace and strength to not allow condemnation (from the accuser of the brethren) to get me. i've grown so much stronger in who i m, in trusting God and being able to trust my heart - which, according to God's word, is the heart of flesh that God has put into me. (Eze 11:19, 36:26).

so good!

and thank God for the community of covenant friends He has put in my life.

these next few weeks would be weeks of much coffee - closure times with them, saying temporary good-byes. for we shall be separated geographically for some time, but not in heart and spirit. it's really such a blessing to be in the Body of Christ. i need them as much as they need me. i've blessed them, just as they've blessed me.

call - ah...! i'm ready for a new challenge and adventure. this part can only come properly when knowing God and knowing who you are falls into place. otherwise, it's like a kid trying to drive a car - a disaster waiting to happen. most believers are so caught up trying to find this without the 1st 2 and they wonder why it is so hard walking out their call. we always get ahead of ourselves. it's only 3rd in place of knowing God and knowing who you are in God.

---

the Mozambique mission trip has been so instrumental in helping me internalize and solidify God's work in me these past months. i have been able to become more fully myself after the wonderful TLC i've received from the team. it's such a wonderful team: one of the best i've ever been on, if not the best. (i've been on alot of mission trips!) their love and affirmation tipped me over. "you're so worth it!" "pocket evangeline" "i love you" it really has been such a huge turning point in my life, not in terms of direction in life but in becoming more truly me. thank You God! thank you, guys!

---

busy next few weeks preparing to come back to Singapore. the bethel chapter is about to come to an end. like i said earlier, alot of coffee meetings for good-byes and thank yous, alot of shopping to do (books is my one vice!), giving/selling of assets like furniture, home appliances, car, filming some testimonies that will be helpful for the people God will have me minister to... homework to do in order to graduate! haha... and most importantly spending time with God. it'll be a time of accelerated growth and crazy encounters!

love You Jesus! i love this life You've given me.

may all those i love realise how wonderful their lives are in You. John 10:10

2011-04-13T13:18:00.001+08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localsfo/20110411/ts_yblog_localsfo/sand-written-wedding-proposal-mystery-solved

Mary Jo Bowling

Before we delve into the deets behind the mystery proposal that captivated our readers, let's get a couple of things out of the way: (1) Her name is Kelly Riplinger and she said "yes" and (2) Jason Fordley, the mastermind behind the sand art question, might well be the most romantic man in San Francisco.

On Wednesday at approximately 3 p.m. I posted a blog featuring photos of what appeared to be an elaborate wedding proposal writ in sand, hoping we might be able to locate the couple and find out what happened. The reaction was swift: Within an hour readers identified the pattern's artist as Andres Amador; by 10 p.m. I had an email from a friend of the couple saying he was contacting them; and the next morning there was a message in my inbox from Jason's (admittedly) proud mama ratting him out and providing his email (thank you, Laurie Rickson). In between there were a few doubters (someone commented that there was no way it was real) and several women who offered via email or Facebook to take the mystery man up on his offer if Kelly rejected him.

Ladies, you are out of luck. As Kelly told me via phone late yesterday: "He's taken, sorry!"

Here's how it all went down: Several years ago, Jason and Kelly were enjoying a picnic of Thai take-out on Ocean Beach when they noticed Amador creating a mural in the sand. "It was one of our first dates in San Francisco and it was just so cool," says Kelly. "We took a bunch of photos and it was a great memory."

Three years later, Jason tracked down the artist via the Internet and asked him to create a wedding proposal sand mural on February 12. The artist conceptualized the design and directed a handful of the couple's friends in raking it into Ocean Beach. It took them, according to Amador, about an hour and a half to get the job done; then everyone took cover on the sidewalk above the rocks.

Meanwhile, Jason was luring Kelly back to the picnic spot. "As we walked down the beach, we talked about the mural we'd seen years ago," Kelly says. "When we came upon the patterns in the sand, I couldn't believe the artist was back!"

Because the design was so large, Kelly couldn't read the message until she climbed up on the rocks (which took some coaxing). The waves were just starting to erase the edges of the mural when Jason pointed out the words and got on his knee. "I was in total shock," says Kelly. "I mean, after five years I was getting a bit impatient, but I had no idea he would do anything like that! He told me that he'd made me wait so long, he knew he had to make it really good."

And, as I said at the beginning, she said "yes." Jason slipped the ring he'd designed on her finger, their friends (and the small band of onlookers) cheered and the champagne started flowing by a fire pit on the beach.

But the surprises weren't over. Jason chartered a limo to take the whole crew around the city to scenic spots (such as Crissy Field and Twin Peaks) before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge for an In-N-Out Burger feast. After that, they came back to Ocean Beach for a bonfire. "There happened to be fire dancers there that night," says Kelly. "It was the ONLY thing he didn't plan."

I asked Kelly what women around San Francisco want to know: Is the guy this romantic all the time? "He really is," she says. "He's just stupid creative. I don't know how I got this lucky. He made a huge effort, and it was the happiest day of my life."

The wedding is set for next fall in the Wine Country.

2011-03-26T03:28:00.000+08:00

8-23 march South Africa and Mozambique

came back on 23 march 10.30pm after 50 hours of straight travelling.

wonderful team, wonderful trip.

will blog more. school starting soon. cheers.

2011-03-02T15:37:00.000+08:00

28 feb - started my violin playing.

really glad that it's so cheap here. rental is only $15 per month.

wanted to buy it instead of paying rental. but it's good to share the rental with jo b4 i commit to getting one. the cheap ones sound really bad. to get a good one is a huge financial commitment. so i will make sure i get good enough to warrant the pricetag.

yet i m also wanting a good guit too! sigh... hmmm...

---

i was a mid-trib, dispensational pre-millennialist - futurist.

now i am an ammillennialist, partial-preterist.

tomorrow... who knows?

i dont think (and i hope not) that this is something i really want to teach about. there's more to get right about the Christian life. but then, like Kris, i may find that i need to tackle this mindset in order to bring about world transformation.

---

really enjoyed the singaporeans who attended the prophetic conference. praise You Jesus!

2011-02-18T08:00:00.000+08:00

it's snowing!!!!!!!! it's so beautiful! i can hardly wipe the grin off my face. so so beautiful. thank You Jesus! went out and walked in the falling snow, threw some snowballs. had the wrong shoes on, without gloves but the wonder of seeing my 1st ever snowfall overwhelmed the cold gnawing on my fingers and feet. =) i m so happy. thank You Jesus. You are beautiful.

2011-01-28T15:46:00.000+08:00

it occurred to me in the shower that 2010/2011 or BSSM 2nd year has been a year where i spoke the least! and i laughed the most! (listened way more than i used too!) incredible.

now in Pasadena attending Che Ahn's HRock Prophetic conference.

2011-01-25T14:32:00.000+08:00

"Take a step back and view your life through the perspective of eternity. Each decision that you make etches a lasting inscription in the walls of history. Choices that are made will become the fruit of the following generations. this is the beautiful part of being alive - the blood that was shed on the battlefield of decisions now becomes the inheritance of authority in your family lineage.

There will come a day of justice when history will be revealed to each person. In that moment, the fruit of your life will be unveiled right before your eyes. On that day there will be a great celebration in the heavens for the man who has weathered the many storms of life while planting a harvest for a generation that he is now able to see. His reward will be everlasting. He will hear the father’s words, ‘well done good and faithful servant, the little that has been given you has been multiplied through your hands.’

There is a conviction that is meant to weigh heavy upon each person who calls himself a believer. We live within the awareness that life was meant to be sown into a destiny of people that we will not see. This conviction drives the mighty to pursue the impossible; the strong to brave many storms. There is no escaping the thundering storms of opposition, for we are the ones who have been commissioned to calm each of them. Each believer is called to take the test of life and turn it into a testimony. we have been launched into the darkest places of the earth transforming them into light of the world. We are the ones who see an army in the dry bones. It is us who can win the battle with the jar and the torch.

Who you are should not be decided by the economy, persuaded by popular opinion, or formed through the media’s bend. We are counter-culture by nature. We are predestined from the womb, set apart from the beginning. This life that we have chosen can only be navigated with the renewed mind. The old man screams too much when faced with the impossible and the flesh is a poor decision maker.

Have you decided who you will be? Do you know what you will leave behind? With your words you create worlds; with your prayers you release inheritance. the balance between life and death has been designed to rest in your hands. like many who have gone before you, we now have the opportunity to create change in the world around us. how you choose to live today is a choice for eternity." - Jason Vallotton

2011-01-11T04:18:00.001+08:00

it's amazing how God's grace meets you right where you are.

was talking with RH 2 nights ago and things that i thought i had dwelt with thoroughly came back to me like ghosts 2 haunt me (well, not all bad memories, some were... blissful tho =p). i felt like there's still some hook on me. i spent the night talking 2 God about them and all my usual onslaught of questions to Him. got some answers, but more questions were unanswered. nonetheless, went to sleep with lots of peace. the very next day at sunday morning service i struggled to worship God (also cos it's so crowded in the sanctuary!)until the song that goes like this "there's power in the name of Jesus x3, to break chains x3" and suddenly i had a picture of me pulling out a huge sword from the sheath on my back (yes back, "Heman-style" not like the asian way of hanging your sword on the left hip) and in one swift and strong stroke broke the chain over me and i started breaking many chains over others. it was so good. i felt freer, lighter, more powerful. it's really God's grace. there wasnt anything i could do to get it other than in worship and waiting upon God.

God is good. i release the fullness of freedom in your life as you walk with God, courage to deal with the messes in your life as Holy Spirit reveals you to. (don't view your past apart from the blood of Christ and the victory He has given you).

now at Simpson Lib. is so good that simpson reopened fully for school. i did enjoy Barnes and Noble, and redding library. but i had made a number of friends ("lonely souls" as they call themselves and errantly labeled me that too!) just trying to get things done there.

it's funny just thinking about it. i asked God for guy friends. and i keep meeting guys wanting to find someone to talk to! God, this is not funny! so while B&N is alot warmer (they heat up their place pretty well) and the libraries more chilly, i still think the libraries are better hideout places where i can get work done.

i really want to go skiing or something in the mountains. but first, let me conquer the mountain of homework! oh well, i sound like i have tons. but i am actually pretty much done. just got preachin to prepare for. which i m surprised that i m more stressed over it than i thought i would. oh com'on, evan. it's your thing. u live to preach! u come alive on stage remember?

went to twin view sun night service and got a prophetic word about me going to different churches to preach. God ALWAYS reminds me through ridiculous(!) number of prophecies that i will be speaking at conferences, schools, churches etc all over the world. nice way of helping me whenever i feel anxious. grace of God again! (look out for God's grace - or "graces" as the desert fathers call them in small and big things/events/circumstances in your life!)

and God keeps reminding me (again last night) as with every prophetic word i m getting these past weeks that i have been dreaming too small. this again is not funny. i need to rethink my dreams and jump off the cliff with them. ah....

2011 has been a rather unsettling year so far for me. i had thought i was in a very good place of super fast growth and revelations, visions etc. and now God is showing me alot of work, stretching etc. the challenge for me is to do all those without striving, not on my own strength but on His grace that is always sufficient. like how i was lamenting on my lack of strength of character, emotional strength etc. and God took me to those past memories and showed me how He has preserved (protected, shielded) me, kept me in such purity, made me to be who i m today, helping me see that it's all His grace. like Daniel V who testified in sch and at church about Apple calling him to order anything cos it's paid for, i need to know (know know) that it's a done deal. and it's "effortless fruitfulness". it sounds almost contradictory. but it really isnt. it's in coming into the fullness of God, not dwelling in fear, uncertainty and insecurity. evan, go boldly before the throne of grace. it's grace, grace, grace. evan, it's your name! heb 4:16... is it? let me check. yep. that's right.

where God gives a vision, He always gives pro-vision - Kris v

2010-12-30T08:10:00.000+08:00

happy n so thankful. =)

thank You for everything, my friends. for what You are doing in my life.

at Barnes & Nobles now. it's weird cos i keep feeling like i have a whole long day ahead but it's going to be dark soon.

cycled for the 1st time over here (in a long while). it literally took my breath away. it was sunny but deceptively cold! i almost freeze my fingers off! and got breathless just riding a short distance. the cold and biting winds just caught me off guard. i was surprised cos i used to journey high up in the mountains with very thing air n i m fine, riding a bike in and i feel breathless in 3 mins?! oh well. =) just thankful for bro who lent me his bike while he's gone. it's nice to ride again.

i (Jesus) came to give life and life to the full. - John 10:10.

thank God for the fullness. it is amazing.

the fullness is not in the ridiculously hectic schedule and unfinishable work demanding all of us and throwing us off other more important priorities. but fullness in the purpose of God that you find fullness in being you. ahh.... thank You Jesus!

2010-12-29T13:02:00.000+08:00

i'm thankful for Barnes and Noble for always being so warm! ahh... it's cold n wet. what a nice hideout haven!

i'm thankful for my car, my laptop, my guit.

for dinner, for friends, for my apartment, for smiles.

Thank You God for simple and complicated, small and big blessings in life.

was rocked as i played "how great is our God" on guit tonight. saw myself before the throne of God singing directly to Him. i burst into tears. literally, Oh my God!

2010-12-28T09:59:00.000+08:00

Oprah Winfrey's words on Barbara Walters Interview 2010.

– “I am seeking the fullness expression of myself as a human being on earth.”

– that’s what I say to God all the time “use me till you use me up.” That is what my prayer is.

i think this gayle and oprah tabloid thing is overblown. the world doesn't know what intimacy is. they equate intimacy to sex and have absolutely no grid for friendship or "without sexual relations". it's sad. it's time 2 take it back to what it is.

all i want for Christmas is you (NOTA)

2010-12-21T07:32:00.000+08:00

NOTA - all i want for Christmas is you

new release on itunes. my fav version of this song to date!

i had wanted to post this earlier but i saved in my drafts instead. oh well.

---

went to Julie's 4 Christmas Eve, Joy's 4 Christmas. (spent more than 10 hours at her place!)

had great fun.

will take this time to translate my dreams onto paper. it's alot tougher than i expected. God has shown me that these will happen sooner than i had thought, bigger too. so just the research for them is taking alot of time even!

2011 is going to be such an adventure. better than 2009 and this year. i mean... man, CRAZY, AWESOME stuff! thank You Jesus!

2010-12-21T05:09:00.000+08:00

update from the last post:

in the end, i did get into some sort of a groove and stayed till closing or near closing i think. have been back in the lib many times since then.

and now too.

what's happening these weeks:

learning to steward hearts,

learning to see the details and enjoy the small lessons as i adjust to my spiritual growth spurt.

getting down to really work on what probably will be my life's work. detailed planning. but first research.

alots of thoughts and ideas so sort through and hear God and catch His vision on.

enjoying classical music in this season.

un-doing alot of perception filters

and of course alot of homework reading, personal research, KV cd tagging etc.

2010-12-12T07:27:00.000+08:00

it's sat 3.28pm. im actually bored in the library! this is bad. it's 1 of my fav places 2b. hmmm... ill give it another shot for 30 min. if it doesnt work out, i know what will =)! hee hee... i'll go exercise or a walk around lema ranch. oh dear! the camera's with bro. hmmm... so lema ranch is out.

deb wisely pointed out (on FB) that maybe it's cos ive been spending too much time in the lib. which i think is really wise.

i actually have lots to do tho. but so not in the mood! sorry to those whose emails i havent replied to! sigh... i would love some face time instead of emailing! hmmm... skype?? hmmm... i dun have internet in my apt so that means i have to do it in public places where pp can hear my side of the conversation... which i dont like.

random thoughts:

it's interesting how questions and can open up things to you that you have never considered before.

sometimes the stuff left unanswered/unsaid speaks more than what was.

i m trying to learn how to operate in a new level of sobriety or lack of.

more randomness:

interesting hotels -

Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland

The snow igloos here are cool (pun intended), but what really caught our eye were the futuristic glass igloos, which guarantee unrestricted views of the aurora borealis from the comfort of your zebra-striped bed; the phenomenon turns the night sky dazzling shades of green, red, and blue from late August to April. (The special thermal glass doesn't frost over—even if outdoor temperatures drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius.) Staff supply wool socks and down sleeping bags for guests who opt for one of the 12 "real" igloos, where the interior temperature hovers between 21 and 27 degrees Fahrenheit. If you get cold feet, the property also features more conventional accommodations like wood cabins.

011-358/1666-7100, kakslauttanen.fi, glass igloos from $468 for two people.

Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden

For most jet-setters, getting on a big jet plane and going nowhere might seem like a prank of transatlantic proportions. Then again, most people have never boarded Jumbo Stay at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport. The 450 seats on this retired Boeing 747 have been replaced by 27 rooms, all of which, we assure you, have plenty of legroom. To fly really high, book the cockpit-located suite, where you can move the controls and push as many buttons as you'd like without ever worrying about crashing.

011-46/8-593-604-00, jumbostay.com, doubles from $149.

Palacio de Sal, Bolivia

If you're one of those people who believe you can never have too much salt, then we've got the place for you. The luxurious Salt Palace, located on Bolivia's vast salt flats, is made entirely out of the mineral. From floor to ceiling, including the walls, beds, and chairs, it's all salt, all of the time. And the 16-room property offers dishes like salt-encrusted lamb, of course. Sufferers of high blood pressure should probably look elsewhere for a room.

011-591/2- 62-2951, palaciodesal.com.bo, doubles from $135.

Hotel Utter Inn, Vasteras, Sweden

What's so weird about this pint-size property in Sweden? At first glance, the one-room hotel appears to be a cheery red house in the middle of the lake—yes, it's in the middle of a body of water but how strange is that, really? Don't be fooled: The room isn't actually in the house; it's 10 feet underwater. It's also the only functioning underwater hotel that started out as an art installation. Designed by artist Mikael Genberg, the 10-year-old inn's sole room consists of two twin beds with panoramic windows on all sides. There is no electricity, but there is lighting and a portable gas heater. When ready to come up for air, guests can relax on the deck or take the dinghy out to one of the nearby uninhabited islands.

011-46/21-39-0100, vasterasmalarstaden.se, from $328 for two people, open April–Oct.

2010-12-03T17:58:00.001+08:00

i'm in a desert now. a real one, not a spiritual one. wahahaha. so terribly happy to be here.

Palm Springs, CA.

John Crowder School of Mystics

JOYyyyyyyYYYYYyyyyyYYYYyyyyYYYYYyyyyyYYYYYY!!!

learning so much,

flew down to LA, rented car and drove here. rented an economy car but when i got there at 12am, they only had minvans and SUVs left. so i got a white Dodge Grand Caravan for the price of an economy! praise You Jesus!!

John Crowder is amazing! praise You Jesus!

got the book i've always wanted from him - The Ecstasy of Loving God! so happy.

learnt about trances and the supernatural stuff in church history.

Christianity is spelt G-I-F-T! you cant earn it, work for it, perform for it.

Jesus bore all your sins and punishment on the cross. He took all the wrath for you. God is pleased, delighted in you. He is happy with you. He enjoys you.

oh JOY!

2010-11-28T11:20:00.000+08:00

Seven herbs for indigestion

By Melissa Breyer
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/seven-herbs-for-indigestion-2412331/

Common causes for indigestion include overeating, eating too quickly, fatty or greasy foods, too much caffeine, too much alcohol, too much chocolate, nervousness, and emotional trauma. Translation: The holidays.

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a term used to describe one or more symptoms including a feeling of fullness during a meal, uncomfortable fullness after a meal, and burning or pain in the upper abdomen; it may cause bloating, belching, and nausea. One thing is certain, it's no fun!

If that last wafer-thin mint has you cowering on the couch, you may want to try one of these natural aids for indigestion. Herbs have been used for millennia to treat any matter of ailments, and indigestion seems to be one woe that is well-suited for natural remedies.

Fennel / Fennel Seed
There is a reason Indian restaurants serve the fennel seed mix, Mukhwas, after dinner. Fennel seed has long been used to help fight gas, cramps, and acid indigestion, and to help ease spasms in the intestinal tract.

Fennel has a long history of use in both food and medicine. Traditionally, it is said to act as a carminative, which means that it helps the body expel gas and sooth indigestion. Fennel is also a common ingredient in "gripe water," a traditional (and very alcoholic, by the way) preparation used for treating infant colic.

Fennel leaves can be used to make tea. NYU Langone Medical Center says that a typical dose of fennel is 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of seeds per day.

Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and has been a favorite since the Middle Ages for reducing stress and anxiety, abetting sleep, sparking appetite, and easing indigestion.

These days, lemon balm is commonly mixed with other calming herbs to help promote relaxation. Evidence suggests that lemon balm, in combination with other herbs, may help treat indigestion -- although just soothing the stress alone can sometimes help with dyspepsia.

To reduce indigestion, flatulence, or bloating, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends:
Capsules: Take 300 - 500 mg dried lemon balm, 3 times daily or as needed.
Tea: 1.5 - 4.5 grams (1/4 - 1 teaspoonful) of dried lemon balm herb in hot water. Steep and drink up to 4 times daily.
Tincture: 2 - 3 mL (40 - 90 drops), 3 times daily

Turmeric
Turmeric is the little minx of the spice drawer -- super bright, spicy, and boasting a broad array of health claims. You may know it as the main spice in curry and the one which imparts that intense golden glow, butturmeric is also used for health remedies.

In traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation. It has also traditionally been used for heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, and stomach bloating.

According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, turmeric's superpower comes in the form of the substance, curcumin, that, among other properties, may stimulate gallbladder contractions. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that 87% percent of the curcumin group experienced full or partial symptom relief from dyspepsia as compared to 53% of the placebo group.

The National Institutes of Health recommends a dosage of 500 mg of turmeric four times daily for dyspepsia.

Ginger
Ginger has long been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions. In China, ginger has been used to aid all types of digestion disorders for more than 2,000 years. Fast-forward to modern medicine, and health care professionals still commonly recommend ginger to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting. It is also used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset.

Germany's Commission E has approved ginger as a treatment for indigestion and motion sickness. Curiously, while most anti-nausea drugs work on the brain and the inner ear, ginger seems to act directly on the stomach.

For most purposes, the standard dosage of powdered ginger is 1 to 4 g daily, divided into 2 to 4 doses per day. (To prevent motion sickness, you should aim to begin treatment 1 or 2 days before the trip and continue it throughout the period of travel.)

Artichoke Leaf
If you have ever wondered what in the world were those Italians thinking when they invented the artichoke aperitif liqueur, Cynar, here's you answer. In traditional European medicine, the leaves of the artichoke plant (not the leaves of the bud, which is the part that we eat) were used as a diuretic to stimulate the kidneys and as well as the flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder; which plays a starring role in digestion.

Over the past century, much research has been done looking into the traditional medicinal uses of the artichoke plant; conclusions suggest that the plant does indeed stimulate the kidney and gallbladder. In the mid-20th century, Italian scientists isolated a compound from artichoke leaf called cynarin, which appeared to duplicate many of the effects of whole artichoke. Salute!

In 2003, a large study evaluated artichoke leaf as a treatment for dyspepsia; artichoke leaf extract proved significantly more effective than placebo for alleviating symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Germany's Commission E has authorized the use of artichoke leaf use for "dyspeptic problems" -- they recommend 6 grams of the dried herb or its equivalent per day, usually divided into 3 doses. Artichoke leaf extracts should be taken according to label instructions.

Peppermint
Peppermint is often used to soothe an upset stomach or to aid in digestion. Because of its subtle numbing effect, it has been used to treat everything from headaches, skin irritations, and anxiety to nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and flatulence.

Peppermint oil seems to be helpful for a variety of conditions that involve spasm of the intestinal tract. Most studies have involved irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for which peppermint oil has shown considerable promise.

Peppermint relaxes the muscles that struggle with digestive gas and improve the flow of bile, which the body uses to digest fats. In studies on using peppermint to treat IBS, there seems to be a trend indicating mild effectiveness in the reduction of some symptoms, especially flatulence and abdominal pain and distension. However, if your symptoms of indigestion are related to a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, peppermint should not be used.

Cayenne
OK, this one is confusing: Doesn't spicy food cause stomach aches? According to the folks at NYU, evidence suggests that oral use of cayenne can reduce the pain of dyspepsia! Counter-intuitive, at best, but apparently hot peppers don't actually inflame the tissues they contact; in fact, hot peppers aren't even harmful for ulcers. Rather, they merely produce sensations similar to those caused by actual damage.

Oral use of capsaicin seems to reduce discomfort in the stomach. In a double-blind study, individuals with dyspepsia were given either 2.5 g daily of red pepper powder (divided up and taken prior to meals) or placebo for 5 weeks. By the third week of treatment, individuals taking red pepper were experiencing significant improvements in pain, bloating, and nausea as compared to placebo, and these relative improvements lasted through the end of the study.

For treatment of dyspepsia, cayenne may be taken at a dosage of 0.5 to 1.0 g three times daily (prior to meals).

For these and all herbs, do not exceed dosage recommendations, and be sure to consult with your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medication.

2010-11-28T11:00:00.001+08:00

THANKSGIVING week break.

was such a great week!

sat had Asian Students Gathering, mentoring with tunia.

sun after church met Louis n family, then went to Joan's and watched the BBC 4 hour "Emma" series (which was so well done!) with greg, greg, holly, joan, joanne and rachel.

mon hung out with ruth and had dinner with Singaporeans. celebrated bro's birthday. had a GREAT time will about 2am with them. yummy food and great talk and ministry. there was such a profound sense of destiny for this group collectively. i had a breakthrough in recovering my prophetic.

tues had Bill J's thanksgiving meeting.

wed had coaching with Julie, went to chinese buffet with bro, had dinner with Tim n Em.

spent thanksgiving with ruth n jo.

fri black fri shopping and dinner with terese, tunia, then went over to Charity's and terese's for tea and great chat past midnight.

sat woke up after noon. now at barnes and noble.

was such a great week of connecting with people, good food, ministering in the prophetic and doing inner healing sessions. praise You Jesus!

theme of the week: God showing me He's handpicking "team" for me.

2010-11-16T09:47:00.000+08:00

this song hit me hearing it over the radio as i drove... i am a little worried about my finances - for my living expenses and my mission trip to Mozambique... great reminder from the 1st line of the song...

TO KNOW YOU - Casting Crowns

To know you is to never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise, and
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you

To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live without you.

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you're all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there's no life without you

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you're all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

Compared to you
Compared to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

2010-11-16T09:21:00.000+08:00

the best way to parallel park
pull up beside the car parked in front of your space until the two rear bumpers are parallel, leaving two feet of space between the cars. Put your car in reverse and back up slowly, turning the wheel toward the curb as far as it will go. Once the back of your front door is even with the rear bumper of the car beside you, begin to turn the wheel away from the curb and continue to reverse into the spot.

when it rains...

the first 10 minutes of rain are when roadways are most dangerous. Those initial minutes of precipitation cause the oil that has built up on the roads to make conditions extremely slick. So when it starts to drizzle, slow down immediately.

2010-11-14T06:51:00.000+08:00

ah so glad Aung San Suu Kyi is free! yay! i hope that she wont be imprisoned by this new found freedom seeing how the burmese flocked to her house! i pray that Myanmar will be released to move out of the clutches of their past and into their God-given destiny as a nation.

"so you think you can dance" - bleeding love

beautiful choreography! and another example of the kind of song that will get me so totally feeling melancholic cos i'm such a deep feeler. but now it gets me just enjoying so much - the deep emotions but without the depression or "bleeding/haemorraging" feeling. it's like God has mended the holes in my "bucket" and replaced the bottom of the "bucket" so that now it doesnt "fall out". understand what i m trying to say here? hmmm... n Jesus fills my "bucket" with good things.

You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life - Psalm 23: 5,6a

here's a song i LOVE... it's the song of my current season - the more i seek you (Kari Jobe)

2010-11-12T13:29:00.000+08:00

jo's on ministry trip so that means i have the whole apartment to myself, which also means i can play my music without putting on my earphones. which means i took advantage of replaying the (christian and secular) songs i used to enjoy...

and i realised this: those sad sad songs that used to tug at my heart dont pull me down as much as they used to be. i have grown in this: i have a deeper abiding hope and joy now.

praise You Jesus!

2010-10-25T10:26:00.000+08:00

should practice this sometime esp as a moring perk-up. declarations make things happen.

it's appalling how many spoofs this vid has spurn off. and most if not all are negative. we really need hope and life to be declared instead of lies and suckiness! i wonder how many really become "self fulfilling prophecies" or maybe they are accurate protrayal of their life? isnt it sad? it's interesting how pp whose lives suck throw slime on those who actually love their lives (no matter how young, uncynical, innocent, right they might be).

my whole house is great

i can do anything good

i like my school, dad, cousins, aunts, mum, sister,

i like my hair, my pajamas...

2010-10-25T08:52:00.000+08:00

when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

uses of lemon:

source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/new-uses-for-lemons-2399928/#photoViewer=1

Lemon as Sore Throat Soother
Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.
Lemon as Laundry Brightener
Skip the bleach—add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to brighter up those fading whites.
Lemon as Cutting Board Cleaner
To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. The best part? You'll have a house that smells like a lemon grove rather than chemicals.
Lemon as Hair Lightener
For subtle highlights in blond hair, simmer two sliced lemons in water for one hour (add more water if needed). Strain, then pour into a spray bottle.
Lemon as Browning Preventer
Stop apples and pears from browning by squeezing a little lemon juice over them.
Lemon as Table Decoration
Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.
Lemon as Toothpick Collector
Collect used toothpicks at a party so you don't end up with them all over your tables, seats, and floors. (Stick one in the lemon ahead of time to give guests the hint.
Lemon as Grater Cleaner
After shredding soft cheese or other sticky foods, go over both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon to get rid of any residue.
Microwave as Lemon Juicer
Squeeze juice from lemons with less effort by first warming them for 20 seconds in the microwave.

2010-10-11T09:31:00.000+08:00

if you are in the wrong, you dont have the right to be angry. if you are in the right, you dont need to be angry. - P Rony T.

2010-10-11T08:54:00.000+08:00

Surprising Origins of Everyday Phrases

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/surprising-origins-of-everyday-phrases-2395118/

historian Albert Jack, author of Black Sheep and Lame Ducks: The Origins of Even More Phrases We Use Every Day

"Bare-faced lie"

If someone has ever told you a bare-faced lie, you know they didn't make any effort to show guilt or remorse. the phrase refers to the idea that a clean-shaven face could not conceal any lies, unlike a bearded mug, which could hide all manner of deceit. But over time, explains Jack, "the phrase came to describe a person who didn't care whether or not he was lying and had no real intention of concealing his deception."

"More than you can shake a stick at"

Farmers with more sheep than they could control with their wooden staffs are believed to have inspired this phrase, which means you have more of something than you need. there's a second possible origin. "After George Washington was once seen waving a ceremonial wooden sword over the British troops he had recently defeated, other American generals began to use the expression to justify themselves when they had not been quite as successful as the great man himself was in battle. 'We had more men to fight than you could wave a stick at' was apparently a common excuse for failure on the battlefield."

"Run amok" or "run amuck"

A raucous partygoer can be described as going wild or running amok, an expression that derives from "the Malaysian word amoq, which, when literally translated, describes the behavior of tribesmen who, under the influence of opium, became wild, rampaging mobs that attacked anybody in their path," writes Jack. He reports that the phrase became popular in England during the 17th century, when travelers would try to impress people with their knowledge of foreign cultures.

"Blood is thicker than water"

Anyone with a tight family bond will tell you blood is thicker than water. But they may be surprised to learn that the saying has little to do with familial ties. Jack explains that in ancient Middle Eastern culture, "blood rituals symbolized bonds that were far greater than those of the family." That explains "blood brothers"—warriors who symbolically shared the blood they shed in battle together—having a stronger bond than biological brothers. Furthermore, Jack says there is an expression from 3,000 years ago that says: "The blood of the covenant is far stronger than the water of the womb." Jack suggests that the true meaning of this phrase became muddled by English nobility who wanted to stress the importance of bloodlines.

"Butter someone up"

It's easy to assume that the idea behind this phrase—which means to lay flattery on thick—has to do with how smoothly butter spreads onto bread. Not quite. Jack reveals an ancient Indian custom of "throwing butterballs of ghee (clarified butter commonly used in Indian cooking) at the statues of the gods" to seek favor. Additionally, the Tibetan tradition of creating butter sculptures for the New Year "can be traced to the Tang Dynasty and the belief that such offerings would bring peace and happiness for the full lunar year."

"Cat got your tongue?"

According to Jack, there are two possible sources of this phrase, which refers to when a normally chatty person is at a loss for words, often for suspicious reasons. The first refers to when victims of the cat-o'-nine-tails––a whip the English Navy used for flogging––were left speechless from the pain inflicted upon them. The second, which is equally morbid, traces back to medieval times, when punishment "for liars and blasphemers [was to] have their tongues cut out and then fed to the cats." Ancient Egyptian cats were considered to be gods (and would eat just about anything), so giving them the tongue of a liar was "seen as a human offering to the gods."

"Have a yen for"

When you really want something, it can be said you have a "yen" for it. But the phrase doesn't actually refer to Japanese currency—it refers to Chinese opium, which was available in Britain and America in the late 1800s. "The phrase comes from the Chinese word yan, which can be translated to craving,"

"The writing is on the wall"

The roots of this phrase, which means that something negative is inevitable, trace back to the Bible, explains Jack. In the Book of Daniel, God punishes King Belshazzar for boasting and foreshadows his demise by having the words for “Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, Divided” (which all refer to how he was to be taken down) literally written on the wall.

"Turn a blind eye"

The 1801 Battle of Copenhagen is at the root of this saying, which means to pretend you don't know what's happening. During the battle, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, commander of the British fleet, attempted to stop Horatio Nelson from launching an attack on the enemy. "When Nelson's officers pointed out the order, he famously raised a telescope to his blind eye and replied: 'Order, what order? I see no ships.'"

"Pass the buck"

Don't want to take responsibility for something yourself? Just pass the buck, or hand off the duties to someone else. The phrase originated in the American Wild West during poker games. "The most common knife available was known as a buckhorn knife. As all cowboys and ranchers carried them around, one of them would be placed in front of whoever was due to deal the next hand, and in games where the stakes were running too high for a player, he could opt out of his turn at dealing by passing the buckhorn knife on to the next player. But even if he did choose to play, he still avoided the responsibility of setting the bets next time around by passing the buck along.

"Give the cold shoulder"

Giving someone the cold shoulder is a rude way of telling the person he or she isn’t welcome, but the origins of this phrase are actually quite polite, explains Jack. After feasts in medieval England, the host would signal to his guests it was time to leave by giving them a slice of cold meat from the shoulder of beef, mutton or pork. "It was regarded as a civilized and polite gesture."

"Go cold turkey"

If you want to quit anything, from alcohol or cigarettes to chocolate or soda, without weaning yourself off it, you can say you're "going cold turkey." "The original idea was that a person withdrawing from using drugs would find his or her skin turning hard to the touch and translucent to look at, with goose pimples all over—like the skin of a plucked turkey," writes Jack. It's also been suggested that the phrase is a comparison between eating a no-prep meal of cold turkey and stopping heavy drug use without preparation.

"Eat humble pie"

Oddly enough, making an apology and suffering humiliation along with it, as the saying connotes, has little to do with "eating humble pie." Jack explains that the phrase dates back to the Middle Ages, when, during a post-hunt feast, the lord of the manor would eat the finest cuts of meat. But those of lower standing would be served the entrails and innards, known as "umbles," baked into a pie. "It was common practice for people to be humiliated by finding themselves seated at the wrong end of the table and served 'umble pie.'"

"Blow hot and cold"

Have a friend who constantly changes their opinions? You might say he’s "blowing hot and cold." Jack informs us that the expression comes from a story in classical mythology in which a traveler is given food and shelter by a kind woodland god. "According to the legend, the woodland god gave the traveler a room for the night and some hot soup. The man blew on his fingers to warm them and then, with the same breath, blew on the soup to cool it. Irritated at the man's apparent indecision, the woodland god packed him off outside and sent him back on his travels.

---

today at lunch, ruth p explained the origins of "graveyard shift". originated in England, people were getting buried while still alive but in coma or some sort of dead-like state. they would tie a string to the person's hand that rings a bell should the person move (in his grave). and they hired people to keep watch over the graveyards at night to dig up people from their graves if the bells ring.

thought it interesting cos after lunch, i came online to find this on yahoo.

so there u go.

2010-10-04T08:03:00.000+08:00

this is the song (n version) that i've been playing over n over on my laptop these past weeks.

somehow it has been so therapeutic. especially since i've been feeling more melancholic, vulnerable and teary these past weeks. no worries. i'm fine n i'm not fine at the same time. no biggie. u know what i mean? =)

"I'll always be Yours"

[[i'm yours]] bebo contest winner

- there's such a strong need in each of us to belong. it's so often that we miss the point that it is d desire to belong to someone more than a place or an entity. like i mentioned here on my blog sometime back - Home is a person. it is not a place.

- there's so many things that pull at your heart, to win your heart's affections. most of them distract and detract. and you end up with a divided heart. ps 86:11

i'm Yours.

2010-09-29T12:27:00.001+08:00

last night i attended the Feast of Tabernacles!

it's outside the Alabaster House and spilled over to the parking lot. i was at the right place at the right moment, standing inside the main area as 5 shofars all around me blew. surround sound! it was such a good time of food, worship, and celebration. gave me a better understanding of what the israelites/israelis do on this festival. so much worship and dancing, rejoicing before the Lord. with e setting sun as the backdrop it was a beautiful pic! wished i had my camera with me. 1st time hearing 2 Spirit-filled Rabbis! i m so happy! Praise God!

these 2 days are really nice, restful, fruitful, worshipful ones. i love it! (didnt have sch cos it's retreat week. we take turns in groups to go)

will be going on school retreat thurs-sat.

tomorrow, we'll be blessing the 1st years' socks off! haha!

2010-09-28T05:24:00.000+08:00

update on 911 quran burning event: CANCELLED!!!!! YAY!!!!

Florida pastor calls off Quran burning

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/11/florida-pastor-calls-off-quran-burning/

(CNN) - The pastor of a Florida church says his congregation has decided to call off the burning of the Quran that was to be held Saturday - the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States by the al Qaeda terror network.

"We will definitely not burn the Quran," the Rev. Terry Jones told NBC's "Today" on Saturday "Not today, not ever." The burning had been planned for 6 p.m.

Jones arrived in New York late Friday night and was working to set up a meeting with the imam in charge of the Islamic center planned near ground zero. The planned meeting, Jones had said, helped persuade him to halt the burning.

but no such meeting took place in the end.

---

here's what i thought is ridiculous. (i m against being ecumenical) Jesus said, "I am the way, the Truth and the life. no one comes to the Father except through me." we should stop swinging to the other end in reaction to some err we want to counteract!

Churches read from Quran in face of proposed Quran burning

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/13/churches-read-from-quran-in-face-of-proposed-quran-burning/

Journalist Amy Zerba filed this report from Gainesville, Florida:

Rev. Larry Reimer says there's a simple message at the core of his faith: people have more in common than they have in conflict.

It's one reason he chose to have a passage from the Quran read at the United Church of Gainesville, part of the United Church of Christ, on Sunday.

And he wasn’t alone.

More than 20 religious leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim backgrounds around Gainesville had the same Quran passage read - along with Christian and Hebrew scriptures– at their congregations over the weekend. Local synagogues made it part of their Rosh Hashanah celebrations.

It was a sign of unity after weeks of talk by a Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Muslim holy book on 9-11 but who ultimately cancelled the event.

“It just seemed that the reading of Quran was the most affirmative thing we can do,” said Reimer, who has served at the United Church of Gainesville for 36 years. “You might say (we) befriended the Quran and brought it into everyone’s framework, everyone’s point of view.”

Reimer came up with the idea a few days after he learned of the planned Burn A Koran Day from worried parishioners. He approached local religious leaders to join him in reading common Hebrew, Christian and Muslim scriptures at their Sabbath services.

The response from the community was overwhelming positive, he said.

Shanna Johnson, 40, a member of the United Church of Gainesville, said the proposed Quran burning forced the Gainesville community to talk “rationally” with others about different faiths.

“The things that we have in common can really come out in this type of situation,” Johnson said.

Reimer plans to continue connections with clergy from other faiths. A group of religious leaders will meet in October in Gainesville to try to improve interfaith relations.

“My whole ministry, my whole faith is designed around the sense that we have much to learn from each other that we are a common family and that our division is not among religions but it is among fanatics and extremists on both sides that we have to overcome,” Reimer said.

---

"Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, a professor of religion and African-American studies at the University of Florida, read from a Hebrew Scripture (Deut 6:4-5); a Christian scripture (Matt 22:34) and from the Quran (Aal 'Imran 3:64) during a Sunday service at ehe United Church of Gainesville in Folirda. the common message between the 3 passages was "one God," she said.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so, these 3 religions are mono-theistic. so? does that mean it's the same?

2010-09-28T05:05:00.000+08:00

Microwaves Myths

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/6-biggest-lies-about-food-busted-2391419

Myth: Microwaving zaps nutrients.
The Truth: This is misguided thinking, says Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Whether you’re using a microwave, a charcoal grill or a solar-heated stove, “it’s the heat and the amount of time you’re cooking that affect nutrient losses, not the cooking method,” she says. “The longer and hotter you cook a food, the more you’ll lose certain heat- and water-sensitive nutrients, especially vitamin C and thiamin [a B vitamin].” Because microwave cooking often cooks foods more quickly, it can actually help to minimize nutrient losses.

Myth: Radiation from microwaves creates dangerous compounds in your food.
The Truth: “Radiation” might connote images of nuclear plants, but it simply refers to energy that travels in waves and spreads out as it goes. Microwaves, radio waves and the energy waves that we perceive as visual light all are forms of radiation. So, too, are X-rays and gamma rays—which do pose health concerns. But the microwaves used to cook foods are many, many times weaker than X-rays and gamma rays, says Robert Brackett, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology. And the types of changes that occur in microwaved food as it cooks are “from heat generated inside the food, not the microwaves themselves,” says Brackett. “Microwave cooking is really no different from any other cooking method that applies heat to food.” That said, microwaving in some plastics may leach compounds into your food, so take care to use only microwave-safe containers.

2010-09-09T13:46:00.000+08:00

it is sad that a 50-member church (Dove World Center Outreach in Gainsville, Fla) and a revengeful pastor (terry jones) can hijack the media and thousands of minutes of airtime. and organise a burn the quran day "in the name of Jesus." whatever happened to turn the other cheek?

just as the Filipino hostage situation involving a bus load of HK tourist should have had a media black out, similarly this burning of the quran event should have. the former resulted in 8 deaths. the latter would bring much more.

if the media has not fanned the flames of this runaway spark, it will not have turned into such a huge worldwide religious fire that is so hard to put out. we cannot continue to sacrifice peace and social harmony, international relations and inter-personal decency on the altar of sensationalism. it is time to call the media to attention and to hold them to good journalism and worthy news coverage. it is time we should re-think how our media function such that a delinquent minority will not waste the time and resources of the majority and that their lame causes not be inflated above and beyond that they are.

ever since the media caught wind of this, it has blazed the world over and this time round the fire is being flamed by the church in Germany that Pastor Jones has founded. that church has disowned and renounced Jones in 2008 but now felt need to voice their disapproval of Jones' antics to the world. the Church (note capital letter 'C') need to live not in reaction, not in retaliation but in reconciliation and for restoration. we are ambassadors for Christ (1 Cor 5:20), we are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). Jones in his call to burn quran to send a message to the muslims is doing so in retaliation. the church in germany, and all the world around are reacting, and thus give rise to probable more escalated reaction on the recipients' part and over-correction of a minority's error by government or society.

2010-09-09T13:44:00.000+08:00

quoting Jason V: you have hope of fully solving your problem if it's 100% your fault.

it's a good one to remember that you have to own your problem.

2010-08-30T23:20:00.000+08:00

caught a little of the movie "gladiator" on channel 5. as usual bloodthirsty crowd chanting "kill kill kill" as they cheer on the deaths of the gladiators at the colosseum turned me off. but tonight, a startling recognition of similarity. the crowds in Jerusalem who hailed "Hosanna" also cried "crucify!" and in both instances, i see me. murderous and inhuman.

what are we apart from Christ?

we create our own problems. it's not someone else's fault. it's not our genes. it's not the weather. it's always cos of our own poor choices.

i know i have a loadful of those.

the silliest thing is to think it's someone's fault cos... then not only have you absolved your responsibility (if only), you have no hope to get out of your Sh#%. and alot of us dont ever cos we always think it's someone else's fault. the saddest thing is... it's your life you are messing up! and a whole lot more too!

wake up. own your life. the SH*@ in your life is not someone's else's responsibility!

stop letting your life go to waste cos "it's all their fault!"

2010-08-30T01:04:00.000+08:00

sometimes this is like a cool refreshing drink in the parch desert,

sometimes this is like a tight slap right across the face.

1 Cor 13

2010-08-20T23:26:00.001+08:00

yesterday i promised XL i would blog. i have been so slag in updating my blog and she told me she comes here periodically. sorry to those who check out this blog only to find cobwebs! sigh.

anyway, since coming back to SG for summer hols, i have been busy meeting up with people. sometimes i feel i m busier like that than when i was working! b4 returning, i had asked God if i should find a temp job for these 3 months. i had wanted to earn some money for school and living expenses. He told me, "No." i realised the wisdom of it now. being without a job, i was able to go speak and minister to different churches, church groups, small groups, my friends...

there are many that i have not been able to meet up. there are many whom i said "no" to. i hereby write: forgive me.

and add (tongue-in-cheek the cliche): it's not you, it's me.

i have said "no" to more than 10 persons so dont take it personally. and "no" to many who wants "second round." i really cannot afford to meet everyone. don t have enough time. not that i'm that popular. but sometimes being away for so long makes one seem more popular than when one is always around -"Oh, you're back! we must meet up!" i cant do one year's worth of meet ups in few months.

---

i just read an email on "how do we keep our passion for Christ?" and it got me thinking.

some may think (like the sunday sch song) read your bible, pray every day. others throw in fasting and witnessing. while others may insist it is getting back to the heart of worship. one in that email, a professor is quoted as saying there are 2 keys - a repentant heart and suffering for Christ. he argues that we keep our passion for God by suffering for Him.

i totally disagree with him! i think he got it the wrong way round - we keep our willingness to suffer for Christ because of our passion for Him! suffering in itself is a result not a motivating factor.

we must not mistake "effect" for "cause", nor "cause" for "effect." Christ suffered (effect) because He loved us (cause). you cannot duplicate "cause" by producing "effect". it does not work itself backwards. an athlete doesnt suffer aches and pains, keeps to his tight and rigorous training schedule in order to keep his passion for his sport. it is his passion for his sport that he pushes himself day after day! likewise, spiritual disciplines are followed to strength oneself spiritually and it is only cos one has passion, not the other way round.

now, i m not against spiritual disciplines, repenting, worshipping, suffering, doing ministry. works are a natural outflow of love for someone. but the acts can never help restore a love-lost or keep love. only love can.

so how do we keep our passion for Christ? to be head over heels in love with Him? that the embers of our passion never die out?

passion and love begets passion and love. we love because He first loved us - 1 John 4:19

"I am my Beloved's and His desire is for me." -SOS 7:10

we keep our passion for Christ by knowing His love for us. what i mean by knowing is not merely cognitively. it's by encountering the Divine Lover. Christ pursues us. God romances us. we need to know the love of Christ - the depth, height, length and breadth of it. should we ever lose our passion for Christ? besides repenting, we need to get a fresh encounter with His love.

i suspect our answers betray how we see Christ, our depth of knowledge of Him. do you see Him as Lord? then serving Him makes sense. if you see Him as a suffering Saviour, suffering for Him is your way of "working out your salvation". if you see Him as a taskmaster, your do's and dont's must be kept. but remember, God is love. it's the essence of Him who came to die for us. Do you know Him and His unconditional, infinite love for you? have you truly experienced it? if not, ask Him to show you not just cognitively. He is so ready to blow you away. just ask those who are so so passionate about Him.

2010-06-26T01:43:00.000+08:00

had a great day with the body of Christ. it's wonderful to be in "family"

was at COOS SSM in the day learning and soaking with them.

Spoke at CPC with jo in the evening. came back on the last train.

these people are hungry for God. praise God!

i used to have a very short-term view of life: that i will not live v long b4 Christ will comes back. i m beginning to "see" generations that will come after me. that my life will be lived out to the full and i will "rest" with my fathers until the day of Christ.n my legacy affects generations after me. the Church will go from strength to strength, glory to glory.

2010-06-23T22:58:00.000+08:00

why do we have more faith in Adam's act of disobedience to give us a sinful nature than in Jesus' act of obedience to give us a righteous nature? Is Adam more powerful and effective than Jesus? - Joanne W

2010-06-18T16:39:00.000+08:00

Dining Out: Top 5 restaurants in Singapore

Reuters - Tuesday, June 1

SINGAPORE, June 1 - The Miele Guide to Asia's finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region .

This is a list of the top 5 restaurants in Singapore, Asia's gourmet hub where the local cuisine is as varied as the international options on offer.

1. Iggy's

Since it opened in September 2004, Iggy's has consistently won rave reviews both locally and internationally. The restaurant, owned by Singaporean Ignatius Chan, received high praise by taking 45th place in The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2009. Iggy's kitchen runs without a head chef, but its team of chefs - many of whom have been with the restaurant since it opened - work closely with Iggy (as Chan is known among friends and diners) to develop new dishes and recipes for their delightful four-course table d'hote and eight-course degustation menus (the restaurant does not offer an a la carte option) that focus on showcasing the most exceptional seasonal ingredients. The service is impeccable no matter where you're seated. Reservations at Iggy's are highly recommended.

3F The Regent Singapore

1 Cuscaden Road

www.iggys.com.sg

2. Jaan par Andre

This hot newcomer to this year's Top 20 list is hardly a new restaurant. But since chef Andre Chiang took over the kitchens of Jaan in 2008, he has revitalised the outlet and elevated it to that of gastronomic hotspot, adored by local and regional foodies alike. The first thing that strikes you upon entering Jaan par Andre is the view. Expansive, floor-to-ceiling glass windows front a sweeping panorama of Singapore's cosmopolitan cityscape. But it is chef Chiang's unique French nouvelle cuisine that is the real showstopper. Each dish is gorgeously plated and bursts with flavour, balancing the parameters of creativity and inventiveness while maintaining the integrity and essence of each individual ingredient. Reservations are essential.

70F Equinox Complex

Swissotel The Stamford

2 Stamford Road

www.equinoxcomplex.com

3. Les Amis

With its consistently high food quality, impressive wine collection and reliable service, Les Amis is an institution in fine dining, credited with putting Singapore on the world's gourmet map. Since opening in 1994 - which is a lifetime for the fickle diners of Singapore - it has jolted the sleepy culinary scene and steadily grown its base of loyal customers. Using the season's freshest ingredients, chef Armin Leitgeb deftly executes his creations, preserving the integrity of its flavours and layers of textures. The menu changes every three months but seasonal specials such as white asparagus, truffles or morels demand exceptions. And oenophiles will salivate at Les Amis' award-winning wine list; its S$5-million collection won the Wine Spectator's Grand Award - the only one of three in Asia. Indeed, Les Amis has become an icon of Singapore's gourmet scene, helping to cultivate a generation of more discerning diners and providing Singapore with a stream of restaurateurs and chefs, boosting the dynamism of this diminutive city-state.

#02-16 Shaw Centre

1 Scotts Road

www.lesamis.com.sg

4. Gunther's Modern French Cuisine

Since it opened in August 2007, Gunther's has steadily made a name for itself with its focus on serving only the freshest ingredients. And while 'simple' best describes the food chef Gunther Hubrechsen serves, it is by no means boring. Rather, exquisite produce is treated with a clever lightness to render sublime taste sensations. His food is always light, clean and refined, with little embellishment but plenty of flavour. And diners gladly shell out top dollar for an experience that excites but doesn't overwhelm. This uncomplicated attitude spills over to the simple yet chic 50-seat interior, that now boasts a jolt of whimsy with its Art Nouveau-inspired curvilinear panel designs on its ceiling and at the bar.

36 Purvis Street #01-03

www.gunthers.com.sg

5. Au Jardin

Step into Au Jardin and it's almost easy to forget that you're in urban Singapore. Set in a colonial bungalow nestled among the lush tropical greens of the Botanic Gardens, Au Jardin impresses with its menu of awesome French dishes. So deft is Singaporean chef Galvin Lim with French cuisine that he was inducted into the Commanderie of Cotes de Bordeaux in 2008. The dinner degustation always hits the right notes with specialties like Alaskan crab with radish ravioli and acacia honey mustard vinaigrette. Au Jardin's knowledgeable sommeliers are also on hand to recommend the best wines to go with your dinner.

EJH Corner House

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Visitors Centre

Cluny Road

www.lesamis.com.sg

2010-06-05T23:04:00.001+08:00

kris vallotton in spore for school of prophetic ministry. i'm helping out as ministry team.

it's so incredible. listening to his messages so many times and yet i never get tired of listening.

thank You God for bringing Kris to Singapore to build us up.

use us to bless the school.

2010-06-02T01:15:00.001+08:00

i'm back in spore. after a wonderful 1st ever family holiday that brought us from up north in California to LA to Yosemite and to SF. a gruelling 2000 miles journey... more than 20 hours on the road. God's hand on this trip was evident since the beginning of planning it. thank You Jesus!

was glad that Spore won the table Tennis world championship! YAY!

met YT, shirley C to celebrate darling's birthday today. was nice meeting up. was a laughing good time.

2010-05-27T14:41:00.000+08:00

school ended on 16 may 2010 with our graduation being held at the convention center. i wore the superman tee. tho felt pretty underdressed, i was assured of its significance during worship by God: i had started this journey wearing this superman tee (on 13 sept flying out of Spore to redding) and there i was at the graduation, ending this 1st year journey at BSSM wearing it. this "S" tee stands for the supernatural life that i begun pursuing this year.

and it has indeed been rather supernatural. seen so many miracles. been God's channel to cause some too.

i've changed quite a bit. n come to think of it. it's pretty hard to put into words. words almost cant quite nail it. maybe cos i'm not so good with them. anyway here's my attempt:

1) God is bigger and "good-er" than you think. all Christians are quite programmed to profess "God is good all the time." but yet like me, that confession needs to become a solid conviction. and through this year, this conviction was strengthened.

2) God is powerful. yet most Christians are satisfied with just reading about it from the pages of the Bible than experiencing it themselves.

3) God is less easily offended than Christians. i was more easily offended by people who dont share my notion or ideology about God and i realised... God isnt. He is less uptight, less quick temper, less narrow-minded than i m. "tsk tsk tsk, they should be more respectful to God!" and fail to see God having fun with and enjoying them. he is not impressed with our sobriety nor religiosity.

4) God desires intimacy with us. He wants sons and daughters, friends (John 15) not slaves who mindlessly and robotically obey a hard to please master. He wants to be known. and we can know Him.

2010-04-02T11:43:00.000+08:00

went to mexico city for sch mission trip from 20-28th march...
we saw more than 3000 miracles and 400 salvations!!!!!! praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fr pics etc, go check out my facebook =)

2010-03-18T08:55:00.001+08:00

just looking at my blog today just saddens me. i used to do it up nicely. now it's just a default design from blogger. and no tagboards, counters, embedded vids or MP3s... oh from what height it has fallen! sorry to my younger friends. evan's too old to bother now... haha...

m feeling SO very hungry today! ate so much bread n still! n made a wrong choice of drink - coffee. now my gastric's having volcanic activity of some sort.

ok. i have just applied for 2nd year in BSSM. just felt it. so just did it. i had wanted to apply after my mission trip. it's weird how sometimes all the inhibitions just fall away and you cant explain it. hmmm... God will You show me what made that change?

i'm in a weird season; a Song of Songs season (where God brings me back to that book everywhere i turn, every book i pick up to read outside school curriculum), and in spite of this, i still find that everything else is still hazy, still needing clarity. there's so many pressing questions unanswered in the midst of prophecies given by so many different individuals about how my path is set, die has been cast, the Lord is guiding my steps. and so often i fall into the temptation of doubting and asking, "where is my path?" "where on earth am i supposed to turn?" sigh... it's times like these i m reminded that i havent gotten it altogether yet and having to tell myself "chill, evan". shant be too hard on myself. shant throw tantrums like a spoilt brat not actually knowing what she really wants. shant lose my peace and rest by demanding pre-mature answers.

"if you use your circumstance as an excuse for not thriving, you are living a lesser gospel." - Crystal S.

2010-03-07T13:27:00.001+08:00

was a good day. so glad the sun's up FINALLY. it's supposed to be spring but the past week was COLD!
went walking the Sacremento River Trail wif JH. was good. that reminds me, i need to press in to discover the meaning of my dreams!
"Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream" (Num. 12:6).
There are about 121 mentions of dreams in the Bible. Joseph and Daniel are recorded as having interpreted dreams sent from God, and the Bible describes many incidents of dreams as divine revelation. An example of a Biblical dream is told in which Jacob sees a ladder to heaven.

did GGW 15 on Matthew 25. was surprised dat i actually enjoyed it alot! =)
God comes to you in His majesty and glory as well as in His lowly state (see 25: 31-46). do you receive Him?

ok gtg. barnes and nobles closing. =)

2010-03-04T12:45:00.001+08:00

today has been a rather great day... almost every single one has been great i know.
received 3 prophecies/visions from pp and i really need to absorb it and let them sink in. alot of confirmation, affirmation of who i m, what i will do, getting what i have been pressing in for. thank You Jesus!

2010-03-01T10:11:00.000+08:00

it's so refreshing to hear a mission trip giveaway from a Christian radio station! instead of some holiday or concert tics, it's my 1st to hear "win a mission trip for you and a friend to Haiti!" wow...! =)

2010-02-28T08:25:00.000+08:00

from the book, Journey of Desire:
There is a secret set within each of our hearts. It often goes unnoticed, we rarely can put words to it, and yet it guides us throughout the days of our lives. You may not always be aware of your search, and there are times when you seem to have abandoned looking altogether…. Seasons may pass until it surfaces again.

2010-02-27T06:23:00.000+08:00

sitting at barnes & nobles using their free wi-fi. and staying warm. it's been cold n wet these past days. makes me so sleepy. i would have treated myself to starbucks coffee at the cafe here except that i m pretty poor! LOL. starbucks will have to wait another time for my patronage. glad i finally came up with my newsletter. the 1st since i came to redding! cant believe how hard it was for me to do so! there's so much to write such that everything gets so so constipated! haha. my tired brain can hardly function! but typing this out reminded me that now that i have done up my newsletter, i m HERE at B&N to send it out! i cant believe how hibernated my brain is right now. LOL

---

bethel, redding has this way of undoing you. you can come with your masks and duct-tape holding you up. but you will be disheveled, unraveled. the spiritual climate here is pretty interesting. God's presence is so strong. He will deal with you with such loving kindness. you will encounter His deep and intimate love for you.

---

i need to listen better. i need to learn to listen better.
listening as a communication tool, a counselling process is easy. one can get so good in listening in ministry or work or socially... we need to be good listeners in every area of our lives. to every one. especially those closest to you. tho it's the hardest. but it is the most needful n most rewarding. i know some might disagree with the most rewarding part... but sticking to it. the long term benefits far outweigh everything else. listen to Him who speaks lovingly to you in loud and soft voice, in big and small ways.

---

2010-02-23T08:21:00.000+08:00

prayed for a lady who was dragging her left leg as she walked along in the 99cent shop today. asked if i could pray for her. turned out she came for healing rooms and as gotten prayers, got healed but the swelling and pain came back. so we prayed and the swelling shrank and she could bend and put her weight on that leg. prayed and prophesied over one another. my first clear healing miracle
---

poem written in response to a piece of prophetic art last week:
swirl over me, sweep me off my feet
woo me, draw me, pull me into the deep
with you, to the secret place i come
staying till One You and i become

---

it's CNY n Jo's mum brought over some CNY cookies. yummy pineapple tarts! all u in spore, remember me when you "lou hei"! speak some blessings on my behalf! LOL

2010-02-14T11:36:00.000+08:00

happy CNY!!!!
1st time i m away from spore on CNY. miss my family n relatives and yummy food n angbaos!!
just came back from a CNY gathering of chinese in redding. was a really good time of makan-ing and worship and fellowship. got to meet with ang mos who can speak chinese pretty well. i'm honoured to meet them who have such a burden for Chinese.

happy valentine's too...
gtg...
sorry

2010-02-01T08:18:00.000+08:00

YT got me a shofar from Israel as a Christmas present. was so happy. but as you know, the shofar stinks...
" The reason that most shofars smell bad is that when they are clean at the factory they cannot remove all residues from the inside. This residue is sinew and flesh that is clinging in crevices and the smell is it decaying."
searched online on how to clean my shofar:

1)
You can start by gently scrubbing the interior of the shofar you can reach with a brush and water. A toothbrush will work. Rinse with water and allow to dry. Try to stand the horn upright, bracing it against something, so no liquid pools in the curves of the horn. Then follow with one or more of the following methods, depending on how the shofar smells after each cleaning.

2)
A little more aggressive approach uses aquarium gravel. The physical action of the gravel against the inside of the horn works to loosen and remove debris. Plug the mouthpiece gently with cotton, or wrap plastic wrap around the mouthpiece and secure with a rubber band. Take about a teaspoon of the gravel (not sand, and not the large rocks) and pour into the large end of the horn. Shake the shofar for several minutes. Pour out and discard the gravel. You can rinse the shofar with water, or again with hydrogen peroxide. Remove the mouthpiece covering and let the horn dry as instructed above.

3)
If there is still a lingering odor, again plug the mouthpiece as directed above. Then fill the shofar half full with hydrogen peroxide. Gently shake the shofar and allow the hydrogen peroxide the loosen any more debris.

Pour out and discard the peroxide. You can repeat this treatment several times. If debris is still coming out of the horn, you may need to repeat the gravel procedure again.

4)
A solution of several tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in water can be poured into the shofar. Block the mouthpiece as instructed above, and again, fill half full and agitate for about a minute. Pour out and discard the liquid. Rinse and allow to dry.

Borax can be used in place of baking soda. Dissolve in water and use the same technique. Borax takes longer than baking soda to dissolve completely. The physical action of the undissolved borax against the inside can help dislodge debris, plus borax is a natural deodorizer. Rinse well after pouring out the borax and allow to dry.

5)
If any odor still remains, a mild bleach solution can be used to clean the shofar. The concentration is 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water. Fill the shofar about half full, as with the hydrogen peroxide method, and shake the shofar. Pour out and discard the bleach solution. Wipe off any bleach that may get on the outside of the horn, and then rinse the horn with clear water. Again, allow the horn to dry in an upright position. It may take several days for the bleach smell to dissipate.

6)
A final method is to place the large opening of the horn against a runningozone machine. It can take anywhere from an hour to overnight to neutralize any remaining odors.

--

After drying your horn thoroughly you must oil it. An anointing oil is recommended that contains myrrh which is a natural preservative. Pour a small amount of the oil in the bell of the horn and swirl around. You can also obtain a trumpet valve brush (buy at music store) to oil the mouth piece end.

sources:
http://www.shofars.org/cleaning_the_shofar.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_5026191_clean-newly-purchased-shofar.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5015645_clean-shofar.html

2010-01-09T05:18:00.000+08:00

was back in singapore for mere 9 days. went by so fast. sorry to those i didnt manage to meet up.
sorry yiwei, f, n gals,...... sorry.

Traveled 32 hours to get back to Redding. Was beat. So I followed up with 14 hours of sleep.
I’ve been waking up at pre-dawn, 5 plus the past 6 days. Only today and yesterday was foggy enough, like how winter’s day should be, not to be able to see the sunrise. I really hope that I can stay like that – waking up so early and having that time to myself and God.
It’s been really cold these two days. Wondering how long does winter last. I dunno!

This trip has been really really fantastic. I was so blessed (and very packed in meeting people). For one, I was impressed by the hunger and humility of people – my pastor, the church’s intercessor ministry, various people whom the Lord spoke to through me. it was incredible. To say the least, I was apprehensive cos “a prophet is without honour in his hometown.” But I was given so much favour and influence it surprised me. well of course I realized hometown for me is “home”. I crashed and burned and wasn’t able to minister and have those incredible breakthroughs and prophecies that I said to most I met up with the 9 days I was back. I really need to work on that – work on loving my family and walking out the real gospel amongst them.

Being back has been really good. I really feel like it’s home here. it’s easy to feel that way when I have my own apartment (slightly smaller than a 3 room flat) with my very own room (I don’t have that in spore), car and a nice routine. And moreoever, the friends I have here, or rather the brothers and sisters, the faith, the spiritual climate, the things I am learning here just tip the scale. Haha. I’m really glad to be back.

For the longest time, I having been feeling like I stumbled into the new year. My newsletters to my supporters over the last 8 years prove it. But this year, I feel such a readiness and a huge anticipation.

2010 is going to be a year of breakthrough and harvest. There will be great growth and advancement of the Kingdom and of course, in me too. My spirit testifies to it and my whole being just lines up and welcomes the new year.

Being back at All Saints also showed me this is going to be so for us as a church. I was tasked the testimony and countdown segment of the Watchnight service. The atmosphere was so different. People were so ready to come up and give testimony. and the focus was also SO right. It was not thanking people but God. I believe God is ushering All Saints into a new “era”, a new season of deeper spirituality and pursuit of Him, and readying us to play that our role in the revival of Singapore.

The Church (not just the local church, but the Body of Christ) will come into her destiny.

2009-12-10T16:19:00.000+08:00

today is too good not to post.
started out bad. very busy, lots of things to do, get done. get the keys to our apartment for one. get cheque from KV another. i forgot and drop a few balls. did a few bad mistakes. and by the time i was supposed to lead small group, i felt like just crying. which i did. and it all worked out for so so good!

1) em reminded me that i had asked/wanted more challenge. it made me feel better cos then i realised God brought today in answer to that prayer.

2) in response to me saying i m so not ready to lead, em reminded me that i m a leader. i m always ready to lead. and jules told me that i m a leader so i m ready to lead in season and out of season and this may be out of season for me. they were calling forth and drawing out things in me. really thank God for that cos i was able to ride on that and rise up.

i had been looking forward to leading small group. and i had such vision and plans. i wanted God to show up. I desired that we had more indepth sharing and more vulnerability on the things God is doing in our lives. and more ministering to one another. and God really did answer all my desires! it was amazing.

i began by being more vulnerable that i ever been with them and they prayed for me. and then i prayed for the session and pulled heaven. they cried and then we laughed. shared and prayed and prophesied. it was amazing.

thank You Jesus! i m so in awe of what God is doing in our lives. He is amazing.

Kimb is v sensitive to my pulling on heaven. in the car she was getting high just cos i was praying silently beside her. she said she could feel the open heaven over me.

thank You HS!

and me being so "high" helped me. i really need to be filled by HS. i cant be the right evan without it.
thank God for ironing out things with Jo. and for breaking down the walls, restoring and healing.

and so Lord, we thank You for the work You are doing in each of our lives. thank You for the victories. we seal the victories in Your name and say more Lord. more of You!

2009-12-07T16:30:00.001+08:00

I Do Not Love Thee
by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton

I do not love thee!—no! I do not love thee!
And yet when thou art absent I am sad;
And envy even the bright blue sky above thee,
Whose quiet stars may see thee and be glad.

I do not love thee!—yet, I know not why,
Whate’er thou dost seems still well done, to me:
And often in my solitude I sigh
That those I do love are not more like thee!

I do not love thee!—yet, when thou art gone,
I hate the sound (though those who speak be dear)
Which breaks the lingering echo of the tone
Thy voice of music leaves upon my ear.

I do not love thee!—yet thy speaking eyes,
With their deep, bright, and most expressive blue,
Between me and the midnight heaven arise,
Oftener than any eyes I ever knew.

I know I do not love thee! yet, alas!
Others will scarcely trust my candid heart;
And oft I catch them smiling as they pass,
Because they see me gazing where thou art.

2009-12-07T11:28:00.000+08:00

it's 7.28pm 6th dec now. ( i didnt change the settings. so the blog reflects GMT+8.00 time)
it's currently 3 degrees C. and snow is forecasted for tomorrow. i m not too thrilled abt that now tho. haha. funny huh? i think i wonder how messy and how difficult to do stuff, get to places. oh well. i'll update u again about that.
right now i m not too thrilled about how cold and windy it has been for the past few days. i was amused when coming back to our room, my specs fogged up. back in spore, specs fog up when we go outdoors, here, it's when we get indoors! LOL

2009-12-04T15:28:00.005+08:00

m slogging away trying to do the 3 john inductive bible study homework. it's been 3 hours plus. i m beat.

played debbie gibson's vids on youtube. and found this wonderful song i've never (or dont remember) hearing! DEBBIE GIBSON - FOR BETTER OR WORSE

hmmm... if i ever get married... which i dont have plans to... this will make it to the playlist!

along with... let's see...

- at the beginning by richard marx and donna lewis

- cant help falling in love

hmm.. both fr disney movies...!

ok... that's all for now... i really need to get back to my homework!!!!!!

it's harder than i had thought!

2009-12-04T02:40:00.002+08:00

prayer Jack Taylor (who came to speak to our class yesterday) shared with us:

"Lord i want You to come upon my ming and change it on every issue where you and i don't see eye-to-eye. please renew my mind until you and i are thinking together."

if it is a FACT of Scripture, i must BELIEVE it.

if it is a REVELATION, i must RECEIVE it.

if it is an EVENT, i must EXPERIENCE it.

if it is a RELATIONSHIP, it must be CONTINUED.

2009-12-01T13:35:00.004+08:00

adapted from Grasping God's Word (Duvall & Hays):

automatic transportation of the biblical text into our cultural world is called "interpretational reflex." Interpretational reflex "helps" us fill in all the gaps and ambiguities in the biblical texts with explanations and background from our culture.

however, our cultural background has pre-formed parameters of limiting possibilities for a text even before we grapple with the intended meaning. we therefore subconsciously create a world of interpretive possibilities and IMpossibilities. however, by doing this, we are placing our culture above the Bible and are reading the Bible through culture-coloured lenses. the challenge is to critique our culture with the Bible and not vice versa.

hence alot of times, when we read a command/promise from the Bible, we may superficially agree but in the back of our minds we write it off. we have allowed what the world, and/or our culture say is impossible to dictate our possibilities instead of really taking God at His word - "with man it is impossible, but with God, it is possible."

it's time to really believe what we say we believe.

2009-11-30T15:31:00.002+08:00

my one week thanksgiving break just flew by so fast!

mon was spent at emily's place. was somewhat a treat retreat for me. it was SO therapeutic to sit on a couch that is clean and the environment quiet. i miss a "house" place. staying at simpson's one side of a room just makes me feel "argh".

---

tues thanksgiving session with Bill. "dont believe anything they write about you. in fact, dont even read it." i think that is something i put a note for self to. if it is good, and you believe, you may get proud. i'd rather have God's report cos that'll never puff me up. if it is bad, then i really dont need critics to pull me down. then it's impartation.

chatted with Julia from 5-10! shared God-given vision n prophesied.

---

wed - apartment viewing and met joanne chun for dinner. went to jade garden. wonderful authentic vietnamese food! felt so blessed by the fellowship. she prayed and prophesied over us in the parking lot. puzzled the restaurant owners.

thurs was thanksgiving. my 1st ever thanksgiving.

and who would've guessed buying a car could get me (us) a thanksgiving meal: turkey, all the yummy dishes and pies. and wonderful fellowship with a wonderful family - the Pearsons, Todds, Robinsons. we went one round the table saying what we were thankful to God for. their faith was evident in their sharing. they shared not just food with us, not just family time, but their lives - who they are, their journey, their struggles. these are saints. my older brothers and sisters in Christ who have such a heart for God and men. i love being in their company. took a walk to digest the sumptuous food before the dessert. last Christmas Wes had a heart attack just before dessert. diana was thankful he survived and is still around with her. i was thankful of that too. that i had the privilege to enjoy his unassuming disposition and humour. at 76, he amazes me. and there's joan too. tho almost blind, she does not let it hinder her nor get her spirits down. u wouldnt have guessed she couldnt see by her confident strides as she took us on the McConnell trails. and what a love she has for young people! and Pam... all 3 remarkable ladies with their spouses. Lord bless them with health for the rest of their lives.

then it was off to Nicola's. was treated to another round of great food and fellowship with Emma n her.

what i m thankful for? the privilege to come to Bethel. it's been nothing less than a miracle, and it's been really incredible (forgive my limited vocabulary!) to sit at the feet of such anointed fathers of faith and to receive impartation. i m thankful for a supportive family (biological), and a supportive spiritual family (ASE and Bethel). i m thankful for my co-journer, my covenantal friend whom God has used to love, challenge, mold me.

i really have so much to thank You for Lord. all the little and big blessings that came my way. thank You for You, Father, Saviour, Friend.

---

black friday. the best and craziest sale ever! we went Walmart, Target, KMart and Sears. got microwave @$18, vacuum cleaner @$9, crockpot @$3, 32pc dinnerware @$18, 16pc cookware @25.... but all these spoils were gotten at 4-7am!

we prayed that we would get all the things we need. well, we got them! thank You, Jesus!

watched "UP" cried buckets.

---

sat was homework, gym. swam. watched "Hulk". Jo cooked lunch and dinner.

2009-11-22T17:30:00.000+08:00

read "Love has a face" by Michele Perry. it's about her doing ministry in war-torn Sudan.

amazing book. praise God!

3 steps to ministry success in Iris Ministry (Sudan), p73:

step 1: every morning wake up.

step 2: Ask Jesus what He is doing that day - not what He wants you to do, but what He is already doing.

step 3: Go join Him.

Holy desperation became the context for holy demonstration. Dignified has never changed the world. Desperate has. (p 65)

Jesus let me love with Your love and see with Your eyes. show me what it means to be the expression of Your heart to those around me.... love did have a face: mine. (p55)

this love does not start with a good program. it cannot. it starts with being in love, being intimately connected to Jesus. it starts with knowing first that i am loved. i cannot give what i do not have. it is supernatural. it cannot be apart from Him. All living fruit in my life has come only from a living relationship with Him. (p52)

pray with me this prayer adapted from what Perry wrote at the end of the book:

"i ask right now, Holy Spirit, that You wash over me and fill me with Your perfect love. give me child-eyes to see the invitation of the unpaved road draw me deeper into Your heart, that i may live all of life from the place of knowing how loved i m. Papa, wrap Your arms around me. let me hear the songs You sing over me in the night. Let them know the place i have in Your house. Let me now that You love me.

i ask You, Papa, to stir hunger in me and call forth the dreams You have placed in my heart that i have not even dared to embrace. Take me lower in humility, deeper in intimacy and higher in revelation. i ask that you submerge me in Your fiery presence until they are see-through in love and carry Your glory wherever i go.

i ask You for a movement of love to begin one life at a time that will literally change nations from the inside out. teach me how to dance in the storm, and let me live a life of love without limit. Amen."

2009-11-22T17:20:00.003+08:00

my car came back fr the car spa (repair shop). looking shiny n new from the behind. haha. nice butt!

it's thanksgiving break. school's out for a week. will take this time to do the needed reflection and impending homework deadlines. i'm learning so much that i feel i m gorging myself at the buffet table. Holy Spirit, help me digest what You have showed me.

will b going over the Emily's for some sort of retreat. retreat for the space-starved me.

2009-11-18T17:32:00.000+08:00

vampires, twilight, new moon series and the christian response

http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/screen/goodwyn-vampires-twilight-obsession.aspx

2009-11-13T15:19:00.003+08:00

it's 5 degrees now.

yesterday God showed me i needed to get my priorities right: to BE not be distracted by the DO.

i love my outreach. this was my last pastor-on-call duty. totally enjoyed it. but i m also looking forward to going out next week for outreach.

on our way home, our outreach group mate rear-ended my car which was stationery. my neck kinda hurt from the whiplash and i was kinda in shock for sometime. thankfully joanne was totally fine and she directed me to park at the side of the road when i was still seh from the impact and she got down and liaised with the guy.

our car was fine, when i (finally) got out to examine it, i hardly believed i was rammed into cos besides the scrunched up license plate, everything looked fine. but my friend's car looked bad. his bonnet cant even open.

got my 1st job offer since i got into BSSM yesterday... hmm... so God gave me some reassurance... =)

pp r getting healed, saved, delivered daily. miracles abound. deaf hear... cancer patients, given 2 weeks to live get completely healed. pp with one leg shorter than the other saw that leg grow out to the same length right before their eyes...

our God is a powerful God and He shows it!

2009-11-05T08:21:00.003+08:00

JUST came back from watching "THIS IS IT". man... i was enjoying it so much. Michael Jackson is really something. God really made him so so creative. at times he talks about the music arrangement as if he is cooking something - "let it simmer...", "take all the nourishment.." haha.

he is amazing. and it's nice to see him move into more jazz... i like the way he did "the way you make me feel." n i LOVE the vids and special effects for the opening, "they dont really care about us", "earth song", "thriller". but "Smooth criminal" takes the cake!

if you are gonna watch the movie, stay right till the end cos they have a short clip at the end.

this is one movie i would want to get its dvd.

thank you all of you for sending your birthday greetings! THANK YOU!!!

thank to those who

made me something: pps (teenster!!!!!!), card...

gave me something: thru amazon (YT thanks!!!!), thru my bathroom door... haha (my dear suite-mates), heather for the apple pie.....

sang me happy birthday umpteen times...

will give me prophetic blessing and words of knowledge tonight (cya at 8 in the commons)

i have been looking forward to this birthday for a long time... cos it's the BIG 3-0. and i think it is very significant. a whole new chapter. a whole new ERA.... i love my twenties.. n each year was better than the next... so i really look forward to my thirties. something tells me it will be a blast. i cant wait to live out my days with the Lord. it's amazing to spend my life with Him (well, of course He gave me this life).

what i did on 3rd november.... well, my birthday thingy kinda started when it's 3rd nov in spore.... the well wishes came pouring in. n it was only afternoon on 2nd over here. so i kinda started feeling it was my birthday since the 2nd. and i m still celebrating today. open some presents then went to the Prayer house to soak after midnight... went to Rivers restaurant for lunch cos it overlooks the river to the mountains... if dinner then cant see anything... sun sets at 5 now. spent the whole afternoon out on the patio eating and taking pictures, reading the bible, journalling. God gave me amazing weather - sunny ard 20 degrees. so it's not hot and not cold so i could comfortably wear a skirt and a thin nylon blouse like i do in spore. then despite a huge row i had, i ended 3rd nov back in the prayer house soaking. was so good i could go on all night but decided to come back to honour the dorm curfew.

i hope no one sms-ed me on my spore number cos it's been suspended since i m over here. so FB or email me. u could call...but then.. watch the time hor... hee hee....

God bless you all. thank you for being sharing your life with me. it's a privilege to share mine with you.

2009-11-01T16:05:00.002+08:00

today Daylight savings end. dont ask me what it means. all i know is that the clocks get turn back 1 hour. i forgot about that so i was puzzled when i saw the 1st service guys walking out to their car a 9.15am. i was like.... "arent they late?" no they're not. i'm early!

so... we are now 16 hours behind singapore time. hmmm... it means i get to sleep in later! haha.

evan essence

can't take my eyes off you acapella and tv ad

all i want for Christmas is you Acapella

all i want for Christmas MV (again!)

air safety demo christmas dance

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9/11 10 years on...

10 years ago, i was glued to the tv in GCTC as i watched the events unfold. same time 10 years later, glued to the tv watching memorial events. praying for the healing of a nation's soul and the release from the grip of trauma and terror.

10 years on... was told today that i will be my church's youth pastor. back in "full time ministry" part time now.

one reporter was saying on tv that we tend to measure our lives in 10 years - 10, 20, 30 years old... pretty true. how far i've come. 10 years went by... pretty fast. was a good 10 years.

watched the porgramme featuring audio recordings of the victims leaving last words to their loved ones... we dont need to wait for such a time to our loved ones how much we love them.

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