Disbelief

Today was a day of disbelief.

Dr Yeo of C T Yeo Respiratory and Medical Centre tells me I have asthma. He tells me that I need to be on long term medication to help open up my airways. I was put through a test where they measure output of air (by method of inhale/exhale). My score was a pathetic 60 percent. An average normal person is at least 85 percent. The entire procedure was painless, but when the bill came, I felt the pain.

After hearing the entire discourse of how asthma could have developed in me, I was just in the low.

Having Asthma in both parents meant that our kids have a 75% and more chance of having them. I have a choice to listen to the statistics or listen to God.

Having Asthma explains why my stamina has been dropping and I feel fatigue at the slightest walk in the park.

Having Asthma means I have to be paying all the medication for as long as I have this condition.

Well, having Asthma is not the end of the world, so why am I feeling like it it?

Being so low, I guess the only direction I could look is upwards.

That little bit of haven

There is a sign I wrote to be pasted on the wall of our living room. It says "It will soon pass". It was meant to be an encouragement to all in our family. It all started with Theo catching an ordinary cough. Then he passed it to my baby. Before long, baby passed it to David, and he passed it to me. I had what seemed like an ordinary cough plus a strain of flu and before long, I had unknowingly passed it to my baby. What resulted was baby having bronchitis. We were administering nebulizer for baby for 5 days.

Being the primary care-giver, I suffered sleepless nights and fatigue, soon I became the prime candidate for virus invasion. On the day Elias recovered, I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and pneumonia. A chest Xray revealed the need for me to be admitted right away.

As if things were to fall apart from the series of events happening in my family, I experienced a most surreal moment - a moment of solitude and rest in the hospital like never before. I call it 'that little bit of haven'. Amidst all the chaos, the timing was perfect. Perfect to be sick? Well, not really. No time is a good time to be ill. But the moment I was declared "out of service", my mum and David had to change all their plans to help babysit our children. I think my mum enjoyed those time with her grandchildren and David became the better at parenting.

In addition, it happened over just one week-end and over one public holiday so that timing was good. I figured, God must have thought I just needed to get away and REST.

"I couldnt really breathe very well" I told my doctor, a respiratory specialist. I never knew that I couldnt really breathe until I was examined that day. Our spiritual life is like that sometimes, our relationship with God can take a nosedive even amidst daily devotions. The run-of-the-mill religious 'rituals' just doesnt guarantee his presence. I guess I was too busy with the children to notice anything really wrong with me. I know, I am really due for a REST both physically and emotionally.

Waiting at the hospital lobby for my number to be called, I imagined myself to be on holiday, perhaps a resort or something. "I'm sorry, single room not available, either two-bedder or four-bedder or deluxe room." I ran a quick check with different sources and decided to go for single deluxe room. Acknowledging my need for rest, I asked for a quiet room, but not too far from the reception area in case I needed help. I was given a very nice room on the tenth floor, just right next to the reception and not too noisy too.

This is what my first day look like:
5.30am - Woke up and set up to pump milk
6.30am - Shower
7.30am - Ready to conquer the world
8.00am - Waited for my chest physio to come. He didnt turn up
9.00am - Took my breakfast.
10.00am - Physio time.
11.00am- Morning nap
12noon - administered nebulizer, fixed up the drip of antibiotic, got my blood pressure checked, temperature checked, as well as oxygen saturation checked.
1.30pm - Lunch
2.00pm - Physio again
2.30pm - pumping milk
3.30pm - Neb
4pm - Tea break, menu selection for the next day.
4.30pm - Quiet afternoon nap

The rest of 5-days stay was surreal. I would be up at around 6.30am everyday to draw the curtains and watch a sunrise creep to interrupt the tranquility of the neighbourhood. At dawn, I am usually surprised at the stillness of the neighbourhood. In the evening posh condominiums around me continued in hush silence, I let my mind wander, curious why occupants never seem to be at home. Perhaps they were too busy making money. I always thought people with loads of money don't have time, and those who have time don't have money. Its a strange thought but because of this, I thought I would like have enough of money and loads of time. Meanwhile, this has yet to become a reality for me.

I actually don't feel too bad in the hospital. The nurses were a friendly lot, although in my opinion, they were pretty frantic with what they need to do with me. I guess, they were just doing their job really, making sure I had the right medications and physiotherapy on time. I managed to surf the channels. I think I watched the "balloon boy" so many times that I became so sick at how a simple news can ballooned into a tabloid over two days!

I ate mostly western meals throughout my stay. Pan fried salmon fillet with coriander cream sauce, green beans, and capellini pasta, grilled sirlion beef with black pepper sauce, roasted roots vegetables and potato and the likes. I am fed 6 meals a day (3 mains and 3 tea breaks), it felt so divine to be in the comfort of aircon 24-hrs a day and eating right out of the bed. I know, very spoilt!

At 7.30am sharp, a very cheerful lady will bring in the paper of the day. She is the lady who cleans the room everyday and changes the sheet. She reminds me of always putting a smile while serving others. I am also reminded how city dwellers people lived such multi-faceted lives. We really mustn't be so consumed with what we do that we ignore the world and its needs, even if people looked OK on the outside.


At home, I was told that the frozen milk packs were going at the speed of lightning. One such drawer full of milk was wiped out in 5-days. Nevertheless, I thank God for the extra supply, especially in time of as such.

day 4 - David brought Theo for a surprise visit. He had a whale of a time discovering all the buttons that made the bed go up or down. That's hospital for him, although he also knows ambulances go to the hospital.

Day 5 - I was due to go home. Yipee! I felt ready to conquer the world once more. I guess that's what everyone would identify as HOPE. Bidding the nurses good-bye, I felt surreal once more.

Once home, we realised that we left a packet of frozen milk in the hospital. The head nurse suggested that once they locate the packet, she will deliver it to my home! That sure is going the extra mile. While many would choose to busk away in exotic isles or sail away on an Alaska cruise, I choose this moment to thank God for the little bit of haven that happened to me.

goal setting for our family

I'm into a phase of goal-setting recently. Its one of the making-our-home-a-better-place for our family things that moms do all the time. It all started when I am missing the dates that my husband used to take me out to! Yikes! Big deal? Yes of course! Take out courtship after marriage and we can be sure that the foundations of family life becomes rocky.

Why do I set goals when the list look like a bunch of common sense items. Well, if we do not have a line to start us off, it will not be long before we criss-cross all the lines, trying to do everything that everyone else is doing. Before long, we will realise that it does not fit into our family value. simply put, by following the crowd, we are allowing OTHERS to dictate where we are going.

There is no right and wrong most of the time. But what we discover is that what we place as priority is different from another family.

Hence, this distinctly identifies our family make-up. Or if you like, how God has gifted each household.

One family I know is outdoorsy, while the other is into table games. While some loves shopping the others simply love the natural environment. Some families have more of this and less of the other and that is fine. We have 2 unique kids, one is gentle, perceptive & musical, while the other is an fast & agile. I have artistic veins running through my blood while my better half loves cramming facts & info. That is my family.

Goals may change overtime depending on the stage of family life we're at. I am blessed to be a staying home mom, not because we are living luxuriously, but because I could sit and contemplate about my family and how best I can serve them.

I sat penning my thoughts. There are about a list of do-ables. Goals should be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely.

In the dating section, I penned a date out at least once a month.

In the family atmosphere, I penned Joy, encouragement and praise. Celebration to keep our spirits high, I penned to have spontaneous celebrations over and above birthdays. Need not be pompous, could be a simple treat of ice-cream.

In family unity, I penned family outings every weekend, preferring natural parks and environment over shopping malls. What better way to admire the creation of God and for fresh air and sunlight.

In our relationship with our Lord Jesus, I penned total dependence on God through consistent prayer weaved into our daily going in's and out's, calling on God everytime FIRST time in all situation.

In health, I penned on providing natural and wholesome food for the family through natural plant supplement and other weekly home-cook soups.

In nurturing our children, I penned stewarding their giftings and rooting their foundation in our Lord Jesus. (Actual details are too long to be included in this post.)

Setting Goals for the family is a gradual process of discovering and adpating to the needs and fit that works best for the family. Alike a child picking seashells from the seashore, each one is unique, each one is beautiful. Family is a gift from heaven. Treasure it.

"you've got a friend" sand Art by Ilana Yahav

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

The milkmaid - Servanthood

I have this painting by my living room. I love oil painting depicting human beings going about in their daily lives. It reveals alot in peoples' lives.

I am a mother of two sons. I have a maid. Our maid and I have something in common. We serve. I serve my family - I make sure that the roster at home serves our needs; children are asleep by 9pm. I keep watch of their poo - since they are so young, this is essential to their health. I pray with them and for them and train them to be people who would come to love and know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that they grow to be more and more like Jesus in many ways.

I make sure our helper has a roster to keep the house clean and serve healthy meals on time. I teach her how to manage her time, so we can run our family effectively in a way that we can spend time together. She also becomes my sons playmate whenever I am occupied, so I train her in ways to play and to speak. This is to ensure that the family's speech and mannerism is always filled with grace and joy. We respect each other, we are polite and we don't shout. We learn to give thanks, learn to clean up after use, and learn to always help each other out.

My helper is a blessing to us. She never complains about the food she eats, she eats whatever we eat although she comes from a completely different culture. Servanthood is assimiliation. Servanthood is humility.

I make sure my husband spends quality time with the children and reminds him of important dates that we need to keep. I organise celebrations, outings, and try to do special things for our family. Things like taking photos together for special milestone, or special occasions.
On days my husband needs to be in Bible college, rush for assignments at home or catch up with reading, I keep watch over the children.

I volunteer myself whenever I can to any ministry in church that needs me. My time, my resources, I give my service unto the Lord. I take great pleasure of co-ordinating gifts and birthday celebrations for our Caregroup, and is always on the lookout for discipling people to serve God in greater depth. I take care of Toronto missions related events. I help to think of ideas to spur the church on creatively.

Do I falter, do I grow weary? Sure I do. In fact so many times. Since I am also breastfeeding my 2 mth-old baby, fatigue and despair from challenges in Breastfeeding wears me down. The truth is Servanthood is not my giftings. It is not even in the lowest score card on my giftings list. Yet, I serve in growing magnitude. I know that it is not myself, but only by the grace of God. I finally understood what transforming power there is in following Christ.

We are transformed not because we are gifted, but because we are willing.

The painting of "The Milkmaid" hangs in my living room. It is God's reminder that servanthood is the mark of Christ. It is God'sBIG assurance that his grace will always be sufficient.

[The Milkmaid shines in quiet beauty, but if you look hard enough you can hear the milk splash as she pours it from her pitcher. Through his dazzling use of light, Vermeer elevates this simple moment of hearty provision into a heavenly vision of God's providential care. Artist: Jan Vemeer .Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675]

My wish-list

Today is the DAY to love myself a little more

My wish List

1) Kindle - An electronic gadget to read ebooks!
2) An adjustable piano chair to play my keyboard
3) A stick-on Screen to block off the glare on my Compaq laptop.(My brother just got me this a a gift!Who-hoo!)

Books, Music, Writing ... you can never go wrong with gifts associated with these top favorites.

Merry Christmas 2008

Christmas Comments
Myspace Comments - Upload Photos


During this beautiful season
may our hands give
the gifts filled with sincerity
Our hearts touch others
with spirit of kindness
and our world be united
in peace and love

May the beauty
and peace of the season
stay in your heart
all through the year

May the Lord bless you abundantly

Why do the whole world celebrate the birth of 1 baby?

There is a certain rule of the game which cannot be broken by mankind. And if broken, men simply sink further and further into soft mud. Though he fights with all his will and might, he sinks further.

The picture I see then is a hand that reaches down from someone standing on solid ground. The hand reaches all the way to where the man is. The man stretches his hands up and where the two hands connect, the man is pulled up, away from the mud slide.

You know, funny this scene reminds me of what mankind really really sucks at? I think most of the time, we think we're not that super, not that great, and really not that perfect. But the ego inside of us always gets the better of us. We think just because we have earned a certain position in an institution, at the workplace, in the family, in the church - we could jolly well be the 'expert'. We think that just because we have reached a certain 'age of maturity' or should I say 'a cetain semblence of wisdom' (aka saggin skin, white hair, wrinkles, aches, pot belly etc), we have arrived.

Fact is none of can save ourselves from the soft mudslide of this thing call SIN. This is an unsaid game of life that everyone, rich, poor, old, young, cute or naughty, sweet or sexy are thrown into.
In short, SIN causes all mankind to be LESS THAN PERFECT of what heaven states as perfect.
Envy, jealousy, murder, lust, revenge, unforgiveness...

Human beings are dusty beings. We pick up all sorts of 'dirt' on the way. Some are splashed on us as we walk in this journey of life; we are NOT the inititor, it just 'happens' to us. The other 'dirt' we pick it up along the way; we happily TOOK it and stuff it into our hearts & minds.

one of such is the SIN of unforgiveness.

From something as trivial as the fight for one's rights in daily conversations, power struggles at home, among colleagues; petty strifes with silblings, friends; broken relationships, homes, marriages and the list goes on. Funny how easily it is to take offence at someone at the slightess displeasure, but ignore how quick we are to casue hurt to others with our words. The starting point is almost always " I am more right than he is". When we cast such a sentence on others in our heart, we have unconsciously pick up the dirt.

Over the course of life, i have realised that "Time will heal" is nothing but a myth. Time may
cause some things to be forgotten, but never forgiven. It is like pasting a skin-colour plaster on over a deep wound, but the wound inside may be untreated and left to fester.

For an unforgiven heart, bitterness is all that is left. Time just makes it worse. I had my fair share of dirt when i picked up an awful lot of it some years back. There was nothing worse that waking up in the morning and having my head filled with nothing but questions after questions, justifications after justifications, pain and more pain. It took a long while for me to finally turn to Jesus and open my hands as I feebly attempted to give it all to him.

A year or two has passed. I realised that although situations look normal enough. I never forgot anything in that incident. I never fully forgave. The fact is I could not.

This year's Christmas. I was sharply reminded of the King that is to be born. The merriment of songs and dances, presents and food does not tell us the reason why we are celebrating.

I realised that we are celebrating a man who came to do one thing. A real life story was told of this certain man in cambodia. 13 of Reaksa Himm's immediate family including his family were brutally executed by Cambodia's Khmer Rouge. Severely wounded, Reaksa was hidden by the bodies of his family. He struggles free, and ultimately made his way to canada. He found faith in Christ but for years wrestle with bitterness, hatred and a desire for vengence. At the turn of events he discovered what it truly means to forgive. He tracked down his killers one by one, embraced them, gave them a friendship scarf, and presented each of them with a Bble...
Taken from: "After the heavy rain" - SOKREAKSA S HIMM - Author of Tears of my soul.

The essence of why we are celebrating is that that only JESUS can FORGIVE.
Only a PERFECT being like him has the POWER and AUTHORITY to FORGIVE. Hence it is only through JESUS that we can EXPERIENCE his GRACE of FORGIVENESS.

Let us celebrate this jolly season not just with a list of names we can give gifts to but also who we can forgive. FORGIVESNESS begins with Jesus.

Christmas - A simple spread

These few months are non-inspirational months. Many serious topics are being raised.

Baby bonus, U.S Election, Financial crunch, Euthanasia. We are just talking about all these in our home. How has it impact the people? What can or are we doing about it?

With Christmas and our baby no.2 arriving next wk (25 Dec maybe?), David & I had our share of workload to clear.

Busy as we may sound, we don't want to lose the spirit of celebration. We celebrate the grace that God gave his son - Jesus. In the name of Christmas, we celebrate his gift. We celebrate that family can get together and remember his love. We celebrate the fact that becuase of this new born babe - Jesus, we can have eternal life.

It is important that we celebrate. We are not ignorant of the fact that there are many out there who may be victims of the financial meltdown, those who are hungry, those who are homeless, those who are living amongst us - urbanites who may be going through tough times, financially or emotionally- we continue to comfort them, help them.

It is important to celebrate the gift that which was given freely and not hold it to ourselves. It is important that we do our part in charity so that those who do not have, can have this gift so that they too can celebrate. It is important that we celebrate, but we celebrate simply. We live simply so others can simply live.

This year Christmas came slightly early for us. Its a simple home-cooked meal, chockful of love. Because our baby is arriving next week, we want to be able to bless others early. Our baby will be born in the season of LOVE. We will always be reminded that Christmas is a time of sharing and giving.

ST Forum: Euthanasia 3 major considerations - 13 Dec 2008 - by David Siauw

Euthanasia: Three major considerations (As published in ST Forum 13 Dec 2008)

DISCUSSIONS on euthanasia have been carried by the media in recent weeks. I believe there is a strong need to help readers understand the factors involved in the procedure.
There are three major considerations in the act of euthanasia: namely, the presence of voluntary decisions, active agents and external assistance.

Voluntary decisions refer to whether the patient chooses euthanasia of his own free will. In the case of active agents, the question is whether the act occurs via active means like lethal injection, or passive means like the removal of life-support systems. External assistance refers to whether the patient ends his life on his own or is assisted by someone. Cases that occur involuntarily, without the patient's consent, involve obvious legal and ethical issues.

Consequently, there are five possible options, namely:
- Voluntary, passive
- Voluntary, active, non-assisted
- Voluntary, active, assisted
- Non-voluntary, passive
- Non-voluntary, active, assisted.

Non-voluntary euthanasia can occur when the patient does not have the capacity to make a conscious decision.

The second scenario - voluntary, active, non-assisted - is equivalent to suicide. Proponents of euthanasia often assume this will happen if euthanasia is not legalised. However, it is not necessarily a well-founded assumption.
Palliative care specialist Rosalie Shaw has expressed the contrary view - based on her abundant experience - that most people cling to life, rather than wanting to end it ('Helping with the dying', Nov 5).

More often than not, the wish to die occurs when the sufferer loses hope in life. If he continues to receive affirmation, acceptance and aid, it is very unlikely that he will choose the lonely path of death. It must also be noted that, with medical advances, management of pain has improved.
Hence, proponents of euthanasia basically propose to legalise the voluntary-active-assisted act of dying, which is allowed in the Netherlands, where a substance is introduced into the patient to hasten his death.

Many believe this procedure can be controlled by outlining all available options before the patient makes a decision. Again, this is debateable. Most psychologists agree that a person with constrained options cannot make an autonomous decision. Hence, it is questionable whether a patient who believes he is in a hopeless state can make a rational decision. More often, it is the perception of being a burden to others that triggers the desire to end one's life.

In fact, legalising euthanasia may lead to negative social implications. Society may consider the procedure as an immediate and achievable solution for the 'suffering' family member. In the name of 'ending the patient's pain', society may become more self-centric. This would be especially true of a society with a growing number of elderly members and where resources are considered scarce.

Euthanasia is much more than an issue of individual choice. Singapore, as a nation and a community that speaks highly of the sacredness of life, family values and selfless grace, should never legalise euthanasia.

David Siauw

Latest comments

Why do we assume that everyone "clings to life"? I feel that those who are opposed to legalising euthanasia do so purely out of blind compliance to their particular religious beliefs. Of course, they try to cover this up with all sorts of flimsy reasoning on why euthanasia should not be legalised. Hey, there are some people who believe in reincarnation, so shouldn't this be considered too? Euthanasia does not matter so much if you're going to be reincarnated :-)
Posted by: Fox_KiloGRAM at Sun Dec 14 22:33:55 SGT 2008

Thks Gigamole for your clarification. Yes, agree with you the worst that can happen is S'pore being a "euthanasia hub". There is always this small group of people who are faced with no other choice but euthanasia due to intense suffering and pain, but then as luciferixangel put it..."Life is precious and if possible why does the individual not have the will to fight this pain? Why succumb to it using such means?" I think that was very well said..I for one hope that the government would never legalise euthanasia. I fear that the patient's family members may not be able to live with the guilt that they may have given up hope too easily, even if the patient had given his consent. Maybe more effort should be spent on improving palliative care facillities, instead of arguing what consitutes the right time to die.I believe when the time is up, we will all naturally leave this world. The pain of knowing that your loved one is alive but suffering will be just as great as knowing that you had taken the easy way out to let him die prematurely, and not done your best to help relieve it. There are no short cuts in life.
Posted by: MichiganOne at Sun Dec 14 22:01:44 SGT 2008

Euthanasia and the rationale behind it is actually multi-faceted. Consider this. Euthanasia is only even considered due to the reason that it eases suffering by inducing a form of painless death to an individual. However, I always believe in the logic of the human life cycle and accept that everyone must die sooner or later, and based on this, is it even remotely acceptable that an individual chooses such an option? There is a fine line between Euthanasia and suicide. Life is precious and if possible why does the individual not have the will to fight this pain? Why succumb to it using such means?Using Euthanasia as a poor excuse to ease one's suffering. However, on the other hand, one might argue that every person has to be given a fair choice, and they obviously have the right to choose Euthanasia, but like whar Mr Gigimole has mentioned, only as a last resort. On a personal level, Euthanasia is definitely an option, but it should not be in anyway a starting point for it to be sold commercially as a full-proof method. There are many legality and moral issues that comes tied in with the bargain. Euthanasia can be made use of, especially so when the individual himself is unconscious or is involuntary. From a Singaporean context, we have to be wary of Euthanasia as it marks a shift from the conventional medical hub concept. We are moving from saving lives to ending lives in order to ease pain. Such a concept is fresh but dangerous, coming with a high moral price tag. It is cruel, even if the individual is voluntary. It might be personal, but I do not condone people "perpetuating" their own deaths and resorting to Euthanasia as a way to run away from troubles in life or because it is an easier option to tak in the circumstances. Without doubt, people will shirk away from such an option, but there might be a way out. There must be strict laws in place to allow Euthanasia to be carried out efficiently and in the correct way on a case to case basis. If at anytime morality is compromised, it should be banned straight away. However, in the end, the debate is: If the individuals and their loved ones condone Euthanasia, does morality still hold, especially since our model of society cannot possibly accept premature death as an option, due to the need to uphold the importance of human lives and the global medical hub concept. It is once again a battle between morality of the personal ring surrounding the individual, and the community value of the society. With better ways to combat pain and technology, should Euthanasia actually be commercialized?
Posted by: luciferixangel at Sun Dec 14 20:02:55 SGT 2008

Reading between the lines, I suspect that the government is testing the ground, to see whether , euthanasia is acceptable to the population of Singapore to solve problems associated with patients suffering from terminal cancer or other end of life diseases, which in time to come will include those patients not economically active and lingering away in nursing homes, demented and straining the economy. Tell me I am wrong.
Posted by: kiam123straitstimes at Sun Dec 14 19:43:28 SGT 2008

Euthanasibe an option of first choice in any society. It is always an option of last resort. I am not a champion of euthanasia, but grudgingly recognize that it may represent a final solution to a small group of patients for which palliation has failed.If euthanasia is to be legalized and offered as a solution, society will have to pay a high ethical/moral price. Euthanasia, thus should only be an option only for the members of that society. It should not be part of a commercialized set of activities. I could never condone euthanasia, if offered in the context of a globalized medical hub concept. I could never ever support Singapore becoming an euthanasia capital of the world, which it will da cannot efinitely be should we offer euthanasia services to non-citizens.http://gigomole.blogspot.com/search/label/lifeanddeath.
Posted by: gigamole3 at Sun Dec 14 09:14:57 SGT 2008

One Thing (song that make you fall in love with God more and more...)

One Thing (Hillsong United)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEuULgUI3ng


One thing I desire
One thing I seek
To gaze upon Your beauty
Your majesty

Lord of my salvation
Lifter of my head
Teach me how to live O Lord
Your righteousness

In the day of trouble
You cover me
In the secret place of refuge
Lord I will sing

*So I pray to You
So I pray to You

Lord Your Name is higher than the heavens
Lord Your Name is higher than all created things
Higher than hope
Higher than dreams
The Name of the Lord

All I want is You
All I want is You Jesus
I will seek your face
Call upon your name
All I want is you Jesus

(Musicians, if interested Contact me for chords)

how many hours does yr husband work per day on avg?

My husband works in the day and at night he has conference calls up to 1am at least 3X per wk.

If he is not working, he will be home reading or working on his assignment.

He helps with hosework once a wk, does the dishes on some days and help & plays with our son frequently.

is this normal?

Coming to San Frans!!!!!

POSTCARD FROM SINGAPORE

We are coming to San Frans mid of May this year ... love to visit for fellowship, cuppa coffee, visiting bookshops, museum, watch muscials, shopping, yakking, anything!

Show us around if you like to meet some Singaporean frens and our baby of 1yr old.

Tell us if you like something from here too!

Love, David, Sharon & Baby Theo

New kid on the blog! www.TheosTreasure.blogspot.com

Chk this out!
www.TheosTreasure.blogspot.com


Theo has his own blog! Go on... chk out his pics and leave some cool messages for him
from time to time!

The Bare Necessities - Walt Disney

this songs sums up what thanksgiving is about... oh so endearing... Some controversy surrounding Walt Disney's concept is its just airy fairy, castle in the air, honey on the lips, rose-tinted world-ness that is Un-real. BUT, hey, we lost so much of childlike-ness we don't even know how to look for things to give thanks for!

Thanksgiving is not just thanking God for good things that happened to us, its actively looking for God in things to GIVE thanks for. And with disposable income growing by the zeros, what is really really UNREAL is what money cannot buy!

Writer: Terry Gilkyson; Lyrics: Terry Gilkyson, used in The Jungle Book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life

Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard

And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you

(Reprise)
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
With just the bare necessities of life

Diary of Theophilus @ 3mths - Just woke up!

Love songs from the highest

The best of Chris Tomlin

The world is full of love songs for lovers but mostly sad love songs for star-crossed lovers, but Chris Tomlin has recordful of love songs for our highest. How can one's heart be filled with so much love? Only one who has experienced the greatness and depth of love that an amazing God give, can one then pour it out. Hear one of my favourites from Chris...

http://www.christomlin.com


From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God You are amazing God Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

the other day my dad read the Bible to me

Archbishop William Temple –

worship is the submission of all our nature to God,

it is the qickening of conscious by his holiness,

nourishment of our mind by his truth,

purifying of imagination by his beauty,

opening of hearts to his love and submission of will to his purpose,

all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest expression in which we are capable

Count it all joy!

Feeling stuck in a place with no where to run or hide is probably the last place I will count it all joy.
When our heart is prone to wonder and our eyes look where it should not, the spiritual siren goes off suddenly shrieking “DANGER! DANGER!” I ducked quickly.

Come high waters and stormy clouds… one moment, I seem to be drowning and another, I seem to have Hope. Swimming against all odds, I am swarmed in unfamiliar surroundings. This time in my life, I have no control over where I want my career to go and boy, reality hits me like a ton of bricks. Suddenly I also felt I am in no way able to control the situation I am in, I am, short of having a better word in a no choice situation!

Somewhere nearby I recalled having a survival float. My Lord, God and Jesus Christ. I turned to him instinctively, wondering if there is something I should change. I started to give thanks. Admidst tears and struggles, I count my blessings one by one. There was no joy, but I did it anyway to counter a complaining spirit. Then God seems to have heard me and honoured my effort.

While I cling onto Deut 28:13, David clarified what the verse meant: that no matter how high I climb or where I am eventually, I am the head as long as I am in God’s purpose and plan. David told me that if God would choose to create me again, he would make it exactly the same. Without warning, I burst into a dam. God choose to use such a time to reveal how much I didn’t like myself and I didn’t even knew it was so deep. Shocked at the revelation, I pressed into his presence. Surely God knows that I need a miracle, Surely God is trying to hint to me that he was going to heal me. That nite the pain in my heart shot through, my pillow was thoroughly soaked in tears, but I felt the depth of God’s love was for me. We quickly said a prayer for the preborn baby within me. We told baby not to be distressed, it was merely the process by which God is healing mummy. It was nearly 1am. It is time to count it all joy.

Specialising in Impossibilities

the spirit that indwells
the unspoken power that heals
O Lord why havent we been able
to walk with greater assurance?

like Peter who walked on water
to see your power here on earth
Perform your miracles

Let the spirit that indwells
do a greater work inside
so that we too can
turn water into wine
heal the sick
let the blind see
the lame walk
set the captives free
so your word says

Heal the sick
the blind see
the lame walk
set the captives free
In Je-sus name
In Je-sus mighty na-me!

set our hearts on fire
Revive our faith
Use us as a vessel
so that we reveal Jesus

Set our eyes on you
so that we forget ourselves
we turn to you
say YES to your every ways

Open our ears
so they may be quick to obey
respond to your word
we may shout like you did "stand up and walk!"

People of God
Arise, Arise
we serve a God of possibilities!

Displaced affections

Picture by:Richard OostLocationUrk, Flevoland, Netherlands

Have you ever found yourself loving something that you shouldn’t?

There are so many things in the world vying for our attention.
Sometimes these affections were a result of our carelessness, we were too unattentive, or too distracted and we stumble.

Other times however, it creeps up as innocently as a pup to its mother, just when we were trying to well, mind our own business and trying to be a good citizen.

And the holy spirit will warn us to stay away. And as Christians, we know the voice of the holy spirit but try as we might, there is no one way to overcome it at once. And we strive to obey and follow day after day, only to be faced with the same situations week after week. And you wonder when God will remove that which displeases him. The power of God never fails. He sends his ministering angels, and puts us in situation so that we can encounter help.

The first time I heard this song, I was facing many big issues in life. Yet I did not run away because I knew God had lead me to this mountain to conquer it. But time and again, I simply could not and discouragement set in. So I decided to seek comfort in the Lord and started crying in him. As I did, David, my husband picked me up from my bedroom and started dancing to this song with me. I was loving the time of sadness but Jesus didn’t let me wallow. When I heard the words “Arise” I burst out into tears again. I felt the power of God’s love speaking through the song. I experienced the possibility of overcoming what I was facing. Arise was the promise of victory and I experienced the freedom that came with it.

After that day, the situation still remained but I sensed a difference in the way I responded. It was not over, but there was improvement. There is no one formula how Jesus does his work in us. Sometimes he allows us to cry in him and through that, heals us. Sometimes he just wants us to press in to see Victory. Over a period a time, I faced the same issue and again the same song spoke to me. However, I saw something so different this time. You know, whatever displaced affections we have in our heart, there is nothing that can replace our love for God, simply because he takes the highest place of our heart. He is above all things and all else and that makes all affections in life so small compared to our love for him! So as we worship him and pour out all our love & affection for him, and as we enthrone him in our praise, he will fill our lives!

And the miracle is that there will be no room left for displaced affections.

What a wonderful God he is and indeed “Arise King of Kings, we lift you up on our praises!!!”

ARISE - Paul Baloche, Don Moen

VERSE: One thing we ask of you
One thing that we desire
That as we worship you Lord
come and fill our lives Arise, Arise, Arise, Arise

CHORUS: Arise, take your place
Be enthroned on our praise Arise,
king of kings Holy God as we sing Arise Arise

to listen to excerpts of this song:http://www.worshipmusic.com/39552.html

Project Worship - Radical

[Attended a worship retreat blessed by Amina last Sat at her church]

I chickened out when I read the programme but when the teams were formed, everyone felt I should just go ahead and have a blast. I agreed, but was perspiring inside.
Somebody should notice I was a mess. Team dynamics & song writing was the title of the workshop. There were about 7 persons in each team. It looked like a conspiracy when everyone played some kind of instruments except keyboard. And when we were finally through with our introductions, we discovered a young & talented keyboard teacher amongst us. He decided graciously give up his seat to me. I thought God had forsaken me! Even so I had repeated umpteen times that I have never played in the band nor know how to, my pleas turned to deaf ears.

God has his way of turning things upside down, so that Sat afternoon, I decided to just jump in and lap it all up. As crazy as it might sounds, I thought to myself, what the heck, let my hair down and learn to have fun! (I was making having fun so serious.)

To say the least, I was unfamiliar with the entire team, the setting, the works! I was totally unqualified to play in the band. I could not even begin to imagine what the rest of the workshop will be like! It's like having a right-hander brush his teeth with the left hand or like walking along the streets of Russia , not understanding what all the conversations were about. It was the unfamiliar that reveals our insecurity and fear. It was the familiar that masquerade our source of trust. Humbled with reckless abandonment, I took God's hand. Like a little kid trying to cross a bridge suspended on ropes, I started with cautious tiny steps and then break into a run. I felt the wind against my face, it spelled F-R-E-E-D-O-M.

Why God in all these? Jesus put something permanent in place of what familiarity cannot give.
Familiarity cannot access wisdom. Familiarity breeds complacency. He replaced self-dependency with humility. He replaced years of self-achievement with Grace - a gift no one can earn. Talk to familiarity and you get the same old story over and over. Familiarity shuts out the holy spirit as he moves like wind. The world needs something Familiarity cannot give.

I had tremendous fun playing two songs. The synergy was awesome. A 1-yr old christian man in his fifities led the worship. It was probably his first time. I was so proud of him. He led with such gusto! I am quite sure he felt the wind against his face too.

Everyone deserves a miracle. This, familiarity cannot give.

Project Worship

Butterscotch & Cream

We’ve never done this before although David had his share of creating an ‘art form’ the last time he tried painting his pastor’s house and spilled a can of paint on the living room carpet!

Looking at the blank slab of wall, it suddenly looked daunting.

We studied the instructions diligently and bought all the accessories. All set and ready to go, the first paint was meticulously dabbed on. It was cream colour and smelled like vanilla.

It took us half an hour to get the first stripe measured, painted, taped and untaped. We were barely on our second stripe when both of us thought this was crazy. We didn’t think we were the few fortunate people with excess time on hands enough to want to kill it.

I could almost sense David’s silent message. He being the one better at estimation of time and calculations had a bad feeling that this will last longer than it should. Needless to say, the overly-optimistic me thought we could still do it just under 4 hours. I urged him on. I proposed we stop at one panel only if a) it looked awful b) we cannot go on anymore for whatever reasons. He agreed.

4 hours past, we finished just 1 panel out of the three. Opps! even though I had so gravely underestimated the time taken to complete, it was now David's turn to be perky. “Wow… so nice man! Let’s finish all three panels!” So that kicked off a new-found enthusiasm and we enjoyed painting to no end, feeling like kids who had just received new toys.

My heart warmed at seeing a new, never been done before project achieved. That is how I like to continue with my service unto the Lord. Both in and out of the workplace, church setting or even when I’m on vacations. The Bible exhort that in all that we do all things as if it was unto God and not unto men. Although Christianity many dubbed an adventure of faith, though daunting, hold rewards that will certainly be as sweet as butterscotch and cream!

In service and in love, Lord help us dare to go all the way!

Blessed out of our socks

There was filming to be done on Sat and Fri nite after CG was to attend a friend's grandma's wake. I was a little worried for my health having gotten up so early on Friday morning for the Fire Conf, plus a hectic week of co-ordination for the week's outdoor shoot.

Friday nite caregroup was all the way in the East. Thankfully, David & I was blessed by Bernard, our fren at CG who drove to the wake near our place. We got home slightly at mid-nite. When we reached home, I suddenly remembered that we had forgotten twice, to get the hamburger as props for the next morning's shoot! The next morning, we were up for filming at Raffles Place at 8.45am, we gobbled our breakfast on the spot and God provided the hamburger at BK - altho not the actual size.

Filming and lunch ended at 2.30pm. We were at Joo Jiat. By public transport, it will take us 1.5 hours through the jam at Orchard Road all the way to the West. Philip offered to take us to town at first if his wife had not appeared on time. She did, and we got a ride home all the way. We got home at 3.30pm. At 4pm, David napped like a baby. I tried to but wasnt gifted to fall into bed at noon time like him, but I got some rest at least. We had an appointment with some new frens for the Reinhard Boonke service at 5.30pm. We were a little late, but managed to meet them for dinner at 6pm in town. The sermon was a blast and many left inspired. And if this is not what the blessings of God that overflows, I don't know what you call it. Jean, another of our new fren at CG drove us home. It was just quarter past eleven.

David was tired, he had been up since 4.30am everyday for studies, he spends time with God and then off to school at Geylang that starts at 8am. He travels 1hour to get there. My stamina hasn't been good and still pressing in for complete healing. That wk-end, although stretched, I suffered no headache or signs of impending illness. But God showed up more than once on Sat - it was a day when so many from the family of God bless David & I.

No blessing is too small and nothing is too great that is impossible for God to do through us! When family of God come together to bless each other in ways that they can, the Kingdom expands. Praise him!

Love that came down

Love that came down

Lord the day I sing for you
is the I live for you

My heart is filled with longing
My feet is going where you're leading

but Lord what I want most
is to lift you higher

my hands are rising, I want to touch you
my spirit is soaring, I want to be with you

bridge:
but Lord your grace and love so deep & wonderful
you cause

the cosmic explosion
heavens most divine intervention

chorus:
your love came down to me
touch my hands
heal my heart

No higher can I leap Lord
No futher I need to reach Lord

(repeat chorus 2X)

RO 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, `Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or `Who will descend into the deep?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

The Selfish Giant

Loving musicals since little, I've always wanted another excuse to go watch and experience the wonderful sights and sounds of theatrical performances. Having a child is one. And I am still waiting.

We will be moving into our new place soon, we were watching our budget from renovations down to design. Good budgeting however does not mean that things should look oh-so-shabby or that a riot of colours can reign as they like. We spent quite abit of effort to make sure of that.That day our new neighbour's little boy came over to have a look at our half-done up house. He looked every way like an inquisitive and restless 5 year old, and may I add, has an air of nothing-gets-in-my-way else I will knock-it-down look. I was trying to look fearless, half trying to befriend my new friend and half wishing he would go home quickly! Half obliging a smile, the little boy pounced on my new sofa just when I turned the corner. My heart skipped a beat. Our sofa cushion, made of fabric sat on a strong teak wood looked steady as ever. I glanced over and saw a piece of plastic sheet still intact, it not only protected the pale coloured fabric inside but also my frail heart. I grasp that moment to console myself, but wondered how long that plastic would be there. It really wasn't any solution.

Back in my old house, everything looked worn and familiar. I only started to notice a half-painted pipe the other day in the washroom and it was a sheepish job at that. I wondered why I haven't seen it before having lived there for at least 6 years now. I thought to myself, my old neighbouhood had consist of grown-ups, well mannered professionals, the youngest were teenagers, and you can tell they were a product of good family upbringing. We exchange polite "hi's" and "how's your day" without delving too much into personal space. It looked like a peaceful and harmonious neighbourhood. What a shame, I thought to myself, I would have allowed any kids to come in and pounce around. Pity no kids were around. Actually, that really wasn't a problem.

"He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter."

And so the selfish Giant realise his wintery heart and was no longer selfish . As a result his garden now experiences Spring! And even if the plastic sheet on the sofa sheet were to come off in time and little hand prints are found on them, may it be unto my new family and I that we will always beckon people with welcoming hearts, for all folks big or small, clean or unclean, polite or impolite, and always have an open door to make friends for Christ.

~ The End ~


The Selfish Giant presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre - The Little Company, will be screened from 5-30 Jul 2006 @ DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT

The Selfish Giant is a beautifully adaptation of the much-loved story by Oscar Wilde.
Famous for his adult plays (The Importance of being Ernest, An Ideal Husband) Oscar Wilde was also a poet, dreamer and above all, a storyteller. Initially written by Wilde for his own children, this enchanting story with songs promises both adult and children a delightful time at the theatre.
In this play, love conquers all and melts the cold heart of an unjust giant, who finally repents after discovering the joy of loving others.
A play for 3 - 8 years old. (and adults!)
Tickets are available at all SISTIC outlets www.sistic.com or 63485555.
Synopsis: http://www.4literature.net/Oscar_Wilde/Selfish_Giant/)

Your response

We just had our “Friendship” camp. I was thinking through randomly why making friends is now a challenge. Two things came up strongest. 1) Lack of giving of oneself 2) lack of grace in allowing offences to pass

Rarely would I use the word ‘mistreated’. Instead, I am more familiar however with experiences like hurt, unfair, injustice etc.

I was a witness to an argument that happened on a bus between a middle-aged man and a little boy’s parents. The middle-aged men retaliated to a playful kick by a toddler with an angry stomp on the floor board, missing the boy and the mother’s leg by inches. Words were exchanged, tempers flared and an all out egos war took place. The middle-aged men argued that the parents failing to correct the son was at fault and insulted their lack of parental guidance. The parents kept going on how wrong a grown-up was to retaliate to a mere toddler's kick.

While I watch, I slowly felt a sense of injustice arising. I felt angry to some extend seeing hints of bullying occurring from one side so much I wanted to step forth to protect. You see, God puts in our hearts a sense of right & wrong and as Christians, while it was made for the good of the Kingdom, we sometimes abuse it for our own. Things gets out of control when we assume the God role and fail to play our roles right.

I remembered one of my leaders who because of one of her member’s encounter in an unpleasant situation began screaming at me in public and commanded to see me at another place. I was first shocked at the haughtiness of an attitude and then contempt. All respect for her drained out of me and all I had for her was that she was a fluke. Shortly, in the two weeks that followed, there was peace-making attempts and apologies were exchanged. But I still never really recovered my respect for her.

In another encounter, a leader rained harsh words on me and removed me from a teaching session suddenly. During a peace-making session, threats came. Reeling from the impact of the words made this cut so deep and so seared, I conclude that this is another hypocrite who is all show and no depth.

Another leader picked up an offence and refused for us to join her small group. Ouch! Talk about rejections.

Mistreated? Well it could be a stretch to say that. But hurt, rejected? Yes definitely.
For those married, the pain can be even greater seeing your spouse hurt or rejected yet knowing that you can’t take things into your own hands. He chose not to share the details of his encounter but to go into the bedroom and lay it all out before God. I admire his self-control. Many times I am tempted to try to dig out everything and uncover the ‘culprits’. Despite my natural instinct to stick out for him I was quietly inspired by his strong desire to obey God no matter what it takes. I decided to tag along.

David always has a ready word of wisdom on his lips. “Be above reproach. Two wrongs do not make one right. Do not take things into own hands.”

Recently while trying to sell off my existing house, an agent who promised all good things upfront failed to deliver. We lost a good 3months of wait with all other opportunity cost plus, my mom got all worked up. On the night of peace talk, David was the mediator. There were no fancy legworks, legal jargons nor preachy God stuff. In the face of false accusations, David spoke steadily, calmly with huge dose of grace and friendliness. What I saw awed me. If there was an altar call to repent of seeking revenge, that would be me. The God sized spirit in him won my family over in doing things God way.

That day I truly began my search for the right respond when we are wronged, hurt, rejected or mistreated. This book was the start of God’s answered prayer.
I was reminded of King David who said these very profound words, “I will not touch God’s anointed.”

It was not so much who hurt us, more than whom we trust. In my very contempt of the authorities God placed over me, I abused what God puts in my heart and felt as if I own the right to administrate justice. During the special ministry night of Friendship camp, I knew I might have some left over areas for God to work in but didn’t know exactly which areas. So I said a simple prayer and left it as that. In God’s time, I want to be able to go to the leaders to tell them what I saw God put in them. I want also to seek for their forgiveness.

People of God, be encouraged!
Proverbs 24:29
“Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I (the Lord) will render to the man according to his work”

Proverbs 20:22
“Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will save you”

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head and the Lord will reward you
[the idea is that an act of kindness to your enemy may cause him or her to feel ashamed. This is just one way to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:20)]

You can find all of John Bevere's book @http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=br_ss_hs/103-9243582-8483816?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=John+Bevere

The fallen bread

Few weeks ago, during the time of the Lord's supper during a church service, I looked over and saw David holding a cup with a thoroughly soaked piece of bread in the cup. Very quickly, I looked at him and assume his itchy fingers had a part to play in this embarassing predicament he got himself into. I immediately shot a question to him to him quietly but not so gently "Why did you do that?". To which he replied. "I figured no one will pick this cup on the communion tray as the bread had fallen into the cup, and soaked. So I pick this instead." Looking at the cup with the fallen bread in it, I realised that the lesson of the fallen bread is for me and not David. So quick to pass judgement, I reacted only to what my sinful eyes see. David's act of kindness, no matter how small and unseen by others, bears the true mark of sacrificial servanthood. It was a significant encounter for me and God. I repented.

For Your Glory

Jesus, for your glory

Sunrise to sunset
Till your kingdom comes again
Wanna tell everyone how awesome your love

Wanna lose sight of all I can do
Blind to what I have

Status and richess, talents and skills
Lord you are more

Chorus:
My hands, my talents and skills
They belong only to you,
So take me, use me, consume me
For your highest glory and honour

Bridge:
All for your glory
My pride I lay it down again

Take me, use me, consume me
Only for your glory
O Jesus for your glory


More then the air I breathe
More then life itself
More then what I can
More then what I have

Shout to the world, how awesome your love
How you came and how you save
Lord, make me lose sight of me
Jesus for your glory

Chorus:
My hands, my skills, my talents
They belong only to you,
So take me, use me, consume me
For your highest glory and honour

Everything… Everything belongs to you