God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Life is about changes and learning to enjoy the adventure of journeying in life with Him. I can't see what's ahead and have no way of controlling how things will go. I can only trust Him, that He makes all things beautiful in its time.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Andrea Bocelli

I'm a huge fan of Andrea Bocelli. I think he's really sexy and reminds me of the movie Scent of a Woman. I'm beginning to realise that many of my heroes were either lawyers, trained in law or intended to pursue legal training.

Andrea Bocelli is a classical operatic singer. Born in Lajatico, rural Tuscany not far from Pisa, Bocelli describes himself as a "product of the countryside". Born with poor eyesight, he became totally blind at the age of 12 following a soccer accident.

Despite his obvious musical talents, Bocelli didn't consider a career in music until he had studied law at the University of Pisa and had earned a Doctor Of Law degree. Inspired to pursue music, he studied with famed tenor Franco Corelli, supporting himself by performing in piano bars.

Today Bocelli has emerged as one of the most exciting voices of contemporary opera and has been called "the fourth tenor". Bocelli possesses a very unique gift - a beautiful, natural voice that communicates directly from the heart. His good friend Celine Dion described his voice once saying... "If God had a singing voice, it would sound much like Andrea Bocelli."

I found this video of a very cool fountain dance at the famous Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, using his song, 'Time to Say Goodbye'. Watch the video here! You can also watch other related videos listed on the right panel there.


Friday, September 29, 2006

Body World


Real humans. Real science. Really amazing!
Never before has an exhibition offered such an intimate look at the human body. Approximately 200 real human specimens—whole body plastinates, individual organs, transparent body slices and healthy and diseased organs—present a one-of-a-kind anatomy and physiology lesson. See how your body’s systems relate to one another and work together to help you function and survive. View firsthand how lifestyle choices impact your health and how muscles and joints work together during athletic performance.

BODY WORLDS 3 was created by anatomist, Dr. Gunther von Hagens, inventor of Plastination—the groundbreaking method of anatomical specimen preservation. This technology allows authentic specimens to be displayed
in a lifelike fashion for instruction and education, giving you an opportunity to appreciate what it really means to be human.

A note of caution with regards to the exbibtion: All body specimens are without skin so you can see the bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and organs. Eyes and genitals of the body remain. A section of the exhibition highlights prenatal development, and includes embryos and fetuses!


Process of Plastination
A process at the interface of the medical discipline of anatomy and modern polymer chemistry, Plastination makes it possible to preserve individual tissues and organs that have been removed from the body of the deceased as well as the entire body itself. Like most inventions, Plastination is simple in theory: in order to make a specimen permanent, decomposition must be halted. Decomposition is a natural process triggered initially by cell enzymes released after death and later completed when the body is colonized by putrefaction bacteria and other microorganisms. By removing water and fats from the tissue and replacing these with polymers, the Plastination process deprives bacteria of what they need to survive. Bodily fluids cannot, however, be replaced directly with polymers, because the two are chemically incompatible. Gunther von Hagens found a way around this problem: In the initial fluidexchange step, water in the tissues (which comprises approximately 70% of the human body) and fatty tissues are replaced with acetone, a solvent that readily evaporates. In the second step, the acetone is replaced with a polymer solution. The trick that first proved to be critical for pulling the liquid polymer into each and every cell is what he calls "forced vacuum impregnation." A specimen is placed in a vacuum chamber and the pressure is reduced to the point where the solvent boils. The acetone is suctioned out of the tissue at the moment it vaporizes, and the resulting vacuum in the specimen causes the polymer solution to permeate the tissue This exchange process is allowed to continue until all of the tissue has been completely saturated—while a matter of only a few days for thin slices, this step can take weeks for whole bodies.

The second trick is selecting the right polymer. For this purpose, "reactive polymers" are used, i.e., polymers that cure (polymerize) under specific conditions, such as the presence of light, heat, or certain gases. Their viscosity must be low, i.e., they have to be very thin liquids; they must be able to resist yellowing; and, of course, they must be compatible with human tissue. The polymer selected determines the look and feel of the finished specimen.

Compared with this, taxidermy sounds like child's play! Check out their website. Sounds really neat and very fascinating. I hope to catch this exhibition at the Science World here. This is as close I can get without handling the live and real thing ... no plans to becoming a surgeon or nurse. Definitely don't want to be conscience if I have to go under the knife to cut off any of these!

Some hilarious folks @ Regent

Some videos of folks at Regent. The first one was a video presented at the recent College retreat. Stacie is a one funny talented woman and this really gives you an idea the kind of people we have here... people who trying to work out dead serious stuff like theology but know better than to take ourselves too seriously! There's some inside jokes but I'm sure you'll appreciate it too. The scene you see her camping, and later dancing around the tables of students who are studying, she's actually in the common area in College.
You must also watch the second video... this is our very own Gospel choir. We've got folks from all over the world and a very wide ethnic representation (the conductor is a Japanese lady) ... everything but an African-American!!

Links to:
Video One
Video Two

Time for me to get back to some serious studying!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Survey of Malay Muslims in Malaysia

Recent survey taken in Malaysia shows that 73% think we are Islamic state
Read more here.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Peter or Judas?

When my parents were here last week, my mum commented that I seem a lot happier. I guess it's hard to hide the fact that I love being here at Regent and what I'm doing, although I have faced some challenges and go through some stressful times. When asked if I love this more than pastoring ... I think that was a tough question. Tough because it's not fair and right to compare because there's really no basis for comparison. I love my time in YA and would not trade it for anything else, that is, I'd still do it, even if I was asked to choose again. There were pain and untold sorrows. The struggles that I had gone through were partly my fault and saw it as a time of change, growth and being stretched. Looking back I could see it was His grace that carried me through it all ... I know that was where He wanted me to be at that time and His faithfulness is the only thing I can boast about.

God has also graciously provided me with friends who've helped see me through this period. These friendships are priceless and precious gifts and they mean a lot to me. I won't be where I am if not for my friends. Some young, others much older and many from my peers, in all form, size and shape. They saw me and knew me... knew just how stuffy, serious and boring I can be, then with just as much grace, accept the super goofy side of me. Wild and crazy pastor ... wilder and crazier than many, if not most, of my members. I will always remember the time my CG took me out for a surprise birthday dinner. They told me they'd celebrate my birthday but did not tell me where they were taking me. We ended up driving, 3 car loads, up to Genting Highlands for dinner! I asked them what made them pull a crazy stunt like that? And their only answer was that otherwise it would not be befitting of an extreme pastor like me! I'll say that's an extreme demonstration of love!

My leaders saw in me something that I often missed in myself ... my potential in Christ! They loved me and all the bizzare range of personalities that I kept trying on did not deter them, and I think I tried quite a few. They believed in me, helped me find myself and taught me to believe in myself. They refused me to allow me equate my mistakes with failure and reminded me that it's as natural as a baby learning how to walk, insisiting that I get up and keep going. They refused to give up on me and won't let me me even think of giving up on myself. With leaders like that, it made me want to try and try again, to do something and make them proud. Do you know what it is like to have someone who inspire you like that? It gave me a glimpse of how God sees me. Often I have a very warped picture of God and He uses men and women to reveal a bit of His nature and help correct my skewed ideas. So I thank God for such godly men and women that God place in my life.

Looking back, I wince at the mistakes I've made, with deep regret... I told a friend recently that it's pretty amazing how I've managed to mess up every single opportunity God has given me, to prove myself to Him or do something for Him. It's undeniable. I used to sing a line from Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" - regrets I have a few but then again too few to mention (yes, I know this is telling of my age). This used to be my motto but as the years go by, I no longer sing it so boldly. I can't help but see my sin-tainted hand on everything I touch and wonder why God would want to involve me in his extensive and holy work. You know what? As I look back in church history, I find this same strand throughout the ages. Saints, who are also sinners, have been used by God throughout history to advance His kingdom. It's easy for us to look at them and romanticise or think that perhaps they were different or that they lived in a different generation from ours. But they're human just like us ... they got some things right but missed some other areas. Neverthless the purposes and plans of God will not be thwarted by anyone, not even if we tried ...very hard!!! How much more for us who are sincerely trying to follow God and serve Him the best we can?

Sure, for me it still feels like I've really messed things up, but my, main and only, hope, consolation and assurance, is that God is bigger than all our mistakes!! Nothing is so big an issue He cannot overcome and make turn it around for something good. I can choose to be Judas and give up, stop God from writing the rest of my story or I can choose to be Peter ... come back to him with heart-broken repentance and wonder if he'll give me another chance. Sometimes it seems like I've chosen to be Judas, trying to hide from any responsiblities and not wanting to risk another failure. But then God springs a surprise on me, turns up and gently but firmly, offers me another opportunity! He even knows what kind of offer to make me ... a baby step to help me get back on my feet and not asking of me to do what I think is way beyond me. Further he provided me a leader who is not easily deterred and very persistent, even though I feel he doesn't know me very well. He simply refused to take 'No' for an answer despite all my protests and declinations!

So what can I say? Yes, but help me Lord. I can't but You can... keep me from making a mess and fouling up this great opportunity. However even if, and when, I do mess up, please turn them around for something good and not let it thwart your plans. He'll see to that ... and if I really believe what I've written in the paper I'm working on, then His plans have already taken into account all my mistakes. Boy, what a huge relief!! The Lord brought to my mind a recent picture of my friend who was carrying a brand new tank of gas for the BBQ pit. Then his little boy (the bright blond hair little one) came alongside and the dad asked the boy if he'd give him a hand. Then he told the little guy to put his tiny hand and carried it as hard as he could! You know what? It really didn't matter what the little boy was doing cause the dad was doing the carrying and will see to it that the tank gets to the pit anyways. But from the child's perspective, he felt really important that he was giving dad a hand and pleased that his dad had asked for his help. The dad on the other hand also got a kick out of seeing his son's desire to participate in what he was doing!

Were you encouraged a little by this blog? I was just preaching to myself and I do that sometimes... feel uplifted just hearing the word of God being preached back at myself!

New semester, new beginnings

I am grateful for God for seeing me through the first week. Earlier this week, I was panicking about my workload and felt pretty overwhelmed. Made some resolutions including backing out of this weekend's College retreat, so that I could work on a paper. Feel like I can breathe a little easier and can cut myself some slack, and taking some time to blog. One tiny miracle this week was finishing my book report for my class on Wed. My friend was superbly impressed that I pulled it off because I had told him I had not started reading when I saw him on Tue afternoon, as I was going in for my class! Started after dinner and worked through most of the night, reading over 170 pages of John Cassian's book entitled Conferences - an ancient work dating back to 300AD. Thank God that he even gave me a good illustration to help me better understand the reading!

I have completely new housemates this year. One of them is a Hong Kong parentage but raised in Singapore. He's a 3rd year Economics student in UBC. He's one mean cook and cooks almost everyday, with full works of boiling soup and all (can immediately see the Cantonese influence). And I get to benefit from the extra soup sometimes - yes! He's quiet and clean. The other 2 are also guys; both are good friends. One of them turned 19 last Sunday and he's a Filipino Chinese with Canadian citizenship. He's just transferred to UBC, doing 2nd year Economics. Finally the last one is a Canadian and he is from British Columbia, his family lives about 45 minutes drive away. He's 18 and turning 19 at the end of the year! His major is in Religious Studies and does even more intense work than I do at the graduate studies level, including Classical and Biblical Greek and Latin! He sleeps with choral singing playing on his computer all night long.

Both the young lads lived in a catered dormitory residence last year and neither of them cook. So they've been surviving on take-outs and frozen dinners. Last night I cooked some rice and curry and offered them to my housemates. It was a real hit and they all felt it had a good level of spiciness - which means it was too spicy for me! Har har, yeah it's a joke. So yeap, I'm keeping up my tradition of collecting boys... a whole house of them this year. I think they're really easy going, and so far, I find it easier than sharing with girls. Keeping my fingers crossed and keeping up my prayers. A little bit of noise doesn't bother me. They've set up a 20' TV complete with home entertainment DVD set in the living area. Boys, especially young boys, and their toys. They've not been watching it though cause the TV didn't come with a remote control! It's been pretty quiet so far. Generally they're not too messy and don't dirty up the place, or are ok with washing up if I tell them the dishes been left out for too long. My ex-housemates visited me this week and found the place cleaner than when they were living here ... and they are 2 girls.

I love my new super big room... can bring in an entire 2-seater sofa and turn it more all 360ยบ, which is amazing. Still in the same apartment, but occupying the room at the end of the corridor, intended for disabled. For the same price of the other rooms, it's a blessing. Even put up some nice gel-ly friends on my window. Check it out.





It's kind of tricky trying to shoot these gel-ly gems because the camera is pointed at the window and the light outside is quite bright. I'm learning to keep the camera in the shadow and try to aim my camera at the object, which with a 'point and shoot' camera it automatically tries to focus to the wall behind! You can see what I mean if you click on the first photo.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

What really matters

This summer has been a exceedingly hectic summer - moving out, working, working as a TA, coordinating Summer School's Prayer Retreat, working as Orientation TA for the new intake of students, moving back in, finished 2 courses, then spending time with my parents' visit the last 11 days. On top of that, attending chapels, evening lectures, still try to enjoy the summer, spend time with catching up with friends and saying good-bye to those who left. I don't even know how I managed all that except for his grace ... nothing short of sheer grace.

Just as He has seen me through the last year and this Summer term, I know He will see me through this year. I have some catching up to do since I have not been keeping up with my coursework this past week my parents were here and term started this week. I am taking a course on Conversion and Transformation, another on Classics of Christian Spirituality and a seminar on Prayer. I will also be finishing my audio Systematic Theology C course which I started in the summer but haven't been able to get very far because of my hectic schedule. I am looking forward to all my classes. Conversion and discipleship is something that has always weigh heavily in my heart. I have lots of questions about what it means to be saved, the process of being a convert and disciple, how does transformation takes place in the life of a disciple, etc. I am glad to be taking the seminar on Prayer, and have been asking God to teach me to pray and have a consistent prayer life. I know that's one area I really need to work on and hope to approach this course (and all my other courses!) prayerfully. I need to submit my research topic this week so have to start cracking my head on it. The Classics of Christian Spirituality will lead me to read works from saints from across a wide span from different ages in Church history. Some of these I've read before and others are works I've been wanting to read ... so I'm really looking forward to reading these great classics. I thank God for courses that makes you read books you've been meaning to read anwyays - but still it's not joke to read about 6-7 works for one course with a reading report due every week! Thus I'm taking a few more credits than I've taken in previous terms, so it's gonna be a very challenging semester.

On the not so bright side - the weather has just turned a whole 10C colder and it rained the whole day! Fall is officially here. I'm glad God has given us really good weather the past few days my parents were here. We were still wearing only our t-shirts 2-3 days ago but they literally felt the days colder by the day since they came. It's really fun to experience the change of season and Fall happen to be my mum's favourite.

Besides the weather, I received some pretty hard news this week. It came as a very huge blow to me and took the wind out of me, partly because I did not see it coming. My confidence was completely crushed and felt as if I've seemed to successfully messed every opportunity God has given me to serve Him. I am so scared of attempting to do anything more for God because I know my sin-tainted hands are bound to mess them up. I even told my pastor that I have major doubts about taking up the responsiblity of coordinating the multimedia operators, despite my previous blog (which he told me he had read!). I am grateful to God for providing me friends to help me process through some of these stuff and to put things in perspective; friends, both far and near, who've listened and stood with me. I appreciate very much all their words of encouragement during this crucial period. I apologise for keeping things vague but the details are quite immaterial. It is also for the sake of protecting the identity of parties involved because I've been surprised by who actually reads this blog - the fact that anyone out there even reads this blog serves to amaze me. I thank God for keeping me intact and helping me learn from this humbling experience.

Like I said earlier, God has seen me through so far, I am trusting Him to see me the rest of the way. Some prayer items I'd appreciate if you could breathe a prayer to God are:
1. Course workload - grace, discipline, wisdom and strength to see me through this semester's demanding courses.
2. Work - I'm in the midst of looking for another job, something that's less demanding in view of the heavy course workload that I have. Whether I work less hours or if I don't work, I'm trusting God knows best and will provide for me.
3. Ministry - I will continue to serve with the Alpha for International students. Praying to God to bring in more helpers for this outreach to mostly tertiary students from China. Needs lots of grace for the new responsiblities as multimedia coordinator in Church.

As I told my dear friend, no matter how we do in our studies or even in ministry - that God loves us just the same. I used to tell my friends, in a jesting manner, when I feel overwhelmed by the pressure of my studies ... that I feel like jumping off a building! One of them would always gently remind me each time that my life is worth more than 3 credits (the number of credits for each course generally)! It's just her simple way of assuring me what really matters and reminding me that even if I were to fail the course, it's not worth dying for!! Thus my encouragement to my friend is something I need to hear for myself as well - that is, even if I were to fail all my courses, not have a job, completely fail in ministry - these are not the basis of my salvation. Neither are they the basis that God chose to love me.

One last thought for the day... during my parents' trip here I was reminded me of what it's like to have a Havenly Father who is constantly looking out for us. I did most of the driving, for some very good reasons: I've not driven for months; my father's not used to right hand drive; I was more familiar with the local roads (although I don't drive here). On several occassions he has 'rebuked' other drivers for not letting me pass or using their horn, with comments like "Who's bullying my daughter?". This is not said in a very angry kind of tone but said more for my sake since the other drivers can't hear him. He's super protective and cannot stand to see anybody bullying his children. It's not like he is terribly patient with me or does not comment if I make a mistake ... but his 'harshness' with me is out of love. However he will not stand for anyone taking advantage of his children or harrassing us. He will not hesitate to stand up for us if he perceives that we're being mistreated and if need to, show others how tough he is capable of. This sort of 'harshness' is also motivated by love but it is not something you want to mess with. That's the way our Heavenly Father is and especially towards the fatherless. He constantly provides for us, looks out for us and will not hesitate to stand up for us if anyone tries to mess with His precious children. May we have a deeper appreciation of the Father's love for us daily; may we live in and out of a deep sense of security in His love; and may all our service spring out of an overflow of His love.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Time with my parents

My parents are in Vancouver for their first visit since I came, over a year ago. It's really been awesome to be able to spend some time with them. We visited the Rockies over the weekend. Have driven more than 1,000 miles since they arrived. My friends here think that's absolute madness... but then again, those who know me should know this is nothing for me, or my family! We visited Vancouver Island and Butchard Gardens. It's pretty amazing. More amazing for me is to see my dad taking pictures of flowers. Here is the link to some of the photos I took during these trips ... can compare them with my last trip to the Rockies in Spring. They look pretty different.

Link to the photos.


Lake Louise in Spring.

Lake Louise in Summer.

The way you look tonight

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
And the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart...
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely ... Never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it ?
'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look to-night.


This is one of those awfully low days...
And this is one song that can play in my dream and lead me to wake up dancing!

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Summer Photos!


Malaysians doing an outdoor BBQ in the park - only in Vancouver!

Farewell for KC and Sophia at Victor's place. One of the many this summer.


Helped to hand out icy cold drinks and fizzies beside the church to walkers for BC: Run for Cure for the Cancer Foundations. They came out to run in their full gear!

Dr Karen Jobes taught on the book of Esther which I helped to TA. Learned heaps from her!

Dr Alister McGrath taught on Apologetics. He was crystal clear and very helpful in answering many of the questions students brought to class.

Sharon Jebb Smith hails from Ireland. A Regent alumni who came to taught this Summer. Both she and her husband have a very lovely Irish accent.

One of my best thus far. Was surprised at my camera's ability. Not bad at all for a point and shoot.

Found this cafe located in Granville Island, with every table individually designed with infills like this!

Little Sammy holding out a flower for me to take a photo! Love his amazing blond hair - won't get it that colour even if I bleached mine over and over again. I should know... I tried.

Little Hannah is from Malaysia. She's just mastered riding on 2 wheels. So proud of her. Look at the amazing flowers she is posing beside. Juxtaposed them together for some perspective.

This humongous sunflower is taken from the garden of the house located next to my church. Contrast it with the school in the background. I'm amazed it is actually standing.