The Artist.....

Guess who designed this magazine cover......in 1968 when we were only 12?

GOODBYE 2 006 & HELLO 2 007

A small gathering of frens at Rock Garden to send off 06 and welcom 07 ......first time we have a x-ACS gal in the gathering. We should invite more of the ladies in future.

Better late than never...good of Hong Yick & Carol to come later

"the Divine Seeker "

The following article is taken from the Methodist Message of Singapore:

THE DIVINE SEEKERJESUS encountered many individuals during His earthly ministry. One such person was the unnamed Samaritan woman who had the great privilege of meeting Jesus alone at a well in Sychar in Samaria (Jn. 4:4-42). Jesus invited her into the kingdom of God and she gladly accepted His gracious invitation. In the course of their conversation, Jesus also taught her about true worship. We can learn much from that life-changing conversation that the woman had with Jesus, her Saviour (and ours too). Let us begin by taking a short detour to a sermon preached by John Wesley. One of Wesley's favourite sermon texts was Mt. 6:33 - "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you." He used this text in several of his sermons, urging people to turn from their sinful ways and to turn to God. Wesley not only used the Scripture text evangelistically, but also used it to encourage the early Methodists to maintain the focus of their lives.In one such sermon, Wesley reminded his listeners about the spiritual condition of the Samaritans. When Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th century, many Jews were exiled, and the king of Assyria brought many foreigners to settle in Israel (2 Kgs. 17:24). The resulting mixed race of Samaritans emerged. Their religion was a syncretistic or adulterated one. They retained some elements of Hebrew worship, but also embraced many imported idols. Their condition is described in the Bible: "Even while these were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols." (2 Kgs 7:41). Wesley pointed to this verse and observed how Christians were often guilty of the same thing. He then taught that to truly worship God is to trust Him, love Him, obey Him, and to become like Him. This, indeed, is a helpful way of understanding worship.'Worship, first and foremost, is all about God. The centre of our attention in worship should be God.'We are to seek God and His kingdom - this should be the motivation of true worshippers of God. In many churches, this idea has been incorporated into how worship services are conducted. Worship services are to be "seeker-sensitive" in that they are to cater to the needs, questions, and quests of seekers, people who are not yet Christians but who are seeking for God. Such evangelistic ideas are noble and to be commended. But there is also a danger that when we go in this direction, we may forget the deeper purposes of our call to worship God. Worship, first and foremost, is all about God. The centre of our attention in worship should be God, and not seekers, let alone ourselves. Human seekers often begin approaching God for self-interests. In other words, they are looking for the gifts, rather than the Giver. This should not surprise us, for that is often how most of us came near the edges of the Kingdom of God. But we must get a clearer picture of worship. In worship, God is the most important Seeker; He is far more important than human seekers. In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrated who the true Seeker is. It was He who sought the woman and brought her to eternal life. The woman came to the well, looking for water, but Jesus came looking for her. This is the way it often is. God is the Divine Seeker. He is the Shepherd who comes looking for His lost sheep. He is the One who came to seek and to save the lost.
IN HIS well-known poem entitled The Hound of Heaven, Francis Thompson describes our human inclination to run away from God and how God pursues us relentlessly till we turn to Him.
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;I fled Him, down the arches of the years;I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways …From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.But with unhurrying chase,And unperturbed pace, …
Thompson emphasises the fact that in truth God is the only Seeker. It is He who follows fleeing sinners till they feel His pursuing breath and are conquered by His untiring, constant and persistent love. This is what Jesus demonstrated at the well in Sychar. He shows a God who came seeking for us. In His conversation, He taught the woman about true worship. Like her forefathers, the woman was rather confused about worship. The Samaritans worshipped God but not Him alone. Jesus taught the Samaritan woman that God is the Divine Seeker who is seeking for true worshippers. Jesus said, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks." (Jn. 4:23). It is clear that in worship, it is God who is the Seeker. We must never forget this if we are to remain God-centred in our worship services. If we are truly worshipping God, we will discover that it is God who seeks us; we seek only because He first sought us. In the depths of our worship of God, we will come to realise that we are not really the seekers; we are the sought. What a profound experience this will be, that we have been sought by our Creator and Saviour. Too often, we make ourselves the central subjects in our experience of God. God may be merely an object. And so, we emphasise that it is we who seek Him, who love Him. But the Bible teaches us otherwise. All have gone astray. It is God who initiates our salvation experience. It is He who first loves us. It is He who first seeks us. We must give more credit to God for our spiritual experiences. We seek only because He first sought us. We love only because he first loved us.The celebrated spiritual writer Henri Nouwen learnt this truth when he relates how he spent much of his Christian journey seeing himself as the one who loved God. As God brought Nouwen deeper into relationship with Himself, Nouwen began to see a greater and richer reality - that he was the beloved of God. The primary experience was not he loving God, but God loving him. It is important that God becomes the defining centre of our lives and worship. Yes, we need to be seeker sensitive in our worship, but we must know who the Seeker is.

QUOTE:
'Worship, first and foremost, is all about God. The centre of our attention in worship should be God.'

Perak Chest Society

We have finally got the Perak Chest Society registered. Now comes the hardwork. Please review our official website at www.pcs.org.my and suggest programmes which you think are worthwhile. Our first Board Meeting is this Sunday. Thanks.

"Never had it so good"

Lots of good cheer and food too!! Can you make out who those two camera shy lads were?

Three happy persons

Helping Cheng Har to scan some pictures. I believe Yew Ai is at the centre. I think I have some problems figuring out the third person. Someone please help! Please invite Yew Ai to blog.

Year 1975

Guess the name of one of these two persons right and receive a treat from me at Sun Lee How Fook. Your choice of dishes of course!!

Undeterred by the haze

DAYBREAK Walkathon. Pictures taken at about 8.00 a.m., 10th October 2006 at the Ipoh Polo ground. Three ladies masked and ready to go despite the haze. Can you figure out who they are?
This Walkathon was held to raise funds for the DAYBREAK Landscape Project. This horticultural project will provide employment for the handicapped. The plants will be purchased by various housing developers in the country.
DAYBREAK stands for Disabled Adults and Youths Being Rewarded, Encouraged and Accepted in Kinta.

ACS USC TAG ReUnion

ACS USC is straight forward, Anglo Chinese School Upper Science C but what is TAG? Well...... it is not tau sau pow or those sort of stuffs. It is something I just coined....TAG = Teluk Anson Gang even though it should be called TIG cos Teluk Anson is now Teluk Intan but TA sounds more nostalgic, exciting & far away la.

After so-so many years we met for lunch today and for those who do not know all the 4 of us (including me) had our origins in Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan) also better known as the town with the Leaning Tower of Perak. I was born in TA and only came to Ipoh after standard 3.

Lunch was simple but the company & fellowship was great and plus all the catchups....some very funny and others simply delicious. Also discovered or rather we decided that we were all sort of related somewhere plus another one in Oz. Hemhemmmm what a discovery but better late than never! Its sort of a bit long and complicated maybe I will update that in another blog ....


Standing....Wan Hiong & KK aka agfoxx, Sitting...Lay Peng & Lay Ian

FAITH

Christians are believers in Christ and they have faith in His teachings.

Here is how a Bible dictionary defines faith:

Faith means abandoning all trust in one's own resources.
Faith means casting oneself unreservedly on the mercy of God.
Faith means laying hold on the promises of God in Christ, relying entirely on the finished work of Christ for salvation, and on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God for daily strength.
Faith implies complete reliance on God and full obedience to God.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Money matters

Consultants and experts......This year has been a traumatic one for many of my close friends with regards to money matters. I have encountered many times where my friends who are close to me getting involved in dubious and frivilous investment schemes promoted by eager "consultants" and "financial experts". Nowadays, every "Tom, Dick and Harry" is an expert in finance. In this article I am not dishing out any advice on finance. Far from it, I would like to just share some of my friends and my own experiences(adventure and misadventures) on this matter of utmost significance. We all agree that because of money, family and life can get destroyed, literally and figuratively speaking.

The real expert....Sir John Bond, the highly successful Chairman of HSBC who retired this year after heading the second largest bank in the world for many years has this to say. In an interview which I read in The Edge this year he was asked as to what one single advice he wanted to share with the world. He said that in his life long carrier he always "learn the most from OTHER PEOPLE mistakes". Seeing, understanding and learning from other people's misadventures helps him NOT to commit the same mistake. Abraham Lincoln also penned the famous statement that "History repeats itself for those who do NOT LEARN from it". In this way, we will not end up in the situation where "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread".

Money makes money....The above statement has become famous after Robert Kiyosaki used it in his blockbuster book, "Rich dad, Poor dad". He introduced the concept of having a passive income stream whereby an astute investor need not have to work at all but yet have an endless and abundance of money to spend. Something like "they live happily ever after" fantasy world. The Bible(NIV) in 2Th3:10
says "If a man will not work, he shall not eat". This is clear indication that everyone should work until his retirement comes and not fall into the trap of wanting to "enjoy life without need to work". Work is good as it gives us a purpose and worth in life. If you do not like your work now, it is not a change of the type of work that is required but rather a change in our heart towards that work. Our attitude towards it is critical. John Wesley has reminded us on this matter when he says about 300 years ago "Work as hard as you can, earn as much as you can, and give as much as you can". Moreover, "idleness is the devil's workshop".

Investment....The most often used tactics by "financial experts" to lure people to invest in all kinds of funny schemes is by using inflation as a weapon to "scare the hell" out of those who are not investing. Their reasoning goes like this. Our inflation rate for Malaysia this year of 2006 is about 3.5%. Our fixed deposit rate is 3.75%. By not investing and keeping your money in the bank, our money is not actually growing(that is shrinking) albeit at a minutae 0.25%. Many times they convince us by saying that the real inflation rate is much higher. Just look at the price of a car or house 10 years ago and now. So you cant loose by investing. That logic is erroneous. Why? Most of the times, the investment they suggest gives worse returns!!! I mean negative territory. Although, they always portray a rosy picture at the begining. But we all know that it is at the end when we liquidate that counts for all our intent and purposes. The second richest man in the world (next to Bill Gates), Warren Buffet who has also been called the "SAGE of Omaha" has always maintained that the most important single rule of investment is "NOT TO LOOSE THE CAPITAL" . In other words, you are likely to even loose your pants in investing if you are naive and stupid. Even, Sir Isaac Newton, the brilliant scientist lost a huge fortune in shares and henceforth noted that " I can calculate the pathway and trajectories of the heavenly bodies but not the folly of humankind"

Should I invest.................Almost all people who are hard at work in their field does not not have the expertise, time and energy to invest in areas outside that field. In other words, if your line is not in finances, by reasoning you should not invest. Without skill, knowledge and experience in investment you are "trying luck" and tempting fate too much. During my childhood days, I remember very clearly the game called "Tikam Tikam". In the canteen or sundry shops are these beautiful toys hanging there as prizes for all to get if by luck the tiny slip of folded paper which we buy (something like 10 cents for each slip) strikes it. On hindsight now, the unwary and foolish candidate is invariably the loser. Many times some of the toys are still hanging there when all the slips have been purchased!! In other words, most of us are actually not equipped to invest at all in our life span. Dont "Tikam Tikam". Caveat Emptor("Investor beware"). Better to have simple food on the table than the "roast duck in our dreams".

Conclusion of the matter

Eccl 12:13 "Fear god and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man".

25th Reunion by Tai Kim Teng

Introduction

This is the first time I am blogging here. Thanks for the opportunity. I just came back from my class reunion in Kuching a couple of weeks ago. It was a very refreshing and nostalgic moment for all who came(35 classmates). This is my personal experience and observation. Oon Keong who is in the same class of 1976/1981 University Malaya was unable to come. So I have volunteered to organise the next reunion in Ipoh in 2 years from now. In this way, Oon Keong will have no reason not to come.

Class of 76/81............
There were 128 students in my class. We studied together for 5 years from 1976 to 1981 in MU, KL. Those were the happy and carefree days. Life was good. Since graduation, most of us have gone our saperate ways and have been busy with our own lives. Most of us have never met each other for the last 25 long years! There was no time even for the occasional letters. By now, we are all half a century old or young whichever way you like to look at it. Some comments I gleaned from the intense discussions going round the tables that night, were:

Observation of life........

1.High IQ

The studious, hard working and intelligent ones complained that they are doing less well overall in life than those who are more "playful and carefree" classmates who "seldom study and fall alseep" during lectures. There was a particular bunch of outstanding classmates(4 of them which I cannot forget) who go to nightclub almost everynight and rarely revise their work. Surprise of surprises, today there are "successful" O&G specialist. All of them! They are more relax and less uptight with their lives. Their attitude is be happy and enjoy life to the fullest. You can see now that their family are very pleased with their father. They are now good family man and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

IQ....EQ.....SQ......

From this event, it would seem that IQ (Intelligence Quotient) does not gurantee a "successful" outcome in later life. Sometimes it can a hindrance if the IQ "thing" goes too much into the head and puffs one up (pride and not teachable).
Goldman invented the theory of EQ ( Emotional Quotient) two decades ago. IQ assess your ability to analyse, understand, absorb and present knowledge correctly. EQ on the other hand assess you ability to network, relate, foster and establish relationship with others. No wonder my 4 "happy go lucky" classmates are doing better today. What they lack in IQ has actually been compensated by higher EQ. I believe the old adage that "style without substance is useless" still holds true. However, a nutritious food without excellent presentation would also not sell well. Therefore, by reasoning, substance and style are both important in life. John White says that it should start with inside out, not outside in. Both is required, IQ and EQ.

But, by not mentioning SQ (Spiritual Quotient), we have left the most vital part of our life on earth. Some of us are "wired" to seek God from an early age. There is a perennial hunger in our soul after things eternal and spiritual. These people spent a lot of their time on earth seeking the "peace which transcends all understanding and higher calling" in life which are not visible. They are more reflective and calm in their demeanor. Sometimes, we call them the "spiritual" types.
As we approach the second century of our lives, SQ will become more and more important. With one leg already in the coffin, as the saying goes, one need to ponder the "afterlife' seriously. Things visible which were very important before seems to occupy less space in our life nowadays. Wisdom, good health, peace, God which are not visible to our naked eyes are much more sought after commodity.

2. Life is a marathon and not a 100m dash

The famous tale of the "Hare and the Tortoise" which we listen during childhood is too often forgotten in later life. The person who starts with a great roar and superb confidence in life may not necessary finish strong. During one of the reunion night, I had the opportunity to have a long chat with one of my classmates. She was top of the class and had a nice boyfriend who love her very much since schooldays. Everyone knows that they were the perfect couple. Unfortunately, things have changed so much after 25 years. They have gone saperate ways and each have migrated far away from each other. Surprisingly, both came for the reunion from overseas. The boy told me that he took 30 hours to reach Kuching from his city!!It must have be a very long time since they have last met. I can sense it as they they were totally absorb in their own world of intense and passionate discussions during dinner. Next morning, I saw them together again in the hotel lounge. So much not said have to be said and so much more to be forgiven. Life have changed so drastically. Opportunities have been missed. Trivial things may have been misunderstood and left to fester. Things could have turn out better if just.........
In life it is true that "To err is human and to forgive is divine" Most things in life are small things which we make it out to be a big deal. The other day I came across this saying, "If one want to go far in life, one have to throw away the baggage of unforgiveness, resentment and bitterness.
A good start is desirable but it is the ending that counts for everything, the coveted prize of eternal life with Jesus.

Got to run and bathe now. Bye.

A reunion at Ipoh Swimming Club. We were so happy to meet Wai Hoong after all these years. So much to talk about. We left only after the waiters started switching off the lights at the other end of the hall. Just in case you cannot figure out who is who in this picture. Yau Ngan Sing, Kwoon Wai Hoong, Teh Moon Chong, Leong Oon Keong.

At the launching of my first book - Fun With Phonics, at the Menteri Besar's house in Jan. 2006. On my right is DatinSeri Diraja Dato' Kamariah, MB's wife who is Chairman of BAIDURI which sponsored my book for all Year One pupils in the whole of Perak as a special project. Nothing to shout about really. Just got a lucky break , doing the right thing at the right time for the right people!

SFYau

Life by Mother Teresa

LIFE
By Mother Teresa

Something that M Teresa said before her death. Very thought provoking and inspiring.

----------
When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out of society - that spiritual poverty is much harder to overcome. Those who are materially poor can be very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the Sisters: "You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worse."

So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my
hand, as she said one word only: "Thank you" - and she died.

I could not help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked: "What would I say if I were in her place?" And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said: "I am hungry, I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain," or something. But she gave me much more - she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face.

Then there was the man we picked up from the drain, half eaten by worms and, after we had brought him to the home, he only said, "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die as an angel, loved and cared for." Then, after we had removed all the worms from his body, all he said, with a big smile, was: "Sister, I am going home to God" - and he died. It was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that without blaming anybody, without
comparing anything. Like an angel - this is
the greatness of people who are spiritually rich even when they are materially poor....

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realise it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

- Mother Teresa

4 frens & steamboat

Rock Garden Steamboat, Robson Heights Kuala Lumpur 19 August 06

Four Frens - Nyat Keong, KeeKuang, Wai Hoong & Keng Loon aka Alvin

We met, we ate and we chatted. It was a good evening of food & wine.

Interview with Rick Warren

I have just received this email from my good friend Simon Tan regarding an interview with Rick Warren. I wish to share this with you because the content is most inspiring.

This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, "Purpose Driven Life" author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California. These are new 'insights' that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and his having "wealth" from the book sales.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.

We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This
is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go in to another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain."

But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was
not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to
deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15
million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God
gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no
major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches,
equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? ...Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

God loves you!

Guppies and Sword tails

Hawker's night is on again this Saturday, 22nd July. Children may win prize guppies and sword tails gathered from my pond at home.

Guppies and sword tails are live brearers i.e. they give birth to live baby fishes that swim about from day 1 itself. They are hardy and easy to keep. They are considered community fishes and are not aggressive to other fishes living in the same fish tank.

Feeding is easy. They will eat almost any commercial fish food of a suitable size. They will even pick on algae.

Please be gentle with these fishes and have lots of fun.

British English vs. Malaysian English

This post is from Jessica.

Who says our English is teruk.? Just see below - Ours is
simple,short,concise, straight-to-point, effective etc.........

WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Britons: I'm sorry, Sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in
your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for
you.
Malaysians: No Stock.

RETURNING A CALL
Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone page for me a few moments
ago?
Malaysians: Hello, who page?

ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY .
Britons: Excuse me, I'd like to get by. Would you please make way?
Malaysians: S-kew me

WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
Britons: Hey, put your wallet away, this drink is on me.
Malaysians:No-need, lah.

WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter
through this door?
Malaysians: (pointing the door) can ar?

WHEN ENTERTAINING
Britons: Please make yourself right at home.
Malaysians: Don't be shy, lah!

WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money.
Malaysians: Where got?

WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER
Britons: I'd prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
Malaysians: Don't want la...

IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Britons: Err. Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're
coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about the
issue.
Malaysians: You mad, ah?

WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE.
Britons: Excuse me, but could you please ! lower your voice, I'm trying to
concentrate over here.
Malaysians: Shut up lah!

WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU.
Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for some time.. Do I
know you?
Malaysians: See what, see what?

WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION.
Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment.
Malaysians: Sei-loh!!

WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened?
Malaysians: Wat happen ar. Why like that....

WHEN SOME ONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
Britons: This isn't the way to do it here let me show you,
Malaysians: You like that oso don't know how to do ar !!!! Chee
seeng!!!!!

WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
Britons: Would you mind not disturbing me
Malaysians:Celaka u

Gone in a second!

Now I have blur vision. My pair of glasses is a complete wreak after Hooi stepped on it accidentally. Well, its my fault for puting it on the floor beside a foam mattress while trying to play catch up with sleep.

I went to see my optometrist in Yik Fong as soon as possible. I had to, otherwise, I will not be able to blog any longer because of eyestrain. This optometrist always give a very thorough checkup for my eyes. So he will ask if I can see the last line or the second last. Then he will check for clarity with green and red light etc, etc. Finally its done.

Next I was given a wide variety of frames to choose from. Well, you should see my choice the next time we meet and I am sure you will be impressed. And FINALLY the cost. Pheeeew you cannot believe this. A whooping RM 1650.00. Who says our inflation is only 4.00%!!

A final word. Never place your spectacles on the floor even if you think no one will walk this or that way.

CCM - Fund Raising Dinner

I attended the Council of Churches of Malaysia fund raising dinner held in the Excelsior Hotel on 24th June 2006. Certainly the event was an eye opener as to what CCM is all about. Our pastor, Rev. Ashok is the Chairman of the CCM Perak Regional Committee and he gave a speech that night.

The food was delicious and we were entertained with songs and dances by members of the Methodist Sengoi Mission and the Tamil Methodist Church. There were also speeches from Rev. Bah Saha (Chairman of the Hal Ehwal Bumiputra Indigenous) and Rev. Bah Uda (Superintendent of Sengoi Mission Conference). Bishop Julius Paul presented hampers to the special guests from the Methodist Sengoi Mission conference, Protestant Church in Sabah, Good Shepherd Home and the Salvation Army. Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri (General Secretary CCM) thanked the guests for their donations and closed the function.

Central to the CCM work is MISSION. It has taken upon itself the task of co-operative mission work with the indigenous churches in Malaysia. For more information you may wish to visit the CCM website at www.ccmalaysia.org

Tomang Satay in Jakarta

Arrived in Jakarta on Sunday for a week of business meetings & workshops. Met up with FF & WH last nite in Jakarta. Had typical Indo food and of course a heavy dosage of yakityyak...... Thanks NL for buying dinner.

## BTW....Tomang Satay is the name of the restaurant and as typical with many Indo restaurants, it is without ceiling fans even for the non-air condition sections....strange. Have asked my Indo colleagues and one of them mentioned something about masuk angin.

3 D Ultrasound

Scanned images of Matthew using 2D and 3D ultrasound. 3D pictures show more features of the baby.

Birth of Matthew

Praise the Lord. My little baby boy was delivered by LSCS on Friday morning. Dr. Ng NK and Dr. Yee MK performed the operation in Fatimah Hospital. Everything went on smoothly except that Hooi loss a fair bit of blood and was given an extra dose of medication to help the uterus contract even stronger to help lessen the bleeding.

Matthew is now 5 days old. Both mother and child are well. He is feeding well and rather well behaved. His physiological jaundice is less obvious today.

Hooi, Joshua, Matthew and I would like to thank you for your kind prayers. A big word of thanks also goes to the many friends and relatives who came visiting while we were in the hospital. God bless you all.

My Baby Boy

My youngest son, Matthew, delivered by LSCS on Friday. This picture shows him at day 1. Praise the Lord that all went well for mother and child.

Fishing by the Kinta River

Can you spot 3 gentlemen fishing beside the Kinta river? They are having a good time as it is so simple to catch these catfishes. This picture was taken when I was waiting to fetch my kid from school. Do you know where I was?

A lesson worth noting.

A very interesting email from Peter Chew in Australia. Please read on .....

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND THE COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began ,wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf Balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an infamous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things. Your family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions.

Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first, "he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to
your happiness:

· Play with your children.
· Take time to get medical checkups.
· Take your partner out to dinner.
· Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the shed door.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

This story is very true and I think I will share it with my kid. It is simple enough for him to understand.