Liverpool FC: Showdown against Arsenal

Though weakened considerably, I believe Liverpool will triumphed over Arsenal this Sunday. I've watched and played enough soccer matches to know that upsets can always happen. And its all the more satisfying to the underdogs when it does.

Doulos Location Update

The MV Doulos has reached Kotor, Montenegro and is currently undergoing dry-dock repairs and maintenance.

Liverpool News : Crashed in France

Somehow deep within, for some reason, I felt that it would not be worth the effort staying up late or rather, waking up early in the morning at 3.30am to catch the Champions League game against Monaco. And true enough, Liverpool lost by a goal.

And according to my colleague, Luis Garcia walked onto the pitch for the game but was carried out in a stretcher. Another injury blow for the once-mighty Reds.

So, what now? To stick around or abandon them for another team? The way things are going, Liverpool will end the season without a trophy – again.

In His Service : Speaking @ YF

About a month ago, I was asked to speak on ‘School Evangelism’ at YF. I agreed then and this Saturday the 27th, it will come to pass. Like previous YF speaking assignments many months ago, I will stand behind the black music stand and attempt to speak a sensible message to the teenagers and some young adult youth workers.

As usual, no matter how much I prepare, the sense of inadequacy prevails. The jitters will be there, the swallowed words and pained expression (kidding you on the last one). I’m no natural public speaker. I prefer reading or writing or drawing and painting even but not speaking. Nope. It’s really not my cup of tea. More like ‘foo char’ to me. And that’s Cantonese for a Chinese herbal drink, which tastes bitter and is black in color. Haven't drank it for a long time now. Supposedly cooling to the body, if interpreted in accordance with the Chinese concept of the yin and yang.

So why do I speak? Well someone’s got to do it. And more importantly, I’m just a servant of God. Servants don’t get to dictate terms. They are required to obey. But not without an assurance from the Master that He will be there - all the time, every day and every month, for all the years to come. As God promised in Hebrews 13:5-6

Ramblings : Managers

Some Managers just can't cut it when it comes to leadership ability. In fact, maybe, eight out of ten managers in Malaysia do not have the ability to provide and communicate vision as well as to motivate his or her sub-ordinates to action in a respectable way.

Sigh .... that's just life in corporate Malaysia.

Just Do It

Do it now
Do it afraid
Start small
But give it your all

Dreams remain dreams without action.

Strange Fashion

This afternoon at Maybank Jalan 222, I saw an odd chap dressed in bermudas and dress shoes with socks pulled up high to the knee. I did not laugh, neither did I snigger. Amused maybe. Perhaps he liked it that way.

Strange ....

Variety @ work

My Muslim colleagues are taking the rest of the weak off so today, as well as the next couple of days, I will assume the duties of the Office Peon, the Administration Assistant and to a certain extent, the Despatch Clerk. Not that I'm complaining. The work is not difficult and I do not despise such duties, which may seem unimportant or lowly to some. To me, its variety. And invigorating to do something different from the usual and the routine. Moreover, the tasks may be simple but it is definitely not unimportant. Well unless one considers banking in a cheque for RM260,000 as unimportant or trivial ...

No Focus

Over the last 2 weeks, my mind has been wandering. My pace in the office has slackened quite a fair bit and tasks have been piling up. On some days, the harder I try to concentrate, the worse it became. So much so that I had to retreat into one of the cubicles in the washroom to pray.

Well it did help, for that moment.

Sigh ... I think I'm just worrying too much about not getting my No Pay Leave approved next year. Got to remind myself that I need to lean on Him Alone. After all, Doulos is a Faith Project.

Keep on Going

Today, I listed down 27 things I need to do and I know, before the day is over, more would be added to that list. I feel tired, lethargic and chugging along to the beat of a 90-year-old drummer. Slow is the speed, heavy is the heart but go forward I must. The vision is clear but not the road leading to it. Nevertheless, got to keep at it, got to keep going, got to get up and stay on top.

Need to remember too that patience is needed. A purpose-driven life is not lived out in 2 weeks time or a month. Takes a lifetime.

That - requires perseverance.

Above all, got to pray, pray and pray!!!

Both Now and Every Tomorrow

All within a week
I hear of the glad and the sad
A couple friend with a baby gal
Another lost her dad
I'll pray to God for both
So that they will know
That God's hand will always be there
Both now and every tomorrow.

Short Supper Tale

Last night, myself and Valz together with JL, Doinks, DL, Bla Bla, YC, LSP and R went for supper at Sri Melur SS19 after Prayer Meet. A, our Care Group Leader and his wife, C joined us. It was such a rarity for them, being parents of three young and lovely children.

Valz ordered kopi tarik and I settled for teh halia, my preferred drink over the last couple of weeks. We also shared a piece of roti tisu with extra sugar.

I was somewhat amused over the exploits of Doinks and Bla Bla who have taken a liking for gun fights. Not real guns but pellet guns or whatever they call such tools for entertainment. Toys? Nah, I’m sure they wouldn’t agree to that definition.

But well, I suppose its all in the name of good clean fun. In fact, I have a feeling I might enjoy it too. But ever since Bla Bla said that each gun costs RM100 or so, whatever initial interest I had just died a natural death.

Seven Summits

Recenty, my wife posted some nice pictures of mountains and so, that got me thinking about the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

Asia - Mount Everest at 29,028 feet
South America - Mount Aconcagua at 22,834 feet
North America - Mount McKinley at 20, 320 feet
Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro at 19, 340 feet
Europe - Mount Elbrus at 18,510 feet
Antarctica - Mount Vinson Massif at 16,067 feet
Australia - Mount Kosciusko at 7,316 feet

However, it should be noted that the highest point in Oceania, the group of lands encompassing Australia is Mount Cartensz Pyramid in the Indonesian province of Irian Barat, reaching an altitude of 16,535 feet.

In Malaysia, the highest mountain is Mount Kinabalu at 13,455 feet. We climbed this mountain in March 2003, about 8 months after Val's left knee surgery to replace the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Nothing technical about this climb, just a long uphill trudge that seems unending at times.

Smiley Egg

Two eggs in a pan, fried by Ethan's hand

The Future?

Finally, we got news that the MV Doulos will be heading to Jordan and Sudan early next year. Good news indeed, for now we have a direction, a destination to pray and plan towards. The continent that we were hoping to be involved in is now within reach, albeit more expensive and could be more 'dangerous' than India, the country that we thought earlier, the Doulos would visit.

We are excited to say the least. Nevertheless, there are certain concerns lurking in my mind. Questions that no one could really answer. Desires of the heart that may remain just that - desires. A clear vision of the future I have, but the road towards that future is riddled with many potholes, filled with uncertainties, possible toil and disappointments.

I suppose the journey ahead requires little steps of faith, one at a time, step by step but I need to consider also that a leap of faith may be demanded of us, to walk on water as it were. If and when we need to do so, I can only thank God that He will be there to catch us should we start to sink, the same way He caught Peter when he went under.

God, our Lifeguard. Now that is comforting.