Disturbed Sleep

Last night, I attended a birthday party for my uncles. Sunny Toh and Albert Chang who shared the same birth date, 30 November. Sunny turned 78 while Albert 75. Both grew up together in a small township called Teluk Intan formerly known as Teluk Anson, Perak. Through thick and thin they are still very much together. Sunny a grandfather for 4 while Albert, a bachelor residing at an old folk's home runned by missioneries. He is one of the lucky few to be there. Very well looked after - no worry about the next meal.

After dinner, I practically had to drag myself home after a long day out and I fell off to sleep without much problem. Then I dreamt about my neighbour who had some tigers at their house and that made me very anxious and I was turning from side to side with heavy sighs according to my cousin, Monica.

Monica came from Penang for the party too and shared my king size bed. She is a Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac. Oh, I can hardly open my eyes now, can I have my pillow please!

Hello....Anyone At Home?

If we love God sincerely, then all that we do, think and say will be directed towards pleasing God. But if God is not so important to us, then we will think and seek Him only when we are desperate. Our love for God should permeate every aspect of our ordinary life. - Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
HE ARRIVED THIS MORNING, WE HAD PRAYER, SPENT SOME TIME JUST TALKING,
HE HELD ME FOR AWHILE, AND THEN, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO ANOTHER PLACE.

Shocking Telephone Charges

If you are using Maxis network and please be alert that now the new charges for making 103 (TM Directory)was increased from 30 cents to RM2.00 per call. (extra of RM1..70 almost 700% jump).I just found out from my maxis statement dated 21/6/08 today and i rang up the Maxis 123 and been told the new rate was started lately only and since I'm not aware of this new adjustment and they willing to waive it for this month but next month will be charging me based on the new rate (RM2.00 per call to 103).Shocking right? The best part is everyone knew how 'good' service our TM directory can provide??

Most of the time I need to call at least 2-3 times to get the number i am looking for one number and i need to pay RM4.00 to RM6.00...OMG. ...equal to one meal already...

I agree with this complainant because this person is not alone when dealing with TM especially when my streamyx goes "kaput". Try calling them and you will end up frustrated and fuming mad. Robots have invaded the role of humans. This is scarying......

Broadband Service

Our company decided to subscribe to streamyx offered by Telekom Malaysia to enhance our business operation. After installation, we are experienced recurring connection problem and this had disrupted our business dealings.

We raised our complaints and they accused us that our computers may have the necessary features or may have some technical problems. Ironically, having said that we discovered that we will be automatic connection again after awhile. They could have plucked or unplucked some magical cords their end without our knowing.

We seriously considering to terminate their service and was wondering whether they have any right to impose any penalty charges for their poor service.

Con Man on the Prowl

I work for a business centre and quite often people will walk into the office to enquire about our business services. One day, a guy named AC came and signed up for a visual office package. A couple of weeks later, we discovered that he had conned a few companies of thousands of ringgit.

He registered his company as a business consultant and invited tenderers for his so called projects which required them to pay a refundable deposit. He did manage to convince a few companies to participate in his tender and the amount collected was substantial.

One of his clients called us and was he very angry because AC could not be located and he wanted our company to be responsible for his deposit. I told him that we operate a business centre that receives and acknowledges documents on behalf of companies and was in no way partnered with his company in the business sense but he was still unsatisified with my explanation and he wrote the company a letter of complaint.

We do sympathize with him but we are not liable for any cheques collected and on behalf of companies. We hope AC will become remorseful and return the deposits accordingly to the relevant companies.

As the Administrator, I made a Police Report on behalf of the company. As a word of caution, to all those out there, please be extra wary when invited to do business by anyone. It's your responsibility to do a background check before issuing your cheques. It's your responsibilty and not the business centre.

First Holy Communion

This was my second year as a Sunday School teacher at Holy Rosary Church, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur.

I was blessed with 18 wonderful kids. 14 girls and 4 boys - Abigail Choong, Andrez Dayap, Andrea Hoh, Andrea Lee, Cynthia Durai, Timothy Isaac, Joy Boh, Genevieve Goh, Laurene Lee, Nicole Ng, Natasha Tan, Jesse Ryan, Rebecca Gan, Christine Yee, Stephaneus Bismo, Bonita Fareline and Winsome and Julianne Ching (the twins).

When the bell rang, they moved gracefully down the aisle with a packed congregation and were beaming with smiles and exceitment.

Natasha Tan and Stephaneus Bismo read the Word of God carefully punctuated.

During offertory the following gifts were offered - 2 lighted candles (light of Christ), a Bible (Word of God), a rosary (devotion to our Mother Mary), 2 bouquet of white roses (beauty of God's creation), bread and wine (body and blood of Christ after consecration) and love offerings (cash for various projects and church expenses) from the congregation.

The children knelt in prayer with great reverence for God while the priest consecrated the host into the body and blood of Christ for distribution to all who were invited to receive Him.
After the beautiful Mass celebration then it was the photography session. Children, parents and guardians were all invited to a pot-luck brunch.

The mass was celebrated by Msgr. Daniel Lim and it was also his 71st birthday. Mr & Mrs Andy Choong, Abigail's parents contributed a nice chocolate cake. Thank you Mr & Mrs Choong for your generosity.

As a teacher I am glad and happy that parents and guardians were so participative and supportive of their children's faith education. Going through the records, most of the children attained more than 90% attendance. Three cheers to them and may God continue to bless His people.

Help! I Need Somebody

I read an article that a young boy was sad all the time. What a pity that many people, young or old are suffering in silence not knowing what to do.
In a situation like this, it is recommended that counseling be sought. It may sound easy but if one don’t try one won't know. When we are physically sick, we seek medical treatment but when we are emotionally sick we fail to realize that psychological counseling is necessary.
People tend to view psychological counseling quite negatively and it is sad. Allowing someone whom you can trust to share in your struggles could help alleviate the burden off on your shoulders.

Singing Teachers

Last night, we had our teacher's reunion dinner at Spring Valley Chinese Restaurant at Mid Valley. There were about 20 of us. During dinner, we had the opportunity to exchange and share our experiences. Due to individual's family and work commitments, teachers hardly had any time to mingle and to share their expriences with other teachers.
To make the funtion more lively, our Co-Cordinator book a room with karaoke facilities and we were filled to the brim and to slowly unwind, the karaoke equipment just refused to work no matter how hard the staff twisted and turned the equipment inside out.

After dinner we adourned to Red Box for a Karaoke session instead. Oldies from Elvis, Lobo, Celine Dion, Witney Houston, Anne Murray were the favourites amongst others. Mind you, the teachers had good vocal cords. I think one day, an unsung hero will emerge.

Confession - some teachers stayed on way past midnight and hope they did find their way home safely. No road blocks huh teachers.

Beware of Soft Shoes

Last week, I was out shopping with some friends and suddenly heard a commotion near the elevator area. A young boy's shoe was trapped at the elevator as he was getting off. Thank goodness the elevator jammed and his father lifted him and passerbys tried to dislodge his shoe but to no avail and I could see that his tiny toe was bleeding. He was crying but the ice cream in his hand could have eased part of his pain while his mother comforted him.

I did receive an email sometime earlier of such a mishap but I didn't realize that it will happen right infront of my eyes. Seeing is believing.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 77 escalator entrapment incidents have been reported since January 2006, half of which resulted in injury. All but two of the incidents involved soft-sided flexible clogs and slides such as Crocs. The CPSC doesn't reference the brand Crocs in its announcement but acknowledges that Crocs fall into the category of soft shoes they are warning about.

A word of caution for "Soft Shoes". They are comfortable but it has its limitations.

Enjoy Yourself Folks

It's a beautiful day! What are YOU waiting for! GO GO GO............................

Life In A Forest

My family and I lived in a lush green environment without piped in water or electricity. We drew water from a stream and oil lamps that illuminate in the dark.
Though we inherited a big acreage from our fore-fathers, we still faced difficult financial times when the harvest was not in demand. However, during the festive seasons our parents ensured that we had a better spread of food. We had our own home grown poultry and a roster could weigh 7kg and the meat was very good - tough which needed much chewing. Not easy to have such meat available these days. If there is, it will be very pricy and not easily obtainable. Ironically, though they were not caged up but they knew how to return when night fell.
Nowadays, chickens are not given any walking space inside their cage and they are jabbed to be fattened and slaughtered within a specific time otherwise they become featherless.
Though we did not have full grown lobsters or caviar on toast or aged wine, but we had our family togetherness, lots of laughter, sometimes tears, but nobody could take away our “togetherness”. Oh how the years have fled – in the twinkling of an eye! I guess everyone walks down memory lane once in a while, but when I am visited by nostalgia, I have to wipe away a tear or two silently. I praise and thank God for my journey until my growth into womanhood. As I looked back, what a learning experience it has been!!

Sunday School Teacher

Lord, continue to use me to do Your will and to bless me that I may be a blessing to others especially children. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement to people I meet.
This year, I had 18 children (14 girls and 4 boys) who received their First Holy Communion. Only children who are baptised will be allowed to receive this Sacrement. At same time they will have to undergo some faith enriching knowledge inorder to receive it, usually when they are nine years old but there are exceptional cases where children receive it at a later age.
I like to take notice of a particular child, Andrea Lee who was in my class, she made me a very special card on my birthday. It was Father's Day and I had asked them to design a card as best they could for their dads and I playfully mentioned that it was my birthday too.
At the end of the session, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a card from her and she wrote:-
Dear Teacher
you are the best teacher I met,
you teach every thing about Jesus,
I like how you teach me,
Thank You Very much for teaching me
Happy Birthday
You are an angel,
You are beautiful
You have a loving heart and you are kind.
Don't you think she is so reaffirming and generous in her thoughts? Kind words are sweet as honey............ yum yum

Life is Precious

Don’t let the pain of one phase destroy the joy of all the rest of your life. Persevere the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time.

I sometimes try to imagine the personal feelings of Joseph when he was sold off as a slave by his own brothers to foreigners and was taken away into Egypt. Can you imagine his first night in Egypt, oh the pain he must have gone through on that first night. No doubt there must have been silent bitter tears shed that night. No man can capture that kind of anguish in human words - his personal trial had just begun. Isn’t it true that most of our grieves are brought about by our own family members?

His personal tragedy did not end there. Later he lands up in prison because some loose ladies falsely accused him and the man of the house – a complete Egyptian moron, believed her without proper investigation.

But through all the bitter tears, the anguish of his soul, his loneliness in a strange country longing for his father and mother, when everything seemed to be going against him, there is one verse that leaps out of the Holy Bible in reference to his life and that verse is this - “But the Lord was with him!!” That made all the difference in his life.

When Jacob was mistreated by his father-in-law and cheated on his wages 10 times - another verse leaps out in reference to his bitterness - “I have seen all that Laban has done to you!!” And that made all the difference.

Humps and Bumps

When we love we need not require that person to be around but to know that you love that person will give you completeness and that there is no necessity to reciprocate. Do not yearn but love with dignity and integrity.

Life on earth is a passing journey or to put in biblical terms - a Christian is a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.” and along the way there will be humps and bumps and while on them try find something that is worth keeping and treasure it until you think that it is no longer worthy to keep it anymore.

To give up hope and allow depression to over take you will be injustice to yourself. We have been given a beautiful day and living up to it gives fulfillment.

Depression eats oneself without realization and over time one will be reduced to nothing but a sea of miseries and this will affect the people around you giving them unnecessary anxiety due to our inability to let go instead of clinging on to something not within reach and just refusing to accept the outcome according to our human reckoning.

As Christians we are called to walk in the light and to face reality - the rain falls on the just and the unjust and the sun shines on the good and the evil. No amount of mental reasoning can give answers to our trials and difficulties - we have to walk by faith and believe that behind all the trials and heartaches, the sorrow and the pain is an invisible God who is working all things for our permanent God.

I say this on the authority of the Holy Scriptures “All things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Our First Ancestors

We all make choices. On the day our first ancestor was created and God breathed into Adam the breath of life - he became a living soul. Adam was shown the wonders of creation but there was one thing that God gave him that God Himself would not take away - the power of choice.

In other words, Adam had the power of choice and to do anything which he feels would make him happy - but God said “Adam you have to trust me to tell you what will bring happiness. I will not trample on that sacred right. You have to ask me to tell you concerning your life on earth - both your public life and your private life. Ask me Adam and I will gladly show you.

But Adam made a horrible blunder with that choice and until today many have brought misfortune on themselves by making the wrong choices. The pathetic thing is that few people think that God had anything to do with our happiness. The Scriptures tell us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

……..and the choice to be happy is a self gratifying. The inner joy and strength give radiance which only can be nurtured. True love is free without having to ask for anything in return. That I admit is not an easy attitude to possess but one which the Master taught his followers.

In fact He mentioned these principles more than once in His teachings. “Give without expecting anything in return” and later at a dinner He said “When you give a supper, do not invite the rich or they may repay you and you will have no reward from your Father in heaven but rather invite the poor, lame and blind they cannot repay you and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Behind these teachings are principles for us to live by that is to live and love as though it is done unto the Master Himself - to expect nothing in return.

Journey of Faith

King Solomon wrote 4000 years ago “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Those verses were born out of his own personal struggles.

After more than five decades of struggles and jubilations, at times of which I felt like walking through the valley of the shadow of darkness, and after struggling to reemerge from the deepest shadows – at hindsight I see clearly now that without God and His love I would not survived because only He saw me through.

I felt in my heart to write the journey of my life to encourage others, who are going through similar struggles on lonely journeys, unhappy marriages and a whole lot of other complex problems which weakens the soul, burdens the heart and dampens the spirit.

The urge to write on a similar level as the Apostle John wrote at the end of his earthly life. “Beloved I have written these things so that you may know that you are strong and the Word of God abides in you.”

We all need the divine hand to help us on this brief journey of life. Maybe one day He will explain the meaning of my tears and then the Scripture will be fulfilled - “And He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Those who are sowing in tears will reap when they harvest. ”

But right now, I am in the journey of faith, and by faith I have to follow in the footsteps of Abraham when God said - Leave everything and go to the land which I will show you.”

A Loving Shepherd

It is my personal belief and conviction that without a Loving Shepherd, I probably would be languishing in self pity. But God in His infinite mercies decreed that I should conquer the adversity and live to share about it.

All is not lost - you will walk and laugh again, meet new friends and have new experiences because God loves you and more importantly He is in the same business? “…He has sent me to heal the broken hearted and bind up - their wounds” and set the captives free.

Life has its strange and unpredictable twists and turns.