Monday was off day! So in the late morning, went to Jars of Clay. Had a meal and drink that came to US$5. That's usually how i spent my day off, at Jars of Clay. Most of the time I would order a couple of pastries and a cup of coffee which comes up to about US$4. That's my luxurious comfort food for the week. (Once in a while, the weekly comfort may be added with a visit to Mount Everest, a Nepalese food restaurant. Usually comes up to another US$5.)
Today on top of my destinated comfort food, I visited a restaurant for dinner. It was my first time there and most probably my last time, if I have a choice. It was a totally atas place. Food was at least US$8 or more. I order the cheapest, Fish and Chips. Not that I cannot afford but I am more conscious of living like one of them. As I stepped foot in the restaurant, I wondered who is the 'them' that I am trying to live like. US$8 gone in just a span of 1/2hour. That amount would have kept someone's stomach filled with food for a week. Every mouth I took reminded of me that as my stomach is filled, there are people (in church and the country) that are starving or skipping meals becoz they just cannot afford. The first word that came to my angered and confused mind was 'perverse'. How 'perverse' I can be enjoying a luxurious meal and yet forgotten the many who are going hungry.
This thought is just pertaining to me. I am not labelling everyone who had been there the same. I personally feel that that level of expenses is way too out to be in a 3rd world country. Yes, it may be cater for the rich and expats but the point is that I am wondering how people can extravagantly enjoy themselves while just a street down, there are pple who can hardly make ends meet. I was not too sure if the restaurant is an NGO, even if it is one, I wondered how much of the revenue or profit goes to aiding the needy. Well, I am sure there are people who feels that my expenses on the comfort food at Jars of Clay is also extravagant. I choose not to defend myself because in that sense it is true.
I wish I can just simply live like one of them.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Great Song
Attended a church friend's wedding dinner. One of the song presentation, we sang this song "我们爱让世界不一样" by 赞美之泉。Very touching song! Really tells us about the love of God and that we should really love one another with the love of God!! Enjoy!
Monday, June 08, 2009
Free to Worship or Free Worship
On June 7, Sunday, I attended the late afternoon service at Church of the Good Shepherd. Nope, I am not church switching. A lovely couple whom I met during Mission Trip in Cambodia had kindly invited over a meal to catch up. So I decided to pay a visit to their church service.
The service was pretty much like SACC. Mixed of traditio and contemporary elements. I appreciate the part where they began the service with the worship leader opening in songs of invitation to begin the service. Instead of making an announcement to gather the people, I thought it was beautiful and serene to use songs of praise to draw pple into the Lord's presence.
And during the songs of praise and worship, I heard the music of the harmonica. At first, I though it was the keyboardist using the harmonica mode on the keyboard. But his fingers movement did not synchronise with the melody. As I made a quick glance across the sanctuary, I noticed a man playing the harmonica. From what I could observe of his physical appearance, he seemed to be a blind man. If I was much younger, I would have been quick to feel that this person is disrupting the service. (not that he was playing badly but rather that this was not part of the plan) But as I listen to how the harmonica blended with the worship team, I found the freedom to worship God with the songs and words. Who am I to comment on the gifts of others whom they are presenting to God. All are free to come to worship God. As much as that is our freedom, worship is not free. The price had been paid. A costly one, though. Then with this in mind, how do we present ourselves when we are in God's presence (not just during service because God is everywhere). What is my attitude of worship to God? I need to constantly reflect.
23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
The service was pretty much like SACC. Mixed of traditio and contemporary elements. I appreciate the part where they began the service with the worship leader opening in songs of invitation to begin the service. Instead of making an announcement to gather the people, I thought it was beautiful and serene to use songs of praise to draw pple into the Lord's presence.
And during the songs of praise and worship, I heard the music of the harmonica. At first, I though it was the keyboardist using the harmonica mode on the keyboard. But his fingers movement did not synchronise with the melody. As I made a quick glance across the sanctuary, I noticed a man playing the harmonica. From what I could observe of his physical appearance, he seemed to be a blind man. If I was much younger, I would have been quick to feel that this person is disrupting the service. (not that he was playing badly but rather that this was not part of the plan) But as I listen to how the harmonica blended with the worship team, I found the freedom to worship God with the songs and words. Who am I to comment on the gifts of others whom they are presenting to God. All are free to come to worship God. As much as that is our freedom, worship is not free. The price had been paid. A costly one, though. Then with this in mind, how do we present ourselves when we are in God's presence (not just during service because God is everywhere). What is my attitude of worship to God? I need to constantly reflect.
23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
John 4:23 (New International Version)
And thks to the couple, I had a sumptuous meal at Tanglin Club. Wooo... good food. Then afterwhich, went for a coffee with some of the COGS friends. And I make new frens as well.... Suddenly, I don't feel so old. Hahahahaa...
Continue from Previous Post
Haha... I totally forgotten to explain why I titled my previous post in that manner. I gave that title to link up my story on the taxi uncle who heard Simei Rise as Sim Lim Rise.
I titled it "Cheu Bpoo-ah, Ot Cheu Bpoo". This is Khmer. I am trying to pun on the similarity.
Cheu Bpoo-ah means Stomachache.
Ot means No or Not
Cheu Bpoo means Sick Uncle.
So the title means "Stomachache, Not Sick Uncle".
Yup! I am so proud of my Khmer..... hahahahahah.................
I titled it "Cheu Bpoo-ah, Ot Cheu Bpoo". This is Khmer. I am trying to pun on the similarity.
Cheu Bpoo-ah means Stomachache.
Ot means No or Not
Cheu Bpoo means Sick Uncle.
So the title means "Stomachache, Not Sick Uncle".
Yup! I am so proud of my Khmer..... hahahahahah.................
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Cheu Bpoo_ah, Ot Cheu Bpoo
It's a long time since I have blogged. Not that I have nothing but rather firstly, I am lazy to blog and secondly, there are too many thoughts to process and by the time I process, another thought surfaced.
Well! Finally, I decided I should make an attempt to revive this blog. Just tot of sharing some tots or experiences! : )
I am back in Singapore for a month. I am doing a course on Mission Studies in TTC for 2 weeks. Really an eye-opener. Totally transformed what I know and what I do not know about Mission. Honestly, I think all short-term or long-term mission troopers should attend the course. For this posting, I am not going to talk specifically about the course.
I am going to talk about one particular experience when I was back. My cell had a cell dinner on one of the Friday night. So after dinner, some of us took cab back. So one of the guys was telling the cab driver that we were going 3 destinations - Simei Rise and 2 venues in Tampines. The uncle seemed to be struggling with remembering the places. So that guy friend told him again that it was near Simei MRT. Seeing that he was still in a daze, I told the uncle to go Simei first. So he drove off. Along the expressway, he made a premature exit and all of us were wondering why. At first, I thought he was trying to exit out of the congested expressway and making a detour. After a much long 'detour', he asked if the destination was Sim Lim Rise. All of us got a big shock and the uncle got an even big shock when we told him it was Simei Rise. So not much of choice, he got back to the expressway. Finally, we reached Simei Rise. Next destination was near Tampines JC. So I told the uncle near Tampines JC. And his response was, "Oh! Tampines Ave 10, near the Polytechnic is it?" My remaining friend was petrified at that response and responded back, "Uncle, listen carefully. It is TAMPINES JUNIOR COLLEGE!". I was quite sure the uncle popped out of his seat. So eventually the uncle successfully alighted us at the correct venue. And he waivered off $4 - only..... Hmmmm...
Initially, I was pretty upset. What was the uncle doing? He was so erh....... and my friend suggested to complain about him. Honestly, I really wanted to make a big fuss over it with him. But then as I cleared my 'clouds' in my head, I realise how often I marginalised people so quickly. The cab uncles was obviously in his late 40s or early 50s. He was doing night shift (and for how many straight nights I do not know). He must be tired. He could be the bread-winner. He could be my father. A complaint to the company would have easily ruin his riceb0wl. A direct complaint to him would have make him a hopeless and useless man. Who am I to tell him that he was not good enough? Is it really such a big issue to make a big deal out of it? Have I not make similar mistakes before and yet enjoy the grace of others? I cannot bring myself to complain about him. I could only pray for him, pray that God will help him to be more careful. I left the cab not feeling cheated or frustrated but one who was starting to understand the mystery of God's love.
Interestingly, the next day, I met with another cab driver. My mum and I were around Kallang area and we wanted to go to Bedok North for supper (first time in my life i bring my mum for supper, feel so proud; but this is not the main story) The uncle was trying to get onto PIE but as he was not familiar with the road, he missed the PIE and turned in the geylang road which was packed with cars. My mum was feeling uneasy over this hiccups and I had to pacify her to tell her to enjoy the scenary and that it was ok to travel by this road. Haha.... The uncle was quite apologetic but I was not disturbed by the longer ride.
In our fast pace of life, everything is about efficiency and effective. It is about my right and what I am entitled to. Yes, there are times we need to be careful and firm so that we do not get cheated. But how many times have we been unempathetic towards others and how often do we marginalise people just because people do not conform to our ways. I am asking this question to myself. I am not perfect. The more so because I am not perfect, I need to remind myself of my attitudes towards others.
Well! Finally, I decided I should make an attempt to revive this blog. Just tot of sharing some tots or experiences! : )
I am back in Singapore for a month. I am doing a course on Mission Studies in TTC for 2 weeks. Really an eye-opener. Totally transformed what I know and what I do not know about Mission. Honestly, I think all short-term or long-term mission troopers should attend the course. For this posting, I am not going to talk specifically about the course.
I am going to talk about one particular experience when I was back. My cell had a cell dinner on one of the Friday night. So after dinner, some of us took cab back. So one of the guys was telling the cab driver that we were going 3 destinations - Simei Rise and 2 venues in Tampines. The uncle seemed to be struggling with remembering the places. So that guy friend told him again that it was near Simei MRT. Seeing that he was still in a daze, I told the uncle to go Simei first. So he drove off. Along the expressway, he made a premature exit and all of us were wondering why. At first, I thought he was trying to exit out of the congested expressway and making a detour. After a much long 'detour', he asked if the destination was Sim Lim Rise. All of us got a big shock and the uncle got an even big shock when we told him it was Simei Rise. So not much of choice, he got back to the expressway. Finally, we reached Simei Rise. Next destination was near Tampines JC. So I told the uncle near Tampines JC. And his response was, "Oh! Tampines Ave 10, near the Polytechnic is it?" My remaining friend was petrified at that response and responded back, "Uncle, listen carefully. It is TAMPINES JUNIOR COLLEGE!". I was quite sure the uncle popped out of his seat. So eventually the uncle successfully alighted us at the correct venue. And he waivered off $4 - only..... Hmmmm...
Initially, I was pretty upset. What was the uncle doing? He was so erh....... and my friend suggested to complain about him. Honestly, I really wanted to make a big fuss over it with him. But then as I cleared my 'clouds' in my head, I realise how often I marginalised people so quickly. The cab uncles was obviously in his late 40s or early 50s. He was doing night shift (and for how many straight nights I do not know). He must be tired. He could be the bread-winner. He could be my father. A complaint to the company would have easily ruin his riceb0wl. A direct complaint to him would have make him a hopeless and useless man. Who am I to tell him that he was not good enough? Is it really such a big issue to make a big deal out of it? Have I not make similar mistakes before and yet enjoy the grace of others? I cannot bring myself to complain about him. I could only pray for him, pray that God will help him to be more careful. I left the cab not feeling cheated or frustrated but one who was starting to understand the mystery of God's love.
Interestingly, the next day, I met with another cab driver. My mum and I were around Kallang area and we wanted to go to Bedok North for supper (first time in my life i bring my mum for supper, feel so proud; but this is not the main story) The uncle was trying to get onto PIE but as he was not familiar with the road, he missed the PIE and turned in the geylang road which was packed with cars. My mum was feeling uneasy over this hiccups and I had to pacify her to tell her to enjoy the scenary and that it was ok to travel by this road. Haha.... The uncle was quite apologetic but I was not disturbed by the longer ride.
In our fast pace of life, everything is about efficiency and effective. It is about my right and what I am entitled to. Yes, there are times we need to be careful and firm so that we do not get cheated. But how many times have we been unempathetic towards others and how often do we marginalise people just because people do not conform to our ways. I am asking this question to myself. I am not perfect. The more so because I am not perfect, I need to remind myself of my attitudes towards others.
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
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