passage of the day. (which began at 6am)

“People in Johor Baru have always been wary of AirAsia especially when they still remember how it broke its promise with such ease,” said the principled MP, who resigned his seat in 1988 to stand as an independent and was convincingly re-elected. A year later he rejoined Umno.

Earlier, during the debate, M. Manogaran (DAP-Teluk Intan) said he noticed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak doing all he can to win over Indian voters – doing walkabouts, drinking tea at Indian stalls and travelling by bus and trains.

“Maybe next Thaipusam he would even carry the kavadi,” he said.

Everyone laughed good naturedly until suddenly, Datuk Sri Mohd Zin Mohamed (BN-Sepang)realised what Manoharan had said and asked deputy speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee for his ruling on the DAP MP’s suggestion that Najib, a Muslim, carry the kavadi.

And then all the good Muslims who had laughed looked at each other as if saying “God what have we done” and immediately stood up to shout “tarik balik, tarik balik” as loud as they could in anger as well as to atone for laughing earlier.

Manoharan, too, realised what he had done but the deputy speaker saved the day for him by insisting that the remark was made unintentionally, that it was just a careless remark. But by the time the Dewan quietened down, the Teluk Intan MP’s time was up.

-- Zainon Ahmad, "AirAsia, MAS Deal in the Limelight", TheSunDaily, 21 October 2011.

that one person.

Sometimes we already know what to do.

Then someone comes along and says something.

Or we begin to see alternatives. Better alternatives.

Then we become philosophical.

"Maybe there's more to this than I thought."

To make it a bit more Christian, we say:

"What if God is leading me here instead?"

"What if God is telling me this instead?"

And then we confuse ourselves.

"What is Your will for me, Lord?"

When all He wanted us to do, He'd already told us from the start.

And then we say life is tough. Life is confusing. There are too many choices.

Well, at least that last bit is true.

There are too many choices.

Being people of discounts, we look for the cheaper choice.

The one that costs less to make.

Obedience comes with a price.

Everybody knows that.

But how many know that disobedience comes with the greater price?

Experience knows.

And experience is something to be gained.

The Father knows His child is weak.

So He sent someone to set her back on track.

Just ONE person.

But it has made all the difference.

Where a shadow of doubt was once cast,

there is now certainty again.

Or at least, a tilt in the balance of probabilities.

(I hate Criminal Law,

but it is useful today.

Hah.)

Thanks, Phye Beng. =)






I love PJGH.


I love the people in PJGH.


I love what I can do here as a Christian.


I love what I can do here as a lawyer.


But is it about what I can do?


Whose work is it?


Mine, or the Lord's?


He will bring the work in Malacca.


Anderson talked about faith vs. belief.


I believe that work will come, and work will be meaningful in Malacca,


But above all, I have faith in the God of my Work.


Come what may, this God will not fail.

lovebirds.

"It's my prayer that we'll grow ever deeper in love each day,

Centred on Christ our Lord,

Cuz we've got a long way to go."

This is what every couple should aim for.

Instead of just romance and what-not's.

Because romance alone can't keep a relationship alive.

Some of us have seen enough to know.

So those of you who haven't,

Please just take our word for it.

=)

Oh by the way,

for those of you who missed it,

MY SISTER'S ENGAGED!
*fireworks*

"Remember the calling you received 

when you made the decision to come to law school. 

If not, remember the calling you received 

when you first made the decision to stay in law school. 

Open your eyes to the beauty of the law.

Law school is difficult, but

remember your passion,

because it will keep you going.

You will be a lawyer. 

Period."

take your own advice, hwei.

How to date a lawyer. (because EVERYBODY WANTS TO!)

1

Fish where the fish are

To meet a lawyer, you need to be in a lawyer-rich location, preferably where around 1 out of every 12 people is a lawyer. 

2

Go in for the kill

Once you’re in a lawyer-rich environment, you’ll need to go in for the kill. Our survey made it clear that lawyers spend more time in one place than any other: the office. If infiltrating a law office seems impractical or illegal, your next best option is a bar—that is, a bar association event or continuing legal education seminar. Finally, you could frequent bars (where they sell drinks) near courthouses, but exercise caution to avoid alcoholics in legal trouble.

3

Beware the lawyer personality

Once you’ve snagged a lawyer, beware. According to 20-year psychologist, Dr. Fiona Travis, “the same qualities that persuade juries and win cases can also work like acid on marital relations.” Our survey indicated the same, with one lawyer wife telling us that she endures “power trips” and “being spoken to like opposing counsel." Studies also show that lawyers tend to be defensive, argumentative, skeptical, and anti-social. However, the bright side is that you won’t experience these things often because lawyers are rarely at home. As one lawyer said, “Lawyers tend to be type A workaholics and have a hard time balancing work and family.”

4

Only repeat things you hear from credible people

Lawyers are trained to destroy witness credibility on cross examination. That’s why if you ever repeat something you’ve heard, you should volunteer the tipster’s name, education, occupation, and criminal history.

5

Use Latin whenever possible

Lawyers feel warm and fuzzy when they hear Latin. An easy way to use Latin without knowing any is to give your pets Latin names. When you say, “Why, yes, I have a pet! It’s a poodle named Locus Standi!” any lawyer will turn to putty in your hands.

6

Make love notes long and confusing

Brevity and clarity make lawyers feel uncomfortable and agitated, much like normal people feel at the DMV. For example, don’t say, “Let’s head back home early for some fun.” Instead say, “Let’s return early to the domicile for some malfeasance.”

7

Don’t be surprised when your lawyer sweetheart nitpicks everything

When it happens, don’t accuse him of splitting hairs. That would be like accusing a dolphin of swimming. Instead, thank him for being both a gentleman and a scholar.

8

Always cite sources

When in doubt, point to scientific studies, real or imagined. For example, instead of saying you “feel” that fried Twinkies should be illegal, say "They’ve been associated with stroke and suicidal ideation". Your lawyer lover may chastise you for sloppy research later, but will respect your appeal to authority.

9

Never speak of beliefs not backed by empirical evidence

For example, if you believe in the healing power of magnets, keep it to yourself. Instead, loudly and passionately accuse wait staff and small children of non sequiturs. Throw in a disparaging comment about the Malaysian education system for extra points.

10

Remember, it can all be very worth it

Lawyers, despite their posturing and sometimes-aggressive demeanor, are really very sweet at heart. As one lawyer put it, “I am looking for honesty, loyalty, a good listener, someone who can be confident, a companion and my best friend.” With a little training, persistence and patience, a lawyer can be the love of your life.

---Adapted from "How to Date a Lawyer" by Avvo. 

.

.

.

.

.

People hate us, don't they?

Haha. =P

The best YF Saturday ever.

Anderson
Why does God have to punish sin? Why can't He just let us off the hook? Because of His sense of.....?

All
*blur*

Anderson
Ok, everyone look at Tse Hwei. Think of Tse Hwei and answer the question. God is....?

All
*blur*

Anderson
Tse Hwei is...?

Kenric
Perfect.



Haha! Thank you, thank you! *flattered*



Anderson
The answer is justice la! God's sense of justice la!

Phye Beng
Oh, the answer was a bit of a stretch la, but can la.

Me
Apparently it's not a stretch to think I'm perfect.


Haha!

BEST YF SATURDAY EVER!

=P

POST-MS

Besides the calendar, certain other signs are very telling. 

For example, blaming the bathtub for my pail of clothes that fell off it.

Or telling a hanger that it's irritating. 

I'm sorry for being so irritable this week. =(

(apologizing to people, not the bathtub and hanger)

Also, I do realize that I've been zoning out quite a bit, or at least being very inactive in times when I should be proactive. 

Taken from here.

My life has been a-tumbling since two weeks before school started. 

And I haven't quite adjusted to my final year. 

So much to do, too little time.

When I have time, my brain refuses to work.

When my brain is working, my body refuses to allow it to stay awake.

When my body allows my brain to stay awake, it's already time to do a whole list of other things.

I don't like this. My first year was much easier to adapt to. In fact, I think I adapted on the very first day in my first year. 

I  need space.

K. Maybe not this kind of space.

Was very inspired by what Dr. Living said last week about keeping the Sabbath, or at least, having a rest day the way God intended. No tutorials or studying on Sunday, even if there's an exam or assignment due the very next day. 

I need that Sabbath. I now see why God put such a thing as a Sabbath in the 10 Commandments. 

Workaholic is in the rehabilitation centre and is hopefully on her way to being cured. 

I still want to give my best and my all in everything I do. 

I just...

have to find a better way to do it.

Father.

Please help?




Also, am very aware that I will be leaving PJ in June. And along with PJ - Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall,  PJGH Youth Fellowship, Ezra CG, Law CG, PKV, Tiara, the Faculty of Law, the University of Malaya, and... another chapter of my life. I want to close this chapter well. No regrets, more rejoicing. 




Father.
Please help.

i should have known better than to ignore my gut feeling.

*edit*

when the world says you can't,
it'll tell you that you can.
what is it?

you.

Thoughts of you have been bugging me recently.

I can't sleep without thinking of you,

I can't wake up without thinking of you.

In every conversation I have, 

I talk about you.

I don't understand you. At all.

Yet, in spite of everything, 

I still love you so, so much.

Why? 

Why are you so complicated?

Why are we so complicated?

Taken from here.

Oh, Law.




And I'm not even kidding. 

This verse is so much more real now:

"His delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on His law, he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2

How do I meditate on two laws day and night, Father?

Teach me how.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yield its fruits in season

and whose leaf does not wither. 

Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:3

Maybe it's obvious which law I should meditate on. 

Father, grant me discipline.




(Eu Pui: "So, when is your turn to get a boyfriend?"
Me: "When I have time for my boyfriend, I will go get one."
I will leave meditating on the laws of relationships for a better time.)

my lame brother. (how many times have i used this title?)

See, I'm not so OCD after all.

They're all different sizes.

*bangga*


*edit*

zhen qi cooked maggi mee!

For me.

Didn't take a photo, but it looked something like this.
Maybe with a few differences.
...K, maybe many differences. Haha. (for one, no veggie! Yay!)

Ah.

Am in my final year. Former Justice Gordon Law said on Monday that by the process of law school, we're supposed to become master wordsmiths, masters of reasonableness, dealing with this product called "words". 

One thing he said struck me, simply because it was so true:

Would be nice to sit down and read a novel instead, wouldn't it?

It would be nice. 

Instead of reading journals, cases, and textbooks, I really would like to sit down and read something non-legal.

But then again, he said:

You're not normal people. 

You've had your brains scrambled.

You will leave law school forever changed.

Again, so true. 

I will never look at a car accident or read the papers the same way again.

So that's why...

When I go home, I'm gonna just sit at home, watch a cartoon like Phineas and Ferb, and not talk, or talk nonsense all day. Which, I'm (thankfully) quite good at. Haha!

The Fast and the Phineas. HAHA!
But seriously, this is one cartoon everyone should watch.

Also, I'm thinking about my six-year-old motto:

I will be a lawyer. Period.

So what happens once I'm a lawyer?


*edit*

do not let your hearts be troubled.

"Let not your heart be troubled. 

Trust in God; trust also in Me.

In my Father's house are many mansions; 

If it were not so,

I would have told you. 

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back and receive you to Myself; 

that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know,

and the way, you know."

riddle!

Man calls it an accident; God calls it an abomination.
Man calls it a blunder; God calls it a blight.
Man calls it a defect; God calls it a disease.
Man calls it a chance; God calls it a choice.
Man calls it an error; God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a fascination; God calls it a fatality.
Man calls it an infirmity; God calls it an iniquity.
Man calls it a luxury; God calls it a leprosy.
Man calls it a liberty; God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a trifle; God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a mistake; God calls it a madness.
Man calls it a weakness; God calls it a wilfulness.

What is it?

again.

Again.

Esmond said every time he steps into USM, it's so painful it feels like someone died.

Like all that's left are memories.

I can relate.

Waving at you from where I am, Raymond.

=)

memories are hard to leave behind. 
if we take them along, but continue walking,
i suppose we're doing okay.
let's not forget to pray for those who need it.


you better keep that asam pedas up there, friend.
cuz i will eat it. 
and when i do, it better not be basi!

running on adrenaline.

It's that time of the year again. That time of the year when I walk around looking really tired but still somehow manage to get things done, because I'm running on adrenaline.

D. E. Hoste, Hudson Taylor's successor once asked Hudson how he could overcome the wandering mind during prayer. Among other things, Hudson told him to allow his body enough rest. 

This also reminded me of something Melissa (Chin) said about a doctor who worked long hours - 

"You can't run on adrenaline, because then you make mistakes."

If anyone asked me what I learned most in my term as President, I think it would surprise some people that I wouldn't talk about how I learned to organize people and things, how I learned patience, how I learned that people are not robots that can easily be told to do this or that.

I did learn all of that, in greater measures than I ever imagined or maybe... wanted. Haha. (Now that I've learned them, I want them la. Haha.)

Above all, I learned to ask for help.

People like to call me a superwoman, but I'm not. 

I'm really not. 

I know the difference between working with passion, and working on adrenaline. 

And today, my body tells me that I am slightly overworked. 

I'm still working on asking for help, because the natural thing to do seems to be to do everything myself when things get messy. 

I'm learning to help other people help me. 

Sometimes that takes more work than doing things myself, but then... was it ever just about work?

It came as a sort of surprise today that I was able to tell Evelyn (paraphrased):

It's not my work, it's His.

So, Father - it's Your responsibility.

You carry it out.

I'll work with what You give me.

The greatest line from church today, which I think baffles the world:

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Self-control helps you say that it is ok not to be in control.

Because God is in control.

Doing the Lord's work doesn't mean I become a superhuman.

It just means there will be strength from above. 

In the meantime, the weak body shall rest to refresh the willing spirit.

Father, 

Your will be done. 

On earth, 

as it is in heaven.

Amen.

because sometimes it helps to laugh.

 

 

I forgot when I learned to laugh at myself,

but life has been better ever since.

work.

I have more work now than when I was working.

Have actually been very, very frustrated and stressed out for the past two weeks. 

I shared at The Plan 11 - 

"I know I should feel like work is getting in the way of CF [Christian Fellowship]. So why do I feel like CF is getting in the way of work?"

The past few days have been especially stressful for me, and I felt like pulling my hair a number of times. 

I don't like getting irritated with people, and here I was getting very irritated.

I don't like feeling like scolding someone, and here I was feeling like giving someone a good scolding.

Everything wasn't as it should be, time is short, and I knew it.

Today, I read:

"God will never fail! Every need will be abundantly met, if not through one channel, then through another. The work is the Lord's."

The work is the Lord's!

That really broke me. 

Work, work, work. I've been so obsessed with work that I think everything I do is mine. Mine to work at, mine to keep, mine to delegate, mine to oversee, mine to cry over, mine to ensure success of.

But the work is the Lord's. I'm just someone with the privilege of being a part of it. 

And two pages later:

"Unless he [the leader] is constantly and faithfully wrestling in the heavenlies with the powers of darkness, there is real danger of his becoming involved in wrestling with his colleagues."

Indeed. 

I have been unfaithful. How can I now condemn others?

Father, 

take what is Yours.

It is safer in Your hands.

i have never felt so useless in my life.

back on msn.

Long fingernails are good for nothing but jazz.

muhibbah.

I got into a muhibbah accident in Malacca today. 

Two Malays, two Chinese, one Indian. 

Almost like the ratio in Malaysia. Almost.

Anyway.

I was right.

There is a big difference between getting into an accident in KL and getting into an accident in Malacca.

One line from the Chinese guy - "Bila kita tengok accident, kita tak cakap bangsa bangsa semua tu. Kita bantu saja."

Indian guy added - "Motosikal tu boleh baiki, tak apa."

Malay guy finished - "Yang penting orang selamat."

Thank you, kind Malaccan strangers. T_T

Thank You, God, for these kind people. T_T

footstool players.

Taken from their site.

I've always enjoyed their performances - clever lines, the absence of soppy unnecessary romantic scenes/lines, fast pace (unlike Korean & Taiwan dramas which I find very irritating), and the frequent organized multiple personality disorders. =D

Lame lines from yesterday:

A: There was a hole in the pot.

B: A pot hole!

Cracked Pot: Let me just sit here and decompose. From clay I came, to clay I shall return. SOB.

Person: Mould me into the image of Your Son, God.

God: Okay. *gets chisel ready*

Person: Wait! Aren't You a carpenter?

God: That's my Son.

And as always, they finished with an impactful skit - one that dealt with something I've always struggled with. Two years ago, I wondered what I would be without my music. That was probably one of the reasons why I didn't want to go to a church whose people knew I could play the piano. Because I wanted to see if I could be something by just being me, instead of being what I do.

Why church? Why not go on this journey of discovery elsewhere?

Because it's a bit difficult to not be defined by what you do in a place where you are precisely what you do. I.e. school.

Anyway.

After three years in PJGH, I've found that I can still be someone even without being a pianist. But now I'm a pianist again, and I've often found myself slipping back into that mindset - the one where I forget that what I do is just a part of who I am, and not the other way around.

Yesterday was a good reminder. 

And it just occurred to me that I haven't brushed my teeth.

Haha!

a teacher who teaches.

Read this on Facebook - a status update by my brother's friend in MHS, Upper Six (edited to sound more coherent haha):

Cikgu Hong ajar, 

Jangan cakap Bahasa Cina depan orang-orang Melayu sebab diorang tak faham. 

Jangan pandang rendah orang kelas Sastera kalau kau tu budak kelas Sains.

Jangan nak praktikkan perkauman dengan pandang rendah bangsa lain.

Kalau nak berjaya kena belajar sama-sama tak kisah lah walaupun berlainan kelas.

Semua benda tu dia sebut tiap-tiap masa.

Lebih daripada "kau semua kena dapat A untuk Econs"

Kalau tak faham erti ajaran sebenar Cikgu Hong, jangan nak berani mengaku kau anak murid dia lah.

I thought this was lovely.

I also thought this was lovelier coming from someone four years younger.

I also thought,

If only every teacher in Malaysia would teach like this.

Then maybe there would be no need for a BERSIH rally.

Because our leaders would be men and women of character.

Part of the sorrows in life comes from knowing what could have been, if only.

attachment fees??

We had to print our own papers - confirmation, insurance, instructions for supervisors, list of tasks, evaluation forms.

We had to spend money (a minimum of RM4 everyday for me) getting to our attachment places.

We didn't even receive nominal allowance (except for the lucky few).

And now we have to pay RM100.80 to UM for our attachment.

"Because our attachment is considered a special semester."

What did UM spend to send us there???????????????????

RM0.60 Stamps? Electricity for the fax machine? RM0.05 on photocopying? 0 seconds from not having to monitor us?

What?

What did they do that could possibly amount to RM100.80???

I don't usually use so many question marks, but this is really mind-boggling.

What????????????????????

who will go?

why aren't we teaching our young people to bloom where they were planted?

why aren't we showing them what's happening in our small churches?

why aren't we harnessing the power of their youth for greater things?


Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?"


Isaiah 6:8


who will go?

who will go?

why aren't we teaching them to say,

"Here am I! Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

since then, things have not changed.

we are not teaching the children.

we cannot teach them if we don't first show them.

i'm good at casually making dire predictions.

here's one:

if we don't show them soon,

our small churches will die.

my dire predictions don't always come true because

i don't ever want to be able to tell a friend "i told you so".

what about you?

what will you do about it?