Of life and love, family and friends...

I Do Not Like Your Christians!

2011-12-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Came across this quote on *cough* 9gag the other day - And I am *cough* not *cough* in any way or deed addicted *cough* to 9gag... (Okay maybe a little bit hahaha xD)

Anyway, the point is, seriously, how can you disagree with Gandhi? I must say - he must have a point! You know what? To a certain degree, I think that I agree with him.

Especially when he said this -

Your Christians are so unlike your Christ

It seems that very often people say "you're a Christian, you must act this way" or even "Oh, are all Malaysians like you?" Like it or not, on this earth, we are ambassadors. Ambassadors of our country, our family, a certain ideal, or all of the above!

So what makes someone, someone? (If that makes any sense at all)

The Bible says in John 13:34-35

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Here's the crunch line - Many Christians are not like Christ! And that's sad, considering the word "Christian" was a play on words, kinda meaning "little Christs" (think Christ Jr.)

So what makes someone "Christian"?

In short, LOVE.

I just hope...

I just hope that if someday, someone asks...

I'm not too unlike Christ =S

And if I am, tell me why, and i'd love to know why and how I can improve. Please =O

God bless!

His,

MALCOLM

2 and a Half Months...

2011-12-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's just the stress of the exams.

Maybe it's the change in the weather.

Maybe it's just the Christmas season that's approaching.

I walked into the Royal on Gordon today. In case you didn't know, I volunteer there now. I call Bingo. I came to discuss my schedule and some other issues with the person in charge of programs, Kara Thomas. While waiting for her, I heard the organ playing, so after meeting up with Kara, I went to investigate. Turns out, it's John Eccles. Pretty famous guy, he's got his own hall in UofG. Had fun talking to him. Promised I'll see him again and tell him about the Prince of Wales and the Repulse...

Maybe it's just that simple piano songs remind me.

I called Bingo at night, and tonight someone got angry at me. Apparently on behalf of the residents there, they're not "bumbling idiots". Huh. It definitely was my fault. Perhaps I shouldn't have repeated stuff so often. Or maybe I should've called her numbers more. Either way, she didn't win, and no win = unhappiness... I got a little uptight. I wasn't as friendly as I usually was for the last game. I think the other residents could sense that. Sweet, sweet lady gave me this:

Maybe I miss comfort, and a smile that turns a frown upside down.

Another lady told me that I'm doing a great job, and that they love me. Kept repeating "How terrible!" about the person who called me out. She... She does look like her. Too many memories.

Maybe i'm just weak, tired and emotional.

...

Or maybe it's just that I miss her.

It's been 2 and a half months.

Mama, everywhere I look, I still see you. And... And I miss you.

Too much.

Mama, this Christmas, I'm not gonna be with family. I'm not gonna be with friends.

I'll be at the retirement house. I'm not quitting. I'm gonna keep smiling, even at them, the way you liked it, and the way that got you smiling back.

This Christmas, I'm celebrating with the old folks. And i'm celebrating that you're with the birthday Boy. I'm celebrating for you, in your memory too.

Maybe...

Maybe I wanna call you and talk over the phone.

Maybe I miss you more than I care to tell people.

Maybe I do.

His,

MALCOLM

To Mama, a Farewell, Not a Goodbye

2011-09-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

To ask me to speak (or write) about the life, and all I remember about my grandma, my Mama into a few minutes (or a few words) is like asking me to write the history of the entire world unto a tiny piece of scrap paper. It simply isn’t possible. And I never will begin to think it is. Yet I shall try my best and write whatever comes to my heart in regards to my beloved Mama.

“Mama very love you, you know?” Those are the words that meant the world to me, and they still do, so much more than anyone could ever know.

For as long as I can remember, Mama was always there. Strongest lady I’ve ever met. Mama and Kongkong loved each other. They’d always get into arguments and Kongkong would let her win. I still remember a squabble they had when I was about 10 or so. Mama said that Kongkong was “siao”(crazy), and Kongkong on the other hand said that Mama was “kurang ajar”(insolent). They loved each other. Now Kongkong and Mama are finally back together again. I’d bet anything that Kongkong missed Mama too much, and asked God to bring her home.

Daddy used to always make fun of her, and she’d always shrug it off. Every single time. Deep down, I know she loved it. She was fun. She loved us all, and even when people made fun of her, she’d just go “cin bo eng” (useless), in the most loving way possible, as my family loved to do.

I remember Mama calling us at home, and when I answered the phone, she’d go “ah miao keng ha?” (that’s how she pronounced Malcolm). I loved it. Or everytime when she’d call mummy in the office, she’d ask “po nek le to ti ko?” (mummy was known as po nek)(where are you?) or “po nek le to opik ha?”( you’re in the office?) Do correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe she was also the person in the family who started the whole point of saying “he (sounds like hair)” among my mother and her brothers and sisters. Even today you can still hear them saying that when they talk to each other.

My cousins will all agree with me on this next point – we always say that Mama was “so cute!” She didn’t know very much English at all, but what she lacked of in quantity she more than made up for in quality. Plus she possessed (arguably) the greatest confidence of anyone her age. When she was full, she’d say “a bad word” (ask the cousins or myself if you want to find out what this is). There’s also a story about “funny, letchego” but again, ask the family. As such, so many phrases in our family were actually coined by Mama.

Mama was very opinionated about things and when she hated something, she hated it with a passion. When she loved something though, I’m convinced that no force on Earth could possibly stop her from getting it. I was blessed to be on the receiving end of her love. At one point of time, she followed a Chinese drama on TV (it aired every night from 10-11, I believe) and if ANYONE were to call during that time, she’d ignore the phone. Best part of it, she even WARNED us that she was going to do it. Yet I can remember that once, not realizing the time, I called from Canada during that time, and yet she took some time off her show to talk to me. Granted, it wasn’t the longest chat in the world, but she did. And I never will forget that.

The truth is, I might have seen this coming. While I was on a missions trip to North Africa, I got word that Mama wasn’t feeling too good. I begged God to allow me to see Mama, and not to take her home yet. He did. I spent every week of the summer going up to JB to see Mama, and those were some of the best memories of a few personal times I’ve had with Mama.

Mama was a great storyteller. Just over the holidays, she told me stories about her family, how she used to speak/read Japanese, and how her family ran a convenience store during the Japanese occupation. She also told me something that possibly not many people knew about, that her father was Baba. Even mummy never knew that. I felt super proud, super special to know that.

One of the things I miss (and will continue to miss the most) is her smile. The last few times I saw her, she was really down. She wasn’t too well. And I could tell. But every single time I looked into her eyes and smiled at her, she’d look back at me and smile, with the brightest, truest and most loving smile you’d ever see. And at that very moment, just for awhile, everything would seem normal again. All the chatter about her being unwell would die down, the fact that she wasn’t holding her food wouldn’t bother me. At that split moment, she was just Mama. My Mama.

If I were to write every single story regarding Mama and the effects that she’s had on my life and that of my extended family, all of you would be sitting here for days! If you ask me personally though, I’ll tell you stories, great stories of my lovely grandmother.

And hey, you can say that I’m selfish, I don’t care. But I really really rather have the grandma that I love back in Malaysia waiting for me when I come home for the holidays rather than in Heaven. I guess it just wasn’t fair to keep her away from Kongkong for so long.

“Mama very love you, you know?” I’m sorry Mama, I never had the chance to let you know. I love you more. Always have, always will. I’ll be waiting for the day when I see you again, back with Kongkong, at the Pearly Gates. Meet me there.

For Japan, I Lift a Prayer...

2011-03-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

For Japan, I Lift a Prayer

For Japan, I lift a prayer,

And I know it ain't all much,

But I'll kneel to the Redeemer,

And cry out for His touch.

It always seems so easy,

Take for granted what we've got,

Yet one day you have a TV,

And the next, you have but naught.

All their lives they walk those streets,

Through the motions day by day,

Then earth, just beneath their feet,

For some reason, just gave way.

Jobs they lost, homes they lost,

Worst yet still, their lives they lost,

Raging rivers still they crossed,

Heaven knows how much, the cost.

Japan, the world looked up to you,

While you were hated, you stood true,

Up, upon world's ranks you grew,

You showed the world, and then they knew.

This time, again, I know you will,

You'll rise back up, and take the wheel!

You show the world they can't you, still,

"Nihon-jin" with the iron will.

Still today I sit right here,

In silence, in grief, and even fear,

I bow my head, and take a peer,

To the screen, and shed a tear.

For Japan, I lift a prayer,

And I know it ain't all much,

But I'll kneel to the Redeemer,

And I'll cry out for His touch.

"LORD I lift up the people of Japan into your hands. Help them. Keep them safe. In Your name."

MAL

A Choice...

2011-03-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Apoptosis... Or "Programmed cell death" (PCD)...

Now WHY IN THE WORLD would a cell wanna plan to kill itself???

BUT, simply because of PCD, a tumour can be suppressed, cells containing viruses protect the rest of the cells in the body, feet not be webbed...

Imagine for a second if that cell, and any one of those cells were to say "hey! I wanna live! If you wanna die, YOU go kill yourself!"

... Well I guess that kind of how mutations look like, and tumours happen...

Funny how this is actually very much like life itself, or my life, in the very least.

I believe that every day, we make a choice.

Do we live for ourselves? Do we live for others?

Today, I have made my choice.

Today, I DIE to myself,

But I LIVE for Him.

And by doing so, in LOVE, for the people around me.

MAL

:-P

P/S: What choice will YOU make, today?

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

The one day in a year where everyone talks about this crazy little thing called "love"...

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Good stuff xD

May all of you be filled with love =)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY Y'ALL!!! =DDD

MAL

:-P

Everyone Has a Story

2011-01-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a story. This... This is mine.

If there ‘s one thing and just one thing I’d have to say I’ve been craving all my life, I’d have to say that it would be “a sense of belonging”. Actually, to be honest, it’s always been more of a fear of losing that very sense of belonging that freaks me out. You see, ever since I was young, I was always included in everything. I learnt that the way to be successful is to be the centre of attention. Whether it was being the teacher’s pet, or doing what everybody else does, or even to the extent of physically abusing my friends, I found it satisfying being everyone’s favourite. Or... Did I?

You see, the whole problem with just “belonging” can be summarized in four words - “It’s never QUITE enough”. Mentally, I understood the whole concept of being a “good person” when it was required. In fact, I even knew how to be a “model” person. Being praised, and having people pay attention to me was one of the greatest joys I could find. But there’s where the whole issue was. I was bitter inside. And whenever I felt that I didn’t belong quite enough, the bitterness welling up inside came out. To put it in simple terms, I was an angry kid. A REALLY angry kid.

Funny how life works out, isn’t it? You see, all my life I grew up with great Christian parents (and I think they’re the best parents in the world, but I might be biased), and I always heard about this “God” person. I knew that people who followed this “Jesus” person are called Christians, and I knew how they were supposed to act. Yet, who- no... Rather WHAT was that to me?

Well one day I heard a message that changed my life. It was a story of love. A love, so crazy that I’d even dare call it madness. It was about a man who lived a perfect life, never did anything wrong, and knew a friend who was quite a scoundrel. One day though, when his friend was about to be punished for committing heinous crimes, because he loved his friend so much, this perfect man took the place of his friend. Everyone scorned upon him, even his friend. And what did he do? He even gave up all he had, and wrote everything in his will in his friend’s name. So the question now is, what will the friend do with it? Will he live his life in memory of his friend who loved him so much, or ignore everything to do with him, not even accepting whatever’s in his friend’s will?

Now here’s the creepy part. The perfect man was Jesus. The scoundrel? That’s me. And in His death, He gave me the option of becoming God’s child. I was left with an option. What would I do with my life?

In light of Jesus’ complete and total acceptance as well as love for the wreck that I am, I broke into tears. Here’s someone who gave up everything he had because he loves me. The selfish, bitter, angry ME.

There’s something about love and what it does to you. It changed alot about the way I think. I didn’t care so much that I’m accepted and in the middle of everything anymore. When you know someone loves you IN SPITE of, not BECAUSE of what you do, it messes you up. You live for Him. You love Him back. And in turn, you find peace. People noticed that I started getting angry less. I felt joy.

Well I won’t my story’s over. In fact, it’s far from over. I still stumble once in awhile, but He’s always there to pick me up. My story’s actually turned into a love story now. You know, one of those stories where the hero loves the heroine and does all the crazy stuff for her, but she only falls in love with him at the very end, when everyone’s like “oh so you FINALLY understand!”

More than anything, I found a sense of eternal belonging, a belonging like no other, one that cannot be extinguished, nor is by any means temporal.

I found my sense of belonging in One who is in His very being, love. As for you, I hope you find it too.

Everyone has a story. Mine’s far from ended. What’s yours gonna be like?

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

MAL

:-P

Oh Lord...

2010-11-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

Why does the sun seem to fade?

Why does the world seem to grow silent?

Where have the noises of the world gone?

And why, why has silence seemed to weigh so heavily on my shoulders?

Whencefrom comes the dew of paradise,

The drops that drench my coat?

That seem to fill my back with burdens,

And remind me of the weak one I am?

When order and chaos meet,

And disorder gains the upper hand,

The question I ask myself...

Is why in the world does rain now make me think of this?

Oh Lord, I am stressed...

I must say I miss snow...

I miss the simple reminder of Your love...

...

You know I don't want to be testing You...

But please Lord, can You please spare me a pat on my back?

A touch from You...

It's all I need to move on...

I thank You Lord for all I have,

And I thank You for what I will...

You know I love You,

And I thank You because You will speak to me in the next couple of minutes...

Thanks Abba!

Your son whom You love.

Sorry...

2010-11-09T22:17:00.000-08:00

I lashed out again...

It's upsetting, and I even BEGIN to speak of unsettling, when you seriously put your mind onto work, and practically spend two whole days slaving yourself to about 300 pieces of paper in the basement of a library (where it's most quiet), trying to memorize every single detail, and then going into an exam only to notice that you have no idea what the professor's trying to get at...

The frustration...

The anger...

The bars, filled with the sound of people getting drunk...

Only to notice that the reason it's full...

Is the same reason i'm slightly disturbed...

...

But I will look up to the hills...

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

AMEN

The Wheel

2010-11-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

Ahhh... Life...

You walk around and one day you see a wheel spinning...

And then you look around and because there's your pals around,

You say "Nah, not interested! In fact, I really hate it!"...

But the wheel never leaves your mind...

And one day you come back and no one's around,

Then curiosity gets the better of you and you go

"Hey, I wonder how it's like being on the wheel?"

And so you walk to it, try to climb it, and get squashed...

So you develop a phobia of that insolent little wheel

And it occurs to you that you DON'T REALLY NEED that wheel

Then people tell you that you've gotta take a chance if you're ever gonna master the wheel...

That the only way you could control the wheel is by climbing on it...

And you see your friends, all with their own wheels...

And...

And then curiosity gets the better of you and you go

"Hey, I wonder how it's like being on the wheel?"

And so you walk to it, try to climb it, and get squashed...

And the process repeats itself a couple of times...

But honestly, you DON'T need that wheel...

But you still wanna try it...

And the wheel keeps spinning...

And while some are happy being on a wheel,

Some aren't, and keep wanting to change wheels

Whilst others, find themselves completely satisfied without a wheel...

But the circle continues...

And life goes on =)

And the wheel? It keeps spinning =D

MAL

:-P

Psalm 23

2010-11-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Lord IS my shepherd, I shall not WANT

He makes me LIE DOWN in green pastures,

He LEADS me beside STILL waters,

He RESTORES my soul...

He LEADS me in paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS

for HIS name's sake

Even though I WALK through the valley of the SHADOW of DEATH

I will FEAR no EVIL

for You ARE with me

Your ROD and Your STAFF, they COMFORT me

You PREPARE a table for me IN THE PRESENCE of my ENEMIES

You ANOINT my head with oil

My cup OVERFLOWS

Surely, GOODNESS and MERCY with FOLLOW me ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,

And I will DWELL in the PRESENCE of my Lord, FOREVER!

It's... Overwhelming...

God

Awesome!

MAL

:-P

And I am Reminded of You Again... And I'm Blown Away, Again...

2010-09-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today in church I was reminded again of something I had almost forgotten...

Once again tears came down my face...

So the preacher was talking about how we always question...

And for some reason, this question ran across my mind and stayed there...

"Jesus... What held You to that cross?"

And then it struck me...

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).”

It wasn't the nails that hung Him there...

It was ME...

The prophet Isaiah said

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed".
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53 :5,6
And what did I do when You were hanging there, Lord?

³²As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.³³They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ³⁴There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁸Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

⁴¹In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴²"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "⁴⁴In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

I... I hurled insults at You too...

But You hung there... For the same guys who cursed You, who spat at You,

And for me... You who knew no sin...

You became sin...

I just wanna say...

I love You...

And...

Thank you again Lord Jesus =)

MAL

:-P

Wake up...

2010-08-31T07:07:00.000-07:00

Myth:

Does heaven have layers?

Those who were born say, Jews, would be at the top layer?

Then those who were born, I don't know, Arabs?

Maybe then the Caucasians?

Then maybe, umm those born in the Asian countries?

And even then, those from Asia would be divided into ethnic groups, no?

After all, we're all so different, right? Right? Right?

Truth:

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

No, in essence, we are all human.

Say what you want, love me, hate me...

People need to learn, racism isn't something we should go through...

Wake up! Are we really that different? Look closely! The guy beside you, is he REALLY that different from the OTHER guy across the street?

I've always disliked politics 'cause they use people as tools for their own agenda...

Can't you see? Racism... It's another tool of politics, nothing more...

Nothing more...

"If heaven doesn't divide its' inhabitants via colour, what right have we to divide ours in that way?"

MAL

:-P

P/S: It's only meant for those who feel hurt reading this, and if you do, i'm sorry... But I urge you to look at it openly... (and I know it's not those who generally read this blog) =D

Has Anybody Ever Thought of How Disgusting It Is?

2010-08-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

The most filthy thing in the world...

The carrier of the worst diseases...

Yet so many are enslaved by it...

They demand it, they worship it...

So many live their whole lives craving more of it...

How many have given up families,

Given up their health,

Given up all they ever really owned for it?

The ones who own it "succeed"...

The ones who don't, are either "backwater" or "failures"...

People kill for it,

Or they steal for it...

...

But is it worth that much?

'Cause at the end of the day,

As they lie in their bed,

Most say...

"I wish I bothered more about other stuff than...

MONEY"

MAL

:-P

P/S: Then again, the very last bed they sleep in, the tomb that they're buried in... I guess that calls for abit of cash too, don't it?

...

Then I guess money does rule our lives =D (And our deaths too!)

Sometimes...

2010-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

You blame yourself too much...

Hey, don't take ALL the credit! It ain't all about you! =D

MAL

:-P

P/S: Grandpa, it's been 2 years... Wait up, I'll see you again someday =) I love you, always have and always will! We all do...

In a Perfect World...

2010-08-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

Happy 100th post, blogger my friend =)

In a Perfect World

In a perfect world,

People won't see the colour of the skin...

But rather, the moisture that flows within...

In a perfect world,

There won't be darkness in every heart...

But love, and honour, like beautiful art...

In a perfect world,

Others we'd see before ourself...

The art of giving, not taking, we'd delve...

In a perfect world,

Swearing, cussing we wouldn't see...

Man, I think we'd all have a great vocabulary...

In a perfect world,

There'd be no tears...

But man, there'll be rejoicing! And partying that'll be fierce...

In a perfect world,

There shan't be begging in the streets...

But manna for all, or even some sweets...

In a perfect world,

They'd all do what they all love...

And when the day's done, thank their Father above...

In a perfect world,

They'd all know where they should go...

And all those smiles, hey, that would show...

In a perfect world,

Doubtless would all people see...

And say "this's where i'm meant to be"...

In a perfect world,

"There'll only just be you and me"...

Well, that's just a corny line, you see?

So nah, that just ain't gonna be...

In a perfect world,

Wars, droughts, they ain't gonna happen...

Why? Coz they just ain't got a reason...

In a perfect world,

There won't be a lie about what we fear...

Both sides of a story we'd ACTUALLY hear...

In a perfect world,

I wouldn't be

Just... One... More...

2010-06-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

One more... One more buddy... One more...

Speaking of one more...

Let's go into this:

ONE LINERS! xD

Okay, I figured i'll start doing 1-liners each day as a tribute to whatever happened during the day (but i'll only start after the next post... You'll see why on the next post I write =)

For example, i'll just write something like...

A one-liner a day keeps the boredom at bay...

or something like

If I had something that is basically nothing, and nothing that is basically something, then I would have something, but yet it would not be nothing... Would it?

And that would be all I write for the day...

Pretty cool huh? (And totally uncharacteristic of Malcolm lol xD Let's see how long this can last hehe xD)

MAL

:-P

P/S: Of course, I'll still put the trademark MAL and the :-P at the end, just for you xD

Change

2010-05-12T00:13:00.001-07:00

I'm HOME!!! Woohooo!!! =D And now that the excitement of coming back home has lessened a little bit, time to return to good ol' blog =)

Ok, on to serious business...

Someone once said "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose" or rather, "the more things change, the more they remain the same"...

Funny, isn't it? How after 8 months away from home, you come back to see stuff that only happens back at home?

How after close to 3 years of not meeting your best friend, you can have simple, unhindered conversation, unblemished by trying to hide stuff from him?

How after learning so much about something, after experiencing so much, you come back to the very beginning?

To be perfectly honest, I'm glad =) Yes, change is something that's due, something that absolutely needs to occur...

But yet, there's always something about the stuff that remains the same... The feeling of deja vu, the comfort of knowing where you are, the feeling that says "Heyyyy... I know this feeling/place/person/etc..."

There's just something about:

Driving
Being able to sing aloud
Speaking a language you've spoken your entire life
Meeting buddies you haven't seen in ages
Having a late-night snack
Being able to hug and kiss your parents
Being free, not being bound by thoughts/certain worries

That enables me to feel... At home... At peace... And relaxed...

Yeah, so I am losing out in certain degrees... I don't think so... As for me, I'm glad =)

Stay happy, enjoy the finer details in life, guys =)

God bless =)

MAL

:-P

P/S: I miss some of you guys... Contact me ASAP! You know who you are lolz xD

...

Nothing I can say, total eclipse of the heart...

20

2010-04-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

I look back and wonder...

"20... Wow... That's... Kinda long - ish..."

What have I achieved?

By the age of 20, Michael Jackson would have been super famous, led most of the most famous songs by his band of brothers, and the brink of starting his most successful album and becoming the King of Pop...

By the age of 20, Albert Einstein would have been in University for nearly 5 years...

By the age of 20, Alexander Graham Bell created a machine, ventriloquist-like, that could say "Mama!"

By the age of 20, Alexander the Great tamed a horse nobody else could and showed the world that he was indeed, great...

By the age of 20, the Wright Brothers created their our newspaper...

By the age of 20, Mahatma Gandhi had gotten married, and was starting to gain favour in the eyes of his people...

So the question is...

What have I achieved?

Looking back, i'm not really sure myself...

But somehow, I know that I have friends who are happy to see me...

I know that I have a family who loves me...

I know that there are people that look up to me...

I know that if I died this day, there would be (I hope) someone who would honestly say "I'll miss you"

I know that things might have been different if I hadn't been born...

Yes, i'm not the most liked person in the world,

but i'm not the most hated either!

I know that a few of my friends would smile if today I appeared suddenly in front of them and say "hello my friend" xD

And I know on top of all...

That I am blessed =)

Because...

I don't need a birthday celebration...

As long as the people around me are happy,

As long as my friends are glad,

As long as my family love me,

And I have a Hope that I cling to...

I think i've enough joy...

Happy birthday to you...

All of you guys, you're the reason i'm me,

20 years after 1990 =)

I Love You =D

1/5th of a century-old MAL

:-P

Destiny

2010-03-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Man, works starting to get to me... I nearly spelled destiny as "density" xD Proof that Physics rocks lolz xD

Destiny

People live their lives believing the media,

And it's hard not to, cause that's about all we see

About fairy tales and... Well, Wikipedia...

But what's that all mean to me?

We learn about "Romance d'amour"

And Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty too

And knights in shining armour

And "Happily Ever Afters" - or HEAs, that's true xD

Some think that those, however

Distort now what we see...

But hey, I loved those movies

And the innocence there'd be =)

Some find their other half

Early in their life

Some search so hard and never notice them

From right beside their eyes

Some look and never find that half

And evermore they sigh

Some never bother finding them

And then they walk on by

Some don't want nor even care

And when it hits, they secede

Some hide well, and never share

But when approached, they accede

Some sigh when things do not work out

And tears in darkness be

But wipe those tears my friend, and shout,

In heaven smile with me =)

As for me, i'm glad to be just me

And yeah, that's who i'll be

The best darn looking guy there is

The wisest, arguably =P

Okay, so maybe that's not true

But you'll get me if you know me

Hey Destiny! Oh Destiny!

Can you just,

Please...

Let my friends be?

MAL

:-P

Destiny - dedicated to my friends here who got paired up, to those who aren't, to those looking to be, to those not looking to be, to those mourning, to those smiling, to those who need a rest, to those who have too much rest, to those who should be WORKING INSTEAD OF READING THIS!!!

Smile with me, and smile for me, my friends =D You know I can't stand seeing you frowning =)

And those who aren't, this quote's for you...

"If you come into this world knowing that you are loved, and you leave this world knowing that, then everything in between can be dealt with. "
— Michael Jackson

Hmmmmm... Nice...

2010-03-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hmmm...

Hi all who read my blog (if you do) =D

Not really been such a wonderful week so far, but hey, it's gonna get better...

Hmmm...

What am I gonna say now?

Honestly, God's been awesome... He always is =)

He's never gonna give you up...

He's never gonna let you down...

Here's an inspirational, interesting site that I've found... Hope that you enjoy it =)

Take care all!!! =)

MAL

:-P

P/S: If you don't understand what the title of the linked page means, or the text box that comes up, go search it up on Google xD

You Were Always There

2010-03-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

You Were Always There

It's as if I knew You from life's first breath

It's as if You chose me right from the start

You showered me with love each day and watched me as I grew

And now I thank You Lord, that I belong to You...

You have always, always been there

Faithful friend, steadfast and true

I wouldn't trade away this life I have in You

I know i've been blessed...

'Cause You were always there...

Everyday's a journey along this road

I see Your plan unfolding as I grow

Seasons change but You remain the same forevermore

And now I thank You Lord, there's so much more in store!

You have always, always been there

Faithful friend, steadfast and true

I wouldn't trade away this life I have in You

I know i've been blessed...

'Cause You were always there...

I wouldn't trade away this life I have in You...

I know i've been blessed...

'Cause You were always there

(Sarah Wong, 2007)

You know, so often it's easy to just forget about everything and just say "ahh, life's not fair", or "man i'm getting it sooooo tough", especially when schoolwork takes centre-stage and everything in life seems to flow and go nowhere...

But I realized today that once in awhile, you gotta step out of the small corner of the photograph and see the big picture you're in...

And when I looked back at my life, what did I see?

Fun? Yes...

Happiness? Yes...

Sadness? Yes...

Regrets? Yes...

But yet, fulfilment? Oh DEFINITELY yes...

Cuz I realized the one thing that made every past day count, and will make me look forward to the next...

That He's always been there...

And will always be =)

MAL

:-P

I Have Heard so Many Songs...

2010-02-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have heard so many songs
Listened to a thousand tongues
But there is one that sounds above them all...

And this is that song...

Truly,

Psalm 23 (King James Version)

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The Father's love... It's the song that sounds above else...

It always will =)

Just thought I'd share it with you guys =)

MAL
:-P

Huat Arrrr!!! xD

2010-02-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

Finally done with the CNY video for our juniors!!! xD

Here goes!!!

What can I say?

Hope you like it!

HUAT ARRRR!!! xD

MAL

:-P

A Prayer of Thanksgiving, for Your Love is Everlasting

2010-02-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 53:5 (New International Version)

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

I learnt something new today about Jesus' death on the cross...

John 19:34 (New International Version)

³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

Many theories are floating about concerning how Jesus died, but when I heard one theory, it really struck me...

He could've died of a ruptured heart... Apparently blood and water oozing out from a dead man's body is one of the symptoms of a ruptured heart...

But to me it's more than just that, more than just how He died, it tells me another thing...

He literally died - of a broken heart... So that I don't have to...

John 19:2 (New International Version)

²The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe

Thorns... Piercing His scalp? That must've hurt...

And I never did think about the purple robe... I always considered it as nothing... But as I read something today, it struck me...

He went through the Roman scourging at the time, which (if people are familiar with it), is the "cat o' nine tails", a method with not only whips, but tears of shreds of the skin every time it is done...

To put a robe around such a body...

"Thank You Jesus for that hurt You bore, even though You didn't need to... At any point You could've called out, and You wouldn't have needed to endure such suffering, on my behalf... I thank You for love so ridiculous that it's just amazing... Thank You that by Your stripes, I am HEALED, of every sickness, every pain, every form of suffering, every hatred, every hurt... Thank You for becoming one of us so that I could say that You've gone through it all before, and thank You for experiencing it all before me... When the world around me shatters, when darkness, when silence falls upon the land, I'm still glad Lord... Let me continue to be glad, because You are still there for me, and You will always be... Thank You for showing me that Your heart broke, so that mine can always be whole... And finally Lord, thank You for friends, thank You for family, thank You for other people I know, and thank You, that You speak through them as well... Thanks for comfort, thanks for appreciation, and thanks for understanding...

I love you Abba, You know that... Help me to never forget that =)"

MAL

:-P

If You Just... Smile =)

2010-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

A couple of quotes I collected before...

"Fairy tales don't come true in real life. They just stay in your dreams."

Author: Bernalyn Garcia

Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.

-G.K. Chesterton

Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life.
Jean Paul Richter

The less people speak of their greatness,
the more we think of it.
Lord Bacon

Never EVER fully trust a guy...
-A friend

If evil be said of thee, and if it be true, correct thyself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.
Epictetus

Do not forget small kindnesses and do not remember small faults.
Chinese Proverb

“Anger is just a cowardly extension of sadness. It's a lot easier to be angry at someone than it is to tell them you're hurt.”
-Tom Gates

...

When the going gets tough...

These guys, I remember...

How can you beat someone that's already lost everything?
Eddie Guerrero

If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.
- Michael Jackson

...

Well, I think the silence on rez is starting to get to me...

Or, maybe it's just...

Silence...

It's times like this I think...

I worry about people...

Maybe too much too...

I think i'm just tired...

...

Everything will be fine...

Issues that come about, they will be settled...

A smile really can make a difference, can it?

...

Some people adapt, some just can't...

Some need help from others, some feel helpless when they can't help...

...

Smile for me, will you please, all of you out there?

That will make EVERYTHING better =)

Thanks...

MAL
=)

Lunch Buddies =)

2010-02-08T20:33:00.001-08:00

This one's for you guys =)

From left to right : Terence, Amelia (Ammy), Sasithra (Sasi), Wei Jin (Ah Keng), Yasmin (Yas) and Naiz

Last week was... Tiring, to say the least... Well, I guess the workload piles up as we approach Reading Week (that's the mid-semester break, for those of you who were asking xD)

Aaaaaanyway, that's not what this post is about...

It's about a group of friends I met over the past what, 1 and a half years now? I used to know them as my "lunch kaki" xD

I had a chat with Naiz, Yasmin, Sasi and Terence (for awhile) about 2 days ago... It was... Well... A looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong chat xD

Anyway, I thought i'd devote this post to you guys so here goes!

We'll start with... (In no order of preference...)

Naiz

The weird guy whom until now we have no clue how in the world we got to know each other xD This guy's weird childish-like (in certain times), yet serious manner in doing certain stuff never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me. His way of "taking things easy" and laughing hysterically at ridiculous people made him ever so famous... (In errrr... Many ways xD {You know what i'm talking about} xD) I'll never forget the 1st couple of months I was in Casa and how he helped me in accessibility *ahem* issues xD Basically, he always got my back... He always managed to inform me if he wanted to just say hi (i'll give you a clue, it's something to do with "keys" xD)

A brother I gained from the 1 year in Casa, and to me, a brother for life. =D

Yasmin

Ah, Yasmin, the one and only =D I'm not gonna lie here, I believe she's the 1st Malay "city girl" i've become close friends with =) An artist by nature (in my opinion anyway), not in terms of "art" per se (I haven't actually seen her draw, she might be good), but without a doubt, her prowess in English undoubted, her flair for language uncontended and her talent in music, undisputed =) Probably one of the few girls whom I show (close to) full Malcolm-ness (you know what I mean xD) and can understand (and no doubt respond) when I do a play of words =D A brilliant girl...

Funny story, Yas and Naiz used to ajak me along once in awhile when they went out xD (AND scold me if I asked if I was being "spotlight" xD) Oh I miss those days xD (sushi zanmai ah!) xD

A sister I gained from my stint in Casa, and most definitely, a sister for life. =D

Terence

Fellow 1902 man! (although TECHNICALLY Naiz was also... Nvm xD) Terence was always the guy who'd come and just duduk in my room, surfing the internet (apparently the line in my room was better...) Terence was the one I went to if I were to get an opinion concerning something about Johor, or about... The southern *cough cough* island *cough cough* thingy xD Was always nice getting to speak to someone in Hokkien, and it's always nice how he goes down to play basketball every other day (and we kutuk him coz he always play solo xD).

All in all, pretty obvious, brother la! Always one! xD

Sasi

Sasi, the tall one (hey, i'm not gonna call myself short, so i'll just say she's tall xD) Sasi, the girl from JB, shares a couple of thoughts (no not with the same passion and fervour) about the tiny little *cough cough* rock *cough cough* south of our state xD. Again, one of the only ones who has felt (or at least close to) the full brunt of my Malcolm-ization xD A friend if I ever knew any. Again, when standing in between English giants such as Sasi, Ammy and Yas, I feel dwarfed... Sasi, to back up her English, was powerful in the forces of science. She's in McGill Engineering, in her own right! I guess that explains itself...

I remember a time, after one of the first tests in ICPU, where I felt I did terrible... I felt so dreadful sitting out in the corridor alone... And who else came to the rescue but Sasi and Yas? To cut the story short, they cheered me up =)

Need I say more? She's a sister I gained there, wise to the ways of the words, and whatever, whenever it be, a sister to me =)

Ammy

Amelia oh Amelia xD Before I go into details, i'll ask, WHEREFORE ART THOU??? xD Haven't heard from you in ages =(

So Ammy's this interesting girl with the gift of English, both spoken and written. Stuff she has written sometimes scares me, (oh yeah, she's just THAT good xD)

One of the frequently absent people from our lunch group, she was periodically... Absent xD (with good reason of course =D)

Have always been impressed with the way she comes up with analogies that I never think about, but are always spot on! (told you she's scary xD)

Hahaha, what do I say? =) Ammy's a sister, will always be xD

Ah Keng

Keng oh Keng xD Brother! xD One of the rare breeds of Chinese guys who can actually ckp base Mlayu... Faseh plak tuh! Dun pray2 xD

On top of that, ee eh sai kong hokkien wei! Fuyoh kua liao tiok kia man! xD

Another one of the "off/on" lunch gang, but when he's around, like any other guy, he's still welcome =)

Ko ai kong meh? Confirm si wa Braderrrr laaaa!!! xD

You know, looking back, I can't say anything much more than "i've been blessed". How in the world I met up with such a beautiful group of people, how we shared a lunch break, how we had so much fun together, no way it's just a matter of coincidence...

Just thought i'd let you know that I love you guys.

You guys are always in my prayers, and my heart =)

MAL

:-P

P/S: Notice one guy from the lunch gang's missing from the picture? That's cause I took it =) But i'm glad I took this picture anyways =D

*Countdown = 8*

A Miracle...

2010-01-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

A miracle is when -

You walk alone back from Stats class and ask God "Hey Father, why is it raining in the middle of January in Canada?"

Then you look forward and see that the rain seems to look thicker...

Then you blink, and it seems EVEN thicker...

Then you walk forward and realize, it IS thicker...

And then you suddenly it dawns upon you...

It's snowing again...

MAL

:-P

Where? What Do I Do???

2010-01-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

*grits teeth*

Choices are hard to make...

To do this and (possibly) affect that...

Or to do that and (possibly) lose out in that...

And unfortunately there isn't a middle way in this matter...

What?

Nope, I don't have much time either...

I have approximately 11 hours to decide...

If it don't work out, I might be in deep trouble...

And if it does...

I might have been digging an even deeper ditch...

Didn't ever think that making a choice like that would be so hard...

Meanwhile, as I review housing options, a couple of thousands of people review the fact that they don't have ANY house, needless to say options...

And several thousands more fear for their lives, and their faith...

People of Haiti, my prayers go out to you, and to those fearing too...

Love? Bah! Humbug!!!

2010-01-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

Love?

Is it just a myth?

Is it just some weird, preconceived notion came up with by people of old?

Some kind of philosophical idea made up?

So say it does exist, is it just something that... Is for a select few?

A guy once said...

Love brings so much happiness, yet it's so sad...

Love is so beautiful, yet so ugly...

Love is so uplifting, yet so crushing...

And love is so painful...

But yet...

So worth it =)

As a friend said, that's it, the great irony of love...

You know what? I think love does exist...

As a friend said, love is... Misunderstood...

Whether or not love does exist to you, I cannot tell...

But what I do know is this...

Without love, I would not be here today...

And love? That's what I believe my faith is all about...

A love story, and a couple more...

Most misunderstood? Yes...

Most misused? Yes...

But definitely...

Most mesmerizing too =)

No matter what you say,

To me, it's true =)

MAL

:-P

P/S: It don't mean nothing, or it might mean something... As usual xD Love you guys =D Welcome back to my blog xD

Count Your Blessings...

2009-12-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

I find it to be a matter of interest when I see people doing stuff that personally have never done, or ever have any plan to do... As in... EVER!!!

Okay before you think i've gone loco due to excessive exposure to soething or other (mainly the pretty high exchange rates and expensive food DDDD=), i'm actually talkking about those guys...

Hmmmmm... Okay details details...

I was walking along River Thames yesterday (personal request, i've always wanted to walk by there with family since the day i flew over London...), when there were... I've honestly no idea what you call them... Buskers? Anyway, they were street performers, but they were doing stuff like mime or just being a statue kind of thing, all in the FREEZING COLD!!! Yes, it's nothing close to some of the weather i've endured during Walks on campus, but hey... Working so many hours a day just standing still in the cold? Just for a couple of cents so that I can get something to eat? Now THAT... Is sad =(

I laud their bravery, their courage and determination to stand firm and stand still in spite of the strongest winds, but much more than that...

They tell another story...

What they do there, it adds to the city's beauty and splendour...
What they do, it may be boring...
What they do, it may be their life... Their entire story...

But... One reminder... EVERYONE, no matter how insignificant it may seem, has a part to play...
From a *ehem* "sanitational engineer" (ask Canadian locals what this means) to the tycoon right at the top, to politicians to the beggars...

They give a city the different perspectives, and that's what makes a place, a place...

EVERYONE influence something or another...
Treasure one another...

Cause...

In the end, it's one another that we have, and that makes up what we see.

Just some ranting =P (Now don't say don't spew weird analogies and messages anymore!!! xD)

MAL
:-P

Ahhh, It's good to be (Half) Home...

2009-12-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Now before you go about asking "Haaaaaa??? You go back Malaysia haaa??? =OOO", Nope, i'm not in Malaysia... In fact, i'm in a land I barely even know, other than in name...

HEY GUYS!!!! MALCOLM HERE!!! LONG TIME NO SEEE!!!! xDDDDD

And i'm...

*drumroll*

LIVE!!! FROM ENGLAND!!! =DDDD

At this moment i'm with 3/4 of my family (missing koko, he's busy back in Malaysia... Oh well, a doctor's gotta do what a doctor's gotta do... D=)

And you know what they say, "Home is where the heart is..."

I guess it's hard to say where my heart actually is right now... It's so confusing... I'm in a land that I know nothing (not much anyway) about, my friends are now spread all over (focusing in North America and South-East Asia mostly...)

But hey, i'm soooooooooooooooooo elated to see part of my family again... You have nooooo idea how much I miss them =)

Anyway, that was just a short update =) I'll try and keep you guys updated =D

I hope to see most over you over the break, k? =D Miss u all toooooooo!!!

MAL
:-P

P/S: Shoutout to all the new readers!!! HEY THERE!!! xDDDD WELCOME LOLZ XD
And to the other guys, sorry I took sooooo long between posts, been so busy... I'll try and update more regularly k? *Wink* xD (Oh and shoutout to Lilian, thankx for reminding me to write again lolz xD)

A Loooooooong Time? Nah, Just A Second, Dude!

2009-11-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

"Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. "
- Mark Twain

A tremendous trend I have seen ever since I stepped foot onto this land...

A land so beautiful, yet in deeper sense, not so...

A land so huge, yet in retrospect, not so...

A land so blessed... Or is it?

How many broken families i've seen...

How many people, children barely in their teens witness a separations, events with such a lasting impacts that they never recover? That they never comprehend the true meaning of love? Of perseverance? Of holding on and being with someone who's a friend, one who would stick with you through thick and thin? One whom you could get angry with and then come back to and apologize, and say that you love, and mean it with all your heart?

How many of these children... Crave this kind of love? Search everywhere, even in all the wrong places for this love?

Why do words like "Oh, I can't live with her anymore", "Oh I can't stand him", "He takes advantage of me", "I don't love him anymore"... WHY... WHY do these words appear? Why do they even exist?

I cry out on behalf of those who are victims... I cry with you...

I am blessed... I truly am...

Mummy always loved, and always loves Daddy, and Daddy always loved, and always loves Mummy...

I am thankful, and always will be for this day, 26 years ago, when in a small church, halfway across the globe from where I am now, two lives were intertwined in holy matrimony...

Two lives which unknowingly, have always been teaching me to hold on to what I believe in... To love unconditionally and to wait for God's calling in everything I do...

To be responsible in all I do, to never fear, but trust... To know that there's One above who has planned my whole life ahead of me, to believe that in all I go through, He knows best...

And above all...

To love =)

To Mummy and Daddy...

Cheers! Because of love, Kerana cinta, Ying wei ai =D

I love you Daddy, I love you Mummy...

I always will =)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

MAL

:-P

The End? What Do We Do Now? =O

2009-11-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

There's all this hype about how the world's gonna end in the year 2012... (influenced by 2012, the movie I went to watch with my seniors... Btw, i must say, not bad movie...)

So, honestly, here's what I think about it...

Ok honestly now...

Really...

I think...

NAH!!! Not gonna happen, sorry... xD Not at least till I get my degree from vet school hahahaha xD

Okay let's be serious now...

Inasmuch as don't believe everything from that show, it got me thinking...

And it made me realize one thing, one thing I should always practice... (ALL of us for that matter...)

Live everyday as if it were your last day on this earth...

Life is... Not as long as a lot of us would want it to be... I mean, anything could happen to anyone, at anytime...

So go ahead! Tell your parents that you love them... Tell that friend of yours that you love him/her... Tell your neighbours you love them in spite of their loud parties every night and their crazy drinking habits...

If you've never done it (or in a loooong time),Give your mum and dad a hug... Give your friend a hug, say sorry for those things that you've wronged them with, forgive them for those things that they've wronged YOU with...

Call that guy you haven't talked to in years because of some silly thing between you and that guy...

Appreciate those around you, those far away, those nearby...

And most importantly, spend everyday as if it were the last...

I feel like doing that...

MAL

:-P

P/S : Shoutout to all of you readers out there!!! I love you!!! *Group hug!!!* xD

I Never Did Realize...

2009-11-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

Never did realize think it that way...

I mean yeah, sure, I always thought that you know "what you do now will influence the future", yodda yodda yodda, blah blah blah...

But today it actually struck me...

I can do something...

I can actually change the world...

I mean think about it...

How many people in the world have no hope, have no vision? How many people in the world fall into corruption? How many people in the world know not love? How many people in the world are orphans, victims of AIDS? How many people in the world slit their wrists, jump off buildings due to depression? How many people in the world sell themselves to feel like they "belong"? How many kids turn to wrong avenues because their parents went through a divorce? How many people try to get intoxicated every night to be one of the "in" group? How many people seek? How many people try to become human "do"ings instead of human "be"ings?

How many people need God?

I know I did...

And I know I still do...

And more so, I know I always will...

Do something.

MAL

:-P

2009-11-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Today was pretty weird...

Got up, walked around and suddenly it dawned upon me...

I MISS HOME...

Especially since half of the time, half the people here don't understand half a word i'm saying...
Especially since half of the year, half of the day is half of the time back home...
Especially since half of the week, half of the people are half-dressed with half-decent clothing...
Especially since half of the night, half of the residents are half-drunk with half-screaming, half-yelling voices...
Especially since at half-time, half the people are already half-drunk and the other half asleep...

The other half...

They're okay =D

But really now...

I need to physically see someone who can speak manglish to me...

When you miss someplace, it seems to fly farther and farther out of reach...

It's at times like these where I wish I could take out a pair of ruby slippers (not that it's my fashion taste or anything...) And knock them together and say "there's no place like home, there's no place like home"

Oh and I miss Chicken rice... And dim sum... And nasi goreng kampung... Oh and Sup kambing... And... I better stop, i'm salivating over the library comps already...

MAL
:-P

P/S: To Canadians reading this... It's probably not you I was referring to... It's just some people who tarnish your good reputation... I do like it here =) I really do =D

The Awesomeness of Your Creation...

2009-11-05T17:18:00.000-08:00

he sat there today, in awe and in fear...

he read through Your word, and so did he hear...

"Your people", he read, from a scream and a tear...

You brought to Yourself, and You, You drew near...

so many rules, he never did keep...

in so many ways, his death could You seek...

no way he'd come close, what he sowed, he'd reap...

but yet for this boy, in all ways, You'd pick...

it caught his eye, how far they'd go...

how much they'd take but then still show...

that though they saw still would they grumble...

and so in turn the heavens rumbled...

he looked back his life and all he's done...

and thanked Him for sending down His Son...

that in his place the Son be punished...

and at the cross cry "It is finished!"

and as he sits now typing down...

he knows he'll never get a frown...

for where more sin, more grace abounds...

he looks outside...

and...

Snow came down...

How awesome is Your creation, oh God my Father =D

MAL

:-P

Kids! =)

2009-11-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

Haven't been around for awhile... Well, been rather busy with exams and quizzes and assignments and stuff... So sorrryyyyy bout dat *gomenasaiiiii*

But anyway...

It's over! Woohooo! Midterms I mean =)

So well, i've been doing rather good actually, for those of you who are asking =) I've been enjoying myself, making lots of new friends, experiencing new stuff, and basically yeah, having lots of fun =)

So okay! Halloween!

Yeah so well, before anything happened, I was pretty worried about the idea of this "Halloween" thingy... Didn't really like the idea of celebrating the belief in the occult and stuff... But well, I learnt something this year =)

Halloween, in all its' scariness...

It's a merchandising ploy... A big one, and nothing more, from what I see...

Don't get me wrong, but well, when it comes to the crux of it, it's like... Christmas trees, Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny...

Aaaaaaanyway, myself, Rob, Will, Noor, Sara and Patrick took part in this operation called "Trick or Eat", a program by "MealXchange" to gather non-perishable food items for the local food bank...

It was pretty fun, but really the thing that struck me was this...

The kids =)

As we went about collecting food items, kids were going round doing the regular job of "trick or treat"ing, collecting sweets from people around their neighbourhoods...

I don't know why, but every time I saw a kid walking pass, I smiled... I guess it's the fact that these kids had costumes on, or the fact that they're so young and lovable =)

Pat mentioned how kids get so scared at the decorations (of which some people actually go all-out doing...) And it was fun seeing the children avoid Patrick and his ??? costume...

This morning's church service included the dedication of Jamie Strickland's son to the Lord... He was sleeping soundly, even on the arms of the pastor, and again, that made me go "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" inside xD

Kids, really, they are cute =)

And that brings me to late last night, when some of us were sitting there in my tower playing "the game of LIFE"... Pat and I were so serious about it, and sometimes even a little upset over how the other 3 were not paying attention, but rather fiddling around with cameras, talking loudly, making weird bawling noises when they lost money and stuff... It was fun...

But one thing I learnt from all of that...

Somewhere...

It might be deep inside, but it's there...

Somewhere deep inside us...

There's our childhood...

Sometimes we just wanna say "grow up"

Or sometimes, we just can't...

What can I say?

We still love kids =) Or just being one =D

MAL

:-P

Because I owe the blog... Big time...

2009-10-17T12:47:00.001-07:00

Yup, I do... And I owe all of you back home an update, a well deserved one of how i've been so far xD

Hey all!!! Life's been treating me good, lots of friends, lots of activities, lots of quizzes, exams, labs and assignments, lots of fun basically xD

Lots of stuff's happened since I last wrote... (Mostly to do with going here and there, visiting old friends, making new ones... xD)

Anyway, it's been fun hanging around with different people, making friends and renewing old ones...

A thought crosses my mind...

Is it really fair to hang out with different people, and leave out the others whom I haven't seen for a long time? My seniors, I haven't really been spending much time with them... And THEY were the ones who helped me get settled in, and even let me bunk in during my first day in Canada...

That does it, i've gotta get their MSN addresses... I think I gotta hang out with them a little more...

Fire alarms can save lives, and yet the same fire alarms can cause quite alot of deep anguish and sorrow...

2 days ago the fire alarm rang... At 6 in the morning!!!

Tonight it rang again, at 1am... And apparently the drunkard who vandalized it also managed to destroy the fire alarm system... Looks like it's gonna be a loooooooong night...

Home's pretty far when seen from the other side of the globe... And you know what they say about "you don't really know what you've got till it's gone"? They - were right =)

A message to certain friends and to anyone this applies to...

Everything happens for a reason... And everything that doesn't? That's for a reason as well... One day you'll look back and you'll say "Oh, THAT's why that didn't happen then", or "Oh, that's why it DID happen then"... So no worries, smile xD

(relating to the issue, i'll never forget a reminder to myself...)

e=hf

Worked out fine i hope =)

Isn't it funny how things are such opposites from what it should be sometimes? Never thought i'd see the day where i'd be happy to hear an accent from "forsaken land"-ian xD

And how the word "party" here brings to mind the idea of drunk guys and disgusting stuff?

I'm pretty sure I had parties when I was younger, and those definitely did not include booze... Seems the world is changing...

Or is it just me?

Well, whatever it is, it seems...

Times are changing...

MAL

:-P

P/S: Shoutout to GCCG xD and to family xD Oh and oso to buddies old and new looking at this post!!! xD Love you guys!!! All of you =D

Reminiscence of a distant past...

2009-09-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Walking in the shopping centre, looking at children, their parents by their sides...
Reminds me of a time when I would rush mummy and daddy out of fear that we'll get locked in... (I wonder if they even have a name for such a fear? Oh well...)

Searching through websites, I found out that the Boys' Brigade in Canada was famous till the mid 1980s...
Reminds me of days where I would move in precise coordination, stand with undetered attention and walk in unmatched unison with a whole crowd of brothers and sisters... And never think I would ever miss BB as much as I do now...
And a handshake from a fellow Boy brought back deep pride from inside of me... I always will be proud to have been a Boy, spelt with a capital B...

Queueing up in line at the Bullring, staring at the menu and finally picking "curry"...
I realized how much, how far I have traversed, literally to the other end of the world... And yet, as Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz" says, and rightly so as she claps her slippers together, "There's no place like home... There's no place like home..."

Playing volleyball in the pouring rain...
Reminds me of a time when I never excelled and in fact was below par in any sport known to mankind... And a time when team Bismarck became the turning point of sports in my life... I remember squash, I remember class football games... I remember the goal posts... I remember managerial duties, and I remember, most of all... High School...

Hearing voices of family members over Skype...
I hear also the little quarrels and squabbles of Amanda and Koko, the noises that make home what it always is etched in my memory as... I hear the voice of Nothing... I hear the complains that Amanda always seem to have against Koko... And I hear the reason Amanda gets upset... I still think most of the time Koko actually asks for it too xD Indeed, it's as they say... Home... It's where the heart is =)

Learning about the Raya break in Malaysia...
I remember times when I would make a large hue and cry over having to write "ponteng letters" for Girlie, but without fail would draft the letter and make sure it was put onto our dining table before breakfast... And I remember Daddy trusting and signing it, whatever I wrote... I always joked that some day i'll write a letter saying that "Saya hanya tulis surat ini oleh kerana saya tau cikgu takde bace punyeeeee" in my worst possible Malay xD Or something to that effect anyway =)

Walking out for "makan" with my ang mo friends...
I remember the nights where Terence, Rui Heng, yes even Jun Zhang would walk out in search of food all around Casa... And I remember when Naiz and Yas eventually took over when RH and JZ became... Ummm... Occupied xD... I remember 79 cents... I remember late night jokes and trading stories with RH... I remember Terence stealing my faster internet line xD... I remember... "MU coach good ah?" (Well technically not...) xD... And I remember loving every moment of all these memories...

Lectures...
I remember days where senyuman serta tawaan yang tidak henti-henti terkeluar daripada sekalian liang rongga rakan-rakan sekelas melihat gelagat guru kelas Matematik kami yang tersayang =) I remember the fun times and all the jokes shared... Mostly with Iylia and Deedee... And I remember guru kami asyik mengenakan mereka... Akan tetapi tidak saya... Mengapakah demikian? Mungkin... Tidak akan saya tahu... Oh well... =P

And as I walk day-to-day...
I remember the One who's brought me so far, the One who has led me all the way here... And the One who has loved me right from day one, and has shown His favour upon me... Nowhere, nowhere I would be without Him... I'm sure of that...

And so as I think back on all these times...

If I had to it all over again...

I would =)

MAL
:-P

Agak Chaotic? Ntah la xD

2009-09-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm...

"The more things change, the more they remain the same"... Koko once (okay more than once) told me that... Well, what can I say? It stuck =) (And I realize I would get a zero in this assignment for not quoting using the correct format, MLA or APA xD)

Guelph is beautiful =)

As i've asked many of my ang mo friends so far, "is all of Canada as beautiful as Guelph?" I guess "sometimes" so says Julia "I have to wake up and just remind myself that i'm in Canada!!!" *hands in the sky* (again i'll get zero xD)

Maple trees can be barely 100 metres from each other yet one can start to turn red and wilt already while another is still as green as the first day I stepped foot onto this University... I wonder... What causes this natural phenomena? God is great =)

It's amazing... "We haven't seen each other for over 4 months yet we still miss and want to see each other so much...", so says Yasmin (once more, another quote) Clearly we've formed more than just a simple friendship, Yas, Naiz, Terence, myself... Still missing a couple of lunch kaki though... *shoutout to Sasi, Ammy, and occasional guests Iyliaaaaaaaa and Keng xD*

Again it's interesting how it's warmer when it rains than when it does not... Unheard of in Malaysia... Daddy explains on how the clouds cause affect the wind and the temperature...

And the Ontario Science Centre is pretty cool... I'll go there again sometime =)

*ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE IS GIVING FREE ENTRY TO PUBLIC THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2009!!!* =O Yup, true true!!! Take advantage, Toronto-ians...

Man... That was chaotic and did not really have a progression... Ah well, that's life xD

MAL

:-P

P/S: Honestly though... Go check out Ontario Science Centre this Saturday... Free doh!!! =O

One-sided? Unconditional? Love =)

2009-09-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today as I walked the streets of Toronto, a thought and realization suddenly struck me...

I know it probably isn't as great a realization that would shock nations, and probably some might say it's been heard far too often...

But...

I realized again Father...

I thought, and was again shocked at Your love...

I realized that Your love is so great that You would show Your love to us, even before we even bothered to know You...

But the thing that hit me most is this fact...

You love us, knowing that this would probably never be returned...

You would give up everything for us, and most of the time we would not even notice, and if we did, we would not even care...

You would spend hours showing us the extent of Your love, how much You treasure us...

But we would not even spare the few minutes to read Your word and pray...

You would send Your Holy Spirit and friends to comfort us for hours, even days when we're down...

But we would not even spare a word or two when we succeed to thank You...

But Father, I think I get what it means to You... Probably not, but i'll try anyway...

To love those around me, and to those whom I love, unconditionally...

Unconditional acceptance, wether or not that love and acceptance would be returned...

To smile when those I love smile...

To be happy when those I love are happy...

To be sad when those I love are sad...

And to be glad when the ones I love are glad...

Wether or not love is returned is immaterial, ay Father?

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12

I guess the thing I wanna say is thank You for Your love...

And teach me how to love the way You do =)

MAL

:-P

My Choice, Once Again

2009-09-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!! Sorry for not updating my blog in awhile!!! Gomenasai...

So anyway!!! Here goes!!! I'm in Canada!!! Woohoo!!! xD

And for those wondering, i'm doing great!!! Met a group of new close buddies... Met new pals, new family, new home...

And yet... As koko once said "the more things change, the more they remain the same" (dunno where he got THAT from xD)... I've come from a Batu Pahat to... A town where education is one of the main industries (check), A country in which the people have problems with the people in the country underneath it... (check X alot) xD... Sounds pretty much like home to me =)

Yeah, I guess I still miss mum, dad, koko and girlie (THANK GOD FOR SKYPE!!! WOOHOO!!! xD)

So yeah, i'm doing good =) God's been helping every step of the way... It's been super obvious =)

So yeah, back to the main post...

I realized one thing today...

It's like a feeling, a sense...

deja vu, people say?

more like some kind of a cycle, if you please...

When I first step foot into kindergarten, I was a nobody... All I had was the name of a son, and being the heir of dad, people would look and expect much of me...

All the rest was up to me...

When I first step foot into primary school, I was, again, a nobody... All I had was the name of a brother, and being as such, people looked, and expected more of me...

All the rest was up to me...

When I first step foot into secondary school, I was, once again, a nobody... All I had was the name of a brother, one before me, and being as such, people looked, and expected alot of me...

All the rest was up to me...

And then came Taylor's College... When I first got in, again, I was nobody... All I depended on was the fact that I was one of "the 6", and I depended on my scholarship, and people looked, and expected alot of me...

All the rest was up to me...

And now, i'm in University... And the only thing that I held on to... Once again was the fact that I was different... That I was a boy sent by his government halfway around the globe, from a country that had never seen snow to study here... And people looked, and once again, they expect...

And now...

I guess the rest is up to me...

Once again I am at crossroads...

Once again I choose whether to follow His word, or to be "just the guy over there"...

And once again I realize that the only reason i've ever gotten so far is because I made that right choice... And because He was there for me...

And so... Again...

I make that same choice...

Romans 12: 2 ‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

Today, I depend on You again Father... Help me to stand by You, and help me to follow You, not the world... I know that You have, and that You will continue to =)

MAL

:-P

Suddenly

2009-09-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

I got a phone call this afternoon...

It was my sponsors...

Apparently, my flight is to be on the 3rd, the next day...

And suddenly...

Suddenly things started to move very quickly...

Suddenly Canada didn't seem as near on the map as it used to...

Suddenly "Tales of Legendia" didn't seem nearly as important as before...

Suddenly a dental checkup was imminent...

Suddenly a visit to the local barber "Uncle Robert" was in place...

Suddenly I didn't have enough stationery at home...

Suddenly I realized the love of an 80-year old grandmother who would rush down by bus to see me off...

Suddenly I realized I wouldn't be up to spend another weekend in KL...

Suddenly I realized the many friends which I would loved to have seen otherwise would probably not be seen...

Suddenly home once again turned into a variable location...

Suddenly I realized that I might be going to a place very much like where I came from...

Suddenly Pak Sitam's "Sup Kambing" was something I had to have...

Suddenly I had more stuff to bring than I ever had noticed...

Suddenly staying away from mummy, daddy, koko and girlie seemed like just another bad nightmare...

Suddenly mummy and daddy both feel very "sien"... (koko and Amanda do too...)

Suddenly leaving Malaysia for such a long time seems almost... Possible...

Suddenly 23 kilos isn't such a great amount of luggage space after all...

Suddenly I have a bank book and withdrawing all the money to put somewhere else is logical...

Suddenly the bedsheet + comforter + pillow set offered by the Uni doesn't look too bad...

Suddenly whoever turns up to send me off doesn't really matter anymore...

Suddenly KL seems like just next door...

Suddenly Skype becomes a very close buddy to me and thus my name will more often than not be malchong.1stbp

Suddenly I realized that all this while God's been behind the whole picture, leading and guiding me through everything...

Suddenly writing letters for Amanda doesn't feel so boring...

Suddenly arguing with koko over who gets to use the toilet becomes fun...

Suddenly not getting to hug mummy and daddy seems like something I dread the most...

Suddenly not being able to drive seems upsetting...

Suddenly giving hugs and kisses to mummy and daddy seems like something i'm gonna miss the most...

Suddenly I wish more than anything that AirAsia goes to Canada...

Suddenly...

Things happen to sudden...

Mummy, Daddy, Koko, Girlie... I know i'm gonna miss you all sooooooooo much... But know that as long as there's Skype and MSN, there'll always be me whenever you need to see me... I'm starting to miss you all even before I leave...

Daddy, I know that i'm gonna miss most the times I talk to you, the times I need advice, and the times I need to have someone to model after... Know that one of the reasons I mix around so well is that I got it from you... Know that the sole reason I can drive properly now is that you willingly sat beside me each and every time I drove, patiently telling me of my wrongs and teaching me the finer points of driving... Know that i'm so glad that you don't scold me while i'm driving, but rather wait for the event to pass and then let me know, so as not to distract me from my driving... Know that in all things mechanical, electronical, plumbing or electrical, I am basically a noob... But having a pro as a father made me very much a pro to pretty much anyone else =) Thanks for listening to our music, learning our lingo, teaching more than anything that "love covers over a multitude of sin"... Thanks for understanding and backing me up anytime I needed it, thanks for supporting me in anything I do, and thank you Daddy, for being the most practical but yet loving father anyone could ever wish for... Thank you, Daddy... And I know i've probably said this many many times but... I love you Daddy...

Mummy, thank you... I know that should they have instead said that "Malcolm, penerbangan anda adalah... MALAM INI!", the first person I would call is you... And I know that even so I would not be worried because you would leave everything and rush home immediately, and we would get everything packed and ready anyway... Mummy, I know that the person to most clearly express her "sien-ness" would be you... Yet Mummy, remember that the same Hands which kept me safe and well 19 years of my life would be the same Hands which will guide me through the rest of my years... Thank you Mummy for knowing EXACTLY what is happening to each and every one of us, and thank you for knowing exactly what to do to remedy each and every situation... Thank you for asking us do whatever you ask us to do... I know it is for our own good... Thank you for demanding hugs and kisses from each and every one of us, and thank you for always reminding us that we're special, and that we're greater than we'll ever dare to believe... Thank you for sleepless nights working on our clothes, sewing up buttons, sewing up our pockets (yes, I still remember) or just praying for us... And... I know i've said this time and time again but... I love you Mummy...

Koko, thanks for being the brother I always know I have to stay... Thanks for being the one to complain to whenever we face a problem involving certain issues and thank you for always looking out and caring for me, although sometimes you pretend that you never do... Thank you for explaining technical stuff to me when it comes to studies, and thank you for sharing your life with me... (Thanks for teaching me DOTA xD) Thanks for being such a good roommate to me for about as long as I can remember and thanks for all those Greek sessions where everyone else would go blur while we talked to each other =) Don't know if i've ever said this much, ko, but... I love you Koko =)

Girlie, thanks for being the sister in the family... Thanks for taking control and being the deciding factor, the veto power in many of the hard decisions we make as a family xD Thank you for acting as if you don't care, but quietly help out and show in your actions that you mean otherwise... Thank you for being a joy and happiness to our family and thank you for lighting up the mood whenever you are happy... Thank you for insisting on doing certain stuff that you think is absolutely neccessary and thank you for standing up for what you think is right... Thanks also for being our fashion advisor and the "green" one at home... Don't think i've told you this much either but... I love you Girlie =)

And suddenly I realize that my post is super-long...

And suddenly I realize...

I'm gonna miss you all sooooooooo much...

And suddenly...

Things happen too sudden...

And suddenly, signing off for probably the last in a looooooooong time from Malaysia is...

MAL

:-P

My Country

2009-08-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

My country, my homeland, the land of my own flesh and blood...
My people, they live as one, forward heading...
With blessings, happiness, gifts given by the One above...
Long live our king!

With blessings, happiness, gifts given by the One above...
Long live our king!

Happy Birthday, Malaysia...

You're my first country, my only one, i'd never trade you for any other...

Never!

I LOVE YOU MALAYSIA!!! =)

MAL
:-P

Thriller?

2009-08-18T04:22:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... I really don't know what to make of this... Watch this first...

And then, this...

Err... I think... Nuff said xD

MAL

:-P

A dedication to you, or you, or you, or you... You know who you are =)

2009-08-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hey...

God never said it's gonna be easy...

But He never meant it to be hard until it kills ya...

God never said it's gonna be simple...

But He said He'll walk beside you all the way, and carry you when you can't take it...

God never said it's always gonna be a bed of roses...

But He knows what flowers are the best for you and what the future holds...

God never said that the path you would have to go through would be straight and simple...

But He lights up your paths before you and He knows which path would be best for you anyway...

God never said following Him would be easy...

But He said that if you follow Him, He'd make you "fishers of man"...

And we always wish for happy endings...

But we always cry when we see that not coming to pass...

And we go "Why, God?"

But He knows the best for us...

And He cares, for ALL those involved anyway...

Trust Him...

If He leads you to this, He'll lead you through this...

I can't tell you exactly what to do, but remember that He loves you anyway...

And He knows exactly how you actually feel...

Remain faithful to God, but don't neglect others because of worry anyway...

He wouldn't want you to worry...

And He understands...

So, Trust Him...

MAL

:-P

It Takes...

2009-08-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

It takes a death for us to realize and cherish the value of life...

It takes silence to make us cherish the value of words...

It takes a lie to make us understand the importance of truth...

It takes war for us to understand the value of peace...

It takes reality to help us treasure the value of imagination...

It takes a word to make us regret a sentence we said...

It takes animals to make us think like humans...

It takes children to make us think more maturely...

It takes hatred to make us love...

It takes a second for us to ponder about things that happen in years...

It takes sadness to make us long for happiness...

It takes incapacitation to make us aware of the importance of freedom...

It takes something that is broken to teach us not to destroy smething that is whole...

It takes a loser to tell a winner that he ain't so great...

It takes law and judgement to treasure the extent and importance of grace...

It takes stress for us to fully experience comfort...

It takes sickness for us to love our health...

It takes...

It takes the wisdom of others to realize my own foolishness...

And it takes you to help me figure out who I am...

MAL

Sick

2009-08-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's sad...

Somehow or rather, it would seem that our world is currently revolved around sickness...

Enshrouded with plagues,

Overpowered by pestilence...

Every corner you turn, there'd be a man sneezing,

Another woman coughing...

Every other corner, a lady diagnosed with cancer,

A man, influenza...

A trail of broken hearts,

Death? Another he carts...

Every other day we hear of new and improved sicknesses

Sickness of the heart

Sickness of the mind

Sickness of the body

Sickness of the soul

And suddenly all that glitters is not gold...

For within our earthly paradise...

Death, we see it rise...

But when will we see

That sickness, that death...

It's nothing compared to the sickness in the heart of man?

Anger

Hatred

Jealousy

Bitterness

Unforgiveness

Inability to let go

Matthew 22:36-40

³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{b]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]} ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^{c]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[c]} ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

1 Corinthians 15:55

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

For death is not what most of us fear...

In truth, alot of us fear living...

Love.

Love the well, love the sick

Love the humble, love the meek

Love the rich and love the poor

Love the people of the world.

MAL

:-P

A... Story?

2009-07-29T12:34:00.001-07:00

It was a sunny afternoon. One that would do terrible injustice to the terrors of which I was bound to see the few minutes thereafter. Yes, I was in a training camp for army hopefuls. And yes, I was trained not to flinch at the sight of death. And yes, my country was in a state of unrest. But I was still a boy. And nothing I had ever experienced could ever have prepared me for the ordeal I would have to face...

It all seemed... A blur now... So far... Yet... Almost as if... It was just yesterday when it happened...

I distinctly remember a gleam of joy, of pure ecstacy that day as I walked out of the academy hall. Rafa'el, or "Raffy" as we'd call him, was signalling to me to join him, his grin stretching from ear to ear. With a mock salute, Raffy called out "sir" as I approached. Playing along, I gave him a salute back, trying to keep my face still as I quickly pulled my hand down and gave him a friendly punch on his stomach. The next few minutes were full of laughter and joy as Raffy chased me around camp, hopelessly trying to return the favour. I was always the better runner, years of running round the fields being the reason... I always was the troublemaker, the one the discipline master could count on to punish whenever something went wrong. The training did me good.

The chase was abruptly halted when we heard the loud coughs from a man to our east. Commander Georg, accompanied by his lovely daughter Catherine, were visibly amused by our display as both tried to hide their laughter between deep breaths and, in Cathy's case, a small handkerchief. Commander G put his hands in the air as he said "I give up. Even after completing commando training, you STILL act like kids..." Muttering to himself, he retreated to another camp, leaving Cathy alone with the two of us. Her smile, as I would never forget, had the essence of one who understood. Her eyes of ebony betrayed a sense of kindness, one only rivaled by her soft, warm hands that could comfort even the most frightened of children on the streets. In her sweet, soft voice, she said "hey commandos, no hug for a beautiful old friend of yours?" Raffy answered "Beautiful is right", to which I answered "old is right", earning a big slap aimed at my face, of which I dodged, gladly to receive on my shoulder instead. Fun and games... It all became a blur right after that... Everything happened... so fast...

A scream was heard from the other end of the garrison. In our celebration, we were lulled into a false sense of security, a sense of greatness... So we thought we were commandos now... We were soon to learn one thing. "So what?"

A group of rebels, simply known as the "Crimson Moon" with their leader codenamed "Werewolf" somehow managed to infiltrate our defenses on this day, the day that haunts me, even to this day. Everything happened so fast. I saw a canister roll towards Raffy, and then smoke... I saw Raffy, while stretching his hand out getting shot, right in the back of his head. I saw Commander G, shot between the eyes. And I saw... I saw...

They took Cathy... As the words formed in my mouth, I took a blow to my head. I suspected they never came out...

Cath...

Cathy...

All I recall after that was months of heavy drills, sweat, and more often than not, albeit silently, tears. I had failed. Not only did I fail to save Raffy and Commander G, I failed the one I secretly admired, Cathy. But worse of all, I failed because I survived, and they did not.

I grew quickly in the ranks. Maybe it was due to my skill and causing trouble, which I had channeled into work instead. Maybe it was the fact that I was a much better marksman than any other. But probably, it was due to anger, rage, and the fact that I had nothing to lose.

Before I knew it, I was captain of the guard, Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Commanding officer of the commandos. I was the leader of an army, ten thousand strong, against an enemy of which I had a blood fued with.

Then one day the news came in. 18 miles north-northeast of my main barracks, intelligence discovered whatever remains of "Crimson Moon". There was, however, a note with it. They had wished to surrender.

Rage filled my heart. My anger burned within me, the repeated words scorched my very being. "Surrender", they say. No way. Not a chance, not in this life. Ignoring orders to stand down, I took up arms and rushed into the enemy hideout, right into the heart of the "Crimson Moon".

Fueled by revenge, I was in a frenzy. A mad frenzy. Anyone in the base who stood in my way I slaughtered. Women or children, young or old. The very sight of those in crimson was like a stench to my very being. No longer would the world have to see any other, dressed in robes of crimson. I would destroy these beasts. Every one of them.

Working my way through, I finally approached a large atrium. In it a lone man stood, and old man, age taking hold of him, but unmistakenly the leader of "Crimson Moon". There I stood, face to face with the Werewolf. Unarmed, the put his hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

One shot, in between the eyes. Another, right behind his head.

Revenge.

Paid.

In an instant, everything was over. I had my revenge. I laughed aloud, expecting full joy to finally return to my life...

And then there was silence.

Reality struck.

Now what?

I had my revenge. True enough. But at what price? Dare I call them monsters? On my hands were the blood of innocent women, children...

It dawned upon me. If anyone was a monster...

I was.

And what now? I had my revenge. Now what?

I cupped my hands and put my head in them as I knelt and wept.

And then, a sharp pain in my back. Everything turned black...

And was it just me, or did I hear a sweet, soft voice calling out to me? Dressed in white, with a lovely smile and eyes of ebony?

I don't know...

I guess I never will...

MAL

:-P

Clones...

2009-07-24T00:13:00.000-07:00

Hehehehe HELLO GUYS!!!!! Sorry for being out-of-commision for so long...

But hey... MALCOLM'S BACK!!! With another one for you guys to think about...

The question that people for years have been questioning, the same question that's been playing in my mind for awhile now and that I can put in one word...

Clones.

So what about them, you ask?

Precisely. What about them?

We all know that research has been conducted, and for all we know, humans have also been cloned (albeit illegally) throughout the past few years...

And I know that cloning is probably against most of our beliefs...

But...

When the day finally does come when clones are to be accepted worldwide...

What will we classify them as?

Look at it this way... With prejudice, kids with HIV/AIDS are already considered outcasts, and as Ryan White (Born HIV+) said before "I mean, i'm surprised they even have dogs nowadays", just because someone's different, many people don't look at them like they would otherwise...

When clones are finally made...

Can they be considered human?

Or are they... Different?

If so, how?

Take away the knowledge that one is a clone of another, and what do you have?

A human deep down... Or another soul-less being?

If we don't bring forth a life, we can't take it away...

I... Am against cloning...

Sorry, i still prefer things the way they are... As of yet...

Whatever happens...

Prejudice is ignorance...

MAL

:-P

My First Love

2009-07-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

Today I am reminded of the one whom I first loved.

Today I am reminded of the first, and only one who has ever loved me with such an unspoken intensity.

Today I am reminded of how useless and meaningless I was...

But yet I am reminded of how with such love, I could scrape through the worst times in life.

Today I am reminded that in my joys, I often forget my first love...

But yet I am reminded time and again, after straying from my love, that my first love is always there with open arms.

Today I remember what my love has done for me and am ashamed that when I am troubled, the number I seem to dial last is my first love.

And today I remember that...

In my turbulence...

In my ebullience...

You were always there...

Reaching out to me, calling out to me, waiting for me...

I would say that "oh if i could turn back the clock"... And so on...

But you know me better.

And though it's almost certain that i'll repeat it,

You still love me

And you always will.

I thank for reminding me again

You are the One I love.

Nothing else matters.

MAL

:-P

Smile =)

2009-07-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Smile

Music by : Charlie Chaplin

Smile

tho' your heart is aching,

Smile
Even though its breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky-

You'll get by,
If you Smile

through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through- For you.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev'ry trace of sadness,
Altho' a tear may be ever so near,
That's the time you must keep on trying,
Smile- What's the use of crying,
You'll find that life is still worthwhile,
If you just smile.

Forgive me, I got this song stuck in my head since last night (okay more like this morning =D)...

But you know, thinking it over, I realize that I had told myself something very important...

Something that I... Might have overlooked in the course of this one year...

I remember the one day that I was upset and disturbed because of certain issues, and I brought it along with me to school...

I remember how throughtout the day I noticed the prefects being in a terrible mood, not performing well, and how it seemed everything was out of place...

And then realization struck...

"When you are sad, when you are downcast, the people who love you, or you love most would be most affected..."

From then on I told myself never to be downcast, at least not in front of those whom I love...

Or have I overlooked that, for a moment?

Guys, if ever I have been upset, downcast or just simply not in the right mood...

Whenever it was, please forgive me? Thank you anyway :)

I echo the songwriters in the last two lines, of which I think are more true then ever...

~You'll find that life is still worthwhile,

If you just smile.~

MAL

:-P

P/S: Sorry to make it seem repetitive, but this song was Michael Jackson's favourite, not any of his own songs... It got stuck in my head when Jermaine Jackson, MJ's brother sang it during MJ's memorial service... There it is, my final tribute to MJ (Did someone just go *whew*? =_=)

My Future, Your Hands

2009-07-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Father Lord...

I thank You...

'Cause You'll never let me down...

And You pick me up when I am...

'Cause Your grace is sufficient for me...

And Your mercy is limitless...

'Cause Your love is everlasting...

And Father, You are love...

'Cause You are my comforter...

And You comfort me when I feel alone...

'Cause You are my refuge...

And Father, You are my fortress...

'Cause You are my wisdom...

And You give me Your knowledge and Your Word...

'Cause You are my strength...

And that is what You give to carry on...

'Cause You are my light...

And You make the paths clear for me to see...

'Cause You know my future...

You have planned it all, from the very beginning...

And Father...

You are my future...

Help me Father to never forget that.

MAL

Heal The World

2009-07-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

"Heal The World"

Michael Jackson

There's A Place In

Your Heart

And I Know That It Is Love

And This Place Could

Be Much

Brighter Than Tomorrow

And If You Really Try

You'll Find There's No Need

To Cry

In This Place You'll Feel

There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways

To Get There

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Little Space

Make A Better Place...

Heal The World

Make It A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Entire Human Race

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why

There's A Love That

Cannot Lie

Love Is Strong

It Only Cares For

Joyful Giving

If We Try

We Shall See

In This Bliss

We Cannot Feel

Fear Or Dread

We Stop Existing And

Start Living

Then It Feels That Always

Love's Enough For

Us Growing

So Make A Better World

Make A Better World...

Heal The World

Make It A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Entire Human Race

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were

Conceived In

Will Reveal A Joyful Face

And The World We

Once Believed In

Will Shine Again In Grace

Then Why Do We Keep

Strangling Life

Wound This Earth

Crucify Its Soul

Though It's Plain To See

This World Is Heavenly

Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High

Let Our Spirits Never Die

In My Heart

I Feel You Are All

My Brothers

Create A World With

No Fear

Together We'll Cry

Happy Tears

See The Nations Turn

Their Swords

Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There

If You Cared Enough

For The Living

Make A Little Space

To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World

Make It A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Entire Human Race

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

Heal The World

Make It A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Entire Human Race

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

Heal The World

Make It A Better Place

For You And For Me

And The Entire Human Race

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

There Are People Dying

If You Care Enough

For The Living

Make A Better Place

For You And For Me

You And For Me

He got it right there... Lets make it a better place for everyone...

My final post about MJ...

Rest in peace, King of Pop... May God bless you...

MAL

:-P

Wow...

2009-07-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

I went back into Summit today... (To those who went like "WHAT?!?", it's the Batu Pahat equivalent of the Summit in Subang Jaya. It even smells the same...)

Aaaaaanyway...

I realized... I should be grateful...

As I walked past those halls of which seemed so familiar, yet so alien to me, I was quite disheartened by the hordes of different personalities, which kind of made me scringe... I know, it's wrong, yet somehow I felt uneasy...

Boys barely in their teens, walking around, acting like gangsters, adorning weird caps and earrings, what with drainpipe trousers and whatnot...

Girls with weird, uneven hairdos, chattering and giggling, all while wearing unmatching shoes and striped socks which try to stretch as high as possible up their legs...

Kids swearing in seemingly unintelligible languages at the top of their voices...

And those, visibly students, who make it seem as if wearing their uniforms properly in school would mean murder, yet somehow or other insist on wearing it on days of the week with no classes...

Since when has Summit become so... Run-down?

All this while I always thought BP had grown, and true enough, it has...

Yet i've been ignorant... Or have I? Since returning, I was always hanging around the new, "higher-class" edge of town...

No wonder everytime I ask Hazwan "BP camne?" He'll reply "Same je laaa..."

I placed my "toy" where I needed to, I did what I had to do...

Walking out of the building, reality struck me...

I stopped short a few steps before the door...

"BP hasn't changed THAT much..."

"YOU have..."

I cleared my head a little, clenched my bag in a tighter fist and walked along hurriedly...

Knowing that one day...

I'll be back...

MAL

:-P

2009-07-03T03:42:00.001-07:00

You Carried Me

Unknown Artist

It's only when I look back

And traced the way

My crooked path has wandered

I see the footprints in the sand

And I realized You were there beside me

Every single day

You carried me through all of my trials

You carried me when I was troubled and alone

When my strength had gone

Couldn't get along without You

You carried me so I wouldn't stumble

You carried me just when I needed someone there

Who would be a friend

And I reached the end

Because He carried me

And now as I turn to face the narrow way

With shadows growing longer

I know my Savior's by my side

Always there for me

And He'll care for me

When the enemy draws near

He carried me through all of my trials

He carried me when I was troubled and alone

When my strength had gone, couldn't get along without Him

He carried me so I wouldn't stumble

He carried me just when I needed someone there

Who would be a friend

And I reached the end because He carried me

You carried me through all of my trials

You carried me when I was troubled and alone

When my strength had gone, couldn't get along without You

You carried me so I wouldn't stumble

You carried me just when I needed someone there

Who would be a friend

And I reached the end because You carried me

Thank You Father, that as I look back, I realized that in all things Father, You carried me...

What a fool to believe that sometimes, i could do things by myself, in my own plan, without You...

And thank You for understanding...

Love you Abba Father :)

MAL

:-P

Another Prayer xD

2009-07-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Praise Him all creatures here below...

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts...

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost...

Father, I thank You for helping me realize that in everything that's sad, there's a bright side to it...

Help me to not be upset over trivial matters,

Help me to not fight battles that are just not worth fighting...

Thank You for helping me realize that when I am sad, the people around me are affected as well...

And Father, thank You for my friends, who stand by me through it all...

I thank You and claim that "No weapon formed against me shall prosper"

Thank You for good news, thank You for bad ones ('cause i know better ones of victory are coming)

Thank You for the random people who suddenly say "hi", and the people who receive my random "hi's"

Thank You for the people who cheer me up and make my day

Thank You for the small things that bring happiness or cheer into life

And thank You that I am able to do be that vessel sometimes...

Bless my friends and family,

Bless all those around me...

Bless all those, far and near,

Bless all those who reappear...

Bless the guys and bless the girls,

Bless all, in my mind, like pearls...

Bless the strong and bless the weak,

Bless the humble and the meek...

Bless them all, I ask and pray,

Bless them all, I pray today!

Again Father, I'm gonna put my trust in Ya!!! xD

MAL

:-P

Am I Home?

2009-07-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

If home is where the heart is...

Am I home?

At the badminton courts, I don't know anybody anymore

At the squash courts, I don't know anybody anymore

At the driving range, I don't know anybody anymore

At the putting green, I don't know anybody anymore

At the swimming pool, I don't know anybody anymore

At the tennis court, I don't know anybody anymore

At the food stalls, I don't know anybody anymore

Is this my hometown? Where's everybody?

And my heart, it just ain't here, innit?

I guess I still miss my buddies...

MAL

:-(

Death, Having Fun?

2009-06-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

First MJ...

Then Max...

And now Hazel...

Happy now Death?

Seems like you're on a killing spree...

MAL

You Are Not Alone

2009-06-30T02:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry bout another MJ post, but here goes... Just lemme gloat over his death for awhile ya?~ xD

"You Are Not Alone"

Another day has gone
I'm still all alone
How could this be
You're not here with me
You never said goodbye
Someone tell me why
Did you have to go
And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay

But you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone

'Lone, 'lone
Why, 'lone

Just the other night
I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come
And hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers
Your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand
Then forever can begin

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay

For you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
For you are not alone

Whisper three words and I'll come runnin'
And girl you know that I'll be there
I'll be there

You are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
For you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart

For you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay

For you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart

For you are not alone...

All I wanna say is that...

My friends!!! You who are lonely!!! You who feel like your friends have all disappeared, never to be seen again...

Know this, that you are not alone!!! xD

MAL
:-P

Rest In Peace, King of Pop

2009-06-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

I got the news when I was away... Terence had sms-ed me and told me that apparently a certain MJ had kantoi-ed... Not Jordan though...

I thought... "No way..."

But well, everyone dies...

This man though, whatever people say about him, was a legend... A misunderstood one...

When the news came up a few years back about MJ being accused of molestation, to tell the truth, I was angry... Not that year of course, but when i understood it...

People started making fun of him, all kinds of rumours were made up...

Well, guess what? This man entertained four generations of people and inspired dances from all walks of life...

This same guy told people about the children of the world through "Heal the World"

Environment through "Earth Song"

Even convicts through "They Don't Really Care About Us"

His dances were copied by millions of people worldwide...

His love for children was misunderstood...

And... Ultimately that drove him to the grave...

I think I can understand why some people refuse to become famous...

To build up a career in fame, it takes a lifetime of effort...

To tear it down, it only takes one rumour...

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson...

You will never be forgotten, 'cause the dances keep deteriorating... Just take Soul'ja Boy and "Crank Dat" for instance... I rest my case...

MAL

:-P

I'm Gonna Trust...

2009-06-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know why...

I can't see why in the world You're putting me through this...

And I can say, I can ACT as if I don't care, but I really do...

But You know what Father?

It's gonna be tough, but You know what?

I gonna hold my head up high and i'm gonna try to not care anymore...

You know why?

'Cause i'm gonna trust in You, Father...

Some day, i'll see the whole point in this...

I'm gonna trust You, Father...

It's part of the deal :)

So give me faith...

Help me trust in You...

MAL

:-D

Time Invested

2009-06-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Time invested in a book = amount we get from that book

Time invested in a certain subject = amount we gain from that subject

Time invested in a person = how much we care for that person

Thing to ponder about... If I spend most of my time with something, chances are, that is what I care about most...

Consequently, if I spend the least of my time with something, chances are, that is what I don't really care about...

Is that true?

In that case, have I been lying to myself?

Yet, if I keep thinking about something but never spend my time doing it, do I really care about it?

Man, this is confusing...

But I think I get it... Affinity and attraction is not solely based on a moment in time...

It's based on the bonding built upon through time spent together, is it not?

If so, i'm guilty... I would understand if I had no REALLY REALLY close friends (not that I don't, I have many xD)

Because I fear that I frighten them off by harassing them too much... And because, I am, as the term my friend used, a "nomad"... I jump around from group to group, leaving one to join another...

But no, I will learn. I must.

To show love, spend time with those you love...

Yet, do not allow them to be uncomfortable in your presence...

Or wait... Those who love you in return will NOT be uncomfortable around you...

Or will they?

I'm not sure anymore...

I guess...

I'll have to spend more time with my family and friends...

I know that those I love, they cannot annoy me...

But do I annoy them?

I'm sure I do, sometimes...

But I have to know for sure...

This would affect how I'd deal with people in the future...

Hmmm...

Father, help me...

MAL

:-/

27 Years... This is what Love is...

2009-06-21T10:09:00.001-07:00

If I were to ask you... "Who do you think of when I say this one word: LOVE"? Who would it be?

The most politically correct answer for me would probably be : GOD

The answer some kepoh friends would want to hear would be : Some girl or another's name

Yet, I digress... In all honesty, when I hear the word LOVE, somehow or other I would think of the two people who have shown me, through their love for each other, what it means to love...

To give without demanding to receive in return

To love without demanding to be loved in return

To care without demanding to be cared for in return

To pray without demanding to be prayed for in return

To give in, not expecting to be given into in return...

To never hold a grudge, knowing that love is greater any grudge in the world...

I still remember when Daddy when to Hagaii Institute for a month worth of training away from home. I think that was the first time Daddy was away from Mummy for so long since they got married... I remember how Mummy started learning how to use Skype, MSN, and all other tools to call Daddy, and how she would rush from office to home, from home to office, all the time rushing to see the computer screen. If she had to go upstairs, she would call out, "Malcolm, help me watch the computer screen and tell me if Daddy comes online, k?" I remember that they were both online, talking to each other most, if not the whole day, everyday... Mummy was so good that she even learnt how to INSTALL Skype on her office computer and meddle with the screens on Live Messenger... And all these because Skype was better for talking, MSN was better for sending files... (I guess they saved about a million bucks on phone calls xD) Errr but of which Daddy spent later on buying souvenirs for us anyway, so it didn't really make much of a difference... xD

I also remember a time when Daddy had to go alone to Sarawak for a Brigade Council Meeting... I remember him sighing before the trip about how it's so far and how he had to be there for nearly a week, and how Mummy couldn't go along... I remember how he told the story of not enjoying the sights and sounds as he kept thinking of home, and of Mummy... But best of all, I remember how he went, on the morning of the flight, to the airport, and knowing that his flight was in the evening, asked if he could go back earlier. And once again, I remember that they said yes, but he would have to pay abit more. Guess what? He was back on the peninsular in time for lunch.

I remember 2 years back when Mummy finally cashed in her honeymoon, 25 years after Mum and Dad got married... I remember how Mummy and Daddy used to jokingly quarrel about how Daddy "cheated" Mummy out of a honeymoon, and how Daddy quietly went and booked a holiday for two in Bali... I remember how they arranged for Koko, myself and Girlie to be sent around for tuitions and whatnot, and I remember how Mummy used to call back home during the trip and tell us where they were going and what they saw, and how they kept buying stuff for us... And, they kept taking photos so we would be able to see what they saw when they returned...

I can remember, and I do still see that Daddy never spends a cent for himself, but never withholds any from us, his family... Daddy would never bring home any anger piled up from work, but would rather smile the moment he reaches home, really showing us how it should be when we see the ones we love... Mummy, on the other hand, plans her time so well, never wastes her own time on anything, but would willingly spend the whole night, going without sleep, to sort out her children's books, patch up a pair of pants or whatnot...

Are they perfect? Definitely not... If they were, they would not be my parents, sad to say...

But you know what? It doesn't matter... When I see them, here's what I see...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

Here's to Mummy and Daddy, and to 27 years of blissful matrimony...

When I see the both of you, I see love :) I thank you for being the parents that I would not change for any persin in the world, and I thank you both for showing me what it is to love, and for silently making me realize that I would have a long way to go, and that I would have to wait for God's timing... But also for making me realize that God's timing - It's perfect...

If a picture's worth a thousand words, these are worth quite a few :) Enjoy...

Mummy and Daddy... I love you both... More than you'll ever know!!!

MAL

:-P

Jehovah Rapha

2009-06-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Exodus 15:26
26… I am the Lord who heals you.”

When the Israelites first came out from Eygpt, this was the first compound name that the Lord had revealed to them.

In faith, I claim that Father, You are the Lord that heals...

By Your stripes, I am healed...

By Your stripes, my family is healed...

By Your stripes, my friends are healed...

In You, Father, I place my trust. Let Your healing fall upon this land and upon those who require it...

I thank you Father, that "Nothing shall by any means hurt me", and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper".

I claim all these in Your name.

Amen.

MAL

:-P

It's Over...

2009-06-03T01:55:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

FINALLY finished my Advanced Functions exam today =D

Guess that signals the end of ICPU for me, and the end of this short stint in college, away from those whom I know, away from friends and family...

Looking back at what i've been through, I wonder... HOW IN THE WORLD did I get through this? The longest period of which I ever was away from home (as in the buiding as well as family) was only 5 days for the National level prefects' camp in 2006...

I miss 45 Jalan Melawati, but more than ever, I missed my family...

I remember the first day I moved in to Casa, thinking to myself "Okay Malcolm, here's the plan... You imagine this is like any other camp you've been to, only slightly longer... You go in there, get yourself known to virtually everyone, and enjoy yourself!!!"

I know I enjoyed myself... Whether or not I got myself known, I honestly don't know... :)

What did I learn form this course? Lots...

There are some people greater than you (well, at SOMETHING or another, you can't beat them all, no? :P)
You cannot rush things, just make sure you do it in the right way with the right timing and keep your fingers crossed!
You win some, you lose some... Some things are just not meant to be, but always remember there's always something better coming out from it for you!!! (You don't always score perfect marks now, do you? xD)
Family first is true :) But it's always nice to have a group of close friends who watch your back and look out for you, be your family when the original family is absent (I love you guys, you know who you are!!! xD)
It's always nice to find a balance, and then strike it!!!
But most importantly... I found out that I could never do anything alone... I had always depended on someone or another... And when I relied solely on myself... I failed miserably... Weird... And so I learnt... There is One who loves you so much that He would be there whenever you need Him... So, I learnt... To depend on Him...

In freedom... Spending some time with friends... I think that's a good idea :)

You know that people say "friends are like jewels"?

I beg to differ...

Jewels can be bought...

Friends?

Priceless...

MAL
:-P

Love is....? (In response to Lilian's post dated 25/8/09)

2009-05-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Hmmm... How about...? (please insert your name where you see MALCOLM and see if it works?)

MALCOLM is patient?

MALCOLM is kind?

MALCOLM does not envy?

MALCOLM does not boast?

MALCOLM is not proud?

MALCOLM is not rude?

MALCOLM is not self-seeking?

MALCOLM is not easily angered?

MALCOLM keeps no record of wrongs?

MALCOLM does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth?

MALCOLM always protects?

MALCOLM always trusts?

MALCOLM always hopes?

MALCOLM always perseveres?

MALCOLM never fails?

... Not sure about you, but looks like I have a loooooong way to go...

MAL
:-P

Goodbye? ICPU buddies... ;-(

2009-05-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

I really hate saying goodbyes...

Or do I?

It's been such an eventful year, I don't know what to say...

So many things happened, so many new friends made, so many things I learnt not only about others, but about myself as well...

I know I'm going to miss alot of people, you ICPU guys...

I love all of you guys, those who in the course of these few months became family to me, stood up for me through thick and thin, and walked beside me in suffering, and laughed and enjoyed with me through triumphs...

Thanks...

Naiz

Yasmin

Terence

Rui Heng

Hexen (mui2)

Andy

Jules

Mathew

Sasi

Ammeee

Keng

Iylia

Ainaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Fyqah

Lilian

Grace

Xin Ying

Chook Teng (Ah Teng Ah)

Nian Yi

Philip

Alfie

Michael

Wen2

Elaine

Natallie

Kaihan

Shawn

Laily

Dee dee

Denise

Jason

Wen Fei

Jeff

Wai Chuen

Ding

Aish

Dayana (Na na)

Jay-Zee

Jou May

Azira

Amirah

Lin Xin

Tee

Thillaga

Niroshaa

Surya

Paalini

Ah Kin Ah

Zul

Bainin

Wei Yik

Shu Woon

Xiang Rong

Allyssa

Windy

In no order of preference, thanks guys... And all those that I missed out, i'm sorry, there's just wayyyyyy too many of you, don't mean I don't love you too, k? :-)

I LOVE YOU guys... If I could i'd give each of you a BIGGGGGGGG hug!!! (Unfortunately some of you dun take hugs from guys like me *sob* )

All of you... I really do love you guys...

As a collective, and also as an individual :)

I'm sure i'll miss you...

MAL

:-P

P/S : Dun miss me TOO much, k? xD

A Deep Sense of Happiness :)

2009-05-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

It is weird...

It is weird to think that what happens to others can directly affect your feelings...

Like when something good happens to your friends or family, you feel happy?

I know I am!!!

Life's good...

Look at the bright side of life...

Forget the dark side...

Coz we don't need it...

Smile with those who want to smile with you...

Smile with those who don't want to...

Be glad that there are those who are comfortable with you...

Be glad that there are those who are not...

Realize that not everything works out the way you want it to...

But thank God, it works out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose :)

Fear not, but love xD

MAL

:-P

Hey, Wake Up!!!

2009-05-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Wake up man!!!

Hello world!!! :)

Time to wake up now...

Hahahaha!!!

Lets see...

Man make machines that do simple functions...

Because they are lazy to do them by themselves?

And waste 3 months completing such machines???

I have to say, i'm intrigued... xD

I found out my previous posts have been quite emo?

Hmm... Interesting... But hey, why SHOULD we be emo?

(Assignment stress kot...) xD

Lets live our lives guys!!! We have only... A few days left here in college :(

Lets make the best out of this...

I WILL miss u guys... ;-(

But now...

THE FINAL LAP!!!

Heb 12:1

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

And thus, let us finish FIRST!!! :)

MAL

:-P

Would You Be There?

2009-05-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Unfair and illogical questions to ask?

I don't know...

But I really would want to know...

If one of these days I would breathe my last breath in this world...

Would you would be there at my funeral?
Would you shed a tear for me?
Would you look back at photographs of me and smile?
Would you take some time to sit down and think of what i've ever been, if i ever have been anything to you?
Would you comfort my family, those close to me, even if you don't know them?
Would you step into church to pay your last respects, knowing that that's where my body will be?
Would you remember me for more than a few days? Weeks? Months?
Would you say something at my funeral? If you did, what would you say?
Would you come back to see me, if you were far away?

Cause I just want to know...

Would you be there?
Do you care?

MAL

No Turning Back...

2009-05-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

Look back at your promise, my boy...
Remember who you were raised to be...
Remember what you are to be to those around you...
Remember the One whom you have chosen to follow...

No turning back...

Remember that you always wanted to put those around you first...
Remember that you always showed pity to those who needed it...
Remember you always loved those around you, no matter who they were...
Remember that you always knew where to look when troubles came...

No turning back...

Remember that you'd never let those around you suffer on your own accord...
Remember that you'd say with pride your good points yet be humble in your actions...
Remember that you'd lead people and not demand anything in return...
Remember that you'd help anyone in need and keep the deed silent...

No turning back...

You'd walk the straight path and never stray...
You'd never let feelings get in your way...
You'd let true smiles be what you play...
You'd never let satan rue the day...

No turning back, my boy...

It's time to look back at the mirror again...
View not the past, scorn not the rain...
No more yourself view just a bane...
To live is Christ, to die is gain!!!

MAL
:-P

A Leader?

2009-05-06T01:53:00.000-07:00

The normal perception is to think that a leader is one who would just "lead" by name, order everybody around, take all the credit and then just laze off with a great name...

The question then thrown is, a TRUE leader... Is that what he/she does?

In all sincerity, I have to disagree... By definition, a leader is one who LEADS... (Like, DUH!!!)

MALCOLM'S DEFINITIONS!!!

A leader is...
One who can relate to his people...
One who understands them...
One who can see his people by their strengths, not their weaknesses...
One who will understand that being spat at, scorned upon and laughed at by others is normal...
One who can differentiate between his enemies and his friends...
One who will not let his personal life interfere with his line of duty...
One who is willing to cover up and take the blame for the shortcomings of his members...
One who sees the potential, not "uselessness" in a person...
One who looks at something (or someone) and sees what "can be", not what "is"...
One who takes success as motivation and failure as the beginning of success...
One who does not fear being rejected by his own people...
One who does not fear the truth...
One who is willing to make a decision, stick with it and face the consequences, whatever it be...

Not possible?

Maybe...

I know of one man who walked the face of the Earth who did it...

And so, I shall try to do so too...

And if I never become as such? I shall die trying...

MAL
:-P

P/S : And i'm sorry to my own leaders, I know it's tough being a leader... But just hang in there... As long as you try your best, your people remember you... And in the end... That's all that matters...

Being a leader isn't a promotion...
It's a burden...
But bear it with pride...
Your members... THEY are your pride and joy...
Take pride in them, for in the end when all else fails...
THEY will be what's left...

I Remember a Time When...

2009-05-04T03:25:00.001-07:00

I remember a time when all I needed to know was Mom and Dad...

I remember a time when I used to talk (alot), and never fear saying something wrong...

I remember a time when I used to crawl around writing on walls, just knowing that I liked it...

I remember a time when fights and arguments were so easily settled among my friends and I, in a few minutes, we would be holding hands and playing together again...

I remember a time when dressing up in all kinds of costumes and clothes was just plain fun and that no one would ever comment about it...

I remember a time when I would just laugh at anything that I thought was funny, and that I actually had a proper sense of humour, not a fake one to live up to society's thoughts...

I remember a time when somebody would say that I liked a certain girl, and like any other boy, I would go "bluek" :)

I remember a time when holding hands with another girl or guy is considered "cute", not looked upon with scorn nor slanderous views by society...

I remember a time when every friend looked the same to me, no matter what race, what custom or WHATEVER they were...

I remember a time when a kiss meant something "yucky" and that we closed our eyes... (At least during movies...)

I remember a time when school seemed like something fun to do, and that I would never skip school even if I was "sick until can die"...

I remember a time when death meant nothing but that someone goes to a place far far away and that I would see him or her again next time...

I remember a time when a friend is one whom I can trust with anything, anything at all, and trust can never be "betrayed"... Such a word never even existed...

I remember a time when I was told to "never talk to strangers", especially those who offer ice cream or lollipops or any kind of sweet stuff...

I remember a time when "junk food" was all the treasure in the world, and that nothing could ever replace the joy of finishing school and walking outside to buy "junk food" from the old Ah Pek...

I remember a time when a lie was something never even thought of, because there was no reason to do so...

I remember a time when crying was not an embarrassing thing, and that everyone cries some time or another...

I remember a time when there was no need to hide pain and fear, that everybody could understand and be symphatetic towards that fear...

I remember a time when there was no such thing as foul language, any word I knew of was pure and clean...

I remember a time when life meant just being who I am and living in accordance to the plan set up by my parents, and the people and a God who loves me...

May we ALL return to the time we once remember...

MAL

:-P

Tagged by Girlie =_="'

2009-04-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

Heya guys!!!

Okay this is gonna be weird, but it's the FIRST TIME i've ever been tagged in somebody else's blog... (And by girlie summore... Haiya manyak kacau la uuuuu... :P)

And so "okay fine", I thought...

And thus, here goes!!! :)

Upload your fave picture and answer the questions below.

Why do you chose this photo?
Okay, I gotta admit, it isn't EXACTLY my favourite picture, but it is one of, anyway... Coz not I take one maaa!!! (Ooo perasan much :P) But still, nice shot there, you gotta admit, no? (Sure lah, see who main attraction maaa :P) Oh AND I miss BB :(

When is the last time u ate Pizza?
Can't really recall leh... But I gotta say, never really was such a big fan of pizza, so the longer I don't eat it, the better, no? At least gives me some time to start missing and craving for it... (Yeah, RIGHT!!!)

The last song you've listened to?
"It is Well", the rendition by 4Him in the album 4Him & Hmyns... (Well, it IS well =D)

What are you doing besides answering this tag?
Err admiring my new beautiful "precious" (say it with a Gollum-like voice) and playing with her, admiring how gorgeous she looks and listening to her beautiful voice... Oh and waiting to cool down so I can go for a bath... Oh and also wondering what I should have for dinner... Hmmm...

Besides your own name, how do you like ppl to call u?
Wah this one alot lo... Hmmm lemme see... There's "niko", "koko", "malmal", "malgam", "mal-tu-lum", "malex", "alex", "malthum", "keeper kebal", "best doctor in the universe", "malc-y", "boss", "brother", "handsome" :P, "perasan" XD, "nice guy" (RIGGHHHHTTT...)... Aiyah the list goes on...

Tag 6 people. The following questions are related to them.
1. Hexen Ong
2. Julia Chin
3. Mathew Chiam
4. Lilian Wong
5. Chook Teng
6. Bainin

Who is No. 1?
Adik angkatku tersayang... LOLZ!!! She's this girl who's my family away from home and her birthday is like 1 day after mine (thus, adik :P) Very nice and caring girl (aboh lei? my sister bah :P)

No. 3 has a relationship with?
Ooo... This one ahh... *tsk tsk tsk* Very difficult question to answer lo... Actually ah, not one only you know!!! Alot of relationship here relationship there... (As in alot of friend relationship la, don't think too much...) But got special one onot? That one ah? Bu neng shuo de mi mi *shhhh* :P

Say something about No. 5.
Oh she ah? Hmm same M'sian Studies class with me lo... Quite nice gal oways smile smile happy happy (okay most of d time la :P) Oh and she's married already (LOLZ!!!) XD... jkjk...

How about No. 4?
A friend of mine who is rather quiet (sometimes la)... But she's a real good thinker and her blog posts are many a times a wonderful reminder of God's love to me... Just got to know her slightly better this semester... Nice girl :)

Who is No. 2?
A close friend of mine who is a very nice girl... Like nice tahap ekstrema!!! :P (oh and also laugh gila2 tahap ekstrema xD) A friendly girl who "knows everyone!!!" (Quick, say not EVERYone...) :P Very caring and always approachable... Unique... (like the platypus xD)

Say something to No. 6!
Bwahahahaha you're tagged Bainin!!! Now you've got something to write on your blog (Instead of weird thumbelina videos or whatnot) :P

I'd tag sooooooooo many more people like Cass (but girlie ady tag), Nian Yi, Grace, Michelle, Jeff and Wenfei, Natallie, Yasmin, Wai Chuen, Kai Han, Amelia, Xin Ying, David, Anthony, Aiman, Andrew, and sooooo many other ppl but only 6 so cannot lo... Oh wait I just did!!! Too bad, system :P YOU GUYS ARE TAGGED TOO!!! ALL OF YOU READING THIS :P

MAL

:-P

And Once Again, I Say Thank You...

2009-04-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

I thank you for hearing

I thank you for listening

I thank you for reading

I thank you for understanding

I thank you for looking

I thank you for seeing

I thank you for feeling

I thank you for sensing

I thank you for doing

I thank you for being

I thank you for laughing

I thank you for crying

I thank you for holding on

I thank you for letting go

I thank you for words

I thank you for silence

I thank you for humility

I thank you for vanity

But most of all... I thank you for love, and I thank you for friendship...

For what is this earth but a floating vessel in space, only to be held up by the great forces which hold us all in equilibria... But friends... THEY spin the earth and make it go round...

And... I thank you for being part of the people who care... Those whom I can approach without having to wear a mask ever again... Knowing that you care for me for who I am, and who I ever will be...

I always will pray for you, continue to be as I can be, as a friend, as a brother to you...

So always, my friend, wear that smile...

Laugh that laugh...

Never let anybody force you to be what you don't want to be =D

Be yourself, but more importantly, be TRUE TO yourself...

And once again, I say thank you...

Realizing that this isn't the first, but knowing really well too that it will not be the last either :)

Just to let you know that I care xD

MAL

:-P

Cheers to Birth, to Friends, to Family and to Love!!!

2009-04-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

16th April, 1990...

The young crybaby was brought forth safely into the world... The things he felt, the things he saw... So strange yet so... Farmiliar... Almost as if he knew he was supposed to be there... The people around him, family... Friends... It was a new beginning...

16th April 2009...

19 years down the road!!! The young crybaby is now... (Not such a crybaby :P) A charming, intelligent, cool-looking, handsome, one-of-a-kind (did I mention handsome?) guy... (Oh but most of all VAIN!!!) Okay okay that was just for fun... Let me tell you a story... The story about "A Day in the Life of Malcolm Chong"...

Seriously now...

It all started at around midnight, the transition from 15th to 16th... Malcolm was absolutely elated to recieve soooooo many smses and calls from family and friends and even verbal birthday wishes from close friends as well as some looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong messages...

Dawn called upon a whole new set of events as the whole day started to unroll as a carpet would its duty... With the sweet vibration and metallic clanging of harmonious bells on board trusty alarm clocks, he knew the day would turn out just superb... A quick bath followed by a nice quiet talk with his Creator and reading His word prepped him up for the day...

Awww mann!!! This'll take forever!!! Okay so i'll just highlight the events then!!! Saves time :)

Gets a place on the lift and finds the bus waiting (rare occurence)
Gets birthday wishes and hugs from friends
Gets a ridiculous amount of smses throughout the day
Gets birthday wishes from sooooooo many people
GETS CALL FROM SHAHRIZAN!!! FROM USA!!! Really made his day!!! (Thanks so much my buddy!!!)
Malaysian Studies class sings "Happy Birthday" to him
Gets even more smses, (Thanks CG!!!) and gets like 4-5 invitations to dinner!!!
Goes for bible discussion thingy and finds out 3.17 is locked...
Moves over to C16 instead and gets SURPRISED!!! (pics below) Thanks soooo much guys!!! :)
Cousin Ju fetches and goes to his house, where I play with his Wii
Transfer to Eastin Hotel to eat Japanese!!! (abit disappointing tho...) (pics below)
Gets call from Sadid, asks Malcolm to help out in something, insists on Malcolm being there to personally see to it...
Goes over and is SURPRISED!!! by Sadid, Anas and gang... TOTALLY unexpected... (Thanks guys!!!)
Thought that was enough, went back to room, goes online and prepared for bed...
Gets emergency call from Naiz close to midnight, asks to rush down for backup...
Rushes down and sure enough... SURPRISED AGAIN!!!! Gathered around the table near the pool was about 40 people? Anyway, they sang Happy Birthday and... Yup!!! TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AT ALL!!!

I really thank God for all these guys and gals who made my birthday such an interesting, eventful and unforgettable one... More than anything, any present that I got, i'm just glad to have all of you as my friends and family... You ALL mean sooo much to me, and I thank you for it :)

Here, look at photos instead la, boring la read writing oni :) Enjoy!!!

Birthday boy

Natallie, Hexen, Jou May and Sean

Ding

Lilian

Errr... Who ah? :P Wei Wei

Jeff and Wenfei... (Dun wanna comment on how greedy dey look :P)

Nian Yi, Shawn and Mui2

Wei Wei, Lilian and Juliaaaaaaaaa

Jou May and Jun Zhang (+ Ding)

Group photo of Bible discussion thingy

Serious? Or at least an attempt to be...

What's with all the guns? O_o

Errr... You don't really wanna know...

Blowing the cake...

And... Removing the candles with... The mouth? =O

And then we have the family pics...

Thai Kue (thanks for dinner!!!)

Sarm Kue

Jessica, Ju and Ju's girlfriend

My dish (xD)

And... My presents from Thai Kue!!!

A lovely day, lovely events, but most of all... Lovely friends...

Thanks all!!! I love ALL of you guys!!! Thanks soooooooooooooooooo much!!! :)

MAL

:-P

P/S : Sorry, kinda looooooooooooooooooooooooong post... :)

One Wish...

2009-04-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm...

Wishes are things that may or may not come true...

Some people, however, believe that on certain days in their lives, anything they wish for would come true...

But is that....

TRUE???

I wonder...

And if you could wish for anything, and I mean ANYTHING...

What would you wish for?

I wish...

Okay this might be pushing it a little extra... Slightly more than 1 wish never mind, ya? :)

I wish that all the people around me be happy :D (For the people)

I wish that... People around me are glad to have me around...

In short, my wish is that the people around me would smile and say to me "Malcolm, i'm glad to have met you, am proud to be your friend, and am glad you were born into this world 19 years ago..."

That would be a much fairer and greater gift, (if it comes from an honest heart :P) than anyone could ever give... And I promise, i'll treasure it with all of my heart, never to forget it :)

MAL

:-P

God Loves You More

2009-04-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

It is not right...

I... Cannot do it...

The adverse effects are too harsh...

Too long...

Too strong...

I guess, that is just not the way...

It is not the right time yet...

That is, if time IS a factor...

No...

Certain things...

Certain things are just too precious to be broken...

Who am I to destroy the futures of others?

Do I fear for others' sakes?

Or do I fear for myself?

If I do, am I being selfish?

No, no, no!!!

Instead, I shall bless you...

Instead, I shall pray for you...

That no fool may harm you be it in words or deeds...

And in whatever you do, may God's hand prosper it for you...

And... Just be blest in all that you do...

But no, suffering for such trivial matters might be uncalled for...

Whatever it is...

God loves you more

MAL

:-P

In His Time...

2009-04-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hey, just a little something to share with you guys and girls just right there wondering, waiting, hoping for something to happen... Giving up hope and rolling around in despair... Just wanna let you noe that hey!!! The time will come :) Just... Don't despair and worry like crazy over small stuff, see the big picture...

Here's a story...

Was it about say... Two days ago? Anyway, I was starting to get rather worried about my university applications... People started getting offer letters while me? I still got none... So it was kind of painful, seeing people slowly receiving admission offers while I did not...

So anyway, I got a real nice e-mail from my church member Jie-Jie Julia which reminded me that basically God was in control and that He IS able to help me out, and that He loves me... That was such a wonderful reminder... I was reminded again that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Anyway, i'm just here to share a song that got stuck in my head that day and still does ring in my head sometimes... A wonderful reminder of God's love and unfailing love :)

In His Time

IN HIS TIME, IN HIS TIME

HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME

LORD, PLEASE SHOW ME EVERYDAY

AS YOU'RE TEACHING ME YOUR WAY

AND I'LL DO JUST WHAT YOU SAY

IN YOUR TIME.

IN YOUR TIME, IN YOUR TIME

YOU MAKE ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR TIME

LORD, MY LIFE TO YOU I BRING

MAY EACH SONG I HAVE TO SING

BE TO YOU A LOVELY THING

IN YOUR TIME.

In Your time Father, I entrust all of my days, all of my life, everything I have ever loved, everyting I have ever wanted, all that I have, all that I am, all that I will be, all that I ever have been. Thank you Father that Your love and mercy for me extends much greater that I have ever known, and thank You for stretching out Your handa to show just how much You love me... I love You Father... You know I do... Help me to never put any others before You in my life, and help me to remember that my life and everything in it is in Your hands... I know Father that You have the best plan in store for me already. Help me to always trust and hope in You... Thank You Father! I know You will answer, for I ask and pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen!

MAL

:-P

P/S : Don't worry guys, the time'll come :)

Of Truths, Lies and Acts...

2009-04-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

How can you tell when someone is telling the truth?

Is there a real method of looking into one's heart?

Is there a way of seeing if what one says is true?

When one is so good at acting out something... Is it truly possible for him to believe, and be living in a lie?

And if someone has believed and lived out a lie, can that lie finally become... A truth?

Can there possibly be a happy ending for a liar who has finally regretted his lies, for one who has had enough of piling up gossips, hatred, prejudices and... hypocrisies?

A truly great actor is one who is able to visualize, think, react in the way the character would have, or should have...

An actor can be true to his part...

But can he be true to himself?

Never live your life in a lie... Otherwise you might find yourself living a lie...

Actors, take heed, for "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..."

The question is... Are we playing the right act?

MAL

:-P

The Potter's Hand

2009-04-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Potter's Hand by Darlene Zschech

Verse:

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands,

Crafted into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence

Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart, I know you're drawing me to yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Chorus:
Take me, Mould me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

I just love this song...

Somehow it always reminds me not to worry about the things I tend to worry too much about... I guess one of the main problems plaguing the world today is the problem of worry... When somebody gets worried over something, someone else gets worried about that person, etc... And thus begins a chain reaction of worried people!!!

Sometimes we gotta just chill and sit back, relax and allow the Potter to complete us, to complete the people around us and make us more beautiful than ever...

So don't worry too much about stuff, k? Things'll work out, they always do... When we've got a Daddy up there who loves us that much... It ain't all that surprising... :)

MAL

:-P

The Different... Levels? Of Friends...

2009-03-28T04:23:00.000-07:00

Taken from one of the extra Bible-based books that i've been reading, "The Teenage Q&A Book" by Josh McDowell and Bill Jones... I thought it real apt for me to share...

Page 103

The first level we call casual friends. This level includes the girl who has the locker beside yours, many of the students in your class, and more than likely your teachers. (You wouldn't call them your enemies, would you? Maybe you better not answer that.) Most anyone you have contact with and speak to would qualify as a casual friend.

The second level of friendship is your close friends. Your close friends include the people you eat with together at lunch, the ones you choose to sit by in class and the ones you go out with on the weekend.

The third and much deeper level of friendship is your committed friends. Where you would have lots of casual friends, several close friends, normally you have just a few commited friends. These are the friends with whom you share who you really are inside. They are the ones you trust and feel safe telling your secrets, hurts and joys.

Okay, let me guess... "There's nothing biblical about that!!!" Hahaha!!! Technically there is... While I read this, many names came to mind (I'm sure to yours as well xD) but the name of my friend who died for me kept humming in my mind when I read the part about committed friends...

I realized that I had many friends, and I thank God that He provided friends from each category for every stage of my life... I also realized that I have many committed friends, even today...

But what struck me is this...

Does anybody consider me as a committed friend? Being who I truly am among my best friends and buddies, do they think the same way as I do? I can only hope...

Anyway, you guys know who you are... I thank God for putting you there in my life...

And I thank you for being there in my life...

And thus I shall strive to be a committed friend for the people around me...

Are YOU a committed friend? Strive with me, okay? :)

MAL

:-P

P/S : Oh and I highly recommend the book!!! Got it at a second-hand bookstore but it's not half-bad!!! The bottom line? - Get the book :)