Michael Jackson dies

The 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson died early today. The radio has been playing his songs all day, the internet is swamped with tributes to him, photo galleries, videos and everything that has to do with him.

Listening to his songs all day, I have to say he was an incredibly talented person who made music and danced a class above the rest. I absolutely love his song 'Man in the Mirror'.

Its so ironic that the same platform - the media - made him famous, subsequently destroyed his reputation, had no qualms about putting horrible pictures and news about him on tv, newspapers and the internet, and now, on the event of his death, is paying tribute to him.

That's media. A powerful medium that continues to battle between good and evil.

To me, Michael Jackson would be remembered as a precious child who grew up too fast, who discovered his God-given gifts and used it to the best of his ability, but got trapped in the enticements of overwhelming wealth, power and fame that robbed him of true happiness in life...

Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot

Thoo and I had our pre-wedding photo shoot at Cameron Highlands last weekend. Altogether, there were 5 of us - Olivia and Stanley our photographers, our good friend Stephanie, Thoo and myself.

We stayed at the Strawberry Park Resort. There were many pretty photo-taking locations around the resort but the rooms were a bit dated and could do with some new curtains, bedding and furniture. Nevertheless, it was quite comfortable.

Here are some pictures from our trip! Olivia and Stanley's photos will only be out on the wedding day :)

We saw this nice-looking stray dog at a Chinese restaurant and fed him pork ribs

Strawberry Park Resort - The gardener did a great job with the landscaping
Sunflowers at the Rose Park
Olivia at one of our locations - the Boh Tea Plantation

Having a cup of tea before our shoot

We stopped by Kellie's Castle in Ipoh on the way up to Cameron Highlands

The crew - Olivia, Stanley and Stephanie

Thoo and Stanley at the mamak

Having steamboat at night, the prawns were especially fresh!

Exhausted = Sick

I seriously need to add more margins in my life.  This week has been really exhausting. I was reminded last week that we are never 100% in control of our lives, no matter how much or far ahead we plan. There are many things mortal humans like us cannot foresee - death, impending sicknesses, accidents, natural disasters, pandemics.

I got the flu this week, I must have gotten it from mum, who got it from dad. It started with a sore throat and fever, then a cold and now, a cough. I'm much better now and don't have to worry about being quarantined for suspected H1N1. 

And as my schedule is packed so tight with (mostly) work, I couldn't really take any rest... and still spent the week running around like a headless chicken. So I got all frustrated... I don't think that's the way God wants me living my life... hectic and frantic.   

I'm so thankful right now to have the opportunity to blog before going to bed. Plus, I don't have to work tomorrow! Its time to rethink my priorities in life. I like how Pr Chris Hodges illustrated it - to put in the big rocks in the jar before filling the sand in.  The big rocks symbolise what's really important (God, family, ourselves) and the sand is whatever else that comes in the way (endless emails, smses, facebook, etc.). I not only need to know this principle, but practice it too.

Sleepy sleepy... Goodnight!

Family

My dad's eldest brother, I call him 'Ah Pek' in Hokkien, passed away yesterday.  He was 69 and had stomach cancer that had spread to other parts of his body. He lived another 16 months after being diagnosed with 4th stage cancer last year. 'Ah Pek' was a really hardworking man, who insisted that he wanted to continue working after the diagnosis.  He would take a bus to work right after his radiotherapy treatments! He'd hardly ever complain about being in pain and endure the sickness quietly.  These are the words I would use to describe him - responsible, hardworking, sacrificial, caring. 

While attending the wake the past two nights, I pondered on many things. I saw how Ah Pek's children - my cousins - gathered and prayed together in the midst of their grief, giving support and love to each other. I saw how the family members were all trying to be strong for one another so that the other person would feel better. I saw my cousins greeting relatives and friends with a brave smile and appreciative words in the midst of their great pain. And Ah Pek's wife even walked over to our car, when we were about to leave, to thank us for some food we bought.  The food is nothing compared to the loss she's facing.  And yet, she thanked us. 

And in pondering all those things, I realised that it is the grieving who need us the most and we must always choose to be with them.... Love is what is what makes family, family.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Our Daily Gift

I wake up each morning with a gift from God - the privilege of asking anything I want from Him in prayer.

I've been praying for Nepal over the past couple of days since finding out that a political leader has threatened to bomb all Christian homes in Nepal and is demanding that all Nepali Christians leave the country within 1 month. A lady has been detained for bombing a church in Lalitpur that killed a few people and injured many others. 

I feel sad hearing this news, and I can't help but think of how the Nepali Christians are feeling right now.  The only thing I can do right now is pray for them and that is the best thing to do at this moment. 

I pray that God will bring peace and harmony to Nepal and that every Nepali will know that God is loving and gracious, and would never do evil to anyone. I pray for His angels to guard all His children and for His blood to cover them. If God is for them, who can be against them? I pray that Nepali Christians will be strong and courageous at this time, not paralysed by fear but to be able to follow His command to overcome evil with good. 

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psalm 91:14