Throughout this week...

There is only one thought in my mind thus far over the past week.

One of my favourite hymns says it best...


The scenes in this video can be found in Canada. I have been to many of these places. All thanks to Bonita for taking time to drive me so I could take a break.



Indeed Great is Thy faithfulness Oh Lord, my God.



This is a song by Sammi. She believes that even if she can have fame and fortune the world gives, she will never be happy. She says the Lord wants her to know the way to salvation and peace. She says the fame and fortune brought her many troubles and worries. God has already prepared and the very least God has done is never to abandon her despite her poverty, depression. She praised the Lord for preserving her and lifting her up from the pits. She thank the Lord for already putting her in His plans to lift her and to help her and for not forgetting where she is. Most of all she thanked Jesus for dying on the cross for her.

This is a song about writing to your 15 year old self...


Wanna try writing one to yourself? What would you write when you are fifteen and when you are looking at that fifteen year old in you now?

The trip to Bangkok

A short trip to Bangkok was a great break for me. I was picked up by a police truck because my ex student's father happened to be a police officer in Thailand. I was noticed by many of the Thais as I walked straight out of the airport. There was no need for siren. The police officer drove me towards the hotel the parents put me up at and then I went to visit with the parents. The mother and I have become friends and she wanted me to adopt her son as my godson. I told her again and this must be the third time I turned her down that I already have two. But I promise to take of things for her when the son needs help.

Before I left for Bangkok, I emailed a friend I stayed with for a brief period in Calgary. She is a wonderful person and is a faithful friend. She managed to contact my student's mum and we were able to meet. 

The hotel I stayed the first two nights had a small kitchen and a small dining area. It was situated away from MBK or other shopping malls. A small mall was tucked within this district near a hospital where the Thai King is. Korn took me around the market near my hotel and then at night, I went scouting for my dinner. His mother was afraid that I would be mugged on the street. I told her I am a geographer and having a sense of place is very important to me so I need to move around the area ON MY OWN. I did just that. It was rather dark as the street lights outside the city are really not bright. But once I am in the mall, I head straight to the food court. 

I realized I could not order cos they are all Thais. So I used the most famous dictionary...the index finger and I pointed...and stirred for soup. And they showed me how much I had to pay and wah la...dinner was ready. What I liked about the food courts in Bangkok is that on every table there is a box of tissue paper you can help yourself with. The food courts are clean with very little litter. I bought nothing. 


The next day, I woke up and waited for Korn to bring me to meet an important person. Nope, not the king. It was a lady who has been waiting to meet me regarding some programmes. The view to their conference room was breathtaking. It overlooks the Queen's park. We had a good discussion. 

The next morning, I was all packed and ready to move to Pathumwan Princess Hotel. I went out to survey what I could buy. Again, I could not speak the language and so I used my index finger. And I bought these. I had porridge and what looks like yakitori sticks with sticky rice. I didn't finish the sticky rice. The porridge was interesting cos normally a fresh egg is broken into the hot bowl of porridge. But my egg is like a poached egg sitting inside my porridge. The porridge is a little bit sweeter than what I would cook but it was delicious. The lady mending and cooking at the stall gave me a cold cup of water. How nice. And my breakfast cost me less than $3. 


Then I was off to Pathumwan Princess. Korn helped me that day and the room was to die for...just take a look yourself. I quickly took the picture before I mess it up. But I didn't mess it up too much because I just couldn't bear to mess the lovely swans. I collected all the petals and then use one side of my bed to sleep. I did break the swans up later in the night when I was about to sleep so I could see how they were folded using the bath towels. Then the door bell rang! There was a waiter who served up a chocolate cake and on it was written Happy Honeymoon. So I told him I didn't order the cake. Then he told me it is with compliments from the hotel. I was stunned! Bonita will say I had a rotic night because the man was missing... ROmanTIC! Indeed. 

The view from my room was just breathtaking.

 This is the tallest building and also the tallest hotel in Bangkok.

What a lovely sky?
The main shopping area ahead of me and I was next to MBK shopping mall. But I am never a shopper unless it is Christmas.

This is the view from the conference room. Even Korn had to take some photos here. I am very fortunate to have visited Bangkok again. 16 years ago in June, just when Korn was born, I was with a group of Canadian Students in Bangkok. All I remembered was a real rush to get to Chiangmai and I had to stay over at Chiangmai while the rest went jungle trekking. I didn't dare go because there was a malaria outbreak and I was not given a jab because I had breathing difficulties while I was in Calgary. So I would be really sick if I had gone. So Bangkok was a blur except for the red light district area of Patpong. I went in, and half way I walked back out while my canadian students finished the area and visited some of the bars. They were cheated of their money and together with another student, a fella from the seventh day adventist, we sat and drank FANTA orange the whole two hours at KFC. And Jeff and I became really good friends. He helped me carried my big deluge bag. And I was grateful he helped me with my bag.

Bangkok is amazing. Korn's mum was right. Amazing Thailand indeed!

My Timothy

This week has been really tiring for me. The minute I landed from Bangkok, my cousin and her husband also just arrived. As if I was not busy enough, my brakes failed and I don't have a car for two days. Then another news came, my sister's father in law passed away on Friday morning. Everything rushed towards me and I was really perplexed to have to entertain all sides. But I survived with a lot of prayers from friends who know of my situation.

What I enjoyed thoroughly was how God brought my family together through the visit of my cousin and her husband. They are from Hong Kong and because of them, I got to visit places I have not been to in Singapore. I brought them to the casinos and my siblings took turns to entertain them. It was a very family affair and without telling, we all chipped in to help dad out with this visit. He is extremely exhausted now and hope to sleep tighter tonight.

What also brought us together was the funeral. 

My family is closely knit with the usual fights and squabbles even though we don't stay together. Part of the reasons why we fought a lot is because we have a lot of challenges to meet. My sister has to deal with two very old parents in law. She used to nurse her father in law until it became a strain. He became violent over the years and would refuse to shower because he was afraid to fall. He lived for 18 years after his first stroke and all these was due to my sister's control over his diet. Although he lived for 18 years, I witnessed a gradual and eventually a speedy decline of the quality of life in this old man. He didn't talk much and the little I know of him, I know through short talks with my sister. When my brother in law was not around to look after Grandpa Toh, Timothy would take over.

Timothy was Grandpa Toh's first grandson. My nephew is a big and tall boy and has always been chubby. At a young age, when Grandpa Toh could still talk, he would play Chinese Chess with Timothy. Timothy loves chess games. I bought him a set of chess with Chinese figurines. What is so impressive about this nephew is his impressive memory and sense of direction even when he was a little boy. He would lead us out of the maze of roads and got us to the car. His memory is fantastic.

He loves to watch animated movies. We would discuss about the content of the animation and he would talk about the colours and the movement and how difficult it would be. He never learn any of these. It is his interest.

When Grandpa Toh finally passed on to enter to heaven last Friday morning, Timothy and Tifany were at church camp. They both came home and Tiffany went up the stairs to get changed. Timothy went straight to the casket and wept. He sobbed so hard that he moved my dad to tears that afternoon. Even when my dad went to his side, he would hang his head down and sobbed. I arrived much later after I collected my car and asked him then why he cried. His reply was short "because he is my loved one." Wow! Enough said.

The following night, my brother Richard conducted the service. Grandpa Toh never went to church but he was baptised at the St Andrews Home one day when he accepted the Lord. My brother did an excellent job. He got Timothy to share first about his grandfather. He told us that he was angry and also sad. But he never explained why he was angry. Then he told of how his grandfather would play chess with him. And he finally ended by sharing that he knows his grandfather is in heaven with no more suffering and pain. Then my brother in law shared.

What impressed me about Timothy is not just these. He has taken care for his grandfather and grandmother while the rest of the family goes church on the maid's off day. He would change the diapers for his grandfather when they are dirty. He would clean his grandfather. He would also feed his grandfather with the tube. My sister and my brother in law taught him how to insert a feeding tube into the throat of his grandfather. Timothy is only 15. He has been taught since 13 how to look after his grand parents. 

I am very proud of Timothy. When my brother in law shared how he would take care of the granddad, many of us were moved. I pray that God will use him mightily.

Till today, Timothy is not baptized yet. I hope he will soon. He told me that there are still issues he wants to settle first before he submit to God. Just like my mother who told me that until she had dealt with her fiery temper, she would not be a Christian. But Christ knows we are sinners. The reason for Jesus to come was so we can be saved from our sins. There is no need to be perfect because we cannot be perfect. We can only seek for His righteousness and wait for the day He comes for us that we will attain perfection.

My family bonds stronger when we face crisis. Thank God for my family. So thankful that we can pull together through good and tough times. Sometimes we don't do so well but we still come together as family when there is a crisis. In the recent crisis, my little ones, although no longer little, come through beautifully by the grace of God.

Another NO brake experience

I am not imagining things the last time I had no brakes. I thought, genuinely thought that I must be wrong because the brakes did work when the mechanic checked it immediately after the accident. But tonight, it happened again. I was away in Bangkok on some business and my car was untouched for 5 days. My brother drove it yesterday and I went about quite a distance and nothing happened. But this evening on my way to pick up a friend the brakes didn't work again. 

The sinking feeling was scary. Really scary. But I was smarter. I had my leg brakes and I put on the hazard lights so no cars come near me and I slowed down to a crawl all the way to the where I was supposed to pick my friend. I waited for my friend who turned up 40 minutes later and once I parked my car, I called my dad. Thank God no one was hurt on the way and I really was in shock.

I pumped my brakes like dad told me to to check if the brakes really worked. He told me if I had not driven for long, my car would be like that. But this is the second time in six months and I don't like this very much.

Thankfully when my friend came and when i drove the brakes worked again. Hmmm...strange!

I decided to drive to the nearest kiosk to check the brakes but the mechanic would only be back at 11pm. I finally decided that since I have gotten my brakes, I should drive my friend home which was not far from where the kiosk was. I drove on the highway rather slowly and when I reached my friend's home, the brakes failed again. So we went to another kiosk to check. 

My friend insisted I should stop driving and called for a tow truck. But I could not park at the kiosk. The assistant at the pump checked my car and felt the wheels and told me that my front wheels are heated up. He told me that I should drive slowly to a workshop. I decided to drive to my friend's house, parked my car and call for help. 

I called Peck San. She was in Malacca. I messaged her and told her my situation and she sent me her mechanic's number. He gave me a tow truck number to call and now it should be nicely in the workshop.

What happened? My friend, the logical one told me that all that has happened has to do with the brakes, Not me. But I am thinking, is God sending me a message. 

I have been pondering about the death of Josiah. Don't get me wrong. I am not suicidal. I am trying to figure out why a Godly man, who turned his people from a life of idoltary dead at the age of 39. Good people do die young. But why? He didn't allow King Necco to pass even though Necco came in God's name. So did Josiah die because he disobey God? 

At this moment, I cannot remember what I learned. Honestly forgot because all I could think about is why is this happening to me? 

My friend thinks I need to ask for help and I don't accept help. But I do. I need help and I ask for them. I am grateful my friend stayed with me throughout the ordeal. I was only concerned I might kill someone or kill my friend instead. I was not really thinking when I said I don't mind being dead tonight. Then I suddenly remember it is Bonita's birthday today and I surely don't wish to die tonight. 


So I called her and told her everything and she told me that she doesn't want to lose me tonight. God is so good. He kept me safe again and has been protecting me on the road all these while. I am going to pray that God give wisdom to my new mechanic to check on my car and may God give him eyes to see and a wisdom to discern what is going on so I can be safe.


I returned from Bangkok with a lot of thoughts and the last thing I want is a strong shake up from all that had happened.


I was there to set up a deal. I was successful in getting the deal for a friend and for myself in the sense that I was able to meet someone who took education seriously. I am also glad I managed to visit an ex student whose dad is not feeling so good. I am glad I could be there for this student and the mother. 


So I know that tonight, I was again protected on the road by God. He wants to assure me that He will be looking out for me. I am so thankful that no one was hurt tonight.
 

You are GOD alone!

Last REVELATION CLASS and Precept Trip

It was our last lesson of the study of Revelation. We are all done! And we ended it with what it was going to be like after Christ's millenial rule and Satan will be set free again. It was exciting. We had so many theories but the truth is that Satan will gather all those who don't believe even though Christ's reign in Jerusalem. Those of us who are caught up in the rapture will be the immortals. We will reign with Jesus after the battle at Amageddon. Satan will be bounded and cast into hell. Then Satan will be let loose again because during the millenial rule there will be people who don't know the Lord and will be deceived by Satan. Jesus need to make sure that Heaven is a place for those who know Him.

At the final battle of Gog and Megog, Satan and all those who don't believe will be cast into the lake of fire to be burn eternally. We also checked certin scriptures that talked about different degrees of heat will be in the lake of fire. There will be unbelievers that will burn more severely because of their wicked deeds. And those who are unbelieving but they did less evil. God records all the evil of the unbelievers and the day of reckoning will come and He will flip that account.

For us Christians, we are spared. Our loving Father will not continue to chide when we confess our sins. Because Jesus has paid the price, God only need to look at the righteousness of Jesus and He readily forgives.

Therefore it is a blessing for all those who believe in Jesus earlier. 

We will be taking a one month break and then go back to the bible again. The trip was great. I didn't drive this time but I was extremely exhausted after the trip. I was also tired going there partly because I was coming down with a cold. I actually slept a short way up to Desaru. We checked into our room and I had a nap. It was less than an hour but all worth it because I simply needed to sleep.

We played charades and we let our hair down and had great fun. And of course the food we had was sumptuous. We had half a lobster each and cost us about ten dollars per person. The dinner was great but so was the price. Everything is now more expensive in Malaysia. One of my precept friends said it is all because of the Singaporeans. I gently reminded him we are Singaporeans :) and we are guilty.


The next morning after a good night's sleep, we had sharing. We each took turns to share. I never knew Grace has been fighting cancer for the last 16 years. She was supposed to die several times on the operating table but by the mercy of God she continues to live. She told us that her doctor said she was a miracle and instructed her to continue to consume a special diet. She only eats organic food and all steam with as little oil as possible. We are all going to ask her to share more.


Then there was Helen or Siew Hong who has to be dragged to Precepts every Saturday morning. But she has learned to study the bible and enjoyed our classes. We had a beer the night before and she can drink like a fish :) And I finally got to drink some beer because I didn't have to drive!


I shared too and thanked everyone for standing by me during my time of depression. God is good.

What about the men? They shared about how the Lord encouraged them. Their sharing is very biblical. hahaha. 

I also realised that my precept friends have done BSF and they perservered through 7 years of intensive study. I admire their determination. However they like Precept because in our class we discuss questions and shared. Laura said that she liked the class because no one ever laughs when the question was stupid or the answer was wrong. Well, Laura, in her 60s is a very diligent student and she has at least 5 different versions of the bible. This is what people should do. Spend more time on the word of God and learn. 


My precept friends are loving and kind. In their company there is so much joy and love. Grace told all of us she has been looking and searching for an answer as to why she still hangs on to the faith and with all the battles with cancer she has to fight, she has lost sight. She found the answer when she joins us a year ago. She said she saw so much love in our group. She was just so happy.


I remember her coming to class rather grouchy and complaining. But she opened up the past months and I see so much more joy. 


I pray that God will continue to keep our group this way. But the group is getting too large. There are going to be 50 over soon. We have grown twice the size since I last joined. Very soon we have to break up to be more effective in our discussion.


Now I am having a break. But I have been busy running here and there and unable to settle down to just write. I have an article to write. A special feature. I hope to get it done soon before my cousin from Hong Kong comes. Wow!!! So much to do...and I am supposed to be on holidays...