Crossroad to Heaven

New and improved "Dream Dates" series

2006-05-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Anyone out there? Sorry it's been so long since I updated this blog. Too busy, but looks like I managed to take time during my Gold Coast trip to amend and improve my "Dream Dates" series. The story continues with new thoughts, new emotions, new happenings, so stay tune.

But just some doodling during my trip. I wrote a love poem again during the trip... sigh, hopeless romantic... oh well, hear it goes...

Could This Be Love
Could this be love I say
How you always make my day
In the way you smile and say 'hi'
And the way time stopped when you say 'bye'

Love's worth the wait you see
I know we are meant to be
And when all's done you'll know it's true
Girl I've always been in love with you

Just Another Cliché Love Story

2006-03-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Ha ha ha... it's been ages (and i mean ages) since i last posted on my blog... gotten so many requests asking how come i stopped writing my stories... halo... busy ah, YCM Launch and going Induction tomorrow... he he he... so i thought i better post something first before i go off for two weeks...

Here's a passage (or should i say intro) i wrote like years ago... should be a little interesting for a quick read...

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This is another cliché story of an ordinary man meeting an ordinary woman in an extraordinary chain of events, resulting in a series of misunderstandings, conflicts, comedies, complex relationships, but most importantly, love.

Yet this cliché love story is set to be one of the classic love stories you can find picked up from the shelf, downloaded from the Internet, shown in the movies, telecasted over and over again on television's prime time, but yet strangely, it lies in the desire of all men and women today. Just another chance to fulfill the greatest commandment: to love and be loved in return.

The sun shining through the tainted glasses of the concourse: just another busy day in the daily routines of the airport. Men in business suits saying goodbyes to their wives before their weekend business trips. Teenagers spending their last few moments with their friends and family before departing for a whole new world of encounters and experiences in an overseas university.

Jimmy Tenner, or Jim Ten as friends would call him, strolled down the arrival hall with a small Ocean Pacific duffer bag on the side and a Nokia 3300 mobile phone on his palm. Apparently waiting for an important call, he looks around for any signs of a familiar face.

Geraldine Keibler, rushing down from the cab, seems to play opposites with Jim Ten. With a Nokia 3300 mobile phone in her hand and a Gucci handbag round her shoulders, she runs for the opening door.

This is where it all happens, where two ordinary people knocks unto each other without realizing how their destinies are forever entwined from then on, with just one simple incident: their mobile phones are switched as both knocks and drops their belongings.

MOMENTS of a brand new year

2006-01-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

Hi all. This is my first post for the brand new year. Pastor said that how we start will determine how we finish, so I thought it'll be good to start off with a brand new writing. And I entitled this one "MOMENTS". It's kind of a random thought piece that I just wrote. This is out to all you singles out there. You rock!

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MOMENTS

The human history is marked by MOMENTS. Moments of victory, moments of defeat; Moments of joy, moments of pain; Moments of laughter, moments of tears; Moments of love and moments of hate. Our lifetime is defined by these specific moments. Isn't it true that we don't really remember every single thing in our life, but specific moments that propel us up to the highest heavens, or drop us down to the lowest pits.

Today, I would dare make a bold statement to anyone reading this that the most significant moment in our lifetime is the moment we decide to love or not to love.

It is in that moment of decision that we change the course of our journey, the subsequent decisions we make, the attitudes we put on and the actions we take. When we make the decision to love someone, that sets us on a road of discovery. A road that many have walked in joy and happiness. A road that many have crawled in pain and sadness.

A journey you could call it. A journey pathed with risks and rewards, where every decision you make will have a corresponding reaction. Will you succeed? Will you fail? Will the other like you? Will the other cast you to the ground? Will the end of this journey be rewarded with joy and laughter? Or will the end of this journey be marked by pain and tears?

Yet, an interesting journey it is. A journey of discovery, not so much of your significant other, but a journey of self-discovery. It is when we set out on this journey to discover others that we see more of ourself, where your actions are directly reflecting your attitudes.

This reminds me of a poem I read years ago that I would reflect here:

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

by Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The road less traveled by could very well be the road that makes all the difference:

And shall we take this road and continue this journey?

I would say yes to the moment I believe

That from the Almighty One

A true love I would receive

I would say yes to the dream I had

Where true love is real

In a place we truely shared

Finally,

I would say yes to the woman I love
The one road I would take
Down the path with you my dove

A Whole New Tale

2005-11-08T23:30:00.000-08:00

Finally, I am going to start my pen (stylus or keyboard) writing again. Here to announce that I am going to write a new story, though I have yet to complete my Dream Dates. But just now, ironically while I was bathing, I was inspired to write a new story.

So stay tuned for the first episode, chapter or whatever of my new story soon. Should be out in the next one to two weeks. A whole new story, brand new genre, darker, deeper, and most importantly, more personal. Muahahahaha.

Inspired and Challenged

2005-11-08T23:00:00.000-08:00

Just came back from leaders meeting and man was I challenged. Bro Kim Hock wanted the leaders to share about what we've learnt over the weekend message on "Releasing the glory". At first I thought "oh well, just another sharing", but when I heard the different things each leader has learnt, I was completely stirred up in my spirit.

Pastor shared about maximising our full potential when we release the glory. And after the sharing today, a number of questions just kept coming to me.

What is our maximum potential? Seriously, we talk about releasing our potential and fulfilling our fullest potential, but when we talk about maximum, what is our maximum. Many times we are like "argh, too much already", there always seems to be more within. So, really our maximum is determined by the level we can believe for.
What could I do to reach my maximum potential? Question here is in our ability. What are the things we can do to reach there. For the CGLs, can we do one more visitation or bible study group? Can we call another person? Can we raise up another leader? There is so much that we can do to bring revival to our cell group.
What would I do to reach my maximum potential? Question here is in our desire. What we can do and we are willing to do is a big gulf separating. Sad fact is that many times there are many things that we can do, but when we ask ourselves if we would do it, the answer is rather obvious. Because of our comfort zone and our complacency, we would put away those things we could do for a later time. (I raise both hands in agreement of that)

But when all is said and done, what can we conclude and go on from here. That we must all continue this journey and run up the road to our maximum potential. For when the day we reach our maximum is the day we slump and decline. So a prayer that we should all pray, "God enlarge my maximum. Increase my abilities and induce my willingness."

Fairy Tales

2005-11-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

"Do you believe in fairies?" *click* That's such an irritating advertisement on TV Mobile. It was aired past few months when the show was on. Didn't really see the play, but heard from someone that it was not worth the watch, so oh well. But if you think this post is about Peter Pan, you're greatly mistaken. It's more about my next favourite song: 童話.

忘了有多久再沒聽到你
對我說你最愛的故事
我想了很久我開始慌了
是不是我又做錯了什麼

你哭著對我說童話裡都是騙人的
我不可能是你的王子
也許你不會懂從你說愛我以後
我的天空星星都亮了

我願變成童話裡你愛的那個天使
張開雙手變成翅膀守護你
你要相信相信我們會像童話故事裡
幸福和快樂是結局

一起寫我們的結局

The song's lyrics is so beautifully written. Actually cause I am an actor (or maybe I try to be), one day, I would like to write a song called "男主角", with a similar message on how I want to be the male lead of the movie. He he he, maybe something about me being the 男配角 all the time and just for once, I would like to be a 男主角 in this story with my lover. But oh well, that's a fairy tale for now.

The Brazen Altar

2005-11-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

I think I would speak for most members when I say that the Tabernacle bible study has indeed blessed us deeply in a tremendously great way. It has given us insight as to how we can walk more closely with God and to experience Him in an intimately personal way.

I would like to add to the abundance of revelations that has been shared, my little revelation from what was preached. Remember pastor shared about how the horns of the brazen altar represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit and how it empowers us as a Christian. In fact, the word "horn" in some parts of the scripture represents strength.

At the same time, pastor shared an interesting fact about the horns of the altar. It is primarily used to hold down an offering during the sacrifice so that it would not run away or fall off. Putting all these together, if we apply the fact that we are to offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice on the altar, the horns would be pegs to keep us on the altar.

Many times our flesh will cry out in pain when it is pressed to surrender itself to the lordship of Jesus Christ and it manifests itself in the acts of the flesh. However, this is when the "horns" come to place to keep us on the altar. Whenever our flesh acts up to manifest itself, whether is it physically in sin or emotionally in temper tantrums, we can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to bring us back to the altar and keep us there.

So the next time when you feel like you're at the edge, when your flesh wants to manifest itself, pray in the Holy Spirit, for indeed that is when you build your most holy faith. That is when the Holy Spirit intercedes for you and that is when the Holy Spirit would put you back on the altar and keep you there, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

Updated, New and Improved

2005-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. Today a good friend of mine reminded me that I have not blogged for the last TWO MONTHS!!! Man!!! And it just dawned upon me that I've neglected the journal which I so loved and was passionate for. I love to write, what can I say, but don't have an avenue to do so. The least I could do is to update this blog with my thoughts, and of course my Crossroad to Heaven. The journey I am undertaking up towards eternity.

And so to redeem myself, I'll punish my mind (as well as your eyes) with three consecutive blogs to update whatever that has been happening. So ROCK ON!!! BLOG ON!!!

Time is of the essence

2005-08-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on what has transpired the last few days, I can't help but to remember what happened last night at RT (Remedial Training). There I was, exercising and running, yet at the back of my mind, I was really thinking about God and that I really need more of Him.

Actually, I was contemplating on whether I should go for service that night. You see, my RT would usually finish at around 6.30pm and once it finishes, I should be able to catch a cab to church and right on time for service. But of course, my spirit is willing yet my flesh is weak. So, I did what I could do... catch some fire from the altar (sounds familiar ah...)... I started praying in tongues, while I was jogging on the track.

Long story short, I decided to go for service and go with my hunger for more of God. And as we end of the RT, lo and behold, every creature, living and non-living, were ordered to be kept in camp. Why? Cause someone lost his handphone. OH MAN!!! Just when I decided to put God first and it was already 6.40pm.

Literally every man and woman, every car and motorbike, were recalled back for spot check. I was like come-on hurry up already. But by the time we finished, it was 7.30pm. So, now the stakes are higher. If I rush down, I stand to be late and not get into service at all. If I don't rush down, I might just miss a kairos time that God has for me.

I guess I let my instincts get ahead of me and I went to call a cab even before I decided. And thus here I go. And man am I blessed. Went for service, Bro Sy preached a great message and was really ministered to. Came out really inspired to want more of God: to know Him and make Him known.

Now to think back on it, it's interesting cause the whole theft issue could just very well be a plot of the devil to stop me from my kairos time to receive a word in season from God. And like what Bro Sy said, God wants us to be at the right place, at the right time.

For me, I'll just paraphrase that what really matters is to be at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, with the right people, for the right reason, in the right way...

What Do I Have

2005-08-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

This week has been a powerful service. Even as I write this blog, I'm watching the service on the Internet and can really feel the touch of God even through the Net. The power of God really flows strongly.

Even as I reflect on what had transpired over the weekend, really I remember what God has spoken to me in time pass. Even through FOP and this week, God reminded me of His presence and power.

God spoke to me, "Son, remember how you started out as a cell leader? When you came to Me and say that you've got nothing to give; no wisdom, no knowledge, still young in age. But I say to you that you will carry my presence and it's my presence that really matters. You will carry my presence and power to my people and that's all you need to do."

So, question of the blog: "What do I have?" Nothing really. Nothing much that I can give, nothing much that I can offer to the great people around me and in my cell group. But what I have I will give, and that is whatever presence and power that God gives to me, I will in turn give and impart it back to them.

FOP Finale Thoughts

2005-08-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... today's last day of FOP and as we ends off FOP, I left with two main thoughts... remnants of FOP and the things that happened over the past few days...

Rev Colin Dye finished off the FOP with this statement that kept me thinking for the past few hours... "In quietness and confidence is our greatest strength"... when I heard that quote, the truth of it kept ringing in my mind... many times it's in the quietiest moments of our lives, when no one is looking, no one is watching, when we're all alone, that our true strength manifests itself... and it is when in that quietness, as we build confidence in ourselves and in God, that we learn strength.

If fear is the opposite of faith, then the absence of faith in any situation represents certain fears in our life. When we don't activate our faith, we are in fact fearful. It is kinda like making decisions. Many times we put off making decisions and not do anything, but that in itself is a decision. So, when we stop the faith process at any stage, fear is manifesting itself subtly through our inactivity.

The other thought I had relates to the stuff that had been happening and it makes me question "What is friendship? How do you become a friend?" Simple but yet profound question. To add to the many definitions that is available in the market of self-help, motivational and relational books around, I believe that "friendship is just simply being there and being a blessing".

Being there as in the absolute sense of spirit, soul and body for a person. In as much as we can go out with friends, watch movies, coffee and stuff, being there is really the assurance that your friend or whoever would be there when you need him or her. There is that quiet confidence that you know if you're in trouble, you can run to the person and he or she will unreservedly be there for you spirit, soul and body.

Many times, there are people who are there in one part only. They may be there physically, but their minds are thinking about other stuff. Or they may even be there physically and mentally engaging you in conversation, but their heart is far away from you. People who are just there because they have to be there or because they are your "friend"... so no choice lah... but I believe true friends are there for you spirit, soul and body; heart, mind and body.

And a friend seeks to bless and not just to be blessed. They are there to be a blessing to the ones around them and in as much as he or she is able, bless the other person. We learn that to be blessed is to be empowered to succeed. So when we bless another person, we empowers the other person, their visions and dreams, their hopes and desires.

And just a side thought to this whole thing. Can you be a friend even if there is no friendship? Can you still be there for a person and bless the person, even though there is no friendship, i.e. the other person is not a friend to you? I try with all my heart to believe that it can be done. In the hypocritical and fallen world that we live in, the world has enough of those people who are there just to gain something or who are there but yet not really there.

If I would, I would love to add to the number of those who sincerely wants to be there for people and be a blessing by empowering the people around me to succeed in life, so help me God.

What happened???

2005-08-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hi. Many must be wondering about what happened to Dream Dates... oh well, was so coped up at work that I've neglected dreaming and dating... "duh"... ha ha ha... but it's kinda ironically true... many people are so coped up with things that don't really matter that they neglect what really matters... hmmm...

Oh well, what to do... for the moment, this blog will just have to be a journal of my journey through crossroads to heaven... which by itself is pretty true... as we walk along the pathway to heaven, there are many crossroads that we have to come to where we make important decisions and distinction in our life that has eternal consequences... heard recently "what you are today is a result of your decisions yesterday, what you are tomorrow is a result of your decisions today"

Heard from a friend recently... "to love is to be willing to hurt but to love as if you were not hurt"... i was like "wow, how true is that"... and taking a step back to think and reflect, it is so true in life that the extent to which we are willing to love is almost equivalent to the willingness to take risk to be hurt... many times the more we love, the more vulnerable we are to be hurt by the same person that we love...

So true ah... was reflecting on my life and realised that so many times I tried to open up my heart to show love to family and friends, and so many times end up getting hurt by the same people I try to love... either by the things they do or the things they fail to do... guess that's why Jesus shared the story of the sower and seeds... have to manage my expectations on some people in my life and sow seeds wisely... seeds of eternal friendship...

Sigh... recently was trying to be a blessing to a friend but was so surprised that the person actually misunderstood... man did I feel hurt... was really telling myself that this is a good person to be friends with... should bless as much as I can... do the best I can to help the person succeed in life and be a "Jonathan"... sigh... God, why?

But looking back at our Saviour, it is so true when we look at Jesus... He took a big risk when He chose to love all man and when He did love all man, still there were so many people who rejected Him as Lord and Saviour... kinda realised to a little extent how He felt when people rejects His gifts, grace and goodness...

But end state, what should we do? Stop loving? Stop blessing? Start to brood bitterness? Start to mistrust people because of hurts and disappointments? Definitely not... the only right thing to do is continue to love at the risk of being hurt and to love as if we were not hurt. If to love is to risk being hurt, then call me a daredevil to try to love again as if I'm not hurt.

Dream Dates Introduction

2005-06-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

Dream Dates

She is the apple of my eye: slim, but not skinny; long hair, slightly curled and colored; not too tall and of course, not too short; well above average looking; but most importantly, she shines with this special glow on her face.

She is congeniality personified: outgoing and has a great sense of humor; conservative, yet liberal in thinking; open-minded, yet with some traditional values intact; always radiant when meeting people; and deeply passionate for creativity and the arts.

She is a woman of character: responsible, independent and able to think for herself; emotionally open to share her deepest feelings; a healthy self-esteem; humble yet confident; and always able to see the bright side of life.

Who is she? She is the woman of my dreams. Night after night I have seen her in my sweetest dreams. We were in the cinema watching the Moulin Rouge, having dinner at a posh Italian restaurant, walking down the beach under the blessings of the moon, reflected under the clear blue waters of the sea.

Just one thing that kept standing out every time I see her: a special glow that seems to surround her face, hiding her away from my vision. Yet a sense of destiny always fills the air when I wake up from this fantasy world we both live in.

One day we will meet and when that day comes, I would know it is her. But for now, she will be my Juliet.

Oh Juliet, Juliet, how sweet your name sounds
Your beauty causes my heart to pound
Oh Romeo, Romeo, your passion and love would say
That you’ve found true love this brand new day

Inspiration, Novel and Romance

2005-06-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, just another day of boringness with such great expectation for the next day... my reservist day... argh!!! But today was quite intersting cause I was just thinking of publishing my romance novel / story on my blog... the romance story that I have written and am still writing.

So for the next few weeks / months, I would be posting the ongoing romance story here on "Crossroad to Heaven". So, keep coming for more...

It's got to happen to me again...

2005-06-18T02:30:00.000-07:00

Argh... it's got to be me again!!! Just now received a message from Rose to update attendance and forecast at 10.30pm. Just happen to see the message during service itself, so didn't really read the details. So it happened. I thought I saw that just need to send my forecast for the rest of the services. And so I did, at 10.30pm exactly on time.

Was going to do some admin work over the phone when my phone went dead. TOTALLY DEAD! So had to charge and revive my phone at home. Took the liberty to check for messages at 11.30pm again, just in case. Well, phew nothing... for so I thought and I left the phone alone for charging in silent.

And it happened to me again!!! At 12 midnight, the whole world was looking for me because I missed out my actual attendance. And so I found out that they looked through everyone in my cell group and found no one... HOW IN THE WORLD WAS I TO EXPECT THAT???

I thought 11.30pm was a safe deadline for any messages already. To think I've sent my message an hour earlier already what. So if got anything, I thought within that hour would happen, but no... it had to wait for another two hours before people realised that I missed out something.

Of course I'm not pushing blame for missing, but thing is can't blame me for missing so many calls and messages. How to expect such a thing???

Ha ha ha... kinda reminded me of a few years ago when I was in New Zealand. One day a bunch of guys came into our domitory and started to mess up the place. And well what was I doing that whole while??? Sleeping in my room when the world has went one whole round.

How to expect such things, but ironically such things always happen to me... Must be God reminding me of some stuff or just some weird coincidences that just happen.

My New Pet

2005-06-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hey guess what... I've got a new pet... electronic that is... well actually it's my sister's pet. We've just got a Nintendo DS and the game Nintendogs. It's a virtual pet game where you actually interact with a dog of your choice. She's gotten her own Welsh Corgy. I'm thinking of getting a Shiba once she's got enough virtual money to get me one. Ha ha... looking forward to my own pet too...

First Touch

2005-06-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

My very first post in my very first blog
My very first log in this curious blogspot

Hi, this is my very first post (obvious from above) in my very first blog (more obvious from above). But more importantly, it is my drawing board to my creative space, my roadmap to my thoughtful days. Okay enough rhymes and corny lines before my colleagues beside me clobber me.

Well, guess I'm joining the thousands and millions of people, hooked to this thing called B.L.O.G.. So from now on, you can call me "blogger". HA HA HA!!!