I love my sister

"Ahh...the joy of public transportation. Who needs a car? Feast your eyes on the joyous expressions of those who say, "Taking the bus is very cheap, so it's good." I say if this is your retort to stories of transportation liberation (a.k.a DRIVING YOUR OWN CAR and GOING WHEN and WHERE YOU WANT TO), then one should have joy abundantly while waiting an insanely amount of time for the bus to come transfer you from one place to another which, in a straight line, would take all but 10 mins but because everyone else in the entire nation is going to every other place in-between where you are and where you want to go it takes more like 30mins...with, I might add, the wonderful range of human body odor unbeknownst to the common man. Rejoice! Rejoice, I say, and again I say, rejoice!"

-Duane T. Black, while unsuccessfully trying to cheer the people in the above menioned picture.

Here's a quote from my one and only sister:

"If I was able to be a table....I'd have dinner."

If you don't understand, dear reader, that's ok. We do....

What is a person who...

...does that which they desire not to do because of the path their life has taken them on for the sake of a higher calling which they cannot see yet know and believe to be there although it is a darkened path barely lit by the future destiny waiting to be revealed who must live behind the veil of who they are presently so as to fulfill "...coming to the kingdom for such a time as this..." while all the while waiting, believing, and fervently trusting that that which they were birthed for will one day be made manifest to themselves and others so that they can be a good steward and redeem the times so as to have a sense of purpose and reason for existing that one day will hopefully be realized?...

...I don't know what you'd call that person, but I know there's a few of us running around this earth. Thanks be to our Great God who is at the finish line, calling us home...our home beyond this world. A home eternal, a home destined...our home.

Everyone likes to hear the peaches and cream of living. Here's a little something to put on the balancing scale...

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
(1Co 15:19)

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
(Mar 8:34-35)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
(Joh 12:24-27)

Shakespeare needs to reword his famous tagline: "To be, and not be. What's up with that?"

~peace~

My War Cry

What up, whassup? Some of my boys back in Osaka, Japan. We went to Universal Studios that day. haha...they still had to wear their school uniform while going on the rides.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arean; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Brothers from a Different Planet

I took a picture of them...They took a picture of me...Oh, the joy of the simple pleasures in life... ;-)

Choose Milk! God wants you to...

The ultimate purpose of all mankind is to worship the Lord. This includes loving him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Only then will our life be fulfilled. The Creator (God) and creation (us) will be in intimate communion with one another and, because of this, the creation will have attained its perfect and absolute purpose.

Unfortunately, because of original sin, all of mankind has been separated from the holy God who created us. Thus, God is calling all men to repentance (a turning away from our ways to His ways) before the final judgment that is coming upon all men who ever lived and ever will. Since God is holy, pure, and just, He by necessity will make sure evil ultimately loses and good ultimately wins. For us, it’s just a matter of making a personal choice as to what side we’re going to be on when our end comes. We have from the time until we are born until either we pass away or God returns to make that choice. What happens between our birth and either of those 2 endings is called life…our decision making time.

Even though God is all-powerful and all things go according to His will, He also created us with freewill. Thus, we are free to choose whatever course we desire our life to take. He does not decide our choices, only the consequences of them. For example: I pour milk in one cup, Pepsi in another. I teach you and tell you that it is my will for you to drink the milk. I do everything in my power to show you and lead you to that cup of milk, but never force you. 1. So you choose the milk. You chose the milk out of your freewill and, as a result, will receive the consequences of that choice (whatever I designed them to be). …or… 2. You choose the Pepsi. You chose the Pepsi out of your freewill and, as a result, will likewise receive the consequences of that choice.

Maybe during your life people or situations came into your life where the milk looked really, really good. Maybe you were hurting, or troubled, or happy and something made you consider the milk. Destiny? Fate? No, it was your choice in the direction that was God’s ultimate purpose. It was His will guiding you towards the blessing that will come from choosing milk. Perhaps there were times in your life where Pepsi looked very desirable. So, you drank it and reaped the consequences of that choice. Destiny? Fate? No, it was your choice in the direction that was not God’s ultimate purpose. (For a more specific example, the “Pepsi” represents sin à our own ways, our own will, etc. It always looks more desirable because our sinful nature naturally caters to the Pepsi…it attracts and is attracted to its own. Thus does the Pepsi continue to be desirable and the milk not so desirable during our lifetime…until we taste the goodness and power and truth of the milk!)
Ok, so what does God want all of us to choose? Why do “things” happen in our life?

Let us refer to these scriptures as in introduction…
· Acts 17:24-31- The God of heaven and earth is calling all men everywhere to repent
· Matthew 4:17 – Jesus begins preaching his message. What was it? Repentance.
· Matthew 1:21 – The purpose of Jesus being birthed…to save people from sin
· John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave…for the purpose to save all of us and give us eternal life.
· 2 Peter 3:8,9 – God is not slack with regards to His decision to judge righteously and destroy all evil, but He’s
longsuffering (patient) because He wants to save us from the consequences of sin…He wishes all men to repent
and turn to Him!
· Romans 5:6-8 – Christ loved us so much that even when we are in our sin, He still died and took the penalty for
sin that we deserve
· John 20:30,31 –The purpose of the entire bible: to know God and have eternal life…our ultimate purpose.
· John 4:4-26 - What will happen if we drink the water (the truth) that God gives?
· John 14:27 - Jesus promises peace…true peace.
· Matthew 11:28-30 - Heavy laden? Burdened? Come to Jesus.

Life Lesson #2

...Confessing faults is a good thing...

This event happened in high school and was my first real "hit in the face" experience with true confession and the pain one goes through when doing it.

So I wrote on her book, “ Susie likes Dan.” In our high school English class Susie was handing in her homework assignment. We were good friends for many years and I thought I’d tease her a little. I mean, she did like Dan. So I, in typical high school boy fashion, teased her by writing the evidence on her textbook cover.
When she came back all the Fury of Girl came forth from her mouth, body, expression. She demanded, “WHO WROTE THIS??” over and over. I was totally shocked at her reaction. She looked really hurt and vulnerable. It was the first time I had seen her this upset…and I was the cause of it even though I meant no harm. Looking around the room she came full circle and asked me point blank did I do it.
“No.”
Wonderfully, that got me off her radar screen. If I remember, tears did come down her face after that. I couldn’t believe it, I was flabbergasted the rest of the day. Not only had I upset a really good friend, I had sinned against my God by blatantly lying. The guilt was pressing on my chest heavier and heavier as the day went by.

That night I cried and cried. I was so upset at myself for doing it, but more upset...and ashamed..that I had lied point blank! Ahh...the lie of convenience. There was no way out of this one. There were no alternative stories I could tell. In fact, none of these thoughts even came to my brain. The only thing that haunted me was that I had injured my Lord Jesus. My life belonged to Him and I was His servant. That day I fell short of His glory. I determined in myself that regardless of the outcome I would confess to Susie the next day when I saw her. Sure, it was easy after the tears dried up to feel resolute, to feel like "Yosh! I'm going in!" But then the next day came....

...and guess who the first person I saw when I walked in the doors: Susie. I had NEVER seen her first thing in the morning the entire school year. But today, there she was. Note: when you lie to someone it's very hard to look at them. I walked right up to her, having crucified my flesh the night before and all morning, and said, "Hi Susie. Listen, I just wanted you to know that I was the one who wrote that message on your book yesterday. I lied and I'm sorry." I expected the Wrath of Girl II: The Second Coming to come pouring down on me and I was ready to accept any reaction she had. I mean, homegirl was about to punch someone the other day. This is what she said:

"Thanks Duane, that's all I wanted to know. See ya..."

...dude....

I was shocked. I was floored even. Now, some of you reading this might think, "whoa..he got off the hook big time." no no no...oh ye of simple minds and placated hearts! In hindsight I believe that if Susie had reacted negatively and laid the smackdown on me, then that would have given my flesh opportunity to rise to bitterness, anger, or a host of other things. Nay, my punishment began the moment I lied and ended the moment I confessed. You see, when the Holy Spirit convicts it pushes you towards repentance. This repentance, if truly from the Lord, will unalterably push you to action to right the wrongs you've done. If not, then you should question the authenticity of your so-called "repentance/confession." It was more unbearable for me to carry around the lie and the truth of me telling the lie than facing my good friend. I was prepared for anything...my future relationship and witness (everyone knew I was a Christian) lay in my God's hands.

When our attitude towards a situation is right, then God will be glorified and we will grow. Had my attitude been one of greater fear of my friend's reaction than God's judgment, I dare say the outcome would have been a world different. But only by the grace of the Lord did I make my sin God centered. In other words, guilt and repentance came from a heart desiring to be right with God because he was the center of my universe. Thus when I walked away from my "center", I was walking away from my God. It did not come from a desire of me wanting to be right in the eyes of my friend. Consider what the prodigal son says:

And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son.
(Luk 15:21)

The son realized against whom he really did sin. He wasn't so concerned with his actions against his earthly father as he was with his actions against his heavenly Father. So too should we be. When we sin, we should not feel guilty because we got caught, or because our reputation might go down the drain. But rather, we feel godly sorrow because we've disappointed the One who loves us so...the one who poured out crimson rivers to wash away the evil we just committed. And when we do this:

But the father said to his servants, Bring the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf here and kill it. And let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
(Luk 15:22-24)

Jesus will welcome us with laughter, joy, and love.

Thanks Dad...

...yurusu...

INSERT PICTURE HERE --> <--

(what's up with this blogger thingy? acting like my next door neighbors...weird.)

"He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lost heart." (Galatians 6:8,9)

The Lord continued. "In My greatest hour of need, My closest friends deserted Me. Judas betrayed Me, Peter denied Me, and the rest fled for their lives. Only John followed from afar. I had cared for them for over three years, feeding them and teaching them. Yet as I died for the sins of the world, I forgave. I released all of them - from My friends who had deserted Me to the Roman guard who had crucified Me. They didn't ask for forgiveness, yet I freely gave it. I had faith in the Father's love. I knew that because I had sown love I would reap love from many sons and daughters of the kingdom. Because of My sacrifice of love, they would love Me."
- John Bevere (The Bait of Satan, 2004)

Oh God, help me to forgive! Oh God, help me to love with agape love! Oh God, refine me in the fire that the dross of the flesh may rise to the surface, leaving only the soft gold that awaits your purposed intention! Oh God, protect me from myself! Oh God, let me love my brothers and sisters with the unconditional, tireless, unwavering, and divine love that so characterizes Your being. Oh God, my life I give upon the altar of sacrifice morning by morning so that you may have your way within this temple as you please...

...amen...

yurusu = "forgive" in Japanese

The Joy of Being

Tis a path we all must travel...

Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale

(Batman Begins)

I'm a believer that actions speak louder than words. Except, of course, when you are God. God speaks His words and they become action. He spoke "Light, be!" and light became. I speak "Pepperoni pizza with extra pepperoni, be!" and nothing happens. Hmmm....

Would to God that I could be the same! But then life would lose its factor of interest. I think the struggle to be true to oneself and to make one's actions match their person & words is one of the great struggles of life. I'm always intrigued by how my words or actions effect others. Sometime I mean my actions or words for good, but others receive it negatively. Other times (I don't MEAN for my words and actions to be negative) I'll act or speak in a way that is based on my tiredness or frustration, but miraculously others perceive and recieve goodness from it. Actually, I think it's because they are being compassionate.

It is something I think all human beings should do, having a spirit of understanding and compassion that is. There were times when I knew adults in my life were having a rough day and they acted very stressed out (perhaps from the rough day? duh...). So when they dealt with me and my co-workers or friends, their demeanor was a little...well....rough. Did I fault them for this? Did my opinion of their character fall off the Niagara Falls? Did they transform into some untouchable beast that we could never reach again?

Of course not.

They were human. In fact, seeing the people who I look up to in life (and even those younger than me) has helped me to realize that we're all in this thing called life together. And we need encourage one another along the way. Now, encouragement doesn't always come from words. Let us remember the parable of the 2 sons and the father. One said he'd go and work, but didn't. The other said he wouldn't work, but he did. Point #1?....

...sometimes we have to give people the benefit of the doubt.

The second son probably had an attitude when his father asked him to do work. "What??! Dad, why do I always have to do it? *arg*....I'm tired...can't I do it tomorrow?...no? blah blah blah" No where do we read the father getting angry or replying to the son. All we know is that later, the son did it. And Jesus justified the second son rather than the one who gave lip service. Point #2?....

....don't always judge or react to people based on their words or countenance.

They may be tired or stressed, but if they are doing and working, leave them be. I mean, can you imagine people saying to Jesus, "Boy, you look tired and stressed, Lord. You should rest more," as he was carrying the cross to Golgotha? When Jesus overturned the tables in the market because of the selling and buying, would anyone dare say, "whoa, whoa, there Jesus! Just calm down, Lord. Relax, la..."

I've seen people in churches I've been to who were such hard workers that they always looked stressed or "frantic". But they did the most extraordinary things....with love, with diligence, with a heart of worship to the Lord. Others would say to them, "Hey there, why are you so stressed? Take it easy, blah, blah, blah," and I'm sitting there thinking, "why don't you help if you're so concerned." That's why when someone looks busy, either I help or stay away...they know what they're doing. Sometimes too much help doesn't help either. Yup...learned this the hard way. So, ladies and gentlemen, what's Point #3?....

..."Doubters do not achieve, Skeptics do not contribute, Cynics do not create." - Calvin Coolidge

*sigh* So many points, so little time! The time fails me to adequately express that which I find so interesting about human nature. So, yall who are reading this, take this to the bank with you: give people the benefit of the doubt when they act out of character, when they speak out of frustration or tiredness, when their actions are doing the task at hand even though they may be stressed out, and recognize when they need a helping hand. Help not with your mouth only, but with the hand. Let your prayers and words be matched by your action and compassions...we are all under construction.

...Sore dewa, ima kara mo minna san isshouken mei ganbatte kudasai... Kami-sama ga ZEHI kuru...zehi.

Guessy, Guessy

5 points to anyone who can tell me where this is in Singapore. (Not you Kelvin....too much chocolate dude.)

When there is no way...

Rats! And I wanted to bring my peanut butter and jelly sandwich along so they could sample chicken rice. My sandwich was really hungry too....oh well, I'll have to find a stall that allows food to eat.

"Either I will find a way or I will make one." - Sir Philip Sidney

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Phi 4:13)

Black is Good

Issac Blackman

...My favorite gospel artist who a musical genius, as far as I'm concerned...

www.gospelreggae.com/browse/albums/78da4b34010000f80096/ Isaac+Blackman/In+Your+Eyes.html

Good News x 4.5

Another collage I did for my taiko group back in Japan. This baby took me almost 3 months.

Yes!

I got my second photo lesson back from my professor in the states. Haven't listened to her yet, but she jotted down on my folder that, "...love kitten photo...could be published!"

(insert red-cheeked Bugs Bunny expression...haha!)

I need to get on the ball! There are so many photos I have that could potentially be published. Here in Singapore I've learned that people are actually animals. Yes, it's true. Some are beavers, others are golden retrievers, others are otters, and still others are lions. These 4 animals make up the entire human race. Never knew this until I came here, these interesting ways of classifying people. (silly me thinking that people were of a higher order of consciousness) While I'm not one who readily buys into "classifying people" (cause I believe in self-fulfilling prophecy...you say or believe you are something...then you naturally start to fulfill that role), I suppose it does help one in becoming one with who they are. Anyhoo, I took this animal test and found out that I am all animals at about the same level. So, I guess you'd call me a "begoreotton." (sounds like something out of a Harry Potter movie...haha) Not being a strong beaver, I think my lax attitude of getting some of my work published (both photos and music) comes from the otter part of me while the frustration of not doing it hails from my beaver-ness. Then the golden retriever kicks in and has compassion on both these two, while the lion says, "Get a grip...to work you weaklings!" It's a hard-knock life being everything at once. Actually, I don't really believe in only 4 animals...there should be a fifth! Lion, Golden Retriever, Otter, Beaver, and maybe a cow. Cows always have this funny expression on their faces that seem to say, "Dude, whatever..." while chewing some hay for an inexplorably long amount of time. So while the four animals fight inside, the cow can sit there and be like, "dude, whatever..."

(insert sound of low level chewing of cud)

She also said that I need to "slow down to see what the camera sees." Interesting...I'll have to listen to the tape to see exactly what she meant. I also just completed my first photography lesson with some of the greatest kids this side of equator at church (tanks a bunch me faithful assistant!) One of my points was that your eye is the most important tool you have in photography because the camera has no brains. Now my professor is telling me to see what the camera sees. I'm confused...have I unalterably warped the young impressionable minds of future TJPEG members forever? Will they grow up thinking that cameras are dumb pieces of metal and plastic whereas my professor is saying they have a mind (and eyes) of their own? *sigh*...what have I done!??

(insert highly dramatic orchestrated music of Star Wars caliber...)

Naw, they'll be ok.

More good news!... my roomate and I stayed up crazy late last night talking, watching TV, and playing some XBOX. Talking is always good, especially when you're so tired that words start to become slurred and the conversation becomes funny...not so much because of the content, but because of the slurred words. TV was great because we watched an episode of "Friends". Haven't seen that in a long while. Suffice it to say it was quite refreshing to be able to laugh and watch something that I could relate to. I used to watch American movies when I lived in Japan for 2 years just to stay sane every now and then... haha. I'd watch movies and see cars drive on the right side of the road and be like, "Hey...that's weird. Oh wait, no it isn't. Dude..." Playing XBOX was very cool because I'm teaching my roommate the fine art of receiving multiple smackdowns. He has much to learn... ;-)

(insert sound effect of roommate's character getting knocked down...)

So, what's the 0.5 other good news? --> "The other day I saw...."

(Yup, that's 5 words which is exactly half of the rest of the sentence which is exactly 10 words which yields the 0.5 good part of the news.)

It reminded me of my mountain that I used to climb up every now and then back in America. I'd talk to God up there for quite sometime...just Him and me. Talking to God with nothing but pure nature around is a matchless experience. Think Eden...

Someone said I look like I'm 23 and act the same too. So, what do I believe? My birth certificate, people's perspectives? haha...when I was 15 people said I acted too serious for my age, like I was 25 or something. That's cool...at least now I'm younger....

People are generally funny...generally. :-)

(insert sound effect of Looney Tunes "That's All Folks" ending music)

The Many Faces of Many Faces

Some pics of people I know...

Don't know why, but I love collages of people...been making them since I was a kid. Hard thing is when I want to take pictures of people they throw up a hand (strangely enough their right one....) and shy away!

This happens wherever I've been...America, Japan, Australia, and other places. Of course, not everyone has the "shy-n-fly" reaction, but it's nonetheless interesting that personality types transcend countries and culture. Usually I end up making some dopey excuse in order to take their picture. It's the hardest thing for photographers I've learned (and read about)...taking pictures of people. I asked Michael Yamashita (of National Geographic fame) about this very thing and he gave me an answer that was, well, unoriginal. "Try to be as kind and polite about it. Ask their permission and get comfortable with them...then, shoot away." Or something like that... I guess this is better than shoving a camera in someone's face and clicking.

The other day I was eating lunch at a hawker center (food court for the uninitiated) and I saw a cockroach chilling out right next to me on the ground. It didn't phase me. I kept eating. Before this I had ordered Chinese mixed vegetables from a stall with a man who served me my food from his wickedly bandaged hand that looked like it had been burned...the blood and pus was coming through his bandages so bad it was as if he didn't have any bandage on at all. And he was serving people the entire lunch with that hand.

I hope I'm not losing a sense of general hygiene, but I'm becoming numb to another perception and/or interpretation of what cleanliness means. For example, I never imagined that spitting on a bus (especially while sitting next to someone) would be considered fine. Or even blowing one's nose onto the street (yes, you read that right...onto) is quite ok. Sure, in America we blow our nose in public, but usually "it" ends up in a tissue. Suppose the ground is as good as any other place...haha. In Japan, brushing one's teeth after a meal in the kitchen sink (the common office or school sink, mind you) is normal, as is clipping one's toenails in the office. In America and Singapore you can start eating anytime you get your food when you're at a restaurant or something. In Japan, no one touches the food until everyone has been served. In Singapore, lots of young guys have mohawks for hair-dos. In America, that's just plain weird.

Having experiences like this does not allow one to live as though their way is right or another's way is wrong. People are different. I've had the priviledge to sit in the company of many different people from all over the world and it's so interesting: everyone thinks their way of doing things is either the best or the only way of doing it. At times I try to throw in how I or another friend of mine thinks or does things. The reaction is usually the same...one of raised left-eyebrows. I grant people their right to have such opinions because, for the most part, if you haven't traveled or lived outside of your "environment" then of course your viewpoint will be one-sided. This too has been something I've learned to accept about people over the years. Interestingly, many of my Japanese friends who had traveled outside of Japan for several years saw life and Japanese culture in a totally different light than those who've never left the island.
It's like the public transportation here in Singapore. I try in the wisest manner to explain the joys and freedom of having one's own car as opposed to having to wait and take a bus or train...but more than naught I stop the conversation prematurely. If you don't even know how to drive, how could you appreciate it?

Sooo...what's the moral of all this rambling (when I should be working on my photography lessons for the kids!)? Respect, respect, respect. Adjust, adjust, adjust. Accept, Accept, Accept. Uphold, uphold, uphold.

Respect others as you would want them to respect you.
("I don't want people to clip their toenails in front of my face while eating lunch, so I don't do it.")

Adjust your perspective and/or actions IN LOVE based on whatever situation you find yourself in.
("This isn't my house or culture, so go ahead and clip until your heart is content! I'll even get the garbage can for ya...")

Accept people and their ways even if you don't have the luxury of understanding.
("Hey, I have toenails too...I know we all need to let them know who's boss now and then...even if that means clipping them as loud as you can...")

Uphold your own personal convictions and standards regardless...do not compromise those values and standards you feel are a part of your person. ("...but I still ain't gonna clip those babies in full view of everybody in the office.")

Well, this isn't really well written...at least not as much as I want it to be. I'm rushing...back to work!

peace-
-db

Adages of the Moment

The carousel in the mall near my house back home.

Kinda symbolizes life at times...fast.

In times of uncertainty, wait. Always, if you have any doubt, wait. Do not force yourself to any action. If you have a restraint in your spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it.

Medicine is the only profession that labors incessantly to destroy the reason for its existence. –Bryce

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. –Thoreau

He who has suffered you to impose on him, knows you. –Blake

His soul will never starve for exploits or excitements who is wise enough to be made a fool of. To be “taken in” everywhere is to see the inside to everything. –Chesterton

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. –Spencer

Protest long enough that you are right, and you will be wrong. –Yiddish Proverb

People may come to do anything almost, by talking of it. –Dr. Johnson

A man never reveals his character more vividly than when portraying the character of another. – Richter

peace---

Home is where the heart is. My heart's in heaven already

Ahhh...the strait and narrow way to a city called heaven...

...be sober my friends.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we will sing and shout the victory! - old spiritual hym

It'll [heaven] be sweet like raisins kissed by the suns rays when we praise the raised Son all because the Son raised.
-Phanatik (Cross Movement)
http://www.crossmovementrecords.com/articles_view.asp?articleid=8332&columnid=1321

Center me, O Great Friend...

One can only reach new shores by leaving one behind...

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. " -Paul

(Phi 3:12-14 MKJV)

haha

Say hello to Frank.

I just went to my first Singaporean wedding this past weekend.

We had sea cucumber at the dinner. Also shark fin soup. There was chicken too...head and all. Yea, that's his head up there. I named him Frank. Seemed appropriate...he looks like a Frank.

I don't remember where I saved these from, but they sure are a riot to read...especially after going to that wedding last week....have a ball.


ROMANCE MATHEMATICS
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING MATH
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need.

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

HAPPINESS
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him
a little. To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to
understand her at all.

LONGEVITY
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a
lot more willing to die.

PROPENSITY TO CHANGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she
does.

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs
and cackling, telling me, "You're next." They stopped after I started
doing the same thing to them at funerals.

Can someone please explain this?

I saw this ad outside of a doctor's office the other day. I don't know what to make of it..

I can't even think of what to write about it...

"....."

Life Lessons #1

I started a journal many years ago entitled "Life Lessons: The Classroom of Life" In it I've been writing about experiences and observations I've come to develop certain conclusions on. For the past 2 or so years there has been no new entry. Shame on myself. Growing up as a teenager and college student I was a prolific writer. Yup...got tons of notebooks and documents filled with a smattering of topics, lessons, ideas, and thoughts held together by nothing more than an underlying current of "Dude...I gotta write this down." Yea...that's about it. One day I hope to put some kinda order to them all. Here's a start I think...

I decided to post some of them from time to time on this blog-o-mine because I know many of you back home (hey yall!) , some in Japan (o-hisashi buri desu ne?!) , and a few here in Singapore sometimes stop by this little speedbump on the information superhighway. No man is an island. What good is life if one doesn't share experiences one has been through? A friend once told me that blogs and things like it are for people who are lonely or need reassurance for their ego. Well, that just about wipes out the entire genre of autobiographies, self-help books, The Diary of Anne Frank...yea, I'm sure she really had to stroke her ego big time. haha...so silly lah! (had to give props to Singapore there)

My mom just published her first book last year based on ideas and journal entries she's had over the past 5 or 6 years. I hope one day to do the same. Not exactly sure what I'd write about, but comments from people since I was a teenager until now are pushing me to realize that it's time to, "...cowboy up." (in the words of my roommate)

Hey, we're all human and we all have very real issues in life! As I was reading over some of these entries I myself was tickled silly by some of the things I've said...and I still agree with the comments even after all these years. Wow...I was real serious at times when I was growing up. Funny, not much has changed...except that I find myself liking bananas a lot more these days.

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I'VE LEARNED:

Meeting old friends is always an interesting encounter. The conversation usually takes on the tones of where, what, how, and with whom we’ve been spending our last couple of years (or however long we’ve been apart.) I’m never sure if the person I’m talking to is really interested in knowing the answers or if they are just asking to be asking. Me, I wouldn’t say I’m interested, nor would I say I’m not interested. It’s just a way to keep a conversation flowing with someone who has a history with you. Depending on how well we knew each other in the past determines our level of interest, I guess. So for some friends I’m really into the conversation – their marriage, college years, jobs, etc. Others I have bumped into cannot produce a name with the face I’m talking to. Yet and still the surface feeling is the same.

It is the ending of these passing conversations that are the most painful. It makes my mouth go dry just thinking about it. The reason is that almost always people end up saying things like the following: “Let’s keep in touch,” “I’ll call you sometime,” or my favorite, “We should get together sometime.” Of course, none of these happen unless there is some great business, profit, or mutual gain to be had. Get together? Sometime? Uh, I haven’t seen you in the past 8 years and now all of a sudden we’re going to “get together”? What, to have the same awkward conversation that we are now having? Hmmm….I think not. Keep in touch? And the reason is…? The one that really makes me feel sorry for the other person is when they say they’ll call or they’ll keep in touch. Do you think I ever hear from them after that? Ha! Now all of this is from their perspective. What of mine?

I used to make statements like those. But not because I really meant them, but because that’s what seemed like the right thing to say. You know, it kept the peace. But then I realized it’s not that I don’t want to keep in touch or get together (except for the privileged few who earn that I-really-don’t-want-to-see-you-again status…heh.), but I have no interest in doing so. What would be the point? For me, there would be none unless we are working together towards some goal of sorts, some common job, club, activity, etc. I am not a chit-chatter, a small talk person. During these brief encounters that is what they are all about. So, I’ve learned not to say things like that…things that I don’t mean. Because usually if I say I’ll give someone a call, I will. Why? My goal is to say what I mean so that I will always mean what I say. Any less is hypocrisy. Am I good at it? No, everyday I challenge myself to do it. But then I’ll meet a long-lost school or job or church acquaintance and say to myself, “Here we go again.”

Now, the point is simple: I really like meeting people from my past, I enjoy talking about things that happened (“Do you remember when….?”). It is the promises, the things said, the intentions revealed during or at the end of the conversations that get me. It is better to say things such as, “It was good seeing you again. Take care.” “Have a good one.” “Tell your family I said hi!”

These are all safe, kind, and peaceful endings to chance encounters like these. They do not leave feelings of regret at having promised something knowing all the while that it would go undone. I’ve known many a friend who feel the same way. They say they hate saying “We’ll keep in touch…let’s get together” because they know that they never will. Why say these things?
Hard as it may be, when a person says to me, “Let’s keep in touch.” I purpose in my heart and mouth simply to smile and say something like, “Ya, maybe I’ll see you around! Take care.”

Sometimes this throws the other person off…they are expecting a mutual response to their suggestion. But hey, this is my heart, my life, my honesty I’m trying to uphold here. Sorry if your conscience is bothered. I want to sleep in peace tonight.

Lesson Learned: Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Skilled Barbers, Rancid Meat, and No More Rain

I found this hair gel ad in a magazine. As if our days aren't messed up as it is, now we can put gel in our hair to stay messed up all day! Just what I've been wanting!! What will man think of next...this?

Or maybe this...

Well, at least it comes in 3 different colors...

STORY #1

So I went to the barber today to get my hair cut. Little did I realize that this particular Malay barber had other plans for my head...

Like a master craftsman, he took to my forehead with fierceness in his eyes! Blazing through the deep forest of knotty tangled mess, I witnessed my hair fall to the ground in chunks as if they were boulders. How could this man cut in such a way that even hair "rolls" to the floor? This guy was serious...

All was well until the razor came out. Fierce eyes turned into blood soaked focus as he practically engraved every stroke into the back of my neck. Not once, not twice...not even 5 times...but not until he had managed to destroy every little itty bitty piece of hair from the back of my neck and sides of my head did he stop scraping with that blade. I thought I was losing brain cells he scraped so much...I did fade in and out for a hot minute there.

Luckily, after I gained conscienceness, my head looked quite alright.


STORY #2

I don't know what in the world they are cooking, but there is a family that lives somewhere in the air-rea around our apartment that loves to cook what smells like 10 month-old rancid meat. At least that what it smells like. My roommate and I will be peacefully studying or doing something in the house when something knocks the wind out of our nostrils. We bolt to the windows to block the invading odors from coming any further into our domain. Maybe one day they'll make scratch-n-sniff blog sites...cause I really want you to smell this. Cause, like, I know you really want to....


STORY #3

The rainy season is over. My brief moment of enjoying doing things is somewhat over. It's fun in the sun again. Like one of my co-workers said today, "Man, it's hot."

Time for bed...

...heiwa (peace in Japanese).