Moving on..

My new blog address: http://bcmx.gofreeserve.com/wordpress

Pass Me Not

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heav’n but Thee?

watch?v=6y6l_YOph0Y

My Unfinished Symphony

I have always liked music really a lot and still do now..it is like a balm for me to counter stress. I remembered when I was very young, about 7 years of age..and I was required to play a really difficult piece on the piano — I sat down and tried to play, squinted hard at the notes and on the verge of giving up because it seemed like an impossible feat..I did something that when I looked back from now..I’d admire on the things that I did..most kids will say, “It is just a song..why want to waste your time? since can’t play..ahhh better go out and play since there are lot of fun things to do”..I was rather determined..sat down..grab a pencil and wrote every of the notes letter names..and told myself that I can do it..and hey, after long 2 hours I did manage to play the song I was a happy kid in the world back then, proud that I have overcome a small hill of impossibility.

I always regard my life as an unfinished symphony. Still yet to be completed and God is the author of my life song. He is the composer and orchestrates all events in my life. I’ll surrender all of my all to Him and I have always prayed my life always radiates the glow brimming with the fullness of Life..that I can really say on my Last day I have run a good race..A race of a lifetime..completed with no regrets!

Remembered Mozart’s unhappy life? Now let me tell you another story about another composer called Gustav Mahler. I always been wondering who is Mahler and it just so happens as I switched my accuradio and the Tragic Symphony was being played – I was mesmerized by its beauty..never heard such rending, heart wrenching, crying and yet beautiful melodies for such a long time..

In the summers of 1903 and 1904, Mahler was as happy as ever in his life. Yet it was then that he wrote his darkest music, the Sixth Symphony and the two final songs of the Kindertotenlieder. He was convinced that an artist has the power to intuit events before they occur, that he cannot escape the pain of such foreknowledge. He imagined the Finale of the Sixth Symphony as a scenario in which “the hero is assaulted by “three hammer-blows of fate, the last of which fells him as a tree is felled.” The summer of 1907 brought him three such blows: his eldest child, Maria’s death, the discovery of his own heart disease, and the bitter end of his directorship of the Vienna Opera. It is as though the Sixth Symphony is an autobiography, written ahead of time.

Now my question is: how do you stay focused on the real goals in your life? Many gave up, and those have started their journey with a fire ablazed in their hearts, great eagerness..halfway the fire just fizzles out..excitement wanes and routine kicks in..and finally a cold “death” settles down. A glee on the devil’s face..An unfinished race..what a waste..filled with worry and not glory..WAKE up!!

1 Tim 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

2 Samuel 1:19 How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Ps. Jim Feeney stated, “The success of our Christian life is not measured by how fast we sprint away from the starting line. No! Victory is won by running the full race, finishing strong, and crossing the finish line.“

Few weeks I have earnestly been praying hard for revival and breakthrough for my group and particularly myself..I’m always being hard on myself because I always desire to do more for God..there are some nights I couldn’t sleep because I felt that God wants to get my attention. True enough..without hesitating..I just got down on my knees and prayed..(already learnt my lesson last time when I disobeyed) then came a zap of connection..tears came pouring down because I really felt God was very near and told Him that I really do love Him a lot. To cut the story short, somehow things amazingly took for a better turn for that entire week till up to now..renewed with strength and overfilled with joy I know God is leading me..He is the author of my life, mighty to save, why doubt any longer?

I’ve learn a few things that I would want to share:

1) Life is precious, don’t waste any more of your time idling about. Come on, time is running out! Don’t be content with where you are now..continue to MOVE..

2) Take heed of your ministry – think of how you can grow further and expand yourself..do not wait for people to encourage or praise you..align yourself to please God with your life

3) Stay focused on God, stay planted in the church/WOG, sharpen your focus, purpose to fulfill your calling..

4) Run your race and finish it.Don’t be merely swift runners but you must be a finisher!

5) Live your life to the max! Life without fullness is like LIFE-F=LIE!

“We must realise and be ever conscious of the fact that life is fugacious and ephemeral.”
Bobson Gbinije; Reflections at Christmas; This Day (Lagos, Nigeria); Nov 15, 2004.

An Array of Happiness

Life is like an array of event, – concocted in a way it begins with a small dot, flourish in the middle and withers away into nothingness. Sadly life is now correlated with the things we do; newspaper headlines need to get a point across with as few words as possible. “Mozart – Hungry for Life” caught my attention as I flipped through an old copy of my Reader Digest. Paul Barz, A German journalist interestingly wrote, “Mozart should have been  happy, but only in music did he finally find that all-consuming love, of which he could never get enough to counter the drabness of everyday life.”

Downing a few beers or indulge yourself with something to keep you busy is not the way to console your distress nor heal your aches. Life – Fullness = Lie! Are we deliberately lying to ourselves to settle for a false satisfaction as we feel battered each time we lie?

This is one of my favourite song, written by Natalie Grant, a Christian singer..entitled “The Real Me”

Foolish heart looks like we’re here again Same old game of plastic smile Don’t let anybody in Hiding my heartache, will this glass house break How much will they take before I’m empty Do I let it show, does anybody know? [Chorus:] But you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within Unveil me completely I’m loosening my grasp There’s no need to mask my frailty Oh,Cause you see the real me Painted on, life is behind a mask Self-inflicted circus clown I’m tired of the song and dance Living a charade, always on parade What a mess I’ve made of my existence But you love me even now And still I see somehow But you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within Unveil me completely I’m loosening my grasp There’s no need to mask my frailty Oh,Cause you see the real me Wonderful, beautiful is what you see When you look at me You’re turning the tattered fabric of my life into A perfect tapestry I just wanna be me But you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within Unveil me completely I’m loosening my grasp There’s no need to mask my frailty Oh,Cause you see the real me And you love me just as I am Wonderful, beautiful is what you see When you look at me

I conclude with John Overman that I truly agree..and he said “I think if we align our lives with material gain and wealth, we are destined to lose everything we worked so hard for because we are all on a course that leads to death. And if we have the slightest idea or inkling that perhaps eternal life may be a possibility after mortal death, then I think we should really invest ourselves in trying to align our lives with spiritual gain and promise. I think that love endures. I believe Jesus when he explains how God is love. What else is worth having forever? Life without love is meaningless; everything else will disappoint in the end. Love is God. Love and God last forever. Isn’t forever what we all want? “

What is your direction in life? To know more, click @ http://bcmx.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/along-the-highway-what-is-your-direction-in-life/

Lost in the Woodlands

A sudden jolt of realization hit me real hard, realizing I stood alone in the midst of a maddening crowd..confusion sinked in as I gulped in panic. Holding on tightly on my red passport, I moved along the crowd towards the checkpoint, a long queue of weary travellers huddled closely and they wore a tired expression on their faces..debilitated with exhaustion. A train of thoughts were crossing in my mind as I waited for my turn to come, slowly drifting off to some part of a foreign land that I do not know of.

Braving against the turn of events, I finally withstood the test of time – with a newfound strength that I know I can never have. Squinted through the bright light in the sultry afternoon, I realized where I was. In the middle of a hub, more like a ring of road – the magnitude of the crowd was overwhelming with various activities going around. The place is crowded with caravans, clochards, merchants, and cattle. The crowd were bound towards North and I was just stuck, – not knowing where to go when suddenly there was voice yelling behind me.

“Boy..what are you doing there? Are you daft, boy?? You are goin’ to kill yerself if you are gonna stand there for a long time..”

I turned my head around to see who is this mad woman was and saw a queer, bewildered expression from an mouldy and worn-out looking woman with an uncanny old rod in her hand. Her piglets squealed, or rather trembled with fright, – her voice seemed to have a tremendous Power over them.

I could not find any words to speak, but she understood. Her bent figure hobbled closer and whispered urgently, ” I see you do not have the ghastly Mark like others..and ahhh..you are not from this world neither. Hear you this, do not be fooled by a parch of travelling document, – for it has bring to nought things that are.. Be wary of those who go against the Resurrection..they are up to no good and do you much harm..Off you go boy! Tarry not and hasten to Him..make your way towards North.” Within a flicker of movement, the woman and her pigs were gone.

 

Awaking Emotions

What sets and fuels your emotion? How do you describe when you are really happy or sad? I used to have a picture whenever I’m happy: azure-blue sky..running wild with outstretched arms in the meadows of sunflowers I’ve came across Plutchik’s wheel of emotions, which consisted of 8 basic emotions and 8 advanced emotions listed below:

Basic emotion	Basic opposite
Joy	Sadness
Acceptance	Disgust
Fear	Anger
Surprise	Anticipation
Sadness	Joy
Disgust	Acceptance
Anger	Fear
Anticipation	Surprise

Advanced emotion	Composed of…	Advanced opposite
Optimism	Anticipation + Joy	Disappointment
Love	Joy + Acceptance	Remorse
Submission	Acceptance + Fear	Contempt
Awe	Fear + Surprise	Aggressiveness
Disappointment	Surprise + Sadness	Optimism
Remorse	Sadness + Disgust	Love
Contempt	Disgust + Anger	Submission
Aggressiveness	Anger + Anticipation	Awe

 Wow..pretty cool! Didn’t know that the advanced emotions are the makeups of several basic emotions altogether..A lot of times we think when we get “emotional”, God is so far away. We thought He is playing hide-and-seek with us: abandoning us when we feel down and sad. God is Almighty and moreover He is Righteous and Holy..He doesn’t want to get His hands dirty to help us when we fell into a muddy problem..that is what we always think..God..do you understand what I feel? I guess not because you are so far, far away..

BUT..look at the life of Jesus..God send Him down as a MAN to us..why? God understands what we are going through and Jesus is the highway bridging to Him. Jesus go through whatever we are feeling..He indentifies our emotions and He is moved by the sight of individual distress as by the spectacle of man’s universal misery. “I have compassion on” — or better, “I feel pity for” — “the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are come from far” (Ref: Mk. viii. 2; Mt. xv. 32). Jesus’ prime characteristic was love, and love is the foundation of compassion. Moreover and most importantly,  He kick the word “SIN” out of the picture and gave us LIFE, HOPE and JOY.

Rest assured if your heart is centred upon Jesus and your life revolve around Him, He will guide you through you journey although at times your emotions can be a BIG storm..that shake and rock your boat of faith. It will be a rollercoaster ride but DON’t worry..God is always there watching us..take courage   

Sing till your life fades..

I sing of light from the garden
Music of the sea
Voices of your people
Listen and be free.

I will sing outside your window
Sing, of what lies beyond your door

Listen and look…
A whole world is waiting
A world you’ve not seen before

I will live in the forest
I will live in your heart
I will live in the forest
I will live in your heart
I am here, outside your window
Look, outside your window
Listen and be free.

Feels Like Tonight

what a sloppy week! nothing really exciting happens and feeling a bit off-colour. But somehow after listening to the song, “Feels Like Tonight” by Chris Daughtry, wow I was suddenly zapped with inspiration worth thousands of words At last reaching nearly the end of the week, having done with conferences for the past few days, anxiously preparing for job interviews, and had some good strolls at the bookshops..life goes on..Was listening to Angela Aki’s creative rendition of “We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You” and I just felt “hey, dreams are there for us to catch and materialize it to be realities of life…” No matter what we must keep going on..although the going gets tough, in the end it is worth all our hard toil and sweat..let’s keep on fighting till the end! Muddy road leading nowhere at first..give up? No..move on and when we reach at the peak of our climb..when we get to enjoy the glories of the sky..we will say “Thank You Lord” because you bet on me..NEVER give up on me..to make my life count for you ^^

Chorus:

We are the champions – my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting – till the end -
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions – of the world -

A Capricious Mind

Rainy days: where the sound of loud patters and muddy puddles of water are both common sights to see. I’m listening to Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in Dmajor (Joshua Bell’s rendition of course) now as I typed this..People brew coffee to work but I’d rather prefer a dose of classical music for a dab of inspiration..what a fleeting week I had last week! had a good weekend although it has been predictably expected..yeah was looking forward to a cello concert at MPO this saturday but alas the hope was unfortunately dashed gotta be in a church camp in Thailand..somehow I don’t really anticipate an exciting turnout of events over there..just wanna go there to meet and experience God..really nothing else and it is NOT a holiday or excursion trip I guess. Well it’s ok ‘coz I have other holiday plans conjured up with my close friends. What else? Oh..but I’m happy ‘coz now at least I have things to write in my blog despite many weeks of not able to post up anything interesting..a frustrated mind and capricious emotions..confused? Me too.

“We seplunk life’s deepest issues in the cave of sorrow..why am I here? Where am I headed?”

I like this particular portion of phrase that talks about persistence and not giving up to reach out to your dreams..be stalwart soldiers, braving against the adversities of life..”hey life isn’t all bad after all..when you discover you want all things to enjoy life, you’ll realize that God gives you life to enjoy all things..”

Take a long look at the shore that awaits you..

Don’t be fooled by the fog of the slump

The finish may be only strokes away..

Evah Pirazzi

Evah pirazzi-strings used by my favourite violinist Joshua Bell..and guess what? finally splurch to buy one for myself hehe(a treat after working hard). My previous dominant strings are already rusty, and the quality of tone worsened..it is a sign to change strings but alas for violin, the price of changing strings is not cheap so spent about an hour to change my violin strings and tuning..played a bit and experiment..voila ^^ evah pirazzi transforms my violin louder with great range of dynamics..more expressive with less physical effort..in short, a wonderful new sound for the violin in the 21st century..with pirazzi, i can’t stop playing my violin since it has been ages I have not been practicing..