father and child

When you realize that you're a child of the most High God, then everything you do for Him becomes a family business (ministry). Hence, your actions and your performance stems from knowing who you are as a child of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

If you relate to God as the master, you will have a slave mentality. If you relate to God as a boss, you will have a work relationship. If you relate to God as a friend, then you will have friendship and intimacy. If you relate to God as the Father, not only will you have intimacy in greater measure, but also you will start to see ministry as a family business. Your performance is affected by how you see your identity in relation to God.

Will our heavenly Father not provide if he instructs a son to go to China and preach the gospel? Will He not provide if He directs you to set up a drug rehabilitation centre? Yes. He will most absolutely provide, because when you discover sonship, whatever he asks you to do is family business and He will take care of you.

In the Body of Christ, there are slaves who have to wait for the servant of God to tell them what they don't hear from God themselves. There are servants who only approach the master only when told to. There are friends who spend time with God and know something of his heart. And then, there are children who are living and moving in the fullness of their inheritance. Which one are you? If your ministry is all about servanthood, then let me tell you that sonship is better because sonship means the Father will fend for you even as you serve Him. 

…

John 10:11-13 says:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

Presence-Driven Donkeys (2013), Jeff Yuen 

Some things in life

are like refined sugar. They are easy to find, not hard to get, take you on a high and leave you crashing soon after. 

They bring great flavor to your life, but adds nothing to it. It's an empty, predictably monolithic sort of flavor, like the taste of soy ice cream with a foreign layer of sweetness tangentially floating above it. There is no link, no connection. And you end up making do with this unwelcome stranger since you literally asked to have it. 

:::

Some things in life are like honey. They are so wonderfully dainty or quirky that the only thing plain about them is they are different - from the delicate white sage with an elegant floral aftertaste to the strong zest in basswood that turns minty when mixed with mild honey. 

Easy to find and not hard to get, but only if the eye is trained to not be distracted by pomp vacant within. Takes you on an unfamiliar kind of high that doesn't really end. Instead, you sit on a new baseline of delight, a new level of norm for your life.

And the best part is, sometimes they can be found in some people and certain friendships.

The fact that there are so many counterfeits and substandard versions of these things only affirms the overwhelming delight of the latter. 

So the wonder at its daintiness and quirkiness remains, and the best part remains best, that sometimes they can be found in some people and certain friendships.

ENFP

Hey I'm an ENFP! 25% Extraverted, 38% Intuitive 75% Feeling, 11% Sensing.

As an ENFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. Your secondary mode is internal, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system.

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.

An ENFP needs to focus on following through with their projects. This can be a problem area for some of these individuals. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors. Others may fall into the habit of dropping a project when they become excited about a new possibility, and thus they never achieve the great accomplishments which they are capable of achieving.

Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. Sometimes, especially at a younger age, an ENFP will tend to be "gushy" and insincere, and generally "overdo" in an effort to win acceptance. However, once an ENFP has learned to balance their need to be true to themselves with their need for acceptance, they excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and flexibility to relate to others on their own level.

Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.

An ENFP who has "gone wrong" may be quite manipulative - and very good it. The gift of gab which they are blessed with makes it naturally easy for them to get what they want. Most ENFPs will not abuse their abilities, because that would not jive with their value systems.

ENFPs sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions.

ENFPs who have not learned to follow through may have a difficult time remaining happy in marital relationships. Always seeing the possibilities of what could be, they may become bored with what actually is. The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.

Having an ENFP parent can be a fun-filled experience, but may be stressful at times for children with strong Sensing or Judging tendancies. Such children may see the ENFP parent as inconsistent and difficult to understand, as the children are pulled along in the whirlwind life of the ENFP. Sometimes the ENFP will want to be their child's best friend, and at other times they will play the parental authoritarian. But ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems, which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.

ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are excited about what they're doing.

Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.

ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of following through.

Jungian functional preference ordering for ENFP:
Dominant: Extraverted Intuition
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking
Inferior: Introverted Sensing

An online consulting webpage

I think the description is very true, EXCEPT that the Self that I'm supposed to reconnect with is DEAD. On the contrary, self-preservation might be one of the concepts I am increasingly disliking because it stops me from following Jesus Christ in his radical and true form per Matthew 14:24. As a follower of Christ, I can proudly say that God helps me reconnect with him through the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to what Jesus has said and his very own nature.

It is purely by God's grace that he helps me interact and learn from people who are opposites in terms of their worldviews and the way they do things, like the detail-oriented people, or people who are highly organized.

Keirsey's behavior-based analysis of Idealists (ENFP is a subcategory) says that Idealists look to the spiritual as the gist of the life. They're very harsh on themselves when they violate their personal integrity and principles. Ok I guess that is me..

How do they know I get muscle tension??? Creepy...

random wishlist

I don't know if I'll get down to doing them for several reasons, but it'd be really fun if I get to:

1) Learn the motorbike, and have one. A scooter will do too.
2) Own a roadbike.
3) Tattoo "ISA" on my arm, or near my wrist.
4) Busk on the streets.
5) Bring Wallyball to Singapore.
6) Speak a minority Indian or African language.
7) Be a locker (the dance, not the metal box).

And something probably more challenging than fun...
8) Go homeless for a week.

And something probably improbable, unless I'm a guy:
9) Live and work as a migrant worker for a month.

The Absent Party, Dec 4

Who dat? Yeah it's me (again). I'm running this benefit-birthday party for the Dalits in India. You might know them as the Untouchables in India. Actually, there are also Unapproachables and Unseeables. The Unapproachables have to keep at least 33 feet away from the higher caste people; and the Unseeables may only come out at between sunset and sunrise. "Dalit" has Sanskrit and Latin origins; in Sanskrit it means 'broken, crushed, oppressed'.

Joseph D. Souza comes to speak at Marcus' church each year, and this year he told a story of how this Dalit girl needed the bathroom so bad she took the fastest route to it even though she knew that route was for higher castes - the Dalits had to take a longer path. When she came out of the bathroom, she was burnt alive.

During summer, this teenage Dalit boy got severely electrocuted accidentally. His relatives rushed him to the hospital after he got hurt. And guess what? He died right there waiting for treatment because the hospital was apparently not legislated to treat Dalits.

This party will be held in conjunction with my 21st birthday (which was earlier this month). Anyone is free to come: there'll be free food and live music. You are NOT SUPPOSED to bring any birthday presents for me. Instead, please give the money to the Dalits instead. 100% of the money will go to O.M. India via O.M. Singapore. O.M. India works directly with the Dalits in India, providing microloans (92% success rate), education, legal advocacy, and vocational training for many Dalits in India. Most importantly, they tell the Dalits about JESUS, who truly sets them free with truth. A quarter of the people in India are Dalits, and I've heard of how O.M. India staff sometimes go without food for a few days because they are underfunded (relatively, when you think of the 1600 million people who need help).

Numerous people think this is a great idea, and I only have God to thank for it. Now I'm feeling for the first time what it means to run a slightly bigger errand on behalf of Someone Else. God is letting me run his party, and there could be so many more eligible candidates for this but...he's letting me run this for his Kingdom! Of course, I want to give this party my best. It's really great to know I'm not overstressed out by God's high expectations, because I know that if he wants me to run his party, he will also provide the best. I have faith that he is.

I posted this last spring but I'll put it up here again.

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Proverbs 24:11-12

He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
Psalm 52:4

Fall break!

God, thank you for such a great week! It sure was busy spending time with people, and I'm looking forward to yet another day of sweet fellowship and fun! Over this week, I watched Forrest Gump and cried by myself, went for a photography exhibition and the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition with high school friends, the Navigators Grace Community meeting for juniors, sent Kenneth off to Durham, U.K., learnt a new song, played a lot with the neighbor's cats, finally met a friend's friend, on top of another friend, and jammed with friends for the first time. In addition to school, which made school life fun.

Fall break's started! Since I'm not going anywhere, here's my plan:

Get back to 12-8 + nap regime.
Make one craft with my sister.
H.I.I.T. the stairs!!! and cycle around.
Meet friends.
Read.
Do what I want for fun.
Homework.

Excited!

songs and BUBBLEWRAP

He's awesome, so I subscribe to him on Youtube.

"Short people got no reason to live." Oh my.

My orders from Desiring God came today...and much to my delight, the books came with a rather satisfyingly large piece of BUBBLEWRAP.

Instead of offering gum to someone next time, I could say, "Bubblewrap?". And we could both POCK our way through our conversation, ain't that great?

Also, I figured out that the next time I plan games, I could hold a competition for the Best Blind Bubblewrappoker. Blindfold the players and see how many bubbles they can pop in one minute.

Okay, maybe I should pock the bubbles with only one hand. There's just only one precious piece right now.

Ciao, Back2Bubblewrap.

colorfuls on my White

I love Firefox Skins, Gmail Themes...and colors. They make life a little happier, especially when I have to write papers chiong style.

I took this picture at the bottom of the South Rim of Grand Canyon. Feels like a secret garden.

And look! Even pop-up windows are pretty too!


Ahhh, happy.

Happiness is the Lord!

Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within his favor,
Having a change in my behavior,
Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if tear-drops start,
I've found the secret,
It's Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that's worth the livin',
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord!

'World's Most Relaxing Room'

Never mind the part about evolution - I would skip a day of school to spend thirty minutes (okay, maybe one hour) in this room!

Crisis, what crisis? Ten minutes in Richard Wiseman's room and you’ll wonder what all the fuss is about
Times Online
October 21, 2008
Will Pavia


Never mind that winter is almost upon us, that we may already be in recession and that we are all fractious, glum and late for our trains. Today, for all of us, salvation is at hand.

A British psychologist has developed a panacea to lighten the darkening mood. In a campus on the edge of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Richard Wiseman claims to have created the most relaxing room in the world.

The space brings together the lessons of many years of scientific research on how to relax a human being: there is soft matting, the scent of lavender, diffuse green light and gentle music. Every evening this week frazzled bankers, pension fund managers and all those beaten down by the worries of the world can visit this magical room and find peace.

Professor Wiseman will measure their responses, make modifications according to their demands, and show-case his room as a must-have facility for businesses and schools.

Yesterday the professor held a preview, for students at the University of Hertfordshire and various jumpy members of the media. As I arrived, Professor Wiseman was putting the finishing touches to his room. “I have never been so stressed in my life,” he said.

Half an hour later he stood at the entrance to his room, backlit by its green and blue light, the sound of a woman’s voice rising and falling gently behind him, accompanied by a string ensemble and a Tibetan singing bowl. “The music is continuous, there are no sudden changes - from an evolutionary perspective, change is associated with danger,” he said.

The scent of lavender would stimulate beta-waves, relaxing our brains. “People have looked into all these different elements before,” he said. “But no one has put them all together. We are looking to see if, all together, they will make you super-relaxed.”

Six of us took our places on mats on the floor. Suki Thiara, 22, a marketing student, was worrying about finding a job next year. Tobi Alli-Usman, 21, was worrying about his events management business and his degree. I was worrying about the global financial crisis, and whether I had bought the wrong kind of screws for some shelves I was hoping to put up.

The music was euphoric, the green light soothing. A smoke machine periodically blew white clouds above our heads. It felt as if I were lying inside an advert for green tea.

“Am I relaxed?” I wondered. My heart was throbbing at 86 beats a minute, but after a few moments staring into the blue it dropped to 74. I even considered loosening my tie.

Ms Thiara said: “I feel like we are sinking away from everything. I am floating away like an angel.” Mr Alli-Usman put his thoughts in order. “Now I can pick out the things to focus on and it doesn’t seem as if there is so much to do,” he said.

I was unconvinced at first. Later I realised that I had not once thought about the global financial crisis, nor the crisis surrounding my shelving unit. I left, wondering where I might get a nice cup of green tea.

What Makes Me Happy

All that endless bus-riding to different places of Singapore without Geography or Economics notes has given me much time to reflect on random matters. One of these is the things that make me happy. I thought I might note it down so I can be reminded to be happy in the future.

I love the tweetering of birds at the window in the morning at seven. All that melodious chirping reminds me of those kids in Enid Blyton's books who live in beautiful secret forests. It reminds me that life goes on, and I should be happily free and simple like the birds. God will take care of us. He takes care of the sparrows that do not reap nor sow. Thus He would take even greater care of us, who are served and protected by His angels.

I love giving it all when I play sports. The feeling of heavy perspiration against my neck, arms and legs tells me I've played hard enough for the day. I feel untangled from the clasps of life's hustle and bustle, as if I can jump high enough to reach the sky! if I could. What's more, I get a good night's sleep. : )

I love playing well during violin practices when my teacher, Miss Quah, plays duet pieces with me. The music that resonates in my mind often leaves me laughing and skipping along the way home. I could have screamed in excitement if I wanted to! There's this feeling of having butterflies in your stomach and your heart skips a beat or a two.

I love lying down on the ground and looking at stars on a quiet night, with only the croaking of frogs and screeching of crickets looking for mates. The starriest sky that I have seen in Singapore was 3 years back, during the Youth Fellowship camp in Tengah BP. The stars remind me of God's inexplicably wonderful plan for Abraham. He showed Abraham the stars and promised to make him the Father of All Nations, with generations of children that are as many as the stars in the sky and the sand in the beach. Joy fills my heart because God has proven His faithfulness unto thousands of generations.

I love my bed, my blankie, my bolsters, my pillow and my 4-year old buddy, Xiao Bai, a white turned-greyish teddy dog. They are always there when I drift off to sleep either in tears or in smiles, making me feel safe. I am happy because I have a proper bed to sleep. Not everyone has the luxury of a bed, not even baby Jesus when He descended for me. I can't imagine sleeping in a manger! Hay-filled or otherwise, I would suppose that it stinks of animal food, not to mention the musky, mixed animal smells in the barn.

I am also happy when people whom I love shows reciprocral love for me. A simple pat on the back just to say goodbye or a passionate hug makes my heart equally happy. I have to agree with Morries from Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morries that humans enjoy human contact. This is synonymous with the social needs of needing each other when we are babies, half-wasted old folks, and even when we are healthy, independent teenagers and adults. Or, a text message of concern or gratitude makes my day too!

That's all I have thought of so far. I believe there are other things that make me happy, and I, with plenty of time whilst travelling, will ponder over them and not let my brain cells wither as fast. Haha. Goodnight!