Speaking up

I would say, just a year ago, I wouldn’t have that much guts to speak up as I now have today. Should we speak up?

Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you their past experiences with barbers from hell that has ruin their hair with these (so called) hair stylists’ favourite weapon - the scissors. So the other day I went to APT to get a regular hair cut, this time I was even armed with a picture just in case these hair stylist choose to be temporary autistic. So I explained precisely the way I wanted my precious mane to be trimmed and I also further showed him a picture with a hair cut that I would want, as people would put it that ‘a picture paints a thousand words’. I did this just in case my vocabulary wasn’t that impressive enough for him. Well, it turned out that he was showing off his ‘retardedness’ in communication rather then his hair styling expertise. To my horror, I now have a bald spot on both sides just above my ears. At this moment, I had enough of this kind of idiotic behaviour and I told him that this wasn’t what I wanted. Looking like a person being accidentally ‘lawn mowed’, I told the lady at the counter that I had not requested to be ‘lawn mowed’ or whatsoever by that demon of sort. While I created a small tiny winy scene, a few other hair stylists that had came to so called comfort me, just makes things worst. They too seem to be infected by the autism virus that had spread like wild fire by not being able to interpret the picture which I showed to all of them. Being frustrated by all that shallow brains, I just wanted to pay and get out of there but the lady refuse my money and said I don’t need to.

Wow.. What an experience.

Moral of the story is of course, Speak up!

Now, where’s my thank you note from APT? It should sound like this:

Thank you for voicing out your unsatisfied service at our Hair Saloon. We appreciate customers like you who would speak up when we are truly in the wrong for we may not realize in the past. We would take this matter seriously and work our way in improving our service. Thank you for making our hair stylists realize that they should always take their costumers hair cut seriously.

________________

One Saturday while my mum and I was swimming as usual at our swimming club, there was a crazy party going on just beside the pool. Crazy being the not so exaggerating word, we dint know what we were ‘swimming’ ourselves into. As their music was loud enough to stress us up, these imbecile people couldn’t resist jumping into people first and then the pool. Yes, u heard right, these people jump into the pool as if they have barbequed their eye earlier while at their barbeque dinner. As I was swimming in my lane, I can’t help but told 2 different imbecile clothed pool jumpers each once that I was swimming and that they are getting into my way. One of them even knocked into me while I was swimming. I told them to use the side of the pool for their childish activities. The third incident wasn’t a charm as 2 guys were trying to push a girl into the pool while my mum was resting just in front of them. I became protective and while still panting from my swimming, I pointed my finger at them and shouted: “Oi!!! We are swimming here! Can’t you see she is there!? Please go to the side!” If I have not done that, this girl would have been pushed onto my mum in the pool. What brainless and blind people are these!? Not having the peace of mind when bodies of imbecile people are like raining all over the pool, my mum and I are forced to leave the dangerous environment. As I was leaving the pool, they started announcing over the mike to not disturb the swimmers and only play at the side allocated to them. What timing….

These teenagers should call themselves kids and learn some civic consciousness and be more sensitive to their surroundings.

Now, where’s my appreciation card from these kids? Kids, Listen up! These are what you should write:

Thank you for shouting at us the other day at the pool. It is people like you that will help us realize our embarrassing actions. Thank you for teaching us valuable lessons. If you would not have spoken up that day, we may injure or cause harm to someone. Thank you for preventing us from being involve in such unwanted circumstances that we may regret.

I am not saying that everyone should speak up about what they want or what they like but to speak up within the boundaries and rules that exist. Speaking up creates realizations and valuable lessons.

As listening is just as important, maybe my next post should be: Listen Up!

wings without flying

READ

Burn The Ships

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

When you vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.


Fernando Cortes has a plan. He wanted to lead an expedition into Mexico to capture its vast treasures. When the Spanish governor heard about it, he got so excited he gave Cortes 11 Ships and 700 men. Little did the governor know that Cortes had failed to reveal the entire plan.

After months of travel, the 11 ships landed in Veracruz in spring of 1519. As soon as the ships were unloaded, Cortes instituted the rest of his plan – he burned the ships.

That’s what you call commitment. That’s what you call no turning back. That’s what some call burning bridges. But Cortes didn’t have any bridges, so he burned his ships.

Essentially, he eliminated the options. He didn’t know what he would encounter on his expedition to the interior. But he did know this: There could be no escape routes for his men. If the fighting got too fierce or the expedition too exhausting, there was no going back to Veracruz and sailing home. In one fell swoop, he had not only eliminated the options but had created an intensely powerful motivation to succeed.

Today, more than ever, we need men and women who are willing to “burn their ships” when it comes to their marriages. Burning your ships expresses commitment – no matter what comes in the future, you’re going to stick it out.
Commitment means you have obligated yourself to follow through on your word. It’s your personal guarantee that you will do what you promised.

But the spirit of our age, whether expressed in athletics, business, politics or marriages, is that commitment should be honored only when it’s convenient.

I’m glad Jesus didn’t feel that way. His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was not, “Father, I’m pretty uptight and this is really going to hurt, so I’m out”

Jesus burned his ships and wants those of us who follow him to do the same.



By Steve Farrar




Such a lovely reminder at this time of my life that God is asking me to be committed to the things that I’ve started, burn the bridges and go all out to complete God’s plan in my life.



.

Separate Ways

Acts 15: 36 – 41

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commented by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Some years ago I helped lead an event that I believe God laid on my heart. However, a dear friend and colleague in the ministry felt strongly against this event. Though we worked through some of the issues, we finally decided it would be best for us to go our separate ways. We didn’t dislike each other. We didn’t have a falling out. It was just a difference of opinion. And we’re still very good friends and prayer partners to this day.

Through that experience I learned a very important lesson. Not every split or disagreement damages the body of Christ. Two Christians can see things quite differently, go their separate ways, and still have unity when it comes to God’s overall purposes. Not every disagreement and separation is destructive. Sometimes God uses them to multiply and expand the impact of his kingdom.

Acts 15:39-40 records the well-known disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Paul felt strongly that Mark was not ready for the ministry. But Barnabas felt strongly that he was ready and just needed encouragement. God separated the two men, and because they went their separate ways the cause of Jesus and his kingdom was multiplied.

Sometimes, I think, we hurt ourselves by agonizing too much about separations and disagreements in the church. The issue has to do with our hearts and being faithful before God to do what he has given us to do. We’re not all called to do the same thing. We have different convictions and different perspectives, but God is sovereign.

We are to listen to God and follow him. Sometimes that means we will take different paths than other believers take. That’s okay. Don’t reject those who feel they must follow a different calling – as long as their path is biblical in the essentials. Love them, but follow God’s assignment for you.

By Crawford W. Loritts

Responding:

Am I holding a grudge against someone who doesn’t see things the way I do? How can I love and respect that person?

Following:

Not every disagreement results in damages to the church.

Taken from Our Journal

This article really spoke to me, as I’ve seen disagreements take place, and somehow this is a word from God that all is well. Though sometimes we may not like what may happen, God has a plan for everything. God has an assignment for each and every one of us.

When we were kids…

*I got this from an email and taught of bringing back some long lost childhood memories.

When we were kids….. Especially those who are born in the 80’s will have eaten these

Mum used to sometimes buy this. I would bite the sweet colourful topping off first.

This was used to be my favourite chewing gum. Comes in 3 ball of chewing gum in a box.

I remember seeing this around a lot, don’t remember buying them actually.

Another chewing gum that I would love to buy! And stick the free tattoo everywhere!

These are the thing we used to play with…..

Ahh! Yes, those lovely toy soldiers. Used to love arranging them and preparing for battle!

I miss playing with this! This gun powder guns are just like playing fire crackers. Some can even put plastic bullets and shoot them out.

I still don’t know what this is called but is sure fun to play with. Used to compete to see who would manage to blow a bigger bubble.

And these playing cards…. Cant remember what games were played with that.

And this was the least expected to turn up in the mail! I used to have that too! These cute penguins will walk up the stairs and slide all the way down

I remember to have a yoyo which is exactly like this! Really miss playing with it, mine used to have lights too..

Mario! Before there were Play Stations, TV games were quite famous. I used to have one too and they had Mario…. Now I think the Mario song is just irritating…

Bubble. I used to make the whole porch floor slippery with detergent after blowing up bubbles.

Paper origami. Still fold them once a while! Hehe.

These are the shows we used to watch…..

Can’t remember what show is this. Mum wouldn’t allow us to watch because she said its evil! But I remember watching it secretly sometimes too.. haha… nice la!

Tom and Jerry!

Popeye the sailor man po po! That’s where the influence of 'Spinach make’s you strong' came from.

Thundercats! Love to watch this!

These are the things we used to own…..

Cute fruits erasers

I remember a friend in primary school used to have this exact pencil case and everyone will be admiring it!

Flag erasers. I’ll always loose them or it’ll end up getting poke at or drawn all over.

Most of us wouldn’t have any of these items anymore, only pictures and memories....