Elim Springs

Selling Noodles or Hair?

2009-01-13T13:23:00.001+08:00

Selling Noodles or Hair?, originally uploaded by Kansk.

Found this in Macau. Looks like you can have a hair cut with your noodles ;-p

My Journey to Knowing Christ

2007-06-24T23:31:00.001+08:00

Since young, I am a very a logical and inquisitive person. I had always wondered about the meaning of life and the existence of God. I have read all kinds of books on religion and am familiar with most major religions. However, I did not have any breakthrough or know God. There were times when I had contemplated whether there really is a God or not. However, logic told me that there should be one, but which one?

When I was in secondary school, there is a Christian revival in my school where a few of my classmates were constantly going around trying to share the gospel. During those days, I relished engaging them and I felt very proud that I was able to out reasoned them. Without my knowing, those constant exchanges with my Christian classmates had planted the first seed to knowing Jesus in me.

I was always 'fascinated' with Christians as I'd always wonder why they were so nice people and at the same time, I find them 'spoil sport' as their clean living meant that I had always need to be careful with my speech and action in front of them. Weren't they missing out on a big piece of the worldly pleasures? I had also come across many so called Christians who utter God's name but behave in sinful ways. With these encounters, my view of Christians then was that they were hypocrites.

Somehow God didn't give up on me. Through out my growing up years, from schooling through army to working life, God put genuine Christians into my life. Through these Christians, I see the character of God. I see genuine love and concern for fellow man and most of all a genuine love for this God that I had yet to know. I still banter with my Christian friends about their beliefs. I used to have a whole list of 'killer' questions which would stump many Christians. Somehow, as I banter with my Christian friends, throwing them the difficult questions, the answers just came and my killer question lists got shorter and shorter.

Another turning point was how I have seen my mother turned to Jesus. My mother was illiterate and at that point in her life, I think she was searching for God. She had tried many religions, Taoism, Buddhism and even Shinto Zen Buddhism, which was popular then. Somehow, she could find no peace. Then Billy Graham visited Singapore (in 1977, I think) and someone invited my mother to attend his rally. To the surprise of the whole family, she accepted Christ on that day. And within the next day, she had asked the pastor to come and removed all the idols from our house. This is indeed a miracle as my mother was quite superstitious then. She later told the family that she had been going around praying to all kind of Gods but it was at the Billy Graham rally that she somehow sensed God and sensed the peace of God. I was indeed very intrigued by my mom's conversion. How can an illiterate superstitious Chinese lady be touched by an "Ang Mo" God? Well, my mom has been a Christian since that day and had never turned back till she went back to Jesus.

Even though, my mom had made a deep impression on me about this God called Jesus, I have never been able to bring myself to take the next step to go to church to find out more… until I started dating my wife. She was a new believer then and had started to follow her sister to the Church of Singapore (then at the Jurong Town Hall) every Sunday. In order to date her, I also followed her to Church. It was through going to Church that I began to learn more about Jesus. I remembered the first time I acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Saviour was when I was lying on my bed reading a Christian book called "Chasing the Wind". I believe God spoke to me through this book, it broke down all my arguments against Jesus Christ the Son of God. The book, like the title "Chasing the Wind", talks about many seekers of God are like people trying to chase and catch the wind to prove that wind is real…even though they can feel the wind and the wind is everywhere around us…like we can feel God and God is always with us. The book ends with a call to pray the sinner's prayer which I did in the privacy of my bed.

[The sinner's prayer is a prayer a person prays to God when they understand that they are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Saying a sinner's prayer will not accomplish anything on its own. A sinner's prayer is only effective if it genuinely represents what a person knows, understands, and believes about their sinfulness and need for salvation.

You too can pray the sinner's prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always. Amen"]

Eventually my wife and I got baptized. However, there was not much changes in my life. Perhaps my knowledge of God is still head knowledge and my pride had prevented me from establishing a closer relationship with God. Both my wife and I still attended church services every Sunday but we did not progress beyond being "Sunday Christians". After our children came, we stopped going to Church altogether.

I have learnt my lesson that once you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, He will not forsake you even as I have forsaken Him. God moves in ways we do not understand.

I had a very successful career as a project manager in a government organisation. This was my first job and I was promoted after one and half years to project manager, managing a team of six. I felt that I could never fail and pride overtook me. I wanted to go out to the private sector, to expand my wings and soar. I joined a reputed US computer company as a system engineer in July 1990. I was baptized on the Easter of 1991. After my first son was born in 1992, both my wife and I slackened in our church attendance due to the busyness of being first time parents. When my second son was born, we stopped going to church all together. As a result of my diminished enthusiasm for God, I believed God put me through 7 years of trial. Somehow, I was not able to duplicate my career success in my first job. From 1991 to 1999, I have been through 3 job changes. Each change was worst than the previous one. God put problematic supervisors in all my jobs. The worst was when I started my third job in a large pharmaceutical company. The boss who hired me resigned 1 week after I've joined and told me horror stories about the company and said that whatever he had promised me would not be realized. I started to look for another job on my second week of work. And very strangely, for 4 years, I had attended countless interviews and yet I could not land a single job. Throughout these 4 years, God put, in my view, a grossly incompetent boss on top of me. I had a very miserable time there. Nevertheless, throughout 'my ordeal' God also put good Christians as my colleagues and keep reminding me to go back to Him. Finally, I told my wife that we need to go back to church. We started to attend my mom's church, KYC. We were attending the Cantonese worship then. I was previously a very proud person, God has knocked down my pride through years of putting me down in my career. Thinking back I really thank God for this. I wonder what kind of person I would be if God allowed me to succeed on my own efforts. At one of the worship, there was a call by the pastor for those who are troubled to stand up and be prayed for. Previously my pride would've prevented me from standing up, but that day, for the first time I stood up to be prayed for.

After that day, I received a call from a company to attend an interview. This was for the post of Regional IT Manager. I actually wrote in sometime back without much hope of getting a reply as my qualifications were not an exact match. Through God's grace, I was offered the position. This job turned out to be a dream job for me. I was highly rated by my US boss.

Looking back, I think God knew that He needs to knock down my pride before I could establish a relationship with Him, so He put me through 7 years of 'suffering' until I came running back to Him and humbly submit to His authority. He then blesses me. Now, I've learnt how to humble myself and follow Jesus. It's no turning back.

Thank you Jesus…for not forsaking me and loving me.

An appeal of a concerned citizen

2007-05-28T22:17:00.001+08:00

I wrote the following appeal to our Singapore Government:

For 46 years of my life, I have been contented to "remain under the radar" and "mind my own business", since we have such an honest and strong government to take care of everything. However, of late, it has been more and more disconcerting to me that there seems to be a subtle (if you may call that) lobby to recognise homosexual acts as normal acceptable behaviour. Many are calling for the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code. The silent majority like myself cannot be silence anymore lest what is wrong becomes right and normal.

I am a professional, with a good job which gives me the opportunity to visit other countries, including those so called "liberal" countries. I have seen the so called "freedom" and "individual rights" taken to the extremes (for e.g. gun ownership, legalized drugs, homosexual relations given equal rights as heterosexual). I would not feel comfortable living in such an environment where what was wrong is now right, and what was abnormal behaviour is now normal, or even considered "hip".

I am so proud to be a Singaporean because our Government have the moral courage to stand up against these modern decadent world views and maintained a clean strong Government with good old traditional values.

However, recently, I am concerned that the Government is wavering and tending toward the so-called social norms of the world today. I am alarmed when Minister Mentor told Reuters on 24 April 2007, "I would say if this is the way the world is going and Singapore is part of that interconnected world - and I think it is - then I see no option for Singapore but to be part of it.". This is with reference to whether Singapore should repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code. Having seen what is happening to the other countries; I would rather "Singapore … NOT to become part of it". When the world criticised us on our death sentences, our ISA detention law, our caning of Michael Fay, you, our Government, had stood firmly and showed that we are a better society. So why waver now?

The explanation which the Government gave on why it is "closing an eye" to homosexuality is because homosexuals are talented people which we should not missed out enticing to contribute to the Singapore economy. It is estimated that only about 10% of the world's population are homosexual. Is the Government going to compromise the country's moral value for the chance of attracting 10% of the talents?

I have a wife and 2 lovely sons which I hope to bring up as morally upright and responsible citizens. I believe the fundamental unit of a country is the family unit. How strong a country is dependent on how well each family brings up the next generation. If the family unit imbues the wrong values to the next generation; or, in this case, the sanctity of the family unit is breached (for e.g., a family unit comprising 2 same sex individuals with adopted kids), it will lead the country down the slippery path of decadent. I cannot imagine the day when we are out on the streets, every corner we turn, we see man kissing/cuddling man or women kissing/cuddling women. I do not want my sons to grow up in such an environment. If I were living in a big country, I could just move to another part of the country where tradition values still hold, but, Singapore is just a 647.5 sq km piece of land, there is no where else to go. If this day were to happen, I will have no choice but to uproot my family and leave my beloved Singapore.

I beg the government to take this into consideration, please do not trade our moral values to attract a small 10% of "supposedly talented" people and risk losing the true sons of Singapore who love their country because she has the moral courage to stand for what is right and moral.

*************************

It is indeed heartening when the Government reply to my appeal by assuring me that the government is not wavering on its position on Section 377A of the Penal Code.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

That's me

2006-07-19T22:24:00.000+08:00

Blessed Birthday Greetings

2006-06-27T10:07:00.000+08:00

The anniversary of my birth has come and gone. On this day, what I
treasures most are the sincere and poetic birthday greetings from my
brothers and sisters in Christ; even though I deem myself to be
unworthy of these compliments. I will strive to live a life that is
worthy of Christ.
*****************
From dear brother KC:

See How You've Grown
Another year has past since we last blessed you on your birthday.
Another year of growth and experience in the Lord has taken place.
I say with joy that you're truly a little more like the Master
With more smiles on your face, and words which are so filled with grace.

Can see that your struggles now are more about meeting sales targets.
This is one major item in God's agenda for you which He'll never forget.
The pressure generated from this item which matters so much to you...
He uses to show you that He is trustworthy, and He cares for you.

Your participating in casting out the demons from our sister
Has added to you another opportunity to experience God's power.
You have seen for a fact that even the demons tremble at His name.
May this help you to trust Him, and under His covering you'll always
remain.

Watching Jeremy and Timothy growing in grace in the Lord
Is something I cannot help in thanking God.
From being 2 young lads whom you always nag at
They are now fast becoming 2 God-fearing youths who will make you glad.

Let not mundane things distract your focus from the Lord.
Rekindle the first love which is running low for which your busyness has
caused.
He will make sure that you not only have your targets met
He will transform you to become one who makes His heart glad.

So on this your birthday I humbly say
May God be with you, every day, and all the way.
May this be the start of many new things
Which God would do in your life which glory and honor to Him bring.
**************************
From dear brother Kenneth & sister Val:

Birthday wishes come and go,
But this is better than "silver or gold";
It carries with it precious greetings from the heart,
God's blessings and friendship that never depart.

Learning and growing together in the TTCell,
Brings joy and encouragement oh so well;
In serving & ministering to the brothers and sisters,
Your faithfulness is clearly in our mind register.

The breakthrough over your mind "dark & blank" space,
When you can now see and hear God's words in grace;
Indeed your hunger and thirst for God is showing,
And your faith and trust in Him is blossoming.

Continue to offer your gifts and talents for God's use,
That it will bring in a harvest that is so huge;
Till the house of God will no longer be lacking,
Through partners like you that God is blessing.

Keep sailing in the BIG Cruise that was given in the vision,
Trusting God always with His hand on the steering in position;
Never let Him go, even when times are bad and in doldrums,
Remembering that He is Sovereign Lord over all problems.

Val and I send you this day our very heartfelt greetings,
That the Lord's favour will be with you in all your doings;
Giving you grace and mercy along with many blessings,
Making you His channel of peace, love, joy and giving.
************************
From bro Heng Kwok & Constance (via SMS):

Constannce and I wish u a very blessed b'day anniv 2day.
God blessed u with wisdom plus totally honest n transparent heart,
amongst other traits.
U'll make a great guardian angel especially 2 those who may unknowingly
step onto thin ice along their of faith.
I want u 2 know I m one who wud appreciate yur guidance.
On yur special day 2day, we wask 4 Abba God's ever increasing blessings of love,
joy n peace on u.
With love in Christ
***********************
From sis Christine:

At this special day and the days to come in your walk with our
precious Lord, I bless you with the riches of His love and grace in
all His wisdom and prudence so that you may enter and enjoy intimate
relationship with Him daily. Bless you to be His workmanship for good
work in your family, the body of Christ and your career. As you hunger
to know the work and the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray that the
Lord will satisfy your heart desire and reveal ways for you to
partner with the Holy Spirit in wondrous healings and deliverance.

Shalom!
****************

My sincere thanks to all the other brothers and sisters who have sent
me their heart warming birthday greetings and blessings.

My Trial

2006-05-30T14:31:00.000+08:00

I think God is putting me through a trial on the roads. I noticed that
everytime I change from a slower lane to a faster lane...there is 100%
chance of another car ahead of me changing into the same lane...and
guess what? inadvertently this car will turn out to be a 'slow coach'
!!!!!

--
Visit my blog : http://elimsprings.blogspot.com

Da Vinci Code

2006-05-24T14:52:00.000+08:00

Overheard a colleague commenting about the Da Vinci Code movie that
some of the information is true. Do you know that the even if 99% of
it is true, it takes only 1% of falsehood to demolish the truth? In
true or false, there is no maybe.

--
Visit my blog : http://elimsprings.blogspot.com

Driving on the Express Ways will be less frustrating if...

2006-03-01T00:31:00.000+08:00

Driving on the expressways will be a less frustrating experience if all the drivers follow this rule:

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE FASTER THAN THE CARS ON YOUR LEFT OR BEHIND YOU, FILTER TO THE LANE ON YOUR LEFT.

Be a responsible driver now...you don't own the roads...be considerate to others.

AAADD

2005-09-16T15:28:00.000+08:00

Received this from a well meaning friend. Yes, I think I am a victim of this disorder.....It sounds like me ;-( . Credit to the author...whoever you are.

****************
Recently, I was diagnosed with AAADD - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:
I decide to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need to be watered. I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can'tfind my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent.

Don't laugh - if this isn't you yet, your day is coming.

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.
GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

Attack on the Sanctity of Marriage

2005-08-29T21:45:00.000+08:00

I am very sadden by the fact that the Prince of Lies have attacked the sanctity of Marriage by inspiring such articles in the newspaper. Today's article "Together forever by living apart?" by Constance Singam and another article on 23 Aug by a reader, Mr Wilson Wong's,"Cohabitation contract ("Time to replace marriage with a cohabitation contract?").

I pray for forgiveness for both of them as they do not know Jesus Christ yet. I pray for the grace and mercy of our Lord be on them and that the gospel will be revealed to them so that these lost sheep can be saved from the wolf in sheep clothing.

Matthew 19: 4 -6:
4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Ephesians 5:22-33:
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Velcro - An invention that should not have been invented

2005-08-29T21:20:00.000+08:00

I don't know about you, but I feel that the velcro fastener should never have been invented. I hate velcro fasteners on pants. For example, have you ever try putting back you wallet into a pocket with velcro with one hand, like when you have shopping bags on one hand and need to put back your wallet with one hand into a velcro fastener pocket? The flap of the velcro always fall back in place and snag your wallet. It's frustrating. Also the 'hook side' of velcro alway snag pieces of strings and hairs and yucks.

Finally velcros are silk tie killers. I have ruined a couple of silk ties by having them snagged on the hooks while opening/closing the laptop bag with velcro fastener.

So beware of velcro....I hate it!

P.s. Velcro pockets on army uniform is also a very bad idea. When I was in the army, we were told to tape down everything that can make a noise like dog-tags, water bottles etc. So with velcro, it defeats the purpose as they open with a loud "brackkkkkk" sound.

My Take On The CTE Jam

2005-08-16T23:17:00.000+08:00

I have been using the CTE since 1987 (when CTE only reached Ang Mo Kio Ave 1). I have seen it grow (in traffic volume that is).

I have made some research and found that up to 44% of the population (as of 2003) is located near the CTE route north of the city. Towns like Whampoa, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Braddell, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun, Sembawang, Woodlands, Ponggol, SengKang, Serangoon and Hougang, plus traffic coming from the causeway will use CTE.

Don't the HDB/URA and LTA talk to each other? I am sure HDB/URA didn't decide to build so many houses up North only yesterday. So can't this information be given to LTA ahead time so that plans to expand the CTE or to build alternate expressway go hand-in-hand as the population up North increases; and not wait until the North is populated and the CTE is jammed before implementing the easiest solution - Collect ERP.

(On a side note: This is also the reason why Tan Tock Seng is packed all the time)

This is no wonder that CTE is clogged; especially on Saturday when the downtown traffic is heavy throughout the day.

Nevertheless, I have been paying $3.50 every morning to drive down CTE and even then, the traffic is heavy and jammed sometime. Now you ask, why am I still paying so much to drive down CTE in the morning? Why not try other alternate routes? Well, I have tried them all and guess what? The fastest route downtown is still through CTE, jam or not!!! For example, I took 40 mins to go from Yio Chu Kang to Lavender going by Ang Mo Kio, Marymount, Thomson, Balestier (paying $1 at the ERP gantry at Thomson). However, I take on average 20mins to the same destination through CTE in start-stop traffic. You can do the maths: 20mins and $3.50 versus 40mins and $1 plus added petrol consumption and more wear and tear to the car.

Well I guess fellow Singaporeans are not dumb as they can figure this out too. That is why with 2 ERP gantries at CTE they still attract such a heavy traffic.

The government announced last week that the north bound evening traffic have eased with the introduction of the ERP. Well, mark my word, within a few months, the traffic will be back. This ERP gantry will perhaps stop the Malaysian cars and motorcycles but not residents going home to their families. What then? Raise the ERP rates? Extend the ERP hours? When will it end? It is like a drug, after motorists have factored in this ERP as part of the cost of driving, any raise in ERP fees will only temporarily stop some from using the road but over time, they will be back. So the Government will keep on increasing the dosage(ERP rates)?? As long as problem of the clogged alternate routes is not resolve, raising the rates is not a long term solution.

One solution is to provide disincentive for motorists living in the towns nearer to the city from using the CTE. Since they are nearer to the city, the time difference between using the CTE and alternate routes will not be that significant versus a motorist who live in Yio Chu Kang, for example. One sure way to reduce traffic is to disconnect the PIE with the CTE. PIE-CTE interchange is the source of the traffic congestion. There is sufficient alternate routes without the CTE-PIE connection. This will divert East/West bound traffic up North via BKE/TPE or down South via ECP/AYE.

A concluding observation: I wonder why the Government bother to spend so much grooming scholars to run the Civil service when every time the government wants to limit or control usage, the only way they know how to do it is to tax the pockets of its citizens. You don't need scholars to do the job; any Tom Dick or Harry can do the job if the solution to any problem is MONEY!!!

Borsch Soup - My Way (Chinese style)

2005-08-16T22:44:00.000+08:00

Ingredients (serves 8):

600 g beetroot, peeled and cut into 1cm cubes
800g shin beef or chuck steak (I prefer shin beef as it has tendon) cut into bite size
1/2 small cabbage, shredded
600g tomatoes, cut in the wedges
1 onion, cut into wedges
4 cloves garlic, smashed (with the flat side of the chopper)
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm cubes
1 teaspoon of peppercorns
2 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon rice wine
8 cups water or beef stock
Salt, sugar and pepper

Method:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok
2. Throw in onion wedges and garlic when oil is hot
3. Stir fry for 1 min. Throw in beef cubes and stir fry for another 1 min, add wine and 2 teaspoon of sugar
4. Stir fry for another 1 min. Add peppercorns, tomatoes, cabbage and beetroot
5. Add 1 cup of water. Fry another 5 mins
6. Add another 2 cups of water. Cover wok and bring to boil.
7. Transfer all to a big pot and add potato cubes and about 5 cups of water or beef stock (or to the brim of the pot).
8. Set high fire and bring to boil.
9. Turn to slow fire and simmer for 2 hours. Soup will be ready if the cabbages are soft
10. Add salt and pepper to taste
11. If you prefer a thicker soup, stir in some corn or sweet potato starch
12. Serve with sour cream and french loaf

Am back again

2005-08-16T22:38:00.000+08:00

Just started work in one of the big four on 27 Jun 05. Been quite hectic trying to settle down at the new job and bringing in new business for the new firm. Brought a team over from my old firm. Business is picking up among the big 4 and as a result there are a lot of movement (people) among the big 4.

What a month of June!

2005-06-23T10:27:00.000+08:00

End May --June flew past in a flash...

I was involved with a spiritual warfare and I have changed my job, all within 1 month.

I have seen the power of God and experienced the Holy Spirit...Hallelujah!

On the other hand, I have also seen and come to know how real is Satan and his deception in this world. And I tell you with 100% certainty that Satan and his demons cannot stand in the light of Jesus. Hallelujah!

My nephew was possessed by many demons and spirits and they manifested during his OBS camp in Pulau Ubin (his spiritual eyes were opened and he could see that the island is "unclean"). My brother brought him to Mt Alvernia(not knowing it was spiritual then) and there the manifestation got worse (my nephew later told us that Mt Alvernia is worst and the CCU (critical care unit) he was in was full of "unclean" things").

We fought a spiritual warfare for 3 days, however, as we do not know the procedure to cast demons and spirits, they came back each time we cast them out. I tell you, I thought those manifestations we seen in the Exorcist movies were made up by the film directors, but now I know they are very real (other than the green slime and the head turning 360 degrees). However, all these manifestations are there to put fear into us but if we have Jesus in our hearts, the devil will flee. You must not have fear in your heart when confronting them. Hallelujah!

Finally, thanks to Pastor Bernard and Daniel from Church of Singapore, they effectively exorcised all demons and spirits from my nephew. I also like to thank my church leaders, especially brothers KC, Kenneth and John for standing shoulder to shoulder with my family throughout the battle.

My brother's family are 100% God fearing Christians now. My nephew, his 2 sisters and my elder sister's daughter will be baptised this Sunday. Hallelujah!

My Lord, thank you for showing me how real and almighty You are. Thank you for your abundant grace upon my extended family, especially my brother's family. Amen!

Another Casino Truth Unveiled

2005-05-25T10:05:00.000+08:00

Once again it is reported in Today paper today in the article "Market for casino high rollers over-rated" shatters another presumption of the Gahmen. The paper reports:

"THE high rollers that Singapore hopes to attract to its proposed casino resorts represent a small market with thin margins, and operators will find it more profitable to focus on the mass market, said the head of Casinos Austria International's (CAI) Asia-Pacific operations."

So what all this means is that the main revenue for the Casinoes must come from the mass market a.ka., the citizens of Singapore. What have the Gahmen unleashed onto its people?

My Super Duper Orange BBQ Ribs Recipe

2005-05-24T13:34:00.000+08:00

Just to share the goodness to everyone. Here is a super duper Orange BBQ Ribs recipe.

How much I add each ingredients is through 'agaration'. Anyway, here is it (the quatity is my best estimation):

To make 5kg of spare ribs (about 70 pieces):

Marinading ingredients:
1. 2 oranges
2. ginger juice (half a bowl)
3. sesame oil (half a bowl)
4. black soy sauce (half a bowl)
5. soy sauce (half a bowl)
6. Hsao Xing Hua Tiao wine( if no Hsao Xing Hua Tiao, any other Chinese wine will do, though not as fragrant)
7. salt (6 teaspoon)
8. suger (12 teaspoon)
9. ground pepper

Method:
1. Wash ribs and drain dry and put in a large bowl
2. Prepare ginger juice by smashing up sliced ginger with the back of a chopper. Put the crushed ginger into a 'sqeezer' and squeeze the juice out into a bowl. Need about a 20 cm piece of ginger or more.
3. Use a scraper to scrape the rind(outer skin of the oranges) off the two oranges. Collect in a bowl.
4. Add 6 teapsoon salt, 10 teaspoon sugar and pepper(liberally up to your preference) to the ribs
5. Add about 3/4 bowl of sesame oil
6. Add about 1 bowl of black sauce
7. Add about half bowl of soy sauce
8. Add about half bowl of ginger juice
9. Add about 3/4 bowl of wine
10. Throw in the orange rind
11. Squeeze the juice of 1 or 2 oranges into the ribs.
12. Mix the rib evenly and put them in the fridge to let
13. I prefer to put them into small clear plastic bags and tie them up with rubberbands and put them in the fridge. Should marinade at least 2 hours (more the better) before bbq.

Have fun!

A True Friend

2005-05-24T11:22:00.000+08:00

Some profound wisdom I learnt today:

[A true friend stabs. You say, "I don't want to be stabbed." Well, listen to Proverbs 27:6: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." A friend who really loves you will wound you if it's necessary. That is, he will tell you the truth and won't give you hypocritical kisses when he needs to do a little spiritual surgery on you. Flattery is not true friendship. A true friend cares enough to confront. ]

Unfortunately, a lot of us would rather stick close to fair-weather friends who flatter you and give you a good time and ignore the true friends who can sharpen you by being honest and open .....

IR (CASINO) - The first crack appeared

2005-05-20T14:01:00.000+08:00

Well, Singapore are on a slippery road downhill. After being lured by the idea that two Integrated Resorts (aka. CASINOES....or gambling dens, if the govt ask my opinion for a name) is the cure all solution to our failing economic, the devil have succeeded in prying loose another "control" that the govt have put in place for the IR. Now the casino operators do not have to limit the revenue from the casinoes to a small percentage of the total IR revenues. Clearly, once a beachhead is established...the devil has now managed to breached another defense obstacle. Don't be surprise the $100 levy for citizens will go next.

The govt choose to ignore an industry expert view that a Casino cannot survive without local patronage. The message is clear, the casino will have to milk the local citizen's money in order to be viable. I am disappointed ....very disappointed

Feeling Lost?

2005-05-20T12:47:00.000+08:00

http://www.listings.com.sg/~/sanctuary

2005-05-09T18:06:00.000+08:00

Elim is a place where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees....a place where people can qench their thirst and rest.....

Come drink and rest besides still waters