Monday, July 28, 2008
Walking her home...
Mark Schultz has been able to take me to the moon and back with his songs, (sobbing, that is) ever since his hit “He’s My Son” and “Letters From War”.
“Walking Her Home” is yet another in the long list of real life events that this brilliant artist captures for us to experience in a few moments of time.
Yet again, sitting down by the window, no longer by my tiny balcony in cold winter i wonder. I was just talking to a friend of mine who were worried about lack of activities at home for their elderly parents. His wife is in assisted living. It is agonizing to see the circumstance. I don’t judge the family - they may be doing all they can. There is always more to a story than meets the eye in these situations.
BUT… One story - in song - that captures it sweetly - and that it isn’t dreadful - is the brillant Schultz’s “Walking Her Home".
Looking back - he sees it all It was her first date the night he came to call.
Her dad said, “son, have her home on time and promise me you’ll never leave her side”.
He took her to a show in town and he was ten feet off the ground …
He was walking her home and holding her hand. Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him. Down that old road with the stars up above... He remembers where he was the night he fell in love. He was walking her home
Ten more years and a waiting room - at half past one. And the doctor said come in and meet your son. His knees went weak when he saw his wife - she was smiling as she said he’s got your eyes. And as she slept he held her tight... His mind went back to that first night
He was walking her home and holding her hand. Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him. Down that old road with the stars up above He remembers where he was the night he fell in love. He was walking her home.
He walked her through the best days of her life. Sixty years together and he never left her side...
… A nursing home - At eighty-five And the doctor said “it could be her last night” ...And the nurse said “Oh Should we tell him now? Or should he wait until the morning to find out”. But when they checked her room that night - he was laying by her side...
Oh he was walking her HOME! And holding her hand... Oh the way she smiled when he said THIS IS NOT THE END ...And just for a while they were eighteen and she was still more beautiful to him than anything. He was walking her HOME
He was walking her HOME
Looking back - he sees it all It was her first date the night he came to call …
PS: I know the song inside and out - and it still rips my heart out from the bottom up as so many of Schultz’s songs do. I weep even when I KNOW what it coming. It makes me wonder, if I would have such blessings in life.
2 Peter 3: 13-14 ~ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Operation Christmas Child in India
Its one of those days missing being a part of this....
Sometimes Jose remembered the life he used to lead. He had been a respected businessman who sold carpets made from coconut skins. Friends frequently visited his home. Fellow Christians encouraged him in his faith.
Now he felt isolated and weary, as he struggled to show God’s love to the people of Kottayam, a predominately Hindu village located on India’s south coast. He knew this was the place where God had called him, but the community remained skeptical of his efforts. He knew why other Christians had been hesitant to come here.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. For more information on this program, click here.
But the Lord continued to increase Jose’s love for the people of Kottayam. He started working in a slum, ministering to those deemed untouchable by the Hindu caste system.
“I stayed in the area, sleeping in people’s homes and eating with them,” he said. “I got such a great burden for those people.”
Other Hindu residents were hesitant to accept Jose and his family. No one wanted to rent a house to him and when meetings were held at the church, Hindu leaders stood outside yelling and making so much noise that those gathered could barely hear what was spoken.
For seven years, life continued on this way.
Then members of India’s Operation Christmas Child National Leadership Team approached Jose and several other pastors in the area. They said the region would be a great place to distribute gift-filled shoe boxes sent by Christians in America. The gifts would give pastors a unique opportunity to share the Gospel and show God’s love in a tangible way.
When Hindu families saw the gifts their children had received, many asked Jose: “How can these people, who do not know us, give us these kinds of gifts?”
He said the answer was found in Jesus Christ—God’s greatest gift—and invited them to learn more through Operation Christmas Child’s 10-week discipleship program.
The congregation began to grow.
“People are coming to his church because they realized that this man has not come to destroy their community, but to help them,” said Solo K. Philip, one of India’s Operation Christmas Child regional coordinators.
In fact, when residents learned that several people were planning to harm Jose and his family to force them out of the village, the community came to his aid.
“They told this group not to attack him,” Solo said. “They said, ‘We don’t have any problem with this pastor. He’s so kind and cooperative and our children have learned so many moral things from him.’”
The attackers backed down, and Jose continued his ministry. Parents now bring their children to the church each week to learn about Jesus and His teachings.
Operation Christmas Child continues to make this kind of impact throughout India. In 2007, Operation Christmas Child, through a foundation grant, commissioned an independent consulting firm to survey government officials, parents, community leaders, and Christians living in India about the impact of the program. What they found was that the program gave pastors and church leaders an unprecedented key to open access in resistant areas throughout the country. The research also indicated that it enhanced visibility, credibility, and stature of pastors and Christian workers and had a lasting impact on children who received gifts.
“There are a lot of social and humanitarian activities going on in India, but this is a ministry that raises up the next generation for the Lord,” Solo said. “It just starts with shoe boxes and through that builds relationships with the people.”
Sometimes Jose remembered the life he used to lead. He had been a respected businessman who sold carpets made from coconut skins. Friends frequently visited his home. Fellow Christians encouraged him in his faith.
Now he felt isolated and weary, as he struggled to show God’s love to the people of Kottayam, a predominately Hindu village located on India’s south coast. He knew this was the place where God had called him, but the community remained skeptical of his efforts. He knew why other Christians had been hesitant to come here.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. For more information on this program, click here.
But the Lord continued to increase Jose’s love for the people of Kottayam. He started working in a slum, ministering to those deemed untouchable by the Hindu caste system.
“I stayed in the area, sleeping in people’s homes and eating with them,” he said. “I got such a great burden for those people.”
Other Hindu residents were hesitant to accept Jose and his family. No one wanted to rent a house to him and when meetings were held at the church, Hindu leaders stood outside yelling and making so much noise that those gathered could barely hear what was spoken.
For seven years, life continued on this way.
Then members of India’s Operation Christmas Child National Leadership Team approached Jose and several other pastors in the area. They said the region would be a great place to distribute gift-filled shoe boxes sent by Christians in America. The gifts would give pastors a unique opportunity to share the Gospel and show God’s love in a tangible way.
When Hindu families saw the gifts their children had received, many asked Jose: “How can these people, who do not know us, give us these kinds of gifts?”
He said the answer was found in Jesus Christ—God’s greatest gift—and invited them to learn more through Operation Christmas Child’s 10-week discipleship program.
The congregation began to grow.
“People are coming to his church because they realized that this man has not come to destroy their community, but to help them,” said Solo K. Philip, one of India’s Operation Christmas Child regional coordinators.
In fact, when residents learned that several people were planning to harm Jose and his family to force them out of the village, the community came to his aid.
“They told this group not to attack him,” Solo said. “They said, ‘We don’t have any problem with this pastor. He’s so kind and cooperative and our children have learned so many moral things from him.’”
The attackers backed down, and Jose continued his ministry. Parents now bring their children to the church each week to learn about Jesus and His teachings.
Operation Christmas Child continues to make this kind of impact throughout India. In 2007, Operation Christmas Child, through a foundation grant, commissioned an independent consulting firm to survey government officials, parents, community leaders, and Christians living in India about the impact of the program. What they found was that the program gave pastors and church leaders an unprecedented key to open access in resistant areas throughout the country. The research also indicated that it enhanced visibility, credibility, and stature of pastors and Christian workers and had a lasting impact on children who received gifts.
“There are a lot of social and humanitarian activities going on in India, but this is a ministry that raises up the next generation for the Lord,” Solo said. “It just starts with shoe boxes and through that builds relationships with the people.”
My car smells durian. [Updated]
X files is one of the STUPIDEST show i ever seen in years. ditto. Amos and Julie can't stop psyching themselves why it was worth the money.
Thanks to Kee Win, now my car stinks. Reanette's durians only was in the car for 5 minutes and it lasted 5 hours. Met up with Reanette KumHon Jin2 and Sharon. Good bunch. Good laughters.
Will post the photos later once im more "awake"
I'll be on duty in 3 hours time.. im dead.
Nights~
Update:
Dead man walking...so zombified
Thanks to Kee Win, now my car stinks. Reanette's durians only was in the car for 5 minutes and it lasted 5 hours. Met up with Reanette KumHon Jin2 and Sharon. Good bunch. Good laughters.
Will post the photos later once im more "awake"
I'll be on duty in 3 hours time.. im dead.
Nights~
Update:
Dead man walking...so zombified
Saturday, July 26, 2008
A Winter's Tale....
I had a strange dream last night. What it was about isn't of much interest, but it did remind me of a story long before about a road not taken, a place of unpathed waters, undreamt shores.
I've always felt that sleep was required to lay down memories, and a little magical guiding us to this wonderland. When we are then awake, our mind and self hides a smile and take a bow of thankfulness and struggle to replay those sweet sweet memories then oh so fades. Little fairies and little elfs makes a good story, but maybe just maybe that I want to believe, there are actual hidden truths in our subconscious actually led to a direction in which dreams take a lead…..a sort of image compression to take place.
When we sleep, our brain searches long term memory for similarities to what it finds in its "temporary memory". We experience this searching process as dreams. I feel this is why dreams usually have odd but recognizable ties to recent events. If the brain can find an existing long term memory that is a close match to one of the "temporary memories" it must store, it can expend far less energy simply by creating a link to an existing memory without laying down brand new long term storage. Of course, the link doesn't have to be to a complete memory. It could be a link to a feeling, emotion, smell or sound. By itself the link would be meaningless, but when grouped with all the others of the day, the new memory can be recalled as a complete impression.
Memories certainly seem to be tightly linked. Recalling one even inevitably leads to recollection of others with some similarity. Memories are not played back as movies, but more like a collection of impressions, emotions and imagery with various levels of clarity.
This very someone that I dreamt about. The story, the lines, the hopes, my dreams... Was there any truth to it? My mind mills... a winter tale..My hopes and dreams.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost
It's In The Valley That I Grow
It's In The Valley That I Grow
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow.
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Day that True Love Died
I has actually been a while since i actually blog something down. Maybe it was disappointment that actually withhold me from blogging, and again it was disappointment that had bring me once again to this illusive world.
Many many things had happened over the last few years good and bad and i guess in some sense it is to be that I want to give thanks to my Maker that He had been there for it.
Recently came across a movie scene that I could not take my heart or soul out of it. I find myself wanting to watch it over and over again in search for a hope to numb my senses. Cold and snowy imageries fill this 33 minutes length story on screen. A father plays with his son in the snow filled cover fields as they converse in smiles and laughthers. Ultimately this is a story about of a father's decision. The film is called "Most" which means bridge in Czech. A simple but beautiful and profound story, MOST quietly stuns my heart. Indeed, this 2003, short film earned an Academy award nomination for best short film and went on to win top prizes at three other film festival. Watch the clip below and let the music inspire you and let the scenes transforms you...
The film depicts a father and son loving each other very much. Stargazing or enjoying tea together, the two are nearly inseparable until...
MOST also lets the viewer see the depravity of some of the train passengers. And, it also depicts new life and new hope to one of the train's most desperate passengers. This beautiful and poignant piece of work evokes questions that no one wants to answer or make because it reaches the very core of a human's heart. As I watched this film, I couldn't help projecting myself in the father's role of enjoying the many moments with my own son and perhaps that's why I try very hard to numb myself.
Search your heart with the extended scene below in it's original sound and ask yourself what would your decision be if you were the father. Observe carefully the faces of the passengers and I can honestly tell you that I will do the exact opposite of what this father did in this scene and I believe that's why I am a fallen being.
Many many things had happened over the last few years good and bad and i guess in some sense it is to be that I want to give thanks to my Maker that He had been there for it.
Recently came across a movie scene that I could not take my heart or soul out of it. I find myself wanting to watch it over and over again in search for a hope to numb my senses. Cold and snowy imageries fill this 33 minutes length story on screen. A father plays with his son in the snow filled cover fields as they converse in smiles and laughthers. Ultimately this is a story about of a father's decision. The film is called "Most" which means bridge in Czech. A simple but beautiful and profound story, MOST quietly stuns my heart. Indeed, this 2003, short film earned an Academy award nomination for best short film and went on to win top prizes at three other film festival. Watch the clip below and let the music inspire you and let the scenes transforms you...
The film depicts a father and son loving each other very much. Stargazing or enjoying tea together, the two are nearly inseparable until...
MOST also lets the viewer see the depravity of some of the train passengers. And, it also depicts new life and new hope to one of the train's most desperate passengers. This beautiful and poignant piece of work evokes questions that no one wants to answer or make because it reaches the very core of a human's heart. As I watched this film, I couldn't help projecting myself in the father's role of enjoying the many moments with my own son and perhaps that's why I try very hard to numb myself.
Search your heart with the extended scene below in it's original sound and ask yourself what would your decision be if you were the father. Observe carefully the faces of the passengers and I can honestly tell you that I will do the exact opposite of what this father did in this scene and I believe that's why I am a fallen being.
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