A genius!

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty is an amazing piece... he is truly a genius! Had the priviledge to catch it at the BBC Prom yesterday. Sitting on the floor in the arena in the middle of the Royal Albert Hall and having a "picnic" is truly another enriching experience! Hahahahhahha...

Done!

I am DONE! Hehe. Somehow, I expected to feel exhilarated, but nooooo..... nothing. Well I suppose it's because the journey up until yesterday been a slow and steady trudge and unlike the exams where there was a build up for an intense few hours in the very end , the deadline for the BB invasion has always been on the horizon. Anyhow it's all over now! And it's slowly sinking in how soon I'll be back on home soil.

Hmmm, what shall I do today? Such a wonderful feeling this lack anything to do... hahhha. I'm treasuring it while it lasts since all good things come to an end. :P

PS. There's some crazy digging by construction workers just outside my building causing a deafening din!! Thank goodness I need not worry about concentrating on my paper... the noise is driving me a little nuts. :P

PPS. I've received 4 free tickets to attend the Visa 2012 Olympic Party. Hahaahhaha.. o well.

PPPS. Realised last Sunday that it was going to be my last session at HTB. I'm gonna miss it!!!! LOADS!! It's been such a wonderful, enriching experience. A lovely blend of worship and grounded teaching.

Dilemma!!!!

Climb Ben Nevis or go for the Olympics 2012 Handover Visa Party?????

Help me decide!

Hosanna

Music/Lyrics: Brooke Fraser
Performed by: Hillsong United
Album: All of the above

D
I see the King of glory
Bm
Coming down the clouds with fire
Em7 A Bm
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes, yeah...
D
I see His love and mercy
Bm
Washing over all our sin
Em7 A
The people sing, the people sing
------
Chorus:
D/F# G A Bm
Hosanna, Hosanna
G Bm A
Hosanna in the Highest
D/F# G A Bm
Hosanna, Hosanna
G A Bm (D)
Hosanna in the Highest
------
D
I see a generation
Bm
Rising up to take their place
Em7 A
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
D
I see a near revival
Bm
Staring as we pray and seek
Em7 A
We're on our knees, we're on our knees
------
Repeat chorus
Instrumental: Bm D Em F#m
------
Bridge:
G A
Heal my heart and make it clean
D Bm
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
G A Bm
Show me how to love like You have loved me
G A
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
D Bm
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
G A Bm
As I walk from earth into eternity

Your life is like a letter...

China has arrived!

I was totally wowed by the spectacular performance put up at the 2008 Olympics! Although not a Chinese national, I too, felt a small tinge of pride. :) I loved that there was a little boy from Sichuan who survived the earthquake as part of the parade in remembrance of those who perished.

(Photo borrowed from the official website)

Responsibility

Can't run from it... no can do.

"... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48

Old crazy photo taken sometime back with CY's Mac

List of books to re-read

Some books are worth re-reading, if nothing else for the simple reason that they contain words of wisdom and insight easily forgotten over the passage of time. Here's one to start with:

1) The Time Bind by A. R. Hochschild (1997) - because the realities of managing effective work-family balance will probably be more relevant later on.

2) The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson (1963) - inspiring account of God's calling, compassion and sacrifice.

3) Through Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Elliot (1981) - the cost of obedience

The timebind

The idea of more time for family life seems to have died, gone to heaven, and become an angel of an idea.

The social world that draws a person's allegiance also imparts a pattern to time. The more attached we are to the world of work the more it's dealines, its cycles, ita pauses and interruptions shape our lives and the more family time is forced to accommodate to the pressures of work.

Parents often feel they owe their children a time-debt and make up for it by indulging them with treats or softened rules in exchange for missed time together.

Such is the world we live in where the social worlds of home and work reverse. Many have grown up in this world where one knows not an alternative. Can one possible reverse the balance of work and non-work even if one wanted to?

[parts summarised from Hochschilds' "The Timebind"]