on to the next one

I'm looking at the date and realized that I've been here for almost 3 weeks now. But somehow so many things have happened that it felt so much longer than that.

Done with orientation and am getting myself accustomed with the new found information and way of life. I've met some new and amazing people along the way; and settling quite timely into the church Grace & i are attending.

So yesterday, we had a CNY open house specifically for the community around the church and various NGO bodies they are affiliated with. We were ushers and it was really nice being able to play the host especially to a community that might not be all too familiar to oneself :) I guess it's not really hosting til you host outside of home.

The set up for the open house just right outside the church. 

Good food, good company and very entertaining presentations. It did look like one big family reunion somehow. That was an evening well spent. 

Other matter related, all the reading assignments given have been thought provoking so far and loving the discussions-and-bouncing-off-each-other-thoughts-and-opinions atmosphere.

And did two reads this week that was both heartwarming and spoke to me in all different levels.

Reading 1 - I'm sorry

Reading 2 - If nothing was stopping you

And last but not least, Grace has truly been a God-send. Had a VERY interesting 'God-experience' with her after Saturday Night Live service (or SNL for short and yes, i see where that's coming from) at church. Very grateful and bowled over. 

Be blessed, all!

Walked out of Mentoring Group and was greeted by this.

Liking this new view very, very much.

tis so far

The year of uproot. Hail, hail 2012.


Decided to spend a week in the Capital city before heading to my destination and somehow in the preoccupation of the season; it only hit me that I'm leaving home in the long 2 hours flight over.


I just thank God; for that moment it was daytime and I had my shades on.


Anyways, New Year's in the capital with your close knit of people is really amazing. I had some good times and Rachel, I love it when we're roommates :)


But besides those wonderful familiar faces, i saw one that made me smile. 

 don't tell me I'm the only one that sees the similarity.

I miss that face and smile

:)

So, did a few of these things in the Capital.

Saw a few things too.

and then took another flight to another side of home for me. stayed at Grace's while i waited for the registration date and this was my view for that whole time there every morning. and liking it lots.

And this is my view from 'home' for the next new phase.

and just to remind myself some of the magnificent people i got to hang out with before i left.

this could have doubled as a Christmas postcard.

Be blessed all!

poetry for me have never sounded and looked this good

 Click here ---> rad! rad! rad!



be blessed all!

those little escapades

So, a few friends and I decided to go for a much needed trek.

the house in the cave

B for..

BEACH!! :)

Was looking through some old photos and i thought i'd make this post a dedication to the one place that kept coming back into the pictures. the one place that has always been there. the one place for me that has the ability to transport you somewhere else - ladies and gentlemen; i give you the shorelines of the South China Sea :)

Living in Miri, you'll grow up next to it. and 'she' is one amazing place to be in. For the typical Mirian; there would be some fond distant memories of her especially in the growing up years.

The beach here is not pretty per say and i'm quite sure there are many other shorelines that would put her to shame in the beauty department. She is plain but we call her home.

hanging out with the bro and ma. the beach was a haven even back then.

i had fond memory of this seaside playground.

choose a spot, lay down and read.

Skimboarding

during the Skimboarding phase :) which was all worth-it

yes..this can be the life

beach football

i'm quite sure football wasn't suppose to be played this way but it makes up into a good photo

a beach walk

nothing like swimming in the ocean. and for this particular day. we swam til the sun set and night came. ah..sweet i say!

the worship team day out for a shoot

this was shot facing the sea and was a beautiful day out!

uhuh.. ecstatic

In conclusion; this is a part of home and i thank God it became a part of who i am.

Mirian, born and bred. beach people.

the local

really?

“But the more mainstream Christians, the bigger portion... in my experience talking to them, they give me the impression that they are more concerned with the afterworld than they are of what is happening today,” said Professor Jayum Anak Jawan.

"I tell them sometimes... what are you people telling your congregation? If the state government is ignoring people in the rural areas, you have no access to basic amenities, what are you telling them?

“Exercise your rights and make demands as it is your right but the standard reply is... we are concerned with the afterworld and we respect the separation of state and religion,” he said.

Excerpt of an article source from here

I find this very interesting. Can we really take that stand?

I know I've been taught that there is no such thing as a perfect system on this side of eternity and that we are living in a fallen world. But to know that somehow your involvement in this earthly matters or shall we say stately matter; matters because it is effecting so many lives and to say that we're only concern of the afterworld gives an air of apathy. And apathy somehow does not sit well with me.

It does not sit well with me when people are prolonged in their trouble whilst you might just hold the key to helping them but you didn't.

It does not sit well with me when we are so concern of a person's spiritual health and especially where they are going after they die but do not show the same tenacity on making their lives better while we are still alive and kicking.

It does not sit well with me when we are already placed in a position of choice and we didn't choose just because it's merely earthly system with little or no hint of spirituality it seemed.

lately

this on what has been happening lately

there's a first time for everything. Niah. Longhouse. The Virginian Rachel. and some translations gig.

first ever Pino Youth (with of course joined by some non-Pino too) service at church and i think it went really well.

and somehow they have dropped in often enough now that i consider them family. by locals for locals and that's the way i like it.

so, for the more to come :) fully expecting it

He never disappoints!

the spunk of an old geezer

the man with the spine and spunk (with some pretty decent sense of humor) speaking his mind.





Dear Mr Lee Iacocca,

Thank you for writing this book. It was for me an accidental find but i appreciate that u decided to share your convictions and experiences with the world.

Though we might be far removed culturally, age wise and even more so on the sphere of experiences (you the influential figure, CEO and visionary leader that you are and me; in my world of the ordinaries), i feel your convictions speaking to a lot of areas in my life and i wonder aloud that maybe just maybe this real honest everyday wisdom is relatable (i'm pretty sure that should be a word.really..) to all who are willing to hear.

May i state or quote on a few of the many things that challenged and inspired me..

1. Your 9 Cs' found me nodding and grunting in agreement many times. thank you for putting these thoughts into words. I think i agree more because somehow these are also something that one would have thought of when relating to experiences of leaders and their leadership and to read it out in the open like that; you can't help but understand and agree.

2. In relating to how the past world leaders responded to the Nazis after their horrific acts in the WWII; the Nuremberg trials you said was a grand example how the leaders then reminded us of our higher ideals and i like what you said 'we didn't become the evil we were fighting.' i really like that a lot.

3. And this you wrote on virtue to a generation of greed-driven America or the world for that matter..

'Instead of greed, how about generosity
Instead of envy, try a little charity
Instead of pride, show some humility
Instead of wrath, let's see composure'

AND...'They actually believed that companies have an obligation to contribute to social welfare.'
Last but not least, this wonderful thought 'Wouldn't it be great if we read more business stories that give us inspiring lift and fewer stories that made us sick to the stomachs? And wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if corporate America (and again the whole world for that matter) got the idea that the best way to do well is by doing good?' Imagine!

4. 'There was a time not that long ago when we were more civil. We gave people the benefit of the doubt. We tried to work out our difference face-to-face, not through lawyers. We'd try to tell people to "have a nice day". Now we say, "I'll see you in court."
It's not our ability to compete that gets harmed by all the litigation. It is the ability to live with one another, to help each other out in bad times, to cooperate because we want to and it's the right thing to do - not because we might get sued.'
I read somewhere once that we live in a world that is too safe. And it became that way because we fashioned it that way out of fear of things unknown or different from what we are used to. Its easier when the only thing you see is the only thing you know and vice versa i guess. But i think its a tragedy because that would make us forfeit a God given responsibility, that is we're supposed to be the agent of change or even influence where we are placed in, no? And should i even dare to suggest, we were designed that way? So, because we are living in a wholly messed up system and world to begin with; unless we see that - why on earth will there be any urge inside of us to change things?

5. 'That's what i'd like to pass on to younger generation - the rewards of being involved. I've started with my own grandkids. I want them to know how lucky they are to be given a position to give back - because they have been given so much.'
And i think, we are in soooo many ways the privileged ones and it starts by wanting to truly know what is going on around us and then to be soo restless that we say 'there must be something that can be done.' and with that, if we just be courageous enough to understand that we are that something. Wherever we are, whoever we are.


So, Mr Iacocca; your little book is truly a pleasure to read. And though we all make our mistakes because we are after all very imperfect - thank u for being 'human' enough to admit that but not letting it stop you from putting your thoughts and ideas out there.




A fan :)

a thought

Ted Engstrom (he headed World Vision for a while an a thoroughly visionary of a man) writes,

'The world needs people who cannot be bought;

whose word is their bond;

who put character above wealth;

who possess opinions and a will;

who are larger than their vocations;

who don't hesitate to take chances;

who won't lose their individuality in a crowd;

who will be as honest in small things as they are in great things;

who will make no compromise with wrong;

whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;

who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it";

who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;

who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning and hard-heartedness are the best qualities for winning success;

who are not afraid to stand for the truth even when it's unpopular;

who say "no" with emphasis, even though the rest of the world says "'yes".'