Once "I Am Taken".

Now "I Am Broken".

This mug was given to me by my wifey during my birthday in our first year of marriage. That was in 8 October 2008. After serving me faithfully for close to 6 years, it finally retired from service on 21 September 2014. During this long period of 6 years, this is the only mug that I used day in and day out. Without any shadow of doubt, it has indeed served its purpose.

As I am writing down the eulogy of my mug, I can't help but to relate the life of this mug to our walk with God. We were once "taken" by God and that marked the beginning of our walk with Him as young Christians. At the very beginning of this walk, we tend to come before God in our self-made and self-justified splendour and glory. But as God begins to use us more and more, this self-made and self-justified splendour and glory slowly losses its twinkle and shine. We begin to realise that we were not so righteous and "clean" after all. But the good news is that God continues to use us and call us His own. In fact, He loves this "mug" so much because as this mug began to serve His "favourite coffee" day in and day out, the smell of the coffee started lingering stronger and stronger on this mug.

The more this mug was used, the more it experienced wear and tear until eventually it become broken! Similarly, as God continues to use us and work through us, He allows us to go through trials and tribulation that eventually caused us to become broken. 

A broken spirit and a contrived heart, this He will not despised.

The evidence of God's working in a person's life is the degree of brokenness of his spirit.  Even though my mug is now broken, I have never once despise it. In fact, till now I still love my mug and my mug will always have a special place in my heart as long as I live... Because it had served me well in its lifetime. 

My last update was dated 19 August 2011. Yes! 2011! That was slightly more than 3 years ago. Xavier was only about 13 months old (1 day before he reached 13th months) then. Time and tides wait for no man and just as much as I hope that time will come to a standstill so that I could savour the sweetness of his toddler's year, standing before me now is a charming and cheeky boy. 

Today marked an important milestone of his growing up years. Today is the first school excursion he has without daddy and mummy by his side. Since last night, wifey and myself could sense that he was rather apprehensive. Just as much as he tried to hide it, nothing escapes daddy and mummy's eyes. Asked him several times if he was ok. As usual, he replied "ok" in a barely audible voice which has become a tell-tale sign whenever he is feeling frightened.

Finally the time for him to put on his uniform and made his way to the school. Try asking anyone in the family and they will all unanimously agreed that it is almost impossible to stop Xavier from talking and asking questions for someone who is so active and curious. However,  at this point onwards, he started to become very quiet and his expression tells it all.

Simply can't describe the ernomous pride I feel whenever I see him wearing his school uniform. I am simply so so proud of my little man.

He kept very quiet throughout the journey to his school. All he did was just holding on tightly to my hand. Finally, we reached his school. Sensing that he was trying very hard to hide his fear, I knelt down and hugged him tightly, assuring him that I was very proud of him and that he was doing great. At this point, he finally broke down and cried. He said he was scared and wanted me to go with him. I wished I could but even if I could, I won't. That's because I believe and have faith in my little man, that he is a brave and independant boy who is able to overcome all odds and that includes his fear. 

To cut the long strong short, he did it and I am so proud of him. 

Before he board the bus,he was very happy to hear that I will be at his school to pick him up after his excursion. So, happily he boarded the bus. And off the bus went.

I am looking forward to his return and listening to his adventure. When that happens, he will just keep on talking and talking non-stop. Meanwhile, let me just enjoy this short-lived peace. 

Time flies...

Time flies... the last time i updated my blog was in June 2010 and that was even before Xavier was born. Today as I am writing this post, Xavier is already close to 13 months old (1 more day to full 13 months). Time really flies and everything seems like just yesterday. Dear Dear and myself are already into our third year of marriage and I must admit it's one thing to be a good husband, but a totally different ball game to be a good husband AND a good father. In the past, when it was just dear and myself, going out on a date was often taken for granted. We would go to wherever we like and whenever we like. However, that's not true anymore, at least for the next 3-4 years. Every date must now be planned in advance and Xavier has in fact becomes the deciding factor as to whether our dates are possible. Don't be mistaken because I am not complaining. In fact there's so much joy with Xavier around. It's just that I miss those time when it's just me and Steph.

Currently, I am a trainee teacher doing my practicum at Damai Secondary School. Yes, I am with MOE and I will be graduating from NIE by the end of this year. Speaking of that, time to go back to my work so that I can complete as much work as possible and free up the weekend to keep my dear and Xavier boy boy company.

Xavier 汤义恒

After months of brainstorming with my wife and finally we agreed on this name for our baby boy.

Xavier 汤义恒

Significance of Chinese Name:

义(yì) = 道义, 情义, 信义, 意义, 正义, 义士

恒(héng) = 恒劲, 恒心, 永恒

Significance of English Name:

Xavier (origin: Basque): New House, Bright and Splendid

COO0000L Name!!!

Preparing for the coming of my son.

Went to IKEA over the weekend and bought a drawer to store the clothings for my son (Expected Due Date: 14th July). Been waiting for an opportunity to fix up the drawer and finally manage to get it fixed within 1.5hr while Stephanie was away for a company dinner.

Here's how the drawer looks like before fixing:

Here's how the final product looks like:

Date : 29th April 2010
Time : 730pm-9pm
Location: Masterbedroom

2nd Year Wedding Anniversary

Our 2nd Year Wedding anniversary.

Speck & Plank

Matthew 7:3-5

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Wonder why in God's opinion, He compared our shortcoming as a plank and the shortcoming of others as just a speck? It takes millions and even billions of specks to equal the size of a plank. When God created us, He gives us the freedom of choice and with this freedom comes personal responsibility. We are never responsible for anyone because God has not render that freedom of choice of another person into our hands. However, we are responsible towards people and others around us. If you are constantly frustrated because you are always trying to pin-point someone's mistake and trying to make them change, then get ready for a disappointment. The sad truth is no one person can change another person. Change always starts from oneself; one's own choice.

With that in mind, God has given me a huge responsibility to change myself and not to change other (Relativity comparison). With this freedom of choice entrusted to me, God expect me to spend more time reflecting on my own thoughts, my own actions, my own intention and my own words. Bible says we will never be perfect until we see Jesus. To say there is no limit to how much I can change for the better. However, sometime I spend more time pinpointing other's shortcoming than spending more time developing myself to Christlikeness. Unless I'm perfected( which is far far way off), else I should focus on dealing with my shortcomings than dwelling on the shortcomings of others. If everyone is to take more time dealing with their own shortcomings than trying to deal with the shortcoming of others, the world will be a better place, the church will be a better place, your workplace will be a better place.

Hence God equate my shortcoming as a plank and the shortcoming of others as a speck because God has given me the freedom of choice over my own life, and not the freedom of choice over the lives of others. As the saying goes, more is given, more is also expected. If God has given me full freedom to choose so more is expected over myself to deal with my own shortcoming than that of others. No matter how wrong the other person is, how nasty the other person is, my focus should be constantly dealing with my own shortcoming than pinpointing others' mistakes and trying to change them.

If God compares a plank in my eyes with a speck in others' eyes, then it must be a plank in my eyes- don't have to argue and say..." but but God, look at them, how can they do this, or how can they do that..." Common sense will tell us that if a person got a speck stuck in his/her eyes, compared to a plank, the one with a plank needs more surgeons to work on him/her. The one with a plank will surely requires more focus and more time to operate on. The one with the plank needs more help. The one with the plank need immediate attention!! Sound common sense....but we are always looking into the specks of others. No wonder we constantly get upset with others...and when God don't seems to change them, we get upset with God.