Lost and found in Bangkok.

It was 26 July 2006, I woke up very early in the morning by the sound of the traffic. You see, I stayed in a room which is just next to the main road. So, around 9am, I went downstairs to pay for my room and request to move to another room but the receptionist told me that there was no single room available that day. I could move to another room maybe the following day.

On my way to Banglumphu pier,I saw this street vendor selling roasted semi-riped bananas. This is my all time fave peasant snack. It was like manna from heaven, so I bought a few pieces. I munched on the banana while walking my way to Banglumphu pier. I got off at Tha Tien Pier and started strolling around. The old shophouses with folding doors looked very charming. There were all sorts local produces on display such as the dried salted fish, herbal medicines and so on. Of course, the pavement was lined with street vendor selling snacks and breakfast. I stopped by at the street vendor to have prawn porridge.

After that,I did the walking again. I walked past Wat Pho and went in to have a quick look. Then, continued exploring the neighbourhood and found myself at the Amulet market. Amulet sellers were sitting on the pavement selling all sort of forms of amulets. You see, Thais believe that wearing an amulet can ward off the evil spirits. Some Thais even wear 3 to 4 amulets at one go. I used to be an amulet wearer too cos my father is Thai and he wanted us to wear it.

O.K, back to the story, so I found myself at Tha Chang Pier. It was very crowded and happening. Tourists come to Tha Chang Pier to take the river taxi to the other side of the river bank to visit Wat Arun. The territory of the amulet sellers did not end just there. As I continued walking, I saw the pavement outside the shophouses was once again dotted with amulet sellers. I stopped by at one vendor to buy a print of the King and his family. Yeah I love the King as much as the Thai do. The King is a man with great love. The King has been hospitalized. So, please pray for him.

Considering the amount of amulets available in the market, I guess Bangkok should be free from all forms of evil spirits. The Amulet market continued its territory outside Wat Mahatat, I guess I had enough of seeing amulets in a day. So, I caught a bus back to Banglumphu.

After lunch, I called Pastor Wu Chen Wen of True Jesus Church. I told him that the visiting Pastor Siau from Taiwan wanted me to see him. He told me that he has been based in Chiang Mai but would be coming to Bangkok the following day. I asked him whether there would be a worship service that night cos I wanted to go.

So, I went back to my room to take a nap to reenergize myself. In the late afternoon, I went to Santichaiprakarn park to join other jugglers to practise poi and juggle balls too. The thai couple who can juggle clubs very well were there too together with their lovely little daughter. The husband is a graphic designer and the wife is a homemaker. They normally go to the park almost every late afternoon. Tosh, the Japanese guy was really surprised when he saw me practising. He said that I must be an expert. Well, after all, I used to perform 2 shows at Zouk, Kuala Lumpur but I won't call myself an expert though. See, how humble I am.

I was so caught up in the games that I overstayed longer than I should. So, I rushed back to take a shower and get myself ready to go to the church. I asked the receptionist to write the address in Thai for me. Then, she told me to take bus 68 outside Wat Bowen. So, I walked to Wat Bowen but wasn't sure which bus stop to take the bus. So, I asked a lady who was walking in front of me to help me out. She turned out to be able to speak English. Without hesitation, she held my hand and walked with me to the bus stop.

So, I got on to a mini bus 68 and showed the bus conductor the address. Then, she said something in Thai. Then, the lady who sat behind me explained to me in English. She told me that I had to get off at the bus stop at Democracy Monument and caught the big bus 68. So, I got on to bus 68 heading towards Bangkhuntien. The exhaust fume was almost unbearable. Someone should invent a disposeble oxygen tank. You see, many buses in Bangkok are non air-con and burping out hazardous exhaust fume. Only God knows why these buses are still allowed to hit the roads. According to a survey, many Bangkokians are suffering from air pollution related sickeneses.

I remember few years ago, the authority released a statistic saying that the air pollution in Bangkok was under control. I guess these people must have never taken a bus in ther lives. After all, who really cares about the marginalized common peoples? Do you care? Let's not talk about Bangkok, just look around the city you live in, how many vehicles with single occupant are moving on the roads?

O.K, let's get back to the story, along the journey, I saw many 'red light' clubs with skimpily clad young women hanging outside. Of course, in Malaysia, we have such establishments too, the only difference is that we do it 'underground', that's the main problem.

Finally, the never ending bus journey had come to an end when the bus conductor asked me to get off the bus and cross the overhead bridge to the other side of the road. I saw a private hospital and a bus stop. I was like in the middle of no where and it was dark. I approached this guy but we couldn't communicate. So, I walked up the road heading to the hospital and saw a woman. Then again, I showed her the address. I walked with her til we saw a songthew (a pick-up truck taxi). She asked me to get on to the songthew. So, there I was, sitting next to the driver while that women was sitting behind the pick-up truck with other passengers. Once again, I showed the address to the driver. He then dropped me off in a busy street and asked me to cross the street to take another songthew. O.K, O.K. So, I did.

Finally, I saw the road sign written in Thai and English: Ekachai 36. Yeah, I found Ekachai 36, I was coming close. Ekachai 36 is a long road. So, I flagged down a taxi and showed the driver the address. He didn't know how to get there.Phew, so off walking again til I reached a bunch of motrcycle taxi drivers. They passed the address around among them but no one knew how to get there either. How could that be?

You see, I hadn't given up yet, I walked to Ekachai 36/3 to keep on seaching. O.K, it was time to give up cos it was almost 9 o'clock. The worship service would have finished by the time I found it. I walked back to the main road feeling disappointed. I saw a lady and told her I wanted to take bus 68. Thank God she could speak English. She flagged down a songthew and told the driver something. Yes, I managed to make it back to Banglumphu. I didn't find the church that night but I met many angels along that journey.

P/S; After two days, I managed to find the church in the afternoon and meet up with Pastor Wu and other fellow christians.

Lord, this soul I won for You.

Lord,we have come to the knowledge of Your love
By Your sacrifice for the souls unworthy as ours
We reflect upon the times we greived You
With our callous disregard
Yet it is Your desire
That we should not remain apart
No greater love exists
Than that which You gave Your life for ours

Lord, we want to grow
in the likeness of Your image
Grant us
Humility, as You did Moses
Courage, as You did Joshua
Wisdom, as You did David
Love, as You did Peter
Strength, as You did Paul

Even as we face oppositions
Both from without and within
For there is poverty, social mores
and political issues we can not control
There are absent of Your Truth
Give us the courage we need to testify for You
The wisdom to know what to speak
And the eloquence to speak it
Lord, we are ready to take up Your commission
To fulfill Your desire to save all

We did wonder
if all the hardships and loneliness
In exchange for that one soul is worth it?
But as we turn to look at Jesus on the cross
We realize we have so much more to do
We'll make disciples of these people for You
Different though they seem
For You Yourself showed no partiality
Because they are Your children too

Lord, we will love as You first loved us
For if we have faith but have no love, we are nothing

Love without Truth is blind
And love without the Holy Spirit's guidance and power is short-lived
By Your grace
We have the Truth
We have the Holy Spirit

Until that day
when we meet the Lord
We shall faithfully spread
The message of His love
And when it is our time
To face the Lord
We will be able to say
Lord, this one soul I won for You

This is from an annual report called Into all the World by True Jesus Church

Bangkok, the city of angels?!!

I am in Bangkok now. I arrived this morning at 11.35. Glad to be back. Then, I hopped on bus 53 to Banglumphu and checked in to a guesthouse....

Heading north...

Yesterday morning, my mum sent me to the train station in Alor Setar. The train would only arrive at 8.35 am. So, we went to have breakfast at the canteen of the train station. The train arrived on time and then I bid farewell to my mum. After years of living a nomadic life, I just have to learn to let go. Sometimes, it is really hard but I just have to do it. I received a SMS from my brother a minute before the train arrived.

Kakak, wa now standby packing to go to Time Square liao! U take care n hope you find a plant which u know its needs….Sender: Siang Sent: 23-July-2006 8:27:50.

Well, I would rather be a plant this time around and have an owner who knows my needs. Anyway, I already have an owner and his name is Jesus. I hopped on to the train and walked inside the train from one berth to the other. I was supposed to be in berth U1 but I ended up being on the other end of the train. You see, there were twice that while I was still looking for the right berth, the trains started moving. As a result, I had to hop on to the trains while the trains were moving and I nearly fell off the trains. These were the crazy things I did in my life. This time I just wanted to play safe. I guess I am catching up with my age. I can no longer do the Hopping-on-a-moving-train stunt anymore. Probably I still can do it without a heavy backpack on my back.

As the train was moving ahead, my heart started to sing in joy. It was really great to be able to hear the rattling sound of the train again. When the train moving past a pond covered with pink water lilies, every passenger started shouting in delight Of course, I was totally hypnotized. This is the little bliss you get when you are on a run-away train. I always believe that the nature has the power of healing and God is its creator. O Lord, have I told you lately that I love you?

Many passengers got off in Arau. Soon, the train halted in Padang Besar, the border cum immigration check points. Thank goodness that they let me enter ThaiLAND cos my passport will be expired in January 2007. On top of that, I actually overstayed for 2 days last time and was fined 400Baht.

Back on the train and to resume the journey to Hatyai. I would catch another train to Bangkok once I arrive in Hatyai...to be continued.

Internet repression

Today I received this info from Amnesty International Malaysia, here I would like to urge everyone to sign the pledge. We can make a difference, all we have to do is to believe and then take action.You better do something if you want to continue enjoying the freedom of speech in the cyber world (better than nothing,isn't it?)Below is the info...


Amnesty International is today going global with a campaign on internet repression. The campaign aims to claim back the web as a force for change in the face of an increasing willingness on the part of technology companies to aid censorship and repression. The internet's potential for change is being undermined -- by governments unwilling to tolerate this free media outlet, and by companies willing to help them repress free speech.



We are calling on internet users across the world to sign a pledge calling on all governments and companies to respect internet freedom. The online pledges will be collected and presented to a key UN meeting on the future of the internet in November 2006. Go to http://www.aimalaysia.org to sign the pledge



To coincide with the launch of the international campaign, Amnesty International is releasing a report about the role of Yahoo!, Microsoft and Google in internet repression in China. For those who are interested in obtaining the full report, please contact our office at 03-79552680 or aimalaysia@aimalaysia.org



For more on the report and campaign please go to http://www.aimalaysia.org

Massive doses of pain

Every war and revolution kills and maims emotions and sensibilities. Someone has to resuscitate these people killed by massive doses of pain.....Anais Nin

Now that we have reached a hastier and more superficial rhythm, now that we believe we are in touch with a greater amount of people, more people, more countries. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us. The dangerous time when mechanical voices, radios, telephones (not to mention internet) take place of human intimacies,and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision....Anais Nin

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the weirdest of them all?

Relationship

Relationship is like a potted plant. You water it and nurture it everyday. Then, one day you wake up only to find that the plant is dead and you don’t even know why.

Last night I told my brother about relationship is like a potted plant blah...blah...blah, to my surprise, he gave me some really brilliant and funny feedback.

My brother: First of all, how much do you know about the plant? Maybe the plant needs more sunlight than water. The plant just dies when you don’t give enough `heat” to the plant. (We both laughed out loud.)

Me: O.K, let’s twist the plot a bit. How about the plant is ruined by a rat instead of natural death...What role does a rat play in the relationship?

My brother: Maybe the rat is the third party or something else. So, who is the rat? Are you the rat or the owner of the plant?

Me: Hahaha. (I felt like being interrogated.) Let’s twist the plot again. What about the owner wakes up in the morning only to find that the plant is gone? I mean it is stolen by someone.

My brother: How can that happen?

Me: You see, the potted plant is so beautiful that the owner just want to show it to her friends. So, one of her friends loves the plant so much that she decided to steal it. The owner shouldn’t have showed it to her friends. No, I shouldn’t describe relationship as a plant. It should be able to make a decision.

My brother: How about a pet?

Me: Yeah, a pussy cat. A cat with a pussy! Hahaha

My brother: Look, Let’s put it this way. Next time don’t put your heart and soul into caring for a plant. Imagine you only water the plant once in a while; will you be so hurt when the plant dies?

Me: (Silence…then laughed out loud.)

My brother: Take it easy, why let yourself get hurt!

Me: Maybe next time the owner should get a bongsai, so that no one will be able to steal it cos it is too heavy!Hahaha.

We are sorry

Stop the war

Silver screen: I am a Sex Addict

Uncensored....

and censored...to censor or not to censor, that's the question.

October last year, there was this World Film Festival of Bangkok that took place in Bangkok of course. So, during those 2 weeks, I was running from one Cineplex to the other trying to catch my breath and a film. I was running from Metropolise(Is it called Metropolise?)shopping centre to Siam Centre to World Trade Centre and back to Metropolise. Yes, running, the films were screened back to back in 3 different Cineplexes in 3 different locations. Surely I enjoy the running in a city where I can run faster than a Mercedes Benz cos these road machines have been retarded by the snail moving traffic jam.

So, there I was, waiting for the screening of a film called I am a Sex Addict. I was sitting outside the Cineplex scrutinizing the crowd. Obviously, there weren’t enough people to call it a crowd. Why? Probably anyone who dared to walk through that very door to the Cineplex to watch this film would be suspected or mistaken as a sex addict. The guy at the ticketing desk looked at me sheepishly as if there were words written all over my forehead saying that I am a sex addict. Sure, he had every reason to be suspicious. After all, I did suspect other viewers as sex addicts too.

Inside the cinema, I turned around 360 degree and saw not more than 10 people. I noticed there were only two females, me and another woman who came with her partner. The rest were these middle aged men, looking very much like sex addicts. I started to ask myself what the hell I was doing. By the time I had myself seated comfortably, these men came over to sit either in front of my seat or just two or three seats away from me. I looked around, the cinema was almost empty. Why on earth they wanted to come to sit so close to me. So, I was thinking whether to move or not to move. I felt trapped yet I refused to move. Why should I? Probably they thought all sex addicts should stick together. Hehehe………to be continued.

World Cup 2006

Today, I woke up at 20 minutes to 1pm cos I stayed awake to watch the World Cup final match last night. The game started off with both Italian and French players being fast and furious, not to mention being pretty dramatic too. We saw Henry being `tactical’ in the beginning of the match when he was hit on the head by an Italian player. Bizarre penalty score by Zidane 7 minutes after the match started. 12 minutes into the game, two players had already been yellow carded. What’s next, a powerful `header' goal by Italian player, Materazzi. Did you manage to admire his tattoos on his arms? Thunderous cheers from the crowd as usual. 40 minutes into the game, the camera shifted our attention to the human waves performed by the cheering crowd. Then, back to the match, penalty kick for Italian before the first half of the game ended but they did not make it.

Then the game continued. We saw both teams trying hard, very consistent. French team made numerous attempts to score, Italians players were very defensive…blah…blah....blah…. The game became very intense; I tried not to blink just in case I would miss out anything. Gosh, something unbelievable happened. How on earth this happened? Zidane, the Mr. Perfect attacked Meterazzi and then was red carded. Before we could catch another breath and figure out what actually happened, he was ordered to leave the field. How theatrical was that. Yes, we saw Zidane being unable to control his emotion that he flipped at that very moment. After all, he is just a human being, not the Mr. Perfect because being perfect is boring. Err...I mean nobody is perfect. I really wanted to know what was on his mind during that very moment.

After that incident, I could no longer concentrate on watching the game. I was distracted by the fact that Zidane would be blamed for the outcome of the game. I started to worry about him but he was nowhere in sight. As the game went on, Henry,the French player was replaced. Extra 30 minutes but still no goal. So the game ended with penalty shoot-out with Italy emerged as the winner 5-3. Phew,what a game. It really was worthy of my sleepless night. I hope the media and the people won’t be too harsh on Zidane.

The suicidal author

(Photo: Allen G. Arpadi)

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.".....Hunter S. Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005), an American journalist, anarchist and author of the book called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He is the father of gonzo journalism, a method of reporting that blurs the differences between author and subject, nonfiction and fiction,which is the opposite of the objectivist style practiced by mainstream media of his time. He always wrote in the first person. He died from a self-imposed gunshot wound to the head. He was 67 years old.

The witching owl

Last night after midnight, while I was brushing my teeth, I saw a very huge owl standing on the roof. It took a good look at me before it flapped its wings and flew away. For me, this is something cryptic. Come on, how often you actually see an owl especially in a surroundings where there are street lights and motorcycles zooming around noisily every now and then. O.K, there are actually a few mango trees and other types of trees around.

So, I went berserk after that, searching high and low for a book called The Secret Language of Symbols. Instead of finding that book, I found something else. I found these lost-and-found film negatives which I had been looking for so long and could not find it. I also found this Chinese book which I would like to reread. Life is so bizarre sometimes, when you are looking hard for something, you won’t find it but when you don’t look for it anymore, then you find it.

Then, I carried on my searching session. I pulled out a box and in it I saw this beautiful invitation card to True Jesus Church (Seven Evenings of Good News), what stated on the card is this: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has prepared for those who love him, no mind has conceived…..”. I didn’t go to that gathering which took place in 2004 but I kept the invitation card. Then, what came into sight was this packet of 15 or more booklets about The Passion of The Christ written in Thai. I bought it when I was in Chaing Mai in 2004. Only God knows why I bought it. I guess by now I know what I have to do with these booklets.

After ransacking the whole place, I still couldn’t find the book, so I went to sleep. Of course, this morning the first thing I did was to look for the book and I found it. So, Index…looking for the word owl and then went on to page 136…Human and Spiritual Symbols---Witches, Priests and Wizards. I took a deep breath and started finding the word owl. So, here you go: “With the advent of Christianity, witches were seen as the Devil’s instruments, and the Biblical invocation to "not permit a sorceress to live” was taken literally as late as 1692, when nineteen convicted witches were hung in the Massachusetts Bay Colony of Salem. Witches were often characterized as seductresses or cannibals, or depicted as owls, cats and toads in the belief that they could physically transform themselves into these creatures of the night.”

Actually, I remember in the Bible, the chapter of Deuteronomy says: You shall not practice augury or witchcraft. You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am your Lord. Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

Then, I started referring to the Bible, trying to find a chapter saying that the witches should be put to death. I didn’t find anything about this. This means that killing the witches is not scriptural, it is solely human interest. Do you know any chapter in the Bible saying that the witches should be put to death? If you do, please reply in the comment section.

Remember that so many years ago, the case about Mona Fendi and a guy who murdered the V.I.P. The case traumatized Malaysians not so much about the killing but about how Mona Fendi practicing witchcraft to kill. You see, that time everyone wanted Mona Fendi to die because we were so stricken with fear. She was executed in the end. You see, both authorities and societies always want to get rid of people who are seen as evil by wiping them out. We always see ourselves as more godly than the other or in another case, other people are more evil than us.

The 911 incident took place because the terrorists see the Americans as evil. On the other hand, American government sees Saddam Hussien and Iraqis as evil too. Sometimes we are so obsessed with drawing a clear line between good and evil that we become so merciless and loveless.

Starlight Cinema Short Film Festival

Starlight cinema short film festival will be taking place on 13 August 2006 in conjuction with the Starlight cinema screenings, as an extension of its outdoor film event programme. All Malaysian Filmmakers, professionals and filmmaker wanna-bes are welcomed to join the competition. This is your chance to make your dream into reality. That night, the films of 5 finalists will be screened and judged, not to mention that the winner will be rewarded with a RM3000 prize. The admission to the film festival is free. For more information please log on to www.starlightcinema.com.my/shorts

What's the story, morning glory?

Only 6 months left in year 2006, unbelievable,how time managed to perish as quick as that. Well, What did I actually do for the past 6 months? This is my story.Hmmm.....After I left Cameron Highlands somewhere in mid July last year, I went to Bangkok. I was in Bangkok for 5 months, writing freelance for a few publications. Oh yeah, I had since got rid of my dreadlock. I loved and hated Bangkok. The language barrier is a real problem. Well, the world of journalism is just another dog-eat-dog world. You have to be a player in order to get assignments which I don't really know how. After all, I am still a hippie at heart.

So, I came back to Malaysia during Chinese New Year, a dear friend died in Cameron Highlands, I got really upset. Then, another friend there went through domestic violence at home and then moved to live in Johor. I went to Johor to take care of her kids for almost a month while she started her new life there. I went for my baptism on 8 March at Calvary charismatic church. I had signed a contract with God. So, basically I have been trying to live a holy life. So far so good, still the holy Kriss. Haven't put myself in a situation where I have to face full force temptation. Wait until someone put a bunch of `holy weed', a few bottle of red wine on my table and then ask a super gorgeous sexy man to seduce me and see how. hehehe.

Then, off to K.L to help Mercy Malaysia to write part of its annual report. Then, I joined the 3 days 2 night basic mission training programme organized by Mercy. In the training, I learnt CPU, how to use a compass, how to use a walkie-talkie, how to set up a shelter box (a 6-person tent), how to evacuate when an attack takes place, just so crazy.

Then, in May, a friend that I love dearly went for his brain operation to get rid of the brain tumour and has since been participating in full recovery. Then, my mother went for cataract eye laser treatment. The following day, my father was diagnosed with mild stroke. He was hospitalized for a week. I stayed at the hospital every night to keep an eye on him. That was not it. Since then, I had to stay at home to keep an eye on my old folks and cook for them for almost 2 months. How about that? I was very much afflicted. Only one thing that has been keeping me going--God's strength. Without His love and strength, I wouldn't be able to pass the test with flying colors. I only have enough money to last for another 3 weeks and still can laugh about life. Hopefully, I will receive my delayed paycheque soon. May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. So, what's next???

Pen, sword and gun

"...the pen is mightier than the sword, but absolutely no match for the gun."...Goenawan Mohamad, an Indonesian writer.

Easter

Location: Kuala Lumpur.
The day before Easter this year, I sent a sms to Hew to tell him that I wanted to go to Calvary Church for its Easter worship service. He replied by telling me that there would be no Easter worship service at the church cos they would hold a Sunrise Easter worship service at Bukit Jalil Stadium at 6 am. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it because of the time and location.

So, I had to move on to plan B. I sent a sms to Isaac. Problem solved. I would go to Community of Praise for its Easter worship service at 10am. Yeah, I am a church hopper. Hehehe. You see, I used to attend two different churches when I was in Johor in March this year. On Sunday mornings, I would go to Calvary Charismatic Church for its Sunday Worship Service, in the evenings, I would go to Holy Light Church. Oh yeah, I was baptized on 8 March this year by Pastor Rajan and Pastor Beoy from Calvary Charismatic Church in Johor.

Ok, let’s get back to the story, so my brother was really sweet cos he sent me to Ampang Point to meet up with Isaac. Blessed is the one who finds joy in helping others. Isaac came to Ampang Point to meet up with me cos I had forgotten the way to the church. There, I met Sanju. Ian, an Australian, came to greet me cos he remembered seeing me there before. Sanju is from Nepal and Isaac is from Ghana. This was the third time I met up with them. We first met in Cameron Highlands in June 2005.

The Easter worship service was started with songs of Worships. Surprisingly, there was a dance performance by the youths, singing by the children and a sketch by the youths. Isaac took part in the sketch. The air was filled with laughter and joy. Everyone dressed up prettily to celebrate Easter. In deed, on Easter, Christ is risen.

The sermon was delivered by an African man dressed in African traditional costume, really cool. (So sorry, I didn’t get his name.). I remember I laughed a lot cos he was so humorous. You see, Community of Praise is this little church started by the expat community around Ampang. I had never seen so many Africans in a church before. During the sermon, he said: “We murmur because we didn’t claim what Christ is able to do.”

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
"Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you, and their sight was restored. (Matthew 9:27-29)

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:2)

Everyone stayed back after the service to have Easter buffet lunch sponsored by a few of the church members. I remember at one point this Caucasian lady gave me a big hug. I chatted with Sanju and Isaac before I made a move. Thanks to Community of Praise for accommodating me, the sudden visitor.

It has been two months since I last attended Sunday worship service. Whenever I attended a sunday worship service and listened to the sermon, I felt my spirit was lifted up as high as the Petronas Twin Tower. This is the power of God's word. It can calm the sea, raise the dead, heal the sick and repair a broken heart. I really miss going to church. Despite of saying that, christianity is a lifestyle, attending Sunday worship service is just part of it. What is church, church is not the building. Church is the body of Christ. Our bodies are the temple of God. His spirit dwells in us. So, listen to Hism word and have it deeply rooted in our hearts.