Whew! Xmas is nearly over... just one more family dinner to go thru on Saturday!
Anyway, also spent some 'quality time' together just with the wife at home today...
Found out some interesting things... which is that wife has never experienced sadness prior to meeting Chuck! I know wife has rarely/never cried when she was young, but I didn't realize that she really has never been that sad before. Yeah, we were sharing happy and sad moments in our lives prior to meeting each other... that was certainly an interesting revelation. If it weren't for Chuck, PC and me, wife could possibly have gone thru life without experience sadness!!! ;)
Wife and I sure are quite different. When she was young, she's super confident and always can get to job done. I think I'm quite the opposite. I don't think I've ever gotten straight A's even once. Plus, I think there had always been plenty of things going on that can make me sad... and I think I had issues with self esteem, probably still do somewhat.
Main problem with wife is that sometimes she just doesn't want to do it when she can... as for me, it seems that I try and try and I just can't get it done. Of course sometimes in retrospect, I just wasn't doing it right!
Anyway, in the 'how people grow' book, sadness or this feeling poor in spirit is a good start I suppose. Only when we're feeling sad and broke will be look UP for help. Although I think I'm looking UP more often than wife does, but may God grant me wisdom to be able to figure how to do things properly in the real world too! ;) O Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea...
(Psalm 46-55)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Santa's workshop!
I've been staying home doing some xmas shopping and pillow case making... yes, I'm giving pillowcases along with ironed on pictures on them as xmas presents this year. It's economical, it's made with love and it helps me gain more experience! Right now, I can make like 7 or 8 a day, perhaps I can get faster as I become better. Can't believe I've started a pillowcase factory! ;)
Of course I still bought toys for my little nephew. Kids just love toys... perhaps next year I'll be able to make him stuffed animals/toys... ;)
Anyway, besides being productive, the psalms I've been reading along with the 'how people grow' book seemed to have coincided! In this chapter, author is saying that in order for people to grow, we have to realize our spiritual poverty. 'Blessed are the poor in spirit!' Pretty much every Psalmist I've read lately is lamenting about something... and they kept on stressing waiting on and hope in the Lord... yes, nothing in this world can help us look to God more than spiritual poverty. Of course we don't have to be like Jesus to actually 'become poor'... all we need is to simply realize that we are poor... and that is the ultimate key to spiritual growth. As King Solomon has proven, not even supreme wisdom can help him grow!
So, may we all be able to realize our spiritual poverty soon so that we may all begin our spiritual growth as soon as possible! Only when we realize how poor we really are will we stop and look up into that morning star to follow Him. Especially during this holiday season, even if economy is bad, even if we're not busy shopping, we're probably still busy doing something else. How often do we take the time to look up?
(Psalm 36-45, 172.8lbs, $1.919)
Of course I still bought toys for my little nephew. Kids just love toys... perhaps next year I'll be able to make him stuffed animals/toys... ;)
Anyway, besides being productive, the psalms I've been reading along with the 'how people grow' book seemed to have coincided! In this chapter, author is saying that in order for people to grow, we have to realize our spiritual poverty. 'Blessed are the poor in spirit!' Pretty much every Psalmist I've read lately is lamenting about something... and they kept on stressing waiting on and hope in the Lord... yes, nothing in this world can help us look to God more than spiritual poverty. Of course we don't have to be like Jesus to actually 'become poor'... all we need is to simply realize that we are poor... and that is the ultimate key to spiritual growth. As King Solomon has proven, not even supreme wisdom can help him grow!
So, may we all be able to realize our spiritual poverty soon so that we may all begin our spiritual growth as soon as possible! Only when we realize how poor we really are will we stop and look up into that morning star to follow Him. Especially during this holiday season, even if economy is bad, even if we're not busy shopping, we're probably still busy doing something else. How often do we take the time to look up?
(Psalm 36-45, 172.8lbs, $1.919)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Need to get better(financially, physically and spiritually of course!)
Last nite we had another bible study with parents..., everything's cool with the bible study as we finish up with story of Jacob. However, almost without fail every time, we can eventually hear mom complaining dad is wasting too much money on investments... and dad complaining about mom wasting too much money buying stuffs! I think wife is siding with dad more since dad losing money is less within his own control... and for sure mom doesn't know how to save money... she'll only stop when there's not much left! ;) But bottomline is that I think they both have self control problems with money. Dad can get pretty greedy with 'investing' sometimes. Best way for them is to just have enough and no extra money! ;)
I'd like to think that I'm a little better..., but wife probably will disagree. ;) I can be very frugal like dad and I can spend a lot like mom only when it comes to important stuffs. The most expensive things I've ever purchased would be my car... and the diamond ring I think. Hopefully soon to be a home... given that prices and interest rates are coming down. May God Himself teach and guide me on matters of money.
Anyway, it's also been cold and rainy lately. Wife has been sore all over pretty much everyday now... and I've discovered an interesting thing about myself thanks to regular blogging... I discovered that almost have 'periods' too! ;) Yes, it was about the 19th last month that I had a cold sore, this month I got sores on my lips again!!! And a month before that was when I developed this rash on my eyes. Maybe it's all just coincidental... according to websites, stress, illness, poor nutrition, excessive activity and even sunlight coupled with a weakened immune system can cause outbreaks. Last month for sure was stress induced, this month must be poor nutrition. I have been trying to lose weight lately, perhaps I'm trying too hard. I also really should be taking my vitamins more regularly. My immune system has been much weaker than before for some reason... What's going on? Better be more careful next month!
O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
I wait in hope for the LORD;
he is my help and my shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
(Psalm 31-35, 172.6 lbs, $1.859)
I'd like to think that I'm a little better..., but wife probably will disagree. ;) I can be very frugal like dad and I can spend a lot like mom only when it comes to important stuffs. The most expensive things I've ever purchased would be my car... and the diamond ring I think. Hopefully soon to be a home... given that prices and interest rates are coming down. May God Himself teach and guide me on matters of money.
Anyway, it's also been cold and rainy lately. Wife has been sore all over pretty much everyday now... and I've discovered an interesting thing about myself thanks to regular blogging... I discovered that almost have 'periods' too! ;) Yes, it was about the 19th last month that I had a cold sore, this month I got sores on my lips again!!! And a month before that was when I developed this rash on my eyes. Maybe it's all just coincidental... according to websites, stress, illness, poor nutrition, excessive activity and even sunlight coupled with a weakened immune system can cause outbreaks. Last month for sure was stress induced, this month must be poor nutrition. I have been trying to lose weight lately, perhaps I'm trying too hard. I also really should be taking my vitamins more regularly. My immune system has been much weaker than before for some reason... What's going on? Better be more careful next month!
O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
I wait in hope for the LORD;
he is my help and my shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
(Psalm 31-35, 172.6 lbs, $1.859)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Funny GIFs!
President Bush was almost hit by the shoes of some Iraqi journalist. The journalist claimed that he did it for the widows and the orphans or Iraqis. It's understandable I suppose, but then again... can he throw his shoes like that to Saddam Hussein?Goes to show that you can't please everyone I guess. Now, I don't believe President Bush was right to pre-emptively strike our neighbors. Jesus for sure never taught us that... and if God really divinely inspired Bush to attack, surely we would've won that war convincingly by now.
Anyway, President Bush also said that he's sorry for the war and the economic mess. Hope he's learned his lessons and became a more humble man as a result. Same goes for all of us Americans. We think we're strong and rich because we're a world superpower? Well, God is now saying... 'think again'! May the troubles of today help all of us become more humble about ourselves... and to learn to look upon God more. America surely didn't become great because Americans are great. Without God, America is nothing. May God have mercy on us and continue to bless this nation. Hopefully we'll be able to have as quick of a reflex as Bush... to be able to duck ourselves out of trouble! ;) May Americans all become more like the psalmists in the bible!!!
(Psalm 26-30, 172.6 lbs, $1.839) btw, gas prices seemed to have stabilized... thought it'd go down some more! ;)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Nothing
I heard about scientists discovering 'nothing' over the radio last night, it turns out, that wasn't news, according to this article from Discover Magazine, it's already been discovered long ago and the article was published last year! Anyway, here they summarized it with 20 itemized points. Pretty funny! ;)
1 There is vastly more nothing than something. Roughly 74 percent of the universe is “nothing,” or what physicists call dark energy; 22 percent is dark matter, particles we cannot see. Only 4 percent is baryonic matter, the stuff we call something.
2 And even something is mostly nothing. Atoms overwhelmingly consist of empty space. Matter’s solidity is an illusion caused by the electric fields created by subatomic particles.
3 There is more and more nothing every second. In 1998 astronomers measuring the expansion of the universe determined that dark energy is pushing apart the universe at an ever-accelerating speed. The discovery of nothing—and its ability to influence the fate of the cosmos—is considered the most important astronomical finding of the past decade.
4 But even nothing has a weight. The energy in dark matter is equivalent to a tiny mass; there is about one pound of dark energy in a cube of empty space 250,000 miles on each side.
5 In space, no one can hear you scream: Sound, a mechanical wave, cannot travel through a vacuum. Without matter to vibrate through, there is only silence.
6 So what if Kramer falls in a forest? Luckily, electromagnetic waves, including light and radio waves, need no medium to travel through, letting TV stations broadcast endless reruns of Seinfeld, the show about nothing.
7 Light can travel through a vacuum, but there is nothing to refract it. Alas for extraterrestrial romantics, stars do not twinkle in outer space.
8 Black holes are not holes or voids; they are the exact opposite of nothing, being the densest concentration of mass known in the universe.
9 “Zero” was first seen in cuneiform tablets written around 300 B.C. by Babylonians who used it as a placeholder (to distinguish 36 from 306 or 360, for example). The concept of zero in its mathematical sense was developed in India in the fifth century.
10 Any number divided by zero is . . . nothing, not even zero. The equation is mathematically impossible.
11 It is said that Abdülhamid II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s, had censors expunge references to H2O from chemistry books because he was sure it stood for “Hamid the Second is nothing.”
12 Medieval art was mostly flat and two-dimensional until the 15th century, when the Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi conceived of the vanishing point, the place where parallel lines converge into nothingness. This allowed for the development of perspective in art.
13 Aristotle once wrote, “Nature abhors a vacuum,” and so did he. His complete rejection of vacuums and voids and his subsequent influence on centuries of learning prevented the adoption of the concept of zero in the Western world until around the 13th century, when Italian bankers found it to be extraordinarily useful in financial transactions.
14 Vacuums do not suck things. They create spaces into which the surrounding atmosphere pushes matter.
15 Creatio ex nihilo, the belief that the world was created out of nothing, is one of the most common themes in ancient myths and religions.
16 Current theories suggest that the universe was created out of a state of vacuum energy, that is, nothing.
17 But to a physicist there is no such thing as nothing. Empty space is instead filled with pairs of particles and antiparticles, called virtual particles, that quickly form and then, in accordance with the law of energy conservation, annihilate each other in about 10-25 second.
18 So Aristotle was right all along.
19 These virtual particles popping in and out of existence create energy. In fact, according to quantum mechanics, the energy contained in all the power plants and nuclear weapons in the world doesn’t equal the theoretical energy contained in the empty spaces between these words.
20 In other words, nothing could be the key to the theory of everything.
Anyway, so apparently the scripture is true! Dark energy/dark matter is very much like the work of satan. It divides and pushes things apart and turns everything back into nothing. But of course God is a God who's capable of making something out of nothing! Although most of the universe is occupied by this dark energy and dark matter, but God is still holding it together!Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Selah :)
(Psalm 25-31, 173.2 lbs, $1.859)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Another Long weekend!
The dentist must have drilled and filled 3 or 4 of my teeth on Monday. It wasn't particularly painful, but very tiring. I think the corner of my lips are nearly torn opened because I had to open up so wide for so long... At least the filling that fell off was filled. As for the other little cavities, I think I'm going to take my time with those next year... ;)
I also took the time off on Monday to make another pillow case... this time with pictures on it! Avery's iron on transfer paper works pretty good! Except that this time I'm not as satisfied with my sewing job with the pillow. Plus, I had a lot of troubles along the way... such as jamming the sewing machine... and then sewing on the wrong sides.... just one problem after another. I made one for mom and hopefully the one I'm making with our cat will be better... Anyway, practice makes perfect, right? ;)
Anyway, this little project sure has taken us a lot of time. We spent most of the weekend shopping for fabrics and pillows and stuffs. We drove all over the place, trying to do our job propping up the economy I suppose. That really worn wife out. I suppose the only highlight of the weekend was the Friday night get together with Dorcas and Kitty. I guess wife really enjoy hanging out with them to be able to tolerate them for so long! Actually Dorcas didn't really say all that much... it was mostly Kitty! ;) Kitty is actually a pretty 'spiritual' gal, but still can't help but humorously complaint about marriage life! I suppose it's healthy to vent out frustrations... and her frustration also helped out wife a bit too! To help her realize that her husband ain't so bad after all! ;)
Actually I thought Kitty's husband's kinda cool. I wouldn't mind becoming more like him! It's kinda interesting that the stuffs I thought he's very cool about him, Kitty doesn't really care about those qualities. What Kitty really cares about, her husband just doesn't have much to offer. Kinda remind me of my marriage. Wives often times want the things that the husbands don't have!!! ;) Actually I think God often put people together to help us grow. Marriage for sure is tough, but if it helps us to grow, then it's worth it! Dorcas on the other hand is probably already pretty mature as it is, this is why God didn't make her suffer thru marriage! But then again, you'd never know... maybe even she can grow just a little bit when the right time has come! ;)
As pastor Jim preached, the ultimate growth is probably to be able to learn to grow strong in God! Let that joy of the Lord be our strength! Good times or bad times, it doesn't matter! Reading the psalms was also very encouraging. I wish I can really pray that nicely. My daily prayer sounded kinda lame..., but thank God that He doesn't mind. The book 'How people grow' and Pastor Jim both talked about how we should just pray in ways we normally talk. So that sure made me feel better, but still, may God help me one day be able to pray like a true Psalmist! ;)
I really like Psalm 13 a lot... the paradoxical struggle of God's love and goodness and the ugly realities we face day to day... yes, let the joy of the Lord be my strength!
(Psalm 11-20, 172.8 lbs, $1.879)
I also took the time off on Monday to make another pillow case... this time with pictures on it! Avery's iron on transfer paper works pretty good! Except that this time I'm not as satisfied with my sewing job with the pillow. Plus, I had a lot of troubles along the way... such as jamming the sewing machine... and then sewing on the wrong sides.... just one problem after another. I made one for mom and hopefully the one I'm making with our cat will be better... Anyway, practice makes perfect, right? ;)
Anyway, this little project sure has taken us a lot of time. We spent most of the weekend shopping for fabrics and pillows and stuffs. We drove all over the place, trying to do our job propping up the economy I suppose. That really worn wife out. I suppose the only highlight of the weekend was the Friday night get together with Dorcas and Kitty. I guess wife really enjoy hanging out with them to be able to tolerate them for so long! Actually Dorcas didn't really say all that much... it was mostly Kitty! ;) Kitty is actually a pretty 'spiritual' gal, but still can't help but humorously complaint about marriage life! I suppose it's healthy to vent out frustrations... and her frustration also helped out wife a bit too! To help her realize that her husband ain't so bad after all! ;)
Actually I thought Kitty's husband's kinda cool. I wouldn't mind becoming more like him! It's kinda interesting that the stuffs I thought he's very cool about him, Kitty doesn't really care about those qualities. What Kitty really cares about, her husband just doesn't have much to offer. Kinda remind me of my marriage. Wives often times want the things that the husbands don't have!!! ;) Actually I think God often put people together to help us grow. Marriage for sure is tough, but if it helps us to grow, then it's worth it! Dorcas on the other hand is probably already pretty mature as it is, this is why God didn't make her suffer thru marriage! But then again, you'd never know... maybe even she can grow just a little bit when the right time has come! ;)
As pastor Jim preached, the ultimate growth is probably to be able to learn to grow strong in God! Let that joy of the Lord be our strength! Good times or bad times, it doesn't matter! Reading the psalms was also very encouraging. I wish I can really pray that nicely. My daily prayer sounded kinda lame..., but thank God that He doesn't mind. The book 'How people grow' and Pastor Jim both talked about how we should just pray in ways we normally talk. So that sure made me feel better, but still, may God help me one day be able to pray like a true Psalmist! ;)
I really like Psalm 13 a lot... the paradoxical struggle of God's love and goodness and the ugly realities we face day to day... yes, let the joy of the Lord be my strength!
1 耶 和 華 啊 ， 你 忘 記 我 要 到 幾 時 呢 ？ 要 到 永 遠 麼 ？ 你 掩 面 不 顧 我 要 到 幾 時 呢 ？
2 我 心 裡 籌 算 ， 終 日 愁 苦 ， 要 到 幾 時 呢 ？ 我 的 仇 敵 升 高 壓 制 我 ， 要 到 幾 時 呢 ？
3 耶 和 華 ─ 我 的 神 啊 ， 求 你 看 顧 我 ， 應 允 我 ！ 使 我 眼 目 光 明 ， 免 得 我 沉 睡 至 死 ；
4 免 得 我 的 仇 敵 說 ： 我 勝 了 他 ； 免 得 我 的 敵 人 在 我 搖 動 的 時 候 喜 樂 。
5 但 我 倚 靠 你 的 慈 愛 ； 我 的 心 因 你 的 救 恩 快 樂 。
6 我 要 向 耶 和 華 歌 唱 ， 因 他 用 厚 恩 待 我 。
(Psalm 11-20, 172.8 lbs, $1.879)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Christmas party!
Yeah, can't believe 2008 is almost done. Had our company Christmas luncheon today. Didn't win an raffle drawings..., they actually gave away couple of ipods. Impressive. Didn't think the department's that rich... of course most raffle awards are pretty cheap, but still. Anyway, although I didn't win anything, at least there was a free lunch. It's actually pretty good.
But has this year been good career-wise? It's not bad, it's not great either though. I'm certainly grateful for the money and occasionally the new experiences learned, but I just don't find it rewarding enough. It felt more rewarding to make a stupid pillow case! ;) Wife has often complained that her ex-bosses often failed allow her to do what she wants to do... well, I've been waiting for years too. After more than 10 years in the industry, I still haven't really started and finished the same project. I still haven't felt like I've 'created' anything yet. It's always been pulled to work on this part... and work on that part... an often times what we work on is in vain anyway.
Today's reading of the psalms felt exactly like wife's latest vision. From
' How long, O LORD, how long?'
all the way to
' The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
(Psalm 6-10, 174.8 lbs, $1.879)
But has this year been good career-wise? It's not bad, it's not great either though. I'm certainly grateful for the money and occasionally the new experiences learned, but I just don't find it rewarding enough. It felt more rewarding to make a stupid pillow case! ;) Wife has often complained that her ex-bosses often failed allow her to do what she wants to do... well, I've been waiting for years too. After more than 10 years in the industry, I still haven't really started and finished the same project. I still haven't felt like I've 'created' anything yet. It's always been pulled to work on this part... and work on that part... an often times what we work on is in vain anyway.
Today's reading of the psalms felt exactly like wife's latest vision. From
' How long, O LORD, how long?'
all the way to
' The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.'
(Psalm 6-10, 174.8 lbs, $1.879)
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