Don’t let your anger goes down with the sunset

10 September 2007

CKP called this morning, “You were like a volcano yesterday”, he said.

“There is no more fire in me already”, I answered.

Our friendship was restored and we started to chat like old friends once again.

“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26)

So Forgive and Forget!!

Public Speaking Club 15th anniversary

9 September 2007

The MCA Youth Public Speaking Club was formed on 9/9/1992. One of the initial purposes of the club was to train politicians to be good public speakers. Today, the Public Speaking Training Program trains students of all ages to be effective public speakers and presenters. After 6 months of intensive training, students are able and will be presenting a variety of program includes public speaking, drama, talk show and poem reciting during the concert in conjunction with the Graduation Ceremony.

There are four levels in the training program, the elementary, intermediate, advance and trainers. Beside public speaking, students also have the opportunity to learn about the administration, coordination, leadership and organising of events as they are required to stay back to train the new batch after their graduation. The PSC started with only 1 club, however, there are 18 clubs overall Malaysia today and the number is still growing.

Today is PSC 15th anniversary. Members from all branches were having camping near the National Zoo yesterday. Today is the "Good Friend" lunch gathering at "Sin Lok" Restaurant at Ampang Park. Actually I did not plan to go for the lunch, but, because CKP said he would be going so I bought the ticket. When I "SMS" him at 11.30 am, he said he was very busy and not be going. Off course, I was very angry and scolded him for wasting my $50. I was undecided whether to go or not. At last I decided to go because Gary Goh called me last night to say he would be going. Just like any other Chinese functions, the lunch that was supposed to start at 12 pm, started at 1.30 pm. This is supposed to be one of the biggest events for this year, I was quit disappointed that only a few of the speakers/trainers turned up. However, praise should go to Penang/Bukit Martajam Branch, they have about 2 tables of their members came. There were programs like speeches, ice breaking, dances and talent time but the sound system was terrible. Gary and I left at 3.15 pm while the program that scheduled to end at 3.30 pm was still on.

Lisa and Thien Hoe’s birthday

1 September 2007

To me, family bond is very important. I always precious the time of family gathering and try to make myself available for all the special occasions. Lisa and Thien Hoe’s birthday was in last week. Both of their birthdays fall on the same day. Only a mini celebration with some red hard boiled birthday’s eggs and fried noodles was not held on the exact date. We wanted to wait for Li Wan, my niece to come back from the university during the National Day Holiday to celebrate together.

Li Wan came back yesterday and we planned have our family dinner cum celebration at “Hee Lai Tang” Restaurant tonight. But, out of a sudden, Thien Hoe said he could not go, he was having dinner appointment with his course mates. We felt disappointed. However, we still carried on with our plan and went to “Hee Lai Teng” Restaurant for dinner. Our family likes to go to famous restaurants or hotels for dinner for celebration of any special occasion. For normal Sunday, we just go to normal restaurants or sometimes just hawker stalls for dinner. I always try my very best to attend these types of family special occasions. Tonight’s dinner was great, we have a good time of chatting and the delicious dishes we have were prawns, chicken, fish, stew lamb, pork rib, vegetables and desserts.

Lisa, my sister footed the bill. Praise God we can have such a sumptuous delicious dinner as a family tonight.

I love my Homeland

31August 2007

The golden anniversary of Merdeka

Today is Malaysia 50th Merdeka (Independent) anniversary. All the mass media, big organizations and politicians are wishing all Malaysians a Happy 50th Merdeka. After months of preparation, the grandest birthday party was kicked off last night at Dataran Merdeka, a big field just opposite the clock tower at the centre of Kuala Lumpur. The celebrations will continue for a few days and some of the programs included are: the Merdeka parade, fire works at Putrajaya and Merdeka Stadium. Thank God, they still remembered the Merdeka Stadium, a place where “Merdeka (Independent)! Merdeka! Merdeka!” were shouted 50 years ago, a heart felt and memorable place for most KL people and it is also a place where some people wanted to demolished it for commercial purpose.

During the forties and fifties when Malaya was still under the colonial occupation, the 3 main races, the Malays, Chinese and Indians were having the same spirit and target, a vision of building our country “Malaya” together.

After the independent, all the Malayans shared the result of the hard work. Everybody, no matter he was a Malay, Chinese, Indian or aborigines was proud to carry the name of “Bangsa Malaya”. Independent was the result of hard work contributed by all races. Under the leadership of our beloved Ex-Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman, all races lived in peace and harmony. Graduates from overseas were longed to come back to dedicate their services to the country.

Things have changed, it is sad to see that many overseas graduates are reluctant to come back. Many may yearn to return home as here is their motherland, their roots are here, they missed their families, friend and life in Malaysia, but, something is keeping all these highly educated elites away. They are frightened, disappointed and frustrated with things that have been happened, words that have been said and policies that have been made. Like most Chinese, I too, felt grievance and my heart has sunken too.

However, Malaysia is still my motherland, I have never considered any other country as my homeland but Malaysia. My family has been here for few generations. Despite of all the fear, uneasiness, grievance and frustration, I thank God that we can still live in peace and tolerance.

I am still proud of Malaysia. Eventhough I did not tie a flag around my car, shouting “Merdeka” or “Malaysia boleh” in the public, deep down my heart, the love for Malaysia has not been decreased, it is my homeland. As a Christian, I pray for God’s blessings continue to be upon this beautiful country of ours. Amen.

Final debate – Public Speaking Class

22 August 2007 – 3rd week of August 2007

This evening was the final debate for the elementary class of the Public Speaking Class. I purposely went back to the Club after work to give them moral support. The traffic was terribly jammed that it took me half an hour to make just a "U" turn. It was almost 8.00 pm when I reached there and to my surprised they were already having their snack break. I asked, "Wah! The 1st match is already over?", because time for break is usually after the 1st match but before the 2nd match started. "No, it hasn't started yet, because one of the judges, Jin Ai was stuck in the jam and not arrived yet," one of the students answered.

When "Quai Fa", our chairman and also one the judges for that night felt relied when he saw me. He asked me to relief Jin Ai as one of the judges for the 1st match of debate for the 2nd and 3rd runner up. I was redundant and tried to push away because I was caught off handed with no preparation at all. But, I still have to help, it was already 8.15 pm, we couldn't wait anymore, the two matches of debate, including the judges' comments have to be ended at 10.30 pm.

The title of the lst match was “Inner Beauty vs. Outer Appearance, which is more important”. The whole process went on quit smoothly and the two matches of the debate ended at 10.45 pm after the prize giving.

Is praising a blessing?

19 August 2007 – 3rd week of August 2007

Bless someone with just a word of praise

Many people think that doing a good deed means having to do something great and fantastic. However, sometimes, even just a simple word of praise, encouragement, comfort, motivation or a tap on the shoulder can be a blessing to others. There will be a special presentation of lantern dance for our Mid-Autumn Evangelistic Night on 16-9-07. We have our first practice this afternoon. Out of 8 dancers, 6 are in their sixties and this is the first time they ever dance. I was helping the instructor to correct and counting their steps. It is just a simple dance but it was not easy especially for those who have never dance before. When they remembered their hands' movement, they forgot about their legs. When they remembered the legs, they forgot about the hands. It is not easy to coordinate both the hands and legs simultaneously.

After 1 1/2 hours of practice, most of them have already roughly knew their steps. We praised them and said 'well done' and said they could do better next week. From their face expression, it could be told that they were being encouraged and blessed.

A simple word of praise and encouragement can be a wonderful blessing to others.

Back to Sunday School

5 August 2007 – 1st week of August 2007

Once upon a time, I was a Sunday School teacher. I attended courses for Sunday School teachers and had been teaching Sunday School for 10 years since I was a very young Christian. However, I stopped and served in other ministry. After 10 years, I went back to Sunday School as a helper again today to replace Patricia Ong who has to attend the Christian Education Class. My heart was felt with joy and excitement. The class is for age 3 to 6 years old. There were about 20 children and all of them are very quit. It was a great time to mingle and mixed around with them.

Thank God that I can help in Sunday School again.