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Today is my 7th spiritual birthday!

My prayer:

God, thank you so much for walking with me for 7 good years :)

O Lord, You have brought me out from the pit of darkness and have brought forth the light of truth and salvation into my life. My God, I can never thank you enough for how much You have done in my life. O God, You are awesome, mighty, wonderful and everlasting! Amen :) 

2001 is the year that I always remember. It was that year when my life turning point here began.

So for a start, a brief history of me:

I was born and raised in Christian family.

I have attended 2 different kinds of denomination, namely the Charismatic and the Baptist.

I was baptized in a Baptist church in 1997. Prior before the baptism, I have to attend the baptism class every Sunday. And honestly speaking, I dreaded it the most because I have to wake up early in the morning to attend church.

At home, most of the night our family will have a devotion together and we will revert back to the Charismatic practices. It's quite good in a way because it livens up the atmosphere during a worship together as a family. I still enjoyed those moments with my family as we worshiped together. My dad would be playing his guitar and lead the worship..

Despite of all the hype of worshiping which can bring myself closer to God, I still find myself alone in my faith. Although every week I attended youth night or Sunday service to listen to the sermons, I still find my faith and love for God is not genuine. I merely do it to please others and to hear them praising me. Man... I was indeed very prideful! In addition, I am usually a timid person and often shy away from people. In short, I am good at masking and pretending.

However, each time the more I pretended, I felt cheated towards other but also to myself. I couldn't bring myself to think or to confess what kind of person I am. But due to my pride, I still continue to live this part of brokeness in me. Sometimes there were times I came to a realization that I needed to change and be repentant of it, but I can hardly find the will in me to do so. Perhaps I couldn't really find the right support among my friends because we were too in the same ship - always talking craps and nonsense. In short, I am not a true follower of Jesus.

After finishing my GCE 'O' Level examination, I went to Miri to do my engineering course. Campus life was like a freedom for me because it's my first time to be away from my family. I could do anything I wanted. However I still keep myself to be holy and righteous by mixing around with some Christian friends to keep myself from becoming wild. I attended the church regurlarly every Sunday but again my life have never truly find the true purpose out of it. Sin easily crept in because I was so enticed by many things there. I had a relationship with a girl and my academic got worse and worse because I am not putting concentration to study. In the end, I failed so many papers - just because of a relationship. When my parents found out about it, my dad was so furious! The next day, I was kicked out from the house and told to look for a job on my own.

Eventually I found a job, working as a computer technician in Brunei. I worked for 3 months. During the 3 months stint of working, I stayed with all my colleagues as they were all foreigners from India, Pakistan and the Phillipines. My roommates were all from India. Each time I am with them, I am reminded of my own home and often feel saddened of the thought when my dad kicked me out from the house. I vowed to God that I will repent and not to repeat the same mistake ever again. It was a painful experience in my entire life. After 3 months later, my mom came to look for me and asked whether I would like to continue my study or not. I quickly agreed and I finally came to KL.

KL is another place, far more happening than in Miri. But the painful experiences reminded me again and I really kept to myself to give my best to study hard. My grades improved significantly and I continue to do better and better. I also began to choose my friends carefully so that I won't mix around with bad companies. Friends were good to me and were helpful whenever I needed help, especially those from China (and my Mandarin improved alot too).

September finally come. And the whole world witnessed the 9/11 incident. Many were so grief stricken. And I watched helplessly as the video footage showed 2 planes crashing the tower... It was Tuesday. On that particular Sunday, I accompanied my housemate to a church located at Sungai Wang. He actually asked me to accompany him because I am a church goer and he felt insecure going there alone. It was my first time to meet Je Wei who would be my "pokok". The church service was great but the worship is not to my liking. I am still very attached to band and playing musical instrument just like any Charismatic church do. After the service over, I saw so many people came to approached my friends and I. They were all so friendly and warm. I saw how they gave a side hugs to each other and I wonder why this church is so warm in their relationship with one another. I have never really seen such kind of church before.

One of the guy asked me whether I am interested to study the Bible and I quickly agreed, since I thought that I needed some spiritual guidance as I have not going to church regurlarly as per usual. My first study with Haris and Kien Woon was great in a McDonald at Leisure Mall. I was caught by surprise that they can be so boldy open the Bible in the public. And praying and reading the Scriptures. They taught me so many things which I have never taught before. So simple. So straight to the point. So warm. And indeed so touching as I feel God is telling me, "Daniel, it's time to get back on track. Come on."

One of the study that deeply impacted me is the discipleship study. The contrast of my own so called Christian live is totally different from the biblical ways. I felt alot of stings in my heart as I saw myself clearly how I am so far off away from being called a true follower of Jesus. The expectations is high but I know it's godly and God did this in such a manner we can place our faith in Him no matter how big the challenges it will be. After the study, I got back into the habit of doing my quiet time and prayer which I have not been doing for the longest time. For the first time in my life, my heart was so opened to understand the Bible and I started to appreciate God's word more and more. Eventually I learned about sin and started to repent of my sinful nature, repenting my pretentious heart, repenting all kind of immoralities and all that can stop me from having a relationship with God. It was my first time to confess my sin to people and I really felt refreshed about it at the end. I thanked God for the brothers to speak the truth in love to me and helped me to overcome it. The cross study even furthe convicted me as I saw the pain of Jesus going through the process to die for me and everyone. I have never been taught such crucifixation. My former churches taught very lightly and so shallow and I was never able to appreciate but simply just understand it intellectually. But that time around during the cross, I was even more deeply cut and grateful for someone who died for me.

And at the end, I couldn't wait to be baptised as I saw the biblical way to baptism. I knew I was baptized in my former church in 1997 but I disregard it now because the baptism was not valid due to my unrepented heart. So the day came... no, it's the night came as I waited at the swimming pool at Vincent's condominium. I waited till almost 10pm because there is one girl was counting the cost to be baptised on the same night with me too. Finally both Esther and I got baptized on that day which I will never forget for the rest of my life when I found God and got back with Him, September 29, 2001 :)

Those memories still lingering now. But now, I am celebrating this spiritual birthday with God alone. Esther no longer around with me as she have left. Of course, there is a part in my heart that I still feel saddened when she left but I know God will bring her back one day. 

For such a longest time, I am grateful to God and to the rest of the rest of the brothers and sisters who helped me along to grow maturely. I am still happy to see my "pokok" still faithful and serving God in the church. I am happy for many close friends that I have and I will always continue to treasure all of them. God have brought me so far from where I used to be. He has changed my life. He gave me confidence. He gave me strength when I needed the most. He was with me when I am down. He gave me assurance when I am at loss. He caused me to feel other when I see others in pain too. But most importantly, God have brought me out from the pit of darkness and gave me a new life :)

In closing, I can only imagine... 

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!

I can only imagine. I can only imagine. 

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! I can only imagine! 

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!

I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!

I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

How To Gain Weight?

Losing weight is what most people trying to achieve. It takes great effort to do it.
Gaining weight will be the opposite? No.... definitely not!
It takes great effort to put on weight as well :)

So today if you think you are losing weight too much, it's time to put on some back before other people see a walking skeleton :P
So i'm going to share some few tips on how to gain back your weight!

1. Diet is a number one thing. Diet will determine the shape and size of our body. To put on weight, you will need not to eat in excess. You simply just need to practise healthy eating habits. First, please makan your breakfast in the morning. It's very important because the food will provide you with more energy as you carry with your daily tasks. If you don't eat your breakfast, your body will end up burning the calories in your body and gradually you will start losing weight. Then have your lunch at a moderate amount so that you won't feel bloated and sleepy afterward. However if you happen to doze off to dreamy land, take heart :) Coz you will put on weight gradually. And when dinner time, try to eat it moderately as you need not to burn so much of calories. Save your tummy with some yummy snacks! Snacks taste better during the night :P But seriously, I don't encourage late night supper as it can cause adverse effect to your digestion.

2. Do exercise! Many people have wrong perception that exercise will lose weight even more. Well it is true to some extent but exercise can help to shape and tone your body. With proper diet, you can eventually gained a healthy weight.

3. Rest and sleep is very vital! Our body need to rest after all the hard day work. If you don't sleep or rest enough, your body will still keep burning more calories and fat. In addition, stress caused by a tired body can further lower your weight. A good sleep and rest constitute all the body cells to be functioned properly and work towards renewal as in repairing cells and restoring back new cells. It is advisable to sleep a minimum of 7 to 8 hours per day for adult, while more than 8 hours per day for children.

4. Take some health supplements. You will need the proper vitamins and minerals as they are the building block to give strength and health to your body. Though buying health supplement can be a costly investment, you can still opt to take more fruits and eat leaner meat. You can best stay away from unhealthy fat as it won't do any good to add the weight because it can affect your blood circulation. If you have some money to spare, do invest in reputable health supplement :)

5. Lastly, don't be shy shy to accept food from people who want to share with you. It will benefit you in getting back your weight :P

I hope you can follow thru this suggestion here in getting back your weight. After all, God did reminded us that our body must be healthy so that we can continue to glorify Him when we carry out His divine tasks. Surely, God won't want to see a living skeleton walking about - it's sure look weirdo!

Until then, happy makaning! Happy sleeping! And happy exercising!

Taxi! Taxi! Oi! Alah... Apa nih?

Thank God for cabs aka taxis! Nowsdays, you can find cabs easily around KL city. Sometimes they just whizz past you. Sometimes they would stop once you halt our your hands, and sometime lifting a finger will do the trick.

If it not for these taxi man, I wouldn't be able to get around for my work, meeting clients, meeting appointments, evangelisms and going to church. Otherwise, I will be late too...

However the most amusing thing about taxi is always the driver. You meet all kinds of driver. Here are the list below that I can think of so far:

1. Quiet-Quiet Type: this one would drive you to your destination without talking much. Just show him the directions if the driver is unsure. For this one, you can play with your phone, fiddle with your hair, looking around, etc.
2. Grumpy Old Men: this type can be quite grumpy. But rest assured, they won't scold at you. They just scold at the traffic jams, other cars cut the queues, sudden halt when a car quiickly slow down unexpectedly. Be prepare to hear their vulgar words, though.
3. Playing politicians: Most taxi drivers are very into the current Malaysia politics. Along the way, you can hear them vent out anger and frustration about the government and political situations. You still have to be prepare to hear all sort of vulgar words too which is even more drastic than the Grumpy Old Men.
4. Rare Species: Ah... imagine, a taxi driver greets you a "Good morning"! And then along the way, you can have a nice morning chat as he drives you to office. Ah... this one i called it a Rare Species. Have I meet one? Yes, once! Not only we had a good chat, but he further entertained me with his built-in video player. You literally can watch movie in his taxi :) If you get into this kind of taxi, you are in for a treat!
5. Dumpsite: This is one I detest the most. The entire car smells of cigarettes, sweat, and other funny weird weird smell. Sometimes it can be so unbearable that I have to wind down the windows to let out the stench smell! How can this kind of taxi drivers so unhygenic? May their business rot...

In conclusion, you will never know what kind of taxi drivers you might encounter. But pray tell that you can still reach your destination safely and cheaply if possible, despite the odds; otherwise meeting the Rare Species will be a super bonus!

Until then, remember to greet the taxi drivers first when you get into their cars. You will leave a good impression about yourself :)

6th October 2008

I can't wait for this date to come.
memang it's " ideas for life" :)