When you say nothing at all* - Ronan Keating

Starting reading the book of Job for my daily devotion in the middle of the week.

Basically, Job was a man of God who suffered a great deal. The book contains mainly his discourse with 3 of his friends - all of whom basically concluded that Job was suffering because of his sins. They basically made things worse for Job.

One of the thought of the day was that sometimes in times of suffering, the best help we can offer is just to be there - and not say anything.

I remembered a time when one of my fren's father passed away. We went to see him and we basically sat in silence with him. He however was expecting more from us - and he basically laughed at us for coming to see him to comfort him but not saying anything at all.

But what could we say? "We know how you feel". We didn't. "It's alright, he's in a better place now". Does he really want to hear that now? Maybe he had hoped that we came to say something that would somehow take away the pain of the loss. But we couldn't. Is there anything that can be said?

I remembered years after that when i finally went thru a similar bereavement, i was thankful to all my frens - not so much for anything they said but just them being there.

If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.
Job13:5

*One of his classics, this was also featured in the soundtrack of the movie, Notting Hill.

Better* - Boyzone

We went for a holiday to Bangkok - finally! It was originally planned much earlier and we were supposed to go in October last year. Well, mother nature had other plans and to cut the long story short (yes, it was a long story but thank God things worked out well, generally), we finally went there last week.

It was a pretty good holiday. The wife got lots and lots of dresses at good prices. Me? I got a pair of Darth Vader boxers!!!!! =)

There were no signs that the place was earlier threatened with floods - lots of tourists around too.

We generally found the place to be nice - in some ways, much nicer than our own capital city, KL!!!!

Check out in my other blog (click here) 10 reasons why we felt that Bangkok is much better than KL!!!

Some of the reasons are light-hearted in nature - but most are true (to us, anyways) and we felt that KL is lacking so much, especially in the public transport area and the attitudes of people. Ah well... but this is home.

*Their remake of Tom Baxter's song which can be found in their compilation album released in 2008.

Don't come back knockin'* - Buddy Holly

CT Scan - RM610.00

Breakfast at hospital cafeteria - RM3.20

Doctor's consultation fees - RM190.00

Parking fees - RM3.00

Confirmation that the tumour hasn't recurred - Priceless!

Thank God that the scan revealed that there has been no changes to the scan i took last year (see here). Thank God that i've been given a clean bill of health. Nice start to the year!!!

I pray that the tumour does not come back again!

*This track can be found on side 2 of his That'll be the day album - his last album before his untimely death.

Always look on the bright side of life* - Monty Python

This is the reason why footie fans shouldn't gloat when the teams they dislike loses - because in football, as the cliche goes, the ball is round. What goes around, comes around. No team will win forever!

So after feeling good about Man Utd losing (see post below), the Man Utd fans will be laughing at how we got thrashed last night!!!!!

But then again, i think last nite was one of the rare occasions (that makes football so interesting) when the Man Utd fans were rooting for Liverpool! After all, Liverpool was playing Man City!!!

Anyways, the quote of the day has got to be from me wife. After i told her sadly that Liverpool lost to Man City, she said this:-

"but that (Man City beating Liverpool) can be a good thing right since we most likely won't be the champion anyway. They beat us now at least they can stay on top of the [table] and not give man u any chance at all."

She has only started following BPL last season and she is oredi understanding it well!!!

Oh, methinks she's a secret Man City fan - but only because she finds them entertaining to watch. Which i agree.

*Originally featured in the movie The Life of Bryan, sung by people who were crucified!!!

Schadenfreude* - Natalie Venetia Belcon, Rick Lyon

I think it's not very nice when one gloats over another's misfortune.

Still, i cannot help but feel happy. I'm not gloating - just being honest about how i feel! After all, the first thing i read this morning was how Manchester United will most probably enter the new year being on top of the table. Well, this proved to be not true now!!!

And after all the flak the Liverpool fans received from Man Utd fans for not being able to beat the basement club, now the basement club has gone to their own yard and beaten them in the biggest shock this season!

Poor Alex Ferguson... it won't be a very happy birthday for him...

But i hope he still enjoys his 70th birthday - he has done much great things and this defeat should not cloud any of his great achievements.

For now tho, Liverpool fans and Manchester City fans will all be celebrating!

Happy New Year, folks!

*Taken from the original Broadway recording of the excellent musical, Avenue Q.

Bethlehemian Rhapsody* - Apologetix

The story of Christmas - what happened and why. Hope you'll enjoy it.

Is this the real birth?
Is it nativity?
Caught in a census
in the town of his ancestry.

Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see.
He’s just a poor boy foretold by prophecy.
Because the wise men come, wise men go, angels high, shepherds low.
This is how God’s love shows.
It’s a wondrous story to me, to me.

Mary just got the word.
The angel did appear but he told her not to fear.
Mary now it’s just begun; your son is gonna wash our sins away.
Mary ooo (this is how God’s love shows) the God who reigns on high has sent his son to you to die for all.

I see a little silhouette-o of a sheep.
Shepherds watch, shepherds watch over there like the night time.
Angels shine like lightning very, very frightening me!

Glory to God, Peace on Earth, Glory to God, Peace on Earth!
Unto you is born this day, the only way!

I’m just a shepherd nobody loves me.
He’s just a shepherd from a poor family.
Angels said go to the stable and see.

Wise men come, wise men go, will Herod let him live?
Hey Herod – No! he will not him live – better go!
Hey Herod – he will not him live – better go!
Hey Herod – he will not him live!
Better go, will not let him live, better go, will not let him live!
Better go – oh – oh – oh
Go, go, go, go, go!

Oh, Mary Joseph, Mary Joseph!
Mary Joseph better go…to Egypt now
God his savior son who paid for me
for me, for me, for me!

So you think that it’s just a tale now days long by?
But this child who was born went to Calvary to die!

Oh, Jesus!
It’s the story of Jesus!
Wash our sins out!
Wash our sins right out of here!

Oooo, Jesus, Jesus
It’s a wondrous story, anyone can see.
Lets give God the glory!
It’s a wondrous story to me.

This is how God’s love shows!

Have youself a merry little Christmas - The Pretenders

No doubt - my favourite "secular" Christmas song is "Have yourself a merry little Christmas". I love the tune - a little bit moody but tinge with hope.

The song was written for the movie Meet Me in St Loius and it was sung then by Judy Garland. Since then, many others have sung the song and gave it their own interpretation.

My fav version is the one i first heard when i was celebrating Christmas at Colchester - the 2nd time i was spending it away from home. So it was a time when i felt a little sad - but at the same time, it was wonderful to spend Christmas there with the few of my frens there. Modern technology made it possible that close ones back home were not very far away too. So the bittersweet feel that i get when i listen to this song really reflected things around me at that time.

Check out the original version of this song:-

I like Katie Melua's version too (can't embed so see it here).

Here are some other versions of the song:-

Diana Krall's live version - brilliant!


I came across this Tori Amos version today which is really good - almost as good as The Pretenders IMO!


This is from Junji Delfino during the recent ESG Jazz Fest - horrible pic quality but the sound is not too bad.

Finally, here is my fav version. Enjoy! And have yourself a merry little Christmas!

I'll stand by you* - The Pretenders

I was never a fan of Suarez - you can read here what i thought about him back in the 2010 World Cup.

He made the news then - and now he's making the news again - being found guilty of racially abusing another player.

Now, let's make some things clear - i do not tolerate any form of racism. I am a big fan of Liverpool FC. I think that Suarez this season has been the best Liverpool FC player - and one of the best i've seen put on a LFC jersey for quite some time.

I am unhappy at the decision against him. You can read all about it - but the key thing to me is that he did not deny it. But he did not have any racist intent!

It would appear that it is a case of lost in translation - see what a regular BBC sport pundit (who is an expert on football in South America where Suarez is from) had to say about it here.

It would appear that Suarez is guilty of a strict liability offence - ie the offence was committed when he uttered certain words deemed to be racist, not caring whether he understood or knew what he was saying. Even Lord Ouseley, chairman of Kick it Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, said it did not follow from the guilty verdict that Suarez was a racist. He said thatthe FA's decision had to be arrived at on the basis of the comments made.

But what i am happy to note is to see the support given to him by his team mates. They issued a statement supporting Suarez - and in a show of solidarity, they all wore t-shirts last nite showing that they will stand by him in this matter!

I want one of those t-shrits!!! =)

*One of their hits in the UK during my stay in London. Love this song!

All about you* - McFly

It is quite sad that some leaders cannot seem to differentiate the interests of those whom they are leading and their own interests.

Obviously, these are not good leaders. Sure, sometimes, their interests being served is in the interest of those they are leading - but not necessarily so all the time. In fact, i dare add, most of the time.

But that's how it is. We see it everyday all over the world. Leaders of countries who should be keeping the interests of their countrymen instead think only of how they can make themselves richer and more powerful - while people in their own land are suffering from poverty and malnutrition.

Other leaders are more subtle - they make it look like the people they are leading are doing well so that they get the credit. At the end of the day, they are happy that they look good but do not count the cost that those under them had to pay.

The things that they do is all for themselves. It's all about them.

As we celebrate Christmas, i am reminded that Jesus is the best example of what a good leader is - he did not consider his position as God something to be clinged on to at any cost but made himself to be like us, born in a manger, lived as a man and then to die for all of us on the cross. This he did so that we can have our sins forgiven and we can have eternal life.

The things he did is all for you and for me. It's all about us.

*Their successful 1st single from their second album - which also contained "You've got a friend".

My father's house* - Bruce Springsteen

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Luke 2:4-7 (Emphasis added)

There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.

John 14:2-3 (Emphasis added)

My church elder was sharing this yesterday - when Jesus came to us, we told him there was no room for him. He had to be born in a manger.

But before Jesus went back, he told us that there are many rooms, for all of us.

I hope and pray that hearts will no longer have no room for him. Make room for him in your lives!

*Taken from his 6th studio album and covered by Emmylou Harris