In his time* - Maranatha! music

Was so tempted to leave work early today to go watch Glass - but decided against it and stayed on, and also attended the Christian Lunchtime Fellowship for staff. Made the right decision as the sharing during the fellowship was so relevant and so timely. God's timing is amazing.

Would not want to mention the speaker's name but she is a person of influence - and her sharing was that everything worked together at the right time so that God can lead her to where she is now. We just have to trust in him and that he is in control - and he makes all things wonderful and perfect in his time.

*One of the old favourite songs we use to sing as youths.

Amazing* George Michael

I can't think of enough superlatives to describe this!!!!

 

 Amazing, unbelievable, out of this world, brilliant. How can one use the guitar like this???

*A single of his 5th studio album, it was dedicated to his partner at that time.

Mean* - Taylor Swift

Not too long ago, someone posted on social media about this poor car washer who works hard to support his family and is trying to make sure his daughter goes to school and get an education. His post garnered a lot of attention for this man and the public chipped in to help this honest hardworking man.

But after that, another post emerged citing 'reliable sources' that this man was a drug addict who uses his daughter to get money to buy drugs.

But after some investigation (see here), it was revealed that the drug addict story was not true.

I don't know why some people like to say bad things about others on the net without any proof. Totally irresponsible. Maybe they are jealous of the good publicity that others get? But why bad mouth and defame a poor man who tries by honest means to provide for his family? Sure, we have to be careful about what we read online but we should not spread lies and negativity.

Some people are so mean. Especially on social media. So sad.

*A song written for her 3rd studio album.

Gold* Spandau Ballet

Wow. So it has been 9 years already since we first were blown away by Susan Boyle? She's still brilliant - so effortlessly belting out such a difficult song!

 

*One of their hit songs and more popular one.

Drive my car* - The Beatles

This is one nice ad!!!! Really cool.

 

*One of their classics, released way back in 1965

Stronger* - Britney Spears

The summary from today's Bible reading with my daughter. A timely reminder.

*A hit from her second studio album

The best* - Bonnie Tyler

Well done! Truly deserving!!!

*Most people will know this song from Tina Turner's version. It was a remake of Bonnie Tyler's.

The air that i breathe* - The Hollies

With the kids at school, we managed to enjoy our smoke-free breakfast at a local coffeeshop.

Yes, the new law is in place. No smoking in public places!!! I can breathe smoke-free air!!! Well done, PH.

But it is sad to see some smokers complain about this - some comparing it with car exhaust! The simple difference is that you are wanting to smoke for your own selfish pleasure and it is proven to be dangerous to people around you. If you want to smoke, go live in your own island away from people.

*One of my fav songs by this old group.

Tapestry* - Carole King

"God's plan is like a beautiful tapestry. And the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back. With all the rugged threads and the muddy colours. And we only get the hint at the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side as God does".

Matt Murdock quoting Father Lantom (Daredevil s03e13)

*The title song of the brilliant album of the same name.

Don't give up on us* - David Soul

We were sharing this morning on what was the highest point we experienced in the past month. Both my wife and i shared the thing. It was the elections - when we found out that the opposition (now the government) has won.

There were so many other possible 'high points' in the past month - but this takes the number 1 spot for me.

To be honest, I have given up hope of Malaysians ever making the decision to change the government of the day. It has been the same party since independence in 1957 - 60 plus years!!!! All my life literally, it has been the same. And it wasn't all bad.

But things started going downhill. And it has come to a point when the racism, the corruption, the arrogance, the injustice, the abuse of power is no longer tolerable.

We thought that the last elections was the time! Ini kalilah. But the government then pulled up all the tricks under sleeves and our hopes were dashed again.

I wondered why God did not answer my prayers. I wondered why God could still tolerate the kind of things that are going on in our country when even we sinful creatures could not.

Of course it must have angered and upset him. And he did answer my prayers - he said, wait. Something that is very difficult for us.

But when it finally happened, it all made sense why this time is the time and this time was a better time.

Being hurt so many times in the past, my defensive mechanism did not allow me to harbour realistic hopes. Seeing comments of apparently educated people who did not see a need to change the government didn't help. Seeing all the dirty tactics being used - re-delineation, the mal-apportionment, the money thrown to win (read: buy) votes, the clearly biased Elections Commission - it was clearly a David vs Goliath battle. But how can i forget that David did overcome Goliath in the end?

The day (middle of the working week!) came and Malaysians went out to vote. I remember taking care of the girls while my wife went to vote first. I carried the little until she fell asleep on my shoulders. And as i thought of what was happening in the land, and of what the future holds for my children, i cried in fear.

This board is used to teach my daughter new English words and new Bahasa Malaysia (BM) words. She is better at BM as phonetically, BM is easier to read. For today, I added in a new BM phrase which she could read easily.

Then it was my turn - i went.

It was heartening to see so many proudly showing off their fingers on social media because it shows that so many actually do care and recognised the importance of voting. So many are actually happy to be in a long queue because that means many care for the country and recognize the importance of their right to vote.

Still, i didn't want to believe until it was confirmed. The opposition were claiming victory but the Elections Commission refused to acknowledge it.

So stressed. What did I do? Baked a cake! So that my wife and I will have a cake to celebrate or to drown our sorrows with!!!

Then I went to sleep not wanting to care. I did my part. If Malaysians did not want a change, then we get what we deserved.

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and checked the results - yes, it really is true. The opposition has won - the fact that EC refused to confirm it also meant that they could not deny it! I heard my wife come out of her room and i went downstairs to look for her. We saw each other and we did not need to say anything - we went to each other and hugged each other tightly, my wife crying in joy. What a moment!

When asked a few weeks ago, I said that while I hoped for a change, i didn't think a change will happen this time round. I was wrong. I gave up on Malaysians, i gave up on there ever being a change - but thankfully, God did not give up on us.

I can't remember being so happy at being wrong!!!! Thank you God!

Well done to all those who voted. We all made the difference. Be proud of ourselves as Malaysians. Betul-betul ini kalilah!

*The challenge for this post was to choose which song best describes my feelings and thoughts - Anything is Possible, Against All Odds, Winds of Change, Can You Hear The People Sing, Finally, etc. I decided to choose this old song by David Soul, a song that always reminds me of my childhood when i first heard it.