A Brilliant Band of Light

"Remember, remember the fifth of November...

... the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of now reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

In 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

He was caught with enough gunpowder to level most of London.

Sometimes I wonder where we would be had he hadn't failed.

I suppose the answer is in the rhyme. More than the man, what we must remember is the plot itself.

For in the plot we find more than just a man, we find the idea of that man, the spirit of that man, and that is what we must never forget.

This, then, is the story of that idea, of that spirit that began with an anarchist's plot four hundred years ago.

And with that starts one of my favorite movies recently......

Excerpt from "V for Vendetta: the Movie" written by Larry and Andy Wachowski

It's the sense of touch...

Graham: It's the sense of touch.

Ria: ...What?

Graham: Any real city, you walk, you're bumped, brush past people. In L.A., no one touches you...
We're always behind metal and glass. Think we miss that touch so much, we crash into
each other just to feel something.

He looks to the driver, Ria, American-born Hispanic, thirties, heart racing, breathing hard, but watching Graham with real concern. A motorcycle cop appears at her open window.

Motorcyle Cop: You two alright?

Ria: I think he mighta hit his head.

Graham: You don't think that's true?

Motorcyle Cop: Stay in your car.

(Excerpt from motion-picture "Crash"; Story Paul Haggis)

Poetry? POETRY?

To all those people who asked me "are those poems you have there?": yes, I do have poems and lyrics posted! It also follows that I should say: yes, I AM a fan of poetry, though if you asked me to recite a famous line by a certain poet of some by-gone era I wouldn't have a clue where to start! Mine is more of an acquired taste for expressive words, not some comprehensive poetry nut.

Disclaimer: This comment was not meant to cause any offense or undue distress to anyone in particular. Indeed that was not the intention (though it may have been the original intention, I don't know; at least somewhere along the line while I was typing it I repented); I merely wanted to state that I LIKE POETRY, in songs or otherwise.

More than what I see today...

I love it when I see great poetry in songs; this one particularly touched me.

"There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
More that shines in the night than just the moon
There's more than just the fire here that keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger than this room

There's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiment
A music higher than the songs that I can sing
The stuff of earth competes for the allegience
I owe only to the giver of all things

So if I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you
If I sing, let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
But if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home"

Extracted from 'If I Stand' by Jars of Clay

The Last Night of March 2006

Homecell is so good this night! Steamboat was just fantastic, we had a great time just hanging out as a cell group, also had a time of praise and worship sing-song to the Lord, as well as Bible study (well, I think we all tried to concentrate as we were all so exhausted, or maybe that is just me?). How great is God in help putting together this group of dedicated followers and lovers of Christ!! Really need to thank Him, yeah!

Hey, I think I just published the first post on this blog that is actually POSITIVE about something! What a wonderful surprise that the first thing to come out of this vaguely spherical object protuding from my shoulders this night is not whining in the guise of 'poetry'... (heh, can they really be called that?); and how appropriate that the first positive thing on this blog is about my cell group! This is not just me trying to be nice coz at the moment probably most of the readers of this blog belong to my cell (!!), but indeed what I am thinking, coz I simply just love and enjoy cell so much! hmm, I don't quite know what I am getting myself into now after saying that... but I suspect it won't be anything of the embarassing nature? *hint hint*

Just wanna say an especial farewell for Jingaling! Good luck and God Bless with the architechture opportunity! Make lots of friends and may you always remain in the steadfast faithful presence of our Lord, ever ready to love and serve Him. There is a REASON why you are there you know, and I pray to God that His mighty will be done and have a great impact for you during your sojourn back home (is that a oxymoron??). Its been great serving beside you in OCF, as well as being in same cell as you! Will miss you most definitely (and I am not alone)! Take care!

Now upon all of this positive haze and hype I shall retire. Of I go to bed.

Thinking about the long stretch of my poor old legs and the chill touch of the sheets just after I hop in already. Dreams abound awaits me, and with each passing thought the serene embrace of sleep beckons me. Perhaps I sho..................ZzzZzZzzzzZ

THANKGOD!!

Thank you God for your divine providence
I thank you for your grace!
Thank you, God, your magnificient
You bring a smile to my face.

Daily you kept my eyes on you
Lest I'd be lost in my own hedge maze.
All my life I will know this truth
That the Cross draw me to you!

O Lord I shall sing of your might
Your power in my life
Let my praises ring through day and night.
Let me behold your countenence
Look you straight in the face
And cry out o Christ my Saviour my Light.

Over-rated!

Seems like everything is a bit over-rated these days; be it James Blunt, Damien Rice, the OC, Westlife, or something Chris said tonight. Its as if there is some under-the-surface CONSPIRACY to make others get excited over the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I like James Blunt and the others (except Westlife!), just that they needn't be placed atop some shining pedestal with olive wreaths around their heads and cherips serving grapes and pouring wine into their golden chalice... you get the picture! Maybe we ought to just leave things for others to judge and figure out, and not get so worked up on getting others to conform to our judgement?? Of course when it comes to the TRUTH about things then there is no compromise of course *hint hint*, but for things like James Blunt and Damien Rice... ok I guess they are good artists and their songs are good, but they are not the best thing since sliced bread so too speak, riiight????

The Will, the Promise, and the Raging Storm

Have you ever tried counting the stars? or watched the bubbles rise up in your lemonade? or deduce the pattern of raindrops? Have you ever though about the measure of sand in the sea? or the simple diversity of life-forms present upon this world? Is it not amazing that all this was caused to be by the one who also loved us enough to die for us? These thoughts always come at me at least once a day, no matter where I am, what I am doing, who I am speaking to, how I feel at any particular point in time, and never fails to overwhelm me with terrifying awe and yet complete adoration to His majesty. Who compares to Him, and who can fathom an inch of His Will?

Yet here I am been shown little by little what He has uniquely in store for me. Indeed what a magnificient privilege and honour that is! I would be lying though if I did not say that what He has shown me fills me with dread; its like a crippling paralysis upon my mind, stopping me dead in my tracks with utter fear of the unknown and unknowable. Its like an onrushing storm bringing great squalls against me within the infinite oceans of my mind. My boat dashed to pieces, I clung on to the wreakage and can only hope that death comes fast. Yet as fast as the storm had come, so too does the realisation that the one who caused all things to be is for me; that in His Perfect Plan a great Ship-of-the-Line bearing the heraldry of the Kingdom of God has come through the storm to save me from where I am. This ship withstands all that the storm can muster, the waters could not topple, for it is guided by the one who shaped the storm itself; it glides over the raging seas, bringing me to ever peaceful waters.

Verily, verily, I say unto you. That ye shall weep and lament, but the world
shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into
joy...

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:20, 22 (KJV)

Coke Zero or Schweppes Agrium??

Have a thought for the day... why have Coke Zero if you can have Schweppes! Why have same taste with zero sugar, if you can have great taste with awesome bite? Funny how aadvertising slogans can be twisted around against the very thing that it was supposed to promote.

Yes, very random, but hey... its morning here. I mean what else does people think about the moment they wake up on a Saturday morning. I am willing to bet that not many people can attest to stumbling across the next great Law of Thermo-dynamix or contemplating the true meaning of Murphy's Law the moment they opened their eyes and try to bury their faces back into the pillow because they just realised they woke up too early for a Saturday morning! Do be honest with yourselves!

Laughing in the darkness
Alone with my tears I lie

Time runs on by
With no cause for waiting
The world seems to loose focus

Dying slowing as the pain surrounds
No longer caring

Then out of the void in my heart a song erupts
A song with no equal

Sustainer, Provider, Guide
All my hopes and dreams lie therein
Justicar, Lover, Arbitor
You delievered me from the void

Like a spring that never fails
My heart's void now fulfilled
With Your overwhelming abundance

Why did You did this?
To call to me in my ignorance
Vanquished my sorrows and turned all to joy?

Sometimes a strange thought
Make war upon my consciousness
And declares that You should have let me be
To have let this wretched creature
Rot in the darkness of its own making

But Your song compells me to sing
And Your eternal love is made plain to see
Like the love that exists
In the heart of the man who bear not the loss of his charge
Whose love transcends his own safety
To dive head first after him
Love where one will lay down his live for his brother
Love that is unworldy
Love that is beyond understanding
Love that moves mountains
Blessed be Your name

The Orphan

Maybe I push when I meant to be still
Maybe I take it all too personal
Jesus, how to reconcile
The joyful noise
The ancient land
The tug from some invisible hand
The dying mother weaving bulrushes
Along the Nile

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry her orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

I try to settle, but I just pass through
A rain dog, a gypsy
A wandering Jew
All those homes where not ours
Then i slept one night in Abraham's field
And dreamt there was no moon
The night he died
Counting stars
Selah

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry an orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

Building you a home
Building you a home
Building you a home
We're Building you a home
Selah

So float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry an orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to bring us your sweet cry
Don't you worry child
I gonna sing you a lullaby