Sunday, December 28, 2014

20141207_22_Bread :Tone Vs Words Experiment - SOUNDS 1

The final result of the bread experiment on 21/12/2014..after 14 days....The photos speak for itself!

Some of you might recall that in July 2010, I did an experiment with the bread on the power of words.  See : 
http://asahengathers.blogspot.sg/2010/07/20100722-my-interesting-bread.html

Well, it so happened that my nephew in law was discussing about tones of speech on evening that I decided to do another sequel of this bread experiment. This time the objective was to find out the effect of :-
1) SWEET  tones but harsh words on bread vs
2) HARSH TONES but bless words on bread.
As usual, one set of the bread was for "Control" - where I did not speak to it at all during the 2 week period.  All were sealed in ZiPBLOG plastic bags. Placed in the same kitchen area.

It started on 7/12/2014 : Here it was!



By the 14th day on 21/12/2014! Results were amazing! The Harsh tone Bread won! It turned the MOULDIEST! whereas the Sweet tone bread even showed less mould than the Control bread!

So does it tell us anything?
One thing for sure, it was difficult for me to use curse words in a sweet tone and harsh tones with bless words throughout the experiment! It was so unnatural! Try shout "I love you, you are sweet m good, beautiful" in an angry tone! And try cursing singing softly "I hate you, you are stupid, idiot , ugly ..." It was so funny!

Watch this cute video on the mood / tones of the words ...self explanatory!


Learning Lesson : Never "Hae" Yell!!! at people ie shout or speak in a harsh tone whatever the content might be because people tend to be put off when the tone is harsh. Speak nicely and gently is the way to go.  (My bread was frightened by the harsh tone perhaps and reacted in mould given time!)

Scientific Facts:

In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as a typically audible mechanical wave of pressure and displacement, through a medium such as air or water. In physiology and psychology, sound is the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound#Longitudinal_and_transverse_waves
Since a sound wave consists of a repeating pattern of high-pressure and low-pressure regions moving through a medium, it is sometimes referred to as a pressure wave.

Awesome God-Fact:
God Gave us our voices! See how it works!

Biblical VibratingTruths of the 3 Rs...Resonating Reminders:-
A. Reminds us of His Character:

1. God first spoke into our creation !

Gen 1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ..

2. God's Voice is powerful, majestic, able to break the cedars, divide the flames of fire, shake the wilderness! Ps 29

B. Reminds us on our own manner of speech: The "Not TO"!

  •  Matt 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
  • Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
  • Proverbs 15:1A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
  • Prov 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
C. Reminds us to consider good tone/ mood speech based on :


Gal 5: 22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.





Extract from "The 8 Key Elements of Highly Effective Speech
and why your words barely matter!


The tone of your voice is equally important when it comes to understanding what a person is really trying to say. If the facial expression expresses one emotion, but if the tone conveys a different one, neural dissonance takes place in the brain, causing the person confusion.[6] The result: trust erodes, suspicion increases, and cooperation decreases.


 Researchers at the Universityof Amsterdam found that expressions of anger, contempt, disgust, fear, sadness, and surprise were better communicated through vocal tone than facial expression, whereas the face was more accurate for communicating expressions of joy, pride, and embarrassment.[7]  And in business, a warm supportive voice is the sign of transformational leadership, generating more satisfaction, commitment, and cooperation between other members of the team.[8]
You can easily train your voice to convey more trust to others, and all you have to do is slow down and drop your pitch.  This was tested at the University of Houston: when doctors reduced their speaking rate and pitch, especially when delivering bad news, the listener perceived them “as more caring and sympathetic.”[9] Harvard's Ted Kaptchuk also discovered that using a warm voice would double the healing power of a therapeutic treatment.[10] 
If you want to express joy, your voice needs to become increasingly melodic, whereas sadness is spoken with a flat and monotonic voice.  When we are angry, excited, or frightened, we raise the pitch and intensity of our voice, and there’s a lot of variability in both the speed and the tone. However, if the emotion is incongruent with the words you are using, it will create confusion for the listener.[11] 

Reflections of a BreadTalk
There is a bakery chain in red dot called BreadTalk.  
In this experiment revisted since 2010, bread does "talk" in the form of its level of mould manifestation! LOL.

Some people often asked me about 'seeing God' p ie only when they can see God only then will they believe. But God is Spirit. We cannot see that. However, we can only see the effects of wind , electricity through the way the trees move or light is lit or heat is formed eg.

We just celebrated Christmas 2 days back. Jesus was born in a small obscure town called Bethlehem - in Hebrew, it means "House of Bread". Yes, Jesus Himself declared that He is the Bread of Life and Light of the world.

My bread experiment is a classic experiment of seeing the unseen manifest to a certain extent.  In Numbers 22, even God can make a donkey talk! So can bread? LOL.  The story of Balam, the prophet who sat on this donkey , called by evil King Balak to curse the Israelites. But he couldn't curse except blessings instead. And Balam was at first not able to see the Angel of the Lord but the donkey could! So until it was whipped that the donkey protested by speaking out ! Only then Balam's eyes were opened to see the angel!

So even evil King Balak understood the power of curse and blessing over the people. How much more then should we learn from this power of speech & our words?

John wrote" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God  and the Word was God.....in him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not"

So my bread did talk.  Bread talks indeed. These 2 experiments done in 2010 and 2014 are pretty consistent and speaks for itself . We cannot see God in that sense. But God is spirit. He spoke creation into being. He was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own receive him not.  


This Christmas , may we rejoice that He came to us all about 2014 years back. God send His only Son on such a glorious day for us sinners.  JOhn 1:12 ,13 But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, not the will of man, but of God.


May this song resonates in your heart as you hear. We are the reason that He gave His life.



A Bread Challenge:

1. To those who had not taken a slice of this wonderful Bread
As the Bread had "talked", won't you take this step of believing in the One who came and sacrificed His life for us all? Charity. Love  -(God is love)  It is the greatest among , faith , hope and love. With Him in us, we will never suffer any lack. He has come to reside in us so that we won't grow mouldy!

2. To those who had taken this Bread years ago and bread seemed hardening for various wrong exposure reasons: Come back to Bethlehem - the House of Bread - those who may be feeling weary and burned out. Come the to Bread of life. Be filled in joy and refreshed  once again. Keep the mould from forming!


Roti John, Roti Chennai, Roti prata, french toast, kaya toast, peanut butter toast, white bread, wholemeal or multigraiin ones, egg, tuna, ham or cheese sandwich...yummy yum...The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases - The wonderful smell of the fresh bread each morning - His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning - how you want your bread to be! - it is your call! LOL


And remember - Mind your language all the time....your words your tones your moods!
Merry Christmas 2014 and a happy 2015 to come!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

20141015- WDIC#2 : Boston/ Malborough - "Boston Freedom Trail" ? Spore Freedom Trail?

Beautiful flowers at Old Sturbridge Village, near Boston
Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage"

This is a living museum about life in rural New England in 1790-1840 - costumed historians with live demo of the 19th century activities


Above: The "washing machine"

Above : All the tin making stuff
Below: Cotton weaving and dyes and looms

My favourite school bus! Remember Forrest Gump movie in the 80s? Seemed that the form of this school bus never changes from yesteryears and todate! They are the same - yesterday, today and tomorow? LOL

 
*************************************************************
Boston is about 40 min away from the town of Marlborough where we stayed at Hampton Inn.
The Golden dome is their State House.  Looks so much like the dome at Jerusalem.
 
The city of Boston is a walking city. It is about north 350km from NYC. First historic walking tours called the Freedom Trail. One can walk around this city using the painted line on the pavement or red brick which would take about 2-3 hours walk.
 
Famous universities such as Harvard, MIT , Boston University are located here in Boston.
 
Ever seen brussels sprouts on its branch??My first time!
 
 
Following the red line on the ground...
 
Above: A Freemason lodge

Boston: The city where the American Revolution started...back in 1600s

Outside Faneuil Hall - rap dancers performance
************************************************************

 Rainy day.  Drove to Cape Cod- Barnstable for lunch. About 16 degrees temp.
 
 
 
Reflections
 
Freedom comes with a price.  Like many cities that fought against slavery and injustice, lives will be lost for sure.  Freedom fighters sacrifice their lives. Such is the history of this Boston Freedom Trail of the American Revolution.
 
 
As in the earlier blog on the subject of 'liberty' in NYC , Boston has her own Freedom Trail. History has shown us the value of 'freedom or liberty".  Something that is so close to the heart of man.  Something that is of great worth and treasure that it has to be fought for.
 
 
The secular world of politics and governments relate to the rule of people's way of life. Democratic , socialist, communist or military governments - whatever, such is still under the government of God. Back in Moses' days, it was theocracy.  Then man wanted a man ruler. Judges came about and now we have the various constitutions in a country to set down the rules and laws in civil administration.  But that can still be corrupted. Because of man's inherent sinful nature of greed, power and lust .
 
 
Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage"

We are in the world.  Pilgrims here on this earth.  How can we be truly free? Yes, we can- and that route is only when we choose not to be of this world.  That freedom is found in this person called Jesus Christ.  He has made us free if we turn to Him and invite Him to be the ruler of our lives. He said that his yoke is easy and His burden is light when He beckons us to come to Him, those who are weary and needed that rest.

The Orchard Christmas lights were up yesterday on 15 Nov 2014.  Yes it is yet another time of the year where we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  This is that kind of government we yearn for.  One that liberates our very soul and spirit.  No worldly governments will be perfect. That worldly governments might be able to achieve perhaps 90% of the citizens' needs at best scenario. But there will still be unmet needs and wants of the people.  Because all are made differently with different social or economic status in this life.

But as we approach Christmas, we thank Isaiah the prophet for his prophecy in Is 9:2 "The  people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined."
 
Is 9:6" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it an to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever"
 
As Singapore enters her Jubilee year, we pray that we will have a uniquely Singapore Freedom Trail for all living here in this little red dot. May YHWH reigns on High, that all will be drawn to pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race , language (not so sure about this religion thing), to build a democratic society based on justice and equality (not so sure about this as there is actually no such thing as 'equality' per se?) , so as to achieve happiness (not so sure about this too...but joy irrespective of what we may own or have perhaps if we know the One who is able to meet our needs)  , prosperity  ( perhaps not nec in material but in the immaterial richness?) and progress for our nation. (all tribes and nations will gather one day ...before the Great White Throne...)


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

20141014: WDIC #1: NYC - GRACE -David Wilkerson Quote

Introduction from the book , David Wilkerson - THE MAN WHO BELIEVED "WHAT DO YOU SEE? my father asked.

This book (just released in Aug 2014) is written by his son Gary after his father's death in 2011.He was in his 80s then.  The late David Wilkerson ministered for more than 65 years ! Founded Teen Challenge, Times Square church.  His monumental book - The Cross and the Switchblade , has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.

Yet reading this book on the way back from Washington DC after a miracle purchase of this book in Columbia, in a christian bookshop in a suburb off DC , was revelationary. Shocking too.  

Because of the uniqueness of how this book which I wanted so much landed in my hands in such an unusual manner (my previous blog), I am treasuring the experiences of such a man of so much faith in our God.

Thot that the actual quote taken from a leaf from the Introduction would make great food for thots for many - especially those serving in "full-time" ministry. We are all full time ambassadors for our YHWH in various capacities that He had placed us in.  Unfortunately, much spotlight and responsibilities are often thrown at hired "full-timers" nowadays. But this is a book for all of us.  Those who believe in YHWH or those who thot they believe and yet not experiencing the fullness and abundance of what the Father had done for His child.

Page 29-30 Extract:
" The revelation of my fathers's lifelong struggle was stunning to many.  'I preach a lot about the love of God nowadays, and it was David who had the greatest influence in my life fro that 'says Bob Phillips, who copastored with my father at Times Square Church.  'It's based on what I learned from him in his years as a pastor, not just from his preaching but from how he believed and lived.'  Like so many others who worked closely with my dad, Bob never would have guessed this struggle to be my father's deepest.

From the outside, those who understood my dad's early life would say he never stood a fighting chance.  Yet , characteristic of my father, a few decades ago he set himself on a journey to correct things within himself.  At that time, in the 80s, he was still busy traveling the world as an evangelist.  Yet his own soul was dry; he had become weary of preaching the same messages to crusade audiences.  Between those events, he began reading a stack of books given to him by a discerning friend, author and preacher Leonard Ravenhill.  These were classic works that had endured the centuries, most of them written by Puritans, names many of us have never heard of.  As my father dug into those treasures, his heart opened to a new revelation of Christ.  Grace awakened him, coming alive in a way he had never known.  The old books stirred him once again to study the Scriptures cover to cover, this time with a new understanding of the gospel.  As he explored the full extent of the finished work of Christ, he experienced joy.


Toward the end of his life, my father confided to me that he still struggled to know whether he was loved.  He couldn't escape completely the emotional cobwebs, but he was seeing more and more clearly the work that Jesus had done for him.  In my last conversation with him, he told me of how deeply he had probed, how he had scoured every page of every writing he could find on the glorious subject of God's covenant grace.  And yet I could see in his eyes there was a yearning for more.  There things he still wanted to know about the depth and breadth of Chris's finished work.  That's when he urged me to dig deeper in my own search on the subject, not to be satisfied but to go farther.  It was as if he were saying ' I got a late start.  I want you to have it better.  I want my grandchildren to have it better.  Don't ignore the truth.  If you catch it now, it can save you years .  Son - do you see?

A few weeks after my father's funeral, my brother-in-law sent me the last book that Dad had left open on his study table.  It was a classic work by Thomas Brooks.  Almost every page was underlined and highlighted with comments filling every open margin.  There was my father, nearly 80 years old - after 65 years of serving in ministry - still yearning, still reveling in the gospel of Christ, its glories never ceasing to unfold new beauties of assurance. 


In this way, my father was like Paul,  With every achievement, his estimation of himself had grown smaller.  Earlier on, Paul went from strength to strength in is accomplishments for the gospel.  In AD55 he wrote to the church inCorinth that he was no less than any of the other apostles.  Two years later, he wrote something very different to the Ephesians, stating, ' I am the least of all saints' Finally in his last known letter, Paul wrote ' Ia am the chief of sinners'


That was my father.  In the beginning of his ministry, David Wilkerson was a crusading young zealot, making a massive imprint on the world for Christ.  Later , as he gazed hard into his own brokenness, he realized " I am dependent on God for everything" and he offered genuine encouragement to others in their sufferings.  By the end of his life, amid his anguished battle to know love, he claimed "I can do nothing.  He did it all 'It is finished'"


Here is where God's work in my father began.  Let me tell you what I see"


Quoted : From Gary Wilkerson

Reflections
This is part of the book's introduction.  Kind of shocking right?

Ministry . Zeal. 

At the end of the day....what do you see?
Love.  Grace.  Joy.

Remembering Rainbows. 
His covenant of love , grace and joy

Do you experience His Love?
Do you experience His Grace?
Do you experience His Joy?

A simple checklist for today.

If any of them is checked with a "NO" then gostan balek kampong...back to the Cross and remember what Jesus said it first "It is finished"


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

20141013_WDIC#1_New York City

2 Cor 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"

If you were asked what are the 5 things that come to your mind when New York City is mentioned, what would that be?

For me arriving on 13/10/14, my first trip to this east coast of America, they would be - Statue of Liberty, Central Park, WTC, Times Square-Broadway , Wall Street! And having read the David Wilkerson book on the last day back to red dot had made me appreciated more of NYC even more as back in 1950s, late David was led from Pennsylvania to this very city where his ministry started.

This is Central Park where we took a subway to mid of this park and strolled back to Rockefeller Plaza on Day 1. Central Park is huge - about 5 times bigger than our Botanic Gardens!

Here in Rockefellar Plaza- Top of the Rock looking ahead at the once tallest building in NYC- EMPIRE STATE Building. (But now with 1 WTC'Freedom Tower, ES is now second tallest)

This is Rockefellar Plaza.

So much 'liberty' in NYC that nude ladies came parading in Times Square!
And this is famous Times Square! "liberated with bright glitzy billboards lights at night!
So many theatres in Broadway and spoilt for choice of musicals! But we choose "Jersey Boys" About Frankie Vauli and the Four Seasons.  Awesome voices.
Selfie with Lady Liberty! She was a gift from France to America in 1886.

She represents the roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. 3 cheers to her torch with our tigers flasks. Her right hand held the tablet of law which inscribed that date of the American Declaration of Independence.

See the new tallest building in NYC? Before called Freedom Tower, now  One World Trade Centre or 1 WTC. Started construction in 2006 after twin towers fell. View from Liberty Island.


See the famous Wall Street bull? Hey! This reminded me of the golden calf that the people built while Moses went up to the mountain to meet God! Wall Street =$$$$$$$. Stock Exchange  Where is the bear??? 

This is one of the twin WTC. Horrible design with waters flowing into the centre black hole! 

Wished we had more time to visit the 9/11 Museum but lack of time and chatted with policeman instead.
Kind of depressing feeling walking around these 2 block of black holes.  The sight of water flowing into the other black hole simply add on to the sinking feeling.  Arrhhhh. So here was John trying to capture that rainbow in the hole!

Hooray! Thanks to God for that UPLIFTING rainbow first sighting! Brought some hope and better spirit in the soul!

See that half constructed Dove behind us?It is the new train station -called the Dove which will only be completed in 2015. Main train station with shopping malls.
See this building with charred exterior? Still bore the memories of the plane crash back on 11/9/2001

The newly constructed 1WTC, due to open officially around first week of Nov 2014
Up close and personal to this highest skyscrapper in NYC, 104 floors (ranking I think #4 tallest in the world) All these buildings are just a stone throw from THAT BULL!

Reflections

So here ended Day 2 of the NYC stay before we headed to Boston the next day.
The NYC subways are pretty old and the streets of NYC is rather smelly as all the rubbish are always placed on the roadsides. Our subway ride from airport -Jamaica station - Penn station cost about USD15 /each.  Hotels in Mahattan are pretty expensive. Most metro subways and bus fares cost USD2-50  per ride on average.

Liberty and Freedom?
What is that definition?
NYC is indeed a very 'free' place. A place where there is no fear of freedom of expression.

Man - we are made with a free will to choose.  We are not made with robotic inplants controlled by a little chip.  We have a choice.

Just as this Lady Liberty photo was taken - the sun is right above her.

NYC is famous for the FINANCE hub! But Matt 6:24 reminds us that we cannot serve 2 masters. Either hate or love.. Else hold the one and despise the other. History showed us that the people sinned when they built the silly golden calf when Moses took a little break up to the mountain to meet God.  The people grew impatient and did what they thought was right. Made for themselves a golden calf to worship.  Their hearts were turned to something else.  That was a wrong choice.  

Lady Liberty had turned green.  Ever wonder why? Well, this trip I learnt that her copper had oxidized giving rise to the colour green! LOL.  Now we also know why the idiom came about "Green with envy?" Green - an association of envy, jelaousy and possessiveness.  This lady Liberty is the icon of NYC.  But may we never fall into her enticement to the material world .  Go for the immaterial world. The spiritual truth. 

2 Cor 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"

God sent His Son. He died and He rose again. His body is no longer here in this world. But He had promised to give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. And if the Son has set us free, we will be free indeed.  This is LIBERTY.  True liberty!  Simply believe. Choose wisely. Choose quickly because time does not wait for man. 




Thursday, October 30, 2014

20141026_Rainbows & Book chaser of David Wilkerson in USA to Canada Ps25:14

Ps25:14 "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him and he will show them his covenant" -KJV
Ps 25:14 "God-friendship is for God-worshippers, they are the ones he confides in" -The Message


This verse spoke to me during this longest ever vacation that I took for a long while. Simply because rainbows depict His covenant with His children.  Shakespeare quote" My heart leaps for joy when I behold a rainbow" Isn't this what makes your heart leaps for that simple free joy as you 'catch' that rainbow? It is that kind of father and child heartbeat.  You simply just knew it. 

This is the testimony of the faithfulness of my covenantal YHWH as I begin with this memorable rainbows painted in the skies in USA - Canada during this trip from 12/10/2014 - 28/10/2014

Do you know this late David Wilkerson? This is the blog which I have been following as part of devotional readings.  But he passed on in 2010 in a car accident. However his blog is still kept alive by his son Gary who wrote this book about his dad which was just released in Aug/ Sep 2014.

So here is the testimony to begin with ....
When John told me about going to NYC,  I was so curious to find out what this city was all about- Lady Liberty (which is actually also called ISIS surprisingly) and the well known arty creative people are , homosexuality is highly promoted in this city of "freedom - do as you like",  the famous Wall Street bulls and bears ,  the 'twin towers' WTC shocker of 9/11/2011,   the 'romantic' Empire State where "Sleepless in Seatle" was shown......  

Before I even knew about this trip , on 15/8/2014 , I wrote  wanting to buy online the book on late David Wilkerson - written by his son Gary. But the postage was high and so they did not send over. Much as I wanted this book which was only launched recently, I even asked my pilot friend to check when his next flight to NYC would be & he had graciously agreed to try to get it for me in his next flight. Well, before this happened, I was in NYC for the first time due to a sudden vacation plan with another couple! That was how sudden this trip came about!

Our time in NYC was only a 2 days trip before we drove up north to Toronto.  On 13/10/2014-I googled and it was one of my intentions to visit this Times Square church.  However, after watching the Jersey Boys in one of the theatres on the last nite in NYC, I decided to walk to the next block where the church was. Unfortunately, it was already past 9:30 and so it was closed. Only managed to take a photo.

[August Wilson Theatre presenting "JERSEY BOYS -The story of Frankie Valli and the FOUR SEASONS,  on the 40th plus West street , Broadway , NYC - Times Square]

[ Times Square Church on the next block of street at 51st West Street]

I am a rainbow chaser.  And on this trip, my personal angel sent by our dear Father gave me THREE awesome rainbows! 

1. The first was at WTC on our 2nd day in NYC.. John first sighted it and pointed to me! 



2. Then the second was on route from Boston to Montreal- I couldn't catch it as we were in the car, but oh boy, I was so excited as I knew there would be a rainbow as it was drizzling and the sun just peeped thru the clouds in moments!  I think I am quite good now at catching rainbows .LOL.


3. But the strangest one was when we were in Washington DC- the last leg of this long trip.  Just as we were walking past the Washington DC monument behind us, I happened to turn my head and to my surprise , the sky was a slight patch of purple dash and there hidden on the left of the monument was a tiny little quadrant of a rainbow! I kept telling JOhn - this is the strangest rainbow at the time of the day! No rain, super sunny and yet rainbow!And with the Iphone- I captured it!
U know the Lord must have heard my inner desires to wanting to read about this late David Wilkerson.  This is my memorable testimony which would stay with me in years to come - apart from the 3 awesome rainbows sighting.  The one I saw at WTC was kind of uplifting cos it was kind of sad walking around those two big black holes where the twin towers used to stand. The one on route to Montreal was an expectant one - I just knew there would be one so that I can point out to my friend's wife who was beside me in the car. So it was the third one that cause me to view it was the strangest among the strange.

Reflections
I could only now look back and give thanks and rejoice.  We did not stay in Washington DC itself but an hour away in a little suburb called Columbia in Maryland state.  On Friday nite, the last but 2 days on this long vacation, John and I decided to take the car out ourselves while the couple friend went back to the service apt to rest.  And in this so called little shopping area , we found out that Walmart was not there but there were rows of little shop units.  JOhn pointed to me there was a christian bookshop right ahead of us and so we decided to go in to take a look.  At the counter, I asked them for this book - the guy went thru the PC and then told me it was only available in Spanish! So well, I told him, nope - I needed the english one. Deep in my heart, I found it weird - u know- here is America- USA= English english english and you carry that book in Spanish? LOL.  So I decided to walk around and hey presto = I found that book! I took it to the counter and the guy kept telling me - how in the world did his inventory system showed it was it Spanish? And we laughed!

But to me, it was no laughing matter. Deep in inside- I told myself - hey went to internet, no order taken, went to Times Square - too late and it was closed. And right in the nowhere in an obscure little suburb, despite the initial Spanish hoo ha - I still managed to get it! Woah! I can only be so humbled that it was never a human effort but a divine one. This is a divine exchange once again.  And the fact is known, The Lord wants me to read what the son Gary wrote about his father David! LOL.  It is like the divine exchange between the Cross and the Switchblade (Late David's first written book in 1963 about the drug guy Nicky Cruz who turned to Christ ). Late David went from Pennsylvania to NYC to confront the gangs who ran the streets.  He had seen the photograph of the 7 teens who were the members of a gang called Eygptian Dragons and were tried for the murder of Michael Farmer. Crazy David wanted to say something in the Court that day and was thrown out. That began Wilkerson's lifelong mission to the rejected and ignored.  Todate his monumental book, THE CROSS & THE SWITCHBLADE , which chronicled the conversion of gang leader Nicky Cruz has sold more than 16mio copies worldwide.  He foundered Times Square church and he shocked his staff when he had the vision from the Lord the day before Black Monday 1987 - he and a team went to Wall Street and they witnessed a horrific bunch of traders in tears that very day when the stock exchange simply crashed.  



WHAT DO YOU SEE? LEE KUA SI MI??
So on sun 26/10/2014, we were travelling back from DC to NYC to catch our nite flight back to spore, I read this whole book from its first chapter to it last 16 in the car!.  In the opening introduction was the question the late David asked his son Gary "WHAT DO YOU SEE?" For me, this book was very interesting as it wrapped up my USA trip. I began to appreciate NYC TimesSquare and its several states much better as I read thru the eyes of this narative done in this book.  Perhaps with such short time in the city, I was not able to fully appreciate the place. Wished I read it earlier before I came, but guess it is still the Lord's sovereign timing.

I am so glad that I am so loved by the Lord as seen from His ever signs of his great covenant.(To get 3 rainbows just in these 2 weeks was abundance blessings!) Ps 25:14 was a personal verse to me in this trip.  A man like late David who ministered widely touching millions yet was questioning about if ever God ever loved him at all was rather quite a shocking revelation as Gary his son wrote about what his dad shared in the moments in his sunset years as he stepped down in his life ministry.  

So now my longest vacation had ended today, WHAT DID I SEE? Ha Ha

I think I see His Beauty all around me. His everlasting love of covenant for his beloved ones.  Rainbows are indeed a sign of HIs love . He painted it in Genesis after the great flood promising never to do that again. He had the rainbow shining around the great throne in Revelation.  He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the Last. 

Never ever ever ever doubt His love for his Beloved children.
Be that God-worhipper that He desires so that He will confide in us.  
Isn't  that most awesome revelation that we need to time out and spend time with our Heavenly FATHER and not to be too caught up with other worldly techy distractions that crowd out our simple life? Time to slow down and stroll with Him in the park, throughout the 4 seasons in our life.  ( (Ever wonder how Frankie Valli got his group name "Four Seasons" - go and watch the movie or musical to find out! It was very funny !) He paints a different picture for each season in our life. If only we can embrace and understand the sign of times.  Get ready our hearts to welcome Him anytime anywhere anyhow. Be ready.  Are You?

In the bible, it says that we may have ears but do not hear, eyes but do not perceive.  Lee Kua Si Mi? What do you see? It has nothing got to do with our pair of natural eyes but that of spiritual eyes.  Can you see ? That is the question...


20240703 Durian Party @ Beverly!

 ************************ The night of old and new friendships forged.  Old of more than 50 years! New of a first meet by one! Savorinf  the...