KIKOPRINCESS: Faith as small as a mustard seed

TV review: The confidant 大太監

Series summary: The series is based loosely on Chinese history. Cixi is known in history to be a wicked great queen who took power from her son and grandson. Instead, this TVB series portrays Cixi to be benevolent mother and self-sacrificial ruler. It also follows the lives of the empirical eunuchs. Li grows up in the palace and minds his own business but eventually becomes the great eunuch shaping history.

My thoughts:
My family fell in love with 彭三順. He was the bad boy- well he tried his best to be bad under the directions of his uncle but then gradually, he realised his mistakes. He truly repented and became a loveable character who has the interests of others in mind. He provided much needed comical relief to the otherwise serious drama. In contrast, we came to hate characters that were initially presented as good but later became evil.

It's so easy to fall. To become the hated character in life. But many in the story failed to repent. When they were given the chance, they kept falling deeper and deeper into the fires of hell. It's so close to Christmas. We are reminded that we have been given a chance to have a new life just like 彭三順 we can choose to rebrand ourselves. We can live a new life. Or, like the other characters in the story, we can choose to let go of these chances and be condemned.

Will you take this chance to live renewed? Do you want your loved ones to also have the hope of eternal life?

Montell Jordan- Shake Heaven Christmas Remix
Lyrics from http://www.klove.com/music/artists/montell-jordan/songs/shake-heaven-christmas-remix-(feat.-beckah-shae)-lyrics.aspx

Twas the holiday season
And joy was abound
The music of Victory
Made a wonderful sound
So while giving our love, and our gifts
And our things
Let's celebrate the birthday
Of the King of Kings

Verse I
Once there was a savior
Born in a manger
He brought us out of danger
Into the light
Now we got a reason
To celebrate the season
The birth of Jesus
Gives us life

The angels all around are crying
Holy, Holy, Holy
Praising with a sound
That gives Him
Glory, Glory, Glory

Pre-Chorus
Are you ready now? Get ready now!
Let's all shout it out
Start shouting now!

Chorus
Gonna shake heaven (gonna shake heaven)
Join in together (join in together)
Jesus is the reason (Jesus is the reason)
We celebrate the season (we celebrate the season)
Gonna shake heaven (gonna shake heaven)
Join in together (join in together)
This is how we do it (this is how we do it)
We're taking back the music
And all the Angels say
Oh, oh oh, oh OH!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Oh, oh oh, oh OH!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Verse II
Everybody stand up
Go on put your hands up
Recognize the bright and morning star
And will be a witness
All I want for Christmas
Is all Your children to know who you are

The angels all around are crying
Holy, Holy, Holy
Praising with a sound
That gives Him
Glory, Glory, Glory

Repeat Pre-Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
Lift high the name above all names
Jesus
We can live today because his grace
Freed us
Glory honor and power
Forever and forever Lord (4X)

Repeat chorus

Outro
It's Christmas
Shake heaven Christmas...

Movie review:Skyfall 2012

Movie Summary: Both 007 and M are getting a bit old and their abilities are being questioned. The list of undercover agents has been stolen and the future of British intelligence and double os are threatened.

My thoughts: I loved it. I think there was an appropriate balance between action and cheesy humour that is guaranteed to entice teens to older adults. The half-naked scenes added nothing to the plot but I guess they have to conform to the Bond identity after all. But I am guilty of laughing my way through nearly the entire movie. Q was lovely, and looking forward to a new 007 and M partnership in the next movie. Honourable mentions to M and 007 - they did well in their last partnership together but they demonstrated nothing remarkable on screen. But the villain was oh so funny. I might rewatch the movie, just to see him shake his head at Bond's undying attempts to save the day.

Yet beyond the gunfire and humour, there is a message conveyed. Even though we live in the technological era where people can do a whole lot of harm in the comfort of their pjs at home, we still need someone to occasionally point the trigger. Or we need to resort to old fashioned methods in order to get the job done. As much as I love the convenience of "liking" or posting a facebook post, an ecard or text message, there is something very very special that is conveyed when you personally tell and show people you are worth the effort.

Yes it's a bit old fashioned. But pick up the phone or make a trip to share the good old christmas cheer.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

This week's free song of the week is another favourite christmas carol. It's based on Psalms 98. Joy to the world, Jesus has come to Earth! But why did the psalmist write about Joy and not happiness?

Happiness- Is a state- it's a feeling, an emotion that passes. But Joy, it's beyond just a feeling. The Joy from God is a fruit of the spirit. It's something that fills you and flows through you. I hope you can share this joy with others during this festive season!

Joy to the world- Jeremy Camp
http://www.klove.com/music/artists/jeremy-camp/songs/joy-to-the-world-lyrics.aspx

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹Sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
²The Lord has made his salvation known
    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
³He has remembered his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

⁴Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
⁶with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

⁷Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.
⁸Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains sing together for joy;
⁹let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

詩篇 98

Chinese Union Version (Traditional) (CUV)

98 （一篇詩。）你們要向耶和華唱新歌！因為他行過奇妙的事；他的右手和聖臂施行救恩。

²耶和華發明了他的救恩，在列邦人眼前顯出公義；

³記念他向以色列家所發的慈愛，所憑的信實。地的四極都看見我們神的救恩。

⁴全地都要向耶和華歡樂；要發起大聲，歡呼歌頌！

⁵要用琴歌頌耶和華，用琴和詩歌的聲音歌頌他！

⁶用號和角聲，在大君王耶和華面前歡呼！

⁷願海和其中所充滿的澎湃；世界和住在其間的也要發聲。

⁸願大水拍手；願諸山在耶和華面前一同歡呼；

⁹因為他來要審判遍地。他要按公義審判世界，按公正審判萬民。

Thanks for Joe for introducing me to this film.

Movie summary: This movie is based on a true story (from a book) about a white farmer in Africa. The family struggle financially as they come across issues of bad luck, political instability, drought, relationship issues, etc. And the farmer hits rock bottom as his whole crop fails and he dreads the inevitable. But he finds hope in God and miraculously his crops recover to abundance within 3 days. he also befriends the local coloured people and is able to share with them his faith. In a terrible thunderstorm, one of the locals are hit by lightning and miraculously through the power of prayer, God brings them back to life. Strengthen by God, the farmer starts to spread the gospel to others and inspires others despite ongoing struggles with his family and a major blow.
And in the end, the farmer plants potatoes in the drought. Planting potatoes is an expensive exercise. (See book exerpt: http://store.kregel.com/client/excerpt/978-0-8254-6335-8.pdf) And he puts his entire hope and livelihood on the line with faith in the Lord. And so it proves, those who sow sparing reap sparingly, but those who sow generously reap generously- and in more ways than one.

My thoughts: This is a tear jerker. The beginning of the movie was a bit difficult to sit through, it was boring. But i thought I would give it another 10 minutes, and I'm glad I did. Don't let the south african accents and over the top acting put you off. The storyline makes it all worthwhile.

It's easy to follow God when he performs miracles. Like when you pray that you would pass your exams and you pass. You pray that you will get a job and you do. You pray that your health would recover and you do. So what happens when we don't get what we ask for? I cried and cried as I watched the child pass... Although I don't always understand God's will in the things that happen to me, but you can choose to stand firm in your faith. It's easy to say, but difficult to do. In these times, I am really grateful that God never gives me more than I can handle- he puts by my side his word to inspire me, his people to encourage me, and his many gifts to get me back up.

Sometimes I find that my faith is so limited. I only pray for what I believe to be possible. I pray and give limits to my prayers. The farmer in the movie is guided by God to dream big. To pursue the impossible (in at least our eyes). Are we prepared to take these risk for God? Are we prepared to be mocked in order to live the life God has called us to live? Are we prepared to have faith like planting potatoes in a drought-- to have faith in the unseen?

At this stage of my life... there are so many things that are unseen. God tells me he has plans for me, plans that I cannot see. I am of little faith, and a lot of doubt. But over and over again, God inspires me to have faith like potatoes.

It's graduation season. Friends and family members have finally done it. They have finished their studies!! After many long years of hard work, hours of lectures, assignments, exams, it's the end. I like taking part in the graduation process because it's a celebration. But really, when you walk across the stage, you get less than 30 seconds of "glory" when people clap and cheer for you.

Wouldn't you get really annoyed if someone else came running across the stage to steal your limelight- after so much hard work?

Story behind the song: Why would you want someone to steal your show? Well, it's simple, we want someone to come and turn it into something better. Amen!

Steal my Show Toby Mac

Guitar tabs: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/t/tobymac/steal_my_show_crd.htm

Intro:
G/Em/C/D x2

Verse One:
G Em
Another cold night, another late flight,
C D
It's almost show time and diver city's waiting on me.
G Em
We've got a packed house, the crowd is calling out,
C D
They want the beat to drop but what we really need is You.

Chorus:
G
If You want to steal my show,
Em
I'll sit back and watch you go,
C
If You've got something to say,
D
Go on and take it away,
G
Need You to steal my show,
Em C
Can't wait to watch you go-o-o-o
D
So take it away.

Verse Two:
G Em
So now the crowd is hyped, That You showed up tonight
C D
Anticipatin', cravin' something more than smoke and lights,
G Em
So I'll step out the way, I'll give You center stage
C C
All right; spotlight
D
Give 'em what they came for!

Chorus
G/Em/C/D
C D
When You arrive, we come to life,
Em G
Our hearts collide they're beating in the same time
C D
You're coming through, all eyes on You,
G Em
Our hearts collide they're beating in the same time
C D
beating in the same time

G
No matter who we are
Em C
No matter what we do (do, do, do, do)
D
Every day, we can choose...to say:

Chorus
G Em C D
My life, my plans, my heart, it's all yours, God.
G Em C D
My dreams, my fears, my family, my career,
G Em C D
Take it away, take it away, it's all yours, God.
G Em C
Take it away, take it away,
D D
It's you I want to live for!

I'm a big fan of cheezy hallmark channel movies, and here's another one.

Movie summary: Guy meets girl (again). Many years after their date at high school freshmen home coming, boy meets girl again. But now girl is struggling to make ends meet and boy is less awkward. In a turn of events, girl needs more money and offers to be a dating coach to the guy.

Lesson 1. Self confidence. Being attractive means having a positive view of oneself.
So they set about making him feel more fit, buying him new clothes and getting a hair cut.

Lesson 2. Break the ice. Hi my name is xyz, I just wanted to introduce myself.

Lesson 3. The art of conversation. The basics. Listening and asking questions.

Lesson 4. Start sharing. Talking about the things that matter to you. Your passions.

Lesson 5. Make her feel special.

Lesson 6. Getting close.

Lesson 7. Compromise.

Lesson 8. Follow your heart.

My thoughts: I love a little romantic comedy. You start watching knowing that the main characters will go through some trials and eventually be together. This time, the girl is actually encouraging the guy to be a good date for other girls. The actors aren't overly convincing but it's not a hollywood blockbuster. It's suited for a nice girls night in. And the content is suitable for most teenagers but really geared towards older females.

Actually, I don't think the movie if entirely fiction. Having worked with individuals with aspergers or social anxiety, I believe the tips suggested are quite sound pieces of advice! And they even do what I do! Role plays.

But what really got to me was the fear that I would become like the main character Annie. Right now, it feels like I'm in a bit of a slump. And I'm working so hard to help those around me find their happiness, and build up other people's confidence, inspire them to pursue God more. But me, I feel stagnant. Secretly I feel like a failure as an academic. Worthless. But over the last couple of days, I feel that God has really listened to my prayers- like he always has. But he has shone a light and given me a glimpse of a future only he can see.

Indeed, if I had to pick a favourite chapter of the bible at the moment, it would be Hebrews 11. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11&version=NIV It's about all these people in history having hope in a future, living for that hope. And most of these people died not seeing the entire promise being fulfilled. Even though I can not see God's plan for my lifestory at the moment, I have faith in the unseen.

Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

希伯來書 11: 1

信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。

²古人在這信上得了美好的證據。

³我們因著信，就知道諸世界是藉神話造成的；這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。

It's already December. And it's hard to escape the decorations at the mall, the songs on the radio.

My brother is finally home, and this year, after each of us has been overseas over an extended period of time, we will be together for Christmas. And really, even if you aren't Christian, there is an unspoken draw of spending the festive season together, maybe singing carols, eating food and exchanging gifts.

For me, Christmas is really one of my favourite times of the year. 1) it's all about Jesus-- not xmas, it's CHRIST-mas 2) there's a tonne of singing 3) it's all about family and friends gatherings 4) i get to prepare plenty of gifts 5) we get holidays 6) I love fairy lights 7)... the list goes on. But at the heart of Christmas, is Christ. Don't get fooled into calling it x-mas because it's easier but let us recognize the true reason for the season!

Here is the first Christmas song I'm sharing this year. Steven Curtis Chapman goes to explain how the song came about. It's a lovely little jingle that is bound to get you feeling like it's Christmas time again, even if you are in Australia facing a huge heatwave and no chance of snow!

Get it free at klove: http://www.klove.com/music/store.aspx

Steven Curtis Chapman: "Christmas Time Again"
lyrics: http://www.klove.com/music/artists/steven-curtis-chapman/songs/christmas-time-again-lyrics.aspx

Christmas time is here
Come and celebrate the best time of the year
The jingle bells are ringing
And the carolers are singing their Christmas songs

Christmas time has come
Can you hear the little drummer boy playing his drum
And everywhere you go, somebody’s wishing you a
Merry Christmas

And Mr. Cole is singing his chestnuts song
While we decorate the Christmas tree
And I’m still dreaming that a snowy white Christmas
Just might make it down to Tennessee

And it’s Christmas time again
Time to gather with your family and your friends
And thank God for His gift of Love
On Christmas

And Grandma’s baking her pumpkin pie
And her world famous casserole
The kids are playing games on the living room floor
And I’m waiting for my baby with some mistletoe

And it’s Christmas time again
Time to gather with your family and your friends
And thank God for His gift of Love
We’re gonna thank God for His gift of Love
Thank God for His gift of Love
This Christmas

It’s Christmas time again
Oh, it’s Christmas time again
Everybody, sing joy to the world, the Lord is come
And let’s thank God for His gift of Love this Christmas
Hear the little drummer boy playing his drum
We’re gonna thank God for His gift of love this Christmas
Singing joy to the world, the Lord is come

KIKOPRINCESS: Faith as small as a mustard seed

TV review: The confidant 大太監

Movie Review: Skyfall (2012)