Today is a homely day of MC-ing. Down with the cold package of headache, flu, cough, phlegm, sore throat. Spent a great deal of time reading the Bible and journaling the verses/thoughts fiercely. At the back of my mind, I'm still thinking about the Tues night before my next day AM flight. I led worship for cell group with the song "At The Cross". Shared with the gals that I had been listening to this song over and again and was very overwhelmed by the lyrics as I could empathise with what is meant by sinners saved by grace. God loves me even though I failed Him time and again.
Also prepared a sharing on a passage from 2 Cor 3:12-18, about the veil being torn and we can enter boldly into God's presence. Actually I thought of this passage cos it coincides with the bridge of the song: You tore the veil... You made the way .. when You said that it is done ..
During the allocated time of listening to God during worship, I sensed that God say that this ladies' group, daughters of God, is very precious to Him. He really loves us. JY also released a word on David's army won the battle as He is a man after God's heart (something like that I think). During Word time, Ah Lian then shared on offering right sacrifices to God (Psalms 4:5). There were more verses and references... but I think my brain shut down by then. But the gist of it is on sacrifice to God. After the whole cell meeting is over, I was thinking, hmm the worship (God's love, veil, victory) and the Word (sacrifice) part didn't really gel? Quite a lot of content over there, as in there wasn't 1 distinct theme....
I guess there is no need for 1 distinct theme. Oops, I guess I have boxed God in that way. Was reading Heb 10 today and just listening to last sunday's online sermon which I missed. Actually the words released during cell group is quite aligned with the sermon. From Heb 10, the veil/curtain (His body) is now torn ... we can enter the Most Holy Place (His Sanctuary) confidently/boldly. Our sins/lawless acts, He remembers no more and have been forgiven. There is no longer need for any sacrifice for sin. The only sacrifice He requires from us is our lives! The Lord desires us to do His will. He desires our hearts (deceitful), minds (logical) and our all (time, resources ... everything else). The underlying truth of this is: Jesus loves us so much - to the point of death, death on the Cross.
Ps Melvyn's sermon is the bestest. Sums up nicely:
1. Sonship - encounter of God's love as sons & daughers of the living God
2. Surrender - enthrone God to every right in our lives
Amen.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Bangkok shopping, erm I mean conference
APO International Productivity Conference on Knowledge Management
Bangkok, Thailand, 17 - 20 Jan '07
What a start to a new year! Am thankful for this trip. Good exposure to international conference and BKK shopping!
Let me attempt to summarise the interesting sights/insights/experiences ... unplugged version .. in no coherent order:
1. I realised that I forgot my namecards AFTER I've checked in. Called home and tried to get my dad to fetch them for me... he finally found them .. but couldn't get a cab. Plan B: I asked my colleagues to despatch to Bangkok instead. Thank God! The cards arrived at lunchtime the next day (Day 1 of conference). Made a few apologises that my dog gobbled up my namecards .. nah .. and that my cards were on their way .. am glad that DHL saved the day in the end!
2. Was reading the book 'The Confident Woman' by Joyce Meyer on the plane. Thank God for the timely message .. actually I thought I will need this book especially on my inaugural conference trip - lone ranger representing my company some more. Particularly, I'm impressed by this quote: YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL CONFIDENT TO BE CONFIDENT! That blew my mind. We need to believe God's Word more than we believe our feelings. During and after the conference, I received comments from the other delegates that they find that I'm very bold, yet so young, intelligent and could expect to do very well in my life/career. Wow .. the funny thing is that I didn't FEEL very confident.
3. Made a few international friends, particularly from Korea and Cambodia. The Korean guy is a Christian too! He's married with ... 1 or 2 children (sorry, short term memory) and runs an online marketing company. Oh by the way, the delegates were mainly CEOs, managing directors or personnel of equivalent rank. Yes, I was saying, I met him and his group of Korean counterparts at breakfast table. Actually I saw the ladies first and asked to join them at their table. He was very friendly.. we spoke on our different languages, cultures, social trends. On the last day, he passed me an exquisite pocket mirror! Thank God for His favour!
4. Hmm I met the Cambodian group at lunch table and subsequently joined them for dinner at the last day at the shopping plaza next door. Not all of them spoke English ... I wondered if they understood all that were shared during the conference. Anyway, one of them is the Head of the Cambodian National Productivity Organisation, likened to Spring Singapore in our local context. He was had a very fatherly and down-to-earth outlook. There was a younger guy in the group who passed me a Roti-Boy and dropped me a 'parting note' before he left for Cambodia in the early morning. Oops, I'm sorry ... if he were a girl I be more comfortable to keep in touch with him.
5. Oh yes, I was talking to a Nepalese group during a cocktail dinner To my surpise the next day, the lady came and gave me her bright orange Nepalese shawl! It was very kind of her .. But I decided to leave it at the hotel room. The Jasmine smell was too strong for me ...
6. The 2-day conference was quite insightful as we discussed (at length) on knowledge management, organisational learning, innovation etc. I asked 2 questions (on paper) that were answered by during Q&A .. but the British guy was pretty soft on the mike and his words sounded very muffled. He also got quite a strong accent that's hard to follow at times. So, it's as good as questions not answered :( Actually I was dying to ask another question to a German speaker. But it was complicated ..I was drafting and re-drafting my question until it's time open the floor for questions (on mike). I really wanted to ask, but was too shy to get up to the mike. I have not decided on the final draft of the question! I could imagine a girlish, quavery voice over the mike, with corrections in words and sentence structures used. So much for a confident woman .. oh well, at the end of the conference, I managed to introduce myself to him, got his card and requested to email my question(s) or could even meet up during his trip to Singapore in 2 weeks time (which he revealed during our conversation). Cool.
7. I had the experience of travelling on Bangkok skytrain on the first day as I decided to venture downtown. The system was like old Singapore MRT system. But the process of getting the single trip ticket was made more complicated by the language barrier. Asked a few people and I managed to get around. Not too difficult after all. I'm impressed with the orderly train boarding protocol of the Thais. They actually followed the signages on the floor and queued up in 2 rows on both sides of each entrance to the train. The train cabins were similar to our MRT. Except there were handrails high up (near the roof) forming a ring at the doorway areas. Particularly handy for the jerky train rides especically when caught during the rush hour.
8. Went shopping at MBK, Siam Centre, Siam Paragon and Chatuchak market. Missed the Platinum Complex and that area for lack of time. Got myself some good deals even in the posh paragon! My first visit to a Mango sale.. hee and it was not crowded at all! Got a black jacket at a steal at SGD 39. Bought the most stuff at Chatuchak market. My bargaining skills still need more polishing man. I'm quite willing to just pay and don't bargain one loh. Haha easy customer. Oh I bought an intricate clock in huge glass bottle with sea shells, underwater world simulated decorations in it. At a steal at 200 baht or SGD 8.7. We bargained for a price 220 baht actually. But I just didn't have small change! Oops, I really didn't mean to 'cheat' her money one loh. haha.
9. Realised that Gucci was a rather popular brand in Bangkok. I see people clutching Gucci wallets, bags everywhere I go. Then I saw that Gucci stuff (obviously intimations) were sold in heaps, shops, pushcarts as though they were Perlini. Luckily I didn't see any Coach bags sold like that. Was carrying a mini Coach hand-clutch given by my mum. A gift from my 2nd uncle to her but she finds it too small. Just as well. I kio-deo-ed. :P
10. Kena conned by cab driver on my way back to hotel from the skytrain station. The driver obviously knowingly drove me to the wrong Sofitel hotel. I gave him the hotel card that comes with a mini map loh. The hotel is so near to the skytrain station and yet it took me about an hour to get back. The driver took me to a faraway Sofitel, to-and-fro the highway and I kena taxed twice of total 80 baht and still must pay them around 200 baht for the meter cab fare. Incredulous! It only costed me 40 baht to get to the train station in the first place. Anyhow, I just paid loh. He even shortchanged me. But I was like, whatever lah, super tired already and got to prepare for next day early morning conference.
Overall, I enjoyed my trip very much! Checked my emails and saw that there is an upcoming project to apply the knowledge I've acquired in the conference. Sounds exciting :)
Ok.. got to go .... =)
Bangkok, Thailand, 17 - 20 Jan '07
What a start to a new year! Am thankful for this trip. Good exposure to international conference and BKK shopping!
Let me attempt to summarise the interesting sights/insights/experiences ... unplugged version .. in no coherent order:
1. I realised that I forgot my namecards AFTER I've checked in. Called home and tried to get my dad to fetch them for me... he finally found them .. but couldn't get a cab. Plan B: I asked my colleagues to despatch to Bangkok instead. Thank God! The cards arrived at lunchtime the next day (Day 1 of conference). Made a few apologises that my dog gobbled up my namecards .. nah .. and that my cards were on their way .. am glad that DHL saved the day in the end!
2. Was reading the book 'The Confident Woman' by Joyce Meyer on the plane. Thank God for the timely message .. actually I thought I will need this book especially on my inaugural conference trip - lone ranger representing my company some more. Particularly, I'm impressed by this quote: YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL CONFIDENT TO BE CONFIDENT! That blew my mind. We need to believe God's Word more than we believe our feelings. During and after the conference, I received comments from the other delegates that they find that I'm very bold, yet so young, intelligent and could expect to do very well in my life/career. Wow .. the funny thing is that I didn't FEEL very confident.
3. Made a few international friends, particularly from Korea and Cambodia. The Korean guy is a Christian too! He's married with ... 1 or 2 children (sorry, short term memory) and runs an online marketing company. Oh by the way, the delegates were mainly CEOs, managing directors or personnel of equivalent rank. Yes, I was saying, I met him and his group of Korean counterparts at breakfast table. Actually I saw the ladies first and asked to join them at their table. He was very friendly.. we spoke on our different languages, cultures, social trends. On the last day, he passed me an exquisite pocket mirror! Thank God for His favour!
4. Hmm I met the Cambodian group at lunch table and subsequently joined them for dinner at the last day at the shopping plaza next door. Not all of them spoke English ... I wondered if they understood all that were shared during the conference. Anyway, one of them is the Head of the Cambodian National Productivity Organisation, likened to Spring Singapore in our local context. He was had a very fatherly and down-to-earth outlook. There was a younger guy in the group who passed me a Roti-Boy and dropped me a 'parting note' before he left for Cambodia in the early morning. Oops, I'm sorry ... if he were a girl I be more comfortable to keep in touch with him.
5. Oh yes, I was talking to a Nepalese group during a cocktail dinner To my surpise the next day, the lady came and gave me her bright orange Nepalese shawl! It was very kind of her .. But I decided to leave it at the hotel room. The Jasmine smell was too strong for me ...
6. The 2-day conference was quite insightful as we discussed (at length) on knowledge management, organisational learning, innovation etc. I asked 2 questions (on paper) that were answered by during Q&A .. but the British guy was pretty soft on the mike and his words sounded very muffled. He also got quite a strong accent that's hard to follow at times. So, it's as good as questions not answered :( Actually I was dying to ask another question to a German speaker. But it was complicated ..I was drafting and re-drafting my question until it's time open the floor for questions (on mike). I really wanted to ask, but was too shy to get up to the mike. I have not decided on the final draft of the question! I could imagine a girlish, quavery voice over the mike, with corrections in words and sentence structures used. So much for a confident woman .. oh well, at the end of the conference, I managed to introduce myself to him, got his card and requested to email my question(s) or could even meet up during his trip to Singapore in 2 weeks time (which he revealed during our conversation). Cool.
7. I had the experience of travelling on Bangkok skytrain on the first day as I decided to venture downtown. The system was like old Singapore MRT system. But the process of getting the single trip ticket was made more complicated by the language barrier. Asked a few people and I managed to get around. Not too difficult after all. I'm impressed with the orderly train boarding protocol of the Thais. They actually followed the signages on the floor and queued up in 2 rows on both sides of each entrance to the train. The train cabins were similar to our MRT. Except there were handrails high up (near the roof) forming a ring at the doorway areas. Particularly handy for the jerky train rides especically when caught during the rush hour.
8. Went shopping at MBK, Siam Centre, Siam Paragon and Chatuchak market. Missed the Platinum Complex and that area for lack of time. Got myself some good deals even in the posh paragon! My first visit to a Mango sale.. hee and it was not crowded at all! Got a black jacket at a steal at SGD 39. Bought the most stuff at Chatuchak market. My bargaining skills still need more polishing man. I'm quite willing to just pay and don't bargain one loh. Haha easy customer. Oh I bought an intricate clock in huge glass bottle with sea shells, underwater world simulated decorations in it. At a steal at 200 baht or SGD 8.7. We bargained for a price 220 baht actually. But I just didn't have small change! Oops, I really didn't mean to 'cheat' her money one loh. haha.
9. Realised that Gucci was a rather popular brand in Bangkok. I see people clutching Gucci wallets, bags everywhere I go. Then I saw that Gucci stuff (obviously intimations) were sold in heaps, shops, pushcarts as though they were Perlini. Luckily I didn't see any Coach bags sold like that. Was carrying a mini Coach hand-clutch given by my mum. A gift from my 2nd uncle to her but she finds it too small. Just as well. I kio-deo-ed. :P
10. Kena conned by cab driver on my way back to hotel from the skytrain station. The driver obviously knowingly drove me to the wrong Sofitel hotel. I gave him the hotel card that comes with a mini map loh. The hotel is so near to the skytrain station and yet it took me about an hour to get back. The driver took me to a faraway Sofitel, to-and-fro the highway and I kena taxed twice of total 80 baht and still must pay them around 200 baht for the meter cab fare. Incredulous! It only costed me 40 baht to get to the train station in the first place. Anyhow, I just paid loh. He even shortchanged me. But I was like, whatever lah, super tired already and got to prepare for next day early morning conference.
Overall, I enjoyed my trip very much! Checked my emails and saw that there is an upcoming project to apply the knowledge I've acquired in the conference. Sounds exciting :)
Ok.. got to go .... =)
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