2008 flew by

As the title states, 2008 really did flew by.
I could actually remember the night of New Year's Eve 2007 where I was ushering in 2008 with a bunch of loved ones.
I actually really looked forward to 2008 from the beginning as this would be the year that I will finally complete my A Levels.
And I sure did.
After that came the onslaught of various events and memories that really filled my mind up to the brim.
Here's some of them (yes, I finally have pictures included with my points!)

The Parties & Farewells

DanLo Birthday
was great! Had a great time eating my "Original Fish & Chips" and also hanging out with great friends.

Jang's Birthday
was filled with fun and laughter. Just the right way to celebrate NST's beloved Janggut Pastor's day of birth!

Shealin's Birthday
was an interesting one because I was the only guy who went!

Vickie's Birthday
which was yesterday, was great. Good food with great people.

My Birthday
was very "Exotic", very red day for two people and the table. Had a memorable one.

Wei Hsien's Birthday
was good. Good to catch up with college buddies.

Debbie's Farewell
was a happy and sad occasion. But more of a happy one :D

Isaac's Farewell
was Japanese-y and super relaxing. Except for the rat that I parked under.

Siva's Farewell
So sudden. So sad. Yet so funny.

Joanne's Farewell
was a nice little farewell where we all get to bully Melissa who was working at Starbucks.

The Travels

Glow United Malacca Outing
was super fun! First outing with the Couz Cell that I go to. Had a great time doing crazy stuff and waiting in line for great food.

DanLo & Tze Quan's Cell Outing
was a day filled with xiao mei meis and xiao di dis.

Aquaria KLCC
was cool. Saw many sea creatures and really marveled at God's beauty. Plus I spent a day with two wonderful friends. Couldn't get any better. (Just missing one HA)

Bangkok Trip
was dramatic! But yet it was cool and fun. First trip outta the country with a bunch of friends. We did everything there except sleeping with ladyboys, sucking up drugs, watching "tiger show", buying porn, dealing with firearms... okay maybe we didn't do everything -.-

Cameron Highlands Trip
was fun and chillaxed one. Great one night stay. Had a great time with great friends.

Israel Trip
was superb! Saw many sights, smell many camels..(wait no I didn't), eat many hummus. All in all. I learnt a lot and my heart made a space for this blessed nation. Made a bunch of crazy friends along the way :D

Europe Trip
was crazy and exciting. It's interesting to see the sights that have stood around for centuries. Lost my new camera in Paris... Drama? Yeap.

The Happenings

STAND Camp
was good.
Chillaxed and opened up my heart and ears for the message that God gave Ps Sam.

BAC Prom
I felt like a lobster here.

BBQ @ Club 16.
was fun. Made new friends and ended up playing badminton with them whenever possible.

Club 16
My favourite hangout spot. I go there literally every day. Never knew that I would find someone there who challenges me to be a better and stronger person. (yes I know I'm wearing pink shades)

Of course, there are more moments that were not captured on camera or just can't be said in words alone. Moments like kacauing Chubbs or even when the cup I peed in overflowed... (er ... nevermind).
I do cherish every moment. Yes, even the time when it hurts or when my slipper patah.

2008 has been a great year. Sitting in church just a couple of hours ago, we had to reflect on our year. Honestly, I couldn't. There were just too many moments that I cherish and I will hold on too.
One thing I held on to tightly was the whole year of 2008. But slowly as the clock ticked away, I felt 2008 slipping away by the seconds...
And boy... did it slip away like a wet eel!

And so,
we say hello to 2009.

A year of increasing capacity.
A year to put on the full armour of God.
A year to stand firm in Him.

'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you— for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.'
2 Chronicles 20:09

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love,
Philip

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Christmas

Although Christmas has passed and it's now the end of 2008.
I would just like to post something Christmas-y (pressure lah)
I came across this story while cleaning up my cupboard...

A Candymaker's Witness

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane.
This candymaker incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain. the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the corss so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as the Candy Cane - a meaningless decoaration seen at Christmas. But the meaning remains for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear." May this symbol again be used to witness to the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas and remains the ulimate and dominant force in the universe today.

so cool ain't it?

Look ma! A reindeer!

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Merry Happy Birthday

It's been a lot.

Happy Birthday to you who colour up my life.

Thank you for being you.


I know you love your "Senses". =p




PS : Haven't been blogging lately due to festive blogger's wall.

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Choose a ball

I would not say that I'm the most optimistic person.

I'm actually quite the pessimist. Read my posts and you will understand that I touch upon the more *emo* or emotional side of things.
I could be pessimistic due to my realistic lenses that I wear.

But what makes me keep on journeying each day?
Yes, I do fall at times during this journey called life.
And to fall I mean I do fall quite often.
At times I go around in circles as well...
Thinking that I've found that right path but then the dark haze of pride shrouds my vision and leads me back to the start again...

But overall, I still continue to walk.
Sometimes I have to crawl...
Sometimes I have to run...
Sometimes it's a climb

It's tiring at times and difficult.

But yet, there are times....
When the run turns to a stroll ...


My friend writes in her blog and I quote :
"We can choose to be unhappy about so many things, things which in our opinion should have made us happy. A lady whose daily routine of eating chocolate ice cream was disrupted by the closing of the shop should count her blessings that her blood sugar level will remain normal that day. A student who failed his exam should be thankful that he did not resort to cheating to pass. A person who grumbles about the way the country is being run should look up and say a prayer that he has a country to complain about. It's all a matter of perspective. I used to say that the glass is half empty but now, it seems more pleasing to say it's half full. Both are true, but one makes life more bearable, enjoyable even."

Sometimes... we really need to take a stroll after that long run.
Because running might place our focus on our stride and then our weakness.
That's when we forget to look at our surroundings and see the beauty of the area that we are journeying in.
Until and until we take that stroll, we would not see the blessings that is placed at our feet.


We need to take a stroll...
And that stroll will lead you to realise that
in the end...
there's Someone else journeying with you.

Happiness IS a choice

And I choose to rejoice.
Because He is faithful and good.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

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Don't Worry Be Happy

People been telling me lately that my blog is "emo".

So after much persuasion which involves evidence of the past posts and since the beginning of this blog...

I have decided to write about happy stuff and things that will make you smile and miraculously find yourself with water flowing out from your nose...

And to start it off... this post shall be a HAPPY POST.

THIS IS A HAPPY POST :D!!

:) ?

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I'm not Superman

Lately I've been trying my best to be superman.
Trying to complete certain tasks by a certain date or even pleasing certain people.

But then slowly I was burning myself out.
It's just like I was carrying a piece of kryptonite around my neck while flying around to save the world from mass devastation.

Many times I fail to live up to my expectations and I fail to reach that optimum level of being able to complete everything or just making somebody happy.

It was then I came to my senses.
I shouldn't be superman.
I should just be me. Philip Tan.

It's because I am an imperfect being.
Superman may be a super man.
But he is still a man.
And as a man. He has his imperfections and also a huge weakness to kryptonite.

Instead I should just be Philip.
And place my life and my dreams and visions back in focus.
Focusing on God.
God is not Superman.

God is God.

And by placing the focus back on Him and Him alone...
All things will fall into place.
That's when, we can stop pretending and let down our masks and capes and outside-worn underwear.
And truly be filled with His divine strength and power.
To do the tasks we should have done a long time ago.

Just because...

A super man is imperfect.
God is perfect.

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