Alma Maters

Alma Mater - the school, the college which one has attended.

Reflecting back, I did attended quite a number of schools, and had graduated from a few too. My sincere thanks to you, my Alma Maters, you had taken part in making me what I am today and I appreciate you.

Wawasan Open University (WOU), I was with WOU from 2008 - 2011 to pursue a Commonwealth Executive MBA program. I took 7 full semesters to complete this program. Whew! WOU is a special university and I am proud to be associated with it. WOU is a non-profit university that uses the open distance learning (ODL) concept and is opened only to working adults. Since I am residing and working hard in a not so accessible city of Kluang, this ope

n distance learning concept applies well to me. The quality of study is also very commendable

. A word of caution though, this ODL program not exactly easy, it is in fact extremely strict and only the those with extra strong will will complete the program. Having gone through it, I would say, strict discipline, passion, strong will will be what it need to complete this strenuous ODL program. Extra portion of will will be needed for those working adults with family. Ha, and I did

it :). Kudos to myself.

University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), is where I pursued my first degree in Chemical Engineering from 1992 to 1996, and also where I spent four solid years of campus life. Those who had experienced campus life will know what I meant. Beside attaining a degree in engineering, UKM is the place where I actually I have learnt much and enter into adulthood. It is also where I met many of life long friends and my wife Siew Choo. It is also a place where I learnt to draw myself close to God and to serve Him. UKM, you have been an important place in my life.

Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (English College), Johor Bahru. I prefer to call you EC or English College as what you were known as. For I am truly an EC boy. I was at EC from 1987 till 1991, that is Form 3 till Upper Six Form. I took both my general examinations of SRP and SPM at EC. EC is a place where I studied hard and tried many sports. Although I did not excel in any sports but I did well in studies. Also made some very close friends there.

Batu Pahat High School or BP High for short. I was there only for a year in 1986 when my family had relocated to Batu Pahat. I did not spend much time here but it was indeed a very memorable year of schooling for me. I was in the last class and for the first time made many Malay friends. And I even managed to get into the class football team which was dominated by the Malay boys. In spite of the poor academic influence of the class, I did well in my exams, beating most of the pupils from the first class and caught the attention of the teachers. Well liked the very scenic and old school :).

Saint Joseph School, Johor Bahru had trully been my alma mater. I even remember and hum to the old school song. Yeah. St Joseph form me during my growing years. I remember the fields and old canteen and the drills I as a boy scout. Many, many childhood friends there. Fierce .teachers and being caned by the headmaster :( Ha, plus many happy moments

Kudos. You all have done well. Live on my alma maters.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Finally watched this movie which is long been on my watch-list. William Wilberforce, I salute your passion and tenacity and John Newton I salute your bold repentance. Praise to the God of Love.

Online Ordering

:) I am extremely pleased with myself today. Did something for the first time. I finally order a pizza online. Domino's Pizza is in town. Sunday evening, and lazy to go out. Wanted to order by calling, but decided to try the online ordering system. Struggled a little trying to register my house address, but overall it had been a pleasant experience. The Domino's GPS Tracker is fantastic, the kids goes crazy as they tracker ticks and revealing that the pizza to ready and is being delivered. Amusing indeed. Kids had fun, and I had my stomach filled. Thank you Lord.

Swimming

Finally I did something I can be proud of today, something I wanted to do for ages but never got it. Exercise! Today I swam at noon during the lunch break. Made my way to the swimming pool, I had the whole pool by myself. Excellent! The sky is a little shady, just nice and the water in the pool is slightly warm, wonderful. Did a 30 minutes swam, exactly what I wanted. Thank you Lord. :)

Paul, Barnabas and Timothy

Yet another funny service today without a normal Sunday Sermon. However pastor did shared about Paul, Barnabas and Timothy. We all need Pauls, Barnabas and Timothies in our lives. One or more Pauls, leaders or mentors who will guide us and fathered us; Barnabas who walks with us and encourages us when we are at valleys of life; and Timothies, many of them if possible for discipleship and for us to pass on the the legacies.

Who are your Paul, Barnabas and Timothies?

Mentors of my University Days

By default, Father, Mother and Wife, you had made it into my mentor honour list by default. As I ponder over my mentors, many faces came to my mind. People who came into my life at different phases of my life. I praise the Lord for these people. Special people that God sent into my life and make me into what I am today.

University days at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Israel Lee Yik Sheng, we were both freshmen at UKM back in 1996, we stayed at the same hostel. Israel is an extremely extraordinary chap. His name itself sounded weird for a Malaysian student at UKM. Israel has an enormous zeal for Jesus and love for people. He is also an astounding intellect. Being a freshman, first year in
college, he do not seems to fear men, and was moving freely around the campus preaching Jesus to all who care to give him the opportunity to do so. Israel brought my wife Siew Choo and myself to church. Israel has no vehicle in the campus, he would walk and walk and walk to visit people. He taught me to pray boldly for people. His zeal for the Lord and the love for people has influenced me greatly. Israel is a well built, tall, athletic, smart and good looking but he is humble and gentle. I remember following him moving around the hostel, knocking on rooms, offering to pray for students who are totally tensed up during the exam weeks. Well done Israel. You have impacted many and myself, God will surely bless you richly.

- Peter Chen Heng Peng. Peter is another most extraordinary person whom I respected very much. I thank God that I had the opportunity to know Peter and was his friend. We were both in the engineering faculty at UKM. He was doing electrical

engineering while I was doing chemical engineering. We become good friends and later even became housemates in a small flat at Bandar Baru Bangi. Peter has a nerdy look, with thick rim spectacles. An absolutely simple person, extremely humble, very helpful, intelligent, diligent and loved the Lord very very much. A person with many many skills and talents. I was astound when I realised that this nerdy first year student can study so well untirelessly, rides a two cylinder antique motorcycle and yet still can plays a guitar and sing beautifully. He knew the Lord in an most intimate manner and always prays. He is meek and serve others almost readily and in a selfless manner. He never complains. Peter earn much awe from course-mates, a great leader and is a resemblance of our Lord Jesus as a servant leader. Peter graduates, got married and became very successful in life. Peter taught me meekness, patience, servant-hood. He also showed me how to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Peter influenced me much during the four short years we spent at UKM. Bravo Peter, God bless you.

- Henry Drieberg, another extraordinary fellow with a Dutch heritage. Henry is my two years my junior in university. He is also studying Chemical Engineering. A young man but a great leader who loves the Lord. Henry is a practical person and real. Henry teaches me to be real and faces the ugly reality with boldness and strength.

Mentors

Last Sunday, Pastor Victor preached about mentors. His preaching styles is most extraordinary, full of lah, loh, mah, meh, hah. Hardly English. He even said that if you cut him open, teh tarik will flow out. So much gestures, and even added in a song. And yet he claimed that he is an introvert!!

Well, I don't think he had actually preached that day, but I still like how he shared about his mentors. It made me thought about my mentors.

I am an introvert myself, I don't think there are many mentors in my life. But hey, praise the Lord, on hind sight and when I started naming them, there are actually quite a number of people that come into my life. They actually came during different stages of my life and had impacted me to be what I am today. Well, thinking further, I actually feel like wanting to honour them by listing them out. Will do that on my next post.

MBA - Completed

Ha Ha Ha, MBA completed. Really free this time. Took me three and a half years to finish this. All the same, I am glad that I did this and learn so much along the way.

Thank you Lord Jesus for being with me through these years.

No Fire

1 Jan 2010, I was promoted to Senior Manager position, whoa. Funny thing is that this very much sought after promotion don't seems to excite me. Need to find out why. Most probably the Passion is missing. Just heard Pastor Benny Ho's preaching on Passion, Ability & Responsibility. So this promotion is obviously a Responsibility, it is my job and I have the Ability, was doing this for the last 7 years but hey, where is the Passion. Pastor Benny calls this "No Fire". Pastor Benny's advise for people who are already in this position for some time should consider to move on.

Free

Completed my last exam for this semester this morning. Got a free feeling. Felt like a bird. Light & easy. Though I know it will not last for long. I still like the feeling. Yes, loved it. Get to rest and do catch up on doing the thing I love to do.

The Bible also teaches about being free. Free form bondage and the yoke of sins through Christ Jesus. If the freedom of the Bible is as what I felt today, I want it.

I WANT TO BE FREE !!

King James Bible
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.