Brush Your Teeth!

A new medical study shows that individuals who do not brush their teeth twice a day have an increased risk of heart disease.

"Kids, brush your teeth or you'll get a heart attack!"

Yesterday was pretty cool, Sharon, Nick, and Jules came over to visit me at different times of the day. I had good conversations and a fun night :)

Thanks guys, you're awesome.

I learnt how to play "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson yesterday. My finger tips felt so sore from all the hammering and sliding. It's a song that I've always wanted to learn. I'm glad that I actually took the time to sit down and learn it.

Can't you see that it's just raining

Ain't no need to go outside...

But baby, you hardly even notice

When I try to show you this

Song is meant to keep ya

From doing what you're supposed to

Like waking up too early

Maybe we can sleep in

I'll make you banana pancakes

Pretend like it's the weekend now

And we could pretend it all the time

Can't you see that it's just raining

Ain't no need to go outside

But just maybe, laka ukulele

Mommy made a baby

Really don't mind the breakfast

'cause you're my little lady

Lady lady love me

'cause I love to lay here lazy

We could close the curtains

Pretend like there's no world outside

And we could pretend it all the time

Can't you see that it's just raining

Ain't no need to go outside

Ain't no need ain't no need Mmmm MMmmm

Can't you see can't you see

Rain all day

And I don't mind.

The telephone is singing

Ringing it's too early

Don't pick it up

We don't need to we got everything

We need right here

And everything we need is enough

Just so easy

When the whole world fits inside of your arms

Don't really need to pay attention to the alarm

Wake up slow, yeah wake up slow

You hardly even notice

When I try to show you this

Song is meant to keep ya

From doing what your supposed to

Like waking up too early

Maybe we can sleep in

I'll make you banana pancakes

Pretend like it's the weekend now

And we could pretend it all the time

Can't you see that it's just raining

Ain't no need to go outside

Ain't no need, ain't no need

Rain all day and I really really really don't mind

Can't you see can't you see,

You gotta wake up slow

So I was reading the Word yesterday (Mark 5:21-43) about how Jesus healed a woman who was sick for 12 years. She had haemophilia, which meant that she bled really easily and couldn't stop bleeding. She was damaged not just physically, but also socially and psychologically as she would have been ostracised by the Jewish community. ONE DAY, in a single MOMENT, Jesus came along and healed her.

In the same place was Jairus, a rich and happy Jewish politician, had all he ever wanted - a happy family, fame, wealth, and a nice camel to ride on. Yet ONE DAY, in a single MOMENT, his world was crushed at the news that his daughter died. Though Jesus raised his daughter back to life later on.

"Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler [Jairus], "Don't be afraid; just believe." - Mark 5:36

Point is: we don't know what the next moment holds. We can be suffering for 12 years, or living in bliss for 12 years, and it can all change in one SINGLE moment. So I'm going to be close to the Lord always; praying and building my relationship and faith in Him. I'm not going to be living in ignorant bliss or wallowing in suffering because I know that it can and WILL change in just a single moment :)

I'm gonna watch the Australia vs Ghana match at Dan's place tonight. Hopefully it'll be an entertaining match! :)

3 blessings I'm grateful for:

1) Julia Donald

2) Not waking up to watch the England vs Algeria game this morning

3) A loving God.

Breaking Seeds. Sowing Ankles.

I broke my ankle last Wednesday while playing mixed Futsal. A desperate stretch to take a shot on goal landed me with a spiral fracture to my lateral malleolus and a purple cast which I will have to leave on for the next 6 weeks :(

I was rushed to the hospital straight from the futsal match by my dear friend, Shaz. The doctor didn't bother to wash or sterilise my sweaty skin before casting up my ankle. I'm not allowed wet the cast, so that means that the dirty skin underneath would be uncleaned for 42 days. I sure hope I don't find anything green or black growing on my skin when I get the cast removed.

So.. I decided to revive my blog being filled with inspiration after reading Mink's blog.

I just finished watching "500 Days of Summer". I loved every lame joke and every awkward moment in that movie. Near the end, the narrator reads:

"Most days of the year are unremarkable. They begin, and they end, with no lasting memories made in between. Most days have no impact on the course of life. But the 23rd of May was a Wednesday..."

It is quite true that very few lasting memories are made in between most days of the year. Yet I believe that every day endows lessons and memories, be they significant or not, that shape our mindsets and influence our thoughts, words, and actions. They are the sum of who we are. They are forgotten not because they're not important; they are forgotten simply because we do not remember them.

So I've decided to make short posts about what God's taught me through each day lest I forget.

"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." - Mark 4:18

I felt convicted when I read that passage today because I know that I've been subject to these 3 pitfalls: worries, greed, and discontentment.

The seed is the Word of God which brings freedom from sin, freedom from the fear of death, freedom to forgive, freedom to love, eternal life, joy and peace. Yet I know that I have been "unfruitful" because I worry about my future. I worry about my relationships. I worry about whether my friends will remain true. I worry about whether I'll get a job that I enjoy doing; about whether I will earn enough money; about getting an iPhone 4; about getting a bigger and better house, about getting a spiffy car. I worry about soo many things.

I know that all worries, greed and discontentment draws my attention away from the things of God. So I'm going to trust God to provide for my needs and I'm going to focus my time, finances, and attention into doing his will.

"The happy man is not the one who gets what he wants but the one who wants what he gets." - some wise dude

I'll finish off with a completely unrelated medical piece of information. An experienced doctor once told me: "Your diet doesn't affect acne at all."

I was like: "What? Are you sure?"

Experienced Dr: "Prove me wrong!"

I can still remember the smug look on his face when he said that.

Dear Dr. Smug-face,

"Population-based and migration studies have suggested a correlation between diet and acne. Large, well-controlled, observational studies have demonstrated that diets high in dairy products are associated with an increase in the risk for and severity of acne. Researchers have found significant associations between all varieties of cow's milk and acne. The relationship between milk and acne severity may be explained by the presence in dairy of normal reproductive steroid hormones or the enhanced production of polypeptide hormones such as IGF-1, which can increase androgen exposure, and thus, acne risk. Recent findings also describe an association between a high-glycemic-index diet and longer acne duration. In addition, randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that a low-glycemic-load diet can influence hormonal levels and improve insulin sensitivity and acne. No study has established a positive association between acne and chocolate, saturated fat, or salt intake."

Yours truly,

Skin Therapy Letter. 2010; 15(3):1-2.

P.S. Try to have some respect for your patient's queries in the future.

Three things I'm grateful to God for:

1) The powerful gust of wind that woke me up. I actually thought the rapture was happening!

2) My dad, mum, sis, and granny who've been waiting on me in love

3) Love.

The Shack

"...sequestering his emotions securely in the padlocked basement of his own heart." - Young

Psalm 34

"Fear the Lord, you his saints,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." - v.9,10

It's funny how much I think I don't have at times, and then, at others I forget about what I lack at all. What do I lack?

In a material sense, I want a dog, I want a manlier car, I could always do with more clothes, maybe a huge plasma TV for my soccer matches.

In a spiritual sense, I need to be able to hear from God more clearly. I need direction to where God wants me to be. I need intimacy with him and with my friends. I need wisdom in my actions. I need a heart of humility. I need to be filled with his love so that I can love. I need his strength to overcome my sin. I need him to renew my purpose for living.

I like how David draws a contrast between mighty lions and those who seek the Lord. No doubt the sheer power and tenacity of lions could ensure them a stack of Angus steaks. But whilst their strength is merely of a finite measure, the Lord’s strength is infinite.

So how do I fear you, God?

“Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

Keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.” (vv. 11-14)

Keeping my tongue under a leash is something I really struggle with. Please help me with that. The words of my mouth are but expressions of my heart. Lord, consecrate my mouth. Make it meek and pure so that no evil may stem from it. Help me to flee from words of malice, envy, aggression, and indignation. Let my mouth speak only words of love and encouragement.

I just want you, Jesus

More than a nice melody,
More than the sweetest of word's,
This is love i have found,
and with this love i am found.

I just want you Jesus, I just want you my lord,
I just want you Jesus, I just want you.

Never could I comprehend,
The love you so freely give,
Never could I be with you,
But your love covers all of my sin.

I just want you Jesus,
I just want you my lord,
I just want you Jesus I just want you.

There is no greater love than yours,
Nothing else could ever compare,
And even if I search all the world
I will never find a love like yours, God.

I just want you Jesus,
I just want you my Lord,
I just want you Jesus,
I just want you,
Jesus!

I attended the PS Mighty Men Conference over the weekend. Amidst all the hyped up praise songs, this one really stood out. I love it.

I love you, Lord. Thanks for loving me so much and for being so good to me.

Help me not to chase after anything else but you.