Not too long ago, I read/heard somewhere that the works of God's grace is twofold. I don't know why but I was drawn to it all! The simple beauty in it.
So, the first work of grace is REDEEMING grace. This is the grace that is all about redemption of your soul from the depths of death, through Jesus Christ. Redeeming grace, that's all it's about.
The second work of grace is SANCTIFYING grace. This is after you have been redeemed. This grace sanctifies, further purifies and cleanses you to better reflect the image of God. If we're living with sanctifying grace, we acknowledge that while we're redeemed, we're still a work in progress, waiting on the potter to mold us. Most people are in this stage.
i believe in the goodness of people
i believe God will not let us down
i believe we are on the same team
i believe this is the way i believe in keeping some thoughts to yourself
i believe in surrendering to God
i believe in the power of music
i believe there is a greater purpose
i believe that i am not greater than anyone
i believe that everyone has something to say
i believe that everyone's thoughts are valued i believe in the value of everyone.
i believe in loving yourself
i believe in honoring your parents i believe it's hard to do everything right
i believe it's stupid to expect everything to be right
You know what, guys? Just give me that chill pill, cos I really need it!
if i were to really reveal to you all that is in my heart, there would be no end to the all-consuming hate and malice that follows. just wanted to put it out there that as much as i am a good person, there is also a sinful nature in me that i don't like to give publicity to. except during certain moments, to let people know that hey, aisha's human too! i have my own battles and struggles, i just don't let you know about it. i may be "holy" but i am also "holey". know well that i, like you, am fighting for survival and eternity with the One. PHEW!
Sometimes, I'm not sure how to upload a picture to the blog properly. Do I have to credit the source, or the photographer? What if I link it directly to the website I got it off from? What if it's from Pinterest?
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Sometimes, I look at my boards on Pinterest and get a mini anxiety attack. Like, GEEZ! Why do I have so many food boards? And what do I do with a pin of a cake, of a movie scene, that's in a video? Which board do I put it at?!
These times I choose to suppress that OCD voice. I know if I give in I'll probably delete the account and start afresh. NOOOOO
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Live your life so that your joys are more than your regrets.
Sure, you'll make mistakes that will lead to regrets. But always remember that you're Forgiven, and your life is meant to be lived with joy unstoppable that won't go away (yes I just quoted lyrics).
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I make mistakes, too. Sorry guys. Sorry me.
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Tom Hardy's hotness level +100 with that book
Please go read a book. It's very attractive.
Not a Kindle. Not in your smartphone. Get something you can flip and dog ear.
If you don't know what dog-earring is, you must get a book.
Here is a long overdue blog post on Xian's 22nd birthday celebration. It was great to have Cher around - she's now based in Penang - so the four of us planned to celebrate Xian's birthday with Khadijah halfway at Publika and had a nice mid-day meal at Ben's. Highlight: the birthday girl had to walk around in a fluffy pink tiara!
Guys, don't keep embers burning in your heart. Whatever questions and doubts you have to God, bring it up to him. Whatever emotions yang terpendam dalam hatimu, don't keep to yourself. Lay it before the King and see what he does with it.
I like this one thing I read somewhere once, in relation to keeping yourself transparent before God: "Go ahead and be angry with God if you need to. He can take it."
When I first entered the family of God (I sometimes don’t want to use the word church ‘cos it seems a bit too formal and intimidating) as a follower of Jesus (likewise I don’t like to call myself a Christian sometimes), I received a card from an elder at the church. The card simply welcomed me to the church and affirmed me that someone was praying for my new faith.
I have never met the giver of the card (she attended the main service, while I only went for youth), but it made me feel happy and blessed that someone was looking out for me.
That’s just one of the many instances I felt blessed by someone. Today, I hope you will do the same and bless somebody in your community.
One of the misconceptions of blessing is that you have to spend money to do it. Don’t forget - there are things more valuable than money that people would love to have from you. Your time. Your attention. Your genuine concern. Your prayers. These you can give, and you should give freely; if you want to positively impact the lives around you.
It will take some effort on your part, but that’s what’s involved when you choose to invest in someone else’s life. Now, I want to hear from you: how do YOU bless people? How often do you do it?
Just this week, three things happened in relation to the Deepavali celebration online.
First was oil and gas company Petronas' Deepavali advertisement for this year titled Do the Dappan. The 3 minute advertisement has been removed from the official Petronas Youtube channel but can still be found online.
An infectious song and dance routine not unlike Gangnam Style, the ad has drawn flak for being "culturally insensitive". According to a T. Selva article from The Star, the Dappan is a dance or a form of song and dance performed during funerals in India to cover up the sounds of mourning and also as a way to inform the community of a death. Note, however, that the Dappan is not exclusively used at funerals. That being said, the Dappan also has little to no relation to how Malaysian Indians celebrate Deepavali!
I would imagine that the Malaysian Indians would be a little bit offended that a company as big as Petronas would overlook researching into the meaning of a Dappan. Watching the Dappan music video, I understand what and where Petronas is coming from - they wanted to create a meme that would catch on to the younger generation. Just look at the trademarks so blatant in the video - bright colors, simple choreography, call to action ("Do the Dappan") and a shareability ("Watch on Youtube"). It's ambitious and would have gone viral if given the chance. The only proof left of its existence on their official Youtube channel are auditions for the Dappan.
The second is what occured on Starbucks Malaysia's Facebook page. Basically, some fans complained that Deepavali celebrations were being eschewed by the coffee franchise in favor of Christmas specials and promotions, seeing as Christmas promotions are already in stores and online - despite the fact that Deepavali is 5 days away and Christmas, two months away! The uproar created by a few fiery remarks have been hard to control, with the more extreme fans calling for a boycott (!). Very luckily the Starbucks team did a good form of damage control by releasing a Deepavali Delight special at the eleventh minute. (As of now the promotion has not been confirmed yet)
An interesting thing to note is that a fan has pointed out a possible quicksand-situation in this matter - if corporations continue to bow to the demands of celebrating each and every national celebration in Malaysia, there would be no end to it - Awal Muharam, Hari Gawai, Good Friday, Wesak Day, etc. (My own take - Deepavali is quite a major national celebration.)
Finally, to cap it all off, someone saw and heard the dilemma of the Malaysian Indian community and created a website to call advertisers to "exploit" the community. (Please don't take this out of context, guys!) The creators of Tambi.my argue that the market for Indians is wide, and yet advertisers would prefer to sell to the Chinese market than them. Ah, I cannot do this campaign justice in this post. The writing is excellent and the actor (comedian Kavin Jay) brought to life the plight of the Indian community that's begging to be advertised to. Case study material fo sho!
(Kay, just unloading some good songs here so I don't forget about them. I probably will forget about them once I hit "publish", though)
Secular emo songs are great to emo in, whatever your reason for emo-ing.
But after you're done wallowing in that shallow pool of self-pity (was that a pun or an ironic statement? Help, guys!), go immerse yourself in some Jesus! Love deep as the sea, broh. How can you say no to that? Plus, grace is unmatchable! And it gives you a good night's sleep, unlike any other.
Wicked Game - James Vincent McMorrow
Letters from the Sky - Civil Twilight
(Side note: What movie is this, man? Malaysia is mentioned! And the soundtrack is like 100% indie!)
Audioslave, banded in 2001, with a few members from Rage Against the Machine. Femes for their electrifying guitar solo every jiwang person knows from...
Like a Stone? More like, guitar solo Like a Boss!
I know it's a song from that's released in 2002 and became popular in 2003, but Like a Stonealways reminds me of 2004. Form 2 classes at the end of the second floor (right next to the stairs), Friday afternoon walks on the school ground ('cos school starts at 2pm on Fridays), friends, more classes, a time when Hitz would play this song and discovering Jane Eyre (wait...that's Form 1!). I would eventually relate Mr. Rochester waiting for Jane with this song. Sungguh melankolik, broh. And super fitting!
Ugh, can this band get any better? No. They disbanded in 2007. *insert anti-joke chicken here* I am the Highway, first heard it on BFM. Good lyrics, good tune and helps you get over that...erhhh...breakup?
Cochise. One word...NAISE.
Okay guys, recommend me some bands! I found out that the one music genre I can stand is rock!
I hate blogging only on weekends. It's like a whole week's worth of events crammed into Saturday, and the clearest memories are those of Fridays, which are always rushed and uneventful!
I like having Bane as my wallpaper. Possibly my favorite villain of 2012. Bane, Tom Hardy, it's all the same to me. (Yes I know you love Joker more - but they're both in different villain leagues, so stop comparing!)
(source unknown)
This week I also finished reading another book - Anchee Min's Empress Orchid. Thanks Nina for lending, and eventually giving it! It's a refreshing read. Again, a really good style of writing that's easy to consume. It's based on the true story of China's (first? and possibly) last empress. Ugh I love that feeling of finding a book you actually want to read and can't wait to finish reading.
This week was also my first time at a karaoke, with the agency. We went to Red Box at The Gardens for a mediocre dinner buffet (OHMAGASH CHOKERLERT GANARSHE) and then belted out hits. Of course we did Gangnam Style, are you kidding me??
And I officially declare 9 November every year as Make a Fool of Yourself by Being an Ass to a Facebook Brand Page Admin Day.
Okay okay enough of work stuff.
I'm going to Bubba Gump tomorrow with ma buddies! :D Happeh times.
This season excites and scares me at the same time. Exciting because it's a celebration that's grander than any I have known. And gifts for everyone!
Scary because of the unending crowds. Oh man. I hate crowds. Especially in malls, when you're just trying to buy that bottle of glue but EVERYONE STANDS IN YOUR WAY. I've yet to meet someone who likes crowds. Maybe an avid concert-goer. Or a professional mosh pitter. Or an active political demonstrator.
*Monday and Friday gelled seamlessly to create a thing I call working week.
Throughout the weeknights, this is what I did:
1. Watched Scrubs.
Stupid show. The humor they use is really different from regular humor, I'd even dare to call it post-modern humor. OOooooh no I don't know if that's accurate but that's what I feel.
2. Discovered the line up for Laneway Fest Sg 2013.
Got excited (because Aidee got too excited -.-). Bought them pre-sale tickets and BOOMZ.
3. I started reading a new book.
But before we go into that new book, I want to say that I finished reading another book - The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (What a nice name - Milan!). Iona lent it to me - and I trust her taste in books! Hehe.
This book is actually not originally written in English, but the writing style, gosh, so beautiful and poetic! I would venture to say that it's written in a very intuitive style, very human yet very fictional.
Plot-wise, the first half of the book was okay. Quite monotonous, but it's a great setting to play around with words. The second half became overbearingly political, by which I had to force myself to go through each word to finish the book.
