AYA!
POSTED AT 12:01 AM

natanna

What's a fest, other than a chance to make some noise? But is noise enough?

Put some substance into it.

Get inspired by:

Ps. Daniel Ho
Senior Pastor of Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC)

Rev. Wong Kim Kong
Secretary-General of National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), Malaysia

Ps. Dr. Philip Lyn
Senior Pastor of Skyline SIB Church, Kota Kinabalu

Rev. Kenneth Chin
Senior Pastor of The ACTS Church, Subang Jaya

 

As you join in worship with:

SONICFlood

GMB 

Altered Frequency 

=) 

Interested? Sign up here. 

Make sure y'all fill the hall, okies? 

(And tell us all about it) 

*note: pics and info ripped (heh) from www.ayafestival.com and alteredfrequency.blogspot.com as well as individual church webs. Some pics unavailable due to uncopy-able pics. DO have a look. 

*phew*
POSTED AT 10:55 PM

natanna

The moral of the story is: God is faithful, and we should start on time. (Quote fr Ps LSH)

If we had started at 7, and not overrun on the parade, we would have ended by 9, which was when the rain started to pour.

So, PENANG PEOPLE... REMEMBER TO COME ON TIME NEXT TIME!!!

Hahaha. But anyway, let's start from the very beginning. It's a very good place to start. =)

We were there by 4 to have a brief drama briefing. And then people had to scatter to get things organised, things set up, bla bla bla. I went to eat. Heh. Food. The carnival was hot and sweaty, and I didn't play any of the games because they were mainly throwing and shooting stuff, and I can't throw or aim, so what's the point? But I did get my face painted. Pic to come when I d/l it off my phone. Hehe.

Hm.

The worship team sounded great! (As usual for big events... couldn't we be that good all the time?) The dancers were a bit blocked off by the people standing though, and the video guys didn't go down for shots. =/ We did our drama... it looked pretty good.. except for the bit where the kids got confused and forgot to start kicking. hahahaha. But that was a bit of confusion caused by TOO MANY COOKS SPOILING THE BROTH. Some people told them to do something else on Friday, and DIDN'T TELL ME. Ish. Can we keep it to no last minute changes????

It started raining somewhere about then. So we did some "cutting" and ended it off.

=)

It was good.

God is good.

=)

*biggie smiles*

Can you tell I'm happy?

Hehe. 

Listening to: American Dream - Oh! Gravity - Switchfoot

of good intentions and dust balls
POSTED AT 09:18 PM

natanna

Full of wonderful intentions, I started to clean my room on the 2nd of January. As of today, I have cleared a total of one shelf, and the top part of my table. And created 2 piles of stuff on the floor.

I have figured out that "cleaning my room" normally consists of making 3 piles of things. Firstly, things that I want / need to keep, and those usually go back on the tables / shelves fairly quickly. The second is the pile of things I want to throw, which normally find themselves out of the room fairly quickly too.

The third pile is the most troublesome. They consist of the things that I really don't know what to do with. They're usually presents from Christmas past (candles, decorations, chopsticks, etc) that serve no purpose except to collect dust. I suppose I could do what Hon Yau suggested and light all the candles. But then, it seems such a waste to use such pretty candles! Other things in the pile are miscellaneous pieces of paper and cards that I sort-of want to keep, but don't know where to keep, or for how long more I will keep them. The sentimental value tells you to keep them. The practical mind says they're just taking up space, and I only look at them once a year when I next clean up my stuff anyway.

Sigh!

Yes, Yong May, you may now laugh your head off.

I hate cleaning my room >.<

The good side is that I get to listen to all my languishing CDs. And pick out all the good books that will be worth a second (or third) read sometime soon. When I have time. After I clear this mess.

The dust balls are getting to me. Ah-choo! 

Reading: stone of tears
Listening to: WOW Hits 2003

the peak begins
POSTED AT 11:21 PM

natanna

Well, it seems that I have had a long hiatus. I miss my blog. I miss my faithful readers. (Though its not as if very many of you show any evidence of being here anyways.)

The peak has finally started, after being "warned" of it since the middle of December. Last week was the first! And I got through it! Well, I will be trying to maintain sanity this coming half year. And maybe it will get easier as time goes by. Sigh. The latest I reached home last week was about 1.30 am!! And the earliest I left was at 9.30 pm!

But ah, headstart begins on Tues. =) So something to look forward to.

And a drama to plan! How fun.

And dancers to organise.

I think my young adults conference will have to be on hold. Maybe next year. After I figure out what to do, and how. And who.

The conference was to be this year. But it looks like the drama is going to materialise. Well. I will have to think. And confirm. And arrange. And gather. So we shall see which one takes off first.

I think the drama will begin soon. Right, Oliver?

---

What did I miss out on this time? It doesn't matter. I'll create my own life. 

online
POSTED AT 10:25 PM

natanna

Well, if anyone asks, I'm not addicted to the Internet anymore. I'm currently net-deprived.

Today, I taught my colleagues how to by-pass office application downloading regulations and log into MSN messenger and Y!M through meebo. See, we're not allowed to install any new programs into the laptop that they give us  (not that I have one yet) and they were complaining about it. So I just innocently suggested, if you can't install it, why don't you just use a web-based application? Nyeheh.

Yesterday was our first Headstart meeting. And 90% of us didn't do our pre-meeting homework. Haha. Well... it's hard to read a scan on a computer... but we'll be getting the nice, hard copy books soon. Whee. Books. We had supper after that - Jimmy, Ben, Joseph and I. =) The pleasure of friends.

stop!
POSTED AT 01:17 PM

natanna

Yesterday, I was supposed to drive David to his CG in Logan Road. For some reason or other, I turned right into Gottlieb Road, instead of going straight in to Burmah Road. I only realised this when I had to turn again, and it blinked in my brain that I was NOT going to church. I had to make a big round to get back to the right road. Sigh. And the silly fella didn't even say a thing.

---

For some strange reason, I have realised that I have a slight aversion to touch. Touch, as in someone touching me. Maybe it has to do with the person touching me. See, there's this girl.

Now, in the first place, I have to admit that I don't really like her very much. I mean, she's okay. But... for some reason, she tends to get on my nerves. Which are kind of shorted anyway, but that's beside the point. Now I'm trying my best to be as nice as possible, and I think it would be quite passable, except for her odd, irritating habit of wanting to... touch me. For no apparent reason.

I mean, what kind of person, would tap someone else on the shoulder or on the leg, when the other is busy trying to figure out how to do her work, and then say nothing? I'm like, "what?" And she shrugs and turns away. ERGH!!!! I mean, if you're trying to tell me something, or show me something, okay, fine. But... but... but...

And there was the other time when we were heading towards the car. she was like... tap. tap. tap. I go, "What?" She goes, "nothing." And she goes on slapping me on the shoulder. And I'm like swerving further and further away. And she tries swerving closer and closer.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

>.<

And I'm stuck with her for another week at least.

And she wonders why I answer her with grunts. I just told her it's too tiring to talk.

Doesn't she take the hint?

---

Oh, isn't today Timothy's birthday? Or is it tomorrow?

Anyway, Happy 23rd! =)

If you read this. 

illustration.
POSTED AT 04:13 PM

natanna

This is a rut.

This is you, stuck in the rut.

This is you, trying to move you out of the rut. It doesn't work.

There is a lever beside you, which you do not see. And so you keep on pushing and trying, and complaining.

This is you, realising that there is a lever, and all you have to do is sit on it (or stand), thereby getting you out of the rut. 

And the moral of the story is: when you're stuck in a rut, stop trying to will yourself out of it. Realise that Jesus has provided the way (the lever) and all you have to do is stand on His word. 

If only I actually knew how to draw. 

=) 

Beyond Measure: a review
POSTED AT 04:46 PM

natanna

Josh got me this for Christmas. =)

So how did it sound?

I don't know if it's because he has mellowed, or if it's because my taste in music has been changing, but I found Jeremy Camp's latest effort slightly blander than the first. Or is it because my speakers are getting fuzzy? While Stay caught my attention, and held it with a majority (I could say all) of the songs and Restored did almost the same, the only really ear-catching song in this album (in my probably-not-very-qualified opinion) was the fourth track, Let It Fade. The last two tracks, Give You Glory and Give Me Jesus (which is "public domain" came a close second and third.

Or maybe I don't mean ear-catching. All the songs are great. They sound wonderful (duh, it's Jeremy Camp). I suppose it's just not as guitar driven. It's not quite as "heavy", vocals wise. Maybe it's because he keeps doing that falsetto thing which isn't really his forte. I don't know. I don't know how to define these things. It's just... not quite what I expected. But I don't know what I was expecting.

I think what I mean is... the only song that really met me where I was at, lyrics-wise and music-wise was Let It Fade. The rest just... faded past.

So,

LET IT FADE

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this,
More than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest,
You will find rest.

Let this old life crumble
Let it fade
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble
Let it fade
Let it fade

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?
It will be gone
It will be gone
Are you carrying the weight too much,
Are you running from the call?

But I still like the album. 'Cos it's Jeremy Camp. And he's still cute. Haha. Ok. Not cute. Good-looking. But he's married. And has a kid. Sigh. I don't like his goatee. Oh dear. What am I getting myself into?  

Thanks, Josh. =) 

Ok, listening to it again, it's actually really nice. I just still think I liked Stay much better. 

Listening to: no matter what it takes - beyond measure - jeremy camp

Is it a chore?
POSTED AT 03:15 PM in thoughts

natanna

Is writing a chore? There are times when it's getting to be that way. I suppose it's the lack of time, the lack of motivation, the lack of inspiration, and the lack of a lot of other things.

As far as my experience goes, I write my best under two conditions. Well, I think I'll make that three. One of them would be when I'm terribly stressed, as in when I'm having exams. I think that's when my brain gets extremely stimulated, and starts throwing up crazy ideas for new stories and poems. Well, the stage of exams are over now (for good, I hope) so it's no use trying to find inspiration in that way at this point of time.

The second way is when I am moderately depressed. However, moderate depression very quickly leads to severe depression, which is very bad for your general well-being, as well as your ability to be objective enough to write. Additionally, as I'm currently trying to avoid all forms of depression, it's also no use trying out that avenue. Unless you want to deal with an Anna on severe mood-swings and anti-depression drugs. So let's not go there.

The third condition, and by far the best, is when I'm on a spiritual high. Which I am not at. Yet. I don't know. I suppose it's the way I function, or the way God's programmed me to function. There are times, when the slightest word or phrase from the Bible, or from Sunday message, or even from a worship song will ignite sparks of ideas, and forms, and words, and the end product is something that just blows my mind away. (Hopefully yours too.. haha) That's when you see me scribbling frantically in church, during worship, during the message. I don't want to lose that thought. So we will work to get there once again. Sometime soon. Hopefully forever.*

And remember that His goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6a)

So I receive goodness and mercy at the hand of the Lord,  but it is not usually the result of my relentless search; rather, it is a result of the Lord's relentless determination to bless and care for me in spite of my sinful tendency to wander from Him.

"Following Jesus in the Real World" by Richard Lamb

Nevertheless,

 It seems to be God's pattern to make a step towards us, and if we respond, He takes another and draws close. If we don't respond, He does not push His way in, or cut in on our dance per se... He often waits until we are hungry enough to respond.

"Drawing Near" by John Bevere

 ...that there needed neither art nor science for going to God, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.

"The Practice of the Presence of God", the conversations of  Brother Lawrence 

Which is all just to tell you that I'm finding my footing in this new stage of life, and realising that where I thought I had lost it, I have not strayed that far from the mark after all. All I needed was just a slight shift of my perspective and vision. (I'd say paradigm shift, but somehow that just seems to over-used lately)

For the moment, my Godly inspiration does not lie in writing, though I hope that does not die. Right now, I'm beginning seeing the Lord of the Dance. Let's expect something new this year.

* No, I do not seek God for the purpose of being able to write better, but I'm coming to realise that my lack of writing [fiction or serious] is often another outward sign that somehow, somewhere, I'm losing my focus on what matters the most.

Listening to: Let Your Love be Strong - Switchfoot

YES!
POSTED AT 11:02 PM

natanna

*dances*

It's coming together!

After a whole afternoon of waiting... Oliver finally called... and it's a YES on Ps Lydia's side... she's going to talk to my dad tomorrow... and then to the church board, and the zone pastors... Hope it's going to be yesyesyesyesyesyesyes all the way through.

THIS IS SO EXCITING!

I'm believing it. The year of JUBILEE! The year of the breakthrough! 

Exhilarating.

Euphoria

You're awesome!!!

Haha... don't think of anything funny... I just realised how weird that sounds...

It was sparked off by an innocent MSN chat... and it has spawned into

Lights. Camera. Action.

            Singing. Acting. Dancing.

DEWAN SRI PINANG.

.two nights.

.two churches.

.two dreamers.

*dance dance dance dance dance*

I'll need YOU and YOU and YOU and YOU and YOU! All of you! Everyone!

This is going to be so. much. BIGGER. than I ever imagined. 

Much much much bigger than Star of Persia!

And we don't even have a script yet! Or music! Oh dear! 

Need I spell it out?

a M.U.S.I.C.A.L. D.R.A.M.A. is coming your way. 

This is one of those "are you sure you can drive?" incidents. 

=)

I love you. Haha. I do. 

=)

Awesome.

And what's our purpose, you might ask. For me, it's simple.

we're redeeming the arts for Christ

 

Feeling: giddy