tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87230004407871128142024-03-06T08:56:51.096+08:00Let there be light!Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-29400937984025244512013-08-11T23:26:00.001+08:002013-08-11T23:26:54.133+08:00A new beginningIt's been a year since I last posted in this blog. Generally, I have been on and off in writing this blog, and I do admit that there are some darker and evil reasons hiding behind me deciding to write a blog. I don't know if I still have them or not when I'm writing this. I may write something about it later on, when I already have the right heart to do it. I can only say that I realize it has been a lifelong struggle for me, and I believe it will always be there. I need to learn to live, struggle, and cry with it as it is truly my biggest problem.<br />
<br />
Pray for me as I embark on another journey, please ask God for me to be able to fight my sinful nature and come victorious through Him, for now I truly understand that this is too big for me to handle by myself.Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-71592487787591927692012-04-18T01:07:00.002+08:002012-04-18T01:10:23.826+08:00A New Post!<p>I totally forgot about this blog. Between my project, papers, FESIM kongress, WC-FESIM, Chenli ministry, gym and Italian trip, my time has been packed with quite a lot of stuff to do. Interestingly, I still have the time to watch tv series. hmmm....</p><p>Anyway. Just hopping by to check if this blog still existed (duh!). Later I'll write something of actual content. Or maybe not. (haha)</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-13068156832010330752012-01-19T01:31:00.001+08:002012-01-19T01:31:41.593+08:00On Matthew 17:24-26<div align="right"><em>Tax for two at two drachma each,<br />From the sea a shekel granted<br />Ask, o man for He is not out of reach.<br />Hence trust, your needs fulfilled.</em></div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-55571150973229156232012-01-14T01:52:00.002+08:002012-01-14T01:56:52.826+08:00Which one am I?<p align="center"><em>"It is one thing for a minister to be used by God. It is another for a minister to be pleasing in the sight of God." - Paul Gunadi</em><em><br /></em></p><p>Quoted by Chandra Wim today in ISCF fellowship. Truly something that bug my mind in reflections for tonight. Truly, which one am I?</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-56968672661815556172012-01-12T23:01:00.005+08:002012-01-12T23:04:52.471+08:00Fear can hold you prisoner<p> <a href="http://www.moovidadb.com/system/imagefiles/000/028/040/original/the-shawshank-redemption-mid.jpg?1316634113"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 741px;" src="http://www.moovidadb.com/system/imagefiles/000/028/040/original/the-shawshank-redemption-mid.jpg?1316634113" border="0" alt="" /></a>Just watched the movie tonight. How the hell did I miss watching this one? This was superbly done! For you who didn't know, it's a movie back from 1994. So I kinda missed watching this over 17 years, nearly impossible with a HBO in my home since the '98. If you haven't watched it, I'm telling you: go and watch it, you must.<br /></p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-6574301526128193592012-01-12T01:58:00.003+08:002012-01-12T02:05:13.779+08:00Boasting in our weakness<div align="center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1IAhDGYlpqY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify">An interesting video. I bet it raises some eyebrows. I would agree to the spirit of it, but agree with it using all caution I have, for as it convey good message, it can also be translated differently. I do hope that the church can really act like God's people with integrity though, albeit continuously struggling to do so. I do hope that we may hate sins like cancer, and throw it out away as far as possible.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">But more importantly, I hope that Christians can get over the differences that they have among each others, cooperate in harmony, and work together for God's glory.</div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-2545199903533190172012-01-11T18:02:00.001+08:002012-01-11T18:02:35.891+08:00Never alone<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5pXrMPtCVcE" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="360"></iframe></div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-42182597208595521992012-01-09T14:55:00.002+08:002012-01-09T14:58:42.540+08:00Awesome comment is awesome<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ecouterre.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/emma-watson-people-tree-4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 537px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.ecouterre.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/emma-watson-people-tree-4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"'Harry Potter' is not 'Twilight', you know; we're not selling sex."<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;">- Emma Watson commenting on Twilight<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms. Watson, you just got yourself a new fan.<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-60428299237338581192012-01-09T01:28:00.004+08:002012-01-09T01:32:16.690+08:00The Tattoo<p><a href="http://www.flicksandbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-international-poster-021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 743px;" src="http://www.flicksandbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-international-poster-021.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></p><p>Watched the movie last night. Unexpectedly long and unexpectedly plenty of adult scene. But it was unexpectedly good as well. It's entertaining :)<br /></p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-82975240507263857402012-01-04T15:40:00.006+08:002012-01-04T15:52:43.105+08:00RendangLast week I got too lazy to work and stayed home with Irving the whole week. Well, mostly. Thing is, I don't have any spirit to play games or read as well somehow. So I got this crazy idea of cooking rendang after I saw the rendang that Irving's gf brought from Jakarta the day before. It was surprisingly easy to make -- albeit a little slow. I used the recipe from <a href="http://www.cookle.at/id/mdbRendang.aspx">this particular site</a>.<p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRxL9VqddJyH1p6avBJ2XPWWoMhlGvmEMMOFQC3umsfudU82gbiVL4jvRDCtWPo6kHRAyaPx1Jz8QcIjriEd45qpH7UT4D7msCQVBjiASU2G_C6rVMa5479XR1-H5b8VbX8vB8nV1UTA/s400/018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693679578793010210" /> </p><p align="justify">It was quite good IMHO :). Should have put more chilli though. Haha. And since I didn't want to deviate from the original recipe, <em>i used 1 kg of beef</em>. It took me around 3 days to finish this dish for 2-3 meals a day. Haha. Total cost: ~30 SGD (for 3 days? okay lah hor..)</p><p align="justify">Now, enough blogging. Back to confirmation report writing!</p><p align="justify"><em>God give me strength to finish this one in time... Pretty please? </em></p><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgKRWVBTOHfLgtq2xKN6ppGyL-4ImPuyDP5jEotV4FSdJSloCzg1NBI3fHeOKN9YyPwK35WNN1i_JnognwxqNwsmLCstAyEBedYU7P-6zufINhAeHuN67TXMtiOjpdqu1hjQAoBvopXE/s200/88fa0d1f.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693681185792011106" />Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-18262090813771629142012-01-03T22:10:00.002+08:002012-01-03T22:15:01.350+08:00I used to work hard everyday...<p><em>...but I took an arrow to the knee.</em></p><p>Skyrimian joke aside. That was what I felt after I work professionally last time. It was only for a year but somehow it shifted my paradigm on dilligent-ness. I used to spend at least 2-3 hours of independent study/work in my undergrad. Now I think I cut my official work hours as much as I can. Shame on me. Shame on me.</p><p>Or maybe that's just me being lazy.</p><p>...</p><p><em>or may be it's truly an arrow took my knee.</em></p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-52928106853042064712012-01-02T22:37:00.002+08:002012-01-02T23:23:46.937+08:00Second Day<p>I spent the second day of 2012 in my sweet spot: home. Well, it's still a holiday and I got nothing better to do since 11 am, so I stayed. Nonetheless, since I started writing again, I began to revisit some pages that I haven't came into for a while. Two particular posts took my attention and made me think for a while about us: our greed, our self-justification when we think we have done something yet nothing in actuality, and our sense of justice.</p><p>If you have some free time i would love to recommend you these two interesting resources:</p><ol><li>The first one is an article from Vinoth, which I have been very glad to read as always, titled <a href="http://vinothramachandra.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/micro-credit-hype/">Micro-Credit Hype</a></li><li>The second one is a two-hours documentary (narrated by Matt Damon. woot.) titled Inside Job.</li></ol><div align="center"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25491676?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="170" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><a href="http://vimeo.com/25491676"></a></div><p>I wouldn't spell what I am musing about after these two particular resources though. Haha.</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-8955723009343609462012-01-02T00:52:00.003+08:002012-01-02T00:55:27.062+08:00Thankful<p> No matter how low the quality of it, i'm still thankful for putting this one through</p><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VsWu8THHv5W-i4iryHLsu0URoeOMBywfy31uz57gvMJ3ILwTYkBzKCPQagQtVfLU4Lu8YQcYd8X5_0Xe-cswaAaxDnFzeX_3hhkz7dy4AAtwtpjYoD_wzjGSgxdsZWMAfybWBHbC1Ac/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692708042868974098" /> </p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-79741844576373805862012-01-01T19:13:00.002+08:002012-01-01T19:29:16.497+08:00Old and New2011 Has not been kind to me.<div><br /></div><div>Not that previous years has been a totally nice, but the last one was such an ordeal. Well, I guess it was partly due to the fact that it is "last year".</div><div><br /></div><div>Old struggles and new struggles come and goes. Some was thankfully resolved, but much are left unsolved. The oldest of all even went untouched, 2-and-a-half-year and counting. Another thing that has been eating away in my heart underwent a leap of faith, and i guess it went miserably bad. I was lonely, I was getting lazy. My ministry was in much lesser quality than what I expect them to be, while my work has been under par. I keep falling to the classic dung hole of mine, and the roller coaster swing of my quiet time was at its peak amplitude. I am grieved.</div><div><br /></div><div>But somehow I'm still thankful. I don't really know why.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess it came from my faith, that God sees me as His precious son, detestable and wretched as I am (He knows and I knows how I am not worthy of all that He has given to me). And these kind of troubling events in my life was His way of disciplining me. And through that, I feel that He cares for me and wants the best out of me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I shall try to rise again. Maybe I will fail again, but I pray I will fail better. I guess I have to be thankful that I can still be thankful in the midst of it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pray for me friends, that I may be able to do all my utmost in this year (Oh and how I am haunted by the looming shadows of my QE).</div><div><br /></div><div>As for this blog, I'm trying to revive it again -- fingers crossed though. I will try to update it as much as I can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let there be light.</div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-85770382995651759642011-07-09T12:26:00.002+08:002011-07-09T12:27:54.140+08:00I honestly never imagined seeing this before<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU5Nick6Vf4vlxNOhnkapidcPA7EDZYbT60mbUDFR52eGUKm8JDuUtnoZCYIdsbwe4r2op_XyYqDOeCyNmAxgszCbMmijT53jCDKs5vhJKZKStq770EZXMut6Wu0iVHZYdPoagp8M_r0/s1600/Juventus-Home-11-12-Pirlo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU5Nick6Vf4vlxNOhnkapidcPA7EDZYbT60mbUDFR52eGUKm8JDuUtnoZCYIdsbwe4r2op_XyYqDOeCyNmAxgszCbMmijT53jCDKs5vhJKZKStq770EZXMut6Wu0iVHZYdPoagp8M_r0/s400/Juventus-Home-11-12-Pirlo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627204573264961074" /></a>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-29588505693868266252011-06-13T21:24:00.004+08:002011-06-13T22:30:06.267+08:00God Provides<div align="justify">For you who shares with me in the previous month since my exam period, i think you already know what I am <em>kanchiong</em> with. Basically, my NPGS demands me to produce 4.00 minimum CGPA every semester, however, the result from my 1st semester was 4.16. which is one mark shy from that minimum CGPA. So I was really stressed out the whole semester, which peaked on the last week before exams (see my things to do around march-may, you'll know why). After the exams, I was not confident at all with my performance. And so I began to be uneasy.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">It might sounds a bit over-the-top. mathematically, I just need to produce 2 B+ and 1 B, and I'm still (marginally) safe. I mean, how hard was that? But yet I can't get it out of my mind. I think I have asked A LOT of ppl to pray for me for two things: (1) for me to be able to calm myself down and (2) for the result itself to be <em>enough</em> for passing the minimum requirements.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">The result for the undergrads came out a few days earlier than the result for the grad students. Seeing my friend got their results gives me the <em>ikea meatball filling</em>. On one hand, I am happy for them, and I felt that I got hope as well. On the other hand, I grew even more uneasy, since I can't wait under that kind of stress. Thankfully, last week was quite hectic so I got a lot of distractions.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">The result was supposed to come out on the 13th. So I waited on 12th until the turn of the day. right at 12 I pressed F5.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And the result is not out yet. -__-'</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I waited another 5 minutes. Maybe it was not 13th yet on NTU server. I pressed F5 again.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And the result is not out yet. -_______-'</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I pressed and pressed and pressed. Several ppl already asked me on gtalk: Irving, Indra, Kuncup, Maria, Itin. I said: Not yet. I waited until 1 am, finishing "Burlesque" on the process (It's nice. But the ending was lacking <em>epicness</em>). I pressed F5 again.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And the result is not out yet. -______________-'</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I figured that I need to go to sleep early, since I will have Machine Learning Summer Studies at Biopolis for a week starting on th 13th (I'll write about this later). There I was, praying the 2 prayer points again. Miraculously, I am able to go to sleep directly. Thank God for that. The result was not out even when I woke up. So I muster up my mind and went to Biopolis. I can't get my hand off from my iPhone the whole day. I think the battery was running as low as 15% at 3 o'clock. Haha.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">At 5 o'clock (with 6% of battery left), an email came. Saying that the result is out. Right in the middle of the seminar I went silent, and without realizing, I was praying for the same two prayer points again, but this time, I add another: so that I can accept anything that God deemed suitable. I logged in from my phone.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And I was stunned. @_@ That was the highest mark I've ever had my whole life. I was not paying attention to the seminar at all for 10 minutes or so, praising God and praying the whole time.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I was reminded once again, that God really provides. That He give according to His infinite wisdom to His people what is good in His time. I may fail the first sem (got scolded hard from my prof. haha) but it made this sem much more sweeter. And God truly gives abundantly. I was reminded on how beautiful it is to have brothers and sisters to share our burden with, praying for each other and hoping for the best to come to each of us.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">So thank you for those who have prayed for me on this one. Papah, Benchers, Exco 07/08, Nesha, Indra, Pak Win, Bu Henny, Ci Mel, KTB bawah, flatmates.. I really appreciate it =). (sorry if i forgot to mention someone there. i think I ranted too much to everyone.. haha).</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">On sidenote, Exco 07/08 did another EST last saturday after DnD wedding. It was magnificent. I'll write something later on. =)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Let there be light!</div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-86533845038816571782011-05-21T22:14:00.003+08:002011-05-21T22:45:54.493+08:00The long promised postYea, yea, I have slacked too long to write this post. Anyway, last month my father went to visit me here for 3 days 2 nights. Not much reason actually, he just came to visit, alone. So we had a nice father-and-son time along those times.<p align="justify">And yes, in my family, it means food. =D</p><p align="justify">I asked him to accompany me viewing for new flats. There were one at Clementi and another at Tiong Bahru. Both failed, miserably. Anyways, we were actually planning to eat at the market there anyways to look for suckling pig. So in the end both of us, joined by our agent and Irving ate suckling and ducks there. Haha. So-so, actually. Don't have the photo to share on this one.</p><p align="justify">We spend the rest of the day at the hotel, resting and talking. Later that night we went to Balestier Road in search for Bak Kut Teh. And oh my God. Those were heavenly! We went there to see a long queue, but seeing that it was not that long, we decided to queue for around 15 minutes. We ordered 2 Bak Kut Teh, 1 Pig Trotter, and some sides.</p><p align="justify"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1zxgwZ4B7aydbIGWj5ePVhyNyP63Lhz2VI_UqGYbBKeiFkUdDVX60pSyRWErydO8UtyJYmsrcqP2ptPHL42Pwo85jkpel4wlb12tEdEW59WWEKUeFVGKFvY9y3W_d7jeffI9qopWX_o/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609180006312193474" /> </p><p align="justify"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyL1w9_cPMZ_JQE7Enc7h2F9NxXYyC-knwVpTDLozouylsePq0N67zZoYTsmJJf0sPZm7kMNNi6Kk4yEUimMul3HXhvCr3jN1R-6LqnLn4V6CGGDjM31QNsSLZbXiGPOv7fVjXpJ7dF8/s400/014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609180016560132658" /> </p><p align="justify">The ribs was so thick, the bowl almost filled with the meat. The soup was tasty and nice. It was wonderful. The only complain my father had is that the soup was too little (since the meat was very thick). And he likes his soup. However, just right after we discuss that, an uncle came with his metal glass of soup and we got refill, free-of-charge! We smiled, knowing that the seller really knows his customers. HAHA!</p><p align="justify">The next day we came to Chenli for sunday service, skipped the bible study (lol!) and went straight to Orchard. My father need to go to Tang's too look for something his wife ask him to bring, then we went straight to Centrepoint, since he wanted to see AFC store. Sadly, it was closed when we got there. Closed on Sundays, apparently.</p><p align="justify">We decided that we'll look for Peking Duck at Lido. Went there. The entire floor is closed for renovation -___-'. Choose Crystal Jade Home*something-i-forgot*. Some is nice, others are not. But we ate on anyways.</p><p align="justify"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2nwOHZ8FrLlFesqfetPkJYvxiQ-ECclbdiamH1vK8-WHnqL7l4SuxJR4oKhjiJR36Z_JNrFFpx60xmGokQunPbJeiDM9iIj1f0XxMiYUXjhiZlwrIqPjsxqw_QuSZPhQgibwMwarhfw/s400/015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609180025316880786" /> </p><p align="justify">We close our Orchard adventure in cineleisure, watching "Source Code". Decent one I say. That's not bad at all. I felt bad though, because the whole time we were waiting for the movie, I was occupied with housing matters. Things went a bit complicated, and I panicked. But I think God is really great, because He gave me the time to spend with my father along with this kind of incident. I feel VERY reassured with his presence, and his words of comfort do calm me down. :')</p><p align="justify">Yea, I think I miss that a lot. I wanted to be independent, strong and capable of taking care of myself ever since I went to university. I became a very hard-headed guy, who want everything to be finished as soon as possible, as best as I can, but also as comfortable as possible. But whenever I am with him, I can feel at ease. I really do miss that times when I can be vulnerable and trust everything in my life to my father. Not that I became carefree, but it was a great break.</p><p align="justify">On the way back, we passed by Brotzeit at 313. My father saw the pork knuckle, and we got so excited. Haha. So we went back to our hotel in Ibis, rested until 7 pm, then ate our dinner at their branch on Raffles City! Yum yum yum.. =D</p><p align="justify"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoF2QCAv3WiqZ-82C7JaUTULK4x95LA3ueHKW6O8Sn9Pu1l8zKOgg0mQfvo4UhutyZHbhCKLZ7Wq1lfN7RgWI75PGFhp4-_bx3u_crwbmmgNoQeO3nJV8TxvDGiemUA6WDvH1ddeNxcp0/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609180033693220530" /> </p><p align="justify"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxkSewtvX8QMtWkh88XaVFSM-l-wNM0Vqr4-omKLNnvM6h4uLwWpEwNUyxfbtMzS8KGxUj_xIBngdil8RtwECNZtnW95xEG_fego4JRFlCqxqMcD5sbJs2yn_iX9ylCiqL-Q6uO6ejcg/s400/017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609180512262903122" /> </p><p align="justify">He went back the next morning. (Yes... I went to school around 1 pm that day), but we still had our chance to get breakfast together, and talk about things for a couple of hours until his flight. I really want to go back to Jogja now. Hahaha. But I think the soonest will be on July.. I have to rush for my project now. >.<</p><p align="justify">Anyways, today is NTU-ISCF AGM. Congratz to Nesha and Vincent =). I'll write something later on when I have more time. I need to get some rest today. ^^</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-69852688149338068242011-05-16T14:08:00.002+08:002011-05-16T14:22:38.497+08:00Back to blogging<div style="text-align: justify;">Three weeks has passed since my last post. If you don't follow me on Buzz then you are missing a heated discussion there, caused by my last post. <span style="font-style: italic;">Which by the way, was a bit out of topic anyway</span>.<br /><br />Those three weeks without blog entry was... chaotic. From looking for a new house (found one already!), monetary problems caused by it, my father's visit, exams, rushing projects and EARC shooting -- those were quite a stressful period. In fact, I just finished a shooting session for EARC last night on Eusoff Hall (NUS). We did that until 4 a.m. -- meaning I'm pretty much dead now, writing this blog post in total nonsensical thought process, yet I'm still skimming through my paper. Believe it or not, I went to Eusoff Hall every night for the previous 5 days, without failing for the shooting. My...<br /><br />I will share more about the new house later on when we moved (that will be on the first of June). I wanted to tell the story of my father's visit, but I forgot that I don't have apple peripheral cable in my office so I can't upload the photos. So I guess I'll do it later.<br /><br />On exams... Well, I have to say that I think I did well, barring the stupid mistakes I did here and there, which is natural for exams period. But the thing is, my last GPA was 4.16, while my NPGS ask me to produce 4.00 CGPA. It means that <span style="font-weight: bold;">I am that scarily close to the cut off line</span>. I can't help to be anxious over the past week about this. =(<br /><br />I know that it means that I have to get a B, B+ and B+ for the three subjects I take this semester. And I also realize that it is not that hard actually. BUT, why am I not able to be calm about it? =S<br /><br />So friends, if you're reading this, please help me in prayer, so that I can be calm about this and keep faithful for His providence in this period of waiting (still one month until the result is out), and if you are willing to, please pray for my result as well, so that it is enough to keep my scholarship.. Thanks =)<br /><br />One last not so important note... Singapore is getting HOT! >.< and my Air-con is pretty much spoiled. Rain please come. <span style="font-style: italic;">Every night please, but not on the day--I can use my lab's air-con for that.</span><br /><br />Let there be light!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">~can't wait to move to new house...</span><br /></div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-8865593179095344272011-04-26T12:18:00.002+08:002011-04-26T12:26:12.818+08:00and then it was 13th<ol><li>Week 13 has come. Time waits for no one. Exam waits for no one. Argh</li><li>Finished all 5 KTB books last week. We will proceed to John Stott's "Issues Facing Christian Today" starting next semester. Let's see how it turns out</li><li>My simulation was not satisfactory. 20% performance level compared to 60% of the original paper is NOT acceptable. Oh my goodness. What to do? What to do? What to do?.... ..Exams...</li><li>Was shown <a href="http://ppi-australia.org/?p=597">this link</a> this morning by the resharing of a number of people. I'm resharing it again. A small thing for our country, and supporting Indonesian students in other parts of the world.</li><li>The temperature is getting hotter by day. My air-con is spoiled. Talk about torture. Phew.</li><li>I had a neck pain on Saturday. I literally CAN'T turn my neck to the left. That was the day of pain. Thank God for healthy neck...</li></ol>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-24878917545599802522011-04-12T16:29:00.004+08:002011-04-12T16:39:35.312+08:00Thank God for 3G<div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday, I had a quiz on computational intelligence. Now I think all of us may had a strange quiz in one way or another. But this one? Oh my...<br /><br />To start, the prof does not bring a proper question paper. He just use the digital over head projector, just to realize that the projection can't afford showing the whole paper and we need to ask him to shift the paper all the time.<br /><br />Then he announce that it was an open-book quiz. And I was memorizing all those equations over the weekends. Great.<br /><br />Just to make things better, he left the class like 4-5 times for 5 minutes, and you guess, everyone starts giggling and talking with each other.<br /><br />Now, as it stands, there's a question that ask us to find the inverse of a 3x3 matrix. Some calculators can do that, but accidentally mine can't. Of course I can take the long way for it -- but it would take forever and I felt lazy. So, since it's an open book exam, somehow i got a pretty good idea.<br /><br />There comes iPhone. Open safari. Google "Matrix inverse calculator" and <span style="font-style: italic;">voilla!</span> Thank God for 3G. Haha.<br /><br />Anyway, there was no class yesterday so I can go back early to cook meat sauce for tonight's lasagna. Yum! =)<br /></div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-46044060569514932662011-03-29T00:52:00.002+08:002011-03-29T01:18:39.292+08:00The Man (or Woman) behind The Man (or Woman)<p>Just finished watching The King's Speech today. THAT WAS AWESOME! Really lives up to its 12 nominations for the Academy Awards. Now, I am not writing a movie review. You can go to any site if you want and you'll find one easily.</p><p align="justify"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOLITVE92xfDaqshFG7WrgjuuqOCA1bdLLA36gYlJS0dQquiphBPX9S0ool9dPS0h-c9AAY6jBzjNyXwxpyyJaSG3YF50Bv3Y8KSqy0xN7epDl4hmKCaEwOMX8tU5WRLP0d5uRYW_ddY/s400/Kings_speech_ver3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589181260124564402" />I am most moved by two characters: Geoffrey Rush's Lionel Logue and Helena Bonham Carter's Queen Mother. Not only because they acted splendidly, but because of their character and the part they played in the improvement of the King's speech capability.</p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Granted, the movie itself have its own problems on its historical accuracy, like the actual starting date of the treatment, Churchill's stand on Edward's abdication and the severeness of the King's stammer. But the character that they portrayed tells a lot.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Not every one of us is called to stand on the limelight. Some of us is called by God to do our part in a smaller scale, behind the one who are called to stand on the limelight. Assisting them, empowering them, being an honest and faithful friend to them. Like Logue, helping the King to overcome his problems by providing trainings and friendly support. Like Elizabeth, who as a wife pushed her husband to go beyond the limit, enabling the meeting between the two, and supporting her husband all the way.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">This doesn't stop only in the film. If it's not because of his mother, Tom Hooper (the director), will not be making the movie. She was the one who bring the story to him, and he credited her on the Academy Awards stage, with the Oscar in his hand, and his mother in the audience.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">If it was not because of Edward Kimball's urge to preach the word to D.L. Moody, then the Christianity scene in the world will be very different from today. If it is not because of the wisdom of Agus Salim, then Soekarno and Hatta will not be as big as they are today. Joseph towards Mary, Rebekah to the covenant family. <s>Pinky to Brain.</s> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">We too have our own callings. We might not all called to be the one standing on the spotlight, being the figure seen by the public and directly become the one affecting this world. But we might be called to be the one standing by those people. Supporting them behind the curtain. We might not even be called to be the one closest to those people, maybe only someone minor to the eyes of this world. But we does make the difference alongside all God's people. God does not see us by how famous we are.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">God sees us by how faithful we are to our calling.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Heed His Call. Let there be light!</div>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-19189564123735605962011-03-26T21:45:00.002+08:002011-03-26T22:31:27.863+08:00Fairly Mental<p align="justify"><em>*Disclaimer: this is a reflective post, and after writing it I realized that it can disturb some people. So, please pray and take a deep breath first. I don't have any answer for these questions that I throw for the time being, or even later on. But I know that I should still pursue what I can do best about it.</em></p><p align="justify">In conjunction with the having a bit of too much, my church visited the Institute of Mental <s>Hospital</s> Health today. I always mentioned that last "H" wrongly as "Hospital" instead of "Health" for some reason, so bear with me if it happens later on.</p><p align="justify">Anyway, this exposure trip is part of my responsibilities this term. We wanted to let the congregation be aware on the condition of the societies they are living in day-by-day. Coincidentally, FES also visited IMH last semester on their National Conference '10. So I asked around and decided to make the trip to IMH.</p><p align="justify">Originally, we planned to have a presentation by IMH at 2 to 3 pm followed by interaction with the patient from 3 to 5 pm. However, due to some unforeseen reasons, the presentation can only start at 2.45 and finished around 4.15 pm that means we don't have enough time to interact with the patients, who will have to go back to their room by 5 pm. So in the end, we only went into the ward where the patients who is well enough to get back to society is being treated.</p><p align="justify">But the visit was, for me, quite successful. We are exposed to the sad truth in our society, where mental health is a major source of Singaporeans' illnesses. It contributes 11% to the percentage of illnesses here, just 3% shy from Cancer, who sit at 14%. That is disturbing.</p><p align="justify">People around us got their own problems coping with their environment. Be it from internal or external factor, we are all affected. We do have some degree of mental illness in our minds. We just don't realize it, and thankfully, we are not chronic enough to get accepted into the institution. Or maybe we are just being unnoticed.</p><p align="justify">The thing is, it left me in horror when they told us that the institute has a lot of "possessions" in their care. That is, the patients whose their families abandoned them. Might be from the start no one cares, or someone who got parent who care but passed away and their brothers and sisters don't want to acknowledge them as relatives. Or maybe some unknown male or unknown female, who are not identified and no one is coming for them, even when the newspapers have shown their faces. There are many of them. And they are rejected by their own families. Parents, brothers, sisters, children.</p><p align="justify">It redefines the word "unreached people" to me. They are in a sense, even more unreached. Not that the geographical factors separate them from others, but their condition and the stigma of others fallen before them has left them as the outcast of the society. They are near, just one-hour MRT ride from boonlay. Yet I can't help to cry (well, figuratively at the moment of the presentation) to know that there are people like them.</p><p align="justify">Granted, there are a lot of doctors and nurses taking care of them. But even then, listening to the stories of the presenter that they are overjoyed by a visit of volunteers was proof that there are a big hole in their hearts even still. Granted, there are a lot of volunteers who come each weekends, especially on holidays. But for them who are left in solitude and friendless, a gentle act of love is something that is very meaningful.</p><p align="justify">This leads me to think to something even more disturbing. These people are those who are being treated in the institution. They are considered "lucky" enough that they have families who want them to get treated, regardless they are being accepted by the whole family or not. At least, they still have the doctors and nurses, specialists who care for them and working for their well-being. But what about the one who are not identified and treated?</p><p align="justify">I think it is very valid if I say that in this Asian context, to have someone admitted into hospital for mental illnesses is a big disgrace into the name of our families. Some parents does not even want to accept that their children are (pardon me) autistic, and made them go through the same system with other students, even though it will be such a torture to the child. Prestige and pride is higher than anything. Then there are people who are distressed, depressed or guilt-ridden. Some of them does not even have friends to share it into. Or even worse, their social networks told them that it was nothing big, and they expect them to get over it. The person can't get a proper care and compassions from others and eventually breaks down as their burden increases.</p><p align="justify">They might be beside us. People we know. People we usually have lunch or tea-time together. People who we usually read their blog about. People who usually go to Sunday Service or Fellowship together. People who at one time has been someone who brought back hope to us when we are down. People who we thinks are strong, but actually is acting strong because of the demand of the people around them. People who we thought are our so-called <em>guru</em>, but is actually bearing unjust expectation from us. Tormented. Dejected. Saddened. But because of one thing and another they have to carry on. And no one even sees.</p><p align="justify">They are even more unreached. They are even more forgotten.</p><p align="justify">It made me remember this song by Casting Crowns:</p><p align="center"><em>Is there anyone that fails<br />Is there anyone that falls<br />Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small<br /><br />Cause when I take a look around<br />Everybody seems so strong<br />I know they'll soon discover<br />That I don't belong<br /><br />So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay<br />If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too<br />So with a painted grin, I play the part again<br />So everyone will see me the way that I see them<br /><br />Are we happy plastic people<br />Under shiny plastic steeples<br />With walls around our weakness<br />And smiles to hide our pain<br />But if the invitation's open<br />To every heart that has been broken<br />Maybe then we close the curtain<br />On our stained glass masquerade<br /><br />Is there anyone who's been there<br />Are there any hands to raise<br />Am I the only one who's traded<br />In the altar for a stage<br /><br />The performance is convincing<br />And we know every line by heart<br />Only when no one is watching<br />Can we really fall apart<br /><br />But would it set me free<br />If I dared to let you see<br />The truth behind the person<br />That you imagine me to be<br /><br />Would your arms be open<br />Or would you walk away<br />Would the love of Jesus<br />Be enough to make you stay</em></p><p align="center"><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D0H-Ky6-qZE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0H-Ky6-qZE">Facebook notes reader can find the video here</a></p><div align="justify">When I first hear this song, I was directly struck by it. It was such a sad and scary song. Ironically, there are a lot of this people around us. Where are we, as brothers and sisters, to them who really needs us?<em><br /></em></div><p align="justify">Let there be light.</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-24152589356129193972011-03-25T22:35:00.003+08:002011-03-25T22:42:07.137+08:00Having a little bit of too much<p align="justify">If last year when I was working I am having a lot of free time, then the period when I am doing my PhD is a period of me having a little bit of too much.</p><p align="justify">When I was working, I can juggle well between my ministry and my work and my social relationship. This time, I was having problem maintaining all three- I was asked more than once to sacrifice one to satisfy the other two.</p><p align="justify">I am really getting greedy. God forgive me. The things I do are not effective anymore. I am trapped in thinking about a lot of things, but when I finished thinking and want to start doing something, other things come in that demands my attention.</p><p align="justify">Looks like June will be the month of selection.. Please give me wisdom, O Lord, to be able to manage my time better.</p><p align="justify">I really miss the time when life is much simpler. Haha.</p>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-83887207961810239022011-03-23T01:03:00.002+08:002011-03-23T01:10:07.950+08:00William Whiting Borden<p align="justify">For you who came to my session in NTU ISCF Camp 2011 might already heard this name. Oh, for those who came to Chenli on the day of <em>glory glory halleluyah </em>should know as well, since I was yapping uncontrollably because I didn't know what to talk about for that particular song. But that song is for another day.</p><p align="justify">I wanted to write a full article about this man. I don't have the time now. So I'll post the video first. Anyway, if you're reading on FB or GBuzz, you might not be able to see the video. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciDWL5fshHg">So you can check it here.</a> Mark my word. I will write the article after this chaotic chapter subsided.</p><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ciDWL5fshHg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8723000440787112814.post-43908446592180666692011-03-22T00:15:00.002+08:002011-03-22T00:28:30.971+08:00Me vs The Lift<ol><li>Went to FES office to take care of admin things today. Well, actually I just went there to drop some documents and leave to be exact.</li><li>Ci Mel was there when I arrived. So instead of going in and going out directly, I stayed and chat for like 2-3 hours. Haha.</li><li>Went back to NTU since I have a class at 6.30. Got inside the lift.</li><li>I can't get out.</li><li>Apparently, the power went down when I was between the 4th and 5th floor, and the lift stopped with quite a bang. Waited for sometime, luckily the emergency light was on and there's one bar of Singtel signal.</li><li>Thank God, I can get out in a short while only. Haha. I already unpacked my lecture notes and sat on the lift's floor when the power went back.</li><li>If I know that unpacking my lecture notes will turn the power back on, I would do so earlier. Kidding.</li><li>Went back to NTU (for real, this time) and come in for class, which apparently was doing some Linear Algebra review (I had this kind of lecture 3 times in one year. talk about redundant). Thank God the lecturer let us off with 30 minutes before the class end.</li><li>Saw two PRCs having a couple's fight on the way to 199 bus stop. I know, that is not polite for me to put this on my blog. But they fight in front of the men's toilet door near CEE school entrance. The girl just sat on the floor scolding the guy, and I really need to use the toilet. Talk about awkward.</li><li>What a day.</li><li>Oh, in case you missed it. This is the saying of the day: "Sumpah Pemuda" or maybe "Sumpah Ayam Muda".</li><li>Back to assignment that is due next week @_@!!!!</li></ol>Kristo Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345265450181811468noreply@blogger.com0