Into the New Year

Daily Quote : "Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow" - Theodore Epp -
Daily Craving : "loh ak" - stewed duck

Welcome 2005! Here we are into the new year. I haven't posted in awhile and so much has happened since my last post. Christmas has come and gone, and thank God all went well on Christmas day. Thank God that He was able to use us that day to touch the lives of those who were there. But who would have thought that just one day after the celebrations, Asia would be rocked by one of the worst disasters ever? Earthquake meassuring 8.9, the strongest in 20 years causing, Tsunamis to hit the southern region. Tsunamis reaching even here, in Malaysia, where "natural dissaster" usually means floods and landslides. It just goes to show that there are no certainties in this world other then God, cause even death isn't certain...I mean what happens if the rapture happens before you die? :)

I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the damage caused by the earthquake yet. Just yesterday a friend was telling me of a lake near his work place, next to the largest open air iron mine in the world, right here in Malaysia is now releasing sulfur. And there has even been an explosion. Let's just pray that scenes from "Volcano" don't come to pass.

Now the New Year has come and gone as well, and the amazing thing is that our Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi actually asked for all festivities to be canceled and ask for a time of prayer. Isn't it sad that it takes a dissaster for people to turn back to God? That when things are going well most people just act like God isn't evn there. The Americans were just like this until the 9/11 tragedy, then they turned back to God and churches were packed. But now, barely 3 years after that terrible day, things have returned to the way it once was. There is a song which lyrics read "Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes, Empty people filled with care, Headed who knows where?" aren't these words so apt in describing what we all have become?

There is a little brown hamster,
He goes by the name Boo,
His owner's name is Chester,
And he loves boo through and through.

Now Boo is a strong little critter,
And always tries to escape,
Challenges he can face no matter how bitter,
He just needs to get out of the cage.

So one day he sees his chance,
As Chester picks him out to play,
Boo bites him on the finger once,
And scurries off, he is free today!

Off to the garden and beyond the hamster goes,
Through shoes, plants and other things,
All he does is follow his nose,
He smells freedom and his heart sings.

The wheel of time has turned,
And Boo looks much more ragged,
He works so hard time has blurred,
Scavanging for food coveted.

This is the life he wants,
This is the life he likes,
He has the ability and smarts,
His confidence bristles like spikes.

Then one bright sunny day,
As the hamster goes about his way,
Out pounces a cat before he can run away,
Fightened is Boo that all he can do is stay.

The cat bares its teeth,
The cat sharpens its claws,
Boo sees his end in the teeth,
The point of no return is in the cats paws.

The cat punces and Boo cringes,
Then suddenly the hamster is covered,
Feels himself being lifted up by fingers,
Attached to the hand that reached and protected.

Boo opens his eyes to look,
Claw scratched hands,
Blood streaming out like a brook,
Chester had rescued his old friend.

Back in the cage is a happy hamster,
Boo asks why did he ever leave a love so true,
But time passes and memories fade faster,
And once again the outside world beckons Boo.

-By Su Yuen Hsiang-