A year ago at this time, I remember boarding a bus to Teluk Sari, Mersing, the location of my National Service campsite. Then, I was a 17 year old boy who was so very reluctant to board that bus. Saying goodbye to loved ones, I boarded the bus filled with uncertainty in my heart and mind.
Almost bald(decided to do crazy stuff since I would be bald anyway) with just a few strands of hair on the top of my head, all the emotions and fear was enough to cause me crying at the top of my lungs.
All I was thinking about is how to get disqualified from NS; all I was worrying about is relationships with loved ones. What would happen due to my absence? Will people forget me, and forsake me thereafter? In my mind was just full of friends whom I treasure so dearly, I could not let go.
A year ago around this time, I remember a song written and sung- What Christmas Is. I wrote it while studying the Gospel according to Luke, for Bible Knowledge 9221 SPM. And the carol was sung by church friends, fellow carollers. Besides being sung at carolling, it was played on a piano by a friend as part of a prelude for a Christmas service in church, that meant so much to me.
This now is so nostalgic.
A year ago at and around this time were two experiences, both of which made(makes) me cry. One, more of bitterness and the latter, slightly simpler.
Monday, December 28
Friday, December 25
Foto Friday and Merry Christmas
as easy as storing treasures
To keep loving
harder than giving treasures
To stop loving
one loses all treasures
Happy Christmas to all, this is a season of not just receiving but also giving and thanksgiving. Indeed on this day all mankind received the greatest gift, so let us take our eyes off our earthly presents for a while and be grateful for everything we have be it little or much, all of which we do not deserve.
Monday, December 21
caroLLing
"The carollers go carolling, singing carols." or "The carolers go caroling, singing carols."?
"Carolling" has two L's in British English but one in American, does it really matter?
To many people, English be it American or not is the same, a little bit of different spellings here and there is nothing. American and British English are just like two different families in the same kingdom. And to have spellings of words from both American and British spellings in the same sentence? No big deal... A lot of people have even become unaware of the differences in spellings of so many words.
Should I make a big fuss when someone spells "carolling" with a single L? Nothing against American English and those who use it, at all. But I believe students from a government school should know how to use British English, at least as long as he or she is still a student in a government school, or any other school that uses British English. And for those who use American English as a medium of study, practise American English. Speaking of which, so many people today do now even know the difference between "practise" and "practice"(in American English, it's all just practice) in British English.
Never mind, the government schools in Malaysia adopt British English as second language and a study medium, probably because Malaysia was once a colony under the British rule. For whatever reason, the public school students here use British English. So should these students be aware of the differences between the language they should use and the American alternative?
For those who may have misunderstood, sorry if I was confusing. Haha...
It's not a crime to use American English, neither will I persecute those who use it. I am just trying to voice my opinion on English as a language, a language that deserves respect.
"Carolling" has two L's in British English but one in American, does it really matter?
To many people, English be it American or not is the same, a little bit of different spellings here and there is nothing. American and British English are just like two different families in the same kingdom. And to have spellings of words from both American and British spellings in the same sentence? No big deal... A lot of people have even become unaware of the differences in spellings of so many words.
Should I make a big fuss when someone spells "carolling" with a single L? Nothing against American English and those who use it, at all. But I believe students from a government school should know how to use British English, at least as long as he or she is still a student in a government school, or any other school that uses British English. And for those who use American English as a medium of study, practise American English. Speaking of which, so many people today do now even know the difference between "practise" and "practice"(in American English, it's all just practice) in British English.
Never mind, the government schools in Malaysia adopt British English as second language and a study medium, probably because Malaysia was once a colony under the British rule. For whatever reason, the public school students here use British English. So should these students be aware of the differences between the language they should use and the American alternative?
For those who may have misunderstood, sorry if I was confusing. Haha...
It's not a crime to use American English, neither will I persecute those who use it. I am just trying to voice my opinion on English as a language, a language that deserves respect.
Friday, December 18
Foto Friday
The beautiful beach at Teluk Sari,
where lies bitter memories
along with the sweet...
A fraction of fragmented hatred
found in nostalgic reminiscence
buried deep within
Thursday, December 17
Pain by Love
What good does pain do to us? One of the messages that I received during Esplosion 2009 which was most impressed upon my mind is that pain and sufferings are placed in one's life because the One who placed the pain and sufferings loves him/her.
As far as I was touched and comforted I was confused. If there is a God who loves and who listens, why is pain neither removed nor diminished when we pray for it to be?
However I hear some answers and explanation coming out of my own mouth on the way home from the camp.
Somehow someone asked me something about a boy/man's groin, so I explained why should the male genitals be so sensitive. There are a lot of receptors to pain at the testes, the purpose of these receptors is of course, for the man to feel pain. The reason for this is so that the man will take extra care of his genitals. A man has to take extra care of his genitals so that mankind might not extinct. In this case, pain is purposed to protect. See how wonderfully the way our Creator has designed us. In the area that needs much protection, much pain is needed.Vulnerability and sensitivity to pain can even be an indication of degree of importance! Hahaha...
© Joel Yap
As far as I was touched and comforted I was confused. If there is a God who loves and who listens, why is pain neither removed nor diminished when we pray for it to be?
However I hear some answers and explanation coming out of my own mouth on the way home from the camp.
Somehow someone asked me something about a boy/man's groin, so I explained why should the male genitals be so sensitive. There are a lot of receptors to pain at the testes, the purpose of these receptors is of course, for the man to feel pain. The reason for this is so that the man will take extra care of his genitals. A man has to take extra care of his genitals so that mankind might not extinct. In this case, pain is purposed to protect. See how wonderfully the way our Creator has designed us. In the area that needs much protection, much pain is needed.Vulnerability and sensitivity to pain can even be an indication of degree of importance! Hahaha...
O suffering and pain I resent
the hurts which source both inside and out
torment to soul beside anguish to spirit
I bear tombstones on bitter shoulders
There is cement on my feet
my heart, enforced concrete
Pain and suffering I resent
pain and suffering because of Love?
© Joel Yap
Friday, December 11
Friday, December 4
Foto Friday
Band of brothers
playing Counter Strike
in that outfit
Who are they fighting?
Which side are they on?
Terrorists of Counter-Terrorists?
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