New is always better!

"To live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Here's a thing I found out lately.

I've been a "christian" for almost 20 years. But to be honest, I've only been an actual christian living the christian life for like 5 years, to be more harsh, 3 years. Since young, i was thought the way of Christ and follow parents to church. I was thought that once you believe in Christ, you will be saved and go to heaven. But as i grew older, i knew that believing without action would not guarantee a place up there, but being a christian for so long, i took for granted that God will never give up on me no matter how poor my spiritual life is as long as I still believe. I've never had first love with God to be honest until last few years ago.

Its hard finding first love in God for someone who was 'taught' to believe in Christ since young instead of being 'introduce' to God.

Anyway, my discovery was made when i met a new friend, same age as me who was a secretary for "techflow" a christian society in my university. What I was amazed is that he only started accepting christ when he was 18! See the difference!

I would like to thank God for he has been guiding me and understanding my worries throughout my time in UNITEN. I would have succumb into darkness if it wasn't for him.

So, to all my friends out there who have been christians for a long time but somehow fade into the darkness, I hope that you can find your way back, reignite your passion to Christ, find back your first love with God, renew your faith in Him! For new is always better!

The Thief Is Back!

My long time enemy, he is the reason why I wrote this blog, always in my way when I'm on a mission to achieve something greater. He's an opportunist, always striking me from behind whenever I'm in times of complication, weak willed and weak minded. During my days in Sabah, I've constantly fought him and most of the time lost the battle, and after a while due to some reasons he left the battle and was never seen again. And as time passes, I'm now in a new environment with renewed motivation and strength. But life's not a bed of roses. As soon as i met the thorns and in times of complication, my old enemy return and strike at times the least I expected. He has this extraordinary power to make you write blogs and go facebook-ing. Meet my old friend and enemy. Procrastination, the thief of time.

1st June 2011

Lets welcome the month of June!

Its been a month here in uniten and i kinda puzzled out my targets already.

1. Save money - I top this on the list cos' its the hardest among the others. I've spent approximately RM800 in the month of May (buying clothes, household item, books, FOOD). Yes, for this month, I'm gonna save money by going cheap on FOOD. Here's a rough plan,

Lunch

cheap meals, y = RM3

Regular meals, x = RM5

Save, x - y = RM2

Assuming i will eat cheap meals 4 times a week. Approximately 12 times a month.

Savings per month, 12 ( x - y ) = 12 (2)

= RM24

Dinner

maggi, y = RM1

Regular meal, x = RM5

Save, x -y = RM4

Of course I'm not gonna eat maggi everyday though, maybe just 2 times a week or else I will have white hair and cancer soon. Approximately 6 times a month.

Savings per month, 6 ( x - y ) = 6 (4)

= RM24

By cheap food, I can save around RM50 per month thats if everything goes according to plan. Food is just one of the criteria though, will be looking other ways to save money.

Target: Save RM50 from your RM500 per month.

2. Get pointer 3.75 and above (4 if possible) for my first year. This target can be related to my money saving plan as I'm planning to get a scholarship (if possible, without bonding) using my first year result to provide cushion to me and my parents finance. Always always always easier said than done though, procrastination is the thief of time, time and tide wait for no men, I should study instead of writing blogs.

Target: Score pointer 3.75 and above for 1st year

3. Get closer to God. Read the bible at least 3 times per week! No excuses! Needs no long explanation! Just do it!

Target: Read the bible 3 times per week

Amen!

"Motivational"

Sometimes silly things like this is just what keeps you going.

Perfection: It is not good enough to win, everyone else have to lose

Awesomeness: When I'm sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.

And the above, seems demotivating rather than motivating.

Life is hard, sometimes you feel its a bit unfair.

Sometimes its good to let out some tears, let God comfort the sad & lonely heart.

15 day Review

Day 1 - Arrive KL and went straight to UNITEN and stayed at the residence hotel for a night. No where else to stay. Walked around the area with dad searching for decent food. Was in a very bad mood.

Day 2 - Registration day, walk the way to the admin building, get keys, and got into my apartment room. 10th floor! Decent room, everything fine except for the missing bar which was suppose to be in my closet, now i can't hang any of my shirt! Meet new friends and roommates.

Day 3 - Met even more friends!

Day 4 - Realized Sabahan and girls are extremely rare in this university. Tried football in sports talent search on real big field and with real coaches together with other african international students.O.O 10 minutes for me is already like 90 minutes. Zzzzzz....

Day 5 - Arrange timetables for first and second semester.

Day 6 - Last day of orientation! Hooray!

Day 7 - So what if its the end of orientation, there still "Orientasi Kelompok", zzzz... but i skip eventually and went shopping alone. ;) Travelled back to Melacca with cousin at the end of the day.

Day 8 - Chilling out with my cousin's friend and went to do some shopping and watch movie.

Day 9 - Went to my cousin's Catholic church, O.O which is kind of different then what I've been to and had buffet lunch for Mother's day! (I'm eating as much as I can in favour of my mom. ;)) Went back UNITEN at the end of the day...

Day 10 - First day of class, its all sweat, heat and flu. Rushing with my coursemates from building after building chasing classes.

Day 11 - Relaxed a bit because we realized that class ain't that punctual ;) and its first week! Introduction week for all classes. The day was hot!

Day 12 - Just 1 hour class today in the morning, decided to hit mines with one of my friends and do some shopping. Had dinner with Tay and took his year one text books. (FOC!)

Day13 -Had class, slept like a pig for the rest of the day.

Day 14 - No class at all! Spend the whole day online, sleep. Couldn't find anything to eat for lunch! Took my roommates instant noodles and...>< My first cellgroup, or as they called share group saved me from boredom for the day! Had a great dinner with them.

Day 15 - First day i went to church, lots of familiar faces! Interesting, already feeling like home~ Reminded me of my church in Tawau.

Mr Lee, Chan Hou, Mr Prawn

Whatup! Turns out September is just way too long for me. Will be leaving end of this month for further studies in KL. I'm gonna be an engineer!!=D (that is assuming everyone who took engineering course came out an engineer =\) I'm not really worried though, i take it as a stepping stone into something greater, not necessarily engineer.

To be honest, this freaks me out.

Well, I do miss out a lot here in my hometown Tawau, especially leaving so soon on May, I told everyone last year i was going of on September!><

Talk about last year, a lot have change since then, Its a natural growing process i guess. We've started working. Here's a hint of where i worked.

Unbelievable eh, I actually work at this very building for two months, yes its an auditing firm located on top of this KFC restaurant.

yes, that white tall building on top of KFC.

Well I don't exactly work here, I came here for an interview after Jason begged me to come work with him here and ended up being drafted to another department far from him WITH NEVER ENDING OFFICE WORK and an open office where everyone can see you (Can't slack off). THANK YOU JASON! =X

Everything there is formal, they don't call me joe, josh or joeshua, I'm known as Mr Lee there. Being called like that gives you pressure, you feel there is a high expectation on your shoulders.=.=

The time I love the most during work, is lunchtime, where I get to meet my friends. I will always remember this particular person who always ate with us, Mr Chek (hope i didn't forgot his name ><) who is in his 30's who looks like he's 25 telling us his life experience and his sad single life. But one thing I'm annoyed about him is, he'll always ask me questions about Christianity and i'll always get stuck. Maybe this is a sign that I need to read the bible more.

Always on time for work and on time to leave when the clock struck 5pm. And then here comes the rush against time to avoid to after-work traffic jam.

Zzzzz...

But then again, its an experience, thats how work is and I've no regrets. =)

My cellgroup, they need me, and I need them.=)

I've grown a lot through this cellgroup, I get to know God even more.

My group consist of people ageing from 18 to 22 or 23 i guess. Well, they can be very funny at times and they always refer me as "Chan Hou", due to reasons. My leader, Louvis, a technology know-it-all person has been very influential to me, he used to be an anti-social christian hater in the past who gradually changed into a confident God loving person. And he can sing too! Its because of him I started playing the guitar in cellgroup during praise and worship, and because of him, every member have the chance to lead in praise and worship, including me. O_O" There are others who have also been influential to me and one of them was Kevin. Again he was one who had negative past but gradually changed in God. Comparing his past and present, Its a miracle!

Yes yes, this girl in the middle A.K.A "林太" Is a big fan of.....

Similar to a friend of mine. Both crazy over this guy.

We always hangout together.

Sadly, I will be going, Thank God for them. I will be back!

So thats all! The End.

But how can I ignore my friends who have been in the same school with me! Whom I always "yamcha" with eventhough some might FFK or come late. Doesn't matter though, Tawau style!

As time flies...

The 5 Berlian gang.

One by one, each one left...

But once in a while,they come back and we regroup =) Some from KL, some from Kedah, Pahang, Penang, UK, New Zealand, Australia and... India!

We have Malays, Chinese and Indian! A very good example of 1 Malaysia!

Not forgetting the form 6 gang! Consist of different kinds of animals.

We have the famous chicken, duck, King Kong.

And the prawn. Yes, I'm Mr Prawn.

Yes, 20 years living here in Tawau, 20 years has gone so fast, lots of memories, lots of friends, lots of love. That sums up how i got those 3 different names.