Taped Glasses.

My "bigger bro" (actually, he's my boss - lol), once shared with me a very interesting thought.

He mentioned to me that a lot about life depends on how we see it. But what matters really are the lenses we use. Just like our glasses, the wrong set of lenses leads us to the wrong perspectives. It's not what we see that is wrong. It's what we're looking through.

Over the past few weeks I've been having a plentiful amount of decent conversations with people. And I've discovered that many people assume the end object, which is often the WHAT we see, that is the object in error. Yet many times, we fail to notice that we're using the wrong set of lenses and end up barraging the object.

So, what's the real issue at hand then you might ask?

How to get the right perspective.

It's important we learn to obtain the right perspectives when it comes to living out life. Not because it sounds cliche or anything, but because it really does simply matter. You see, people become exasperated easily when they're not looking at things in life the right way. They see common comments as personal and private attacks, misunderstand others and so on and so forth.

When we adapt the right perspectives, it changes the "outlook" of everything we see. It's not only just clearer, but also sharper. Clarity is an important part of perception. Without clarity there is no way we can "define" the objects in our life.

So to all of us who are busy berating life, take a moment to take a look at your lenses. You might just be surprised how a couple of specks on the lenses or even a scratch, can drastically change the way we look at things. And you'll be even more surprised, how a quick moment of cleaning, can also change it all.

Today... are you using the right set of lenses? Think about it. =)

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Preperations.

So, I've been busy preparing my brains out for this NECF Youth Forum trip to Ipoh this coming Monday. I'll be leaving on Sunday though. I have no idea why I feel strained out by my preparations. After all, it's only a short session. But I think, maybe it's because we're beginning to go national. And I have very high demands on myself as who I am.

So yeah, the past few weeks I've been slogging it out with the Generasi Gemilang website, waded through tonnes of information to pick out what's right, poured out my conscience into the spec sheets, bounced it off my executive director and adviser, and now... I'm nearly there. I've even begun setting up my Train the Trainers specs in anticipation of next year's harvest!

Well, at least 90% I believe. Just need to throw down a few more things into the the entire works and pretty it up.

I'm stoked honestly. Less than a year, and we're taking the nation by storm. Truly the best is yet to come. And the entire company is going to be making headlines as we progress bit by bit.

So yeah, I'm very excited and honored to have been invited by NECF to present what we're doing. Spare 26 seconds for me in prayer. You'll be amazed how much God can do with what little we have. Remember the 5 loaves and 2 fish? =) There we go. With God - less is more.

But.

My thoughts on the Cyber World even as I spin up my research.

1) We're progressing way faster than we think we are.
2) We're underestimating the power of Internet assimilation.
3) We're unaware of the impact it's making on cultural society.
4) We're losing solitude and depth as we surf superficial surface information.
5) We're in great need of guidance, goodness and guardians.

Generasi Gemilang will be launching it's recruitment drive in the coming days. Will you be part of bringing hope and truth back into today's jaded and superfluous society?

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This is your Life.

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
And today is all you’ll ever have
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger
And you had everything to lose?

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over

This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger, and you had everything to lose?

Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes

This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life are you who you want to be?

This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life is it everything you dreamed that it would be,
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose, Everything to lose.

Just happened to tune into my nightly internet radio session and tuned straight into this song by Switchfoot. Love how it just reminds me that this is my life, and I have a say in what I want it to be.

And I want it to be everything God wants it to be.

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Why is Twitter down? Answer is here.

As of several hours ago. I believe most of you net junkies are fuming as to why Twitter has not been accessible and why Facebook is sluggish.

Well, Twitter is under a major DDOS attack, short for Distribuited Denial Of Service. Basically they're being pinged to death right now by hackers. If you dunno what that means, think of it as 2348759823759827358923759827359827358972398572983572 people pressing the refresh button at twitter.com every second.

Read about it here, here, here, and here.

Apparently, the hackers are anti consumerist, whatever that means. No time to read up on that now. It's currently 1.45am and I should be sleeping because there's work tomorrow. So yeah, just an update for my readers who are also tweeters. Or tweeties. Whichever floats your boat. =)

Might also explain why Google feels slightly sluggish as well. Hrm. Point to ponder.

Cumulative update here.

Facebook investigates foulplay post-twitter recovery.

And read this too.

And lastly, the post mortem on the Twitter Attack.

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More than.

Today, seemed to be a little one of those days where you feel everything is a little more riled up than usual. I know these days like the back of my hand. They creep up on you, pounce on you and tie you up before you even know it. Haha.

Anyways, On the way back home from work today, I was simply overcome by a flood of questions and thoughts. I manage myself very well, so when I lost it today, wow, I wasn't prepped for it. Caught off guard, it was like a spear being hurled towards me like the ones in Troy or The 300.

I knew if I didn't do something about it, it might just catch me.

So I got home... and strapped on my runners.

I made a run for it. Pardon the pun. Couldn't resist. Haha, but yeah, I did go for a run. Was thinking to myself that a little run with God on the road and around the park might help. And it was just what I needed.

A timely reminder.

Of the promises He made to me when I was down.

When I was feeling out.

When I'm up on the base, feeling I can't bash in the Home Run.

When I was deep stitched in prayers and tears.

When I longed for more of Him and His kingdom.

It was a reminder I needed. A reminder of who I am, and who He is. But ultimately... who we are together. And... it sank in. I caught it. I heard His reminder for my life loud and clear today.

And it resonated from Romans 8:37. He called me "more than a conqueror". But I love how, after He reminded me of that. He reminded me that I am first... more. Because the verse mentions how we are more. And that stopped my heart for a moment.

I think sometimes, we get caught up so much in what we're doing, where we're heading, about our destinies and goals and so on, that we forget about ourselves really. Literally. It's all about something someone told us. Or some inflated thought process. And instead of helping us along the way, these are the very things, even though good. That stifles.

And today, God was leading me on my run. After all... He is always two steps ahead.

Have you taken your time out with God today? I'm not talking bout doing your devotion or stuff. I'm talking bout something like dropping by to your favorite place, alone - but not really alone.

Because you're meant to spend time with God.

Because you're meant to read the Word of God, and meet the God of the Word. It's easy to miss the encounter and the wonder if we're always trapped in our littleness and so caught up in the details of our agendas.

Time out today.

Pamper yourself. It's ok.

Meet with God. (say hi to Him for me!!)

You are more.

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Reminiscence & Revolution.

5 years ago, I wrote something in my private journal, which I'd like to share now. Because I just feel someone needs to be encouraged in the faith and in their walk. I might not know who, but you're reading this, and God is speaking loud and clear to you in His own private way. =)

So here we go.

12.10.2004
And again, the plot twists and turns. I have never felt this small ever as far as I can recall. Never ever felt so close to calling it quits. Surprised? That's what a lot of other people would be. I've really been through so much.

It's a miracle that I am still able to maintain such a composure about life. I don't doubt God. I still do believe. Still believe enough to risk... to trust.

Yet, somehow it keeps getting darker. 

I'm really beginning to wonder if people actually do care.

I'm also beginning to see why people are capable of walking away. And it's surely not because they doubt a real God. Church seems enveloped in a case of organizations, doings, tryings and persuasion. It's not that these things are wrong, but I feel as if they're taking the place of faith, hope and love. Taking the place of its tangible, manifested actions.

A part of me wants to stay. Wants me to press on, to be strong, to hold on. But there's the other side of me that wants me to just drop it, to just let go. A part that says to give up trying, to stop bashing my head against a wall trying to figure things out. A part that says you were never meant to do or to TRY to be.

All I ever needed was just to be. That's it. To exist.

It's so easy for people to be fancy. To be able to use the right words, at the right time, etc. But I still see through the entire facade, knowing that deep down, they aren't really settled either. And the thing that bugs me is that we talk about community, about being genuine, real, about being hope... but we walk around with masks covering the very nature that we were meant to give up. We say we're alright, when deep down, hearts are falling apart.

It feels like we're living off on a discounted second-hand grace. It doesn't feel good. It's not euphoric. It doesn't bring anymore than just a feeling that says maybe. I'm going to be honest, now I know why it feels like quits, because somewhere along the line, it stopped being real Truth.


I backslided 19 days from the date of this journal entry. And my "age of darkness" came upon me. And I lived through it and came out on the other end only by the grace of God. And all I can say is, that my experience was a truly unique one. Not everyone goes through what I did.

But if you're reading this, I believe God is saying - there's more to life that what we really perceive it to be. But our lives require a radical change in the way we look at it. If we only look at it from our vision it will always be dull, because we don't see in the wonder-fullness of God's eyes.

But if you take a moment. Just a moment, to change your perception.

And look at life, through the lenses of Truth. Wow. What a change.

Yeah, might sound like I've got it. But I haven't. Truth be told, I'm far from being anything Christ-like. In fact, I just penned down my thoughts on change in my journal. Just penned down my fears and insecurities. Which someday, I'll post on this blog. Just like how I'm doing right now.

But the crunch is this:

On my pilgrimage, yes, it's true. I've been through a lot.

But I will continue to go through on life as He transforms Christlike.

Even if it's bit by bit.

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THE FOOOOOOOLZ!

THIS IS HERESY!!!!!


READ IT!!!

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To Change the World.

It's one of those days and nights where ya kinda just sit down and wanna pen/type out some thoughts. I guess tragedy, has a way of suddenly bringing life to a jolting stop. Kinda like a lightning bolt ripping through the night sky.

You see it.

You hear it.

But you're not sure where or what it struck.

So that's how it has been for me.

I'd love to say that perhaps the accident behind my house made me rethink about how fragile life really is. But then again. It wasn't really the accident. Or perhaps a better reason might because I just watched the show "Seven Pounds". Slow, but the effect, dramatic. But then again, not really.

I could then dare say it could be all my soul sessions with my Hazelnut Latte and a book. But again, doesn't really quite hit the spot. Like, just off the mark by ever so little. Yet, still off the mark.

Sounds like I'm rambling, and honestly, I think I am.

Yet, it's a question I've grappled with over and over again.

Something that doesn't seem to want to relinquish itself from my heart.

Something, that no matter how I try, what I do, comes back not to haunt me. But to make me desire for something greater in life. And mind you, it's not the oh-so-common-live-life-abundantly phrase.

It's more than that. Digging deep down into my soul and the core of my being.

Maybe that's it.

The core of my be-ing.

I have no idea honestly.

But it seems that life beckons me towards something greater.

Until today, my dream to change the world still stands.

And still I dont' know how I'm going to achieve it. It's bigger than me. Bigger than I can ever imagine it to be. And because it's so big. I know it can only be achieved through Someone, greater than me. It's about living a life of vision. Not ambition. Living a life that calls you to the distance, and not the hurdles. It's not about finishing the race as fast as we can. But about completing the race, in the fullness of life.

I love how the King James Version puts it together.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

-Hebrews 12:1, KJV.

Wow.

Lay aside all your weights.

And. The sin that besets upon us.

Run with patience.

Paul's statement in Phillipians 3:13 tends to stop me in my tracks sometimes. Like that lightning bolt.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead".

I find myself looking into life, asking myself, what is this one thing?

The answer?

"If you make the world better in one way,

you make the world better in every way,

don't you think?"

- Amazing Grace, 2007.

What is your one thing?

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Happy Father's Day!

Hi dad, not too sure if you'd be reading this, but hey, Happy Father's Day.

Thanks for being the man that gave his all to keep this family together, to bless it and to be part of it. You might have struggled to raise up two kids, but somehow, somewhere... you managed to do it (of course with a little help from Mom, hehe).

But yeah, I'm thankful for having a father like you. We might not have had much to say when I was younger because I was a rebellious son, but I've repented from that. And I know in the coming days our relationship will continue to grow strong and grow well. Because my God... our God (I'm believing for your salvation), has promised me that the best is yet to come. So I hold onto that promise. And I continue to thank God for your life, and our family.

God has indeed blessed me with nothing but the best. And you're the best father, that I, Keith Woo, could ever ask for. So thank you again Dad, for being who you are... and who you will be in the future, a great man of God.

Love you, Dad. =)
- Your son.

PS: I just gotta rub this in a little. Haha, I my dad a pair of Crocs yesterday, because I know how much standing he does while he's at work. So I hunted down a really awesome pair for him, and thank God his feet size are same as mine, so size guessing was outta the picture.

But anyways, I gave my dad his Father's Day gift, and his first reaction was this:

"Hey! I was looking for a pair of shoes today!!"

Haha, the feeling was priceless.

Talk about cheating in the Holy Spirit to know what to get for your dad. *wink*

Anyways, just wanted to leave us with a thought about shoes and stuff.

"The entire weight of your life, depends on this - what do you stand on?"

Figurative, yes illustrative.

Go figure.

Oh, and Happy Father's Day again. =))

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Death.

There was an accident behind my house on the 20th of June 2009.

I live next to the main road for my area.

A Kawasaki-super-bike kinda bike rammed into the side of a car taking a turning into the junction near my house. Hit the car square in the side just before the front wheels. I didn't see the accident, but I sure as Heaven heard the crash when I decided I'd go wash the plates.

Inside me, my spirit snapped up and I knew it was a bad one. I rushed out of my house. Bustled down the side of the road, turned left to the corner, and before I knew it... my heart sank.

At the junction was this smashed up car. And next to it, was a fire.

The bike was on fire.

And it was smashed so badly I didn't even see like more than 75% of the bike.

I rushed over knowing how dangerous it'd be. First instinct was to look for the drivers. Peeked into the car, no driver - good. Looked around for the biker, can't find him - no good. So I turned around over at the junction corner.

And shoots.

I saw the biker lying down face on the ground.

And he was lying down about the length of four houses away.

Yes.

F-O-U-R houses away.

I didn't know if my heart could sink any further. I started to pray. But my mind wasn't working much since it's been a long day. Adrenaline began to build up and stuff, and the bunch of us who were around started making calls to the police, fire department, ambulance, call cars, etc.

But the biker was still lying in the ground. None of us daring to move him because we didn't know what his injuries were. The fire was getting bigger, so one of the neighbors grabbed a small extinguisher, but didn't work well.

Then some even smarter neighbors decided to use water.

Petrol fire + water = bad idea. Very bad.

I was shouting at them not to simply use water on a petrol fire, since that combination could cause the fire to spread into the tanks. Potentially killing people with an explosion. Thank God they managed to put out the fire without an explosion.

People, if you're reading this, please remember, it's a really stupid idea to put out petrol/oil fires using water. You might just end up killing yourself. Always use a CO² extinguisher, or a powder extinguisher. It's much more safer, and much more better.

Anyways, all we could do was wait.

'Bout 20 minutes from the accident, police arrived.

10 minutes after that, fire truck arrived.

10 minutes later, ambulance arrived.

OF ALL THE TEAMS THAT ARRIVED THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED LAST? WTH.

Seriously. We made the call 5 minutes into the accident.

I'd expect a *much* better response from the rescue department. We're talking about lives here people. And it wasn't like some small accident. I'm angry at the lackadaisical attitude of the response team. And it surely didn't make sense to me that the ambulance dispatch was from a hospital bout 10km away. When there's a hospital 3km away from our area.

So what if it's privatized or a specialist center?

Idiots.

Anyways, in the midst of all this and before the police arrived on the scene, I remember a doctor from my church who lives in the same area, but I didn't have his number. So I started frantically making calls to people to get his number. And it happened to be one of those days, when people just aren't picking up their phones.

7 or 8 calls later, I got the number. Dialed it up and... voice mail. Wow. All I could do was just continue to pray. I wish I had the faith the lay my hands on him and ask God to heal him. But it was just one of those days like I said.

By this time, ambulance teams were here. There was a huge growing crowd of like 50-100 people. And from this point on, there wasn't much for me to do anymore but accompany my parents who were with me.

Actually, now that I look back, there wasn't much for me to do at all from the very beginning.

I felt so hopeless that I was powerless to do anything.

Yes, I know and I understand that it's not my fault, blah, blah, blah. But you know? I just wished there was something more I could do for this guy, whose name I don't even know. All I could do was commit his life into God's hand, prayed that he knows Jesus, and ask God to have mercy on us all.

I won't go into details about who was right or who was wrong. Because that's just gonna b-lame. And I don't wanna go into all that. Maybe when you ask me in person I'd probably be more willing to vent at you. =)

But in any case. The ambulance team pronounced the biker dead that night.

But inside me. I was practically being engulfed with anger because the response of the rescue team was just too slow. I'm having a growing belief that accident victims die not only because of the accident, but also, because rescue is just way too slow.

Hello, 30-40 minutes to arrive at the scene?

Let this be a wake up call to our country and our selves.

When people need help.

We have to be there on the spot.

Not later.

Because there is no such thing as later for the victims.

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