Company's team building trip

Last Friday, my company organized a team building trip in Mesilau Nature Resort, just 3 hours (or probably less) from Kota Kinabalu. We departed around 10 am that Friday and arrived there approximately 2 pm, with a short detour in Tamparuli. When we arrived there, it was raining and cold, nevertheless, since it was noted that we were hours behind schedule, after putting our luggages in respective rooms, we headed downward to the seminar building.

It was fun, I say. We had a blast! The first night, I slept early, though some people stayed late till around 3 a.m. The second day, we had more seminars and in the evening, we had an outdoor adventure consisting of walking (some did run) up and down the steep road everywhere to look for the alphabets in bottles hid by our director. At night, we had a BBQ buffet for dinner with some wines and beers. Around half past nine, majority gather together for the karaoke session (well, it was supposed to be a 3-minute 'Malaysian Idol' session, but I don't know what had happened in between). I went home before 3 a.m. when the bar actually closed. Some did stay on for the jungle trekking.

I woke up around half past 10 in the morning on the third/last day. After shower and packing, I headed to the restaurant for breakfast and departure to Kinabalu Park where we will be reunited with the jungle trekking group who departed earlier. An hour after I had my breakfast, lunch was served. At that point, I got pretty tired of eating. Nevertheless, it was still fun because each had the chance to talk with everyone. Finally, we depart on Sunday around 3 pm, when the 'jungle trekkers' arrived.

I have included some of the snapshots of the trip for your musings. Enjoy!

On the way to Mesilau

Happy faces to Mesilau

I was hanging around with a colleague

Minutes before the first seminar

Seconds before the first seminar

Me presenting my group's discussion

I wasn't aware my picture was taken

Playing 'congkak' during seminar break

We managed to smile even after a torturous outdoor adventure

Flipping through the karaoke songlist

Laughter is the best medicine to boredom, especially when it's really loud

Ah, yes.. I did sing, eventually..

RBC Conference - The book of Daniel

I just got back from the annual RBC conference (which was the second time such similar conference held in Sabah) held in BCCM Likas. It wasn't really like a typical revival conference where thousands flocked into the church building to get prayed over and being healed. It's just the kind of conference where pastors and church leaders will attend (apparently I estimated around 80% of the attendees are from the mentioned group). More like a bible study group, only slightly larger.

The conference was about "Living for God in Your Culture - A Study in the Life of Daniel", spoken by Bill Crowder, one of the top guys in RBC in US. In a nutshell, the session tonight covered three earliest chapters of Daniel - Chapters 1, 2, and 4. Since he wanted to emphasize on the life of Daniel, he purposedly skipped chapter 3 because well, it was narrated in presumably all Sunday schools around the world, thousands of times. Oh I guess you should know what Chapter 3 was - the Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego fellas and the furnace. Remember?

It was rather unfortunate I didn't manage to jot down all the important notes on a notebook. Eventhough it was conducted in a more lets-read-all-the-verses (literally!) mode of preaching, it definitely got my attention to encourage me to reflect on my present life. I would truly love to share the whole thing that I've learnt (and remembered!) from Mr. Crowder, but I have the tendency to overwrite the entry, so I guess I have to reserve it for some other time.

The key points which made me reflects on my life right now, based on the life of Daniel are as listed below:

1. Daniel lived in a culture which is not orginally his.
   
2. Daniel spoke the truth, even if it means he has to risk his head.
3. Daniel stayed faithful to his God, even if the social pressure was overwhelming.
   
4. Daniel has an extraordinary faith - he dared to take 'brussel sprouts' and water to show that God was actually in charge of his physical wellbeing.
5. Daniel doesn't bow to peer pressure.
6. Due to his obedience, God grants him wisdom and intelligence no one in his era can ever own.

Based on those key facts listed above, I began to relate his situation in mine. Honestly speaking, being a Christian in circles where non-Christians are majorities, it does feel like you wanted to retreat to just being a 'low-profile' Christian (or maybe 'low self esteemed' Christian), where you try not to show that you are Christian. It always is tempting to 'go with the crowd, act like the crowd' just to make yourself accepted 'in the crowd'. But tonight I was reminded in a gracious manner that it is ok to be different, to be who God wants you to be. As Christians say it, to be a 'new creation in Christ'.

This may be a bit way off from what I said previously, but I can't help to amaze how, despite how disputable the credibility of our current Bible now, the content still speaks powerfully to believers. As I was listening the talks just now, I was amazed at myself that I can relate that to my present life. Which indicates to me that this is not just some history book, but a history book that is powerful enough to speak and get you contemplating, hard. Period.

Gratitudes on my birthday..

Well, well..what do we have here? A lady who's age just shoots up a year older? Ok..ok, 26 is not really that old. It could be worse. I could have been 26...and a quarter, or 26...and a half. Or I could have more grey streaks of hairs than the year before. I might also have to blow 969 candles on my birthday cake and burn my beards in the process. Like I said again, it could be worse.

A decade ago I was trying to frown as much as possible to create wrinkles on forehead, but never worked. Today, all I need is a '1+1 = 2' question to create 5 horizontal wrinkle lines on the same area.

Nevertheless, I have enjoyed life. God willing, I will enjoy some more. Life has not always easy, but through obstacles of life, God forms me into the kind of person I am now. The kind of person who is growing in and by faith from year to year. Someone who can't get enough of the Word of God and seems to get enough of giving my best for God. I'm relishing every moments I breathe and be thankful of every blessings that I receive. There is so much to be thankful of. Take every time to cherish them.

Today, I am so blessed that even though I'm rather new in my company, the staffs collected money to buy me a birthday cake. And I thought I have no cakes this year. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to pay for my birthday dinner and family gathering tonight. It's awesome! And that's just in a day's blessings.

What can you be thankful about on your birthday?

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

And for those who prefers to read it in Indonesian...

"Bersukacitalah senantiasa. Tetaplah berdoa. Mengucap syukurlah dalam segala hal, sebab itulah yang dikehendaki Allah di dalam Kristus Yesus bagi kamu." (1 Tesalonika 5:16-18)

Yonex Thomas & Uber Cup tournament

Sports when I was small was a current issue for me. Karate-do, track and field, rounders, you name it all. Badminton is no exception. The first time I'd tamed myself with it I had to smash more winds than the shuttlecocks, and end up produce sweat which to my childhood imagination, can fill up the Meditteranean Sea in a matter of hours.

Although after unofficially retiring from sports due to ankle injury (which is not the badminton's fault), I kept my enthusiasm on sports by being a avid spectator (and a couch potato at the same time) and keeping track with the sports's world. Nevertheless, badminton hasn't made me go completely gaga compared to other sports.

Until a few hours ago.

I was fixing lunch when I stumbled upon a channel that showed the Thomas and Uber Cup game. Being utterly clueless, I stayed on to watch while feeding myself with a perfectly balanced meal, minus the vegetable and plus more oil. Anyway, it turned out that I was completely hooked at the few minutes of the game. Suddenly I had that adrenaline rush I use to have decades ago.

I missed those times.

I remembered that I was an avid badminton spectator during the Sidek's era. They completely captured the heart of Malaysians with their victories after victories. It was definitely a golden era for the Malaysian badminton players. Even the Indonesian rivals - Susi Susanti, Ardi Wiranata and Alan Budikusuma were pretty tough, making every tournaments more thrilling than the Episodes of Chucky.

To date, there hasn't been any era like that anymore. Most of the top players are from East Asia - China and Japan. But I guess from what I witnessed and experienced just now, it was never because of the player that I got interested with. It has always been because of the game.

LONG LIVE BADMINTON!!