Friday, May 29, 2009

The difference between greatness and mediocrity is...

"To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done."
Understanding this short quote can be the difference between winning or losing; between greatness or mediocrity. It captures the essence of discipline. Brian Tracy
An excerpt from
The Power of Discipline
By Brian Tracy

Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?

I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.

And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life.

Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."

Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.

A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.

With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.

It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.

After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"

He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'"

He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work."

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Surprise Gift from Friend

I was deeply touched today when dasolve of makanmaniacs gave me a Neoprene camera strap made by Matin. We spoke about camera strap and my heavy camera is driving me up the wall if I have to carry it for the whole day.
Upon returning to my office today, I saw a little package on my table. There was a small note from dasolve and he wanted to give me as a birthday gift! How thoughtful of this young man! So, tonight, I installed this new strap and indeed it is very comfortable.
The strap is made of neoprene, the same material used to protect scuba divers. The materia is elastic, soft and slip proof. I think this must be the ideal camera strap. I shall try using it for the whole day and see the result. My first impression is favourable.
Thanks a million, dasolve! You really make my day!
(By the way, click on the bottom photo and look at the details. Perhaps, you would like to guess what sort of resolution I am using to take the picture. The depth of field is very shallow and look only at the part that is in focus)

Haze in Miri

I was sending Ah Jon to Curtin this morning and upon reaching, I saw what I thought was haze from burning vegetation. True enough, as the car door was open, I couldn't stand the smell!
The smell was bad!
I drove back to Senadin and I could clearly see haze everywhere..
... and upon reaching JTM, I could hardly see the building! I have no idea where the burning was/is.
... but many days ago, the burning was at the road side. See what they planted... corn (maize)! Someone suggested that we should boycott the food sold at the native market of e-Mart. But should we? They are really poor people. What they really need is education and being taught how to do it properly!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

How Secure is Credit Card

I got a new credit card from Maybank a few months ago. As this card is somewhat redundant, I have never used it and kept it under lock all the time. Suddenly, an officer called me last week to inform me of a purchase made outside this country. I told him that I am still in Miri and therefore he has my card cancelled immediately.
I must thanks all these "extra alert" officers to keep us informed. I believe they have a computer system to detect unusual spending.
So, the question is "How do the thief got my details?". Is it an inside job?
Tip: Never disclose your credit card number and the three digits code at the back of the card to anyone. If you do, it is like giving someone your wallet! If you use it for purchase, make sure that the cashier doesn't copy that three digit code anywhere.

Is your wife still pretty?

I knew of a person who filed a divorce and claimed in court that she is no longer pretty (He actually said "She is so ugly"). That was after 20+ years of marriage. I thought to myself... this is awful! She is in the current situation probably because she had worked so hard and made so many babies for him. The reward she got was such a statement which I am sure will pierce her heart like a sword! How disappointing! Probably he has never found out how pretty is his wife, I mean, inner beauty!

So, in The Star today, there is this article

Quote:
Telling your wife she's not pretty may soon be an offence
By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: A husband tells his wife that she is no longer pretty in an attempt to humiliate her can be classified as an emotional violence offence if amendments are made to the Domestic Violence Act (DVA)1994.

The plan is to amend the DVA for the inclusion of a clause on emotional violence against women.
Unquote
This is probably good but how to prove it in court that he has said it? This will probably cause more anguish. But on the positive side, I think the thought is very good and I shall leave the implementation to the lawmakers.

THE LEGEND OF THE CHEROKEE INDIAN!

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, pass it on. If not, perhaps you took off your blindfold before dawn.

Moral of the Story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there.

'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

Monday, May 25, 2009

Scholarships

I started a new blog for information on scholarships, jobs and others.
There is an update today on scholarships. So, please do read it up if you are interested.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Hoong & Remi Wedding

These are some of the photos taken during the wedding of Hoong and Remi (daughter of Sarakiana).





Bor-Seng & Tracey Wedding

Below are some photos from the wedding (18-May-2009) between Bor-Seng and Tracey.





A week of events

It was good news indeed when I returned from work yesterday when Ah Jon announced that he could run one block to "show" his friend! Then after dinner, he told us that he could run upstairs and indeed, he could and still can! This is a miracle! His recovery from his side effect has been fast. Doctor had told him during his last visit that comparatively his side effect is minimal and the speed of his blood returning to normal are exceptionally fast! Thanks everyone for the prayer!
The week has been very busy for me. So my apologies for not updating my blog. My arms still ache from holding my camera to attend to three wedding photoshoots. I will post some of the pictures here soon - latest by tonight.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

It was a day of music & dancing ...

Sunday, 17 May 2009, was a day of ...
... music and ...
... dancing. Our Pusat Injil Methodist Tudan (Tudan Methodist Preaching Centre) has every reason to be very happy. We started our BM Ministry in Permy Jaya settlement back in 2004 and at the beginning, the worship was done in the home of a member. Later, we rented a shoplot which we use until today. The members grew from 2-3 families to the current congregation of 100+.
The developer (Naim Cendera) decided to donate a piece of land complete with land fill for our BM Ministry usage. They came out in full force last Sunday for ...
... a earth breaking ceremony by our SCAC President, Dr. Rev Su Chii An. The BM ministry will finally have their own permanent building right in the middle of their settlement - a community of poor neighbourhood. More fund is needed to build the church.
...Dr. Rev Su strike the gong to signify the opening of a new chapter in the BM ministry. The ministry should bring hope for the people there. May the Message be spread to all the people in the settlement. Being poor is one thing... but may their spirit be rich!
A group photo of most of the attendees...
Pastors from far and near who came to witness the ceremony...
... and of course, it ended with more dancing, music and food!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Meeting bloggers in Curtin Uni

This evening, I have the opportunity to meet a few bloggers from Curtin Uni. I invited my friend, Sarawakiana, but she couldn't make it. So, here are some of the shots taken during the brief meeting.
Hisham, Gerain, May, Eugene, me, Suhas
Film crew: Abby, Belinda, Noora, Esther, Suhas (director)
We discuss about blogging and reasons for blogging. This is actually a project for their course.
We met Eugene who loves desktop game. He has 30 of those model tanks ...
...each one nicely assembled and painted. Ah Jon has a good time chatting with him and finding out more about his expensive hobby.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Ah Jon Blood Test Shows Great Improvement

Jonathan came back from Kuching yesterday after a fortnightly review. His blood test results showed great improvement with most "problems" returning to normal. This is after four weeks of treatment. However, he has to continue taking the drug. For detailed test results, please check out my latest blog.
Thanks everyone for the prayer. Please continue for pray for him:
1. His leg muscle will continue to gain strength and the pain will stop;
2. His red blood cells will return to normal;
3. Ask God to reverse back the trans located chromosome 9 and 22!

The doctor and us are very pleased with the results and we thanks God for that!

Friday, May 15, 2009

HOW TO RECRUIT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB?

Put about 100 bricks in some particular order in a closedroom with an Open window.
Then send 2 or 3 candidates in The room and close the door.
Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours and then analyze the situation.

If they are counting the Bricks. Put them in the accounts Department .
If they are recounting them.. Put them in auditing.
If they have messed up the Whole place with the bricks. Put them in engineering.
If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order. Put them in planning.
If they are throwing the bricks at each other. Put them in operations.
If they are sleeping. Put them in security.
If they have broken the bricks into pieces. Put them in information Technology .
If they are sitting idle. Put them in human resources .
If they say they have tried different combinations,yet not a brick has been moved. Put them in sales.
If they have already left for the day. Put them in marketing .
If they are staring out of the Window. Put them on strategic Planning.
And then last but not least.
If they are talking to each otherand not a single brick has been moved...Congratulate them andput them in Top management.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

GMC Church Camp 2009

2009 Church Camp (8-10 May) has just been concluded today.
Our SCAC President, Rev Dr. Su, must be the most qualified person to speak on our main theme - Spiritual Holiness.
There were 208 participants. The camp included messages, and time for fun, discussion, sight seeing, etc...
... group discussion. Which of the 49 characters do you have? ...
.. it was a time for outing, enjoying the nature and a time for parent-child bonding!
... a time to express our affection to our loved ones...
.... a time to reaffirm our love to our parents... oh, today is parents' Sunday!
... the camp was also a time for fun.... stretching our imagination to the limit! ...
... a time to have so much fun that we all played like we are kids! We were so happy ...
... a time to enjoy nature and have fun ...
... a time to admire what God has created for us to enjoy ...
... a time to see and enjoy nature at its best ...
... a time to relax at the cool pool of water ...
... and to feel the refreshing water ...
... oh, our tour guide, Miss Chong!

Saturday, May 09, 2009

New blog on Career and Education

I received a lot of useful information from Mr Kho and he has kindly permitted to let me reproduce them in my blog. So, if you are looking for job, further your education, etc, please visit my new blog.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Curtin Mass Comm Production

A group of five students from Curtin University is now doing a project on Citizen Journalism, ie, blogger. So they interviewed me regarding blogging. They like to know how I got to blog about the Miri Landslide.
Noora and Esther setting up the camera...
Camera is too complicated ...
Belinda briefing the group...
... still having problem with the camera ...
... at last, camera was ready to roll...
The group from Curtin, from left: Abby, Noora, Esther, Belinda, Suhas (from India)

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Miri District Methodist SPort Day

1st May 2009 was Miri district Methodist Churches sport day...
The Boy's Brigade from Mei Ann ...
Started with a speech from DS and followed by a warming up exercise... Praise Dance
Pastors and leaders ...
Food sale also....
A time to enjoy and eat...
Andy at his best...
Our Tudan BM Ministry... very strong support...
The Girl's Brigade food sales to raise fund for their activities ...
Pastor Chan of the Tudan BM ministry. She is well loved by the congregation.
Gan Eng Church taking a rest after the game...
Our Tudan BM members again... they seem to have endless energy!
The winning team...
BM Team group photos...