Jones, Indiana Jones (aka. Dr. Henry Jones Jr.)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Currently, I've finish watching all four releases of the Indiana Jones movies. These are my reviews of all four movies(series).

The very first is Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was released in 1981(I was not even born yet). The movie is about Indiana who tries to recover the Lost Ark but his quest was interfered by some bad guys who wants to have ultimate power(typical, isn't it?). I'll give it a 7.5/10.

In 1984, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released worldwide. It is definitely better than its predecessor but still lacked some of the elements. Again, the plot line is simple, eminent archaeologist Indiana Jones is back in his 2nd adventure, this time to tackle the great terror surrounding the mysterious Temple of Doom. After crash landing in India, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and companions Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) and Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) end up in a small distressed village where the residents claim a dark power has stolen their precious stone... and their children! Agreeing to assist the village, Indiana and friends make their way to a nearby palace and enquire further into the strange happenings. Assuring Indiana he has no idea what he's talking about, prime minister Chatter Lal offers them to spend the night in the palace. However, it is that evening that Indiana discovers a secret passage into a booby-trapped temple and stumbles onto something he thought was long extinct. It seems the age old cut of Thuggee cult is attempting to rise once more, believing that with the power of the five Sankara stones they can rule the world. Now, it's up to Indiana to put a stop to the Thuggee campaign, rescue the lost children, win the girl and conquer the Temple of Doom. I'll give it a rating of 7.7/10.

In 1989(I'm was still not born yet), the third release, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, became a blockbuster in the movie industry. It is the best among the 1st two and fetched the second highest rating. Three years after he recovered The Ark of the Covenant. Jones recovered an artifact that he found as a kid, the Cross of Francisco De Coronado from treasure hunters. Now, Jones discovers the history of another biblical artifact called "The Holy Grail". He was also informed that his father, Henry Jones is missing. Jones has to find his father who is looking for the Grail. However, Jones will become involved in the search of the Holy Grail along with his father, as well as fighting the Nazis to reach it. The moment I first watched this movie, I knew that it'll be a good one. I have watched it multiple times. A rating of 8.5/10 can picture the goodness of this movie.

I thought that this was the end of Indiana Jones. But after 18 years, behold, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

I watched this movie yesterday with my sis and I must say that the fourth release is the best out of the best. It is kinda weird towards the end of the movie but overall, I think that it is slightly better than Iron Man, another movie based on the famous Marvel Comics hero. This time, famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. I don't wanna become a spoiler so I would strongly recommend you to go and watch the movie yourself. It will definitely worth your money and time(2 hours and 4 minutes). And so, I'll give it a rating of 9.0/10(If you think this rating is high, I gave the movie, 'Die Hard 4.0' a 9.8/10) .

Up to date, I'm quite busy with my daily schedule, and as the day I'm leaving Kuching is drawing to a close, I got to make up my plans carefully. Please pray for me that God will continue to guide me according to His Will and strengthen me through faith in Him in the days to come.

Till then, God bless. Jesus loves you.

Busy once more

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." (Psalms 62:6)

1. So, it's just about two weeks(2 weeks and 1 day, specifically) before I leave Kuching to further my studies. The time is getting tighter everyday and I got to have a planning to make full use of my time. About the church camp I joined, you can visit my church website to see some photos and infos - http://chinsengmethodist.blogspot.com/. (I'll try to post about it in my blog ASAP).

2. Anyways, I went to watch the latest release of Marvel Comics - 'Iron Man' last night with Max(yes, it's Max. A different Max.) and Alfred. I'll give it a rating of 7.0/10. Why? I recommend you not to read the following passage if you haven't watch it yet(it'll be a spoiler and turn you off. Just read the fourth paragraph if you haven't watch it).

3. The storyline is a little long and it has the 'potential' to make the viewers feel bored after a while. I was like sitting in my seat waiting for the actors to finish talking and get things done right away. The plot is also somehow expected, bad guys capturing the good guys, the good guys escaped, then it turns out that one of the good guys is actually the traitor, and you know, finally the good guys win, absolute typical. However, the graphics and the technologies used in the movie will make you to feel good and cool to watch it. Oh yeah, you'll also be 'wowed' by it. In all, 'Iron Man' is one of the many typical-superhero-movies(strongly reminded me of the movie 'Transformers').

4. And so, I'll have to end here cause I've something on. Till then, God bless and Jesus loves you.

Flowers

As I was sending off my cousins at the car porch of my house yesterday morning, I saw this flower plant that is planted by my mom. It had bore some beautiful flowers. I took this rare opportunity to take this photo:

Just beautiful

In the evening, my friends and I went to a flower garden to buy some flowers for one of my church member's wedding. Again, I took the chance to take some pictures(below).

Truly a 'Wow', absolutely beautiful

Through these pictures, the flowers reminded me of two points:

1) God's Word

2) Life
Let's talk about the first point 1st - the Power of God's Word - Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:34-35)

In the Bible, the book of Isaiah(40:6-8) tells us: "A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

(1 Peter 1:23-25) "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you."

What about life? What does the Bible tells us? "Let the lowly brother glory in his exhalation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits" (James 1:9-11). I found this following passage from the Internet:

-Our life is like a flower. We live and die. We are soon forgotten. Someone makes a fuss over us for a short time and then our existence on earth is forgotten. Thousands of years from now, no one living will remember our life. Yes, history may record our birth and death; and it may even record a moment in time of our life. But no one will stay up night after night grieving our passing. At most, our life will be but a fleeting thought.

Comprehending that life is like a flower has a positive impact upon us. If I comprehend the brevity of life, I will live each day as if it were my last. Indeed, it may be my last day to live. Think about this: What would you do today if you knew you were going to die tomorrow? Would you change anything about yourself?

If I comprehend the brevity of life, I will be ready to stand before the Lord in judgment. I will look forward to the day that I may see my Lord and worship at His feet. Therefore, I will count it all joy when I fall into various trials (James 1:2-8), I will endure temptations and not sin (James 1:12-18), I will be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (James 1:19-20), I will be a doer of God's word and not only a hearer (James 1:21-27).

Do you comprehend the brevity of life?-

Back to choir

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalms 25:4-5)

Whoa, what a busy day(this was yesterday). At 9a.m, I drove to school and met my long-time-no-see choir members and teachers. (at this point, I was thinking about the times when I was a choir member in my school -Time flies so fast). We talked for a while(update ourselves with the things going on in our lives) before going to the choir room to practice the songs that we were going to present at night. The songs were "Getaran Jiwa" and "Aduh, Sayang". These songs, I reckon, were some of the works of the renowned Tan Sri P. Ramlee, an actor, singer, and composer in the 50s-70s. Anyways, it was great to be with my friends again and we started to 'bla, bla' around. Soon, my choir teacher, Mdm. Luk, asked all of us to go and take a walk outside around the block 3 times(if you are guessing, this is a warming-up session to get you prepared to sing). And so it went.....

Scences - b4 everything started with Mdm Luk at the table(top), a walk around the block(middle), getting ready, the guy in black is Wee Cheng, one of the potential conductors of the choir(bottom)

Then, it's time to 'open' our voices. As usual, we sang the la la la la la, hummmm, roll our tongues and sing, relax ourselves, and the others to get ready(you can expect that b4 a choir practice). I took a look across the room and couldn't identify some members(I then knew them at the end of the day). I realised how young these new singers are and I put myself into my seniors' shoes when I first joined the choir 3 1/2 years ago. That time, I was still a greenhorn. Wow, time flies(I must mention this again). Anyways, after the warming-up session, Mdm. Luk introduced the ex- members who came back. There were 4(if I'm not wrong....hmmm..). They were Samuel(an ex-tenor of the boy singers), Azrin(an ex-soprano of the girl singers), Ryner(an ex-pianist, conductor and tenor boy) and me(an ex-bass of the boy singers). It was good to be together again after so long.

Ryner is at the piano, with Mdm. Luk beside him. The boy standing is Eugene, with Fiona sitting, both are violinists.

From left: Samuel, Jeremy(conductor and a bass), Wee Cheng, and Ambrose

This is Christopher, a new member that joined this year

So we practiced and practiced the songs and soon, it's time to get our costumes(let the pictures do the talking).

The girls chose first

Then the guys

To cut things short, we finish our practice after 2 hours and went home to get ready ourselves. We went back to school at 1:30pm to catch the rented bus to Crowne Plaza at Riverside.

In the bus

Me with Azrin and Chris behind

Group practice

The VIPs tables

On-stage Rehearsal

The hall with the SONS(State Orchestra) orchestra at the left

Men in black

Food, food, food!

Final preparation

Back to school again

And so, to cut the story short, we met our Chief Minister and the deputies as well as other ministers. We had to stand on the stage waiting for nearly 20 minutes(if i'm not wrong) before they settled down(the spotlight was like shining straight into my eyes, so you can guess how was the feeling). After the performance, we went back to our room. According to the teachers, we performed well and sang beautifully.

Looking back, it had really been a long journey. We went through times of difficulties, sadness, and joy. In all, it's not about how much we had won or achieved, but it was the time that we spent together as friends and members. It was indeed a memorable one.

Go Batu Lintang go!

God bless.

Busy, busy, busy

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalms 32:7)

I have to delay the post about my church camp(the details and pictures) due to some busy activities that I am joining these days. The time is getting tighter. Anyways, I received my offer letter from AIMST University last Friday, so I'm gonna leave my home on the 17th of June(it's just around the corner.

Thank God!

I also received a call from my ex- secondary school choir bass leader(and also conductor) last night, asking me if I have time to join them tomorrow for a presentation at the Yayasan Sarawak. The choir is lack of boy singers so they are finding the ex-choir members to join them for the day. To cut things short, I agreed to do it. This is a good time to be with my choir members again(just like the old days) and have a chance to know more about the choir updates since the ex-members left.

Once again, I'll try to blog a post about my church camp as soon as possible. For the choir presentation tomorrow, I'll also try to blog about it on the day after tomorrow(if I have nothing going on).

Please pray for me that God will continue to guide me in the days to come and strengthen my faith in Him so that I will not go astray from His Will and commandments.

God bless. Jesus loves you.

MYF+JMYF Camp

Finally, after countless hours of meeting and discussion, as one of the commitee members of the camp events organizer, the organizer group has finally came to a conclusion. Praise God, we are able to carry out our plans and work as one in Christ all this while. The days of busy ness were tiring yet memorable. Some 35 church members are going to Matang Wildlife Centre tomorrow for a 2D/1N MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) + JMYF (Juniour Methodist Youth Fellowship) church camp. Its theme is "Love gather us together again". The participants are to gather at church early tommorow morning. So as the night is getting 'old'(not young, although for some, it is), I got to get lots of rest tonight for a big day tomorrow.

Let's pray that God will lead and guide all the participants for tomorrow's event and everything will go as acoording to plan and go in accord to God's Will.

Till then, good night and God bless.

P/S: I'll try to take some photos and blog it on the next post(more details on the camp events too!).

Matang Wildlife Centre, here I come!

Above All

"For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods." (Psalm 97:9) KJV

This song below is one of the many Christians songs that I like to listen. The lyrics is very meaningful. It reveals how sovereign, how glorious, and how loving our Lord is. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, so that we can ask for forgiveness of our sins through Him and put our faith in Him, and have Salvation.

Above All - by Michael W. Smith

Verse 1

Above all powers above all kings

Above all nature and all created things

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man

You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones

Above all wonders the world has ever known

Above all wealth and treasures of the earth

There's no way to measure what You're worth

Verse 2

Crucified laid behind the stone

You lived to die rejected and alone

Like a Rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me

Above all

Above all powers above all kings

Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

-CHORUS-

Crucified

Laid behind the stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose

Trampled on the ground

You took the fall

And thought of me

Above all

(Chorus)

Crucified

laid behind the stone

You lived to die rejected and alone

Like a Rose

trampled on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me

Above all

Narnia ROAR!!!

God is love.

Together with my church friends, we went to watch the The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian movie. It was a fantastic movie and worth to watch. However, it is best if you watched the first one: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. With it's terrific graphics and new plot line(not to mention, more touching), TCoN: Prince Caspian is definitely better than its predecessor. TCoN: Prince Caspian movie tells the story of the Pevensie children's second trip to Narnia, during which they discover that an evil king has usurped the throne. Once again, they set out to save Narnia, this time with the help of the rightful ruler, Prince Caspian.

The first of the first

A movie well-done

The seven Narnia books

The Chronicles of Narnia movies are actually based on the story books written by C.S. Lewis, a re-converted Christian at the age of 33, when he started to view his religion as a chore and as a duty . These books and movies have Christian themes in them. For example, some of the scenes in TCoN: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are indirectly based on biblical facts. In all, the stories are great(there are a series of seven 'Narnian' novels)and credit should be given to it's author.

Through these two movies, I learnt that the most obvious theme is - Love. Without love, the good will fall and the evil will triumph. Likewise, God is love. "...God is love. Whoever lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:16-18)

So what is God's love? The Word of God says: "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(Jesus Christ) into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10) ""For GOD so loved the world that He gave His one and Only One Son that whoever BELIEVE in Him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE." (John 3:16) “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The Bible also tells us that since God loves us, we also ought to love one another. "We love because he first love us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:19-21)

God gives us the promise of salvation, if only we have faith(believe and accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior) and repentance(confession of our sins) through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Nothing can compare God's love towards us.

God bless.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)

Side note: You can also visit http://babyninja87.blogspot.com/ for more info. on The Chronicles of Narnia.

Rejoice!

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4).

These few fays are probably some of my busiest days in my life. Apply to study at AIMST University in Kedah, organizing events with some of my church friends for the church camping trip which is going to be held at Matang Wildlife Center next week, giving tuition at home, family gathering, and other stuffs. Well, I finally got my own personal laptop, thanks to my dad. It is a Hp Compaq Presario. Although it is not the latest model, I don't mind cause it's main purpose is for my education and for doing my assingments. As long as it has the basic components and softwares as well as programs(wireless connection, a big memory, enough RAM and GHz, a just-an-okay graphic card, embeded webcam and microphone, enough USB slots, and.......a few more.) I'm fine with it. This is a preview of it:

Top view(laptop closed)

Front view

Side view

The long awaited JPA(Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) scholarship result was finally announced through the Internet last week. I didn't know that it had been announced until my friend told me through MSN. I was shocked and chatted with another friend who had also applied. He gave me the website where I can checked for myself. I clicked it and typed in my IC number into the blank as instructed. Full with eagerness, I then clicked the SEMAK(send) button and waited for approximately a minute until the screen appeared in front of me - Maaf, anda tidak terpilih(Sorry, you are not chosen). At that moment, I was quite disappointed but the feeling quickly faded. Truly speaking, I didn't feel sad or anything after that. I know that this is God's Will. Everything that has been said and done is according to His will and we cannot change it. God is sovereign: He rules over all; nothing happens without His permission (Daniel 4:34-35). I also remember what God tells me through His words: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4). We must continue to put our trust in Him and not blame God. I also read this phrase from a Christian book: "Disappointments are God's appointment. He allows them to seep through His fingers, for in His omniscience God knows their end result will be for our good and His glory. If the disappointment, the trial, were not for your benefit and His glory, He would never have allowed it to seep through His fingers into your life.......God wants you to have every opportunity to be Christlike and fruitful. God doesn't want you to have regrets when you see Him face-to-face."

Through these trials and circumstances, in fact, we should rejoice in Him! "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) The Bible also tells us not to be anxious about tomorrow but seek His Kingdom first, and then everything will be given to us. Jesus said: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes..........But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:22-31) When we are worried, we should also pray and give thanks. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) The act of thanksgiving is a demonstration of the fact that we are going to trust, to believe God. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is[that's where our general prayer come in] and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him [this is where supplication comes in]" (Hebrews 11:6).

I read the news about some high achievers who failed to obtain the scholarship too. The look on their faces can tell us how disappointed they are and the lost of hope in their hearts. When we find our self in a state of despair, we need to say with the psalmist, "Why are you despair, O soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." (Psalm 42:5)

To those who are having times of hardship and difficulties, I want to share with you this song: 'Be Strong and Take Courage' by Intergrity Ministries.

Be Strong And Take Courage-By Don Moen

Be strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the Lord will go before you

And His light will show the way

Be strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the one who lives within you

Will be strong in you today

Why don' you give him all of your fears

Why don't you let him wipe all of your tears

He knows, He's been through pain before

And He knows all that you've been looking for

So, be strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the Lord will go before you

And His light will show the way

Be Strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the one who lives within you

Will be strong in you today

Nothing can take you out of his hand

Nothing can face you can't command

I know that you will always be

In His love, in His power you will be free!!

So, be strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the Lord will go before you

And His light will show the way

Be Strong and take courage

Do not fear or be dismayed

For the one who lives within youWill be strong in you today

Let's continue to be strong through our faith in Jesus Christ and remember each other in our prayers.

God bless.