The Corner of Time

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

In less than a month now, I'm heading back to my campus. Some of my friends are already back to their respective unis while some of them are still waiting. As for me, I'm doing what I can to fill my time up till the day comes.

After visiting some blogs and websites, I've known that there are A(H1N1) cases in my campus, and a few students are confirmed infected. Are these true or just some rumours? Whatever it is, it's better to take precautions than putting these cases aside. The old saying goes: 'Prevention is better than cure.' Don't take this too lightly!

Till then, I'll try to update my blog in one of the days ahead. Take care and God bless.

P.S:// Here's a 'Photo of the Post' for your viewing pleasure.

The Moon with its Brilliance: As seen from my campus (Courtesy of Kiu)

The Final One-1

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

WARNING: THE PHOTOS BELOW CONTAIN SALIVA-PROVOKING MATERIALS.

I celebrated my 19th birthday back in my hometown this year. It was a simple yet memorable celebration. There was no birthday cake. Instead, delicious and stomach-filling dishes (with absolute pleasant aroma!) cooked by my mom were served on the dining table. The food was just too good to describe! Without further ado, let the photos do the talking:

Lunch: Steamed with tomatoes, green onions, chili, and many other ingredients, the Chinese call the prawn Big Head Prawn (Obviously because of its head size! :) ). I call this dish 'The Extraordinaire Prawn'.

The mouth-watering Big Head Prawn added into my 'meehoon special': Not to forget...see the fried egg in the background? Its half-cooked flowing egg yolk simply made the dish look more fabulous!

Dinner: The renown 'Sarawak Foochow Mee Sua'. An excellent dish consisting of two fleshy chicken wing and drumstick together with 85% boiled egg. A broad and juicy mushroom is a must-add ingredient as well.

Above: The unveiling of 'Mee Sua'

Here were my steps in launching my 19th birthday celebration:

1st step: Say grace to thank God for the food.

2nd step: Take a historic picture.

3rd step: With all due respect, it's time to feast!

4th and final step: Head out to the nearest hawker stall and grab a cooling 'White Lady' or a refreshing 'Metahon' (I reckon that these drinks are available only in Kuching)!

Thanks mom and dad for your support at all times! Love ya! Thanks again, mom, for your wonderful cooking (Dad, thanks for the food)! Many thanks to my siblings for your gifts and help! You guys rock! No words could express my feelings towards all of you! :)

To all my friends, thanks and thanks to all of you for the wishes you guys sent and the encouragement! Wish y'all all the best and hope that we'll see each other again in the near future! Till then, take care and God bless! :)

And to those who were born on the same day as me, Happy Birthday!

Above all, may all praise and thanksgiving and glory be unto God for His sufficient grace for me and the people around me. He is our Provider!

Please continue to pray for me, in faith, health, education and the road ahead of me.

Till then, take care and God bless!

Jesus loves you! :)

Tick-Tock

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

Seeing how time passes by, every second of our life is nonreturnable. It's a once in a lifetime event.

As mortal men, we should be purposed-driven in life-- for Christ alone. God loved us before the foundation of the earth. He even gave His only and begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross, resurrected on the third day, ascended to Heaven and will come again. The ultimate sacrifice Jesus' made allows us to conquer over sin and death! God loves us and will always keep His promises to us. What can separate us from the love of God?

During the past few weeks, I have realized the difficulties and the dangers one Christian could faced if he or she neglect the Word of God and come to a halt in seeking His face. If a Christian does not have a solid foundation in the Word of God, sinful desires and nature of this present world can easily pull a Christian away from the root of Faith in God.

Getting really busy in works, hung up with difficulties and keeping in pace with the advancement of society nowadays can dangerously affect (sway away from God) our Faith. It is indeed by the Grace of God that we were saved in which it is not based on our strength and power. God is always there for us as long as we stop in our steps and listen to him with penitence and humility, inviting Jesus into our lives (to be our Savior) and putting our faith and trust in Him. By surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ in whole, we can have great peace and joy in the Lord, for we hundred-and-one-percent know that God is in control. There may be things that are impossible for us to accomplish. But with God by our side, nothing is impossible.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28-31

Below is an excerpt from an article I read in the Internet:

'In the context of Romans, chapter 8, the apostle Paul wants us to think about the things that God has done for us and continues to do for us; especially when it comes to the salvation of our souls. And he wants us to think about these things in comparison to the misfortunes and the difficulties that we may have to go through - to understand that there is NOTHING that can defeat God's purpose for us, if we maintain our faith in Him. For he says: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).' -John Hagenbuch

Origin

'You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.' (Nehemiah 9:6)

When I was back in my campus, I went to my friend's apartment to share some ideas on photography while switching lenses. He has a Canon EOS 350D (he has been using it for a couple of years) and is planning to get hold of a new one, who knows, he reckoned, a 40D? or perhaps a 50D?


He has this whole set of accessories and I tried out some of his lenses as well as filters (Thanks Kiu!). That whole night was filled with shutters clicking away and shots being viewed and deleted (just for some). It was like a photography forum. The photos were beautiful. Some were rrreeaallly close-up and others were artistically captured. In short, everything was nearly explored (However, I came back home and found there were more).

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (I call it the 'gargantua' lens for its long extended form): Good buy for those who would like to have a all-in-one-lens. Image quality however, may slide down a little.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens: Inexpensive and well known for its sharp images production. Good for those who love extreme blur backgrounds but a sharp target(s).

I tried out a fixed focal length, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens and a zoom lens, the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. Both performed well. The photos below are taken by these lenses:

Me with my Canon EOS 450D (when my battery hadn't broke down yet). Trying out Kiu's Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. The two photos above were taken by Kiu using his Canon EOS 350D with his Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens. (ISO 400)


Notice how blur the background is? As the aperture number decreases e.g. f/1.8 and below, the depth-of-field becomes shallower and less light is captured. The target will appear sharper and the background blurred.

Me taken by Bong: Canon EOS 350D (borrowed from Kiu), 8 megapixel, Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, Aperture Priority mode, focal length 50mm, shutter speed: 1/60 per sec, f/5, ISO 100, exposure compensation: 0

I got an idea one day and went to ask Kiu, and see if he agrees to it. The idea was to take moon shots by using his Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. He agreed almost instantly.

Out of all times, my camera battery unknowingly broke down. It was only 3 1/2 weeks old! (Thanks to Canon, they later warranted me a brand new one). Thanks again to Kiu, he lent me his SLR. He took few moon shots before that. I saw the photos and was amazed. Soon after, I was outside in the night trying to capture the once-in-a 'blue moon'. These were the results:

Moon shot by Kiu: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, manual mode, focal length at 200mm, f/5.6, shutter speed at 1/500 sec., ISO 100 (Courtesy of Kiu)

This is it, my moon shot. The specs are the same as Kiu's. These moon shots are sharpened. I prefer mine to be more natural coloured (brightness and contrast) to depict the moment.

Try comparing Kiu's and my shots with this. Big differences, eh? This moon was captured by using a Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM super telephoto Lens mounted on a costly camera body. (Price approx. RM400,000)

If you are planning to take a really good photo of the moon or stars or any distant objects(such as the ones shown above), then the Canon super telephoto L lenses are for you. L lenses are considered 'Luxury' (L stands for this) for photography equipments and are top-in-line (in quality) among all Canon lenses. The trademark for Canon L lenses is the red line around them. Other than having a fast autofocus, they produced beautiful and optically excellent photos. Of course, they come with handsome prices, ranging from RM 7,000++* to an overwhelming bank-draining RM400,000++*. (*Prices may differ a little, depending on the present world market) Below are the the main Canon super telephoto L lenses.

Canon super telephoto L lenses: Pictured above from left to right is the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens, Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens and Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS L USM Lens

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM Lens: Superb image quality production comes with a pretty price tag: approx: RM50,000-RM60,000++. The camera body alone costs about RM15,000.

Finally, the longest and full autofocus lens (very rare) in the world - the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM Lens. It boasts a price of approximately RM300,000-RM400,000. It is made through special order. Notice the handle (to carry it around like a luggage) above it and the camera hanging in mid air, supported by the lens' weight (about 16kg).

Thinking of it, we are just small living things on earth. Yet God loves and takes good care of each one of us. Jesus said: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"(Matthew 6:26)

Jim Irwin, the eighth astronaut who walked on the moon, saw earth in the distance in the midst of darkness during his moonwalk. Earth, he said, was like a colourful orb hanging in mid air. Once a non-believer, he found and believed God's existence. He witnessed the greatness of God through His creations. Back home, he became a well known discoverer in searching for places mentioned in the Bible and spreading the Word of God.

Praise God for all the things he has given to us and may we grow with deep root in His word each and everyday.

Wonderful Counsellor

photo source: gracewalk.wordpress

'My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever'

~Psalm 73:26~

In a blink of an eye, one month has passed since I finished my finals and left the campus. It's just about a week and a half ago when I had an exciting yet nervous situation of my life- The announcement of my exam results.

The letter was there before me. I knew that it was time already, but I expected it to be announced the week after. With cold shaky hands, I tore open the top part of the letter carefully and peered inside. There were a bunch papers in there. I took them out and quickly searched for my exam slip. Soon, I was there staring at the numbers (grades) right in front of me. I did the necessary calculation and at that exact moment, I think I missed a heart-beat. I looked at my mom and sis and they looked excited as I was. Realization dawned upon me and I showed it to my family. The smiles on their faces brightened.

I am qualified for degree.

I re-applied for degree the day after and received another letter yesterday. Once again, I never knew it would arrived my door step with such speed but that was not the main point. Holding the letter, I sat on my couch and tore open the top of it. It was like dejavu. It seemed to happen before. I reached for the inside and took out a few pieces of papers, some colourful and some plain white. I flipped through and found the piece. Stated above, it was the words many pre-uni students hoped for- 'we..pleased..inform..offer..accepted'.

A sudden wave of thankfulness flowed through me. My mom, who was sitting beside me, hugged and congratulated me.

I just can't stop myself from praising God. His grace is indeed sufficient. He is a God of love, compassion, kindness, at the same time, fair and just. Knowing Jesus Christ is one big gift for my life and family (Thanks mom and dad, sis and bro for your support and prayers!). Receiving Him as my Savior and Lord over my life is even greater and joyous.

There may be times when we faced failure and adversity, but when we received and believed in His name, Jesus Christ, peace and joy overflow through us because we know that He is the mighty conqueror of each and everything and we can surrender our all to Him. For this, we can too sing with the psalmist: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.' (Psalm 23:4)

We should also acknowledge Him in everything we do. The Word of God tells us 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.' (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God has plans for us and it will be revealed according to His time. Prayer and faith are essential as part of a Christian life. The Bible tells us: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. '(Philippians 4:6-7)

May we continue to offer our thanks giving to our Lord our God and glorify His Holy name, in prayer, songs, and the things we do on earth.

Our God is truly a living God worthy to be praised forever and ever!

Tackle, Pass, and Shoot

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

It's been weeks now since I updated my blog. Life's has never been so busy. Everyday is like a new chapter in a story book for me. Through these, I've not only gain experiences (lessons also), I realize and thank God for His sufficient Grace for me, my family, and people around me. Thanksgiving is not for a special occasion only (Thanksgiving Day), but for each day, we should continue to give our praises and honour and glory unto His Holy Name- Jesus Christ.

Moving on, here's an 'introductory' photo taken by me using my Canon 450D:

Canon EOS 450D, Shutter Priority mode (Tv), Shutter Speed: 1/200 per sec. , in-built flash On, 55mm focal length, aperture f/5.6, Exposure compensation: +2 step

Shutter priority is the setting where you set your desired shutter speed and the camera automatically set the aperture for you. It is peculiarly useful in sports photography, where precision and timing are essential. However, it is still recommended that you go full-time manual when you are confident. Don't forget also to put your shots to continuous to capture a series of dramatic moves.

Here are some of my early shots that I took during a sports event held in my campus (about two months ago when I'm still a newbie to my SLR, that's the reason on why I used the sports auto mode for the photos below):

Practices before the big day for my batch's basketball team




Try setting your camera's (best on dSLR) shutter speed to 1/60 per sec. and focus (and follow) on the target using the viewfinder to obtain a sharp looking target but a 'dash' background (such as above), indicating speed and movement.



During the competition

I also grabbed the opportunity to snatch a few shots during the soccer competition held on the same day:

The kit lens I used (Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS) in the above photos is not really suitable for sports photography as its zoom range is not narrow enough. A Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS or f/4.0 USM (if possible, find a lens that has a smaller angle of view from 300mm-500mm) is more of an ideal choice.

Another tip for sports photography is to capture the moments of athletes during times of resting, winning, or even being in a defeat situation. These moments could be memorable and treasured.

In the coming posts (I'll update when I find the time), I'll upload more photos that I took during the past few weeks.

Till then, take care and God bless.

Jesus loves you! :)

Eat to Live

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)







Dated this day is the Traditional Chinese Dumpling Festival (Zong Zi- Traditional Chinese food). Here are some photos on the dumplings that I took (...and ate) during this year's Dumpling Festival:

Zong Zi sold at Sunday Market

My family's Dumplings

Above:
Foreground: Dumplings with meat, Background: Dumpling with groundnuts and red bean (Dao Sa)

Zong Zi is a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. It is meant to honor Qu Yuan (340-278 BC.), the pioneer poet of ancient China.

Below is an excerpt that I found through the net:

"Qu Yuan was a famous poet who was also concerned about the fate of his government.



Qu Yuan (Source: Wikipedia)

Unfortunately his stature aroused the jealousy of the king, who banished him to a remote area.

The poet despaired of the government and its policies. When the state's capital was captured by enemies, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (on May 5th according to the Chinese lunar calendar).

The Chinese people felt this loss deeply, as he was a much beloved poet. Local folk searched for him in the river, meanwhile dropping dumplings of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves into the river in order to keep the fishes from attacking Qu Yuan's body.

Since that time, it has been customary on this day to enjoy Zong Zi dumplings as a memorial to the patriotic poet."

Similarly, Jesus Christ was under constant criticisms from the Jewish community (The Pharisees) during His ministry. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the old testament- by making the ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross. But it didn't end just that way, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day! His death and resurrection conquered over both sin and death. Through faith in Him, can we then have eternal life with Him in Heaven. He will come again one day where there will be no more tears and sadness, (Isaiah 25:8) 'He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.'

There was once a quote from a Christian wallpaper stating: "At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match." -John Wenham.

Below is another article written by the evangelist Billy Graham:

"Over the years I have talked to thousands of people who have asked me how to find their way to God. Some have sat in church pews all their lives but never come to personally know God. Others have sought for ultimate meaning in all sorts of ways but never found the peace of mind for which they were searching. Some simply realize that there is something vital missing in their lives.

The Bible teaches that this sense of lostness is rooted in the fact that we live in a fallen world in which we are all handicapped by a sin nature: we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And despite our best efforts we are unable to remove the haunting weight of guilt that separates us from our Creator.

God sent his Son to solve our dilemma. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ made the way to God for us by his death on the Cross. He purchased our salvation by the shedding of his blood. His death and resurrection made a new and everlasting covenant between God and humanity.

Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life.

The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.

Christ promises those who turn to him: "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed from death to life" (John 5:24).
Today you can come to him by surrendering your life and heart to Christ. The Bible says: "To all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Right where you are you can pray something like this: "Lord, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior."

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!"

Till then, take care and God bless.

Jesus loves you! :)