Hi,

For those who are interested in some of the songs which I previously posted here, they are all available on iTunes, just search the song name. The songs are sung by this group called The Wilds.

A Testimony

I came across this article when I was at The Gospel Coalition, a really good website where a coalition (duh!) of Pastors address different issues, from Haiti and Christian relief efforts there to the theology of the Trinity, introducing new books and much more like the following article (which was featured on Associated Press):

Brain cancer tests a young pastor’s faith

Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter.

Anyway, I thought I would share this article because it’s a real encouragement, and how we need to trust and believe even though most of the time when we are going through trials we don’t understand what is God’s purpose for us. I’m reminded also of James 1:2, that is a matter of WHEN rather than IF we face trials.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Will we be able to be grateful that God counts us worthy to experience the trial He is going to put us through?

Let’s walk close to the Author and Finisher of our faith. =)

This article also reminds me of one of my recent favourite Christian songs, posted below.

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Lyrics and music by Casting Crowns. Lyrics were taken from http://www.christianlyricsonline.com

Youtube video

Finally, Manchester United getting some decent results on the trot.

It was especially sweet to watch them destroy Arsenal with multiple attacks. The attack is close to being back at its best, Nani is suddenly having something of an Indian summer, and showing what confidence does. But the defence is still pretty much in shambles. Arsenal could probably have had 2 before Man U even scored.

Here’s hoping Arsenal are even more fired up when they travel to Stamford Bridge. A win for them there will blow the title race for the BPL wide open.

AND.

How can I forget. It was really, really nice to just shut Manchester City up, rightly dubbed the noisy neighbours. And the look on Carlos Tevez’s face was priceless.

I don’t really know why the player I support always loses whenever I watch tennis. =(

Oh no. Here I go again

I so, so want one!

Apple iPad

Picture taken from Apple

Glorious Day

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Oh, glorious day

Lyrics adapted from One Day and music by Casting Crowns. Lyrics taken from Casting Crowns Official Website

Edit: This song is actually an adaptation of the hymn One Day. One Day was composed by Charles Marsh and the lyrics written by Wilbur Chapman. The original lyrics to the hymn One Day are as follow:

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

Lyrics were taken from Bible Study Charts and you can listen to a piano piece of this hymn.

Merkava 4 WIP

This is the 1/35 scale Merkava from Academy with Legends Turret and Rear basket set. This is where I am at presently.

And the world of difference a good photography set-up, good camera and good photographer makes:

The link to the entire WIP thread on PLAMO: showthread.php?tid=5683

Some thoughts from my devotion

Thank God for my devotion this morning. I decided to re-read a passage which I had quickly glanced through on Sunday night, with all the tiredness and all. And with the benefit of a fresh day, I managed to reap much more valuable insights from what had seemed like a usual story-telling kind of Old Testament passage. Nehemiah 9 is an account of the Israelites’ remembering all the good God had done to them. And even as I read it, I realised how similar my life is to that of the Israelites.

Because God has always been gracious and merciful. Yet, I continue to turn away from Him in sin. And this cycle just seems to keep repeating itself doesn’t it. And yet God, in His great mercy and grace, continues to reach out to me (and other sinners) and bring us back to Him.

But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

²⁸But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. ²⁹And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law.

³¹Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

And I am also reminded of the God I worship.

³²“Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love,

Hetzer

Better quality pictures of the Hetzer model I completed last year.

What I Study

It’s funny when people ask me what I study, and follow on my answer by asking what do Chemical Engineers do.

And my reply is always the same: I don’t really know.

And since I’m taking an introductory module to Chemical Engineering, I now have a definition.

Chemical Engineering is a branch of engineering which involves the design and operation of “large-scale” chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and the like.

In such industries, chemical engineers work in production, research, design, process and product development, marketing, data processing, sales and throughout top management.

So, I guess that’s what I’m going to do (if I do graduate in 3.5 years time, and a company decides to hire me).

And I was just reading the introductory chapter of a textbook, an introduction to Chemical Engineering. And the author gave an example of a problem that we would face as Chemical Engineers. And somehow, it doesn’t look the least bit appealing to me. And I get the feeling I’m going to struggle here (yes, such pessimism on the second day of school).

But I trust that God who enabled me to study in this course. He will help me through.

Definition taken from McGraw-Hill, Encyclopedia of Science and Technology