=)

Have always wanted to come up with something nice for a small amount of money only. =)

It's not really about being cheap as much as being creative! I mean, it is always harder to come up with something nice for less amount of money, right? =) But that just means that the challenge is greater, and that there is more fun in meeting the challenge! =P

Very happy someone gave me the chance to do that today. And very happy that the creative side of my brain was cooperative! =)

Itu gigi kenapa?

The first question he asked me after he saw my smile was: "Itu gigi kenapa?" (What's wrong with your tooth?)

I was surprised!

I was really surprised.

I mean, no one ever really asked me that question before. I guess, it could be that people were just being polite to me. =) Or it could also be that they never really noticed...

Well, for the record - yes, one of my front teeth is dead. I fell and my mouth hit the floor when I was very young and so one of my front teeth is basically dead. That's why the colour's like that. And that's why it's "dark". A sign of 'death'... =)

Not sure that it'll get any darker. It's much darker than when I was first told the tooth's 'dead', but hasn't really changed in the past few years...

Anyway, all these conversations reminded me of two things in the lives of Christians:

1. Just like the dead tooth has become more visible over time , I guess 'dead Christian' (i.e. someone who seem to be one but not really) might not look that different to a real Christian at first. BUT, over time, it will become clearer whether you are actually 'dead' or 'alive' on the inside! =)


2. The gentleman above was able to spot my problem pretty much straight away because he was trained in that field. He knew that something was wrong with my tooth.

I think, like that gentleman, Christians, who are well-trained in their field (i.e. knowledge and love of God), would also be able to spot sins - be it in themselves or others - more clearly, than ones who are not as well-trained... Because with good training in God's Word, we'll grow in our ability to see things His ways, and we'll be able to see sins for what they really are, as God sees them...

Just pray that we'll be given humility and strength to respond in the way that He wants us to respond as well! =)

Spoilt plan...

Plan was to sleep VERY early tonight! (Like 8 or 9!) And yet it's 1 am already and I'm only just about to go to bed! =(

I guess they are worth the effort, the trouble and the time...

Just pray that those things would really end up bringing some encouragement their way and that God in His mercy would use them for His glory and for the good of His people in the future... =)

He challenges me!

He is not exactly the most organised person on earth... And he definitely doesn't look cool! And I don't think I would consider him as the best communicator I've known either...

But he has a great love for His God! And he does love His people! And you can see it so clearly in his life, and in all the decisions that he's made - both small and big! And you can even see it in his attitude to things in life, too...

And those things - his love for God, his attitude and the way he makes decisions - made up for his first set of characteristics!

I mean, he might not be the most organised person, or someone who looks cool or the best communicator, but he challenges me! Challenges me through what he says and what he does, to be more godly(!), and to aim big and achieve greater things for God! =)

He challenges me to not be "easily pleased" with where I am in terms of my godliness and my current growth state and rate... to not think too highly of myself... to keep repenting... to keep growing in my Christlikeness... to keep running my race well, while being gracious to others in my dealing with them... to care for people from my heart... to be purposeful even at play... to know that there are times to say the hard things and there are times to listen hard and encourage...

I've learnt a lot from him... I have been challenged much... I have been spurred on and encouraged to consider, and reconsider, whether I really have given my best to God in all areas of my life...

I feel really privileged for this God-given opportunity... God has really been kind to me! =)

PS: Does not mean that the first set of characteristics does not matter at all anymore... They still do matter at times... But yeah, the other things help me to forgive and overlook and put up with them, I guess! =P

Dibedol ka ditu ka dieu...

Da naon atuh ari hirup teh? Pikeun simkuring mah, hirup teh, nya eta Al Masih. Jadi, paeh teh mangrupa hiji kauntungan. Tapi upama simkuring diparengkeun panjang umur sarta bisa migawe hal-hal anu penting, kumaha atuh pihadeeunana? Lebah dieu, simkuring teu bisa nangtukeun mana anu kudu dipilih! Asa dibedol ka ditu ka dieu: Aya hayang geura los mulang ngahiji jeung Al Masih; sabab eta anu panghadena mah; tapi aya oge hayang tetep keneh hirup, tina ngaraskeun ka dulur-dulur. Panghadena, pikeun aranjeun mah, upama simkuring tetep hirup.

Purpose of all the rules...

A brother once asked me if I was noticing too many "faults" within a translated passage because of my linguistic/translation background...

I appreciated his comment because he could be right. =) I needed the reminder and challenge whether that was indeed what I was doing - paying too much attention to the technicalities of the language that I missed the point of the whole thing!

I gave an answer to him at that time. But it is not something I will try to articulate here. =)

I will, however, quote something I have just read from a book - something that would explain my point of view on the subject much better than I did, and something that I am posting here for my future reference and benefit! =)

So, herein lies the purpose of all the rules: If the artist fails to follow them, the audience becomes distracted. Rules exist for the sake of efficiency. If your reader has to struggle to understand what you mean, he does so at the expense of your story.

(from The Writer's Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by ST Goldsberry)

Doesn't matter... =)

She was right (!) . . .

I'm no longer doing this for them, and so am less affected by their decisions and attitudes!

I have my own reasons to do this... I have a strong enough motivation - and enough pull and push factors...

And so God willing, I am going to do this... - with... or without them! =)

Lain simkuring sorangan deui nu hirup / no longer I who live...

Anu jadi dosa tea mah, nya eta: Lamun sajeroning hayang diangken bener ku Allah teh ku jalan ngalakonan deui Toret anu ku simkuring geus dipiceun tea. Ku sabab simkuring ayeuna mah geus kawengku ku hukum anyar, atuh tina hukum Toret mah simkuring teh geus sirna; da simkuring mah geus masrahkeun hirup ka Allah ku lantaran geus milu digantung jeung Al Masih. Ku kituna, anu hirup di simkuring teh geus lain simkuring sorangan deui, tapi saenyana mah Al Masih anu ngancik di jero diri simkuring. Hirup simkuring anu kiwari teh, estu ku karana iman ka Nu jumeneng Putra Allah, anu geus mikaasih sarta ngorbankeun salira-Na nalangan simkuring. Eta sih piwelas-Na ku simkuring, tangtu moal ditolak. Sabab upama urang bisa salamet ku lantaran hukum Toret, atuh pangorbanan Al Masih dugi ka pupusna teh, mubadir bae!

-----------

I have been crucified with Christ,
and I no longer live,
but Jesus Christ lives in me
I have been crucified with Christ...

The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me...

a memory verse song by Colin Buchanan

Conto keur arurang...

Ku sabab dina kamanunggalan jeung Al Masih teh aya pepeling, aya panglipur ti asih-Na, aya apingan Ruh, aya silih asih, sarta silih pikanyaah; sabab eta, dulur-dulur, sampurnakeun kabungah simkuring teh, ku jalan sing sahate, sapikir, sakanyaah, sajiwa, sarta sing sauyunan. Ulah pakia-kia atawa pagirang-girang tampian; anggur kudu handap asor, mandang batur leuwih luhur harkatna. Ulah ngan inget kana kaperluan sorangan bae, kaperluan batur oge kudu diperhatikeun. Aranjeun kudu miboga sipat eta, sakumaha Al Masih tea. Kapan Al Masih teh, ari wujud-Na mah, salira Allah; tapi sanajan kitu, Anjeunna henteu kamagungan. Eta kaagungana-Na teh, anggur dianggo kumawula; Anjeunna ngajadi saharkat jeung manusa, nyorang hirup sakumaha manusa ilahar. Estuning ngalaipkeun Anjeun, ta'at-Na, tug nepi ka pupus: Paragat nyawa disalib. Nu matak ku Allah, Anjeunna teh, dijungjung pangluhurna sarta dipaparin gelaran pangpunjulna, nepi ka sakabeh nu di sawarga, nu di bumi, jeung nu di alam kubur sarujud ka Anjeunna anu ngagem jenengan Isa. Kabeh baris ngaku: "Isa Al Masih teh Gusti Panutan," pikeun kamulyaan Allah anu jumeneng Rama.

Nothing, but the grace of God...

Ahirna, maranehna jadi cekcok marebutkeun saha nu unggul. Ku Isa diwawadian, saur-Na, "Ari di bangsa-bangsa, raja-raja teh marentah ka rayatna, anu nyarekel kawasa disebutna pelindung rayat. Maraneh mah ulah kitu. Anu dipikolot di maraneh mah malah kudu daek jadi pangngorana, anu jadi pamingpin kudu daek jadi juru laden. Cik antara nu dilaladenan dahar jeung anu ngalaladenanana luhur mana? Luhur anu dilaladenan. Tapi kapan Kami oge di maraneh teh pelayan. Maraneh salawasna babarengan jeung Kami, sajeroning Kami nyorang sagala cocoba. Sarta Kami geus nangtukeun hak-hak Karajaan pikeun maraneh, nya eta hak anu gues dipaparinkeun ka Kami ku Ama. Jadi, maraneh boga hak dahar nginum sameja jeung Kami di jero eta Karajaan. Jaba ti eta, maraneh ge dibere kalungguhan pikeun nerapkeun hukum ka dua belas kaom Israil.

Simun, Simun! Tuh Iblis geus ngincer ka maneh, rek ditapikeun kawas ka gandum. Tapi maneh ku Kami geus dipangnedakeun, supaya ulah nepi ka pecat iman. Di mana geus tobat, maneh wajib mere sumanget ka pada batur." Jawab Petra, "Jungjunan, abdi rido dipanjara atanapi kedah paeh babarengan sareng Jungjunan!" Tapi saur Isa, "Cek Kami: "Petra, peuting ieu memeh hayam kongkorongok, maneh geus tilu kali mungkir, nya eta nyebutkeun teu wawuh ka Kami."

..................................

Geus kitu, Anjeunna angkat ka luar kota kawas sasari, nya eta ngajugjug Gunung Jetun sarta diiring ku murid-murid-Na. Sasumpingna ka ditu Anjeunna sasauran, "Maraneh kudu sembahyang supaya ulah beunang ku dodoja." Geus sasauran kitu, Anjeunna mencilkeun anjeun jauhna kira-kira sapamaledog; tuluy bruk nyuuh bari sasambat, "Duh Ama, manawi kenging mah, candak ieu lumur kasangsaraan teh ti Abdi; sanaos kitu, ulah numutkeun panuhun Abdi, nanging pangersa Ama nu kedah laksana." Ti dinya, aya malaikat ti langit nembongan ka Anjeunna pikeun maparin sumanget. Anjeunna teh keur katarajang kasieun anu pohara; sasambat-Na beuki husu. Cikaringet-Na lir tetesan-tetesan getih, nyakclakan kana taneuh. Tamat ngadu'a, lajeng cengkat nyampeurkeun murid-murid. Maranehna teh kasampak keur sarare teu kawawa ku nalangsa. Ku Anjeunna disauran, "Naha sarare? Harudang! Heg sarembahyang, supaya ulah beunang ku dodoja."

...................................

Isa geus ditangkep, dibawa ti dinya, digiring ka bumi Imam Agung. Petra nuturkeun ti kajauhan. Di tengah buruan bumi aya anu keur mirunan diparake siduru, Petra milu siduru. Katenjoeun ku hiji gandek awewe, sanggeus neges-neges pok manehna ngomong, "Tah ieu ge baturna itu." Ku Petra dipungkir, "Lain, wawuh ge henteu ka dinya teh!" Teu lila aya deui anu ngomong, pokna, "Maneh ge sarombongan jeung itu!" Petra mungkir deui, "Lain, lain!" Heuleut sajam, pok deui bae, aya nu ngomong, tandes pisan pokna, "Sidik ieu jalema teh baturna itu, urang Galilea keneh!" Tapi cek Petra, "Lain, kuring mah teu nyaho-nyaho!" Harita keneh kadenge hayam kongkorongok. Isa ngareret ka Petra. Ras Petra inget kana kasauran Anjeunna: "Memeh hayam kongkorongok peuting ieu, maneh geus tilu kali mungkir, nyebut teu wawuh ka Kami." Leos bae, manehna indit bari ceurik, awahing ku nalangsa.

-----------------------------

"Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,
And I bet, I could deny you too.

But nothing lasts, except the grace of God,
by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away,
except for grace, by which I'm saved."

(from Grace by Which I Stand, by Keith Green)

Estu anugrah...

Karajaan Sawarga teh, ibarat hiji jelema anu rebun-rebun geus indit neangan kuli, nya sina digawe di kebon anggurna. Sanggeus putus yen piburuheunana sadinar sapoe, terus kuli-kuli digarawe. Kira-kira pukul salapan, manehna indit deui, ka pasar; di dinya manehna manggih nu keur ngaligeuh, terus ditawaran gawe, pokna: 'Hayu gawe di kebon anggur kula, buruhna pantes.' Tuluy maranehna arindit digawe. Kira-kira pukul dua belas jeung pukul tilu, nu boga kebon teh indit deui, cara tadi. Kira-kira pukul lima, geus burit, indit deui bae neangan jelema. Geus manggih diajak ngomong: 'Ku naon tingjaranteng bae ti isuk?' Walonna: 'Teu aya anu ngulikeun.' 'Hayu atuh milu, digawe di kebon kula.' Sanggeus reupreupan, nu ngulikeun teh nitah ka mandor: 'Sina kumpul nu digarawe teh, buruhanana bayar. Heulakeun bayar anu daratang pangburitna.' Tuluy nu daratang pukul lima sore dibayar ti heula sadinar sewang. Anu daratang pangisukna, maranehna nyangka rek dibayar leuwih gede. Tapi wet, sarua sadinar keneh. Bari nampanan buruhan maranehna gegelendeng: 'Nu daratang pangburitna digawena ukur sajam, ari bayaranana wet disaruakeun jeung anu ngadedeluk ti isuk keneh bari moe maneh.' Cek anu ngagawekeun: 'Dulur-dulur, kula henteu pilih kasih. Lain geus akur urang teh, buruhna sadinar sapoe? Geus, geura tarima ku maraneh, jeung geura balik. Hanas anu daratangna pangburitna dibayar sarua jeung aranjeun, atuh eta mah geus niat kula kitu. Na teu meunang kula make duit sorangan sakahayang? Atawa maraneh sirik pedah kula bageur?

----------

Nu leuwih eces mah dawuhan ka Rabeka, basa Rabeka keur kakandungan kembar ti carogena, Isak tea, karuhun urang. Ti memeh kakandunganana tea medal, jadi acan lakon hade atawa goreng, nu hiji enggeus dipilih sarta Allah geus netelakeun yen pamilih Mantenna henteu dumasar kana hade gorengna kalakuanana, estu wungkul ku karana pangersa-Na bae. Kieu dawuhan-Na:
'Lanceukna bakal kumawula ka adina.'
Oge kauni dina Kitab:
'Ka Yakub Kami teh asri, ari ka Esau mah giruk.'
Kumaha ari kitu! Naha urang rek nyalahkeun, majarkeun Allah teu adil! Baheula Mantenna ngadawuh ka Musa:
'Kami rek mikarunya ka sakur anu geus ditangtukeun ku Kami.
Kami niat ngurniaan ka sakur nu geus kapilih ku Kami.'
Eta teh, netelakeun yen Allah henteu gumantung kana kahayang atawa tingkah laku jelema. Kabeh gumantung kana pangersa-Na. Oge dina Kitab aya dawuhan Mantenna ka Piraon: 'Nu matak maneh ku Kami dijungjung teh lantaran ku Kami arek dipake pikeun nembongkeun kakawasan, supaya ngaran Kami kakoncara ka sakuliah dunya.' Jadi, Allah mah, mikawelas teh ka saha bae anu kamanah ku Mantenna; kitu oge, upama Mantenna ngersakeun jelema jadi bedegong, nu mana bae.

Meureun cek aranjeun: 'Ana kitu, naha atuh Mantenna sok ngaweweleh kalakuan manusa, da saha atuh jelemana anu bisa mapalangan kana pangersa-Na?' Kieu saenyana: 'Ambeu, naha saha manusa teh make wani-wani ngalawan ka Allah?' Upama urang barang jieun, eta barang anu dijieun teh moal bisa nyalahkeun kieu: 'Ku naon kuring dijieun kieu?' Upamana bae Ki panjunan, tangtu bisa kumaha karep kana taneuh lempung, naha rek dijieun wadah anu endah atawa anu basajan bae. Jadi, upama Allah rek nibankeun bebendu jeung pangawasa-Na ka anu ku Mantenna rek dibenduan jeung diruksak, tapi kersa nyabaran keneh; eta teh taya lian, ti seja mintonkeun kamulyaana-Na anu tanpa wangenan, ka nu baris dipiwelas jeung baris diangkat kana kamulyaan. Nya eta urang tea, anu ku Mantenna geus disaur. Ari nu disalaur teh lain ngan ti urang Yahudi wungkul, tapi ti bangsa-bangsa sejenna oge. Sakumaha dawuhna-Na dina kitab Hosea:
'Anu tadina lain umat Kami, seja diaku jadi umat Kami.
Kami seja nerapkeun kaasih ka anu tadina henteu dipikaasih.
Kitu deui di tanah anu tadina disebut:
Maraneh mah lain umat Kami,
baris diaku jadi putra-putra Allah Anu jumeneng.'
Nabi Yesaya oge, kieu saurna ngeunaan urang Israil teh: 'Sanajan bani Israil lobana, lir keusik lautan, nu baris dirahayukeun mah ngan sabagean leutik.' Sabab sakur anu ku Pangeran geus ditimbalkeun, tinangtu ku Mantenna dibuktikeun di ieu bumi kalawan sahinasna tur sampurna. Memeh eta, Nabi Yesaya nyaurkeun kieu:
'Cacakan upama Pangeran henteu ngarikeun binih, nasib urang teh moal beda ti nagara Sadumu jeung Gomora.'

... tanda, pikeun anu palercaya...

Sabab upama biwir ngaku, yen Isa teh Gusti Jungjunan tur percaya dina hate, yen Anjeunna ku Allah geus digugahkeun ti nu maraot, tanwande urang ginanjar salamet. Kapan percaya teh ku hate, ngalantarankeun urang diangken bener. Ari ngaku teh ku biwir, anu ngalantarankeun urang disalametkeun. Cek Kitab: 'Sakur nu percaya ka Anjeunna, ku Anjeunna moal diangles.' Sakur teh, hartina, sing saha bae kalawan teu dibeda-beda, taya urang Yahudi taya urang Yunani. Sabab Allah anu tunggal teh Allah nu disembah ku kabehan, lautan kurnia keur sakur anu sumambat ka Mantenna. Sabab sing saha anu sumambat ka pajenengan Pangeran, tinangtu disalametkeun. Tapi kumana arek sumambat ka Mantenna, ari maranehna embung percaya ka Anjeunna? Kumaha arek percaya ka Anjeunna, ari henteu ngadenge? Kumaha arek ngadenge hal Anjeunna, ari teu aya anu ngabaran? Saha anu rek ngabaran, ari teu aya nu diutus? Cek Kitab: 'Ku endah langkahna jalma-jalma anu ngemban warta pikabungaheun!'

Sabab dunya teh, pohara nya diasihna ku Allah; nepi ka Putra Tunggal-Na oge dipasrahkeun, supaya sing saha anu percaya ka Anjeunna ulah nepi ka binasa; tapi sabalikna, bisa tinemu jeung hirup abadi. Pangna Allah ngutus Putra-Na ka alam dunya teh, lain rek ngahukum, enyana mah rek nyalametkeun alam dunya ku parantaraan Putra-Na. Saha bae anu percaya ka Anjeunna, moal dihukum; anu baris dihukum teh, anu embung percaya sabab henteu ngandel ka nu ngaran Putra Tunggal Allah tea.... Rama nu mikaasih ka Putra geus masrahkeun sakabeh perkara ka Anjeunna. Anu percaya ka eta Putra, tangtu tinemu jeung hirup langgeng. Tapi anu henteu anut ka Putra mah, moal papanggih jeung hirup; sabalikna, pinasti nandangan hukuman Allah."

Da ari pikeun Jamaah mah, mending ukur lima kecap, tapi matak kaharti; ti batan rebuan kecap dina basa anu teu pikahartieun. Dulur-dulur, pikiran teh, ulah kawas budak; kudu kawas budak soteh, kana sual kajahatan; ari pikiran mah, kudu sawawa. Dina Kitab Suci Toret kaungel: 'Kami rek ngandika ka ieu bangsa, lain ku jalma-jalma anu asing basana wungkul, tapi make biwir urang asing oge. Sanajan kitu, ieu bangsa teh moal nurut!' Kitu pangandika Pangeran. Tina hal ieu tetela, yen basa ajaib teh tanda lain pikeun anu palercaya, tapi pikeun anu teu palercaya. Sabalikna, anugrah nepikeun nubuwatan mah tanda pikeun anu palercaya, lain pikeun anu teu percaya. Pek wang-wang, upama Jamaah keur kumpulan, masing-masing ngaromong ku basa anu teu puguh unina tea; heug, datang jalma-jalma awam atawa nu can palercaya, atuh aranjeun teh disebut ngacambling? Sabalikna, lamun aranjeun, masing-masing, nepikeun nubuwatan mah, jalma awam atawa nu can percaya teh bisa katarik sarta picatur aranjeun baris dilenyepan. Bisa jadi, ahirna maranehna ngabudalkeun eusi hate sarta sembah sujud ka Allah bari bijil ucapna: 'Leres aranjeun teh disarengan ku Allah!'