My Day of Judgment

Today was the Day. No, the Day of Judgment has not come rather it was my personal day of judgment - my Alevel result is out.
Got my results and it was so not good. Not that I missed just "a" mark but the levels of it. To cut it short: simply didn't make the grade.

This was what I got:

Biology - "D"

Chemistry - "E"

Math - "E"

---

Months before, I prayed every now and then to my Lord Jesus for good results; praying for straight A's (in hope that if I fail to have my prayers answered I might get half of what I prayed for... probably a B instead or at least a C) As the Day draws near my prayer intentions for this becomes lesser & lesser, until it came to a point where I wonder; would it do any good if I continue to ask God for His divine intervention since the Day (in this context: "the Day" refers to the day where I collect my results) is drawing near, my papers might already be graded?

As I continue to expound on that thought. During an inner monologue, this question came to mind:

Is it fair that God blesses me with excellent results through divine intervention, even though I did not earn the results I obtained?

This thought was being tossed in my mind. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Surely, I would like God to perform a divine intervention, and grant me excellent results I don't deserve but will it then be fair to the others (whom slogged hard for 14 months to obtain the A's)?

Anyway, as you already know. My results was disastrous. An all time low on major exams for me as an AB student since my primary years.

Yes, I was dishearten. Yes, I was humbled when my self-esteem took the blow.

Yes, I was - ashamed.

But was I disappointed with God?

No.

---

In a weird sense, I am sincerely glad that I did not get the "excellent" results I so wanted and prayed for.

Why?

Because, if God were to perform a divine intervention it would not be fair to the others (Christians and non-Christians alike) and this is not the nature of the just God that I worship and adore. For deep down in my heart, I knew of the outcome of my Alevel examination: bad results.

Although, I have tried my best but that does not obligate my God to give me straight A's nor does it give me the right to lament to God, day & night.

But I know, God hears my rants and raves not because He has to, but simply because He wants to. With that I know I am truly blessed regardless of the A's or not.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

-Matthew 28:11-

Blessed be the Name of the Lord! <><

My Amazingly Fearless Race (Write-up)

First came Survivor. Next came the Amazing Race. Then Fear Factor. Now, ladies and gentlemen behold the debut of Lifeline's first ever reality game show: The Lifeline Amazingly Fearless Race 2004!

Last Saturday at 8pm, a total of 27 'people participated in this historical event. The meeting point was at the Youth Center where these 27 were randomly picked and placed into 7 teams namely A, B, C, D, E, F & G (each team consists of about 4 members or so) After the rules have been read aloud and team leaders appointed. Envelopes containing the first clue were distributed, almost at once there was chaos! Teams were scrambling for their shoes at the entrance of the Youth Center and team leaders were yelling their lungs out for their members to make haste, as if a war just broke out.

To complete the first clue, teams were required to travel to A&W in Taman Jaya from Saint Francis Xavier's Church. An easy task indeed considering A&W was a 5 minute drive away but the only problem was the rule - PUBLIC TRANSPORT ONLY. And did I mention, that we only had until 11pm to complete the race? So teams went scouring for taxi's passing by. But at 8.40pm or so, taxis are very hard to come by along Jalan Gasing. Anyway there were some that went as far as to travel to A&W on foot.

Eventually all teams arrived at A&W, however the last team that arrived was eliminated. After giving the correct chapter and verse to Pilate's famous quote on "What is truth?" teams were awarded with the second clue, which was to travel to Petaling Street (close to Central Market) to look for the "Kacang Kopi". Which by the way, literally translates to the "Coffee Bean". At almost 9pm, the fastest way to Petaling Street was by means of the LRT. So most teams scurried off to the TAMAN JAYA LRT station to travel to Central Market.

Teams arrived at the Coffee Bean were required to complete a task in order to obtain the next clue. What was the task, you ask? Eat half a bowl of frozen pig's blood coated with pungent garlic sauce without using any utensils or hands OR alternatively, go look for a person wearing a Lifeline T-shirt shopping along Petaling Street. Considering the multitudes that were shopping along Petaling Street most teams chose to take the 'easier' way out - frozen pig's blood.
Task completed. The third clue: Travel to McDonald's Bangsar. At once team members raced out of Petaling Street. The situation was so intense that some VCD peddler's thought the police were on a raid!

In the same way, the last team arrived at Coffee Bean was eliminated. It was the third clue that reshuffled the game. The leading team for the first 2 clues was brought to the fourth place - all because they walked from Bangsar LRT station to McDonald's, while the other teams took taxis. Surely as Christ did say; "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:31)
At McDonald's teams were also required to do a "Fear Factor" challenged as a pre-requisite to the next clue. Teams were allowed to choose between eating a sandwich, spread thick with wasabi sauce and to look for the postbox number of a firm among the shop lots of Bangsar.

Teams that want an advantage above others chose to eat the "wasabi-sandwich". According to some teams the "wasabi-sandwich" was innocently packaged but tasted ruthless, but there were other teams that find the taste of the "wasabi-sandwich" to be enjoyable.

Teams were immediately awarded with the fourth clue: Travel to Courts Mammoth in Asia Jaya. It was already 10pm. But fortunately unlike Jalan Gasing; Bangsar is littered with taxis. So hailing a cab was not a problem.

By 10.30pm, most teams have arrived at Courts Mammoth, Asia Jaya; and have solved the last puzzle, which was to re-arrange the letters of a minor prophet - N-E-H-E-M-I-A-H. The final awarded was this cryptic phrase: "The beginning and the end; a place" At first thought, one might guessed this phrase was speaking of Jesus, which is the Alpha & Omega. But complex thoughts aside, this phrase actually speaks of… yes, you guessed it - the Youth Center.

The game officially closes when all teams arrived at the Youth Center. The grand prize for the winning team was a hamper filled with IKEA products. Although there was a winning team but that doesn't mean there was any 'losing' teams. Every team was awarded with a prize, ranging from potato chips to bottles of milk (very practical prizes indeed) Material prizes aplenty. But the prize that was treasured most by all was the friendships forged during the game and the fellowship with one another especially with long-time pals.

Praise God.