Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas Service


Hey, it's Christmas morning - and it wasn't RAINING!!! It has been like raining for weeks nonstop. My buddy in Seattle & my uncle in New York City are both having major snow storm this Christmas season, and we here too are having record rainfalls.

Christmas service at Crown Tower with brother Frank & his usher team at the front entrance.


This year we all missed my sister, Evelyn, & her kids who are in KL now.


So the usual multimedia task traditionally "reserved" for my sis is now handled by my brother David & my future sis-in-law...


...who had a solo performance singing beautifully testifying the awesomeness of God Almighty. Praise the LORD!



This year, Pastor's message emphasized heavily on the absolute Sovereignty of God in the happenings of the world today, and over our personal life too.



Chin not just help out as a usher but I understanding he also helped to bring a family who have just came to know the LORD... I am waiting to learn more...and that is ON TOP of yet another great testimony about him & brother Frank visiting yet another relative... SO many things to catch up! Wonderful things God are doing in our midst.


Once more, a Blessed Christmas to all my friends & relatives out there! Jesus LOVES u!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Merry Christmas!



The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simply TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE news - and yet it is TRUE! 

What is the BEST, GOODEST gift one can receive? The salvation of one's soul thru Lord Jesus Christ. And for my blood-bought friends & relatives, this is my prayer for u in this joyous season:

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 
(Eph 1:18-21)

Merry Christmas!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Tan Lan Hwa


Last week, "Tan Lan Hwa", a super famous Taiwanese singer in the 70s, dropped by mom's shop. She was here taking part in an evangelical meeting hosted by Blessed Church, a non-denominational church where mom attends. 


Mom has been growing much for the past year in the LORD. One major "fruit" is her love & care for the salvation of this little flock in her shop. Praise the LORD.


She has been busy with much of her church's activities - especially in the area of Gospel Outreach & Christian Fellowship.

 
And a lot more joyful in the things of God.


She has come a long way from 2 years back. To God be the Glory.

Friday, December 19, 2008

"Surprise" Parcels


When I opened my eyes (from a nap), two Amazon parcels were sitting right next to me. Apparently the postman had come earlier and my beloved wife had received the parcels *gulp* on behalf...and gently placed them next to my head...

My mind went blur for about 5 seconds before a light went off blinking: "Could it be...?!!!"

As a matter of fact, I have given up hope on the arrival of my Cambridge KJV Concord & the 2 Study Bibles u see in the pix. I had ordered the Cambridge 4 mths earlier & the Study Bibles almost 3 mths back. Amazon had in fact refunded the money for my KJV and was about to refund my Study Bibles within the day...


Now I am really looking forward to enjoy reading the new Bibles.

And this time, my wife "finally" took an interest in "adopting" the new NLT Study Bible to replace her much tattered NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible...

My wife, who is totally not impressed/interested with any of my Bibles so far, asked after a while: "Honey, is there a black calfskin NKJV Bible available in the market?"

Praise the LORD for the safe arrival of the parcels.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Doulos


After 7 years, Doulos is back in Kuching last week.


This ship sure brings back plenty of good memories. I remember my very own first visit was waaaaaay back when I was still in Primary School in Sibu :)


Faithfully bringing thousands of books all over the world...even in an age where most are able to buy books easily thru local bookstores or via internet, we must also remember there are STILL plenty of places out there in the world where such conveniences might not exist. Praise the LORD for Doulos.


To show our support... *ahem* - good excuse for me to buy more books ;) - we were able to pick up some real good bargains. I was also surprised at the good selection of Bibles she carries - much more than what u can find in all the Christian bookshops in Kuching!


It was a sweet & sweaty visit. Strongly advise parents to visit Doulos either early in the morning or late afternoon or on rainny days cuz it could get really hot up there under the makeshift bookstore with canvas tops.

And talking about Doulos - Greek word for SLAVE...


...I am happy to see that my sister is finally going to further equip herself for the next few years in a local seminary in KL in answer to the call of God...as a Doulos of Jesus Christ.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Comparing Smythson KJV Bible




It is inevitable that I should compare the new Smythson Bible with some of my other favourite Bibles, namely (bottom to top): Allan ESV1T, Allan Brevier Clarendon, Cambridge Pitt Minion & finally, the new Smythson Brown Mara Calfskin.



It is obvious Smythson Bible matches closest to Allan's Breiver Clarendon. Not just physically but also in terms of what is INSIDE.


For instance, both come with the excellent Oxford Cyclopedic Concordance.


Both are KJV (what else?) ;)


Both open FLAT right out of the box.


Both are equipped with only 1 (nice) ribbon.


However there ARE differences.

First, Smythson KJV is in Brevier Black-face format while Allan is in Brevier Clarendon format. One biggie advantage Clarendon has over Black-face is perhaps the lack of self-pronouncing feature which some find "irritating".

But here, I must say Smythson Black-face is perfectly "readable" and in fact has a significant edge over Allan Clarendon in print quality. The Smythson is very CRISP & SHARP despite the vintage typeface. Much more so than Allan's. And it doesn't suffer from the irregular "print tone density" issue at all! (At least I have yet to find any 2 pages side by side with discernible print density difference).

Even the pictures in the Concordance have better contrast & sharpness in the Smythson's.

(Now, please do not be mistaken in thinking Allan's Clarendon has "inferior" printing. NO, NOT AT ALL! In fact, its print quality is better than most "modern" Bibles in the trade! And also bear in mind that Allan also produces a Black-face version of which I have yet to see its print quality...)

However, I do wish the Smythson Bible has a bigger font. The smallish font (only slightly bigger than Cambridge Pitt Minion) does affect how long one can read in a stretch. In this regard, Allan's Clarendon is much more superior with its bigger font.


While I believe Smythson is slightly better on the inside "technically", it is more subjective on the OUTSIDE.

Update @ Dec 21st:
The more I read from the Brevier Blackface, I realise, the setting sometimes could give u a "very busy" look. It could be especially "irritating" when it is a pageful of names in self-pronoucing mode. I also realise the sharper/crispier first impression could be more due to the darker smaller typeface against a whiter paper (vs Clarendon).

Being a HARDCOVER, it doesn't flex. The cover is as stiff as any hardcover book. Personally, I prefer the limpness of Allan's Bibles...but somehow I find the hardcover (especially one with SUCH a superlative binding) more...scholarly ;)



Without considering the semi-yapp binding & the beautiful art-gilt edge Allan has, both are calfskin, both are gorgeous, both are of the finest binding, both are BROWN & both are superlative. So which will you choose?

I give thanks to my Father God who provides so richly in this Christmas season.

Smythson Bible - Quick Preview



Last night my wife brought back these 3 beautiful dolls HAND MADE by a dear church sister. They are so gorgeous that I decided to take some "modeling" pix.


It the midst of shooting...a parcel arrived - A BLUE parcel!


YES! It's from Smythson of Bond Street! A week after reading that article from Mark...it finally arrived.


It's the Smythson Brown Mara Croc-print Calfskin KJV Bible!



This hardcover Smythson Bible is truly exquisite... Yes, it is HARDcover - so u won't be doing any "Bible Yoga" with this jewel anytime soon.


Inside, it is silk lined with silk end papers too. (Or at least I think it's silk.)

The bible text block (Oxford Brevier Black-face) is of course smyth sewn and the printing is EXCELLENT - crisp & clear. And best of all, it comes with the Oxford Cyclopedic Concordance at the back!



Truly truly gorgeous Bible.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Christmas Present - Extravagant Bible?

Two nights ago, I happened to watch a Discovery Channel program on Leather Tanning. While "ooohing & aaahing" with my kids at the beautiful end products - especially those gorgeous crocodile skin - I told my kids if only I could get a Bible with Crocodile skin!

Well, lo & behold, today from  Mark Bertrand's blog, I see THIS:


* heavy breathing *

Monday, December 01, 2008

Jupiter, Venus & the Moon!


Totally unaware of the spectacle in the night sky tonight, I was AWED by this "smiley" in the evening sky!