by Switchfoot

This Is Your Life

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life are you who you want to be
This is your life are you who you want to be

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

And you had everything to lose...

ISFP

Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving

ISFPs are the first to hear the different drummer. Many eagerly plunge into new fashions, avant garde experiences, 'hip' trends--some even setting the trends.

More in touch with the reality of their senses than their INFP counterparts, ISFPs live in the here and now. Their impulses yearn to be free, and are often loosed when others least expect it. The ISFP who continually represses these impulses feels 'dead inside' and may eventually cut and run. (One ISFP friend has become nonambulatory within the past few years. He will still, on impulse, leave home in the middle of the night and go to Las Vegas or wherever, regardless of the difficulties of his physical condition.)

ISFPs may be quite charming and ingratiating on first acquaintance, flowing with compliments which may (or may not) be deserved. On other occasions, the same individual may be aloof and detached. Some ISFP males are fiercely competitive, especially in sport or table games, and may have great difficulty losing. This competitive nature, also seen in other SP types, sometimes fosters 'lucky,' 'gut' feelings and a willingness to take risks.

Organized education is difficult for the majority of ISFPs, and many drop out before finishing secondary education. Their interest can be held better through experiential learning, at which many excel. ISFPs will practice playing an instrument or honing a favored skill for hours on end, not so much as practice as for the joy of the experience.


Differential Diagnosis:

ISFPs are less fantasy-oriented than INFPs. These types are often confused, however, INFPs lean strongly to daydreams, poetry, prose and more philosophical pursuits; ISFPs often live out 'id' experiences rather than writing or even talking about them.

ISFJs are driven by the conventional, by 'should's and 'ought's; ISFPs internalize their Feeling (by nature a judging function) which bursts out spontaneously and leaves as quickly and mysteriously as it came.

Because of these variant expressions of Feeling judgment, ISFPs are sometimes confused with ESFJs, but keep themselves more aloof, more often concealing the feelings that ESFJs are so apt to expose.

ESFPs express thoughts more readily (and, in the main, skillfully). ISFPs can and do perform admirably in the spotlight, but generally have little to say about the performance. For example, few ISFPs would be disc-jockeys, a field strongly represented by ES_Ps.


Functional Analysis:

Introverted Feeling
Feeling, unbridled by the external forces of society and substance, is the dominant function. ISFPs spontaneously develop their own codes and credos, about which they are quite sober and intense. ISFPs are questors, driven to find the pure and ideal, as personally and individually defined. Feeling may temporarily turn outward, but cannot be long sustained beyond its cloistered home.

If the individual has values greater than herself, feeling may express itself in valiant acts of selflessness. Turned in upon self, however, it becomes an unscrupulous, capricious enigma, capable even of heinous acts of deception and treachery.

Extraverted Sensing
ISFPs keep a finger on the pulse of here and now. They are more adept at doing than considering, at acting than reflecting, at tasting than wondering. As do most SPs, ISFPs keenly sense color, sound, texture, and movement. It is not unusual for ISFPs to excel in sensory, motor, or kinesthetic abilities.

ISFPs cherish their impulses. Some of the most beautiful, graceful, and artistic performances are the result of this drive for physical, sensate expression.

Introverted iNtuition
Tertiary intuition works best in the background of the ISFP's inner world. Perhaps this is the source of the "gut feeling" SPs consult in matters of chance. However "lucky" the ISFP may be, intuition as a means of communication is a poor servant, evidenced in spoonerisms, and non sequiturs and mixed metaphors.

Extraverted Thinking
The ISFP may employ Extraverted Thinking in external situations requiring closure. As is the case with inferior functions, such Thinking behaves in an all or nothing manner. Thus, as with other FP types, the ISFP's Extraverted Thinking is at risk for a lack of context and proportion. In most cases, persons of this type enjoy greater facility operating in the open-ended style of sensing, implying the opinions of feeling values in the indirect fashion characteristic of introverted functions.


Famous ISFPs:

Marie Antoinette
Auguste Rodin
Warren G. Harding
Fred Astaire
Marilyn Monroe
Liberace
Elizabeth Taylor
Dan Rather
Orrin Hatch, U.S. Senator
Ervin "Magic" Johnson, NBA basketball star
Patrick Duffey
Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President, 1988-1992
Paul McCartney
Christopher Reeve
Michael Jackson
Kevin Costner
Greg Louganis, U.S. Olympic gold medalist
Brooke Shields
Britney Spears (oh, joy...)
John Travolta
Ashton Kutcher
Donald Trump


I took this test a while ago and clearly remember it stating that I belonged in the INFJ category. Hmm, I wonder what changed...
Do you know that INFJs and ISFPs are said to be the perfect match? Now I just have to rediscover the 'old' me and I'll be complete! JOy!

Aihh.. I'll be leaving soon. Another dreaded 14 odd hours spent in the air.

*Yaaawwn*

Oh, but I'll have company. My parents are coming along this time. Let's hope I'll be able to put up with them and they with me =D

Ta!

an instrument of Thy peace

As you know, I had to transit in Singas for a day before coming home. My dear, dear friend allowed me to bunk at her place. Even though she had to go to work in the morning, she waited for me to arrive and took me out for breakkie. Such a sweetheart. Anyway, while she was at work, I made myself comfy on her bed and went into a deep, deep slumber. Aaahh.. bliss.

Thing is, I could feel a sense of loneliness and despair while lying down. I knew my friend was going through a tough patch but I never would've imagined myself feeling her sorrow. I felt as if a thousand tears have been shed on that very spot. When I closed my eyes, I could see her choking on her tears.

Upon waking up, I decided to browse. As I neared her bedroom door, an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me. I turned to my right and saw this stuck on the side of her cupboard...

God, make me an instrument of Thy peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury... pardon;
Where there is doubt... faith;
Where there is despair... hope;
Where there is darkness... light;
Where there is sadness... joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I didn't have a chance to relate my story to her.I wish I did.I wanted her to know that the Lord sees each tear she has cried and knows the pain she's experiencing, that even though at times she may feel she's all alone in this big cruel world, she's not, that there is still hope and she doesn't have to go out to look for it because He's right there waiting with wide opened arms.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

- Psalm 91:1

Have faith and keep believing, *A.

who i am hates who i'm becoming

I've been having a difficult time maintaining a relationship with a particular friend. I hope I don't come off as sounding noble but I've been putting up with her for sometime now. I don't hold a grudge against her because I'm so used to her behaviour but one can only take so much. There's a limit to these things. As a result of this strenuous friendship, I'm turning into a different person; a person whom I do not recognise anymore; a person filled with worldly thoughts...

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

- Ephesians 4:26-27

*Edit: 10:43pm
Was catching up on friends' blogs when I came across Val's. I so needed to read what she wrote after posting the above. Very timely.

Copied and pasted.


Suffering Affliction and Going The Second Mile
"I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." -Matthew 5:39

This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus- it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, "Do your duty," but is, in effect, "Do what is not your duty." It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, "Oh well, I just can't do any more, and I've been so misrepresented and misunderstood." Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling "up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . ." (Colossians 1:24) . A disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.

Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is- Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.

Wow!

(emphasis, mine)
---

Wow, indeed.

There is however still one question in my mind...

How do you not let the other person take advantage of you by putting your foot down? Where do you draw the line? When is enough, truly enough?

Okay, so there's more than one question but who's counting, right? ;)

I

M I S S

M Y

B R O T H E R

already...




The house is so still with him gone.

Hmm.. I wonder if this was how he felt when I left 3 years ago.

c'est la vie



My brother's leaving in 5 hours time.

Who would've thought I'd miss him oh-so-much...

*Edit: 5:21am

It's time and my poor brother is suffering from diarrhea.

*Edit: 10something am

Brother left d.

Want to emo in the airport also cannot.

Too early.

Still asleep.

Forgot to pray for him sumore.

=S

Sleepyyyyyyy!

a year older and most definitely wiser too ;)

Elliott turns twenty five!



AND

CY is twenty three today!!

Scattered

is how I've been feeling for the past month. I may look calm and collected on the outside but please do not let my seemingly stress-free life deceive you. If you take a closer look, just beneath the surface, you will see that my life is somewhat messy. Even my thoughts are 'all over the place'. I cannot help but space out in the middle of a conversation. I find myself paying extra attention when conversing with another person. I'd just end up speaking about something completely different if I don't. It's like I'm there but not quite there at the same time. It can get a little tiring at times, you know? And sometimes I just want to sit down and shut up. That's usually when the introverted/phlegmatic me appears, which some people aren't familiar with.

Why, you wonder?

Sigh.. if it isn't obvious to you already, the most important element m.i.s.s.i.n.g in my life right now is God. Admittedly, my walk with Him has been rather...


What walk!?!?

Yea man.. what walk? More like no walk =(
It wasn't so bad when I got back from Newcastle but ever since Singapore, my spiritual life has been chugging on Empty.

The point of the matter is, I have trouble speaking to my C+ friends here about God. Back in Newc, we speak about Him in our everyday conversation. God wasn't just confined to church or fellowship, He was part and parcel of our everyday lives, the centre of our being, of my being and I would speak freely about Him.

Take for example Chris, we were hanging out in Calvin's room one fine day catching up on life when he naturally asked me about Apostle John.

"Do you know why he is called the disciple whom Jesus loved? Jesus didn't love him more than the other disciples but because John focused on the love that God had for him instead of how much he loved God. That is why he is the disciple whom Jesus loved."

"Coooool.." I mused.

And when we start, we don't stop =)

I then continued, "Eh, you know what I learnt today? You know God's created order, right? (Genesis 1)

God
Man
Woman
Creature

And after the fall of man, the order was reversed? (Genesis 3)

Creature (serpent)
Woman
Man
God

You know, I became rather upset la because the stupid woman just spoilt the whole thing. Like, why are we so vulnerable one? So easily manipulated by the devil's scheme and then we become so manipulative also. So, I asked God la, like why woman so stupid and weak one? Like, thanx to us la everything rosak. Heheh.. and then God told me loh. He said that man would've been just as vulnerable. That man too would've fallen for the serpent's deceiving ways. But it chose to deceive the woman instead because this would reverse God's created order entirely. If it was the man that the serpent manipulated then it wouldn't have 'messed up' the created order. It would be

Creature
Man
Woman
God

Meaning woman would still be under man's headship. But now it is completely altered, as in

Creature
Woman
Man
God

After God made me see this, I didn't feel so terrible about my kind already =D And even though God's order is screwed up in this world, we as Christians can still right the wrong by living the way God intended us to live."

So, this is one of my everyday conversations with the Newc folks and I miss them. Sigh..
*In retrospect, not only the people from Newc but my UK friends in general.

Iron sharpens iron, right? And mine needs a lot of sharpening. This is where I get my feeding from; sharing each other's journey. This is how I grow in spiritual maturity. But ever since I got back, I've started to falter and it later (when I was in SG) dawned on me that my mistake was relying solely on 'sharing each other's journey' to keep my spiritual life afloat. It's definitely not wrong, it is encouraged even but there is something seriously wrong if my spiritual growth is based solely on this. I mean, what happened to the main character, wei?

My food must come from God. He is my source. I must spend time with Him. If I don't then how am I to share my journey with others? I wouldn't have a 'lesson of the day' to speak about. Herein lies the problem of my heart. I learned, while away in SG, that my wanting to spend time with God cannot and must not stem from the desire to want to have a 'story to tell'.

Cannot. Share. To. Impress.

This is spiritual pride wei. I don't usually struggle with it. It only crops up once in a while and when I'm aware of it, I pray for God to rid it like the unsightly pimple on my face. (I don't actually pray for God to get rid of the pimple growing on my face. It's just an analogy cacing used.) In the beginning of this year, unbeknownst to many, I was struggling with spiritual pride. Even though I was acutely aware of it, hardly anyone could sense it because it is usually a battle from within. It actually got so bad that I stopped sharing and leading altogether. I'm glad it is over and done with though. I would love to tell you how I overcame it but that'd take up another hour of my time typing =D

I've started refuelling. I asked for Him to be gracious and merciful, to forgive me for thinking that I have something to be proud of when in truth I have nothing without Him. My devotional today is entitled Defining Moments, which is based on the passage taken from Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

I'll sum it up in two words, C H O O S E L I F E

As I reflect on some defining moments in my life, there is one particular one that pops into mind:
Learning to let go of the past and embracing the uncertainties of the future.

I had a difficult time letting go of the past but I'm glad I did so. At this juncture, I cannot profess to know what my future has in store for me but I've learned to embrace the uncertainties of life because I know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.

There is still one thing missing though. That peace; the peace that flows only from Him, the peace which surpasses all human understanding. I do not have it.

slap him, he's French!

OH.MY.
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS.
Heh.

We won!! We Won!!
Eh, I mean, they won!! They won!!




=D

HAPPINESS!!!!

team Azzurri!!

Sooo.. tonight's the big day. Four years ago, we watched Germany vs. Brazil at church. How cool is that, huh? We were able to do so because the World Cup was held in South Korea, which made the time difference negligible. I remember painting the German flag on my face with glass paint =D Anyhoo, I'm hoping Italy will win the title this time around. My limbs, fingers and toes are all crossed!


Forza Italia!


I've always been an Italian supporter but I don't remember when I started supporting them or why I did so. Anyway, if they don't win, I'm still very proud of them for reaching the finals, yo! Oh, and I made a wager with.. erm, a total stranger. Okay, maybe not a total stranger but still totally strange of me to do so. Hhmmm...

a yearly affair


My mum has one sister and our families only get together twice a year; once on New Year's Day and another during PohPoh's birthday. Since I've been stuck in dreary, cold, gloomy winter UK for Idunnohowlong, I only see them once a year; when we celebrate PohPoh's b'day. To commemorate the joyous occasion this year, we dined at KL Hilton's Studio last night.


PohPoh's 71st



The McLeod clan minus dad = (clockwise) PohPoh, Auntie Barbara, Melissa, Edmund, Don, Uncle John, me and mum.

*This was us last year. And there's more of us here.

4 weddings (+1) and a funeral (+3)


I know, the title's so morbid but it's true...

I was telling Brandon that this is the first time ever I've been invited to 5 weddings, from now till December. "And a funeral!", cacing added. "Eh, no.. more like 4 man...", she continued. "First was baby Katie, then your grandma, then Ps.Desmond's mother-in-law and now Ps.Robert's mother-in-law."

As sad as it sounds, such is the reality of life; people live, people die. Death comes like a thief in the middle of the night.
.
.
.

Let's not talk about this right now, k? Moving on...

Out of the 5 weddings I'll only be able to go for 2 =(
Well, better than none, right? =D

I'm going to miss Jason's because it's this afternoon in the UK. Lit Son's one is on the 22nd, which I'll also miss because I'll already be in the UK by then -_-"
I decided to extend my stay there so that I'll be able to attend Lou's wedding, which will be held on the 19th of Aug. Next, is my housemate's, Xioa Yan in Sept, which I can't go la coz I'll be back home and hopefully working =D And finally Jon and Jeanine will be getting married in Dec, here in Malaysia. Thank God! HEhhe..

I know, stress, kan? Everyone's getting married!
-_-

debdeb likes to tag

4 movies I can watch over and over again
1) A Walk To Remember
2) Parent Trap
3) Shakespeare In Love
4) The Usual Suspect

4 places I have lived
1) Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya
2) Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya
3) Low Friar Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne
4) Harrison Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne

4 of my favourite dishes
1) Japanese
2) Italian
3) Malaysian
4) Home cooked

4 sites I visit [as] daily [as possible]
1) gmail
2) hotmail
3) yahoomail
4) pinkisthenewblog

4 places I'd rather be right now
1) Singapore (because I just returned from an awesome vaca there)
2) Newcastle
3) Cyprus
4) Nowhere else but home =)

4 people I'd like to tag
1) Anyone
2) who wants
3) to be
4) tagged