// Your friendly neighbourhood game master

Was just thinking of the MANGSEH! game Hoppies are famous for playing (well, at least my CG people do enjoy it).

Visions, opportunities, fleeting moments of inspiration...
Have you lost count of Life itself?

Catch it!
Miss it!
Catch.
Miss.
Miss,
Miss,
Catch,
Miss,
Er... Catch it?
??

Are you going to miss your catch
Or catch your miss?

Count all your blessings
And make your blessings count.

Make God your number one
And you'll get the right number in the end.

MANGSEH! :)

// Karma kalls.

"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses His life for Me will find it."

- Matthew 16:24-25

Today's QT in a nutshell: Lose something for someone who can help you find something else that is worth more than what you lost in the first place.

Which also means if you find stuff on the floor, don't do the Finders Keepers thing. You know how they always say if you pick up lost items and claim them for yourself, you'd lose something more precious next time?

Okay fine, this is just one out of the many theories I concocted. Back in school days, I was so annoyed with irritants waking me up when I didn't want to that I told them, "Do you know doing this will bring you 7 years of misfortune? The 'breaking mirrors' theory was just a cover-up." It worked like a charm. (x

Which brings me back to today's QT. I was vividly reminded of the time in Crescent when I hijacked the teacher's microphone in the hall, hid under a random table and belted out Eminem's "Just Lose It" to an unexpecting audience of 300 in an attempt to liven everyone's dampened spirits caused by the release of Sec 4 prelim Biology results.

Zelanie is hungry. It's raining cats and dogs and marsipuls outside. But because she conveniently forgot to bring an umbrella, she will be stranded till the rain stops.

It's time to see some blue sky in my life (does anyone want to watch Accuracy of Death again with me hahaha), or at least in the next thirty minutes lest my roaring stomach fully expels its wrath to my fellow well-fed umbrella-ed colleagues soon.

// Why can't you just let me let God be God?

Judging by that phone call you just made, I'd like to ask you a question: Who's the one going to university, you or me?

Yeah, I know Melbourne's expensive and everything and I'd be a bigger strain on your expenses. But don't make it sound as if I'm desperate to study in SMU; don't make it sound as if I'm not making any (extra?) effort to study locally; don't make it sound as if I selfishly want to just get my ass overseas so I can run away from the vice-like grip Singapore's education is contorting the youths of today.

Feeding them with copies of extra resumes, appeal letters, additional documents that may deem fit for mere recycled paper isn't the way things should work. And saying it may be God's call when a certain someone calls you to send in all these papers... Don't make me laugh.

But because you are my mother and God says to honour my parents... I'd do up the letter. No matter how much I know that it isn't up to your friend nor how persuasive and convincing I can write. It's really all in God's hands. And I pray your prayer for me will change from "God, please let her get into SMU" to "God, I leave her life into Your hands. Please help both our hearts be ready and open to the good things You have in store for us."

Zelanie has not been a very happy girl of late. But she will press on with life's challenges cos God's on her side. Unless there are no two banks of my river and everything's just one big messed up Tsunami.

Oh well. God-willing, I could do with a re-enactment of "Moses and The Red Sea" right about now.

// A vicious cycle?

Slow down
Look around
All you people

Talking about what you've seen on teevee
Staring at societal misfits
Whispering about the people next door

Craving, longing, yearning
Desperately

For some truth in your life,
Or for the latest gossip?

To be an inspiration to others,
Or just one chance to speak and stun?

To fight for the things that matter to you the most,
Or for things that don't even concern you?

And sometimes I wonder...

Am I on the outside looking in,
Or just another guilty one trapped
In the centre of it all?

// Holding on by letting go.

I am not unique.

I cannot be someone's pillar of strength.

And I definitely do not have the power to influence someone's life so dynamically that he/she can die to the essence of time and its loss over and over again.

Honestly, don't exalt me for the sake of your self-indulgence in attempting to re-create the 'past'. Because by God's grace, that very tyranny of time has given me a second chance to re-live my life. To find myself amidst all the troubles Life can and will definitely throw at me. The same way you believe so much in Colossians 3:13, I believe so much more in Philippians 3:13.

Don't expect so much from me. Because I am not the one for you.

I am not unique.

I cannot be your pillar of strength.

And I definitely do not have the power to make AND break your life.

Only God can do this. Yet when we think of Him, we do not quake in fear at His wrath but delight instead in His love and forgiveness. God doesn't test you to break you. He tests to build you up.

So instead of believing in me, believe in Him instead.

// Familiarity in the strangest places.

I really thank God for giving me so many opportunities to experience Him in different places and climates, from the 40 degrees celcius heat wave in Khon Kaen to mosquito-infested St John's Island. You can feel His Spirit moving in a fully air-conditioned 15,000 seater auditorium AND a shed no bigger than the size of my bedroom. You can praise and worship him with multimedia, subwoofers, a symphonic orchestra, dancers and lights, AND with minimal instruments all (dangerously) connected to one power source. You can have QT and shepherding in the comfort of clean, secluded areas, AND at the same time, fighting for space with other CGs and the mighty ant population. And for a real exclusive bonus, also see my very first shooting star with Lee Yang while lying on our backs in the basketball court looking at the night sky at 3am.

As long as the entire Earth is under the same sky, God's greatness is really there. And it will never change. The only difference there will ever be is your heart condition. Whether you're able to pray and open up your spiritual eyes and hearts to Him in any type of environment; whether you're still sensitive enough to feel Him amidst the humidity and claustraphobia; whether your fire for God still burns ablaze albeit the immense overcrowding for oxygen. God really provides and blesses, and thankfully I was able to claim all His promises in camp.

Now, the hardest part: Living out my promises to Him too. Eurghh.

// We learn something new everyday.

Zomg, my name actually has some biblical meaning check this out:

A study of the origins, connections and meanings of The Indo-European words: reeka, ree, rea and river

By Odyssey Belchevsky

The biblical form 'Evangelie' or 'Evangelist' can be clearly explained with the combination of

eva< eva ="living" zelanie =" (z)evanzelanie">zevanzelie >evangelie

zelanie is the old Slavic word for "desire; long for", or simply Zeva(n)zjelie = desire for eternal life.

(Also the older form of God in the bible was given as Jihova (The letter J can be pronounced as Zj>Ž). This will yield a very close affinity to the Slavic words Zjiva> Zjivota)

In the Homeric writings we have the word/forms Zi,Ze, Ziti (Zi Zh, Ziti) with the meaning "to live, to breathe".

These are the characteristics of Zeus and are virtually identical to the Macedonian/Slavic Zi, Ze, Ziti and all its relations.

And to think my parents initially wanted to call me 'Melanie' but decided that it sounded too boring and tried every single alphabet and was happy with the very last one.

// The armor of God

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

- Matthew 10:34-36

For all those whose Christian lives have been comfortable and smooth-sailing for the past few months and years, ask yourself this question: What have you been doing to build God's kingdom; to fulfill The Great Commission in our lives?

If you're stumped for an answer, it's time to wake up. Cos your life, no matter how lucky it seems to be, is actually stagnant. So before your oasis degenerates into a mosquito breeding ground with [insert Captain Jack Sparrow's voice] "really bad eggs!", think of what you can do to be a builder of human stones for God's temple.

Winston Churchill once said, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life". So take up this challenge; pray for problems. It's only during times of toil and trouble where you find out where your loyalty lies.

When you sow in tears, you shall reap in joy. And with God on your side, the harvest will be more than enough for you to overthrow Nestlé and start your own nutritional company, since everyone's gonna turn organic sooner or later anyway.

// Suddenly everything begins to seem so clear.

How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

- Romans 11:14-15

God, if this is Your will, then let it be done.

If I have to leave everything behind and fly over 3,779 miles of land and sea, I'll do it.

I'll be coming for you.

Zelanie wants to save. And the time is now.

// The power of Singlish.

Some of my favourite extracts from The Coxford Singlish Dictionary:

ALL FART AND NO SHIT
Used to describe someone who's full of empty promises.
"Ah, shaddup lah. Everyday say you wan' to treat me go lunch. You all fart and no shit only."

ANONEH
A Japanese expression similar to "Well..." or "If that's the case...", in Singlish this has come to be a generic term for any Japanese girl.
1. "Wah lau, see that anoneh! Her dressing damn solid one."
2. "I got some char bor friends in Pasir Ris, they are all anoneh working for airline one."

BECAUSE THE SKY IS SO HIGH, THE BIRD SHIT IN YOUR EYE
This phrase is essentially an annoyed retort to being asked "why", and conveys the meaning that the questioner ought to mind his or her own business. Popular in the mid-70's, its usage began to decline in the early 80's and is rarely heard these days.
Sally: " Eh, Jasmine, how come I never see you with Roger anymore?"
Jasmine: " We oreddy break up, lah!"
Sally: " Why?"
Jasmine: " Because the sky is so high, the bird shit in your eye!"

BORROW
For some reason, “to lend”.
“Eh, can borrow me your book?”

CARE-LAIR-FAIR (omg I thought it was a real English word)
Cantonese for "movie extra", it is also used to describe people as idle hangers-on or layabouts. It is suspected that the term was derived from somewhere else. Can also be used as a verb, as in "to care-lair-fair".
"Eh, next week my company is holding a product launch for TV. If got time, come and care-lair-fair, lah."

CHAMPION (I love this word)
A term describing the unbelievable actions of a person. Usually used in a derogatory manner.
Ah Beng : "Wah lau! You never hear! Ah Seng is in hospital! His finger kena bitten off by his hamster!"
Ah Meng: "Serious ah? He damn champion, man!"

CHER
Not to be confused with the surgically-enhanced American singer, this is just a short and snappy way to address one's teacher.
"Eskew me, Cher, can I go toilet?"

CHIBABOOM
Quintessential Singaporean sound effect for an explosion.
"Then ah, the bomb essploded... CHIBABOOM!"

CHOPE
To reserve or hold something for somebody. Sometimes used in games to denote having attained a ‘safe' position.
"If we're not at the theatre by 8, can you chope some seats for us?"

COCK
Despite seemingly obscene connotations, the use of "cock is actually fairly benign. It has become the de facto Singlish way to describe something as being nonsensical or sub-standard; the local equivalent of "rubbish" or "junk". Sometimes used as the short form of "cockanaden".
1. "Don't listen to him, he's only talking cock."
2. "Wah lau, you go and buy this cock thing for what?"
3. "Why you so cock, go and invest in that dot-com?"

CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE/CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE TIMES 2, WITH 3 YEAR WARRANTY
Variations of Confirm and Guarantee.
"Oi, you returning that VCD or not?"
"Aiyah, of course lah! Confirm plus guarantee times 2, with 3-year warranty!"

EXTRA
An adjective usually applied to people who do things which are unnecessary or pointless.
1. " Eh, Johnny! Recess already you still want to do homework! You si peh extra, you know!"
2. "This sort of simple thing don't make until so complicated, can or not? Why you so extra one?"

GIVE CHANCE
Singlish expression for "to be fair, generous, or to give a fighting chance".
1. "Our goalie not here yet, so give chance, can or not?"
2. "That guy always kena whack, they never give chance to him one."

GO FLY KITE
Derived from the English admonition "go fly a kite!" which means "piss off", "buzz off", etc, depending on your level of profanity-tolerance. Of course, we economical Singaporeans have removed the extraneous indefinite article.
"He know I so busy, still ask me to do things. Ask him go fly kite, lah!"

GONE CASE
Someone or something beyond help. A lost cause.
1. "We tried to help, but he oreddy gone case."
2. "If you continue like this, you sure gone case."

GOT
Denoting availability of something.
Beng: "Got milk or not?"
Seng: "Got!"

GRANDFUDDER ROAD
"Your grandfather's road". A belligerent expression aimed at road hogs. Similar to the English expression, "Do you own the road?""Wah lau, drive so slow! Your grandfudder road, is it?"

HERO
Has the same meaning as in English, but often connotes either a foolhardy person or someone out to grab attention.
1. "Just pass, can oreddy. Why try and score A? You hero or what?"
2. "It's too dangerous. Don't try to be hero."

HOW CAN
In true Singaporean economical style, this is a contraction of "How can this be?" or "How can this be possible?" Originates from the Malay-Hokkien hybrid phrase, "Mana eh sai?"
"Ah Beng became a President's Scholar? How can?"

IS IT?
A phrase that's tagged on to virtually any question. It is also used on its own to express skepticism.
1. "You got mail, is it?" (You've received mail, have you?")
2. Beng: "I got accepted into Harvard."
Seng: "Is it?"

K.I.V. (My mom always uses this while shopping)
"Keep In View". An acronym from colonial bureaucracy to stand for items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration. This label is found on trays, cabinets and shelves. Essentially used as a verb, in the sense of "to shelve" or "put on the backburner" or "to procrastinate".
1. "I'm busy now, can I KIV it and get back to you?"
2. "If in doubt, just KIV and think about it later."

KOPE
(as in 'cope')
To steal, usually something trifling. Similar in meaning to "stun".
“Wah, where you kope all this stuff from?”

LAI DAT
"Like that". Yet another Singlish tag.
1. "He look like a pig lai dat."
2. "Wah lau, I like damn tired lai dat."
3. Beng: "How are you?"
Seng: "Lai dat, lor."

LIKE REAL
The Singlish equivalent to "As if!" or "Yeah, right." An expression of incredulity and disbelief.
Beng: "Eh, I just got into Mensa."
Seng: "Like real!"

MACAM
Malay term of comparison, equivalent to "like" in English. When used in Singlish, it can seem redundant, but in fact adds emphasis.
1. "Wah piang, this dessert macam taste like shit."
2. "That bugger dress up until like that, macam look like come from outer space."

MUG/MUGGER/CHAO MUGGER/MUGGER TOAD
To "mug" in Singapore is to study by rote. A mugger is thus a hardworking student who memorises notes and regurgitates them during exams: the very essence of a typical kiasu student. Often prefixed with the word "chao" (smelly) in front of it for emphasis.
1. "He everytime go library until it close. Damn mugger, siah!"
2. " If I don't chao mug now, then later exam sure can die, one!"

NO SOUND NO PICTURE
A no-show.
"Eh, I thought he was supposed to be here an hour ago? You mean he still no sound no picture ah?"

NOT SAY I SAY WHAT
A very common way of prefacing a statement that could be controversial or sensitive. The English equivalent would be, "This might just be my own opinion, butÉ" or "I'm not sure, butÉ"
"Not say I say what ah, but Ah Lian's dressing is si beh obiang."

OFF
Economical verb meaning to turn or shut something off.
"Please off the light."

ON
Economical verb meaning to turn something on.
"Please on the light."

ONE KIND
Contraction of the phrase "one of a kind" - usually used pejoratively.
"Ah Seng this kind of friend, damn one kind one! Everytime go out he say no money, ask me pay first!"

OSO CAN
A crude pronunciation of the words "also can," and is usually found at the end of sentences. Means "this is okay with me," or "this can also be done."
"This one you want to pay by installment, oso can."

OWN TIME OWN TARGET/O.T.O.T.
Another Army-inherited term, meaning to perform a task at one's leisure, or using one's discretion.
1. Private: "Eh, Sergeant! Give how long to sio?" (Sergeant, how long is our cigarette break?"
Sergeant: "O.T.O.T."
2. "This assignment is not very urgent. You own time own target can oreddy."

OWNSELF
A word which denotes that a task has been performed through one's effort alone.
1. This painting you ownself do, ah?
2. Can you ownself buy the drinks? My hands already full, lah.
3. Eh! Can you ownself do your homework instead of copying from others?

PAIN
In true Singlish economy, "painful"
"Ow! Why you step on my foot? Damn pain, you know!"

REPEAT AGAIN
A commonly-used redundancy.
"I can't hear you. Can you repeat again?"

SABO
Singlish contraction of "sabotage". Used to cover instances of practical jokes and tricks to outright betrayal.
"You don'ch sabo me, I warn you, ah!"

SAHT
Of uncertain provenance, it’s the local equivalent of “cool” or “groovy”.
“You got tickets to the sold out concert? How come you so saht one?”

SAY FIRST
Used as an expression to lay down one’s ideas/thoughts/feelings/intentions before doing/saying something. Can also be used as a question in respect to the order of priority of things to be done.
1. “OK, say first, today after work go where and chiong?”
2. “Eh say first leh, you still lurf me or not?”

SCARED WHAT
An expression of bravado.
“Go to jail, go to jail, lor. Scared what?”

SCUSE
Short for "Excuse me". Used in place of the phrase "Get out of my way!" in a vague attempt to be polite.

SEE HOW
To leave the matter alone and watch how it develops. Often repeated for emphasis.
"I oreddy submitted the application form. So now just see how, see how, lor."

SIAN
A wonderfully concise Hokkien adjective which conveys boredom, weariness, frustration and emptiness. The English equivalent would be "ennui".
1. “My job is damn sian, man.”
2. “Wah lau eh, I do A-maths, do until sian oreddy.”

SO HOW?
Economic term, used in the same manner as "So what now?"
"The show is oreddy sold out. So how?"

SOLID
An adjective describing something or someone as being very impressive.
1. “Did you see her performance? Solid, man!”
2. “Diana Ser is damn solid, man!”

SORRY NO CURE
Singlish phrase used to express indignation at an inadequate attempt at an apology
Ah Kok: "Why you potong jalan my girlfriend?"
Ah Beng: "Ai yah, sorry lah!"
Ah Kok: "Sorry no cure! Ai tio hoot?"

SPOIL MARKET
A term used to describe someone who does his work so well, he makes his colleagues look bad.
“Check out how Ah Seng's report! Got leather binding and colour transparencies! He damn spoil market one.”

STANDARD
Used to denote quality or skill.
"Wah lan, this prata so cold, damn no standard. Eat oreddy also not shiok."

STEADY POM PEE PEE (omg my favourite word of all time)
An extension of "steady", this is an adjective describing someone's prowess or sang froid, i.e. ability to remain cool under pressure.
"Wah! Matthew's MCQ is steady pom pee pee one, leh! He no need to study also can get full marks."

STER (haha cockster)
An army suffix, attached to verbs to describe their perpetrators, e.g. someone who ‘kengs’ (malingers) is a ‘kengster’, while someone who ‘tuangs’ (skives) is a ‘tuangster’. A lesser form than ‘king’ as in ‘tuang king’ or ‘keng king’.
“Eh, all you kengsters! Don’t pretend-pretend you sick so you can stay back and tuang, ah!”

STONE
An adjective/verb conveying either a lack of any activity, a state of stupor or stunned bewilderment. While it may owe its origins to it, the local use of the term seems to lack any connection with hallucinogenic drug-use.
1. "The guy never do anything, one. So stone!"
2. "Eh, let's go Orchard, man. Don'ch stone!"
3. "Wah lau, the maths exam question so cheem one. I see only I stone."

SUAN
To ridicule or insult someone.
1. "Why you go and suan him like that? What has he ever done to you?"
2. "Wah lau, did you see? He kena suan in TalkingCock.com!"

SURE CAN ONE
Phrase used to bolster one's/someone else's confidence that something can be achieved.
"This thing so easy to do, sure can one."

TALK COCK/TALK COCK SING SONG
To speak rubbish or nonsense. Probably originates from the English phrase “cock and bull”. “Sing Song” is added for emphasis. “Talk Cock” by itself also has the more benign meaning of “casual banter” or “chatting”.
1. “Ah Beng managed to pass the exam? Don’t talk cock!”
2. “I met Johnny at the kopi tiam just now, and we were talking cock for a while.”

TIO
Hokkien exclamation whose closest English approximation is "got it!" or "correct!" Suggests hitting the target or achieving something, usually but not necessarily pleasant.
1. "Eh! I heard Ah Beng tio 4D, man!" ("Hey, I heard Ah Beng struck the lottery!")
2. "You wan' your flat to get upgraded, then you must vote gahmen, lah. Tio bo?" ("To get your flat upgraded, you must vote in the government. Is that correct?")
"Tio!" ("Correct!")
3. "Wah, Ah Beng yesterday tio from his OC, man!" ("Yesterday, Ah Beng got it from his officer in charge.")
4. "Why you listen to him? He's a damn boh tio sort of person!" ("Don't listen to him - he's the type who just doesn't get it.")
5. "I voted him because he's the most ooh tio of the lot." ("I voted him because of all the candidates, he's the one who gets it the most.")

TZAI
A compliment about one’s coolness.
“Ah Lian agreed to go out with him? Since when he so tzai one?”

VERY THE
Singlish phrase meaning, inexplicably, 'very'. Usually employed with a clearly sarcastic tone.
1. "Wah lau eh, he ah, his armpit very the smelly, you know!"
2. "Piang eh, your skirt very the short, hor?"

VERY WHAT ONE
A phrase used to describe a quality so inexplicably irritating about something or someone. The Singlish version of the French phrase "je ne sais quoi".
"She, hor, very what one, you know?" (She has a certain je ne sais quoi.)

VOMIT BLOOD (PUKE MUCUS!)
Literal translation from the Hokkien phrase "tor hwee", which is used to describe undergoing extreme difficulty, intense suffering or great irritation. "Vomit" is often pronounced "womit".
Ah Beng: "Yesterday, hor, I teach my son Maths, teach until vomit blood."

WAKE UP YOUR IDEA
Singlish phrase, popular in the army, meaning, "get a clue" or "stop dreaming".
Sergeant: "Who say you can tuang like that, recruit? You better wake up your idea!"

WHACK
To approach something carelessly or eat something with relish.
1. “Eh, the seafood buffet here is quite solid. Whack all the prawns, man!”
2. "This is a serious job, okay, you cannot anyhow whack."

WHAT TALKING YOU?
Singlish for "What are you talking about?", it is a statement of incredulity or disbelief.
"Eh, Ah Beng where can pass 'A' Maths? What talking you?" (How can Ah Beng pass his 'A' Maths exams? What are you talking about?)

WHERE GOT
Pithy term expressing disbelief or sometimes, outrage.
1. Beng: "Seng, you took my wallet, right?"
Seng: "Where got?"
2. "He accused me of stealing his wallet. I ask you, where got like that?"
3. "A young man dying while in the prime of his life… Where got meaning?"

WON'T DIE
Singlish phrase used to reassure someone that something is not hazardous or troublesome. Derived from Hokkien, "buay si", with the same meaning, and directly translated into English.
"It's only an injection. Don't scared, won't die one" (The latter, in Hokkien, would be, "Meng kia, buay si eh.")

YOUR HEAD
Mild curse used to disabuse someone of his or her erroneous assumption.
1. Ah Beng: "You sure fail the test!"
Ah Seng: "Your head, lah!"
2. "She? Win Miss Universe? Your head, lah!"

// How can I not want to see you in Heaven with me?

The Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15:11-32

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

---

"If other people cheat my money, I will make noise. If my own family cheat my money, I gam guan."

Thanks for always fetching me everywhere, even though it's totally unnecessary (and a waste of time and petrol).

Thanks for always giving me (more than) enough pocket money behind Mum's back, even though you always lecture (and bore) me about your childhood money-saving escapades.

Thanks for being always there for the family, even though work sucks and Mum's screaming gets on everyone's nerves.

Thanks for always loving Mum more than she loves you, even though (kidding!) she doesn't always deserve it.

Thanks for siding me when Mum scolds, even though I'm almost always in the wrong.

Thanks for bringing me into this world, even though I've caused you problems in more ways than one.

Thanks for always thinking of me, even though I don't always think of you.

Thanks for being the best Dad I can ever have.

Happy birthday. :)

// It's over, but our lives have just begun.

Dear God,

Thanks for giving me so much of Your goodness throughout Thai camp, even though I came without expecting anything from You.

Thanks for including me in The Great Commission, even though I'm so incapable.

Thanks for all the challenges, even though it is in my nature to fail You.

Thanks for always having faith in me, even though I don't always have faith in You.

Thanks for being the greatest friend I can ever have.

Love,
Zelanie

// Your friendly neighbourhood game master

Was just thinking of the MANGSEH! game Hoppies are famous for playing (well, at least my CG people do enjoy it).

Visions, opportunities, fleeting moments of inspiration...
Have you lost count of Life itself?

Catch it!
Miss it!
Catch.
Miss.
Miss,
Miss,
Catch,
Miss,
Er... Catch it?
??

Are you going to miss your catch
Or catch your miss?

Count all your blessings
And make your blessings count.

Make God your number one
And you'll get the right number in the end.

MANGSEH! :)

// Karma kalls.

"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses His life for Me will find it."

- Matthew 16:24-25

Today's QT in a nutshell: Lose something for someone who can help you find something else that is worth more than what you lost in the first place.

Which also means if you find stuff on the floor, don't do the Finders Keepers thing. You know how they always say if you pick up lost items and claim them for yourself, you'd lose something more precious next time?

Okay fine, this is just one out of the many theories I concocted. Back in school days, I was so annoyed with irritants waking me up when I didn't want to that I told them, "Do you know doing this will bring you 7 years of misfortune? The 'breaking mirrors' theory was just a cover-up." It worked like a charm. (x

Which brings me back to today's QT. I was vividly reminded of the time in Crescent when I hijacked the teacher's microphone in the hall, hid under a random table and belted out Eminem's "Just Lose It" to an unexpecting audience of 300 in an attempt to liven everyone's dampened spirits caused by the release of Sec 4 prelim Biology results.

Zelanie is hungry. It's raining cats and dogs and marsipuls outside. But because she conveniently forgot to bring an umbrella, she will be stranded till the rain stops.

It's time to see some blue sky in my life (does anyone want to watch Accuracy of Death again with me hahaha), or at least in the next thirty minutes lest my roaring stomach fully expels its wrath to my fellow well-fed umbrella-ed colleagues soon.

// Why can't you just let me let God be God?

Judging by that phone call you just made, I'd like to ask you a question: Who's the one going to university, you or me?

Yeah, I know Melbourne's expensive and everything and I'd be a bigger strain on your expenses. But don't make it sound as if I'm desperate to study in SMU; don't make it sound as if I'm not making any (extra?) effort to study locally; don't make it sound as if I selfishly want to just get my ass overseas so I can run away from the vice-like grip Singapore's education is contorting the youths of today.

Feeding them with copies of extra resumes, appeal letters, additional documents that may deem fit for mere recycled paper isn't the way things should work. And saying it may be God's call when a certain someone calls you to send in all these papers... Don't make me laugh.

But because you are my mother and God says to honour my parents... I'd do up the letter. No matter how much I know that it isn't up to your friend nor how persuasive and convincing I can write. It's really all in God's hands. And I pray your prayer for me will change from "God, please let her get into SMU" to "God, I leave her life into Your hands. Please help both our hearts be ready and open to the good things You have in store for us."

Zelanie has not been a very happy girl of late. But she will press on with life's challenges cos God's on her side. Unless there are no two banks of my river and everything's just one big messed up Tsunami.

Oh well. God-willing, I could do with a re-enactment of "Moses and The Red Sea" right about now.

// A vicious cycle?

Slow down
Look around
All you people

Talking about what you've seen on teevee
Staring at societal misfits
Whispering about the people next door

Craving, longing, yearning
Desperately

For some truth in your life,
Or for the latest gossip?

To be an inspiration to others,
Or just one chance to speak and stun?

To fight for the things that matter to you the most,
Or for things that don't even concern you?

And sometimes I wonder...

Am I on the outside looking in,
Or just another guilty one trapped
In the centre of it all?

// Holding on by letting go.

I am not unique.

I cannot be someone's pillar of strength.

And I definitely do not have the power to influence someone's life so dynamically that he/she can die to the essence of time and its loss over and over again.

Honestly, don't exalt me for the sake of your self-indulgence in attempting to re-create the 'past'. Because by God's grace, that very tyranny of time has given me a second chance to re-live my life. To find myself amidst all the troubles Life can and will definitely throw at me. The same way you believe so much in Colossians 3:13, I believe so much more in Philippians 3:13.

Don't expect so much from me. Because I am not the one for you.

I am not unique.

I cannot be your pillar of strength.

And I definitely do not have the power to make AND break your life.

Only God can do this. Yet when we think of Him, we do not quake in fear at His wrath but delight instead in His love and forgiveness. God doesn't test you to break you. He tests to build you up.

So instead of believing in me, believe in Him instead.

// Familiarity in the strangest places.

I really thank God for giving me so many opportunities to experience Him in different places and climates, from the 40 degrees celcius heat wave in Khon Kaen to mosquito-infested St John's Island. You can feel His Spirit moving in a fully air-conditioned 15,000 seater auditorium AND a shed no bigger than the size of my bedroom. You can praise and worship him with multimedia, subwoofers, a symphonic orchestra, dancers and lights, AND with minimal instruments all (dangerously) connected to one power source. You can have QT and shepherding in the comfort of clean, secluded areas, AND at the same time, fighting for space with other CGs and the mighty ant population. And for a real exclusive bonus, also see my very first shooting star with Lee Yang while lying on our backs in the basketball court looking at the night sky at 3am.

As long as the entire Earth is under the same sky, God's greatness is really there. And it will never change. The only difference there will ever be is your heart condition. Whether you're able to pray and open up your spiritual eyes and hearts to Him in any type of environment; whether you're still sensitive enough to feel Him amidst the humidity and claustraphobia; whether your fire for God still burns ablaze albeit the immense overcrowding for oxygen. God really provides and blesses, and thankfully I was able to claim all His promises in camp.

Now, the hardest part: Living out my promises to Him too. Eurghh.

// We learn something new everyday.

Zomg, my name actually has some biblical meaning check this out:

A study of the origins, connections and meanings of The Indo-European words: reeka, ree, rea and river

By Odyssey Belchevsky

The biblical form 'Evangelie' or 'Evangelist' can be clearly explained with the combination of

eva< eva ="living" zelanie =" (z)evanzelanie">zevanzelie >evangelie

zelanie is the old Slavic word for "desire; long for", or simply Zeva(n)zjelie = desire for eternal life.

(Also the older form of God in the bible was given as Jihova (The letter J can be pronounced as Zj>Ž). This will yield a very close affinity to the Slavic words Zjiva> Zjivota)

In the Homeric writings we have the word/forms Zi,Ze, Ziti (Zi Zh, Ziti) with the meaning "to live, to breathe".

These are the characteristics of Zeus and are virtually identical to the Macedonian/Slavic Zi, Ze, Ziti and all its relations.

And to think my parents initially wanted to call me 'Melanie' but decided that it sounded too boring and tried every single alphabet and was happy with the very last one.

// The armor of God

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

- Matthew 10:34-36

For all those whose Christian lives have been comfortable and smooth-sailing for the past few months and years, ask yourself this question: What have you been doing to build God's kingdom; to fulfill The Great Commission in our lives?

If you're stumped for an answer, it's time to wake up. Cos your life, no matter how lucky it seems to be, is actually stagnant. So before your oasis degenerates into a mosquito breeding ground with [insert Captain Jack Sparrow's voice] "really bad eggs!", think of what you can do to be a builder of human stones for God's temple.

Winston Churchill once said, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life". So take up this challenge; pray for problems. It's only during times of toil and trouble where you find out where your loyalty lies.

When you sow in tears, you shall reap in joy. And with God on your side, the harvest will be more than enough for you to overthrow Nestlé and start your own nutritional company, since everyone's gonna turn organic sooner or later anyway.

// Suddenly everything begins to seem so clear.

How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

- Romans 11:14-15

God, if this is Your will, then let it be done.

If I have to leave everything behind and fly over 3,779 miles of land and sea, I'll do it.

I'll be coming for you.

Zelanie wants to save. And the time is now.

// The power of Singlish.

Some of my favourite extracts from The Coxford Singlish Dictionary:

ALL FART AND NO SHIT
Used to describe someone who's full of empty promises.
"Ah, shaddup lah. Everyday say you wan' to treat me go lunch. You all fart and no shit only."

ANONEH
A Japanese expression similar to "Well..." or "If that's the case...", in Singlish this has come to be a generic term for any Japanese girl.
1. "Wah lau, see that anoneh! Her dressing damn solid one."
2. "I got some char bor friends in Pasir Ris, they are all anoneh working for airline one."

BECAUSE THE SKY IS SO HIGH, THE BIRD SHIT IN YOUR EYE
This phrase is essentially an annoyed retort to being asked "why", and conveys the meaning that the questioner ought to mind his or her own business. Popular in the mid-70's, its usage began to decline in the early 80's and is rarely heard these days.
Sally: " Eh, Jasmine, how come I never see you with Roger anymore?"
Jasmine: " We oreddy break up, lah!"
Sally: " Why?"
Jasmine: " Because the sky is so high, the bird shit in your eye!"

BORROW
For some reason, “to lend”.
“Eh, can borrow me your book?”

CARE-LAIR-FAIR (omg I thought it was a real English word)
Cantonese for "movie extra", it is also used to describe people as idle hangers-on or layabouts. It is suspected that the term was derived from somewhere else. Can also be used as a verb, as in "to care-lair-fair".
"Eh, next week my company is holding a product launch for TV. If got time, come and care-lair-fair, lah."

CHAMPION (I love this word)
A term describing the unbelievable actions of a person. Usually used in a derogatory manner.
Ah Beng : "Wah lau! You never hear! Ah Seng is in hospital! His finger kena bitten off by his hamster!"
Ah Meng: "Serious ah? He damn champion, man!"

CHER
Not to be confused with the surgically-enhanced American singer, this is just a short and snappy way to address one's teacher.
"Eskew me, Cher, can I go toilet?"

CHIBABOOM
Quintessential Singaporean sound effect for an explosion.
"Then ah, the bomb essploded... CHIBABOOM!"

CHOPE
To reserve or hold something for somebody. Sometimes used in games to denote having attained a ‘safe' position.
"If we're not at the theatre by 8, can you chope some seats for us?"

COCK
Despite seemingly obscene connotations, the use of "cock is actually fairly benign. It has become the de facto Singlish way to describe something as being nonsensical or sub-standard; the local equivalent of "rubbish" or "junk". Sometimes used as the short form of "cockanaden".
1. "Don't listen to him, he's only talking cock."
2. "Wah lau, you go and buy this cock thing for what?"
3. "Why you so cock, go and invest in that dot-com?"

CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE/CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE TIMES 2, WITH 3 YEAR WARRANTY
Variations of Confirm and Guarantee.
"Oi, you returning that VCD or not?"
"Aiyah, of course lah! Confirm plus guarantee times 2, with 3-year warranty!"

EXTRA
An adjective usually applied to people who do things which are unnecessary or pointless.
1. " Eh, Johnny! Recess already you still want to do homework! You si peh extra, you know!"
2. "This sort of simple thing don't make until so complicated, can or not? Why you so extra one?"

GIVE CHANCE
Singlish expression for "to be fair, generous, or to give a fighting chance".
1. "Our goalie not here yet, so give chance, can or not?"
2. "That guy always kena whack, they never give chance to him one."

GO FLY KITE
Derived from the English admonition "go fly a kite!" which means "piss off", "buzz off", etc, depending on your level of profanity-tolerance. Of course, we economical Singaporeans have removed the extraneous indefinite article.
"He know I so busy, still ask me to do things. Ask him go fly kite, lah!"

GONE CASE
Someone or something beyond help. A lost cause.
1. "We tried to help, but he oreddy gone case."
2. "If you continue like this, you sure gone case."

GOT
Denoting availability of something.
Beng: "Got milk or not?"
Seng: "Got!"

GRANDFUDDER ROAD
"Your grandfather's road". A belligerent expression aimed at road hogs. Similar to the English expression, "Do you own the road?""Wah lau, drive so slow! Your grandfudder road, is it?"

HERO
Has the same meaning as in English, but often connotes either a foolhardy person or someone out to grab attention.
1. "Just pass, can oreddy. Why try and score A? You hero or what?"
2. "It's too dangerous. Don't try to be hero."

HOW CAN
In true Singaporean economical style, this is a contraction of "How can this be?" or "How can this be possible?" Originates from the Malay-Hokkien hybrid phrase, "Mana eh sai?"
"Ah Beng became a President's Scholar? How can?"

IS IT?
A phrase that's tagged on to virtually any question. It is also used on its own to express skepticism.
1. "You got mail, is it?" (You've received mail, have you?")
2. Beng: "I got accepted into Harvard."
Seng: "Is it?"

K.I.V. (My mom always uses this while shopping)
"Keep In View". An acronym from colonial bureaucracy to stand for items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration. This label is found on trays, cabinets and shelves. Essentially used as a verb, in the sense of "to shelve" or "put on the backburner" or "to procrastinate".
1. "I'm busy now, can I KIV it and get back to you?"
2. "If in doubt, just KIV and think about it later."

KOPE
(as in 'cope')
To steal, usually something trifling. Similar in meaning to "stun".
“Wah, where you kope all this stuff from?”

LAI DAT
"Like that". Yet another Singlish tag.
1. "He look like a pig lai dat."
2. "Wah lau, I like damn tired lai dat."
3. Beng: "How are you?"
Seng: "Lai dat, lor."

LIKE REAL
The Singlish equivalent to "As if!" or "Yeah, right." An expression of incredulity and disbelief.
Beng: "Eh, I just got into Mensa."
Seng: "Like real!"

MACAM
Malay term of comparison, equivalent to "like" in English. When used in Singlish, it can seem redundant, but in fact adds emphasis.
1. "Wah piang, this dessert macam taste like shit."
2. "That bugger dress up until like that, macam look like come from outer space."

MUG/MUGGER/CHAO MUGGER/MUGGER TOAD
To "mug" in Singapore is to study by rote. A mugger is thus a hardworking student who memorises notes and regurgitates them during exams: the very essence of a typical kiasu student. Often prefixed with the word "chao" (smelly) in front of it for emphasis.
1. "He everytime go library until it close. Damn mugger, siah!"
2. " If I don't chao mug now, then later exam sure can die, one!"

NO SOUND NO PICTURE
A no-show.
"Eh, I thought he was supposed to be here an hour ago? You mean he still no sound no picture ah?"

NOT SAY I SAY WHAT
A very common way of prefacing a statement that could be controversial or sensitive. The English equivalent would be, "This might just be my own opinion, butÉ" or "I'm not sure, butÉ"
"Not say I say what ah, but Ah Lian's dressing is si beh obiang."

OFF
Economical verb meaning to turn or shut something off.
"Please off the light."

ON
Economical verb meaning to turn something on.
"Please on the light."

ONE KIND
Contraction of the phrase "one of a kind" - usually used pejoratively.
"Ah Seng this kind of friend, damn one kind one! Everytime go out he say no money, ask me pay first!"

OSO CAN
A crude pronunciation of the words "also can," and is usually found at the end of sentences. Means "this is okay with me," or "this can also be done."
"This one you want to pay by installment, oso can."

OWN TIME OWN TARGET/O.T.O.T.
Another Army-inherited term, meaning to perform a task at one's leisure, or using one's discretion.
1. Private: "Eh, Sergeant! Give how long to sio?" (Sergeant, how long is our cigarette break?"
Sergeant: "O.T.O.T."
2. "This assignment is not very urgent. You own time own target can oreddy."

OWNSELF
A word which denotes that a task has been performed through one's effort alone.
1. This painting you ownself do, ah?
2. Can you ownself buy the drinks? My hands already full, lah.
3. Eh! Can you ownself do your homework instead of copying from others?

PAIN
In true Singlish economy, "painful"
"Ow! Why you step on my foot? Damn pain, you know!"

REPEAT AGAIN
A commonly-used redundancy.
"I can't hear you. Can you repeat again?"

SABO
Singlish contraction of "sabotage". Used to cover instances of practical jokes and tricks to outright betrayal.
"You don'ch sabo me, I warn you, ah!"

SAHT
Of uncertain provenance, it’s the local equivalent of “cool” or “groovy”.
“You got tickets to the sold out concert? How come you so saht one?”

SAY FIRST
Used as an expression to lay down one’s ideas/thoughts/feelings/intentions before doing/saying something. Can also be used as a question in respect to the order of priority of things to be done.
1. “OK, say first, today after work go where and chiong?”
2. “Eh say first leh, you still lurf me or not?”

SCARED WHAT
An expression of bravado.
“Go to jail, go to jail, lor. Scared what?”

SCUSE
Short for "Excuse me". Used in place of the phrase "Get out of my way!" in a vague attempt to be polite.

SEE HOW
To leave the matter alone and watch how it develops. Often repeated for emphasis.
"I oreddy submitted the application form. So now just see how, see how, lor."

SIAN
A wonderfully concise Hokkien adjective which conveys boredom, weariness, frustration and emptiness. The English equivalent would be "ennui".
1. “My job is damn sian, man.”
2. “Wah lau eh, I do A-maths, do until sian oreddy.”

SO HOW?
Economic term, used in the same manner as "So what now?"
"The show is oreddy sold out. So how?"

SOLID
An adjective describing something or someone as being very impressive.
1. “Did you see her performance? Solid, man!”
2. “Diana Ser is damn solid, man!”

SORRY NO CURE
Singlish phrase used to express indignation at an inadequate attempt at an apology
Ah Kok: "Why you potong jalan my girlfriend?"
Ah Beng: "Ai yah, sorry lah!"
Ah Kok: "Sorry no cure! Ai tio hoot?"

SPOIL MARKET
A term used to describe someone who does his work so well, he makes his colleagues look bad.
“Check out how Ah Seng's report! Got leather binding and colour transparencies! He damn spoil market one.”

STANDARD
Used to denote quality or skill.
"Wah lan, this prata so cold, damn no standard. Eat oreddy also not shiok."

STEADY POM PEE PEE (omg my favourite word of all time)
An extension of "steady", this is an adjective describing someone's prowess or sang froid, i.e. ability to remain cool under pressure.
"Wah! Matthew's MCQ is steady pom pee pee one, leh! He no need to study also can get full marks."

STER (haha cockster)
An army suffix, attached to verbs to describe their perpetrators, e.g. someone who ‘kengs’ (malingers) is a ‘kengster’, while someone who ‘tuangs’ (skives) is a ‘tuangster’. A lesser form than ‘king’ as in ‘tuang king’ or ‘keng king’.
“Eh, all you kengsters! Don’t pretend-pretend you sick so you can stay back and tuang, ah!”

STONE
An adjective/verb conveying either a lack of any activity, a state of stupor or stunned bewilderment. While it may owe its origins to it, the local use of the term seems to lack any connection with hallucinogenic drug-use.
1. "The guy never do anything, one. So stone!"
2. "Eh, let's go Orchard, man. Don'ch stone!"
3. "Wah lau, the maths exam question so cheem one. I see only I stone."

SUAN
To ridicule or insult someone.
1. "Why you go and suan him like that? What has he ever done to you?"
2. "Wah lau, did you see? He kena suan in TalkingCock.com!"

SURE CAN ONE
Phrase used to bolster one's/someone else's confidence that something can be achieved.
"This thing so easy to do, sure can one."

TALK COCK/TALK COCK SING SONG
To speak rubbish or nonsense. Probably originates from the English phrase “cock and bull”. “Sing Song” is added for emphasis. “Talk Cock” by itself also has the more benign meaning of “casual banter” or “chatting”.
1. “Ah Beng managed to pass the exam? Don’t talk cock!”
2. “I met Johnny at the kopi tiam just now, and we were talking cock for a while.”

TIO
Hokkien exclamation whose closest English approximation is "got it!" or "correct!" Suggests hitting the target or achieving something, usually but not necessarily pleasant.
1. "Eh! I heard Ah Beng tio 4D, man!" ("Hey, I heard Ah Beng struck the lottery!")
2. "You wan' your flat to get upgraded, then you must vote gahmen, lah. Tio bo?" ("To get your flat upgraded, you must vote in the government. Is that correct?")
"Tio!" ("Correct!")
3. "Wah, Ah Beng yesterday tio from his OC, man!" ("Yesterday, Ah Beng got it from his officer in charge.")
4. "Why you listen to him? He's a damn boh tio sort of person!" ("Don't listen to him - he's the type who just doesn't get it.")
5. "I voted him because he's the most ooh tio of the lot." ("I voted him because of all the candidates, he's the one who gets it the most.")

TZAI
A compliment about one’s coolness.
“Ah Lian agreed to go out with him? Since when he so tzai one?”

VERY THE
Singlish phrase meaning, inexplicably, 'very'. Usually employed with a clearly sarcastic tone.
1. "Wah lau eh, he ah, his armpit very the smelly, you know!"
2. "Piang eh, your skirt very the short, hor?"

VERY WHAT ONE
A phrase used to describe a quality so inexplicably irritating about something or someone. The Singlish version of the French phrase "je ne sais quoi".
"She, hor, very what one, you know?" (She has a certain je ne sais quoi.)

VOMIT BLOOD (PUKE MUCUS!)
Literal translation from the Hokkien phrase "tor hwee", which is used to describe undergoing extreme difficulty, intense suffering or great irritation. "Vomit" is often pronounced "womit".
Ah Beng: "Yesterday, hor, I teach my son Maths, teach until vomit blood."

WAKE UP YOUR IDEA
Singlish phrase, popular in the army, meaning, "get a clue" or "stop dreaming".
Sergeant: "Who say you can tuang like that, recruit? You better wake up your idea!"

WHACK
To approach something carelessly or eat something with relish.
1. “Eh, the seafood buffet here is quite solid. Whack all the prawns, man!”
2. "This is a serious job, okay, you cannot anyhow whack."

WHAT TALKING YOU?
Singlish for "What are you talking about?", it is a statement of incredulity or disbelief.
"Eh, Ah Beng where can pass 'A' Maths? What talking you?" (How can Ah Beng pass his 'A' Maths exams? What are you talking about?)

WHERE GOT
Pithy term expressing disbelief or sometimes, outrage.
1. Beng: "Seng, you took my wallet, right?"
Seng: "Where got?"
2. "He accused me of stealing his wallet. I ask you, where got like that?"
3. "A young man dying while in the prime of his life… Where got meaning?"

WON'T DIE
Singlish phrase used to reassure someone that something is not hazardous or troublesome. Derived from Hokkien, "buay si", with the same meaning, and directly translated into English.
"It's only an injection. Don't scared, won't die one" (The latter, in Hokkien, would be, "Meng kia, buay si eh.")

YOUR HEAD
Mild curse used to disabuse someone of his or her erroneous assumption.
1. Ah Beng: "You sure fail the test!"
Ah Seng: "Your head, lah!"
2. "She? Win Miss Universe? Your head, lah!"

// How can I not want to see you in Heaven with me?

The Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15:11-32

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

---

"If other people cheat my money, I will make noise. If my own family cheat my money, I gam guan."

Thanks for always fetching me everywhere, even though it's totally unnecessary (and a waste of time and petrol).

Thanks for always giving me (more than) enough pocket money behind Mum's back, even though you always lecture (and bore) me about your childhood money-saving escapades.

Thanks for being always there for the family, even though work sucks and Mum's screaming gets on everyone's nerves.

Thanks for always loving Mum more than she loves you, even though (kidding!) she doesn't always deserve it.

Thanks for siding me when Mum scolds, even though I'm almost always in the wrong.

Thanks for bringing me into this world, even though I've caused you problems in more ways than one.

Thanks for always thinking of me, even though I don't always think of you.

Thanks for being the best Dad I can ever have.

Happy birthday. :)

// It's over, but our lives have just begun.

Dear God,

Thanks for giving me so much of Your goodness throughout Thai camp, even though I came without expecting anything from You.

Thanks for including me in The Great Commission, even though I'm so incapable.

Thanks for all the challenges, even though it is in my nature to fail You.

Thanks for always having faith in me, even though I don't always have faith in You.

Thanks for being the greatest friend I can ever have.

Love,
Zelanie