July 2002: We can get parents to let their children come to play if we make it an "event," so we decided to celebrate Tyler's 9 1/2 birthday to get Bob Chua over afterschool!
7/21/2002
Can't Say "I WANT" Until November
To Grammy Lynn:
A few weeks ago he was desperate for a certain toy that was more than he wanted to spend of his own money, and more than we'd pay just for the fun of it. You know how Tyler gets OBSESSED about wanting stuff. And he'd just come back from getting some goodies from the Coventons the week before.
The thought crossed my mind that if you were around you'd be driving him to Toys R Us the next day and buying both he AND Cameron one! I even thought of calling you, and then a day or two later I realized that it was only days until Tyler's half birthday...what a great excuse to spoil him! I suggested we'd pay 1/2...he thought that was agood idea but ended up we settled on him paying about $10 US. We even had a cake! Took some pictures. Made it a family DATE NIGHT. Cameron even got the dreamed of little star wars action figure he'd been dreaming of.
But the deal is, that neither of them can use the word "WANT" with us, or with the grandparents, about any toy until November (when it's time to write a Christmas list). If they find there is something they begin to want they have to write it down and save it until November!
SO, all that said, both boys would be tickled at any small amount of cash you'd want to "reward" them with. With Cameron not getting allowance yet, and the toys they like being the same, I'd say make it the same amount.
Cameron is tackling some pretty hard Chinese (he writes quite a few, and reads more than 75 words - more than Tyler had to at this age because Tyler was oldest in his classes and Cameron is the youngest so he's more stretched, and not the top student like his brother. In fact, the way Cameron sees it, he's just glad he's not THE worst in class!). He will soon finish his 100 reading lessons, and knows he will get a bike for that!
A few weeks ago he was desperate for a certain toy that was more than he wanted to spend of his own money, and more than we'd pay just for the fun of it. You know how Tyler gets OBSESSED about wanting stuff. And he'd just come back from getting some goodies from the Coventons the week before.
The thought crossed my mind that if you were around you'd be driving him to Toys R Us the next day and buying both he AND Cameron one! I even thought of calling you, and then a day or two later I realized that it was only days until Tyler's half birthday...what a great excuse to spoil him! I suggested we'd pay 1/2...he thought that was agood idea but ended up we settled on him paying about $10 US. We even had a cake! Took some pictures. Made it a family DATE NIGHT. Cameron even got the dreamed of little star wars action figure he'd been dreaming of.
But the deal is, that neither of them can use the word "WANT" with us, or with the grandparents, about any toy until November (when it's time to write a Christmas list). If they find there is something they begin to want they have to write it down and save it until November!
SO, all that said, both boys would be tickled at any small amount of cash you'd want to "reward" them with. With Cameron not getting allowance yet, and the toys they like being the same, I'd say make it the same amount.
Cameron is tackling some pretty hard Chinese (he writes quite a few, and reads more than 75 words - more than Tyler had to at this age because Tyler was oldest in his classes and Cameron is the youngest so he's more stretched, and not the top student like his brother. In fact, the way Cameron sees it, he's just glad he's not THE worst in class!). He will soon finish his 100 reading lessons, and knows he will get a bike for that!
7/17/2002
MAKING FRIENDS: A Dog Helps in Meeting People
Virtually all the Christian ministry expats send their children to the International Community School. We do spend a lot of effort connecting with "referrals;" friends of friends who are here only a short while. I must say, it is easier to make these connections with a car. I found myself questioning whether I wanted to spend $35+ on taxi fair to just go meet up with someone I'll never see or hear from again since most of these connections never turn into real friendships. These connections rarely come to much more than another name in the address list. Guess it's the nature of being an ex-pat. So many people are transient and you treat most of your relationships like a cocktail party. Jim doesn't seem to mind it, but for the kids and I it's gotten really old.
I have had a once a month prayer group with Kim Burchell and a few other American women - that has been great. And occassionally we see the Griffiths- the family who did the baseball league last year, as well as this new Australian family across the street. We see them a couple times a week now!
August 2002 National Day celebrations in the park across the street.
Thanks to the dog Rascal, who needs a walk in the park 2 times a day, we're starting to recognize familar faces of people in our broader neighborhood who are also out exercising regularly. I've made a decision to look as many in the eye as I can make eye contact with and say, "Good morning" in English or Chinese. Try and get them to smile back. It usually works. And now, a few familiar faces light up and initiate a greeting when they see us!
I was just visiting last night with my artist friend from England. She's caucasian I met here in Tampines early on while I was grocery shopping. She's a bit rough around the edges and I'm always very bold about where my opinions about how we live come from (the Bible and a faith in Jesus). It's nice to have someone here who initiates with me. Her children are grown and she just married her Muslim Singaporean boyfriend who is 15 years younger than she is! She's been here 12 years and has a really bad attitude about the gossipy unfriendly locals, so I was lecturing her: "You can't let them get to you, you must "get to them." Go overboard in being nice and friendly. There's no way these people will ever change unless someone shows them a different way to treat people!"
I've had 2 calls in the past week about acting opprotunities for Tyler and I. One a TV production company that does children's shows and another one that produces short shows that are shown in hospital waiting rooms - Health TV. Supposed to be shows with local humor about hospitals...lighten up the atmosphere. The producers are thrilled that Tyler can speak Chinese and are thinking up ways to use him.
(from an email to Grammy Lynn)
I have had a once a month prayer group with Kim Burchell and a few other American women - that has been great. And occassionally we see the Griffiths- the family who did the baseball league last year, as well as this new Australian family across the street. We see them a couple times a week now!
August 2002 National Day celebrations in the park across the street.
Thanks to the dog Rascal, who needs a walk in the park 2 times a day, we're starting to recognize familar faces of people in our broader neighborhood who are also out exercising regularly. I've made a decision to look as many in the eye as I can make eye contact with and say, "Good morning" in English or Chinese. Try and get them to smile back. It usually works. And now, a few familiar faces light up and initiate a greeting when they see us!
I was just visiting last night with my artist friend from England. She's caucasian I met here in Tampines early on while I was grocery shopping. She's a bit rough around the edges and I'm always very bold about where my opinions about how we live come from (the Bible and a faith in Jesus). It's nice to have someone here who initiates with me. Her children are grown and she just married her Muslim Singaporean boyfriend who is 15 years younger than she is! She's been here 12 years and has a really bad attitude about the gossipy unfriendly locals, so I was lecturing her: "You can't let them get to you, you must "get to them." Go overboard in being nice and friendly. There's no way these people will ever change unless someone shows them a different way to treat people!"
I've had 2 calls in the past week about acting opprotunities for Tyler and I. One a TV production company that does children's shows and another one that produces short shows that are shown in hospital waiting rooms - Health TV. Supposed to be shows with local humor about hospitals...lighten up the atmosphere. The producers are thrilled that Tyler can speak Chinese and are thinking up ways to use him.
(from an email to Grammy Lynn)
7/10/2002
CRM Worldwide Conference, Venezuela
What a Godward organization we've joined! I am always amazed when I get to know others with CRM. Very humbling to have fellowship with and be a part of such a gifted, saintly group of peers!
The speaker was captivating - John Piper - inspiring and pointed us to passion in worshipping God as the ONLY thing that will give us satisfaction in this vapour we call our life; and how He doesn't need us; and a fresh perspective on serving him from our weakenss (sessions were refreshing and thought provoking - and convicting as well!). I was really honoured and a little stressed when the CRM president asked me ahead of time to coordinate 4 dramas to set up these teaching times for such a preacher (I've read 2 of his books this year - A Hunger for God and Desiring God . If you haven't read them...add them to your list!)...I only had a little more than a week ahead of time with notes he'd emailed on what he'd preach about, and didn't have a clue who my "talent pool" was. But it was entirely Divine how it all came together flawlessly and beautifully with just the right people for every piece.
Like Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire), I sensed God's pleasure in the process of doing what I love to do, and the execution of it too. I know that He was guiding and inspiring in the preparations for it. It was a gift to me to be asked, when no one in the organization has ever seen my work - AND so very personally rewarding for me since I love integrating the theatrical in worship, know how to, and I really haven't had an opportunity for the 5 years I've been gone from California. I know more times will come in the future, but this opportunity was very special.
Remember the old hymn FOLLOW ME? "I travelled down a weary road and no one seemed to care. The burden on my weary back had bowed me with despair...." Wow. Many at the conference got sick from the food, or the water, and I wasn't spared. The last morning when I was set to sing this hymn dressed as a pilgrim...set up as starting from a seat in the house and walking down an aisle to the stage in front, across and out a side stage door at the end of the song... I was so sick, dizzy and weak, that when an extrememly gifted violinist started her Applalachian style accompaniment, I didn't know if I would stay standing when it came time for me to get up and sing. Jim told me later he had never heard me sound better. I felt so much power in my voice. When I got to the last verse and was kneeling on the stage belting out, "These are the words I hear him speak to me: If just a cup of water, I place within your hands, then just a cup of water is all that I demand, so if by death to living they can thy glory see, I'll lift my cross and follow close to thee..."
No one needed to tell me later that God spoke to them in that song. His presence was evident. What a tangible application to the lessons God is teaching me!
The speaker was captivating - John Piper - inspiring and pointed us to passion in worshipping God as the ONLY thing that will give us satisfaction in this vapour we call our life; and how He doesn't need us; and a fresh perspective on serving him from our weakenss (sessions were refreshing and thought provoking - and convicting as well!). I was really honoured and a little stressed when the CRM president asked me ahead of time to coordinate 4 dramas to set up these teaching times for such a preacher (I've read 2 of his books this year - A Hunger for God and Desiring God . If you haven't read them...add them to your list!)...I only had a little more than a week ahead of time with notes he'd emailed on what he'd preach about, and didn't have a clue who my "talent pool" was. But it was entirely Divine how it all came together flawlessly and beautifully with just the right people for every piece.
Like Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire), I sensed God's pleasure in the process of doing what I love to do, and the execution of it too. I know that He was guiding and inspiring in the preparations for it. It was a gift to me to be asked, when no one in the organization has ever seen my work - AND so very personally rewarding for me since I love integrating the theatrical in worship, know how to, and I really haven't had an opportunity for the 5 years I've been gone from California. I know more times will come in the future, but this opportunity was very special.
Remember the old hymn FOLLOW ME? "I travelled down a weary road and no one seemed to care. The burden on my weary back had bowed me with despair...." Wow. Many at the conference got sick from the food, or the water, and I wasn't spared. The last morning when I was set to sing this hymn dressed as a pilgrim...set up as starting from a seat in the house and walking down an aisle to the stage in front, across and out a side stage door at the end of the song... I was so sick, dizzy and weak, that when an extrememly gifted violinist started her Applalachian style accompaniment, I didn't know if I would stay standing when it came time for me to get up and sing. Jim told me later he had never heard me sound better. I felt so much power in my voice. When I got to the last verse and was kneeling on the stage belting out, "These are the words I hear him speak to me: If just a cup of water, I place within your hands, then just a cup of water is all that I demand, so if by death to living they can thy glory see, I'll lift my cross and follow close to thee..."
No one needed to tell me later that God spoke to them in that song. His presence was evident. What a tangible application to the lessons God is teaching me!
7/08/2002
BREATH: Psalm 39:5
by k!mberly
I read in the Bible that
"Life is a but a breath."
A vapour.
The breath that rests on the cold air of a frosty morning.
Puuhhhffffff.
And in seconds is gone.
I hope the breath of my life will be
Good breath.
Not bad breath.
Seconds
Only.
And I'm prone to the
Halitosis of self absorption.
I hold my empty cup
To you God.
I'm ready to gargle again.
I want
Breath
That won't be wasted
On complaints or criticism.
I want
Breath
That will waft a blessing
On those few other vapours
Who are sharing these seconds with me.
I want my
Puuhhhffffff
To raise a delighted eyebrow
Not wrinkle up a nose.
Oh God!
Fill my cup with
That sweet fragrance of Christ.
His vapour was even shorter than most.
Yet,
For the joy set
Before him,
Endured the CROSS.
No complaints.
Puuhhhffffff.
His vapour on earth
Now long gone.
Ascended.
But his fragrance
Remains.
Spread by my joy.
By your joy.
In the seconds we have left.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
II Corinthians 2:14,15
I read in the Bible that
"Life is a but a breath."
A vapour.
The breath that rests on the cold air of a frosty morning.
Puuhhhffffff.
And in seconds is gone.
I hope the breath of my life will be
Good breath.
Not bad breath.
Seconds
Only.
And I'm prone to the
Halitosis of self absorption.
I hold my empty cup
To you God.
I'm ready to gargle again.
I want
Breath
That won't be wasted
On complaints or criticism.
I want
Breath
That will waft a blessing
On those few other vapours
Who are sharing these seconds with me.
I want my
Puuhhhffffff
To raise a delighted eyebrow
Not wrinkle up a nose.
Oh God!
Fill my cup with
That sweet fragrance of Christ.
His vapour was even shorter than most.
Yet,
For the joy set
Before him,
Endured the CROSS.
No complaints.
Puuhhhffffff.
His vapour on earth
Now long gone.
Ascended.
But his fragrance
Remains.
Spread by my joy.
By your joy.
In the seconds we have left.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
II Corinthians 2:14,15
7/03/2002
Love/Hate on the 4th of July
July 2002: Our "Great Marriages" cell group celebrates the 4th of July with us.
Happy 4th of July!
I'm having a love/hate day with Singapore today.
Had a beautiful time last night with 3 Singaporean couples, our closest friends here, to celebrate our 4th -- they were all very game and festive. I told them all when they greeted me they had to say, "God bless America!" Since it was the first 4th of July since 9/11, which, as I've written about before made me terribly homesick, and which was why I was feeling extrememly patriotic. Loads of red/white/and blue, a BBQ, we all sang the National Anthem and God Bless America etc.. Pretty fun.
Then we got home at 10:15PM to our little suburb of highrises, parked our car in a loading area, and in the 4 minutes while we were taking the sleeping Creasmans up from the car, some good-for-nothing-that-God-loves-as-much-as-me walked by and stole 2 bags we'd set by the car - containing Jim's work clothes & shoes, house keys, his cellphone, a couple of treasured coffeetable books about America (one new one from my mom on the heros of 9/11), and a silly pair of size 11 wooden shoes (Cameron's souvenier from our layover in Holland last week). I immediately took the dog for a walk -- partly to blow off steam, partly seaching for the offending terrorist (well, ok, "petty theif") so I could get back my stuff (I was confident that I am bigger than whoever it was that took it), and partly asking God to give me a heart that wants to pray for this person and all the people who live by the "finders-keepers" rule in life.
I know it's just stuff, but it makes me SO mad sometimes. We've had more than enough of this kind of petty theft in a nation that's known for it's low crime rate. We have an unseen Enemy who doesn't want us to like it here!
Hit by a Motorcyclist
I was hit by a speeding motorcyclist yesterday - with his girlfriend on the back. Malay muslim kids. The way they flew and rolled in front of my car I thought they'd for sure be dead, but after hainging around at the site for all the police reports we went to find them at the hospital...only abrasions. I shared merely that God loves them and surely has a plan for keeping them alive, and that the instant of the crash, I prayed for their protection as I saw them rolling. It is illegal to share "Christ" with Muslims in Singapore, but I have heard stories of conversions when Jesus appears to people in dreams...so as they are in the hospital and recovering, pray that Jesus introduce himself as the one who saved them...twice. Once yesterday and once 2 thousand years ago.
I'm a bit shook up too. This is the 3rd auto accident in owning our car for 9 months (and cars are about 4xs the price here), I've had a robbery (the 4th of July), been served for a law suit (the 10th), a parking ticket when I was not parking illegally (last week), and had a man practice a lewd act on me while studying in the library the day before yesterday...then the accident yesterday where I was sure for an instant that my car had caused 2 people to die...hmmm. With our influence growing in the circles we've come to serve, it just makes me convinced that we're making the enemy angry...and with this encouragement and God's grace, I can keep my head on straight during the day. But last night I had trouble sleeping...
I'm a bit shook up too. This is the 3rd auto accident in owning our car for 9 months (and cars are about 4xs the price here), I've had a robbery (the 4th of July), been served for a law suit (the 10th), a parking ticket when I was not parking illegally (last week), and had a man practice a lewd act on me while studying in the library the day before yesterday...then the accident yesterday where I was sure for an instant that my car had caused 2 people to die...hmmm. With our influence growing in the circles we've come to serve, it just makes me convinced that we're making the enemy angry...and with this encouragement and God's grace, I can keep my head on straight during the day. But last night I had trouble sleeping...
7/01/2002
Psalm 39:5
I read in the Bible that
"Life is a but a breath."
A vapour.
The breath
That rests on the cold air of a frosty morning.
Puuhhhffffff.
And in seconds is gone.
I hope the breath of my life will be
Good breath.
Not bad breath.
Seconds
Only.
And I'm prone to the
Halitosis of self absorption.
I hold my empty cup
To you God.
I'm ready to gargle again.
I want
Breath
That won't be wasted
On complaints or criticism.
I want
Breath
That will waft a blessing
On those few other vapours
Who are sharing these seconds with me.
I want my
Puuhhhffffff
To raise a delighted eyebrow
not wrinkle up a nose.
Oh God!
Fill my cup with
That sweet fragrance of Christ.
His vapour was even shorter than most.
Yet,
For the joy set
Before him,
Endured the CROSS.
No complaints.
Puuhhhffffff.
His vapour on earth
Now long gone.
Ascended.
But his fragrance
Remains.
Spread by my joy.
By your joy.
In the seconds we have left.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
II Corinthians 2:14,15
"Life is a but a breath."
A vapour.
The breath
That rests on the cold air of a frosty morning.
Puuhhhffffff.
And in seconds is gone.
I hope the breath of my life will be
Good breath.
Not bad breath.
Seconds
Only.
And I'm prone to the
Halitosis of self absorption.
I hold my empty cup
To you God.
I'm ready to gargle again.
I want
Breath
That won't be wasted
On complaints or criticism.
I want
Breath
That will waft a blessing
On those few other vapours
Who are sharing these seconds with me.
I want my
Puuhhhffffff
To raise a delighted eyebrow
not wrinkle up a nose.
Oh God!
Fill my cup with
That sweet fragrance of Christ.
His vapour was even shorter than most.
Yet,
For the joy set
Before him,
Endured the CROSS.
No complaints.
Puuhhhffffff.
His vapour on earth
Now long gone.
Ascended.
But his fragrance
Remains.
Spread by my joy.
By your joy.
In the seconds we have left.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
II Corinthians 2:14,15
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