I think it's really a curse if we know there is one(s) who wants to seek God so near to us and yet we keep being silent about the subject.

Thank God eventhough I handed the book to my grandfather awkwardly like a junior high teenage girl giving a present to a boy she has a crush on :in manga :s should have been better...but the time, I feel the time couldn't have been better...whatever the result will be, I still thank God =) if he really wants to keep the book, then I guess I'll just buy another copy at SKS =) Everything I have in hand now is from God anyway.

Currently feeling: grateful

Points gathered from this morning sermon by Pdt. Sutjipto Subeno:

- do not be like the world who wants to have the biggest names in every good thing, turn around ('bertobat' di Alkitab LAI) literally from this kind of orientation.

- do not fake humility and meekness and be the least just for the sake to be the biggest

- be like a child (dr kata aslinya artinya anak kecil banget atau balita kalo mau sesuai konteks) who's totally dependent on God and admits that he/she cannot do many many things by him/herself. people like this who don't seek opportunities to be treated like a royalty, are often used by God for His big plans.

- don't keep your humility just inside yourself, but serve the marginal people around us with sincerity. By serving them, you're already serving God.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.”

Galatians 5:17

In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the “whole armour of God,” and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of “Christian” with “Apollyon” lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate in the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “looking unto Jesus;” and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward. “From strength to strength go on; Wrestle, and fight, and pray, Tread all the powers of darkness down, And win the well-fought day.”

“Good Master.”

Matthew 19:16

If the young man in the gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, how much more fitly may I thus address him! He is indeed my Master in both senses, a ruling Master and a teaching Master. I delight to run upon his errands, and to sit at his feet. I am both his servant and his disciple, and count it my highest honour to own the double character. If he should ask me why I call him “good,” I should have a ready answer. It is true that “there is none good but one, that is, God,” but then he is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines forth in him. In my experience, I have found him good, so good, indeed, that all the good I have has come to me through him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for he raised me by his Spirit’s power; he has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. Never could there be a better Master, for his service is freedom, his rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When he teaches me as my Rabbi, he is unspeakably good, his doctrine is divine, his manner is condescending, his spirit is gentleness itself. No error mingles with his instruction—pure is the golden truth which he brings forth, and all his teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels find him a good Master and delight to pay their homage at his footstool. The ancient saints proved him to be a good Master, and each of them rejoiced to sing, “I am thy servant, O Lord!” My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will bear this witness before my friends and neighbours, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Master. O that they would do so! They would never repent so wise a deed. If they would but take his easy yoke, they would find themselves in so royal a service that they would enlist in it forever.

Currently feeling: blah

 1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

 4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

 7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

 8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

 11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

 13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

 14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

 16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

 21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

 22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

when everything seems so slow

everyone seems to be busy with themselves or just plain hibernating like me

no more interesting or controversial blog posts (and so I want to start one)

no more high quality new kdramas (and so I've started watching Hwang Jin Yi on Indosiar memang untuk anda, with all its pessimistic aura hanging over the scenes, knowing that Jin Yi's important lovers are going to die or go away anyway. jang geun suk seriously needs to be paired up with a woman of his age, 27 and 19 is quite something. the same thing happened between him and Sung Yuri in Hong Gil Dong. There must be a special kind of attractiveness in these older women, maturity is something to be thankful for as we grow older.)

the sinetrons are highly rubbish as they keep on repeating old plots to longer the series

I seriously cannot find any work to do at the moment

and i just want to hibernate...can I?

and wake me up when June ends.

this is why, when I look back again to schooldays, I should be thankful that after this I will only have 18 days of leave. seriously, any longer than that, holidays is neither fruitful nor pleasant.

Currently feeling: waiting

 1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

 3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

 4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

 5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

 7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

 9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

 11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

 12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

 13The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

 14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

 15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

 16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

 18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

 19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

 20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

 21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

 22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

 25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

 27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

 28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

 29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

 30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

 31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

 32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

 33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

 34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

 35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

 36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

 37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

 38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

 39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

 40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

tiba saatnya kita saling bicara
tentang perasaan yang kian menyiksa
tentang rindu yang menggebu
tentang cinta yang tak terungkap

sudah terlalu lama kita berdiam
tenggelam dalam gelisah yang tak teredam
memenuhi mimpi-mimpimu malam kita

reff:
duhai cintaku, sayangku, lepaskanlah
perasaanmu, rindumu, seluruh cintamu
dan kini hanya ada aku dan dirimu
sesaat di keabadian

jika sang waktu kita hentikan
dan segala mimpi-mimpi jadi kenyataan
meleburkan semua batas
antara kau dan aku, kita

repeat reff

Currently feeling: happy for a friend

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

 1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

 2I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

 3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

 4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

 5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

 6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

 7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

 8Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

 9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

 10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

 11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

 12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

 13O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

O taste and see that the LORD is good...this is reflection of the day, I sincerely thank God that I was given the chance to speak of what God has done to me until this far to my family. A few listened, most of them reproached because the wicked never likes their sinful deeds being exposed...but I'm really thankful

 1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

 2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

 3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

 4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

 5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

 6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

 7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

 8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

 9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

 10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

 11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

 12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

 13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

 14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

 15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

 16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

 17But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Currently feeling: joyful

107:1. Bersyukurlah kepada TUHAN, sebab Ia baik! Bahwasanya untuk selama-lamanya kasih setia-Nya.
107:2 Biarlah itu dikatakan orang-orang yang ditebus TUHAN, yang ditebus-Nya dari kuasa yang menyesakkan,
107:3 yang dikumpulkan-Nya dari negeri-negeri, dari timur dan dari barat, dari utara dan dari selatan.
107:4 Ada orang-orang yang mengembara di padang belantara, jalan ke kota tempat kediaman orang tidak mereka temukan;
107:5 mereka lapar dan haus, jiwa mereka lemah lesu di dalam diri mereka.
107:6 Maka berseru-serulah mereka kepada TUHAN dalam kesesakan mereka, dan dilepaskan-Nya mereka dari kecemasan mereka.
107:7 Dibawa-Nya mereka menempuh jalan yang lurus, sehingga sampai ke kota tempat kediaman orang.
107:8 Biarlah mereka bersyukur kepada TUHAN karena kasih setia-Nya, karena perbuatan-perbuatan-Nya yang ajaib terhadap anak-anak manusia,
107:9 sebab dipuaskan-Nya jiwa yang dahaga, dan jiwa yang lapar dikenyangkan-Nya dengan kebaikan.

107:10. Ada orang-orang yang duduk di dalam gelap dan kelam, terkurung dalam sengsara dan besi.
107:11 Karena mereka memberontak terhadap perintah-perintah Allah, dan menista nasihat Yang Mahatinggi,
107:12 maka ditundukkan-Nya hati mereka ke dalam kesusahan, mereka tergelincir, dan tidak ada yang menolong.
107:13 Maka berseru-serulah mereka kepada TUHAN dalam kesesakan mereka, dan diselamatkan-Nyalah mereka dari kecemasan mereka,
107:14 dibawa-Nya mereka keluar dari dalam gelap dan kelam, dan diputuskan-Nya belenggu-belenggu mereka.
107:15 Biarlah mereka bersyukur kepada TUHAN karena kasih setia-Nya, karena perbuatan-perbuatan-Nya yang ajaib terhadap anak-anak manusia,
107:16 sebab dipecahkan-Nya pintu-pintu tembaga, dan dihancurkan-Nya palang-palang pintu besi.

107:17. Ada orang-orang menjadi sakit oleh sebab kelakuan mereka yang berdosa, dan disiksa oleh sebab kesalahan-kesalahan mereka;
107:18 mereka muak terhadap segala makanan dan mereka sudah sampai pada pintu gerbang maut.
107:19 Maka berseru-serulah mereka kepada TUHAN dalam kesesakan mereka, dan diselamatkan-Nya mereka dari kecemasan mereka,
107:20 disampaikan-Nya firman-Nya dan disembuhkan-Nya mereka, diluputkan-Nya mereka dari liang kubur.
107:21 Biarlah mereka bersyukur kepada TUHAN karena kasih setia-Nya, karena perbuatan-perbuatan-Nya yang ajaib terhadap anak-anak manusia.
107:22 Biarlah mereka mempersembahkan korban syukur, dan menceritakan pekerjaan-pekerjaan-Nya dengan sorak-sorai!

107:23. Ada orang-orang yang mengarungi laut dengan kapal-kapal, yang melakukan perdagangan di lautan luas;
107:24 mereka melihat pekerjaan-pekerjaan TUHAN, dan perbuatan-perbuatan-Nya yang ajaib di tempat yang dalam.
107:25 Ia berfirman, maka dibangkitkan-Nya angin badai yang meninggikan gelombang-gelombangnya.
107:26 Mereka naik sampai ke langit dan turun ke samudera raya, jiwa mereka hancur karena celaka;
107:27 mereka pusing dan terhuyung-huyung seperti orang mabuk, dan kehilangan akal.
107:28 Maka berseru-serulah mereka kepada TUHAN dalam kesesakan mereka, dan dikeluarkan-Nya mereka dari kecemasan mereka,
107:29 dibuat-Nyalah badai itu diam, sehingga gelombang-gelombangnya tenang.
107:30 Mereka bersukacita, sebab semuanya reda, dan dituntun-Nya mereka ke pelabuhan kesukaan mereka.
107:31 Biarlah mereka bersyukur kepada TUHAN karena kasih setia-Nya, karena perbuatan-perbuatan-Nya yang ajaib terhadap anak-anak manusia.
107:32 Biarlah mereka meninggikan Dia dalam jemaat umat itu, dan memuji-muji Dia dalam majelis para tua-tua.

107:33. Dibuat-Nya sungai-sungai menjadi padang gurun, dan pancaran-pancaran air menjadi tanah gersang,
107:34 tanah yang subur menjadi padang asin, oleh sebab kejahatan orang-orang yang diam di dalamnya.
107:35 Dibuat-Nya padang gurun menjadi kolam air, dan tanah kering menjadi pancaran-pancaran air.
107:36 Ditempatkan-Nya di sana orang-orang lapar, dan mereka mendirikan kota tempat kediaman;
107:37 mereka menabur di ladang-ladang dan membuat kebun-kebun anggur, yang mengeluarkan buah-buahan sebagai hasil.
107:38 Diberkati-Nya mereka sehingga mereka bertambah banyak dengan sangat, dan hewan-hewan mereka tidak dibuat-Nya berkurang.
107:39 Tetapi mereka menjadi berkurang dan membungkuk oleh sebab tekanan celaka dan duka.
107:40 Ditumpahkan-Nya kehinaan ke atas orang-orang terkemuka, dan dibuat-Nya mereka mengembara di padang tandus yang tiada jalan;
107:41 tetapi orang miskin dibentengi-Nya terhadap penindasan, dan dibuat-Nya kaum-kaum mereka seperti kawanan domba banyaknya.
107:42 Orang-orang benar melihatnya, lalu bersukacita, tetapi segala kecurangan tutup mulut.
107:43 Siapa yang mempunyai hikmat? Biarlah ia berpegang pada semuanya ini, dan memperhatikan segala kemurahan TUHAN.

P.S. Today my housemaid shared with me how she came to know and like reading the Bible eventhough she is(or was, I dunno) a Moslem. One day, her ex-boss was hospitalized. When he felt very restless and anxious because of his illness, she offered to read the Bible for him.  Normally in Indo, both the Bible (New Testament) and Q'an are readily available on the desk by the hospital-bedside. She told me honestly the reason she did that was because it's easier to read the Bible since it's readily in Bahasa than to read Q'an, which is in Arabic. She said her boss became peaceful after she read The Word to him. Afterward, her boss went to church regularly to know more about Christianity (I dunno whether he eventually becomes a Christian or not). And she herself is really keen to know more about it, although there's still some hurdle because her husband forbids her to go to church. But I believe that if she is really seeking the Lord now (which I believe so), He will eventually grant her that real joy and satisfaction in Him. I am indeed amazed by the great and unpredictable ways that God uses to reveal himself to His people. It is really really amazing how these people come to know Jesus Christ.

Currently feeling: amazed

Currently feeling: ough

http://www.esnips.com/doc/f7162a5a-2623-4ea4-862c-224d3b90740a/menjaga-hati---yovie-n-the-nuno

I will never forget how God works in my life and so many others through NUS-ISCF. Praise the Lord for His works through student ministries =)

btw, I just found out that inobscuro.com is a great resource for webdesign tutorials, brushes, templates, etc. so is skyefairy.net. Beautiful photos.

Currently feeling: =)

http://www.esnips.com/doc/3c94f248-5f68-443b-b1c2-4d622eae1d62/Andra-The-Backbone-Main-Hati

http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=pr&chapter=31&verse=8

I think it's a must read for every female believer...

what is this kind of talent? pardon me if I cannot explain it too well. however, some people (e.g. like me, ehhm...) have that uncanny ability to see within the exterior outlook of people. I would say it is more of a technique than a talent. attention to details helps a lot though. is it mere feelings or sixth sense? i can say so if I just know the person for a few days. but body language matters. after all, it is not just a saying that your eyes are the window of your soul/heart. often, as a third person, i can see who is liking who. and sometimes, as a second person too. be careful not to speculate things too much though. you can always guess what another person might be feeling at a certain time but you can't say that your prediction is 100% true. some people don't exhibit body languages as clearly as others too. don't waste your time trying to "read" them. for this kind, you have to be their friend to know their habit, real personality etc.

now, on the subject of seeing whether what a person is saying/doing is sincere/insincere. some people really have no idea on this matter, pardon me to say this. but probably they do not really listen to specific details. again, body language matters again. but this time, I have to say that every word matters. whether words said in formal situations or in very casual circumstances. when their words contradict each other when put in different kinds of situations, you usually can tell that there is at least something wrong with a person. the same "guideline" applies to actions.  

just now i attended a reception of a relative from my father's side. got reminded again of the glamour, the glitz, and the superficiality. i've never seen a bride wearing her hair totally straight up until now. i think i wanna be one if i got the chance. it's low maintenance and super hip too. but then i dunno how to wear the veil that way...somehow i still think it's possible.

why the heavy makeup as well?

there were so many pictures. and i still don't get it why couples want to take wedding photos with forest and paddy field backgrounds :s I get it if it's a beach background. but somehow, it's just wrong when a bride and a groom somehow go into the forest in their wedding attire.

and the wedding singers too. i hate it when people who don't really understand chinese sing chinese. it's too irritating. they should have opted for english songs for the guests' sake.

the uncomfortable expressions of the groom and the bride who have to talk wishy washy to their guests, taking pictures with so many people they probably don't even know exist. overall, things done just for the sake of the pride of the family who hold the wedding is just so useless and vain.

 

Currently feeling: arr

God the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

    1^(A)The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken,
         And summoned the earth ^(B)from the rising of the sun to its setting.
    2Out of Zion, ^(C)the perfection of beauty,
         God ^(D)has shone forth.
    3May our God ^(E)come and not keep silence;
         ^(F)Fire devours before Him,
         And it is very ^(G)tempestuous around Him.
    4He ^(H)summons the heavens above,
         And the earth, to judge His people:
    5"Gather My ^(I)godly ones to Me,
         Those who have made a ^(J)covenant with Me by ^(K)sacrifice."
    6And the ^(L)heavens declare His righteousness,
         For ^(M)God Himself is judge. Selah.
    7"^(N)Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
         O Israel, I will testify against you;
         I am God, ^(O)your God.
    8"I do ^(P)not reprove you for your sacrifices,
         And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
    9"I shall take no ^(Q)young bull out of your house
         Nor male goats out of your folds.
    10"For ^(R)every beast of the forest is Mine,
         The cattle on a thousand hills.
    11"I know every ^(S)bird of the mountains,
         And everything that moves in the field is ^[a]Mine.
    12"If I were hungry I would not tell you,
         For the ^(T)world is Mine, and all it contains.
    13"Shall I eat the flesh of ^(U)bulls
         Or drink the blood of male goats?
    14"Offer to God ^(V)a sacrifice of thanksgiving
         And ^(W)pay your vows to the Most High;
    15^(X)Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
         I shall ^(Y)rescue you, and you will ^(Z)honor Me."
    16But to the wicked God says,
         "What right have you to tell of My statutes
         And to take ^(AA)My covenant in your mouth?
    17"For you ^(AB)hate discipline,
         And you ^(AC)cast My words behind you.
    18"When you see a thief, you ^(AD)are pleased with him,
         And you ^(AE)associate with adulterers.
    19"You ^(AF)let your mouth loose in evil
         And your ^(AG)tongue frames deceit.
    20"You sit and ^(AH)speak against your brother;
         You slander your own mother's son.
    21"These things you have done and ^(AI)I kept silence;
         You thought that I was just like you;
         I will ^(AJ)reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
    22"Now consider this, you who ^(AK)forget God,
         Or I will ^(AL)tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
    23"He who ^(AM)offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
         And to him who ^(AN)orders his way aright
         I shall ^(AO)show the salvation of God."

Psalm 50 in one of the most interesting of the Psalms. It is written like a lawsuit and may be entitled, “The LORD’s case against His people.”

It is a suit against His people primarily. But as the apostle Peter reminds us:

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1Pt 4:17).

God’s judgement against Jerusalem and Israel is a figure and harbinger of His judgement against the world.

This Psalm is therefore a passionate call, given by the King of the Church and the Judge of the World— to the church and to the world to wake up from our slumber and to live for the LORD. For who is the judge, but the Lord Himself: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” says our Lord (Jn 5:22).

This Psalm begins with a picture of the courtroom in which the charges are filed (v. 1-6). This is followed by the charges against God’s people who are still willing to listen to Him but have grown complacent (v. 7-15). And finally, there is a charge against those who have grown hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (v. 16-23).

Let’s look at these 3 parts.

1. The Courtroom Scene

As we enter into this Psalm, we enter into a courtroom. Let us read the introduction to the case being heard:

¹ The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

The case being heard concerns the entire world. The charges are directed against the church. But the world,—as it lies from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof,— must take heed.

Judgement will proceed from Zion, but the Judge is the God of glory before whom all the world should tremble:

² Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. ³ Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

This is the Judge, great in glory, mighty in power. As the Judge enters into the courtroom, let us bow in humble adoration and fear. Listen, the Judge is calling the court into Session:

⁴ He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

This is a courtroom of cosmic proportion. It is a case of cosmic implications. Who are the plaintiff and the defendant?

Here are the defendants:

⁵ Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

God’s covenant people are the defendants. Who are those who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice? It is all who were circumcised in the old covenant. So the defendants are the visible people of God. Today, the visible people of God are the church—believers and their children, bearing the sign of the covenant, which today is baptism.

Who is the plaintiff or complainant? Who is filing the lawsuit against the church? Verse 6—

 ⁶ And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.

God is the judge! So the heavens are the plaintiff. The heavens are bringing the charges against the people on behalf of the Lord.

Of course, this is a metaphorical picture. The idea is that God has a very serious charge against His people. He is bringing this charge against them in a former way.

Let us consider first, His plea of charge against the complacent:

2. A Plea to the Complacent

What is the LORD’s charge against the people who have become complacent?

⁷ Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. ⁸ I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.…

The charge is that the people had become legalistic and superstitious in their relationship with God.

Consciously or unconsciously, they had begun to relate to God as if they are doing Him a favour when they worship Him. They are feeding a hungry god, with their sacrifices, they seem to think.

But every beast of the forest belongs to God and He owns the cattle upon a thousand hills (v. 9-11). All that the people offer in sacrifice belong to Him. How foolish for the people to think that they are doing God a favour. And how foolish for them to think that God needs them. God does not get hungry. He has no need. God is being sarcastic when He says “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee…” (v. 12).

Beloved brethren and children, I wonder how many of us have this false notion about God—that He needs our worship or our money or our talents.

Make no mistake. God does not need us. He does not need you. Neither does He need me. He does not need our talents, or our money, or our time. Let none of us entertain this false notion that we are doing God a favour when we serve Him.

No, no; when we serve Him, it is a privilege.  And let none of us entertain this false notion that we need to pay for God’s blessing by serving or by giving our tithes.

No, no; that is not the Christian life. This is precisely what God is seeking to correct in His suit against Israel and against us!

God wants us to serve Him gratefully as a people who love him and cheerfully keep our vows unto Him. Look at verse 14—

 ¹⁴ Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: ¹⁵ And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

God is pleased with those who serve Him and who return their tithes and offering to Him, but His pleasure is not in their giving or service. It is rather in their gratitude and love for Him. Paul says:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2Cor 9:7).

God will bless. He will deliver us out of trouble that we may glorify Him not because He owes us anything and certainly not because we can do Him any favour.

He will bless us in His love. He will reciprocate our love for Him. For indeed, we love Him because He first loved us.

Let us, dearly beloved brethren and children, disabuse our minds of the idolatrous notion of a God who needs us. Let us rather serve Him gratefully and cheerfully as a privilege rather than as a favour to the Lord.

But is there anyone who does not even care about the LORD? Is there anyone who says in his heart, there is no God? Is there anyone who is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin?

Listen to His plea to you.

3. A Plea to the Hardened

¹⁶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? ¹⁷ Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

4

What is the charge? The charge is that those who are the wicked amongst God’s people are simply hypocrites—whited sepulchres. They speak about the law of God. They proclaim to be in the covenant or being God’s people. But in reality they hate biblical instruction and cast God’s words behind them.

I trust that if you have a mind to read up to this point that you probably do not have such an attitude. But if you have somehow gone off-tangent and you perceive that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, then you must wake up from your slumber.

If you despise the instruction from the Word of God, if like the Thessalonians, you reject the Word of God, and cast it behind you, or let it fall to the ground, then you must seriously go to the Lord in humble repentance.

Do not continue to fool yourself. You may fool man, but you can never fool God. He sees the depth of your heart. He is not blind to your hypocrisy. The fact that He has not dealt with you does not mean that He is unaware or that He does not care.

In fact, this is precisely what the LORD wants you to know. The fact that your sin does not bother you does not mean that God is not concerned about it. Do not think that God is like you.

You may see someone stealing something and it does not shock you. In fact, you may even join him if the opportunity arises (v. 18). Or you hear someone speak about his fornication and adultery and instead of being shocked, you indulge in the story. Or you may use deception and slander freely (v. 19-20).

You may imagine that since God did not deal with you for these, that He must think like you that these are inconsequential.

But this is far from the reality:

²¹ These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

The wicked, especially among professing believers who are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, tend to create an idol in their mind. They begin to imagine how God must view their sin according to how they themselves view it with all their excuses.

But the day will come when God will set them straight. That day may be too late for repentance.

Therefore, let us, while there is yet time for repentance wake up from our slumber and remember God:

 ²² Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

If you love not the Lord, and therefore do not serve Him with gratitude, you must fear Him for His wrath, for He will call you to account for your life one day. May this thought shut you up to Christ to seek salvation in Him.

Conclusion

The LORD has spoken. His charge sheet has been read. The heavens bear testimony of what has been spoken.

What shall we do?

Have you, beloved brethren and children, become complacent?  Is your Christianity an outward religiosity, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof? Is your worship and attendance at the ordinances formal and mechanical?

Will you not humbly examine your heart once again? Are you serving to please men? Are you doing what you do as a believer only because it is expected of you? Are you doing what you do in the hope that God will overlook your secret sins?

Or are you serving Him out of gratitude and love? Oh will you not take time to be alone with the LORD, to ask the LORD to change your perspective and attitude. Don’t allow yourself to continue to serve the Lord legalistically when you can truly enjoy serving Him with joy and gratitude.

And is there anyone of us, hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and living a hypocritical life? Oh will you not repent of your hardness and unbelief? Will you not disabuse your mind of the idol that you have made God to be? God is not like you. He is great and holy. He will not tolerate sin. But He is full of compassion and mercy. How else can we interpret God’s provision of His Son to suffer and die for our sin that we might enjoy His Fatherly fellowship? God is not like us. He will not overlook sin. In order that He might forgive us and receive us into His fellowship, He paid for our sin. Mercy and justice kissed each other at the cruel Cross for our redemption.

Shall we not, beloved brethren and children, seek to serve Him with our lips, our hearts, and with our lives? This Psalm ends beautifully with the words:

²³ Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Those who worship the LORD in sincerity, and live for His glory will know the salvation of God. They will persevere unto the day of everlasting rest when they will glorify and enjoy God without any hindrance of sin or sinners.

May the Lord grant us the help of His Spirit to offer praise in our lips, our hearts and our lives. Let us by His grace, seek to live gratefully for Him in imitation of and in gratitude towards Him whose body was broken and blood was shed for us. Amen.

—JJ Lim

http://www.pilgrimcovenant.com/publication/main_articles/2008/wklyArt_080601.htm

 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

 19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

i have much to learn. i am a loser compared to many people =D yeah

“Help, Lord.”

Psalm 12:1

The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication—when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word “help” is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner.

The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of “Help, Lord,” to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the turn of needy souls. “Help, Lord,” will suit us living and dying, suffering or labouring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In him our help is found, let us not be slack to cry to him.

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord’s character assures us that he will not leave his people; his relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us his aid; his gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and his sure promise stands, “Fear not, I will help thee.”

i've been wondering...

what is it that makes a relationship so tick? 8 years, without common goals? without any future directions? if it could be one thing, it can only be God's grace.

how can a girl be so proud of her relationships history? the more boyfriends she has had in the past, the prouder she is. this also I can never understand.

what is it that makes many guys that I know (esp. from sby) cannot lead at all, specifically in making decisions. whether is it yes or no. apparently, these guys want the girls to make the final decisions. i have to admit though, girls are good at organizing events (heheh cth: event2 macam arisan teman2 tk/sd/smp/sma, so narsis i know). and it's easier to ask out the guys than the girls. girls tend to have many more appointments in general, with broader range of social circles and acquaintances.

how can a person be so indecisive as to decide to eat somewhere, and change her mind again on the next minute...i'm not this kind of girl, this one i know for sure, unless i'm on my own for the day. maybe, it's easier to decide things when there are many people going with you, the fewer the choices since it's easier to eliminate impossible ones.

what do nonbelievers/worldly christians think about when they're out from the university?

 

 

 

this is my cousin from an uncle from my dad's side, Mya. She's 7 years old and is half Japanese. She really looks like her Japanese mom. Not too pretty, but photogenic =) So on updates from me, I fell sick 2 days ago. Got a fever, so my mom didn't let me go online for too long. Eyes were sore and nastily warm. My family suspected me for catching dengue fever like my brother. But it wasn't. I met my uncle and aunt's family from Japan on the same day. I didn't meet my youngest cousin though, who is still under 5 years old. Her name is Emma. she's chubbier than her older sister. So for now, I will just rest and relax so that I won't get sick anymore until the tour departure day. Will post pics and blog all about the tour...Have a nice holiday everyone =D and happy working for those who are working currently =)

where did the purely sappy and romantic love songs go? (not that I'm a fanatic, but I just want a contrast)

only to be replaced by those lust-themed hiphop songs

where did the conservatives go?

only to be replaced by those who want to accomodate to the wants of majority

I certainly miss the era: when men were still men, women were still virgins, and sex was still sexy. (secara mengutip clipnya "Bop bop baby", it's good isn't it?)

But really, those men and women and such marriages are particularly rare nowadays...in the strictest sense possible.

The world needs Christians with their steadfast biblical principle. Most importantly, the world needs the Lord.

1. people should have more confidence when they should. like this, they only need to analyze the situation carefully.

2. I got quite irritated when i spoke one line, and the other person already bombarded me with 5 lines or so. this is why i'm glad to be a good listener, cos there're few people who are.

3. when i dream (literal dream) about something very absurd, usually I can only expect the opposite. the dream will never ever come true, whether it's good or bad. 

4. i have also realized that the ability to sympathize with other people (to put yourself in another's shoes) is also found only in very few percentage of all the people i know.

Currently feeling: morning mood

I'm back...

and dead tired as a living zombie right now...

so...maybe...if time permits,

I'll write all about it tommorow...

hopefully... =)

overall impression,

it's a priceless experience,

the responsible + funny + caring + understanding (+ lame too) bapak dan ibu tour leader + guide,

the friends made (the ibu2, ABG2, bapak, bobo2),

the super nice photographer and bus driver,

the sceneries,

the impatient and ppareun (read: FAST) people of RoK,

the magic of dramas,

the bad shopping places,

Everland & Tigerworld,

the foods (both good and bad),

the sweet Seoul, the Korean culture (from kimchi to hanbok and sad stories), the Shinheungsa temple (which i somehow didn't get into =p)...

it's been a-great-holiday-out for me personally =) Untuk tour yang berjudul "Romantic Korea" ini, Kapasan Express from Surabaya is highly recommended (Y) TOP deh pokoknya. Hopefully they can come up with a spring-themed Jeju island one in the future, that'd be perfect.

thank God for everything...

ok better stop now, i'm feeling very dizzy and tired that I need to zzz

Currently feeling: tired

Kami (baca: aku dan mamaku) tiba di airport jam 6.15 dan segera bertemu dengan rombongan tour Kapasan. Naik pesawat ke Hongkong selama 4 jam, free time 2 jam di airport Hongkong, kemudian dilanjutkan dengan naik pesawat ke Incheon airport selama 3 jam. Setelah tiba di Korea, sudah capek sekali rasanya.

Incheon international airport

First impression: Incheon airport biasa-biasa saja. Apalagi waktu itu hari sudah malam sekitar jam 9.30 PM. Karena terlalu antusias, saya dan mama pergi meninggalkan rombongan secara tidak sadar. Bukannya kumpul dulu tapi malah pergi cepat-cepat ke bagian arrival sambil foto2. Setelah kami sadar sudah meninggalkan rombongan, langsung panik. Saya ingin kembali ke atas untuk menemui rombongan, tapi ternyata tidak ada eskalator ke atas :s Lalu bertemu petugas airport orang Korea, kami berusaha menjelaskan keadaan ketika ditanya ada apa ribut-ribut, dengan bahasa Inggris. Tapi orang ini kelihatannya agak bingung yah, jadi dia hanya menyarankan kami masuk subway train untuk ke bagian imigrasi dengan bahasa Inggris yang pas-pasan. Syukurlah, akhirnya kami bertemu dengan rombongan Kapasan express setelah beberapa menit menunggu.

another impression, orang Korea sangat-sangat tertib mengikuti aturan dan adat istiadat. Jadi bila Anda berada di negara ini, pastikan jangan sampai Anda membawa masuk kebiasaan buruk dari budaya Indonesia yah. Saran yang lain, bila Anda bisa mengerti dan berbicara sedikit saja frase bahasa Korea yang penting-penting, akan sangat membantu perjalanan Anda di negara ini. Karena orang Korea kebanyakan Inggrisnya pas-pasan dan mereka akan mengalami kesulitan untuk mengerti bila Anda menggunakan bahasa Inggris yang terlalu cheem. Agaknya mereka juga akan melayani Anda dengan lebih senang hati bila Anda menggunakan bahasa Korea. Maklum nasionalisme mereka cukup tinggi.

Setelah mengambil bagasi dengan trolley yang berat (jauh lebih berat dari trolley yang biasa kita pakai di Singapore), kami bertemu dengan Ibu Rose Lee. Dia orang Korea yang pernah tinggal di Bandung selama 3 tahun, jadi lumayan bisa menggunakan bahasa Indonesia dengan lancar. Dia orangnya rucu dan sabar sekali, matanya sipit dan rambut keriting (ala ibu-ibu Korea tentunya) suka bergoyang-goyang kalo menganggukkan kepala.

Rombongan kami terdiri dari 17 orang, 8 orang dari Merauke, propinsi Papua dan 9 orang dari Surabaya. Sebagian besar adalah ibu-ibu dan anak-anaknya yang berkisar antara 10-18 tahun. Bapak-bapak hanya 1 yang ikut, karena yang lain ngakunya harus bekerja. Tour leader kami dari Surabaya bernama Halim. Dia sangat pengertian dan memperhatikan kami semua, selayaknya induk ayam dan anak-anaknya.

Setelah cek in ke hotel Best Western Premiere di Incheon, kami segera beristirahat.

Best western 1
Best western 2
Incheon 1

Setelah bangun pagi dan menikmati sarapan buffet ala carte di hotel, kami pun berangkat dengan naik bus ke tempat shooting Dae Jang Geum, yang disebut juga Dae Jang Geum Theme Park. Perjalanan memakan waktu sekitar 2 jam lebih. Sempet diputerin satu episode Dae Jang Geum juga di bus. Tempat shooting ini cukup luas, terdiri dari set up istana raja dan perkampungan dimana Jang geum kecil tinggal. Ini foto-foto yang berhasil saya ambil selama berada disana:

Dae Jang Geum 1
Dae Jang Geum 2
Dae Jang Geum 3
Dae Jang Geum 4
Dae Jang Geum 5
Dae Jang Geum 6
Dae Jang Geum 7
Dae Jang Geum 8
Dae Jang Geum 9

Setelah itu, kami makan siang ikan bakar dan nasi dari beras merah yang dipanaskan di dalam wadah yang terbuat dari batu. Seharusnya kerak nasi tidak dibuang dan dicampur air untuk menjadi bubur yang banyak mengandung vitamin B6,  tetapi ternyata bubur kami tidak jadi =/ Kami pun berkenalan dengan satu sama lain. Hari ini kami menjadi lebih dekat dengan Bu Gaby dan anaknya Elaine, Bu Sari dan Bu Erna (yang disebut soulmate karena mereka adalah sahabat dekat yang sering bepergian bersama-sama).

Tak terasa kami pun makan banyak sekali ikan sampai kenyang. Kemudian pergilah kami dengan bus ke pelabuhan kecil tempat perahu yang bisa berangkat ke Pulau Nami. Pulau Nami ini adalah tempat kuburan Jenderal Nami yang merupakan salah satu pahlawan dari Dinasti Joseon. Jenderal Nami adalah pahlawan yang sangat jago berperang. Namun sayangnya, dia difitnah oleh orang-orang yang iri kepada dia kalau-kalau dia hendak memberontak terhadap raja. Akhirnya dia dan keluarga dan pendukung2nya dihukum mati oleh raja. Sampai akhirnya bukti fitnahan terhadap Jenderal Nami ditemukan palsu dan Jenderal Nami pun diabadikan sebagai pahlawan.

Selain itu, Pulau Nami juga merupakan tempat shooting winter sonata, waktu musim gugur maupun musim dingin. Konon tokoh Bae Yong Joon dan Choi Ji Woo membuat dua boneka salju kecil yang berciuman disana...lalu, mudah ditebak ya, keduanya pun ada adegan first kiss di tempat ini.

Di Pulau Nami ada danau dan orang yang naik speedboat, jetski, ada poster-poster yang berisikan cerpen anak2, ada patung bae yong joon dan choi ji woo, ada patung-patung boneka salju, dan burung unta pun  juga ada. Disini juga digantung kemeja-kemeja putih yang konon melambangkan orang-orang yang sedang melepas stres disini. Lucunya lagi, di hutan yang banyak pohon cemaranya (di dalam pulau), dipasang musik instrumental winter sonata, haha...iya jadi serasa sedang di filmnya saja. Pssst...Rose Lee bilang ke saya, lain kali dateng ke sini lagi aja, namja chingu hago (with boyfriend) hahah =P

Foto-foto di Nami Island:

Nami 1 (ada rombongan tur saya sebagian besar di foto ini =P)
Nami 2
Nami 3
Nami 4
Nami 5
Nami 6
Nami 7
Nami 8
Nami 9
Nami 10

Seusai berfoto-foto dan berjalan-jalan di hutan ini, kami pun makan malam teppanyaki ayam dan nasi goreng yang agak basah di dekat tempat tadi. Agaknya tidak sesuai dengan selera sebagian orang yang berasal dari Surabaya. Sempat vomit juga pas perjalanan di bus, syukurlah ada kantong kresek yang sudah disediakan pihak tour. Perjalanan sangat jauh sekitar 2 jam setengah melewati jalan di pegunungan yang berkelok-kelok. Dalam perjalanan, Bu Rose Lee terus-menerus bercerita tentang wajib militer di Korea yang membuat saya cukup pusing (literally) =p

Lega sekali rasanya sesampai di Vivaldi Park resort. Tempat ini adalah tempat bermain ski yang cukup besar pada waktu musim dingin, sehingga pemandangan di tempat ini juga cukup indah. Di basement juga ada supermarket yang cukup besar buka 24 jam. Hotelnya sebenarnya bukan berupa hotel, melainkan hostel yang sangat convenient (ada kompor, alat makan, jemuran, meja makan, dll). Ada juga bantal yang berisi kulit kacang di sini, sangat nyaman karena bisa memperlancar peredaran darah dari kepala sampai punggung. Kami pun cepat tertidur dengan lelap sampai keesokan harinya.

Nyenyak sekali tidur semalam, kami pun bangun pagi dan breakfast di hotel seperti biasa. Selanjutnya, kami melihat-lihat komplex Vivaldi Park yang cukup indah. Disana banyak anak-anak kecil dari sekolah yang sedang ada field trip juga. Taman yang besar di tempat ini seperti taman bunga di film Alice in Wonderland, kesannya seperti semua bunga ada disini, kecuali "daisy"...

Vivaldi 1
Vivaldi 2
Vivaldi 3
Vivaldi 4
Vivaldi 5
Vivaldi 6

Dari Vivaldi Park, kami pun berangkat ke Gunung Sorak. Perjalanan memakan waktu 2 setengah jam juga. Sebelum tiba di sana, kami makan siang daging babi dan cumi-cumi panggang. Karena konon dekat pantai, cumi-cuminya cukup segar. Wuah taman nasional Sorak san ini (san berarti gunung, seperti bahasa mandarin yah) sangat sangat indah dan dilindungi oleh UNESCO. Disini udaranya sangat sejuk. Setelah melewati taman, kami pun naik cable car ke Gunung Soraknya sendiri. Indah sekali lho pemandangan dari cable car, meski bersesak2an sekalipun. Ada aliran sungai yang kelihatan jernih sekali dari atas. Sesampainya di post yang ada di gunung, kami pun mendaki ke atas. Perjalanan cukup panjang melewati batu-batuan yang sedikit licin. Dengan penuh kesabaran, orang-orang yang muda membantu membimbing yang tua dari depan. Akhirnya hampir semua dari rombongan kami bisa naik ke puncak gunung yang indah sekali. Rasanya senaaaaang =) Kami pun bisa foto pemandangan2 yang sangat berkesan dari tempat yang tinggi ini. Disini juga ada bagian gunung yang kelihatan mirip beruang katanya. Itulah sebabnya ada patung beruang di depan taman nasional ini. Konon di hutan yang ada di bawah gunung ini, banyak tinggal beruang juga. Kalau pas musim dingin diberi makan lewat helikopter dari atas, bisa kelihatan beruangnya lho. Sayangnya sekarang bukan musim dingin yah.

Sorak 1
Sorak 2
Sorak 3
Sorak 4
Sorak 5
Sorak 6
Sorak 7
Sorak 8
Sorak 9

Oh ya, disini juga banyak squirrelnya lho, coklat bergaris-garis kuning. Mereka lucu, gerakannya cepat, tapi tidak takut manusia. Malahan kebanyakan pengen deket-deket ke manusianya, sehingga anak2 kecil berlari-lari dan teriak-teriak menjauh dari mereka =P lol

Lalu setelah itu, kami pergi ke Shinheungsa temple. Di dekat kuil ini ada patung Buddha raksasa yang biasa disembah orang-orang yang lewat daerah ini. Kebetulan orang-orang yang dari Merauke di rombongan tour kami adalah penganut agama Budha, sehingga mereka ikut sembahyang. Ada juga jembatan untuk membersihkan hati sebelum masuk ke kuil. Konon kuilnya pernah rusak saat ada typhoon di Korea Selatan, sehingga mereka sedang menggalang bantuan dana untuk memperbaikinya. Bila menyumbang 10000 won, 1 orang boleh menulis permohonannya di sebuah genteng berwarna hitam dan dipajang disana.

Ada juga mitos yang lucu, tentu saja saya tidak ikut-ikutan =P bila membersihkan jalan yang menuju ke kuil dari kerikil supaya orang lain yang lewat tidak tersandung...lalu membuat tugu dari batu di sisi jalan, konon permohonan bisa terkabul -_-'' Akhirnya saya tidak ikut masuk ke wihara, karena wihara tersebut benar-benar khusus untuk orang yang ingin sembahyang. Beberapa orang Kristen dari rombongan kami tinggal di luar saja karena merasa sedikit tidak nyaman kalau harus masuk. Yah daripada jadi batu sandungan juga kan...

Setelah selesai tur hari ini, kami makan malam daging babi dan sup sayuran yang sedikit aneh rasanya di sebuah rumah makan kecil di pegunungan. Lalu sekitar jam 8 malam, kami sampai di hotel Dragon Valley, Yong Pyong resort yang cukup besar dan bagus. Di dekat hotel ini juga ada family mart dan PC bang (warung internet bahasa indonya). Udara di komplex Yongpyong ini jauh lebih dingin daripada di Sorak san, pakai jaket pun tidak cukup. Yongpyong juga sama seperti Vivaldi Park, tempat ski yang besar waktu musim dingin. Maskotnya yang berbentuk orang-orangan salju (mirip Plue) menghiasi hampir semua toko-toko kecil yang ada di sekitar tempat ini.

at Dragon Valley hotel
PC bang
patung Plue

Currently listening to: SHINee - Noona is so pretty (Replay)

Local guide kami mengatakan, bahwa kami sangat beruntung karena cuaca hari itu sangat cerah. Tidak ada angin kencang, sehingga kami bisa naik gondola ke atas tempat ski di Yongpyong resort ini, di mana cafe milik Bae Yong Joon dan Choi Ji Woo berada (dalam film tentunya). Untuk naik ke Dragon Peak ini, kami pun naik cable car kecil yang bisa diisi maks 8 orang. Perjalanan cukup lama sekitar 15 menit untuk sampai ke tempat tersebut. Dragon Peak ternyata sangat indah dan udara di sana pun sangat menyejukkan. Senang sekali melihat banyak bunga daisy yang ada disini ^_^

Setelah berfoto-foto dan berjalan-jalan di Dragon Peak selama 10 menit, kami harus segera naik bus karena jadwal hari ini cukup penuh. Maka kami pun dibawa ke tempat pembuatan kimchi untuk belajar dan mengetahui bagaimana kimchi biasanya disiapkan oleh orang Korea pada umumnya. Bahan-bahan untuk membuat kimchi cukup rumit, total ada 12 macam. Ada shrimp paste (kayak terasi), kucai, daun bawang, serbuk cabai merah, dan sebagainya. Selain itu, diperlukan waktu kira-kira 8 jam sebelum kubis korea (bechu) siap dibumbui dan disimpan di dalam kulkas khusus kimchi untuk memasuki proses fermentasi. Kami disediakan celemek (apron), sarung tangan plastik, kubis, dan bumbu kimchi yang sudah jadi. Ternyata untuk membumbui kubis ini cukup mudah. Yang penting tiap lapis dari kubis harus dibumbui dengan cukup banyak bumbu secara merata, kemudian digulung dan diikat dengan lapisan terluar. Penting juga meletakkan kimchi dengan "telentang" dan bukan "telungkup" agar air dari kubis ini sendiri tidak keluar semua. Air kubis ini penting untuk menjaga rasa kimchi agar tetap fresh.

Selesai membuat kimchi (dengan tidak bau ataupun kotor sama sekali), kami segera pergi memilih-milih hanbok untuk foto. Saya memilih hanbok berwarna pink terang (atasan) dan merah jambu (rok) agar tidak terkesan tua. Maklum, memang hanbok yang berwarna terang biasanya dipakai oleh anak kecil dan gadis-gadis sedangkan wanita-wanita paruh baya biasa memakai warna-warna hitam, merah tua, biru tua, dsb. Hiasan kepalanya cukup aneh dan sangat-sangat tidak cocok untuk saya pribadi. Hasil fotonya juga kurang baik karena hari itu cukup bloated dan mata panda sekali karena kurang tidur malam sebelumnya @_@

Selanjutnya, kami meneruskan perjalanan ke perkebunan melon kuning di dalam green house. Kami diperbolehkan masuk ke dalam untuk memetik 2 buah melon yang sudah berwarna kuning terang agak oranye (tandanya cukup matang untuk dimakan). Ternyata melon yang saya pilih biasa saja rasanya (manis dan sedikit asam).

Cukup sibuk bukan jadwal hari ini? Meskipun sibuk, tapi nampaknya rombongan cukup excited saat berangkat menuju Everland, taman bermain outdoor terbesar di Korea milik Samsung. Lalu kami segera menuju rumah makan yang ada di dalam Everland resort, makan daging babi panggang. Yah, langsung saja setelah itu masuk ke Everland. Sempat main ke taman safari melihat-lihat binatang2 hutan yang rucu-rucu, dari singa, harimau putih, harimau, beruang (ada seekor anak beruang yang sangat lucu juga, sayangnya tidak terfoto), zebra, gajah, dan lain-lain. Konon ada binatang yang disebut Liger (crossover between Lion and tiger) tapi hanya bisa dilihat mulai jam 5 PM saja karena cukup liar (yup, biasanya hewan crossover hasil manipulasi manusia cukup sulit dijinakkan  yak :s contoh: kuda-keledai). Beruang-beruang yang ada di taman safari sangat pintar, mereka bisa bergerak sesuai instruksi dari sopir bus (hanya menggunakan suara saja). Ada instruksi amitabha, sexy pose, annyeong, gara (bahasa indo: pergilah, gayanya mengusir orang tentunya), dan berjalan (one two, one two).

Setelah taman safari, kami semua naik juga amazon express (seperti arung jeram di dufan, tapi masih lebih serem di dufan karena bisa tersiram basah kuyup semua). Dalam amazon express, penumpang boleh menutup tubuh dengan selimut plastik yang sudah disediakan dalam perahu. Sehingga palingan yang basah hanya rambut saja. Main ke wahana 3D juga. Ada ceritanya dan tokoh-tokohnya cukup lucu, ada Snoger, Snoel, Lowa-lowa, Goldimong, dan lain-lain. Atraksi yang lumayan impresif di Everland adalah T-Express rollercoaster kayu besar dan tinggi yang baru saja dibuka (mau mati rasanya kalo naik, cepatttt sekali jalannya dan tinggi jurang-jurangnya) dan double rock spin, yang bisa dilihat disini:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCONtF4-9to&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvJ2INngwgg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaPVq7q0rq0&feature=related (1,2 bear and byebye bear so cute)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/plue31285/ever4.jpg (the sexy pose bear)

T-Express memiliki tebing dengan inklinasi 77 derajat, ngakunya tertinggi di dunia. Terpanjang secara nasional (3 menit, 1.641 m) dan tercepat juga secara nasional (104 km/h).

Sempat tersesat setelah naik double rock spin sama-sama Elaine soalnya mencari mama kami masing-masing, tapi akhirnya berhasil kumpul kembali di tempat semula. Total waktu bermain 5 jam (4-9 PM).

Setelah capek main-main di everland, kami pun menuju hotel La vie dor untuk beristirahat.