Blog-Interview

The Blog-interviews are taking place throughout Blogosphere. I first came across it at The Bilbe Archive when Rey was interviewed by Rebecca of Rebecca Writes. I decided to join in and invited Rey to interview me.

Here are the questions and answers:

1. Which verse(s) stand out as giving you personally the most comfort?

Many verses in the Bible offer comfort to me at different times in my spiritual walk. The ones that offer me the most comfort currently are those that reaffirms to me that the Creator of the Universe cares for us (me!) and promises never to leave or forsake us (me!). Imagine! Even the Lord Jesus in His experience on earth was not spared this devastating experience of being forsaken! Yet, He who was tempted and who has suffered in every way as we are, gives us this precious promise to be with us no matter what, no matter where!

Reading the Gospel stories, I draw the most comfort from the simple and short verse found in John 11, "Jesus wept." (verse 35). I have already posted on this passage, so I will only say here that what this verse tells me is that I have a Savior who is intimately involved with my life circumstances and although He knows all things, especially the end (and the final resolution of all things), He is involved in our situation right now, enough to be moved with compassion and to weep alongside us.

This is indeed amazing grace.

2. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Hah! Definitely a night owl! There are times when I have trained myself to get up in the morning, and even to be pumped up and motivated in the morning because of work situations. When I was managing a team of sales and customer service people, we used to have breakfast meetings every Monday at 7:30 a.m. (Who came up with such a crazy idea??), but I get really hyper, and excited when everyone has turned in at night, and I am alone in my own study, with my books, my computer, and my thoughts...

3. What’s the best thing about being a Dad?

The best thing is to be loved back! When my kids come to me and give me a hug, or when they tell me how their day has gone, and simply hanging out with my kids and chatting with them. Yesterday, my youngest came home from school and we took Elvis, our precocious little Shitzu for a walk and she gave me a blow-by-blow account of her day at school, and I felt on top of the world. I felt so privileged to be able to spend that time with her and decided that the recent laying off had some positives to it!

4. What’s the best fictional book you’ve ever read? >

That has to be Mammon, Inc. by Hwee Hwee Tan. I haven't read much fiction in a while, but when about two years ago I found Tan's Foreign Bodies and read it in over three evenings, and decided to get her second novel, which at the time was only available via Amazon UK site. When I received it, I read it in a day and a half!

Tan weaves a story of a young Christian graduate with a promising future in front of her having to face the difficult decision of what she ought to be doing after college. It is a Gen-X story par excellence, and I promise you once you get hit with the opening sentence you will not want to put it down.

Because the protagonist is a young woman from Singapore, but the setting of the book crosses continents, from the dusty halls of Oxford, to the shining lights of Manhattan, back to the hustle-bustle of Orchard Road, Singapore, you will find the craft of an artist as Tan deftly intermingles cross-cultural themes with veiled references to Star Wars to portray some very universal themes about life, decisions and consequences. In the midst of it all, Tan cleverly questions cultural beliefs and norms with wit and humor as she draws you into the challenges of a twenty-something up-and-comer in the world struggling between spiritual values and monetary success. Well, what more can I say? Go read it yourself!

5. Who are what are the Freo Dockers?

Ah, the Fremantle Dockers. The next great team of the Australian Football League. I used to attend every home game, come rain or shine, but alas, now that I am so far away, I have to make do with the internet, and I still watch replays of some of the classic games on tape.

The Freo Dockers as they are also known is one of the new expansion teams in the AFL and they are touted as one of the young teams with loads of talent but has yet tasted the glory of a Premiership (the championship). I have a feeling in my bones though that it will be Real Soon Now.

>Note: If you wish to play the Blog Interview Game, leave me a comment on this post, and I will visit your blog and then post you five questions here. You will then need to go back to your blog, and post your answers to it.