“Ooh dah dipanggil” (trans. Auntie has been called home) was the SMS message that my sister sent yesterday.  She was referring to my dad’s sister who just lost her battle with cancer that she’d been fighting for more than a year.

Although she and I were never been close, and theologically we’re on the opposite ends of the spectrum, I will always remember her as the one who first taught me about tithing.

It was my 7th (or 8th, I don’t remember exactly) birthday, and I received birthday monies from her and some other relatives.  Before leaving our house, she told me to remember to set aside a tenth of what I received and put it in the offering bag at church.  She then taught me a simple concept of giving back ten percent to God.

It is not coincident that in my morning devotion today, Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr. talked about tithing.  Listening to him reminded me of my aunt.  Click here to hear the podcast on “Open Windows of Heaven” from Ligonier ministry.

Although she has gone to a better place where she will forever enjoy the presence of her Lord and Savior, and no longer suffer from her cancer  I will forever be grateful to her for teaching me about tithing.  It was also through her that I acquainted myself with some of Charismatic belief systems and practices such as speaking in tongue, healing, etc.

Farewell, dearest auntie
’till we meet at Jesus’ feet.

(The picture above was the last time I met her in 2007 when I went to Indonesia.  It never occurred to me that it would be the last time I see her.  Life is short and we don’t know what is going to happen in the next second.  Cherish every moment you have with your loved ones.)

Today we went to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.  We haven’t been back there since December 2011, when they were still working on the Sea Lion Cove exhibit.  It is now been completed and proudly displayed California sea lions and seals.  Do you know that they can hold their breath under water for 20 to 30 minutes?

We also went to see the bird show, and other exhibits.  We had a blast, and would like to share our pictures by clicking here.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!

Last Saturday we went to the California Historical Landmark No. 916 in Fresno, namely the Forestiere Underground Gardens.  It was an underground home of Baldassare Forestiere (pictured here on the left), a single man who single-handedly dug his home of more than 10 acres underground.  Click here for amazing facts of this historical landmark.

Click here for our pictures at the Underground Gardens.

We started 2013 by going to the Legoland in Carlsbad.  We left on the 1st, and stayed for three nights at our friend’s house in Carlsbad, just 10 minutes away from Legoland.  We were at the Legoland on the 2nd and the 3rd.

We have planned this trip for almost a year, and originally we were going to spend Tryphena’s birthday there; however, due to her school schedule we decided that it would have been too tiring if we leave on the 6th.  So instead of having her birthday, I had to celebrate mine there.  “It’s not fair” she said.

We enjoyed our time there and our visit with the Sasmitas.  It was hard for Tryphena to leave, and she said, “I wished I lived here so I can go to Legoland every day.”  Click here to see the pictures.

We welcome 2013!

The case was certainly desperate, if the Godhead itself did not descend to us, it being impossible for us to ascend.  Thus the Son of God behoved to become our Emmanuel, i.e. God with us; and in such a way, that by mutual union his divinity and our nature might be combined; otherwise, neither was the proximity near enough, nor the affinity strong enough, to give us hope that God would dwell with us; so great the repugnance between our pollution and the spotless purity of God.

-John Calvin in “Institutes of the Christian Religion” book II. XII.I translated by Henry Beveridge

Another year is dawning, so we’d just like to wish you Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten Buon Natale, Selamat Natal, Shana Tova, or simply Seasons Greetings!

Time flies, and is gaining speed in 2012.  Where does time go?  It just seemed like yesterday when we entered 2012, and now here we are at the close of it, surviving the Mayan doomsday.  2012 was filled with ups and downs, and we are grateful for God’s many blessings in our family, blessings that in many ways we do not deserve.  We are grateful for all of you, our friends and family. Continue reading “Merry Christmas 2012”