NFFC Nuno Chronicles #1

 Nuno Espirito Santo has delivered the perfect response to the 'underwhelming appointment' label given to him by a BBC football pundit. 2 big wins against Newcastle United and Manchester United has ignited Nottingham Forest's battle to survive in the EPL. Nuno's trademark counter-attacking game style is reaping rewards. Let's hope this continues in 2024 and beyond.    

Otarola tennis #3

 Nacho Otarola from Chile finishes 2023 with a career-high ranking of 828 on the ATP. He had a good run at the ITF M15 tournament in Concepcion, Chile, reaching the semifinals. 2024 will be an exciting year for Nacho, will hope that he makes some deep runs on the ATP challenger tour.    

Anchor for the soul

 As we close 2023 , the one verse that holds firm for the new year and beyond for me is this. 

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19    

Choong-Haikal badminton #1

 Watch out for Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal from Malaysia. This young Malaysian pair has just won 2 consecutive BWF tour titles in India. They won the Super 300 Syed Modi tournament followed by the Super 100 Guwahati Masters. They are both left handed and are quick around the court. Their smashes are pretty good as well. It is an impressive performance considering they are only started their partnership in August 2023. If they continue their fine performances in 2024, they will soon enter the world's top 20.  

Otarola tennis #2

 Chilean tennis pro Ignacio Becerra Otarola have reached a career-high 876 on the ATP rankings. Will he be able to finish the year with his first ITF title in Chile? He plays this week at the ITF M15 tournament in Concepcion, Chile    

Otarola tennis #1

 Following Ignacio Becerra Otarola, a 23 year old tennis player from Chile. He is ranked a career high 889 on the ATP rankings and had just won his first ATP challenger match in the hard court tournament in Temuco, Chile. He has been in good form this season, reaching 3 consecutive semi finals in ITF tournaments in Brazil and Peru. Hope to see him play more at ATP challenger level in 2024. He is only 5 foot  7 but moves well and is a steady baseliner. He certainly has the ability to reach the ATP top 500 in 2024.   

  

Autumn reflections #16

 Lord, teach me to be a daddy. 

Judges 13: 8: Then Manoah prayed to the Lord. Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.

In the season of fatherhood, I would like to seek the Lord's guidance always in bringing up my son.  

    

Jun Hao shuttler episode 3

 Jun Hao's performance in the last 3 tournaments

Arctic Open Super 500 - quarterfinals

KL Masters Super100 - champion

Korea Masters Super 300 - quarterfinals 

He is now ranked 36 in the world on the BWF world rankings. 

Although he lost in the qualifying rounds in the Kumamoto Masters in Japan,  he can rest and then aim for a strong finish to the year in the Syed Modi International event in India, a Super 300 tournament.  

Autumn Proverbs #7

 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

then one rests content, untouched by trouble 

Proverbs 19:23

Our contentment does not depend on earthly comforts, but comes from our fear of the Lord. The Lord is our greater safety and deeper security. We can therefore rest in Him. 

Korea Masters 2023

 The venue of the Korea Masters in Gwangju, Korea is really impressive. Nice stadium and well- maintained badminton courts. A well-organised Super 300 BWF tournament.   

Jun Hao shuttler episode 2

 Kuala Lumpur- born Leong Jun Hao has lost to Lei Lan Xi from China in the quarterfinals of the Korea Masters. Nevertheless it is a decent showing from Jun Hao , who had won a total of 7 consecutive matches before the quarterfinal stage of this Super 300 event. This defeat is a blessing in disguise because it gives him some rest before the next big event - the Kumamoto Masters in Japan which starts next week. This event is a Super 500 tournament so an important one for Jun Hao to do well and gain more ranking points. Being a KL born Malaysian, I can identify with Jun Hao and would support him to win more matches in the BWF tour.      

Jun Hao shuttler episode 1

 Following Leong Jun Hao, a 24 year old Malaysian badminton pro ranked 38 in the world. Jun Hao has just advanced to the quarterfinals of the Korean Masters in Gwangju. This is a Super 300 tournament so there is a big opportunity for him to improve his ranking further. He has recently won the KL Masters, a Super 100 tournament and is full of confidence to do well in Gwangju. Lets hope he can end the year in the world's top 30.     

Autumn reflections #15

 Fear God and not other things. Why? Because God is with us and is greater than anything we fear. 

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.  

Isaiah 8:12-15

Autumn reflections #14

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 

What does it mean to fear the Lord? It is to be in reverend awe of His mighty hand that saved us. Joshua 4:19-24 gives us the example of God saving His people, and allowing them to cross the river Jordan by drying up the river. Remember the times that God delivered us from trouble and gave us salvation. We did not deserve this, but His grace was given to us because He choose to do so. This is the right fear of God to have.       

Autumn reflections #13

 Mark 12 :30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The Lord Jesus said that this is the most important commandment (Mark 12:29)

The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31.  

I am the Lord , and there is no other. 

Apart from me there is no God. 

Isaiah 45:5 

Autumn Proverbs #6

 Wisdom from Proverbs 8. 

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say, 

I open my lips to speak what is right. 

My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness. 

Proverbs 8: 6-7

Autumn reflections #12

 Return, faithless people, I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God. Jeremiah 3:22. 

When we seek forgiveness and repentance, there is restoration and healing.    

Autumn reflections #11

 The relationship with God is not like a servant and master, or father and child. It is much more than that. It is described in Jeremiah 3 as similar between husband and wife. It is about a deep spiritual intimacy with God.  

Return, faithless people, ' declares the Lord, for I am your husband. I will choose you, one from a town and two from the clan - and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 

Jeremiah 3: 14-15.  

Autumn reflections #10

 In Jeremiah 3, the word 'return' is repeated 7 times and the word ' faithless' is repeated 6 times. 

Go, proclaim this message to the north. 'Return, faithless Israel', declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt - you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favours to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,' declares the Lord.     Jeremiah 3:12-13. 

Autumn reflections #9

 Obedience to God before sacrifice and offerings . 

For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: obey me and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 

Jeremiah 7:22-23    

Autumn reflections #8

 How do you show that your faith is authentic and of value?

If you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other Gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave to your ancestors forever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 

Jeremiah 7: 6-8  

Autumn reflections #7

 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure , who can understand it? 

I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind , to reward each person according to their conduct , according to what their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 17:9-10 

The Lord looks at the heart. External appearances and circumstances are secondary to what is inside us. This is an encouragement to us as believers. If we are led by the Holy Spirit He will guide our hearts and will lead us through difficult valleys. We are often affected by the desires of the heart, some of it may be good and some not so good. Thus we need to seek the Lord's help in moulding and changing our hearts.  

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 

Autumn reflections #6

 Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Jeremiah 7:2-3. 

The key phrases in verse 2 hear are: hear the word and worship the Lord. This is what we do when we go to church or spend our quiet time. Whilst this is important, verse 3 is what we need to do in response to the word and worship. The Lord says that we need to reform our ways and actions. A good verse to help us re-examine what we do in our lives. Do we glorify God in our actions and in our relationship with others? It is good to reflect on this.       

Autumn reflections #5

 You are always righteous, Lord

when I bring a case before you.

Yet I would speak with you about your justice 

Why does the way of the wicked prosper? 

Why do all the wicked live at ease? 

You have planted them 

and they have taken root,

They grow and bear fruit 

You are always on their lips 

but far from their hearts 

Yet you know me, Lord

You see me and test my thoughts about you.  

Jeremiah 12:1-3

Autumn reflections #4

 Do not be a terror to me

you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Jeremiah 17:17 

Help me to be secure and faithful in you, Lord, especially during the days of disaster. You, Lord are my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress. Jeremiah 16:19.     

Autumn reflections #3

 Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed,

save me and I shall be saved,

for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14

May I remember this truth always, written on my 45th birthday.   

Autumn reflections #2

 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord 

whose confidence is in him. 

They will be like a tree planted by the water 

that sends out its roots by the stream 

It does not fear when heat comes 

Its leaves are always green

It has no worries in a year of drought  

and never fails to bear fruit 

Jeremiah 17:7 -8

May I remember this during times of drought and heat. Lord, help me keep my eyes on you and to put my trust in you, especially during dry seasons.    

Autumn reflections #1

 This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.' Jeremiah 17:5

If we turn away from God and follow our own way and rely on our own strength, it is a recipe for disaster happening in our own lives. Those who trust in the Lord will be kept safe ( Proverbs 29:25). God will always show us a better way even if we can't initially see or understand it. Let's wait upon Him, pray and trust Him.  

    

Autumn Proverbs #5

 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked

but the prayer of the upright pleases him 

Proverbs 15:8

Which is better, to sacrifice or to pray? It depends on your character and your heart. Sacrifice is of no value and is even rejected by God for those who are godless and evil. Prayer from those who are upright pleases God. So the lesson here is that God sees your character and your heart more than your actions and your performance.   

Autumn Proverbs #4

 A soothing tongue is a tree of life 

But a perverse tongue crushes the spirit

Proverbs 15:4 

What does a healthy tree do ? The tree bears fruit so can provide nourishment and healing. The leaves provide shade and protection. A soothing tongue therefore brings the same benefits, the tongue when used wisely provides spiritual nourishment, encouragement and healing. However we know as humans we can't always rely on our own strength to have a soothing tongue. Words are often an expression of what is inside one's heart. If the tongue is perverse it can cause damage to the spirit. When our hearts are softened and filled with the Holy Spirit, that moves us to express words that bring life and healing onto others. Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.          

Autumn Proverbs #3

 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,

Keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Proverbs 15:3 

God sees everything. He knows what is going on in our lives. Not only does he know but He is in control. He sits on His heavenly throne (Psalm 11:4).  There is both evil and good in the world. If our lives are troubled, we may say where is God? Why is He not doing anything? Yet as believers we have access to God's sanctuary and that helps us to see things from His perspective. He is always with us. He holds us by the right hand. He is the strength of our hearts.(Psalm 73 :17, 23,26)       

Autumn Proverbs #2

 A gentle answer turns away wrath ,

but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1  

In order to give a gentle answer in heated situation, one has to be calm and patient. It is only natural to feel angry or frustrated when you feel wronged. Responding with a harsh word makes the situation worse. How do we handle this? Remembering God's gentleness and grace to us when we don't deserve it can help us deal with the situation. Praying for the Holy Spirit to motivate us to respond gently. By receiving from God what we don't deserve we can then respond in a gentle manner to people who has trespassed against us. Anger is healed in this way. I recall a situation early this year where a motorist thought it was my fault for knocking his car. It wasn't my fault but at the end of it I decided to give him grace and my heart felt sorry for him.    The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Psalm 145:8        

Autumn Proverbs #1

 This autumn, I would like to share some devotions from the book of Proverbs. 

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet,

than a house full of feasting , with strife    

Proverbs 17:1 

If we are poor but have peace in our lives , this is more important than having wealth but having full of conflicts in our lives. This is about relationships, which is more important than materialism. How do we have a right relationship with people? By anchoring ourselves in the word of God,  by regular prayer, being a good listener and being still. Wealth alone will not bring you to a right relationship with people, in fact it can cause the opposite and bring ruin to relationships.     

Sunset in Cornwall

 Indescribable. The sunset scene in Cornwall just takes your breath away. This is God's creation.  

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

And God said, 'let there be light,' and there was light. Genesis 1:3 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 

  

Return to Cornwall

 I managed to visit Cornwall in early September this year. This is the third visit in 3 years. It is a privilege and a blessing to come to this place. This is a picture of Boscastle harbour, on a beautiful sunny day.   

Memories of Prague

 Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic. This beautiful city is full of buildings with amazing architecture. Art Nouveau, Baroque, Gothic, Neo-renaissance style buildings retain their old world splendour in this city of a hundred spires. We visited this city in August this year. Here are some pictures.    

Bridges of Prague #1

 The Charles Bridge. This is the oldest bridge in Prague and the most famous one. It was built in the 14th century and has fortified Gothic bridge towers on either end. One of the most beautiful bridges in Europe in my opinion.      

Nephronmate #1

 For about 25 years (since the 1990s) nephrologists worldwide only had RAS blockers (ACE inhibitors or ARBs) in their treatment armamentarium to slow CKD progression. However in the last 3 years we have had 2 agents which have been proven to slow CKD progression in addition to RAS blockade. These are SGLT2 inhibitors and non-steroidal MRAs (Finerenone) . Therefore we can have a triple therapy approach to manage CKD and proteinuria. These drugs also work by targeting different sites on the nephron,which explains the cumulative benefits when these drugs are given in addition to RAS blockade. The other important factor is that these 2 drugs also reduce cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients who are already on RAS blockade.       

God's character #4

 God is holy and there is none like Him (1 Samuel 2:2). He sits on a heavenly throne high above us. He is in his holy temple (Psalm 11:4). He cannot be seen (1 Samuel 6: 19) or touched by anything that is unholy ( 2 Samuel 6:7) . His ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts ( Isaiah 55: 9).  His character of holiness is something that needs to be appreciated. Yet because of Jesus's sacrifice we can approach God's throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). This gives me confidence that I can approach Him in His holiness.      

Destination Prague

 Looking forward to visiting Prague later in the summer. 3 famous Czech people spring to mind and I hope to learn more about them in Prague.

1. Alexander Dubcek (politician)

2. Jan Huss (theologian)

3. Antonin Dvorak   (musical composer)

3 key events in Prague that I hope to learn during my trip there

1. Prague Spring

2. Velvet revolution 

3. Bohemian reformation 

 Adding this experience to the beautiful architecture of the city would make this an awesome visit.   

God's character #3

 I the Lord do not change.  Malachi 3:6. 

God's character is unchanging. We physically change with age. Our circumstances change. The earth is changing all the time. However, our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Because He does not change, we can be assured of His faithfulness and His Word. This helps me develop confidence in my faith in Him.    

God's character #2

 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 

God wants to be near us, in fact he is always with us even in times of trouble. God does not put out of office e-mail replies. He is always in His office and His door is open 24 hours a day. We have easy access to His office through prayer, fellowship and reading the word of God. This is the character of God, ever-present even when we are in trouble. His presence matters more than anything else because we find safety in Him and draw our strength from Him.  

God's character #1

 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86: 15 

How do we develop confidence in our faith in God during difficult times? Jesus asks his disciples ' where is your faith?' in Luke 8: 25.

Knowing God's character helps us develop confidence in having faith in God. In Psalm 86: 15, David describes God as a God of compassion and grace. God is slow to anger and full of love. He is a faithful God. These are just 5 aspects of God's character that we can lean on during tough times as well as during good times.           

CNY 2023

 It's our first Chinese New Year in Malaysia since 2020.Its a memorable one as my 1 year son managed to celebrate his first birthday and CNY with his grandparents. The year of the rabbit may just turn out to be a year of pleasant surprises.

Favourite hits from the 1990s #1

 Looking back at my schooldays, the early 1990s were filled with enjoyable songs. I was a teenager and into rap. My all time favourite was 'Ice Ice Baby' from Vanilla Ice. I love singing that song now to my 1 year old son. Ice Ice Baby! 

Parable #1

 New Years Day. I would like to share a parable from Matthew 21:28-31

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today'. And he answered, 'I will not', but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go sir'  but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?