---<@~Farewell SIBERIA~@>---

So long, farewell, are we to bid Adieu....

Siberia's destiny finally cast in stone...After fighting valiantly the battle of dwindling numbers, she succumbed to the pernicious force of migration. One by one, the deadly blows struck her. First, the flight of our longtime president to the greener (or grayer) pastures of Laughborough. The loss of leadership marked the disintegration of the flourishing county. Next, our honey bee decided to shift her colony to the bustling town. Shortly after, Othello's love packed her turtles, big and small, and shipped them to the town. Apparently, she secured the last and most coveted plot of land (just within the perimeters of the town). With one remaining inhabitant, Siberia officially announced its closure. The vibrance has dissipated into desolation. Once in a while, travellers will saunter down the thoroughfare to seek a sip from the well. What's left is only that picture taken in her prime and beautiful memories for her alumni to savour. We mourn now, but we rejoice at the birth of a new age, one more brilliant than its preantecedent.

~the lone ranger

EVAN ALMIGHTY

Went to watch this movie at GV Marina last night. Despite the lackluster reviews, decided that it was a show I originally wanted to watch cos of its biblical relevance and cos' Steve Carell's such a cool actor, and of course on a Fri night when every other show seems to be fullhouse, that seemed like the next best alternative.

It didn't disappoint me however. In fact, I was pleasantly enthused by the lessons I caught from the show. I could empathise with Carell's Evan Baxter cos' he had to do what he had to in faith (well, God didn't give him a choice I guess). But the amazing thing was God was that each step and provided him with everything he needed to perform the task he was called to do.

Nonethless, the greatest challenge (and hence most significant learning point of the show for me) was dealing with a world that not only lacked the understanding he had, but also antagonised and taunted him. Though I haven't been placed in such extreme circumstances, it made me ponder over my ability to stand the test if the situation arises. The Christian road was never meant to be easy and even now I do face challenges occassionally (and I do fall very often!) Still, I felt kinda emotional watching this comedy cos' it reminded me about this calling we have to stand by and persist in our faith in this faithless world.

Anyway, the jokes were pretty good and had me chuckling quite a bit. Steve Carell did not let me down. He was amusing as the prim and almost to the extent obsessively compulsive Evan Baxter. Some of the funnier moments were his transformation into the likeness of old testament Noah (haha....became one of the Beetles), his accident prone behaviours during the construction scenes, and of course who could forget his shaving ritual--the part where he shaves his nose hair three to four times using various methods...whoa! Heh, maybe I should get one of those nose shavers from Mustafa as Xmas presents for my guys friends come Dec. His African American exec assistant, Rita, was hillarious as well. She makes the funniest comments. Not to mention the spectacular scenes of the ark and the animals just following him around (the fish one was exceptionally funny). I thought it was a great comedy actually.

Just a quote that was pretty insightful and impactful:

God talking to Joan Baxter (Evan's wife):

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

May it encourage those who are going through struggles in their Christian walk or feeling that their prayers have not been answered.