allan and i went to see phantom of the opera last night and we were both dozing off by the second act. the show was a bit disappointing in terms of its plot (which didn't really have one), music, songs. the stage work and costumes however, were pretty impressive. i was amazed at how quickly and smoothly scenes changed before our very eyes.
so after the play, allan and i were discussing how it seemed weird that christine was able to fall so qucikly in love with raul, a man she had feelings for when they were 14 and they suddenly were rekindled after he sees her performing on stage.
i wrote to allan about this but am too lazy to reword it in blog language so here's the cut and paste:
so i was thinking of our conversation about phantom last night and i remembered us talking about the unliklihood of the christine and raul getting together after being separated for so many years. i was watching "the today show" this morning and there was a segment on first ladies and they mentioned that jimmy carter married his wife on their first date. see! crazy stuff like that happens all the time- i hear it about happening more in the past than in the present but nonetheless, its interesting to hear how people get together.
in this day and age, many people use the excuse of trying out marriages by living together, having sex to see if they're compatible, and even having children together without being husband and wife. but people fail to see that arranged marriages and marriages after a few weeks of courtship work out even better than how society currently see the union of two people. love is not about feelings of being "in love" or how compatible two people seem together. its about sacrifice and selflessness. paul puts it best in 1 Corinthian. " 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, [2] but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
its so great knowing that though we stumble, we sin, we turn from God, he continues to love us through his patience, kindness, mercy and grace.
on a completely different note, here are some pictures for your entertainment.
my brother wrote that. its our last name in chinese. he did a pretty decent job.
me and helen at a karoke place. every time she takes pictures, she always has her "peace" sign up. we all hate it but we love her anyway! 
me and nancy at CEM's christmas eve service. guys, she's a great catch and she's available!
my boy, phil. no, he wasn't in "better luck tomorrow". he just looks like parry shen. =)
[edit: phil is not my "man". he's my boy, like i'm cool with him but we're not dating. =) ]
that's all for now! hope everyone is doing well!
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