The Not-So-Tall Tales of Giant Zucchini

Phew, finally a free day to blog.


Wednesday, hectic of hectic. Went down to Shaohui the Guit-freak's house to jam a bit. A bit skeptical on Stairway to Heaven, but still tried out anyway. Then they jammed All Day. FUN!!! Then he had a listen to some of Giant Zucchini's songs, see which ones he would like to add to their playlist.

After that, back in school for RC Council Meeting. Had to really rush it up, because the Sec 4s needed to rush for Australian English Comp. In the end, got some NJRC forms filled up, and got the holiday practices confirmed. But, Thursday morning, emergency meeting for all RC members to clear EVERYTHING up with the Sec 1s.

After the meeting, went for Giant Zucchini's tri-annual cinema visit. Watched Shrek 2 with Shaohui the Guit-freak. Before that, lunch at Burger King. Then, after buying the tickets, went down to Music Plaza. Jammed on A Simple Life before going up for the movie. It wasn't spectacular. Funny, yes, but bordering on lame. But loads of rip-offs, and for that he gives them credit. And of course the CG animation was very very well done.


Went to school first thing in the morning (that would be about 7 am) for the emergency RC meeting. Got ALL the entries confirmed and the whole RC knows when to come down during the June holidays. After that, slack in the Robotics Lab, stocktaking, and typing out the announcement for the RC notice board.

After that went down to SMC for AY band practice. Did the Youth practice first, then the Main practice. Played some football in the room, then jammed until 11pm into the night.


Found out some disturbing information. Will not elaborate.

And SAJC lost to VJC...well, they made it into the finals, even without a Secondary School feeder team...CRAP, THEY'LL GET IT NEXT YEAR!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Your hand is in control...


Blessed

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house
They are ever praising You
Blessed are those whose strength is in You
Whose hearts are set on our God
And we will go from strength to strength
Until we see You face to face

Hear our prayer
O Lord God Almighty
Come bless our land
As we seek You
Worship You

For You are holy
For You are holy
For You are holy Lord

Giant Zucchini finally got his jersey today. A. Chee 53. He has been waiting for quite some time. Anyway, the match was fun, even though everyone was off-form. Giant Zucchini managed to score 1, even though for the 1st half he was the goalkeeper.

Before that was SMC AY. Worship was GOOD. Thomas the Military brought the congregation through a really heartfelt worship. Really drew close to God during that worship.

It's all about timing, isn't it? It's useless doing the right stuff at the wrong time. Patience. The time is not right.

Lord...I'm Your servant...fill me with Your Spirit...that I may follow Your path, Your ways, Lord...all in Your perfect timing Lord...I'm all Yours...


Here I Am to Worship

Light of the world
You stepped out into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

A brief history on Giant Zucchini's life as of last recorded date:

1. Actually PASSED Grade 8 mock exam. And passed it WELL. How in the world did THAT happen?

2. Won 1 match in Singapore Robotic Games Gladiator, defeated SHERMAN (ITE), but lost the rest of the matches in its group, including quarterfinalists Red October (SP). No easy feat considering we had run out of compressed air by the start of our 1st match due to leakage and our flipper was not working.

Continuing on the SRG Gladiator topic, that our robot was even able to move was quite something.

1. We were the only Secondary School in the event, all the rest were all Polys and Universities (except for the ITE team which we beat).

2. We started programming 2 hours before the event started.

3. We got our compressed air 2 1/4 hours before the event started.

4. We only managed to wire everything 1 1/2 hours before the start of the event; that's 1/2 an hour before caging.

5. We were probably the only team there that started from scratch...literally, sheets of aluminium. I mean we were probably the only team there that needed to saw the thing by hand.

6. We were probably the only team that experimented with pneumatics.

7. We were the only team there without the Gladiator set, meaning we had to resort to Tamiya motors.

8. We were probably the only team without an active mentor. The whole robot was an effort of the "students", term used rather loosely.

Some robots even went up our flipper :D...if only it was working...

Ah well, great effort, guys, it was great fun. Especially the train ride from Pasir Ris back to the NEL (Potong Pasir for Lim the Silent and Giant Zucchini, and Kovan for Snowstorm the Techinical Director), when the train got delayed and subsequently got swamped. It was all great fun. I enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost...

Lord, You were there the whole time...it was Your Will that eventually prevailed, Lord...thank You SO MUCH...I'm Yours...use me to fulfill Your Will Lord...I am Your servant...


Soldier

Can't nobody stop me now
Cause i'm part of the army now
Praise the LORD is what i wanna shout
Even in a crowd i'm gonna sing it Loud
You can see what you want to see
But i know what He's done for me
Every day i can feel His power
'Cause the spirit of the Lord
He lifts me higher

All the word, can't stop, can't stop Him
All the word, can't stop, can't stop Him now

My God is the strongest tower
Turn to Him in the scary hour
Even when it gets harder now
All i wanna do is just praise Him louder

Keep singing 'til my voice run out
Keep running til He lifts me out
keep singing it cause i can't stop
Oh, i can't stop

You got the give yourself up
You got to lose your pride
You got to see it different
Open up your spiritual eyes

The devil wants you beaten
He wants you lying, cheating
But that won't last much longer
My Dad is bigger, stronger

Sound off, 1, 2 Sound off 3, 4
Bring it on down, 1, 2, 3, 4... 1, 2....3, 4

I'm not going to talk in the 3rd person today. I'm not in the mood for frivolities.

I don't think I'll be taking my Grade 8 piano this year. Basically, I messed up my mock exam. Bad. Scales started alright...until I made my first mistake. Then I went into paranoia mode. After the name of the scale was read, I basically freezed over the piano for >30 seconds before playing. And still played it wrong. I knew it. But I still played it wrong. BAD start. Then, exam pieces. A1. Started off fair enough. Then messed up the turn page. Then went into paranoia mode again. Fumbled my way through to the end. Bad. B7. Went along fairly enough. Then, the examiner stopped me halfway through the song. At that point I knew it was all over. Went through the rest of the "rituals", sight-reading, which was a disaster (I played in the wrong time signature...) repertoire pieces, Bach fugue was a complete disaster, got lost through my modern piece in the 8th bar, basically, I think I flunked it all completely.

God was telling me, "Have faith." And I'm like...what kind of faith? Faith that I'll pass? Or faith when I fail?


Still

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

Yesterday was not a bad birthday. Much progress on the Gladiator flipper bot. Snowstorm the Technical Director dropped by to help out a bit on the bot. So did Chairman Joe, although help he did not. Went down to Sinta to change the relay chip. Not so nice news. Anyway, tried our luck again today, but you'll get back to that.

Anyway, after that it was down to Matt the Big's house for dinner. Watched the Euro 1972 finals between West Germany and USSR. NO LEV YASHIN!!! Anyway, got Beckenbauer, Maier, etc...good enough for Giant Zucchini. Then dinner. Fried rice. Lots of it. After that, went down to Mich the Rugger's house for cell group.

Rather interesting, actually. Sang this new song and Giant Zucchini had to play the piano. Totally blur. And then Mich the Rugger just came down from her room...and had to sing. Even more blur. So he blurly play and she blurly sing and Weiqiang the Sound Man blurly strum, but in the end they finally got the song going and it ended up quite alright. Had a deep discussion on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Then, they celebrated Giant Zucchini's birthday. This time, Mich the Rugger played the piano and Giant Zucchini just stood around looking inconspicuous. Anyway, after that, had a good supper, lots of egg tarts, found out more about NYP while talking with Weiqiang the Sound Man. After that, it's back home, nice sleep, sweet dreams. Not a bad birthday, actually...the company made all the difference.

Talking about his birthday, Weiqiang the Sound Man asked him what his wish was. Didn't tell him, but he'll say it here. Don't want to sound overly religious, but all he asks is for the Lord's Will to be done in his life and in the lives of all related to him. Of course, that's not all, have other personal stuff he won't mention here too, but most important is the Will of God to prevail.

So that settles his birthday yesterday.


On to today. In school at 8 in the morning. Snowstorm the Technical Director was there early. Continued massive work on the Gladiator flipper bot. Then Lim the Silent came, followed by The Khan. Finished drilling all the holes on the bot, then got to bending. It's fun trying to bend 3mm aluminium. And easy too! Just follow these simple instructions:

1. Carry the anvil to the vice and clamp it.

2. Position the aluminium along the right angled edge.

3. Whack it with all your might with an appropriate wooden mallet.

4. Try to ignore the stares you get from causing all that ruckus when the mallet smacks the aluminium.

P.S.: Screaming at the top of your lungs is recommended when trying to communicate while bending.

Sniper the Gunner popped by to have a look at our bot. Helped a bit with the assembly. It's now about 50% done. Just before the workshop closed, they rushed to get a few nooks and crannies to fit. In the end, couldn't go for testing because...drum roll...they left the axle in the workshop. Intelligence personified by Giant Zucchini and his crew. So after that they dismissed ourselves from the school, and Giant Zucchini had lunch with Lim the Silent and Sniper the Gunner in the coffeeshop outside the school. After that, his father fetched him from the bus-stop back home, as he was lugging the robot as well as another relatively heavy plastic bag. After that, it was back to COGS for choir practice. Tried to do something with the bot there. His father suggested some kind of plastic skid to ease the friction at the back. Fair enough. Anyway, no a capella today...looks like everything is going to have to be rushed. Just like his piano! Which reminds him, he'd better get back to practising his piano for his mock exam tomorrow...

Some things don't change, but no pressure brudder...


Buddy Jewell, up there with the best.

Today I Started Loving You Again

Today I started loving you again
I'm right back where I've really always been
Got over you just long enough to let my heartache mend
Then today I started loving you again

What a fool I was to think I could get by
With only these few million tears I've cried
I should have known the worst was yet to come
And that crying time for me had just begun
Cause today I started loving you again

Much progress has been made on the Gladiator flipper bot. Finished up the flipper itself today, cut the holes for the wheels, basically got all the parts done up. Finish up the insides tomorrow, and also assembly. Had only aluminium shards for lunch. Ah well, at least the flipper bot is finishing.

It's Giant Zucchini's birthday tomorrow! Going to spend it in school finishing the Gladiator flipper bot, then at Mich the Rugger's house for cell group. Not a bad way to spend a birthday...

Now it's back to practising piano...must pass...


Soldier

Can't nobody stop me now
Cause i'm part of the army now
Praise the LORD is what i wanna shout
Even in a crowd i'm gonna sing it Loud
You can see what you want to see
But i know what he's done for me
Every day i can feel his power
'Cause the spirit of the Lord
He lifts me higher

All the word, can't stop, can't stop him
All the word, can't stop, can't stop him now

My God is the strongest tower
Turn to him in the scary hour
Even when it gets harder now
All i wanna do is just praise him louder

Keep singing 'til my voice run out
Keep running til he lifts me out
keep singing it cause i can't stop
Oh, i can't stop

You got the give yourself up
You got to lose your pride
You got to see it different
Open up your spiritual eyes

The devil wants you beaten
He wants you lying, cheating
But that won't last much longer
My dad is bigger, stronger

Sound off, 1, 2 Sound off 3, 4
Bring it on down, 1, 2, 3, 4... 1, 2....3, 4

What a day...

Went out in the morning to give the money to Lim the Silent to buy the motors and hinges etc. Slowly but surely, the Gladiator flipper bot is making progress...

A bit scared for piano class today. Just plonked a bit in the morning and afternoon, still pretty backward considering the mock is this Sunday. Got even more new songs to learn...Giant Zucchini's got a lot to catch up on...

After class, Giant Zucchini's birthday dinner. Soup, fish, pie, stew, carrot cake, really filling meal. After that went to Borders to look for his birthday present. Got 3 new CDs! Nickel Creek, Buddy Jewell and Alison Krauss 2CD Live! Happy happy happy.

Found out cell group is going to Mich the Rugger's house instead of Giant Zucchini's. Ah well, too bad Josh, you'll have to wait till next time to try his FIFA! Anyway, it's not a bad place to spend his birthday...it's the people around him that count...

To put it simply, life has become more hectic for Giant Zucchini.

Just found out piano mock exam is this Sunday. AARGH!!! Rushing for Gladiator flipper bot, now also rushing for piano exam. Does it get any more hectic? At least the exam pieces are OK. Scales...barely scrape through. Repertoire...blech...Overall, 50% chance of passing...at least if he fails, he doesn't need to bother about piano until next year...

Now the Gladiator bot also need to rush. Currently only slabs of aluminium lying around. Still need to change the parts, get motors, get wheels, get the holes cut and drilled, get the parts bent, assemble, program, test, all by NEXT TUESDAY!!! AARGH!!!

Time is running out...

Faith...I need faith...God, work your miracles...

Giant Zucchini got confirmed during service at COGS today, along with his father and grandmother. Sermon was on Friendships and Relationships. Basically summarised with the parable of the Good Samaritan:

The Thieves: What is yours is mine, if I can get it.
The Priest and Levite: What is mine is mine, if I can keep it.
The Inn-keeper: What is mine is yours, if you can pay for it.
The Samaritan: What is mine is yours, if you need it.

Went on to talk about Man's imperfection, and that people were created for companionship. Learnt a lot from today's sermon. After that, the confirmation. Then, Giant Zucchini's first Holy Communion. Went along "fairly" well. The bread got stuck on his palette. Tried whacking it down with his tongue, but instead got more stuck. Finally dissolved after the whole Communion was over. Ah well, it's a first!

Jonathan the Cousin was at the service. So was Jeffrey the (insert adjective here). After that, had to choose between going for lunch with Jonathan the Cousin and the rest of the families and going to SMC AY. Went down to SMC to check what was going on first, found out they were screening a video, so went for lunch with Jonathan the Cousin et al. Talked football the rest of the morning and into 1+pm into the afternoon. Really enjoyed it.

After this, going for Giant Zucchini's mother's concert at Esplanade. Meeting Yiwei the Violinist there. Hoping it will be an enjoyable time.

In other news, Giant Zucchini's mother may actually skip the AGM to join cell group. Giant Zucchini hopes it will be held in his place, so that Joshua the Soloist et al can try out his new edited FIFA 2004. Of course that's not the only reason, but he will not elaborate here. Anyway, if you are reading this, do visit Giant Zucchini and Tachyio's shared Shoutcast radio station, Tachyio Zucchini Broadcast (link on sidebar). You may comment on it on Giant Zucchini's tagboard.

After all the problems, Giant Zucchini the Third Person and Tachyio the Digital have decided to merge their stations to form the Tachyio Zucchini Broadcast. This means that the combined Shoutcast Radio Station will play a great multitude of genres of music, Giant Zucchini providing Country, Bluegrass, and Christian music, Tachyio providing Pop, Rock, and Classical.

Giant Zucchini has found out that cell group will probably be next Friday, which happens to be his birthday. *ahempresentsahem*...Anyway, his parents are going for some AGM, so they won't be there. Probably going to be at Matt the Big's house. See how as it goes along.

Getting confirmed tomorrow. Along with Giant Zucchini's father and grandmother. Good stuff...

Chelsea ahead of Man U due to a brilliant brilliant brilliant strike by Gronkjaer (pronounced Gronk-uh-jay-er). Waiting for Birmingham-Liverpool...

Giant Zucchini is happy to announce that his Shoutcast is up! OK, so it's not really a Shoutcast, but it's close. Giant Zucchini and Tachyio the Digital are still working on it to make it more "Shoutcast-y", but you'll have to be content with this for the moment. Link on the sidebar...

Giant Zucchini is not feeling very happy. He is worried because he hasn't received his enrolment confirmation letter. Anyway, he is trusting God to take care of the matter in His Almighty plan.

The Gladiator bot is coming along alright. Giant Zucchini and Lim the Silent have started work on the body, the base, the sides, also drilled some holes. Giant Zucchini thinks that they may actually finish building the robot in time.

Giant Zucchini may have its own Shoutcast. In case you don't know, a Shoutcast is like your personal radio station, using your computer as a server. Giant Zucchini has no administrative rights to his computer, so Tachyio the Digital has kindly volunteered to use his computer as his server. A few teething problems are expected. Nevertheless, you'll get the latest news here...

Speaking in the 3rd person is fun...

Giant Zucchini is considering talking in the Third Person again.

Finally got the pneumatics done today. Got the adaptor, then went to the fire extinguisher place for the shiok fried rice again. Then went to test the pneumatics. Worked perfectly. Now to settle our motor problems. Went to Oriental Motors. Found out they didn't have 12V DC motors. Now we REALLY have a problem. We need motors. FAST. Ah well, as the saying goes, 'If there's a God, there's a way'. Maybe I'll practise piano today. Have been neglecting that recently. Having mock sometime this month...I hope I can pass it...

Lord, your will be done...I ask for nothing more...


Better Than Life

Better than the riches of this world
Better than the sound of my friend's voices
Better than the biggest dreams of my heart
And that's just the start

Better than getting what I say I need
Better than living the life that I want to
Better than the love anyone could give
Your love is

You hold me now in your arms
And never let me go

You oh lord make the sun shine
And the moon light in the night sky
You give me breath and all your love
I give my heart to you because

I can't stop falling in love with you
I'll never stop falling in love with you
I can't stop falling in love with you
I'll never stop falling in love with you

Semi-fruitful day today.

Went to Able Hydraulics to change the adaptor. Found out they didn't have the size. So went down to the fire extinguisher place to ask. No one around, so went to the nearby canteen to eat. Went there yesterday, their Fried Rice is shiok. So ate Fried Rice again. After eating a while, Yan Xin and Yan Yi came in from the other end of the canteen. It was a blink blink kind of moment. As expected, asked me what in the world I was doing in an Ubi Industrial Park. Told them I got my parts from there. Anyway, finished up my Fried Rice and got down to the fire extinguisher place. They told me to get it from a hardware shop. That was very helpful, considering I just went there FROM a hardware shop. Anyway, went back to Able. Told me to go opposite the road to get the part specially lathed. Ah well, better expensive than nothing at all...

After that, went back home. Found out I actually HAD piano class, and was not holiday as I thought. Ah well, too bad, you can't expect me to go there without ANY practice...

Got All Day from Jonathan the Cousin. The bass lick is just amazing. If you have no idea what I'm talking about...

G------------1------------ ---------|
D--------2-2--2-----1-2------------|
A----1-2--------2-2---------2-1----|
E-4-4-------------------2-2---------|

...try it yourself. Really really cool bass lick. Picking it on my guitar, can't get enough of it.

Amazing amazing past 3 days.

Start with Saturday.

Went for Clinton and Priscilla's wedding in the morning. Basically a normal church wedding, except Priscilla had a badly timed hiccup, and she basically couldn't stop giggling through most of the ceremony. The usual wedding sermon. Remembered one particular phrase Pastor said: "If you're wrong, say you're sorry. If you're right, shuddup." Had lunch at the reception. Basically lots of egg tarts and chicken pies. Then it was off to COGS for Confirmation class.

Confirmation class was on the Trinity. Kind of tough to grasp in its entirety. My view on this is something like this...Imagine Fandi Ahmad makes a football game. Then he creates himself in the game as a player. Then after the player retires, he makes himself as a coach. So there you have it, Fandi Ahmad the creator, player, and coach, existing before the game was created. Then the player enters the game at a certain point. Then, the player leaves, and the coach comes in. I think that's roughly how the Trinity works. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit exist from before time, the earth was then created by the Father, then Jesus came into the world to save us, then after his resurrection, the Holy Spirit was sent down to abide in all of us. But essentially, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are essentially the same entity, the one holy God. Of course, the analogy is just my opinion, how close it is to the truth, I don't know. I hope it's close to the truth though...

After that, church choir practice. Practiced Like a Shepherd. Was almost there, but the solo made my Kao Fu pretty angry, as evidenced by the following said during the practice.

My mother: You need to CUE her.
Kao Fu: I'm going to KILL her!
Uncle Mal: No, you're going to CURE her!

A few chuckles there, but you could see that my Kao Fu wasn't too happy with the progress of our soloist. Anyway, after that, he had some time with our a capella group. Touched up a bit on our songs. Then, we had a bit of practice on our own. Also got our shirt. Quite a nice design. Thanks to Xiaojia the Walnut for the hard work! Anyway, after that went down to JCC for dinner.

Jonathan the Cousin was there with a pleasant surprise...MORE THAN LIFE!!! Finally, something more than 30 second previews! Had a great time listening through the disc. One Way was just great, Soldier didn't disappoint me one bit, but All Day just captivated me. The bass/guit lick was just amazing. Can't keep it of my mind. Anyway, that really ended my day on a high.

Now Sunday.

Went to COGS. Choir presented Like a Shepherd. To put it simply, the solo was messed up BAD. Amazingly, we had a great reception from the congregation. Had some really good feedback. I personally think the Lord managed to use an imperfect performance to touch the hearts of those listening. Sermon was on the growth of the church. Left early along with the rest of the "crew" going to the lunch venue first.

Went to the Civil Service Club for COGS 45th Anniversery lunch. A capella rehearsal was OK, just a sound check, so nothing much there. Spent the rest of rehearsal irritating Joshua the Soloist with the All Day bass/guit lick that just wouldn't leave my head. Just an amazing lick. Anyway, regarding the lunch itself, the MCs were top class. Was nice and relaxed, unlike so many others...(Read: School Choir Concerts...) The interplay between English and Chinese was very well coordinated, and the jokes really worked, mainly due to the MCs ability to laugh at themselves, for example Mich the Rugger's incompetence in Chinese (even though she got 1(D) while I got 6(M)...), and Yiwei the Violinist's oblivion to the fact that his hair looks like it was cut by a trash compactor. The food was good. The pineapple fried rice still tasted great even when it was cold. The youth did a skit. I must say it was very meaningful. Really reflective kind of skit. Anyway, after that was the a capella item. Ride the Chariot sort of had the atmosphere there, but blending was a bit off. Anyway, after the song, the applause was tremendous. Amazing. Never expected this kind of reception at all. It was so encouraging. Then Amazing Grace. Once again, audience participation was really encouraging. It's really by the grace of God that our little group of 5 was so widely accepted and appreciated by the church. Thank you so much, God, it's only you that can make these things happen. The warmth of the church really touched me that day. It was just amazing being there. What a great lunch it was. Everything going so smoothly, and you can see the hand of God keeping everything under control.

After that, dropped by Matt the Big's house to play Winning Eleven with him and David the Guitarist cum Bassist. Played really well, but still grossly outplayed by the both of them. Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed myself. And of course Liverpool Boro. Great win, guys. You'll Never Walk Alone.

Now today.

Went down to the fire extinguisher place. Finally got a good valve for our cartridge. Sort of solved most of our pneumatic problems. Again God's amazing grace helping us. Now only the microcontroller and motors to worry about, but the worst is over with the pneumatics done. That basically sums up today. Really happy.

The CC/YE war has finally ended. We can finally talk things over peacefully, and by God's grace settle our issues once and for all. Anyway, received word from Him that I can reclaim what I have let go. Perhaps my testing period is over. Still waiting for confirmation from Him, but currently on alert standby.

God, thank you so much...Your hand is at work...may Your will forever be done, Father...I will obey...


Tougher Than Nails

Little boy walks in with a bloody nose,
Got beat up on his way home from school,
Again.
His Daddy caught him runnin' out the back,
Tears in his eyes an' a baseball bat,
Ooh, revenge.
Said: "Son, I won't stop you, but before you go,
"Let me tell you a little story 'bout the toughest man I know.

"They hit him an' he just turned the other cheek.
"But don't think, for a minute, he was weak.
"'Cause in the end, he showed them,
"He was anything but frail.
"They hammered him to a cross,
"But he was tougher than nails."

Well, he dropped that bat like it weighed a ton.
Father put his arms around his son and said:
"Just let it go."
Well, lately, I been in his shoes,
Had to ask myself: "What would Jesus do?"
And here's what I know.
Whenever I'm in doubt, I look up what he said.
It's all there in The Good Book; in black an' white, it read:

"They hit him an' he just turned the other cheek.
"But don't think, for a minute, he was weak.
"'Cause in the end, he showed them,
"He was anything but frail.
"They hammered him to a cross,
"But he was tougher than nails."

Yeah, in the end, he showed them,
He was anything but frail.
They hammered him to a cross,
But he was tougher than nails.

Tougher than nails.

Oh, oh, oh.

More Than Life

Stand by everything You said
Stand by the promises we made
Let go of everything I've done
I'll run into Your open arms
And all I know

I love You more than life
I love You more than life

Fall back on everything You've done
Fall back on everlasting arms
When all the world is swept away
You are all the things I need
You're the air I breathe

How can it be
You were the one on the cross
Lifted for all our shame?
How can it be
The scars in Your hands are for me?
You are the king of all

I just thought I'd share my QT here.

The passage is from Genesis 26:14-22. I'll be quoting from KJV...

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

Here we see Isaac moving from place to place. Isaac left a Philistine territory as the Philistines had said he was too powerful. He could have stayed, but he left on their request because he did not want to stir up anything. Then he was shoved from place to place because the Philistines kept contesting for the wells even though they were not using it. Isaac had the right to demand the well. But he did not, because he did not want to stir up trouble. In the end he found a place no one was contesting, and everyone lived in peace.

Sometimes we are placed in this kind of situation. What do we do? Do we assert our rights? Or do we look at the big picture and give in? I think it all depends on the situation, but whatever our choice, our eventual destination must be peace with God and man.

Other verses to think about:
Romans 12:18 - If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Matthew 5:39 - But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.