With the changes upcoming for CPF usage, it will be a blow to

Buy-and-sell boys.

 

Why?

 

They’d be hitting the limit. When they sell, they’d have to buy after.

So what’s the gain?

Next Week...

With the bank loan pending final approval, the banker keeping track

of my application reassured me that ‘it should be ok’.

 

My agent, on the other hand, called in about an hour later, and he also

promptly called me to say that I shouldn’t be worrying about the bank loan.

 

To top it up, he told me that I can go and ‘see’ the house one more time.

‘When can I do that?’ was my reply. Next week, when the LO is out for signing.

 

Since there is a branch in Yishun for the financial institution, I suggested that

iunstead of going all the way to Bukit Merah (Red Hill), we would just request

the bank officer to come down to Yishun, especially that I and my wife would

both be signing the papers.

 

And, we’d be paying the rest of the downpayment of 4k when we go and see the flat

the second time around. I was thinking that the kids wouldn’t even want to go in,

as they’d be going straight to the park, which is just below the flat that we purchased.

 

And to think that at the time when we were trying to save as much as we can,

a friend from the Phils needed shelter and assistance, and we were the default party

to give accommodation. As I have lifted it up to the Lord, the extra room in our house,

if the Lord gives us one, will be for transients, for people needing a temporary roof

and room to spend the night in.

 

God has been faithful.

 

What more can I say?

 

Beware of Garbage Trucks

Beware of Garbage Trucks

by David J. Pollay

 

How often do you let other people's nonsense change

your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt

boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless

you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably

set back on your heels. However, the mark of a

successful person is how quickly he/she can get back

her focus on what's important.

 

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it

in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what

happened.

 

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central

Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all

of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space

right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his

breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end

by just inches!

 

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused

a big accident, whipped his head around and he started

yelling bad words at us.

 

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I

mean, he was friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you just

do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us

to the hospital!'

 

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now

call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

 

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around

full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger,

and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up,

they need a place to dump it. And if you let them,

they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on

you, don't take it personally.

 

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

You'll be happy you did.

 

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.' I

started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks

run right over me? And how often do I take their

garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at

home, on the streets? It was that day I said, 'I'm not

going to do it anymore.' I began to see garbage

trucks. I see the load they're carrying. I see them

coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I

don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave,

wish them well, and I move on.

 

One of my favorite football players of all time,

Walter Payton, did this every day on the football

field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the

ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit.

Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next

meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome

their children home from school with hugs and kisses.

Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully

present, and at their best for the people they care

about.

 

The bottom line is that successful people do not let

Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you

let more garbage trucks pass you by?

 

Here's my bet.

 

You'll be happier.

 

So.. Love the people who treat you right.

Forget about the ones who don't.

Update

The bank loan has been applied and is already half-through for about 3 weeks now.

The Option and Valuation documents were sent in yesterday, and the bank officer

promptly contacted me to inform me of final documentation requirements.

 

Amidst the joy of “owning” a house, of being able to call a roof our own, a place where

we can sleep soundly under the protection of our Lord, in a place that He has provided,

there is still the doubt creeping up now and then. I analyze, and I find that it is not

lack of faith. It is, rather, the means by which, even in the midst of the fulfillment

of God’s promises, even at the point of receiving the answer to our prayers, and the

blessings He so freely will give, if only we believe – and it is not that we don’t believe,

but that we still have our finite sight, there are moments when even we know that

God is on our side, we doubt. God allows it, as in those short and sudden moments of

being unsure, we cling to Him. We draw near to Him, and confess to Him our plight.

God listens, and gently reassures us, through His Word, through His people, through

His Spirit that comforts our spirit.

 

After 10 years of squatting, of moving from one place to another, of unending rentals,

of being sojourners, we would finally be able to settle in a place that is officially and

legally we can call “our own”. And it is a place where we would stay as long as we can.

A place where we will take root, a place which is primarily intended to be our abode.

It is, unlike some, a flat that is purchased for our own use, as a family, and not for

financial advancement later on when the opportunity comes.

 

We look back, and the 10 years seem to be but yesterday.

We look forward, and we can’t tell what will come.

We can only say that our future is safe in the hands of our God.

 

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 

What's up?

In my hunt for purchaseable flats, I’ve learned a few lessons:

1.       It pays to view.

- Pictures don’t even come close to the real thing, so go out there, and view flats!

2.      What you don’t get, you learn from.

- I’ve seen many flats, saw their makes and designs, and some undesigns, while some, no designs at all. And we’ve seen some that we like so much, but cannot afford, and wouldn’t afford even if we have the money. Nonetheless, we have learned a great deal of how to fix up and mix up and arrange things in the (new) house, thanks to what we have seen.

3.      Obstacles are what we see, when God is showing us something else.

- Sometimes, we pray for great things. And when God wanted us to see the answer, we can’t, because we have fixed our eyes on what we think is the best house, ever.

4.      Prayer and practical moves makes sense.

- Having prepared financially, we’ve made preparations and actions and fallback reactions – in case the worst happens.

 

God bless!