Above all wonders and all created things.

KK Hospital

2009-10-25T23:00:00.001+08:00

Went for my medical check up the other day. Saw many little small things in the hospital which really encouraged and inspired me.

I really admire medical workers. The tireless dedication which they display, the love for humankind which drove them to their profession, all these are the traits which I really admire.

Also, the motivation of Christian love in several professionals whom I know are brothers/sisters in the Christian faith really impresses. Being attached to the same medical specialist for more than 10 years of my life, I have come to know each of them personally. That love which God had for His people, wanting to take care of their well being, of nursing them, of giving the gift of healing in their lives, these people had taken after Him.

I think God sometimes lets us inherit different aspects of His heart, which are really beautiful. Doctors and nurses take after His wanting to care for people, pastors and teachers take after His desire to shepherd people and guide them, engineers take after His intricate precision and details, artists take after His goodness and aesthetics, musicians take after His ability and desire to share the gift of music and to communicate through melody, etc.

Children were among one of the sights i saw at the hospital. Being KK Women's and Children's Hospital, people give birth there. Husbands follow their families there and share the joy or pain as they give their family manly guidance and protection. Older children watch as mothers give birth to new lives, lives that will share times of fun, joy, sadness, pain with their siblings.

Amazingly, I think God has blessed me with a special love and rapport with kids. Really love to be around them, watch them grow, sing, play, praise, be part of their lives. And also to enjoy their presence with their parents...thats truly something enjoyable!

Hospitals are not all dull and gloomy. They can be really fun and inspiring places to be. Places to witness love, protection, courage, bravery, patience and hope in times of affliction and loss, healing, grace.

The Ultimate Cannot

2009-08-09T13:02:00.001+08:00

Recently I've been musing, and I think penning it down is a good resolution in some ways.

a) About the validation of our faith - what is the substance that makes it valid, experiences that makes it valid, understanding that makes it valid.
b) About the time when we feel that our selves are incapable of doing anything good, pleasing, hopeful. I believe many Christians have come through this point of their faith and life where they have felt totally incapacitated, down and trodden, their faith wrecked. I choose to term this as The Ultimate Cannot.
c) And about how these 2 relate to each other.

By right, if we are born again Christians who have received the will and ability to live (and i mean the ability to live in a pleasing and right manner to self, people and God) as the Bible commands, why do we still go through such totally incapacitated times? Or, why does God still allow it, when knowing that we as His children want to live right with Him, allow such a moment of incapacitance to cripple our wills?

By the right of how things are supposed to progress, Christians should not face such total incapacity right? Yet, to say that Christians at such points are not saved, is not theologically sound too. Because if he/she were not saved, then how were he/she be able to have such a desire also? Have then something gone wrong in our faith, or is this brokenness part of the growing process?

In this process, I choose to believe that faith is sill faith, and that it is in essence something that cannot be tempered with, but only tested and trialed. And such incapacitance is the right of passage - the testing that should form up our faith.

My take on it is that if we allow experiences to validate our faith, it will not be an accurate measure. Personnally I have felt such cripplings, but these are also the very times when I desire the MOST to live in the joy of the Lord. If my faith is a faith that does not allow for room of experiencing such incapacity, then also it does not allow room to trust that God can ressurect even the most dead faith. What then, is the use of my faith? I must learn that my faith is not one that merely uses God to pelt me into a desirable life, but one that is His even in the most downtrodden conditions, even in the incapacity to look at Him.

It is in such paralysis that His attributes make sense : His love, forgiveness, patience. These are the constancy of His attributes, even in our deepest, most crippling paralysis. And it is in such paralysis that we develop a quiet confidence - a quiet confidence in Him to take us out of such a season. Quiet confidence because one cannot do anything, doesnt have any ability to do anything in this crippling Ultimate Cannot, but can only lie low and rest, wait for Him.

As my dad told me in a very trying time : "How do you know that He is not ALREADY helping you?"

National Day

2009-08-07T22:24:00.000+08:00

Having gone through much of my national service, and almost due for completion, i have along the way gained new insights on the attitude that I have towards Singapore as a nation and a home.

Throughout these one plus years in the army, a pervasive attitude of cynicism persists among many of my peers, cynicism against Singapore as a nation and even a plausible place of living. In fact i myself have been part of this cynicism at times. Little wonder, given the fact that at this age, many of my peers and myself harbour dreams and aspirations, dreams of living the life that was meant to be, perhaps somewhere else to actually see how big the world is.

Many of my friends who have returned from overseas to serve are even more cynical, having already seen how big the world is and to return to serve a system they feel trapped in. Who would want to return to the tank when they have seen the ocean?

Yet, what I hope to really see in myself is the strength to withstand cynicism even in the midst of many stifling aspects of Singaporean system. Many times, we want so many things, not realising that we already have a space within which to grow, to learn, to develop and face our character flaws, have meaningful relationships, meaningful callings to work our lives with, despite how mundane they may seem. The most mundane can actually be a blessing. And to me, this place where my family, friends, relatives and where much of my history lies, where much of my struggles and also victories are, is where i'm pretty much content to be.

Sounds like a typical national day song/essay/lyric? Nope, that's where i want my conviction to be different. To love this nation and to see the joy of living in it, not because of exhortation from everyday influences or external efforts, but because of a perspective that I choose to adopt.

However emotionally something can pull at one's heartstrings, its ultimately the perspective that does the magic trick. Take for example the songs in this season. Do they try to force this sense of belonging into people that do not believe in such a sense, in the first place? I believe in fact that the people make sense out of the songs, not the other way round. Hence, if the song speaks to you, it will, and if it doesnt, it doesnt. Each has a different conviction about different things in life, hence each will hear differently.

To top it off, I just want to be thankful for this place, the people in this place, and the experiences in this place. :)

2009-06-17T21:38:00.001+08:00

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T14:42:00.004+08:00

Yesterday, I received an sms from my mum's friend. A very meaningful message which read :

To Vivien (Tan Weilie's mother) :
Wishing you a happy mother's day.
A mother's day message to all pretty mothers:
A mum is a rose whose petals are soft
A mum is a lily whose stem is tall and strong
A mum is a person you should love forever
Trust her, believe her and never doubt her.
May God bless you. Jesus loves you :-)

Coming to 20 years of age, I think my journey of growth has been a perilous one, but also one with divine protection and guidance. At this point of growing up, I admit that i do face alot of confusion and fear. Fear from nagging issues, of what the future holds, but God says that with Him my future is secure.

It is also in this meaningful year that I want to think of my relationship with my mum. I believe many teens have their own struggles, believing that they have messed up so badly, but in light of this I want to thank God for a very important blessing in our lives - mothers. That no matter how badly we mess up they are still there for us, because of a divine innate bond I believe God has created in mothers. A love for their child that is stronger than iron or gold.

I think God placed mothers in our lives not only as guiding hands who mould us, shape us and protect us, but also to let us know something important. Many will remember the days of childhood - and i mean early childhood - times when we were utterly dependent on our mothers. And i say, that utter dependence, utter trust, is sweet indeed! Drawing upon our mothers for strength, upon their wisdom for protection, upon their tolerance for forgiveness and upon their firmness for discipline (although at that time we did not really see discipline as something we really needed). That was a time we did not need to really worry about much, only knowing that our mothers guided our lives. What a blessed, beautiful assurance, a sweet season of life.

As we grow up, we then begin to see on a different level. We realise that we cannot share every single view with our mothers. Not only that, but we begin to realise our mother's faults and imperfections - we become angry and complaining, because sometimes we see these faults present in ourselves and our lives. We blame them for not letting us go because we think we know better. And we come to a realisation that our mums cannot protect us from everything in life - knowing that, sometimes we are spiteful, and we question not only our mums, but also God. For this, we blame them for not being able to protect us from everything.

But I have come to a meek realisation, one that I'm still grappling with : that God makes our mothers as such, having their own limitations and unable to protect us from everything in life, because :

1)We still need God.
2)We must learn to love our mothers despite their flaws and weaknesses, and our struggles with them and within ourselves
3)This love is the force that will make us, as well as them, more whole as a person.
4)Our relationship with our mothers is a beautiful reflection of our dependence on God. God created this beautiful bond...let us not confuse the roles of God and mothers in our lives,
5)but to see the beauty that each one so wonderfully displays when given His/her own role to play in our life
6)that our life becomes beautiful as well.

The next time you watch an advertisement on milk powder/diapers/baby supplements, watch intently as you see the mother - child bond. Each time, the main point of the advertisement is this : that the mother will never stop until she can provide the best and only the best for her children (and hence that product, but you get the point).

Pray for me as I struggle and learn and grow stronger on how to love my mother and know her unceasing care, love and concern for me, never stopping at anything but to provide the best for my benefit.

Happy Mother's Day.

Hope

2009-05-02T00:16:00.003+08:00

Was just thinking about this verse,

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (NIV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (ESV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (NKJV)

Many times we treat the Proverbs as great advice on how to approach people, how to interact with them, practical ways to live out our lives, principles to understand to experience abundant life. Rightly so!

However this verse taught me something new - that such a verse can tell us about the character of God as well.

Okay the logic is as follows. The Bible is divinely inspired, hence it can be said that God wrote the Bible. With this, definitely God, who is the author of all things good and wholesome, knows the principles of life that will bring about goodness and wholesomeness (He Himself is the author of life). He knows the workings of life inside out, how life works, how things such as emotions, functions, thoughts work out.

Hence when God writes something like Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life, he truly knows that such is the working of the human heart : that hope deferred REALLY makes the heart sick, a longing fulfilled REALLY is a tree of life. This might sound like a no brainer, but really...it makes alot of difference! Think about this statement:

GOD KNOWS THAT HOPE DEFERREED MAKES THE HEART SICK. HE KNOWS THAT A LONGING FULFILLED IS A TREE OF LIFE!

He knows that this is what we humans go through.
This is not only interpersonal advice on how to treat another person. It is also not only a principle or direction to live life. It is about God understanding us!

It shows that God understands the fact that we as mere human creatures faint and grow weak without hope, especially timely hope. He knows that it will bring us great joy to see a godly longing being fulfilled, that we will experience abundant life. And because of this, we can trust that at the time when we cannot hold on any longer, He will give us strength and refreshing times to carry on. And ultimately He will fulfill the longing within us that results in a tree of life!

God is a merciful God, an understanding God. Even though sometimes circumstances tell us otherwise, our struggles tell us otherwise, but the Bible still says that God is an understanding God. Such a verse is an example. Though it doesn't directly say : "Hey, God is merciful and understanding", but the fact that He wrote this shows that He is.

Anyway, just met Joey and gang for dinner and prata. Joey said something striking "What we are going through now and what we are hoping to experience in the future may seem unrelated. But trust me, God has a way of linking stuff together. When you read an article, you never expect it to come out in an exam right? In a similar way, what you are going through now may have direct bearing to the future."

Hmm....chewing on that. God bless!

2009-04-12T20:06:00.002+08:00

The love of God,
Has been extended to a fallen race,
Through Christ the savior of all men,
There's hope in saving grace.

The love of God,
Is greater far,
Than Gold or silver ever could afford,
It reaches past the highest star,
And covers all the world,
It's power is eternal,
It's glory is supernal,
When all this earth,
Shall pass away,
There'll always be the love of God.

It goes beneath the deepest stain,
That sin could ever leave,
Redeeming souls to live again,
Who will on Christ believe.

2009-04-02T22:33:00.003+08:00

This week is really a great week in many ways. Praise God for His providence :D

Things at work turned out to be better alot. I am really thankful that it is getting manageable.

Also, a monumental thing happened this week where I think is a huge milestone of faith in its own right. My dad and sis actually encouraged me to hang on in the faith when I falter...this was an amazing happening which I would never have imagined would happen. I always thought I was alone in my pilgrim's progress....but God gave me great refreshment and encouragement!

On Responsibility

2009-03-29T08:57:00.002+08:00

In truth, I have been quite disgusted with myself.

God has opened my eyes as to why I find many things a chore, and also why I come upon a huge barrier in many important things in my life : NS, service, ministry, even evangelism.

Upon retrospection, and current introspection, I find myself to be quite an irresponsible person. Unwilling to take up huge mandates which the Lord has placed in my life, and which I should take up because they are good, and pleasing to God. The thing is : the more huge the mandate is, the more hesitant I will take them upon myself.

One of the reasons in this Divine diagnosis is this - I am simply afraid of taking up huge responsibilities because I am afraid that I will not be able to meet up to the standards. I fear that I will fail, make a fool of myself and there comes again the same old problem I'm struggling with - pride. Beyond that, I'm afraid of the consequences which will befall when I am not up to the task.

Once again I'm tempted to blame this upon many things - upbringing, environment, circumstances. But its staring right in my face : Get a life, a REAL life, and stop living in cowardice. Can't God work in spite of all these things, and even THROUGH them? I need to stop making excuses, because ultimately the choice is mine. I always wanted to live up to what my name means. It means bravery in Chinese. Seems that i was not born into this name.

This probably also explains why I feel that the struggles I face are so juvenile. While these struggles which I face now are what God has in mind for me too, He probably wants me to move on to something bigger.

One thing God tells me I need to learn is to be joyful, in the current set of circumstances and expectations. Joshua Harris, in his book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, says that "if you define your happiness by a point in the future, it will never arrive". While used in the context of marriage, I find this statement true in other aspects of our lives too. Even while working towards the man God wants me to be, I can enjoy and glory in God during this season of moulding too, and not whine simply because I'm not yet who God wants me to be. Every season has its own glory and divine significance.

I make a covenant with God : that I will joyfully and prayerfully take what He has given me, because I know that on His side, He will give me strength to do what He wants me to. Only that I don't shun away, because that's worse than failing.

Talks

2009-03-22T19:54:00.002+08:00

Had a few great conversations over this week, which I particularly enjoyed.

On Tuesday, I met a close friend of mine for dinner and after that, a little chat. Of all locations, it was a very reflective place to chill out and have a good chat. We talked beside a garbage dump (don't know how we ended up there, but really God's presence was there), grieved for each other in his struggles and encouraged each other in the faith. It was a very refreshing time. Who says one cannot be comforted in such a place?

Today, I talked with a sister about theology. It really broadened my perspectives. I had always thought that theology has to be fixed to a certain standard- while that is not wrong, the correct word for that standard is actually doctrine, and that standard is the biblical. Theology, meaning knowledge of God, is really personal to each person's experience. Sublime truth and experience builds up one's theology.

What really strikes me, which is what my brother told me, is that there comes a point to every Christian - when he thinks he has grown so deep, God allows something to happen to break him and make him realise that what he knows is still so shallow. God breaks the base, rebuilds it, and this time its much stronger.

Really hoping to use this time to grow in God again.

2009-03-03T21:22:00.004+08:00

Recently i just thought about it and realised that both Christians, as well as the world, have various views on maturity, even though it centers on the same subject - ugliness.

The world thinks that the more ugliness you encounter, the more debauchery you partake of, the more you give your mind and soul away to fornication, sexual immorality, hatred, discord, the more "mature" you are. And the exact opposites, which are purity, love, goodness and lovingkindness, these things are viewed upon as "naive" instead.

Yet Christians have a very different view. Yes, we may meet such ugliness along the way, but our maturity comes from the fact that although we encounter such things, we resist them, renounce them as well as our old nature associated with them, hate them, love and treasure the new life that we have. We are mature because we are counter-cultural, having the strength to deny our own flesh when all the world is blaring at us to give in to our sinful nature, yet a still small voice tells us that He is here with us and upholds us.

2009-02-16T21:45:00.002+08:00

The Lord is going to teach me a very powerful lesson on love! Even through the things that I go through, I think that the Lord will use my admiration, pain, joy, logic, emotions and whatever there is, to teach me the very very true nature of love, and to see how utterly desirable He is that will really change my will, my mind, my heart and soul, into the passionate person that I long to be. Being passionate not just for the sake of being passionate but being so because this is the only response that is possible upon encountering Him :D

The Beauty of a believer's life

2009-02-10T21:37:00.003+08:00

Many ask why Christians are willing to go through trial and tribulation, to go through fire and water, to go through so much suffering just to seek God and believe in Him.

I think God has shown me one answer (out of many) :D

That answer would be the gentle yet grandiose beauty I have seen in the lives of other believers who have a deep relationship with their Lord. That indescribable purity and love that flows out of these people's lives and touches others. That otherworldly quality that is rooted in something so real! And so good! That although such a faith is present in this world's troubles, it is not ensnared by this world's cynicism. An anointing of strength from God, that enables one to go forth in times bright and dark, strength to appreciate beauty and also strength to weather through ugliness. A resurrection and sanctification of a believer's spiritual life, ordained by the only one who is capable of doing so, but is also more than willing to do so - the God of the how much more!

I don't know about you, but such a life has captivated me. To such an extent that I know that any other way of living life will not be worth the living at all, and I count it all rubbish for the sake of the joy I described above. That this is the only way to live, and nothing is going to stop my way to enjoy that fellowship and joy in my life, to grow into this wonder, which the mindblowing beauty of it all is the fact that - such a life has become my destiny since I have been made complete in Christ!! Yes, it is available to me, and dear friend, to you too! :)

On Pain

2009-02-08T21:48:00.004+08:00

Many times spiritual and emotional pain is a great diagnostic tool. 'No pain' may sound like a very attractive ideal, but no pain in a sinful world is not right - because the pain is precisely there to tell you that something is wrong. Imagine putting your hand into a sizzling frying pan! Pain may actually be a good thing sometimes, it is God's input reactionary mechanism to tell you - that something must change.

Pain is also God's way of moulding us into greater use, because only when we've encountered that particular pain in that particular area, that we have the orientation and repositories through which God might work to minister to particular hurting souls with particular struggles. As is said in Scripture,

Romans 8:18-27
Future Glory
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Really great to be able to hear from God His wisdom in a time like NS. Let's all look forward to becoming the treasures and mighty conquerors that we were made to be. In Christ, all things are possible :D

2009

2009-01-04T23:20:00.005+08:00

The heralding of new beginnings! It was goodbye to a particularly hard 2008 for me. Is this coming year going to be easier, or yet another mortal combat with the giants of life? What is God doing in this year that is working out His plans for my future, plans not to harm but to prosper me? Most certainly prosperity and what I went through don't seem synonymous.

God told me last year "I'm going to bring you on an adventure, weilie!" An adventure indeed, one I fight to cling to to my life and even the last vestiges of my faith. 'Adventure' sounded more to me like a rollercoaster ride, something fun, something enjoyable, something 'weeeeeeeee!', not anything so out of control that i would have to face. It was a year I had seen the most beautiful things of God, the most wonderful virtues, yet on the other end of the spectrum, seen the ugliest conceptions of thought and deed. I think God is taking me out of where I want to be into where I don't want, so that I can transform from the man that God doesn't want me to be into what He wants.

I am reminded of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress" (A highly recommended great classic!). The main character, Christian, is not just another guy in another storybook, but it symbolises every Christian that wants to have the reward and the inheritance.

2009 may be the year that I traverse exotic lands, talk with great people, enter the valley of the shadow of death and hopefully come out alive (I pray).

One thing I am glad, is that I emerge out of 2008 still a Christian, out of many beatings, floggings and affliction. That was barely possible and I thank God that He sustained me. I hope I can still say of this the end of this year, may God empower me and give me His grace. Guys who read this, uphold me and pray for me!

I hope i grow spiritually this year. Really. If i were to stop at where i am now i'd be better off dead. Okay maybe that was a little extreme but seriously i see truth in that. Since I've started on the journey i must finish it! Wanting to love God more, love people more, do things out of a heart wrought by grace and not legalism, dwell on whatever is good and noble and pure and holy, but sometimes i feel really incapacitated and incapable of doing so and giving God glory. It feels as if i have lost all capacity to give God praise, to love Him and to be the Christian that He wants me to be. It is another "Valley of the Shadow of Death" experience.

Let me emerge out of this spiritual crisis, stronger, this 2009. Lord I'm holding on.

Struggling

2008-12-22T18:33:00.003+08:00

This year has been a particularly hard year for me, in a sense that i had to contend and struggle with many things on a level that exceeds my comfort zone. I learnt many things the hard way, and i experienced things which struck me as surprising - why would they happen to my life in the first place? If God has planned for a really close relationship with me, why has He allowed things in my life which I personally think bring me further from Him instead?

Pleasant and Desirable

2008-11-16T21:34:00.003+08:00

One thing I have learnt is that the Lord really seeks of His children in their worship, to just simply know the fact that He is pleasant and desirable, and to live unto that truth by desiring nothing else but the sweet companionship and fellowship of the Lord in their lives :D.

Truly, and boldly I say, that even our sin-distorted perception cannot nullify the emphatic fact that God is good, holy, pleasing, and is the divine Source of all good, holy and pleasant things. I pray that God will allow me to see this clearer by the day.

The main bait of the world lies in this : the deception that anything else can be more pleasant and good than our God. That the sweet fellowship with Jesus can be easily bought over, replaced by something else that can give greater satisfaction. May that be accursed! Only the Lord and the Lord alone be my true joy.

I pray today that you will also begin to enjoy God as being the pleasant and good God, sustaining all good things and pleasant things and wonderful things in your life. Lets enjoy God!

The God that Gives Us Living Hope

2008-11-05T23:47:00.000+08:00

Great devotion! hope you guys will be blessed by it :D

The God that Gives Us Living Hope

Dr. John Barnett
Discover the Book
Our Great and Mighty God has His Hand reaching down from Heaven to each of us. He says to us:

• I am your Creator (Isaiah 42:5).
God made you just like you are to do what no one else can do. You are my special, precious child. Trust Me, follow Me, worship Me. We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Creator by saying to Him:
I will trust You Lord; and I will follow You Lord; and I will worship You Lord.

• I am your Sustainer (Isaiah 42:6).
God wants to hold your hand and keep you. Trust Me enough to grab My Hand, and love Me enough to let Me shine through your life. We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Sustainer by saying to Him:
I want to by faith, from this moment forward, start reaching up each new day I live and hold onto Your Hand to show that I really do trust You; and I want to love You so that others see Your love in me.

• I am your Redeemer (Isaiah 42:7).
God bought and paid for with Christ's blood, a great price. Realize anew that you are not your own, you belong to Me. Decide anew that what you say, where you go, what you wear, and how you fill your time needs to bring honor to Me as your God. We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Redeemer by saying to Him:
Thank you for buying me, I am unworthy of Your love; and I belong to You so I want You to be pleased today with what I say, where I go, what I wear, and how I spend my priceless moments of life.

• I am your Revealer (Isaiah 42:9).
God has spoken in this Word you hold. He leads you through His Word, comforts and keeps you with His Word, and changes you into more usefulness only by His Word. He says, "Let My Word fill your mind and life". We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Revealer by saying to Him:
I want to get into Your Word today and spend time with You my Lord; and I want to feel your comfort; and I want to follow Your will for my life; and I want you to change me a little more to be like Jesus today than I was yesterday.

• I am your Leader (Isaiah 48:17c).
God has given to us the pathway we are to follow in life (Psalm 16:11); and He alone is the guide we can safely follow. The Lord wants to guide and keep us; and often, it is much more than we want to follow and trust. We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Leader by saying to Him:
I want to follow Your Path. I will submit to You as my Leader today. And when the path gets rough, or I begin to fear, I want to reach up again and take Your Hand stretched out to me.

• I am your Peace-Giver (Isaiah 48:17).
God has told us over and over that great peace belongs to all who will love and obey His Word (Psalm 119:165). He offers peace that flows like a river through every part of our lives; and He offers a cleansing wave of His grace across the beaches of our lives--so that we can walk on each new day of life with a fresh, new beginning. We need to from our spirits respond to Him as Peace-Giver by saying to Him:
I want Your peace every moment. Keep me in that perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3), and I will do my part-I will keep my mind focused on You. When I feel restless I will repent of whatever wickedness prompted that feeling, look back at You and thank you for Your river of peace, and waves of righteousness.

Contrition

2008-10-30T23:40:00.002+08:00

Found this to be a great devotion :D

O thou Most High,
It becomes me to be low in thy presence.
I am nothing compared with thee;
I possess not the rank and power of angels,
but thou hast made me what I am,
and placed me where I am;
help me to acquiesce in thy sovereign pleasure.
I thank thee that in the embryo state
of my endless being
I am capable by grace of improvement;
that I can bear thy image,
not by submissiveness, but by design,
and can work with thee and advance thy cause
and glory.
But, alas, the crown has fallen from my head:
I have sinned;
I am alien to thee;
my head is deceitful and wicked,
my mind an enemy to thy law.
Yet, in my lostness thou hast laid help
on the Mighty One
and he comes between to put his hands
on us both,
my Umpire, Daysman, Mediator,
whose blood is my peace,
whose righteousness is my strength,
whose condemnation is my freedom,
whose Spirit is my power,
whose heaven is my heritage.
Grant that I may feel more the strength
of thy grace
in subduing the evil of my nature,
in loosing me from the present evil world,
in supporting me under the trials of life,
in enabling me to abide with thee in my valleys,
in exercising me to have a conscience void
of offence before thee and before men.
In all my affairs may I distinguish between
duty and anxiety,
and may my character and not my
circumstances chiefly engage me.

Was going through a particularly hard time, but thanks be to God. Went to read Mr. Mok's blog, which reminded me of my first love and joy when I first came to salvation - the great peace and assurance, joy of being clean and pure standing before God, of being loved unconditionally by God. Really was a timely encouragement.

Sometimes God's promises really seem far and idealistic. Take the Israelites for example - a lush, green and overflowing Promised Land was the last thing to come to their minds in the midst of wilderness, thirst and uncertainty. Yet do we wish to take God at His Word, or to gape and struggle and tug with our fleshly effort, knowing that the flesh yields no fruit?

One thing God told me recently : Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to wait in a good, holy and befitting attitude. I am hanging on to God as I lay humbly at His feet, giving Him praise in affliction as His Spirit sets me free!

An Open Field

2008-09-21T22:07:00.002+08:00

Sometimes, I really feel that faith is like an open field, wide and limitless, its great resources for us to explore, structures for us to build on, monuments for us to build in praise to God. Imagine, the joy that is derived from all that greenery, that wonder!

Yet I only pray that in my feeble understanding of the mystery of faith, God will deliver me and open my eyes to see. That this faith which I am called to have cannot be comprehended by my sinful mind, and that part of the process of adding to this lush green field of faith, great monuments and ornaments, is to facilitate in the building of ornaments in other people's fields. To edify them, be a vessel of strength through which God can work. Sometimes, through this we see how God works through us to give resolutions to the problems in other's lives that are actually so similar to our struggles.

In the confines and shackles of our minds, we sometimes focus more on the ugliness of the obstacle or the setback. That is when the grass in our fields become stale blight, losing their life, unable to exude that lush fragrance. Only when we let God's Spirit rain down can we actually bring back that grass to life!

Dear brothers reading this, wanna encourage you that God has already released you from your shackles just as He has released mine. Let us press on to know Him more :D

Strength

2008-08-16T23:58:00.002+08:00

Today Jit talked about a topic which i think is very crucial for young men - strength. Indeed I have been hearing God's voice telling me to be strengthened, to grow as a man of Christ and that He will empower me, so was quite surprised to find Jit talking bout this topic today too.

1. Strength of faithfulness
To be faithful requires strength! Faith is not some fluffy nice substance, exercised only in pleasant times. True faith is exhibited in the times of trial. The glory of young men is their strength and this strength is shown when despite rounds after rounds of trials and temptations, we remain pure and faithful. Joseph is indeed a great example of this, especially in the faith he displayed despite betrayal, temptation, frustration and long years of suffering.

2. Strength to stand
In this time and era of godlessness, it is crucial for us to take a stand and not stand on the sidelines. Daniel was an example of this, where he refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's statue. Such godliness and strength does really need to be revived in us today!

To me, strength seems like the apex of a high mountain. Definitely i dont see myself as strong...being timid and sinful in so many ways. Today it seems like a challenge to me to take God at His Word when He says that He will turn my weakness to strength, and my foolishness to wisdom.

Pray that i will no longer cower in fear, but rise in strength to claim the victory. :D

An Ode of Thanksgiving!

2008-07-27T12:38:00.004+08:00

All right! This marks 6 months of my enlistment into national service. Come to think of it, this is the first post since my enlistment :D. Indeed, God has been faithful, and I have no doubt that He will continue to be, in this journey of which a quarter has already been undertaken.

These 6 months have definitely been a grueling journey, but I am thankful that it is that kind of fire which seeks to purify, and to prove quality and mettle. God wants to build me up, and this building up can only be done when I am thrust out of my comfort zone. In 6 months I have undergone suffering, affliction and stress, but have also received much encouragement and assurance.

"1 Peter 4:12 [ Suffering for Being a Christian ] Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you."

"Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Committing yourself unto God in camp, I have discovered, involves making many choices. Choices which might not be especially comfortable, but will ultimately bring life.

Dear friends, do indeed lift me up in your prayers - I need them! And even as I undertake the rest of the journey, I pray that I will do so in faith and joy :D

His Grace Is Sufficient For Us

2008-01-15T16:44:00.000+08:00

Bob was caught up in the spirit where he and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing against Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does not swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at Satan's throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said he sure did not look like much! Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air, let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My grace can get you home. My grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop."

from the Mind's Retreat

2008-01-13T19:59:00.000+08:00

For most of us, a time is drawing near where we cross the new threshold of independence - enlistment! This independence comes to us not only in the geographical sense, but also in the monetary sense because, for many of us, we will be receiving for the first time an NS allowance, that does not come from our parents.

However, the manner we use this allowance and manage it may have a bearing on the role of money in our future lives - whether money is our master, or the other way round.

Recently, after pondering over it, I found out that budget-ing and all that is actually quite tough (forgive me, im very slow in matters like this :D), and i draw from alot of my sister's experiences in the working world. Hence i find that money is important and hard to earn, but still God's Word reminds us that over emphasis will definitely ruin our lives and i really pray that i will have the wisdom to handle it in a Godly manner, and in a way that will manifest and express love to the people around me. I always thought that it was a simple matter. Now i think im quite naive.

Hence, in this post i hope to etch in my mind a few ways to spend my money that will glorify God. I think that people who use temporal stuff like money to invest in eternal things are very wise and i want to model after people like them.

My Monetary Agreement with God

In this agreement, a few guidelines shall stand
- money is
1. a creation that God has allowed to bring convenience into our lives.
Hence, one shall neither scoff at it nor hoard it, for either view will be too skewed. To handle
money i think that i must first have a proper standpoint :D
2. not the Provider of needs, but one of many channels in which needs
are provided.
Money is only a way to obtain needs, not the Source of it.
3. DEFINITELY not the central point of a dynamic relationship with God.
Who do you want to have a relationship with? The living God, Creator of Heaven and Earth
who loves you so much, or inanimate stacks of paper?

Hence, with such guidelines in mind, the steps taken to understand its place and use it are listed below.

Views to adopt on money
1. To have a healthy, balanced viewpoint of money
2. To thank God for its presence as a creation and the provision of it as a blessing, not to
worship it as a Creator
3. To view its usage as another opportunity to glorify God

Usage patterns to adopt
1. To give back a portion of it back to God, overflowing with thankfulness for His blessings
and to build His kingdom
2. To use money in a way for edification of self and of others, henceforth pointing them to
Christ
3. To give a portion to my parents who have given so selflessly to bring me up
4. To use money as an expression of love to others and to God's ways, whether through
treats, gifts or otherwise
5. To save up but not to hoard
6. To earn it to what my ability and need warrants for, and not to give my life to its
acquisition
7. To spend to the right extent depending on the situation, but never to compromise its usage
as an expression of love and concern to others
8. To not spend lavishly
9. In life after National Service, to be willing to sacrifice time used to acquire money for
spending quality time with family and friends

This is committed to the Lord and i pray that the Lord may, be His unfailing mercies and grace, enable me to live a life and adopt a money management habit that will glorify Him! Lord Jesus, help me to accomplish it, by your grace and provision, amen.

2007-12-26T01:36:00.000+08:00

The Best Christmas Gift

2007-12-24T23:38:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas.

I dont know if anyone will be reading this.

But if you do I believe its God's message for you. This is more than a coincidence.

The best Christmas gift is the One whom Christmas is centred around.

Don't dismiss this as just another "Christian thing". This may well change your life.

You may be hurt and afflicted.

Or you may be joyful.

But however you feel, the one and only God of this universe, came down in flesh.

He was born to die for your sins.

For you. I mean you.

You are now safe. No longer condemned.

Be free! If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.

I just want to encourage you to know Him as your Lord and Saviour, and have a wonderful relationship with the God of glory.

One who will never disappoint.

God bless.

(Leave me a message at the comments if you want me to pray for you :D)

Reminiscent

2007-12-09T23:25:00.000+08:00

Recently there has been this "25 Years of Drama" theme on TV, celebrating 25 years of television serial production. This indeed brings back alot of good old memories to reminisce about.

In my opinion, the drama serials of yesteryear are noteworthy. Somehow i feel that present series lack the lustre and realism of yesteryear dramas (especially those serials in the 80s and early 90s). While not dismissing the merits of today's dramas, one must say that the ones in the present are sometimes unreal, and at best, corny! :D Take for example the police series Metamorphosis on Channel 8 (yes the one starring rui en)

Metamorphosis

This was quite a blockbuster but mainly because of its high adrenaline content which drew many to keep watching. The storyline was quite compelling though but fast pace and development has compromised realism.

In a way the dramas of old succeeded because they could successfully enable the viewer to associate with the emotions involved and evoke them to great effect. Also, the ones in the older generation, namely our grandparents, also found them much easier to relate to because these struggles were quite relevant to their era. Personally for me, i felt that such dramas were able to tug at my heart and that is why they bring back alot of good memories, especially during my childhood years (the days where i played hopscotch and five stones with cumulonimbus)

Stepping Out

Five Foot Way

The Awakening (Wu Suo Nan Yang, a great classic in which many of us werent even born yet when it aired!)

Of course, there were some that by no means were realistic, but they were still classics because of the visuals, presentation and emotional content, which again i feel, peaked at their golden age in the 80s and late 90s.

The Unbeatables

Going back further in time, the 80s, a mish mash of retro funk, industrialisation, heavy mascara and bushy hair. It heralded a dawning of new ideals, yet retaining that rustic charm that was bequeathed by the 70s era. This worked out in many areas such as

-Nationalism and national goals

Xin Bing Xiao Zhuan

-Everyday lifestyle

Kopi O

-Education

Good morning, Sir (where Chen Liping earned the famous "ai-yo-yo" nickname)

Of course, these are all wonderful and masterful works of art and culture that all of us indeed have to respect. 25 years have indeed brought Mandarin TV serials in Singapore a long way, and whether we liked the new changes or not, thank God that the term "drama" now encompasses dynamic change in its own way that nobody can seek to downplay.

witch yoo hee!

2007-12-07T23:12:00.000+08:00

2007-11-15T13:25:00.000+08:00

Hi guys...the exams just ended and indeed give thanks to God! Anyway, for those of you who think that your efforts are too meagre and small, too insignificant, Jesus is there to magnify...

5 Loaves and 2 Fishes
Corrinne May

A little boy of thirteen
was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people laughing
and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening
to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom,
even the kids could understand

The hours passed so quickly
the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry
but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox
at the little that he had
He wasn't sure what good it'd do
there were thousands to be fed

But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
the kindness in His smile
and the boy cried out
with the trust of a child
he said:

"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
to feed them all"

I often think about that boy
when I'm feeling small
and I worry that the work I do
means nothing at all

But every single tear I cry
is a diamond in His hands
and every door that slams in my face
I will offer up in prayer

So I'll give you every breadth that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All that you need is my "Amen"

Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small

I trust in you
I trust in you

Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
no gift is too small

Emancipation!

2007-11-14T20:35:00.000+08:00

Yes, freedom rings in this place.

The A's are about to be over, except for 2 MCQs!

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

d.gray-man

2007-11-06T18:51:00.000+08:00

haha heres the first opening of d.gray-man...the full version of the song not seen on tv

INNOCENT SORROW by
Abingdon Boy's School

Romanised lyrics:
saketa mune no kizuguchi ni afurenagareru PAIN
In the dark
kasaneaeta shunkan no tsunagaru omoi tokashite

samenai netsu ni unasarete saigo no koe mo
kikoenai

Don't cry kowaresou na hodo dakishimetara
kimi ga furuete ita Oh...
sotto kazasu tenohira ni furete misete Never...
Until the end

koboreochiru suna no you ni hakanai negai wo
Close to the light
tojita kimi no omokage ni karenai namida nijinde

hodoita yubi no sukima kara inori ga fukaku
tsukisasaru

Don't cry hatenai itami to kanashimi kara
kimi wo sukueta darou Oh...
motto tsuyoku tenohira ni furete misete Ever and
never end
tokihanatsu So far away

kizamu inochi no tsubasa de umarekawaru toki
wo machikogarete

Don't cry kowaresou na hodo dakishimetara
kimi ga furuete ita Oh...
sotto kazusu tenohira ni furete misete

kitto sagashite ita nda iroasenai kimi to iu na no
kiseki wo
motto tsuyoku tenohira de boku ni furete Ever and
never end

Translation:
From this gaping wound in my chest flows pain in the dark
Dissolving the love that binds each instant together

Thrashing with a fever from which I cannot awake,
can't even hear the last voice

Don't cry, when I held you tight enough to break
You trembled, oh...
Softly touch my upraised palms, never...until the end

Fragile wishes like the sand that spills over, close to the light
Your face is closed, blurred by the tears that never dry up

My prayers pierce deeply through the cracks of my fingers

Don't cry, how much endless pain and sorrow
Could I have saved you from?
Oh...Touch me harder with your hands, ever and never end
Release it, so far away

With these wings of life, I long for the time of rebirth

Don't cry, when I held you tight enough to break
You trembled, oh...
Softly touch my upraised

Ive been searching for an unfading miracle called you
Touch me harder with your hands, ever and never end

Motivation

2007-10-22T18:01:00.000+08:00

Recently Howard discovered a tool that can be used to make motivational posters. The captions, of course, could sometimes be far from motivational...

Henceforth I show pity to these classmates of mine who never ever thought that their candid pictures would be churned into such abominations :)

Have fun and God bless.

2007-10-16T09:16:00.000+08:00

There are some hearts like wells green-mossed and deep
As ever summer saw,
And cool their water is, yea, cool and sweet;
But you must come to draw.
They hoard not, yet they rest in calm content,
And not unsought will give;
They can be quiet with their wealth unspent,
So self-contained they live.

—Author unknown.

I pray that my heart can be of such pristine beauty, that it may ever reflect the heart of Christ!

study break

2007-10-15T15:56:00.000+08:00

Alright, this heralds the start of the 2 week study break. The term study break might sound deceptively relaxing, but this is in fact the time where we cannot afford to let go!

The A Levels starts in 2 weeks time, and right now everybody is going full speed ahead. Was talking to Isaac the other day who told me that this is the time when we are facing great uncertainty. Indeed, with piles of tutorials and uncleared concepts it seems like we're approaching the A levels as if rushing to an oncoming train, and we may be tempted to doubt. But look upon it in another light - such a situation may just mean the perfect time to trust in God, let go of all our worries into His hands, and do all that needs to be done with confidence that He will bring us success!

Right now i just pray for all my friends who are going through this, and indeed,

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Well, let us all press on in the Lord and remember to use this extra time not only to polish up on our studies but also all that needs to be improved on our relationships, our character and our walk with God.

You are faithful, Your joy is my strength

All the way for the A's guys!

2007-10-11T21:13:00.000+08:00

Failure is an event, never a person. Failure is a detour, never a dead end street. You dont drown by falling into the water, you drown by staying there and not asking for help and still clinging on to your preconceived notions.

-Miss Tan Lok Huang

God bless, beloved sister in Christ!

2007-09-18T22:27:00.000+08:00

This post is dedicated to Dawn who will be leaving Singapore in her God-given calling to give the Lord glory in her new job.

Thank God for blessing all of us in the worship ministry with such a great sister. Dawn has served God with excellence and constantly encouraged us. Yes, Dawn is the cute and bubbly one in purple.

Dawn is both a musical and a spiritual mentor to me. When I had just started serving, God used her as a tool for encouragement and guidance and i really appreciate it.

God bless Dawn and may God use you to fulfill His purpose and will! All the best for your future endeavours.

Prelims

2007-09-12T13:06:00.001+08:00

Day 4 of Prelims. Relying on God's grace to get through it!

Really suffering from insomnia these few days...can't get to sleep until 3 am in the night.

Trust in God everyone!

2007-09-10T20:38:00.000+08:00

"Music, absolute music, only expresses itself through sound. But it obviously has a content; its not just sound. The problem is that this content cannot really be articulated in a objective, rational, scientific way with words. If we were able to articulate it in a rational, scientific way then music would be unnecessary. But the fact that it is not possible to articulate it in a rational, scientific way does not mean that it does not have a content and therefore, the question is what is this content and how do you realise it."

-Maestro Daniel Barenboim

Songs Without Words

2007-09-06T16:43:00.000+08:00

Just borrowed Songs Without Words by Mendelssohn from the library.

The whole series of Songs Without Words is actually very cool. To Mendelssohn's contemporaries, the whole notion of songs without words seems absurd : what are songs if not for their lyrics?

Yet Mendelssohn accomplished this marvellously through economical use of notes and brought out shades and intensities of different emotions through simplicity. The series of compositions are in fact short melodious tunes that bring out each facet of emotion.

Well, maybe you could go to YouTube or somewhere else to search for it. Its really nice :P

Have a blessed week.

Spiritual Shortsightedness

2007-09-01T23:47:00.000+08:00

From Crosswalk Devotional : In touch with Charles Stanley

September 1-2, 2007 – Spiritual Shortsightedness – Genesis 25:29-34
In a moment of weakness, we have the potential of making mistakes with longlasting consequences. Esau did when he sold his birthright—which gave him authority over his family and a double portion of the inheritance—for a bowl of soup. His error may seem foolish, but all of us can land in situations where good sense and spiritual commitment are undermined by our frailty.

One effective defense against temptation is to know when we are weak. Satan often strikes after waiting for us to reach our physical and emotional limits. He reasons that we will lack the resources to resist what he offers, which he tailors to our perceived need. Wise believers avoid becoming too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). Letting oneself reach such extremes opens the door for Satan’s short-term solutions, like an unwise business deal or an unsuitable marriage partner. Keep in mind that his plans will likely have a high price that must be paid for a long time.

Many people have “sold” their spiritual birthright—namely, God’s plan and blessings for them—because they never stopped to consider the consequences of a short-term solution. Believers should make a habit of questioning their decisions:

What will the consequences be if I make this choice? How will what I’m about to do affect my relationship with the Lord? My family? My church? Will I be pleased tomorrow with what I am doing today? When we are accustomed to evaluating decisions in this way, we will be less likely to succumb to Satan’s persuasion in our weak moments.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yea its one week away. For the first time i'll be laying my hands on that 9-footer Steinway in VCH!

Would really be quite scary. Yet God is bigger and He will deliver...Father fill me with Your Spirit!

Praise Him!

If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed

2007-08-28T00:54:00.000+08:00

Was doing quiet time. God spoke this to me which i felt was very powerful :

Those who bring news of the Gospel are like those who set prisoners free from their chains.

Yea...have a blessed week ahead!

Jericho

2007-08-22T18:57:00.000+08:00

Composer:
Bert Appermont

A very beautiful concert band piece depicting the story of the Israelites and the city of Jericho.

The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 5: 13-15
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord [d] have for his servant?"
15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Joshua 6
1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it."
7 And he ordered the people, "Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD."
8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD's covenant followed them.
9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding.
10 But Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!"
11 So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding.
14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.
16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!
17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted [a] to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute [b] and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.
18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.
19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."
20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.
21 They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her."
23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD's house.
25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.
26 At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: "Cursed before the LORD is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: "At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gates."
27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

Belief in God - Intellectual Suicide?

2007-08-10T23:21:00.000+08:00

Went for YFC's Perspectives seminar today. A very engaging speaker, Dr. Ng Pak Tee, talked on the issue of whether believing in the existence of a divine God actually equates to subjugating our mind, free will and logic. Well, this i learnt today:

God is not the opium of the masses, believing in Him does not mean that one is forfeiting
logic and sanity.

The world is governed by coherence, by order. Indeed, this order is in astronomical proportion. Consider the gravitational constant, g, which is approximately= 9.81m/s^2. If the value of this constant differed by a few decimal digits, the whole earth would have crashed in on its own weight! Even for our existence, the conditions have to be set in such a way that without a divine hand behind it, nothing would happen. Yes, a divine hand, a higher order being has to be behind it all.

Hence, if we believe that all these uncannily precise conditions and order governing our universe came about randomly, by itself, then that would be the more irrational choice! Which is more suicidal, then :P?

Well, have a nice week and God bless!

Patriotism

2007-08-08T21:58:00.000+08:00

National day is looming overhead and i'm here to blog about revel in the celebration and outing today :P

Set off from school for the AJ race today...nice idea, but a wee bit monotonous. Still, we enjoyed the bus rides with miss tan! lots of jokes and fun along the way. returned to school for a concert, then went out for lunch and pool.

The commemoration of national day indeed brings to mind the notion of patriotism. Patriotism is not the usual emotional hyperactivity that many people sometimes tend to overplay. And yes, it also follows that you don't feel patriotic only once a year, on National Day. I feel that patriotism stems from an assurance and thankful attitude that God has placed you in this nation, in this time :P

Patriotism does not mean mindless lauding of national icons, government policies or even the parade. A truly patriotic mind is a critical one, not a delusional and unrealistic one. We've got to realise that other than God's kingdom, earthly ones are far from perfect. But that does not give us reason not to do our best to make it more habitable. A patriotic person does not cheer and throw his hands into the air, believing policies are seamless and ingenious when they are not. Instead, he or she critically analyzes what is wrong, and then stands up to rectify the mistake out of love for his nation.

I believe people like Gideon were really patriotic; in biblical times, when the hearts of the Israelites turned hard, Gideon dared to stand up and oppose the practice of idolatry, much to the disapproval and contempt of many people. He dared to step out and practically do stuff that will eradicate whatever ruined his people, even though he met disapproval.

This national day, think again: are you only patriotic once a year? Or do you thank God and sing His praises for placing You in this nation because He has His plans?

Have a blessed National Day!

List of 7

2007-08-07T22:13:00.000+08:00

Tagged by Rutian, heres my list of 7 habits:

The rules:
a. Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves.
b. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post with their 7 things as well as these rules.
c. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog.
Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Here goes...:
1. I love prata, absolutely. Any flavour.
2. I hate steamboat...which is quite weird. Many people love it.
3. Since primary school i am always the one having the smallest stature in the entire school.
4. I am 18. Seriously.
5. Im asthmatic but i love sports.
6. I wanna be a music teacher.
7. I want to have a deeper relationship with God! He's my best friend!

OK, now here are the people to be tagged :
Cumulonimbus, Patrick, Joey, Samuel (Chew, Yu), Chris, Daryl

A frank and manly determination

2007-08-03T22:54:00.000+08:00

Set out in the very morning of your lives with a frank and manly determination to look simply for what is right and true in all things.... This is the only way to know God's will and do it. You may not find it at once, but you have set your face in the true direction to find it.
—Jeremy Taylor.

Here i am to worship

2007-07-03T21:54:00.001+08:00

Spartacus

2007-06-29T22:59:00.000+08:00

by James Leslie Mitchell

O thou who had lived for Freedom when the Night

Had hardly yet begun; when little light
Blinded the eyes of men, and dawntime seemed
So far and faint - a foolish dream half-dreamed!

Through the blind drift of days and ways forgot

Thy name, thy purpose: these have faded not!

From out the darkling heavens of misty Time

Clear is thy light, and like the Ocean's Chime

Thy voice. Yea, clear as when unflinchingly
Thou ledst the hordes of helotry to die
And fell in glorious fight, nor knew the day

The creaking crosses fringed the Appian Way-

Sport of the wings, O ashes of the Strong!
But down the aeons roars the helots' song

Calling to battle. Long as on the shore

The washing tides shall crumble cliff and nore
Remembered shalt thou be who dauntless gave

Unto the owrld the lordship of the slave!

Just finished reading the novel Spartacus by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. A great classic written in 1932, the book recounts, albeit with a little dramatisation, of the slave revolt against the Romans in 73BC led by the gladiator Spartacus.

The plot follows a rather accurate historical flow. Even though several fictional characters were conceptualised in the novel, they helped to fill in the inexplicable parts of history, rather than deviate the storyline away from the actual happenings. Of these were the Greek eunuch Kleon, supposedly the brain engine for the revolt, as well as Elpinice the gladiator woman, lover of Spartacus.

It was a story of epic proportions. The chances were set, the circumstances were right and by a stroke of chance and some radicalism many slaves throughout the land decided to join the Gladiators, after news of the latter's revolt stormed through the land like wildfire. Together, this slave-Gladiator band plundered and took lands, defeated Roman legions and stumped the holier-than-thou Roman consuls who never imagined that the great empire could be defeated by the lower class, the pariahs, the condemned.

Spartacus and his legions marched North with initial plans to escape from Italy. Finally he reached the point of freedom, but greater ambition engulfed him. He did not want to just escape. Influenced by the eunuch Kleon, he wanted to rule and create a land of his own, with neither slaves nor Masters. So just when he had reached the point of freedom, he turned back and led the slave band, uncertain of their future but plainly banking their hopes on this leader, even though he was finally defeated.

The novel consisted of many interesting features. One of it was that the men, who came from different backgrounds, having different idiosyncracies, habits, commitments and even religion united together for a brighter tomorrow, despite inability to tolerate one another. The Jew commander Gershom ben Sanballat, viewed with disdain the other commanders who are Gentiles; Kleon hated the rest for he harboured a deep resentment and an inferiority complex of his status as a eunuch; Gannicus, the troublemaker, practically hated almost the whole council of the commanders. Indeed in such times it is suprising to see men depend on each other, yet hating and despising each other. Perhaps necessity and contempt coexisted in that time where the lines of friend and foe were blurred. Men of differences, fighting for a common tomorrow, a brighter one, one without torment and oppression.

The Spartacus portrayed in this book was a rather unique one. Queer and irregular in character, he was sometimes harsh, and at other times emotional. At times he would buckle under emotional eruptions and seek solace with his female companions. Yet he was a commander able to sympathise with the slaves, for he was once a slave himself. This Spartacus was authoritative when the need arose, but Gibbon also managed to portray him as somewhat personal and compassionate through instances like when he sat down and talked with the Sicel maid, Mella.

Gibbon was also adept at trickling details of the average slave into a story so epic that many would not think experiences of the laymen would matter. He brought the reader into a perspective at ground level, allowing us to see personal events the anguish and misery of slaves who had to face dead kin and desperation of women when faced with Roman soldiers. Such an element gave a personal touch to the story and was indeed very appealing to the emotional aspect, when one sympathises with the sufferings and miseries that befall on both the average layman and the person with status. Furthermore, he uses very strong, emotive language in capturing the passions and emotions of both layman and people of power.

Language is laden heavily with Latin cadences. Structure has a very much Latin style, and this brings the readers back in time. One downside of the novel was that it could get very dry especially when strategic parts of war were lengthy. Other than this, it is definitely a good read, one that appeals to the deepest recesses of your emotions and will absolutely satify any drama-mama with its epic Roman battles, plots and relationships.

Overall rating: 4 stars

And Spartacus made his way towards Crassus himself through many men, and inflicting many wounds; but he did not succeed in reaching Crassus, though he engaged and killed two centurions. And at last, after those about him had fled, he kept his ground, and, being surrounded by a great number, he fought till he was cut down.

Spartacus is available at the NLB. Have a good read and a blessed week!

Farewell brother, rest in the Lord

2007-06-25T22:48:00.001+08:00

Ex Catholic High student Thaddeus has passed away on a triathlon trial.

Even though i might not have known him personally, I still wish him a peaceful farewell as he returns home to be with the Lord Jesus.

Indeed i cannot help but observe the fragility of life. Thaddeus came in third in the triathlon, not to bask in glory nor to receive cheers, but to have fully run the race and kept the faith in this life on earth.

And as i look at this, i cannot help but wonder about my life.
Yet not my will, but Your will be done.

Goodbye brother.

Contentment

2007-06-19T14:55:00.000+08:00

Now i know.

i was always drenched in love but i thought that my life was a desert.
i always viewed richness to be how much one had, but in fact it was a measure of how little one needs.
i always thought that others were so abundantly blessed, but never realised that my blessings were so unique.

care was not always manifested in blaring trumpets and deeds
but subtly whispered even when i thought i didnt need it
for the people, the things and the hope
was freely given by Your spirit, not by my merit

Holidays!

2007-06-08T00:21:00.000+08:00

Its the June holidays.

And there's been a lacuna in my work manuscript...a hiatus. An interrupted break that no systematic religious scientific bookworming can fill.

I can't stand work no more!

Ahaha.

Time to go maniacal over what i always wanted to be kooky and unhinged about - blues, jazz, the pianoforte, the arts, guitaring. But no there's just no time...its all a vacuum filled with more work and no air. Just more of the mundane.

I can't stand work no more!

Perhaps that's the reason why this blog is getting a chance of redemption of having another equally senseless post on it :P.

Rock on and have a blessed week.

Once for all

2007-04-07T23:44:00.000+08:00

This day laid smack between the 2 most important events in history.

The day before it was the victory over sin; where all were saved through the sacrifice of One.

The day after it showed that death had no hold over Him.

Rejoice, for we have found love and power in the passion of the Christ!

2007-03-26T21:21:00.000+08:00

The mind is a battleground. Every moment, angels and demons are waging a fierce war against each other inside it. Whether you know it or not, the fight is going on within you. You may not sense the ferocity, but each minute, in the spiritual realm, a fierce battle is raging. The reality is there and we cannot deny it.

We must be constantly aware about this spiritual warfare that is going on. While this may seem very abstract or profound, the consequences of the warfare will have direct impact on our lives. When the demons in our lives build strongholds in our minds and hearts, we live in fear, rebellion and hatred. Our lives revolve around these irrational fears and fall into the abyss of darkness. Conversely, if angels dominate the battlefield in our lives, we will be filled with the Spirit and its fruits, such as love, joy peace and hope.

The good thing is this: God has given us the authority, the power and the choice to tilt this battleground in favour of whoever we want it. And any rational individual will definitely choose to bolster the forces of the Holy One.

These are several ways:

1.Word
The enemy is in spiritual form and one of the most potent spiritual weapons against the spiritual enemy is God's Word. When we choose to immerse ourselves fully in knowledge of His word, we gain an additional weapon against the enemy.

2.Prayer
Depend upon God and His supplication. Psalms 23 promises us that even though we walk through the valley of death, we will not fear for His rod and staff comfort us. When we go to our heavenly Father, perfect love drives out all fear.

3.Praise
I read it somewhere that the enemy hates it the most when we give praise to God. We should live a life of praise, being the embodiment of praise and worship. Only then can we lead glorious lives to testify to the hope that we have.

Attitudes that we should not adopt:

1.Denial
Many people do not believe in the existence of the spiritual enemy. Denial does not connote triumph; the Bible itself recognises the existence of such an enemy. Only by leading a prayerful life and leaning on God will we triumph over the enemy.

2.Desperation
If any one has faith as little as a mustard seed, he can go tell the mountain: Throw yourselves into the sea and it will do so. This is what Jesus promised and emphasised on the importance of faith. If we throw in the towel, we have lost half the battle.

I encourage everyone out there to constantly remain steadfast in God. Put on the armor of the Lord so that you may stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Remember, Christ said : There will be tribulations in the world. But take heart, I have overcome the world! The greatest temptation happened in the desert, yet Jesus remained sure and steadfast in the Father. I wish everyone a blessed week!

The sanctity of intimacy

2007-03-12T17:47:00.000+08:00

In the wake of recent controversial articles, it is crucial to reexamine our views on sexual morality, knowledge and decision making. And in my stand as a child of God i definitely feel that secular views on the issue of sexuality are hollowed out in terms of moral substance.

I am sure many of you have read the article on the girl who got an unexpected pregnancy at the age of 9. Truly traumatising, be it for society or the affected parties, and indeed we should keep them in mind in our prayer for peace and comfort to be upon her and her family. Yet, sadly and ridiculously, this accident happened due to a lack of information. I believe that at such a tender age of 9, it was certainly not turpitude on her part, but rather, a moment of folly and curious foray into a forbidden realm (at least at that age, where she might not be emotionally and mentally mature to take on the consequences).

Then in today's newspapers, there was a commentary on the YouthINK section that education on safe sex is crucial. The author points out that such a measure does not promote promiscuity and loose character. Yet, I feel that education on the physical aspect does not equate to edification in the moral aspect. Yes, instilling basic awareness of safe sex might reduce instances of sexually transmitted diseases. However, it does not educate the idea and crux of sexual intimacy. Education on safe sex is insofar useful only on keeping one's physical body less prone to STDs (although this is not totally true...people who employ "safe" methods still get STDs and there is no real "safe" sex, but well this is another issue by itself), but it cannot preserve his soul.

Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery." One must understand that sexual intimacy is the physical realisation and act of emotional love. The whole epitome behind this is not the physical pleasure of the act, but the deep understanding and love that spouses have for each other that drives it. Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Yet, selling one's body without the appreciation, affection and love for his or her spouse equates to promiscuity - that is where things get ugly, that is where an act of deep appreciation of each other becomes a base and shameless act, that is where beauty is disfigured.

Look at these verses:

Genesis 2:25And they are both of them naked, the man and his wife, and they are not ashamed of themselves.

Genesis 4:1And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceiveth and beareth Cain, and saith, `I have gotten a man by Jehovah;'

Genesis 4:17and Cain knoweth his wife, and she conceiveth, and beareth Enoch; and he is building a city, and he calleth the name of the city, according to the name of his son -- Enoch.

Our loving Father wired us in such a way that when a man and his wife undergo physical union, they do not feel ashamed because they appreciate, love, understand, cherish, hold dear and esteem each other. Sexual intimacy is really about expressing these feelings in a physical aspect, while at the same time getting closer to each other.

Society today does not hold the true value sexual intimacy as firmly. What the secular focusses on is the physical pleasure, not the value of the relationship. Let us stand firm in this Babylon, which is constantly tempting us out, wearing us out and threatening to pull us deep into bottomless pit. Never ever overestimate your own resilience towards sexual temptation, and Proverbs 3:5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Finally, i urge all of you to trust in Him and hold fast to the Word of God, for it will keep you out of trouble of any sexual nature.

Have a blessed week.

Let them play! Let them play!

2007-03-10T00:39:00.000+08:00

Back home at such an unearthly hour, after a grueling match with PJC.

Well, not grueling for that matter, but indeed it was mentally, physically and tactically taxing. As a matter of fact, we did not play very well today, making the same old mistakes.

Thank God though, that our beloved keeper Yee Keong came up with a new format for team talk: that is for constructive criticism of each other rather than focussing on your own mistakes. Really learnt alot from this experience!

Something to thank and give praise to God for:
- Got a short corner by pushing ball to legs in the opponents "D"

Something to pray about and work towards:
- My "flimsiness" as pointed out by my coach and teammates. Sam said it was due rather much to my reaction and not looking up, Tiru said it can be rectified by training on my first touch, whereas Siva said i needed more strength on the stick.

Apart from that, there's the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam tomorrow. Relying on God for providence, praise Him and have a blessed week!

To palpitate with fear

2007-03-08T19:36:00.000+08:00

Terror, fear and insecurity have, to a large extent, become the strongholds of our lives today.

Just watched 2 very controversial videos.

The first film was titled "The Road to Guantanamo". Revolving around three suspected terrorists who were eventually deported to Guantanamo bay and brutally incarcerated and tortured in this notorious prison for alleged terrorists, the film really brings up this burning contradiction: If we fight terror with terror, aren't we injecting more terror into our lives? Aren't we reproducing the abhorrent dread that we're struggling to stamp out? What happens when the very people who claim to be fervently passionate about human rights turn out to be the very people that violate them?

The other film was "Suspect Nation" and talks about the mass surveillance tactics used in Britain today. Currently there are about 4 million CCTV cameras in place in Britain - the highest number in any one nation. Technology has also been used to constantly monitor and look out for suspicious people. Relevant authorities claim that such technology is used to protect the people from terrorists. Good intentions aside, these technologies have threatened to track down every details of citizen's lives. Indeed, could the technology used to protect the people turn the whole society into one akin to that in Orwell's "1984"?

2007-03-03T21:14:00.000+08:00

True compassion is more than flinging a coin at a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.

-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2007-03-02T23:28:00.000+08:00

"It makes them oversensitive to the comments and actions of others. It drives the people around them crazy. In other words, their fear of rejection causes the very rejection they feared." - Stormie Omartian on rejection in her book, The Power of a Praying Teen

Rejection is something we all fear. As humans, we have the innate need to feel accepted.

It is when we face the failures of man which pose to disappoint us, that we start to feel rejected, and as a result, dejected. Yet the Bible says perfect love casts out all fear. Just wanted to tell anyone reading this that we have an infallible, perfect friend in God.

Have a blessed week!

2007-02-23T22:00:00.000+08:00

The Internet- curse or blessing?

Many have constantly thought that much of the undesirable cultures, pertaining to our daily lives and habits, have been given rise by the Internet. The fact that information can spread at such a massive scale and extreme speeds, have expedited and catalysed the fact that such cultures have been spreading across the globe.

However, i would like to touch especially on one area that i felt the internet has been a blessing- that is, internet ministry. Today, many God-loving individuals who want to share the Word of God so that more might be saved, or to help existing Christians by sharing insights on their walk with God, have resorted to the very tool that threatens to wear away basic Christian values. The internet has become a place for useful sermons where pastors use elucidative examples to further impress upon their audience, the message which they want to bring forth from the Word of God.

Indeed it is amazing and assuring to see that God can turn any curse into a blessing, and how he can use the very same tool that spreads pornography, violence and gore into one that spreads a message of love, peace and kindness.

Here are several sites which i found rather useful:

Oneplace.com - Listen for Life -
http://www.oneplace.com/

The preaching of Phil Johnson and Don Green -
http://www.swordandtrowel.org/index.htm

RBC Ministries -
http://www.swordandtrowel.org/index.htm

Cornerstone Church -
http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/

Have a blessed week!

2007-02-21T22:51:00.000+08:00

Love and Gifts

In today's culture of growing materialism, people usually mix up the concept of love and giving. Some even measure the amount of "love" by how expensive the gifts that their partners give are on Valentine's day.

Then this article struck me.

It was reported that a man actually gave an organ for his sick girlfriend. This is probably what symbolises love - not withholding anything, willing to sacrifice. I believe that when we have loved ones who face similar circumstances, we will not restrain ourselves from doing the same thing.

Anyway, got an attack recently and won't be able to touch the stick within one week. Now that feels really bad, considering that we are not allowed to stay back after physicals any longer. Well, that's for our own good too, so i guess all i can do now is pray and hope to recover quickly. Then i can run about and starting hitting again!

2007-02-17T12:18:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year is around the corner and indeed may the Lord bless all! Hmm i sense an imminent onslaught of pineapple tarts, visiting and other fun stuff. Yes, may everyone enjoy blessings, love and prosperity.

Talking about prosperity, the Budget 2007 is out, and indeed praise the Lord, we are not simply left in the aftermath of the 2% rise in GST. Much has been done to help Singaporeans cope and not just irresponsibly throw them in this new mess. Thankfully $400m in the form of Workfare is done to help the lower income.

However one might like to note that this new form of offset may not be a long term help for the lower income group. While the upper end of the earning spectrum or even the middle income may be able to cope, taxes on the final goods and services produced are ultimately the most destructive to the end consumers with lower income. Workfare Bonuses which range probably a few thousand dollars per family cannot be able to cover long term purchases of goods and services.

The rise in GST was obviously to cover up for the lowering of corporate taxes. While this may make Singapore a more economically competitive nation, and probably very much more competitive at that, the burden is passed on to the consumers. What we can ultimately hope is that the national income will rise as from foreign direct investment rises and that the lower income will indeed receive a portion of this increased income. Probably that is the only thing that can help them cope with more ease in the long run.

Let us trust in the Lord for this new year. Let us bank on His supplication, both on money and relationships. Huat ah! :)

2007-02-07T22:29:00.000+08:00

Long period of inactivity, but suddenly just feel moved to write this.

Whoever you are, if you happen to chance upon this already ancient, dormant, blog , i just want to tell you this. Perhaps it is not by chance, think about it; perhaps it is part of God's plan.

Perhaps you are a destitute soul right now, needing comfort. You look for warmth but cannot find any. No one seems to care and no one seems to know. They just look upon you as another face in the crowd.

But you know what?

God cares. Psalm 32:7 "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah." He is our hiding place. Not just mine, or his, or hers, but in a very personal way, YOUR hiding place. Search no more, He is here. Longing to give you all the warmth and love but just that you have never noticed him or ignored him.

Run back to him now.

Hope you have been blessed, have a good week.

2006-11-16T19:12:00.000+08:00

Yoohoohoo!!! Sorry everyone who tagged for the stagnant blog! Back for updating.

Its been ages since i updated and really alot of things to say. Thank God for His blessings! Anyway really busy these days even in the holidays. Trainings on every Mon, Wed and Fri, 2 matches, 1 overseas match, pile of holiday homework and remedials!

Really hope to be able to blog soon! God bless!

2006-09-01T23:42:00.000+08:00

Went to IMH today for SL. We went home, taking away many lessons.

The day started when we went to IMH. Took bus 325 there. Met the co-ordinator Mdm Chua, and she brought us to this lecture theater to give a briefing. Then the nursing manager, Ms Mok (lol, Mr Mok :P!) took us to the wards to see the patients.

When we went in to the wards and interacted with the patients, I found some familiar faces, and i was surprised they remember me given how many visitors they have. We saw the patients and we knew immediately how fortunate we are to be able to live, work and play normally when everything seemed so hard for them.

Meanwhile, Howard was talking talking to this particular old lady and I joined him. As soon as i saw the old lady, i was so touched. She was crying in tears when she was talking to us, as she recounted the sad events in her life and how visitors reminded her of her son. Give thanks to God really, for you who are reading this is really fortunate to have a family and a healthy life.

We ended the visit by singing songs with them, having quite a lot of fun. At the end of the day, it was really fruitful considering all we have seen and the insights we have gained.

Went to Hougang mall to have lunch after that. Mr Mok treated us to drinks....yipppee!!

Anyway, shall blog about yesterday too. I went back to Catholic High and saw alot of my old pals. Really surprised to see VINCENT CHEE there!! Oh yes, and Mervyn's hair is almost as long as Paul since they kept it starting from the same period of time. :P Took with Daryl and Nicol at that new statue thingy.

Yep, this was how long his hair could get!!!!

Oh yes, and that the bulk of us were from AJ!

We went to visit many teachers. Mr Heng and Mr Wang took pictures with us!

Well, you guys can finally get to see Mervyn's eyes after he sweeps up his hair.

God bless for the week ahead!

2006-08-27T14:05:00.000+08:00

Hmm...that day Mr Mok started the lesson on The Last Chinatown by Liang Wen Fu. Really sparked off many thoughts in us. He let us listen to many songs which were classic oldies.

As i think about the olden days in the history of Singapore, i cannot help but remember the hardships that our forefathers faced. They toiled together and suffered just and that is why we can live in such comfort today. We should really appreciate it and thank God for them, otherwise Singapore would not be what it is today.

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Only wish the day will come soonma Chu Lu/ Stepping Out

2006-08-20T22:10:00.000+08:00

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I can search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You

Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes from Your hands
Suffering children are safe in Your arms
There is none like You

2006-08-13T22:02:00.000+08:00

Yippeee! SO happy today. Saw all my friends whom i didnt see for the past 2 or 3 months, either because they were overseas or because i was at 5pm service! This was probably the first time i went to 9pm in like 2 months.

Saw Grace, Jinyu, Rutian, Tabi, Zu and many others today after the service where we talked about some of their overseas exploits which got me so excited. Grace, who went to NZ, came back 1 month ago to my surprise. Didnt see her for this 1 whole month! Haha yep, and Jinyu told us all about America, Disneyland, fireworks, shopping and life in the US. Rutian went overseas for a holiday too...also saw many others today.

Went for piano lessons after that, where im currently rushing my theory. Well, after that I headed to Chinatown with my family and then to Ang Mo Kio and finally to home.

Just received a mail about worship sunday in church. Really hope to take this opportunity to pray for God to grant me wisdom and love in this upcoming retreat. God bless everyone!

2006-08-08T17:45:00.000+08:00

Throughout my 17 years of life, i have never wavered in confidence to proclaim that i am a Singaporean, born and bred here.

Singapore indeed has come a long way since independence, and definitely my life here has been unforgettable and fun with all my beloved family, relatives and friends here. This is where my roots lie, this is my home. And i am proud to say that.

Those snippets of experience, char kway teow, laksa, Singlish, NDP and everything that makes us uniquely Singaporean, are things we cannot take for granted. Everyone of them we owe to God and to our industrious forefathers.

Would like to thank the ND Comm people for making today's concert such a success! God bless!

Let us be mindful of the past filled with thorns and hardships our forefathers had lived to give birth to a glorious future, as well as remember the founding fathers who had passed away.

God bless, as He had already done by placing us in this wonderful city!

2006-08-06T22:34:00.000+08:00

Hohoho! Today i went to the Singapore International Hockey Challenge 06 with some of my teammates. It was a spectacularly amazing display of consummate skill and technique!

First up was the match between Singapore and Malaysia. A really close match which got all the audience gritting their teeth and clenching their fists, Charle's students Sam and Zaiful(if I spelt correctly) played in the Singapore team. Malaysia scored an early goal which held all the supporters holding Team Singapore inflatable clappers spellbound and shocked.

The Malaysian players were experts at flicking the ball. An uncle who was watching the match from the adjacent HDB block must have been flabbergasted when the ball almost reached his level ( he was watching it from the sixth floor ). Singapore equalised with a blunder on the Malaysian goalkie's part, when he underestimated the trajectory of the ball. In the end, some how Malaysia scored again and held out to the end, winning at 2-1.

After that we went to dinner. Chengleput and I then bought a pack of carrot cake and ta-paoed back to the stadium for the second match to share.

Much to his diappointment, Pakistan scored an early goal with one of its lightning speed players. Throughout that, he didnt have mood for to the carrot cake anymore. India equalised, but Pakistan soared way ahead with 2 or 3 short corners which proved lethal for the India defence. Imagine if that shot hit my eye! Ouch, i wouldnt be here blogging!:P

In the end i left Chengle with half the packet of carrot cake which he brought home, cold. Well, there's always next year!

Indeed each of us would really hope AJ hockey could reach similar heights. Like Yi Han said, its not easy, but its possible. Only if we can touch the ball. And how? Practise!!!

Well, indeed pray for God's blessing throughout the week and His guidance as i start on my hockey journey!

Mission Sunday

2006-07-30T22:39:00.000+08:00

Haha, today is Mission Sunday. Just wanted to share something that really struck me.

The Methodist Missions Society's Dr Norman Wong came to share with us today. He talked about reaching the unreached, winning the world for Christ. Even though it might be a huge job, let us not be discouraged as every person we are sharing to is being transformed.

Also, there was this help-a-child for $30 thingy,a package plan by MMS to help the needy in other countries. It really interested me and i was struck by the enormity of sense that this thing made: if we would just sacrifice that trendy wallet, or that unnecessarily extravagant meal, or anything that costs $30, we could well transform the life of 1 child changed. Think about it. $30 may not be much to you, but every single cent means so much to them, especially in the especially poor rural areas where the kids are deprived of basic education, necessities and amenities. I decided to start on this scheme after i start to work in the holidays. Who's interested in donating with me? And yes, i'm not crazy.

Well tomorrow is my piano exam. Just pray hard that God will be with me. Stay in faith people!

2006-07-28T21:54:00.000+08:00

Whoa havent been blogging for a long time! Lets start with the week shall we?

Hmm. Monday there was hockey training. Did the usual stuff. Well still training on my techniques. Watch me, Siva! lol:P

Tuesday..hmm nothing much.

On wednesday, had to skip training as i had to go to Paradigma. It was an NE seminar by the school, which various other colleges and schools were there. Coincidentally, Jenna who was representing St. Nics was there too. Apparently she looked shock when she saw me probably because people don't often see me either in uniform, or in the new plastic specs which i just bought(that's everyone's reaction when they see my specs! do i really look weird?). Had lots of fun with Gautam and the other 2 CHS guys.....especially with Gautam. Trust me, Chengleput Krishnan Gautam is no neophyte at crapping.:P

Thursday, had NDP rehearsal with ND superstars and Zhen Xiong's band. Quite a few glitches in the run; i felt it was rather creative of the Malaysian scholars to come up with a Malay song. Chee Chung, boleh! Lol and yup, had to keep adjusting the mic for Zhen Xiong as there were some problems.

Friday, today. Well all lessons were moved forward because of the investiture. Played basketball during PE lessons, where many of the 0606ers witnessed my appalling basketball skills with the layups flying over the framework. Nevertheless, i'll still work on basketball, and not to mention, hockey:). After that we played MORE basketball with this J2 girl whose purely astounding skills shocked us. Nice to meet such a friendly senior,yup. After investiture, played squash with Joo Xiong and the CHRs. Then went for hockey stock check before heading home.

God bless for the week ahead!

2006-07-16T14:09:00.000+08:00

Haha...watched Paul on TV the other day. Really like this song so i decided to post it. All the best Paul!

Yesterday Jit drove us to J8 for dinner. Ate Mos after which followed Samuel and Isaac to the pasar malam outside Sin Ming Avenue. Yep...quite a short pasar malam though. Then went home and gave Samuel a lift.

This morning i had this sudden urge to learn Here Without You by 3 Doors Down...so suddenly took the guitar and downloaded the tabs. Learning now haha.

God bless for the week ahead!

2006-07-13T17:30:00.000+08:00

Romans 8:1-4

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law if sin and death.`For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offernig. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

I feel that this is a very powerful and personal verse to me because in times where i have felt uncertain and lost it gave me direction and told me what to do. Hope to share this with you and that it may give you insight. For those whose hearts are burdened, hope that this will renew your spirit because He came to make all things new.

2006-07-12T21:32:00.000+08:00

A skillful rendition of Liszt's famous La Campanella which i can only play the first 3 Db chords lol. Go QinZheng, bet you can be as good! People, enjoy this beautiful video!

Pelted into the fountain

2006-07-11T19:54:00.000+08:00

Today was super funny! Chengleput got pelted into the AJ fountain by Siva, Tiru and the rest of the gang. Well we were in the middle of lessons when Cuishan and Daniel rushed in to tell Mr Mok that there was someone being dumped into the fountain. So much for civics lesson, when the topic covered the day before was coincidentally about avoiding such incidences!! No wonder Geng Liang and I got this secret tip off by Siva yesterday after training...well next time better make sure he has another shirt or else he'll be drenched for the rest of the day.

Well caught a very serious flu and had to rush home. Wow, it felt so good when i just went home and rested. Really thank God for such a blessing. There's now a whole load of homework and i have to handle it in such a condition!

Saw florence and huiqi's bro today...they look shocked today to see my face lol...was my nose really that red?

Well God bless for the week ahead!

Something to lighten up your day

2006-07-10T22:24:00.000+08:00

Terminator 3 and Jesus

Many sad things happened throughout the week for many of my friends. Here's a video that i hope can cheer you up. Remember. Whatever happens, he'll be back to help you out and walk it through with you!

Today was a rather fun day in school. Hockey training was fun; our coach Charles finally showed up for official training. He is a fun and jovial man whose jokes carry vulgar overtones but he does it so subtly and cleverly that we all burst into laughter. Well today is Timothy's birthday, happy birthday to him!

May God bless you for the week!

2006-07-09T00:00:00.000+08:00

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