Walk On

And Love is not an easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second, you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you've got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place
None of us has been
A place that has to believed
To be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who would only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got, they can't deny
No they can't even try it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
and you can only take so much
Walk on, Walk on

Home, hard to know what it is
If you're never had one
Home, I can't say where it it
But I know I'm going
Home, that's where my heart it
Walk on, Walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind

All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you can break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind

All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme
All that you fashion
You can leave it all behind

Hallelujah...

(C) Words by Bono
Music by U2

A prayer for tomorrow

For all of you receiving your results.

Read Matthew Chapter 6:25-34

I had asked Ber to specially lead this song this morning. It was the same song that comforted me 7 years ago, just before I received my results.

Be still my soul
Be still my soul, be still my soul
Cease from the labour and the toil
Refreshing springs of peace await
For troubled minds, and hearts that ache

Be still my soul
God knows your way
And He will guide for His name sake
Plunge in the rivers
Of His grace
Rest in the arms of His embrace

Be still my soul, be still my soul
Though battles round you rage and roar
One thing you need and nothing more
To hear the whiper of Your Lord

Be still my child
I know your way
And I will guide for my name sake
Plunge in the rivers of My grace
rest in the arms of My embrace

(C) Kim Noblit

Be still and know that the Lord is around. Looking back, I too was anxious before I received my results. Let go, and let God.

Sojourn...

...the journey's ended. At least for now.

It rained today. At last, some welcome relief from this crazy heat spell. The SCDF has sure been busy last few weeks, 17 fires on the average per day. WOW...

But it rained today. Perhaps, this marks the change of seasons, the monsoon season has come. Cool refreshing rain has come to water this parched and thirsty land.

Perhaps this marks a new beginning for me as well. I realised that I have been under some kind of trial the past one year. It started after Powerpoint last year. It ended last night. Fitting I guess, one praise and worship night to another. One whole year and one month.

Life was brutal the past one year. A tough and crazy trial. But what doesn't destroy your faith, will only serve to build it up even more. And I have received the crown of life that was promised.

Happiness, joy, gladness. Not felt these things for a long time. But I have received back again today. For the first time in over a year, I am happy, joyful and glad. And I think it shows on my face.

I was afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not dispairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed. Traded the sorrows, the pain, the sickness, the shame for the JOY of the Lord. AND IT FEELS GOOD!

At last, I feel release, release from the sins, the lust, the lies and the fantasies. I've let the rains coming again to quench my very dried up soul. It feels good. I feel good. Life is good. And it will be even better in the next!!!

The cost I paid, hurt. It still hurts. But the wounds are mending. Let go. And I let her go. Life goes on, it always does. But not the way I want it.

"Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." - John 12:24-25

A journey of a thousand miles
Must end with a final step
A roar of thunderous applause
Must end with a final clap
The final word we all must face is
Simple perhaps

The journey's end is not too far
Can we see it clear
The final page when written will
Answer all our fears
Will we leave this world finally
With regret and tears

And Life is brief and fleeting
What dreams will we be chasing
We cannot stop time's passing
Is there some lasting meaning

I'm sure, there must be
Something more to life
I'm sure there must be
Something greater
I'm sure someday
We'll cease from all this strive
If we could only believe in
Forever

Lord, You are my healer
Lord, take my endeavours
Lord, I choose to surrender

I'm sure, there must be
Something more to life
I'm sure there must be
Something greater
I'm sure someday
We'll cease from all this strive
If we could only believe in
Forever

O Lord, I choose to believe in forever

Words: Gabriel Koh
Music: Lin Junwen

O Lord, I choose to believe in forever! No living for today, no forsaking of tomorrow, no spinning, no chasing the wind. Just falling. Falling back, into our arms of love and life again. Amen.

Cry of the Saviour

The last 2 days have been especially hard to pass. Life took a very devastating turn for me. But in the midst of all this. I know the Lord is with me. God answered "YES" to a prayer I made a few months ago. But as a result, I am feeling so downcast; yet I am grateful.

A huge weight was lifted from me yesterday. And for the first time in many months, I was able to have a good night's rest. And all through the night, the melody of "Cry for a Saviour" was repeating in my head. The Lord was reaching out to me. I woke up this morning, and rewrote the lyrics to the song to what I had heard the Lord say to me.

Cry of the Saviour

Here I am waiting
At the end of the narrow way
Here I am reaching
But you always turn away
Only ever wanted something beautiful
And true
But you turn out to be quite broken
Letting lies deceitfully rule

Death it beckons
For man, that's the price to pay
Turn to the Cross
Salvation's only way
The price I paid, was a painful sacrifice
To keep, to keep you from the lies
To let the Truth into your life

I can mend, all your broken pieces
I can make you whole again
Heal you from the pain and sickness
Save you from this crippling bane

Come to me and find the rest
Come by faith, that's life first test
For you My body it was broken
Shed My blood upon that Cross
For your sins, I've paid the cost
Come to Me, no longer lost

Let me mend all your broken pieces
Let me make you whole again
Heal you from the pain and sickness
Save you from this crippling bane

PS: Joshua, Ruiyi, hope you guys don't take offence!

Goodbye (part 2)

I can see the pain living your eyes
And I know how hard you've tried
You deserve to have so much more

I can feel your heart and I sypathise
And I'll never critisize
All you'ver ever meant to my life

I don't wanna let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong

You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to say but
Goodbye

You deserve the chance at the kind of love
I'm not sure I'm worthy of
Losing you is painful to me

I don't wanna let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong

You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to try
Though it's gonna hurt us both
There's no other way than to say
Goodbye

by Air Supply

Dedicated to all who are like me. Let her go. That what the Lord said. Some of you in PMCYM are like me. You need to let go. Not easy. Not easy. So let's help each other say goodbye. No matter how much it hurts.

Rejected and Alone (part2)

Self indulgent post. Highlight if you really want to read.

Why did it have to happen this way. Why does it have to end this way? I guess I asked for it, didn't I.

Lonliness. That is a feeling that I am starting to get accustomed to. Maybe this is what life will be for me from now on. Alone. Rejected and Alone.

LMY GLS CPYF CPL SMLJ NQMR NXYK

7 failures. It's getting really difficult to go through the heartbreak over and over again. Then again. Why should I feel this way? I did not do anyting in the firstplace, I simply hid in the distance. Maybe writting this all down will help soothe the pain and the nonsense which is my life. I guess that has been the pattern of my life since forever. Never been comfortable around other people. Feel more comfortable alone. Alone in my room doing my own thing. Alone in the library pouring over my math. Alone in the corner of church praying and asking God for company. Somehow I've always felt that when I'm around other people, I'm like a pest to them, rather thean a friend. They don't seem to want to listen. But that's ok. I guess that's just me. Perhaps its because of this introvertness, I seem arrogant and proud. Maybe I am. Actually, I probably am. I just don't want to admit it. There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. To me that is really true. Felt so used by people. Goo d guys finish last huh? But I'm not a saint myself. Only a sinner. A wretched and broken sinner, not one deserving of anything. I QUIT. I really do. Don't know how to live anymore. Better to die and to be born again. Let go and let God take over. Been holding too many things in my hands and refuse to open them to receive the bountiful blessings that God has in store.

Got a habit. Not a bad one, but one that I should stop doing so often. I read a lot of books. And usually, after reading it, I would read it again. Never wanting to move on to a new book. Always stuck with the same old one for a long time. Always dwelling on the past and not the future. I've just finish reading a book. But I keep looking back at it, keep looking at the past. I need to put it back on the shelf, and let the one who is more deserving have it completely. I need to move on; move into the future. And in time to come, pick up another book to read. I guess there is only one book that is really worth reading. Only this book provides the love that I seek. A love that is real, noit a fake lip-service that gives excuses and cheats then stabs you in the back and leaves you wounded and broken hearted. This book has always been by my bedside. But I never seem to want to read it. Never seem to want to open it. I guess it's about time I started reading it again. And draw closer to the source of love that I have been cheating. A love that loves me, but is not reciprocated. That is the only way to find true love. To find the Frist Love, once again.

Lonliness. I know many youth in the PMCYM feel that way. I've been there. I am one of them. But I've found a Friend who will be by my side always. A Friend who loves me more than any girl can. A love that was demonstrated by death, not just by Words. I AM one of the lonely ones. But I know now, I am not that lonely after all. And some of the youth need to find this Friend.

Poor in Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" - Matthew 5:3 (NASB)

"God blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them" - Matthew 5:3 (NLT)

There are some good things about being poor (materially). We don't have to worry about being robbed, we don't have to worry about losing money. But I think more importantly, we have no need for "wants". Things of luxury etc. We may have a lot of needs, but we have no wants.

So what does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Or who are those who are "poor in spirit". the New Living Translation inteprets this as those who "realize their need for Him". This beatitude calls us to be poor in spirit; but there are things that always get in our way.

The Bible gives us an example of a church that was NOT poor in spirit. In Revelations chapter 3, in the Letter to the Laodiceans, God tells the church to repent and boast about things of the Lord and not in their own wealth.

The Loadicean Church was a church blessed by material wealth and as a result it became proud. Jesus tells them to "buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourselves, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed, and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see."

Each of those statement was a rebuke and one that shot down each of the things that made the church wealthy. istory tell us that the Church of Loadicea was destroyed.

What are the things that prevent us from being poor in spirit? When I asked all of you this question I got answers like, "my studies, my friends etc etc". Basically, everything except me. That is pride speaking.

As a worship team, we need to note something from this lesson. We can easily fall into the same trap of not being "poor in spirit". Our skills and our abilities are blessings from the Lord. These are the things that can make us proud. And pride will kill us.

PS: the above was a summary of the devotion last saturday. The whole series on the beattitudes will be conducted over the course of the year. All are welcome to join the One Voice Bible studies if you want.

WIN

Worship and Intercession Night!!
Saturday 26th February
PMC Sanctuary
7.30pm

This Saturday is WIN!!! So please come down to pray and intercede for the church, Pasir Ris, the nation and the world!

SGL, please do try to encourage your charges to come down as well.

Cry for a Saviour

I'm sorry dear,
I could never truly love
It's the greatest littlest
Love I keep falling short of
Only every wanted
Something beautiful and true
But it turns out quite broken
One more wound to dazedly rue

Who will mend the broken pieces
Who will make it right again
Hold me till this sickness ceases
Save me from this crippling bane

Death it seems beckons
Could it be otherwise
For I'm my worst enemy
I see the truth in my lies
I guess there's one place
Where the vicious path will end
Hell the abyss I believe
That I do truly descend

Who can mend the broken pieces
Who can make it right again
Hold me till this sickness ceases
Save me from this crippling bane

Because I need a little rest
Once more this freak has flunked the test
too many girls have been broken
And I'm beaten by the burden
I'm a goner that's a given
So I need to be forgiven

Will You mend the broken pieces
Will You make it right again
Hold me till this sickness ceases
Save me from this crippling bane

Who will be my saviour
Who could be my saviour
Will You be my saviour?

Words by Joshua Sng
Music by Ang Ruiyi

Live! Worship Workshop

Truthmin will be organising a worship workshop to equip youths with the right attitudes and skills for leading worship.

It is targeted at those of you who:
- currently serve in a worship team
- are of intermediate standard
- desire to learn and improve

There will be 4 sessions in total:
On 4,18 March and 1,15 April
All will be held from 4.30pm to 9.30pm at Hope Centre.

Cost: $40 (For all 4 sessions)

6 Tracks to chose from:
- Worship Leading
- Keyboards
- Acoustic Guitar
- Electric Guitar
- Electric Bass
- Drums and Percussion

This is not just limited to One Voice members. If you fit the profile above, then I strongly encourage you to attend. If you would like more info, please email me or Joshua.

Living/Dying

There is only one thing worth living for.
And there is only one thing worth dying for.

And that is the Gospel.

Broken Glass

Somehow seems like you're still here
Somehow seems like you're near

You were the brightest, now your light is gone
Your star faded before the dawn
Your laugh was clearest it warmed our hearts
Now we are ripped apart

Pools of light, ripples of memory
Echoes of yesterday still surround me
The tides of time are washing by
Can you in eternity hear my cry?

You're still here somehow
I just can't see you now
You're still here with me
Why can't I see
Your dreams... shattered
Faded light on shattered glass
I can't believe you're part of the past

God You once promised You'd watch over us
You called us to place our trust
In Your great love in Your faithfulness
Yet he fell into darkness

Waves of forget, footprints in the sand
Tomorrow beckons but I feel at an end
God I'm too tired to cry
Can You in eternity hear my cry?

If You're still here somehow
I can't see You now
If You're here with me
Why can't I see
My Life... broken
Broken light on tinted glass
I can't believe you let this come to pass

words by Gabriel Koh
music by Chris Huang

OKAY...

I just realised that next week is Chinese New Year weekend and E-games as well. Many of you would probably be visiting your relatives or have problems getting your parent's permission to come down.

And so if you cannot make the practice on 5 Feb, you most likely would have problems on 12 Feb as well. Unfortunately, I cannot allow another later date for this consolidation; as I need this done immediately after 12 Feb.

So, what I am going to do is to include the attendence on 29 Jan as well.

I hope all of you can understand why I am doing this. My rationale is simple, if you are unable to turn up at least once within a 3 week period, then you should seriously reconsider your commitment to this team.

This week...

...is going to be a little different.

There will be practice as usual this weekend. Nicholas is leading. 6.30pm in Aldersgate Hall.

OK, what I need to do in the next 2 weeks is consolidate the roster of the worship team. So basically for this week and next week. If you want to continue serving in One Voice, then please appear on one of the 2 weeks.

If you do not turn up either this week or next, I will automatically assume that you are leaving One Voice.

This is done for several reasons. Firstly, to consolidate the team for 2005. This is also to facilitate in the planning for Worship and Intecession Night on 26 February. For WIN, I will definately be using the full team.

Secondly, from March onwards, I will be implementing a new system for One Voice. It will be something like a roster. I will brief you guys on this on 20 February, which is the date I have set aside for the WIN rehearsal.

So, I hope to see all of you on Saturday, if not the next. If you have any questions, please post it on the Tagboard.

If you know of anyone who wants to join One Voice, tell that person to see me personally from March onwards.